WAYNE ROOT
Saturday:
Perfect Play---Cincinnati
This game, win or lose, is more about how Pittsburgh will win and cover on the road with Big Ben directing his team. Many think his efforts result in an automatic win for the Steelers. Let's take a look. Ben Roethlidberger throws the ball down field often and far. That's his foray. The problem is that Roethlisberger doesn't throw as many touchdowns as one may think he would but plenty of interceptions instead. It could be his age, offensive line or certain defenses used. Only Ryan Fitzpatrick has thrown more interceptions on deep passes than Roethlisberger. He has an issue forcing the ball downfield.
Ben has played Cincinnati twice this year and his results in those games shows that he completed 5 out 18 of his deep pass attempts, good for a completion percentage of 27.8%, for a grand total of 105 yards. He also has blanked on any TD passes. Some ask why. The Bengals are one of the best teams in the league at stopping deep passes. Teams have attempted 110 deep throws completing only 34.5% of those attempts. Additionally, they have 15 interceptions, which is best in the NFL. A J McCarron has completed 66% of his passes and does not drop too much in talent in a comparison to injured Andy Dalton. The Bengals defense give Marvin Lewis his best chance to put the 0-6 playoff record behind him. Playoff games are about solid defenses with most everything being equal.
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Pinnacle---Houston
Wild Card Playoff Game of Year
Brian Hoyer has the Texans offense balanced and playing better than their competition. Houston may be playing as well as any NFL defense at this time. DeAndre Hopkins will be the difference maker in this game with some highlights catch. The crowd and special teams will make a difference. The frenzy of the home crowd knows how to propel the defensive effort to the next dimension. JJ Watt and Johnathan Joseph should be the beneficiary to this added motivation. The Chiefs enter this game with a 10 game winning streak. This occurrence has happened 14 times in history with just 6 teams coming out on top. Additionally, there is revenge. The Chiefs won in week one and it's difficult to win twice in the same season against the same team out of division. Again, the Texans have balance at running backs with Blue and Grimes. Defense wins playoff game and no team is doing as much as the Texans are on defense. Houston will win this game outright. The scoring could be limited and field goals and the points will be the difference maker.
Saturday:
Perfect Play---Cincinnati
This game, win or lose, is more about how Pittsburgh will win and cover on the road with Big Ben directing his team. Many think his efforts result in an automatic win for the Steelers. Let's take a look. Ben Roethlidberger throws the ball down field often and far. That's his foray. The problem is that Roethlisberger doesn't throw as many touchdowns as one may think he would but plenty of interceptions instead. It could be his age, offensive line or certain defenses used. Only Ryan Fitzpatrick has thrown more interceptions on deep passes than Roethlisberger. He has an issue forcing the ball downfield.
Ben has played Cincinnati twice this year and his results in those games shows that he completed 5 out 18 of his deep pass attempts, good for a completion percentage of 27.8%, for a grand total of 105 yards. He also has blanked on any TD passes. Some ask why. The Bengals are one of the best teams in the league at stopping deep passes. Teams have attempted 110 deep throws completing only 34.5% of those attempts. Additionally, they have 15 interceptions, which is best in the NFL. A J McCarron has completed 66% of his passes and does not drop too much in talent in a comparison to injured Andy Dalton. The Bengals defense give Marvin Lewis his best chance to put the 0-6 playoff record behind him. Playoff games are about solid defenses with most everything being equal.
----------------------
Pinnacle---Houston
Wild Card Playoff Game of Year
Brian Hoyer has the Texans offense balanced and playing better than their competition. Houston may be playing as well as any NFL defense at this time. DeAndre Hopkins will be the difference maker in this game with some highlights catch. The crowd and special teams will make a difference. The frenzy of the home crowd knows how to propel the defensive effort to the next dimension. JJ Watt and Johnathan Joseph should be the beneficiary to this added motivation. The Chiefs enter this game with a 10 game winning streak. This occurrence has happened 14 times in history with just 6 teams coming out on top. Additionally, there is revenge. The Chiefs won in week one and it's difficult to win twice in the same season against the same team out of division. Again, the Texans have balance at running backs with Blue and Grimes. Defense wins playoff game and no team is doing as much as the Texans are on defense. Houston will win this game outright. The scoring could be limited and field goals and the points will be the difference maker.
StatFox Super Situations
NHL | WASHINGTON at NY RANGERS
Play Against - Any team against the money line (WASHINGTON) after scoring 3 goals or more in 2 straight games against opponent after scoring 6 goals or more in their previous game
104-47 over the last 5 seasons. ( 68.9% | 60.9 units )
12-3 this year. ( 80.0% | 9.6 units )
NHL | WASHINGTON at NY RANGERS
Play Against - Any team against the money line (WASHINGTON) after scoring 3 goals or more in 2 straight games against opponent after scoring 6 goals or more in their previous game
104-47 over the last 5 seasons. ( 68.9% | 60.9 units )
12-3 this year. ( 80.0% | 9.6 units )
StatFox Super Situations
NBA | BROOKLYN at DETROIT
Play Over - All teams where the total is between 190 and 199.5 points poor shooting team - shooting <=43% on the season, dominant rebounding team - outrebounding opponents by 5+ per game
89-45 since 1997. ( 66.4% | 39.5 units )
11-4 this year. ( 73.3% | 6.6 units )
NBA | TORONTO at PHILADELPHIA
Play Against - Any team vs the money line (TORONTO) after going under the total by more than 30 points in their previous game against opponent after going over the total by 30 or more points total in their last three games
42-22 over the last 5 seasons. ( 65.6% | 26.3 units )
4-4 this year. ( 50.0% | 1.1 units )
NBA | CHICAGO at ATLANTA
Play Under - Home teams where the first half total is 100.5 to 105.5 after a combined score of 205 points or more 4 straight games
142-80 since 1997. ( 64.0% | 54.0 units )
4-3 this year. ( 57.1% | 0.7 units )
NBA | BROOKLYN at DETROIT
Play Over - All teams where the total is between 190 and 199.5 points poor shooting team - shooting <=43% on the season, dominant rebounding team - outrebounding opponents by 5+ per game
89-45 since 1997. ( 66.4% | 39.5 units )
11-4 this year. ( 73.3% | 6.6 units )
NBA | TORONTO at PHILADELPHIA
Play Against - Any team vs the money line (TORONTO) after going under the total by more than 30 points in their previous game against opponent after going over the total by 30 or more points total in their last three games
42-22 over the last 5 seasons. ( 65.6% | 26.3 units )
4-4 this year. ( 50.0% | 1.1 units )
NBA | CHICAGO at ATLANTA
Play Under - Home teams where the first half total is 100.5 to 105.5 after a combined score of 205 points or more 4 straight games
142-80 since 1997. ( 64.0% | 54.0 units )
4-3 this year. ( 57.1% | 0.7 units )
StatFox Super Situations
CBB | JACKSONVILLE ST at MURRAY ST
Play Against - Home favorites of 10 to 19.5 points (MURRAY ST) in a game involving two average defensive teams (67-74 PPG) after 15+ games, after scoring 65 points or less 2 straight games
59-26 since 1997. ( 69.4% | 30.4 units )
CBB | N DAKOTA ST at ORAL ROBERTS
Play Against - Road teams with a money line of +135 to -155 (N DAKOTA ST) good shooting team (45-47.5%) against an average defensive team (42.5-45%) after 15+ games, hot shooting team - 3 straight games making >=47% of their shots
59-26 since 1997. ( 69.4% | 33.0 units )
CBB | N ARIZONA at SOUTHERN UTAH
Play On - Favorites of 2 to 5.5 points vs. the first half line (SOUTHERN UTAH) after being beaten by the spread by 30 or more points total in their last five games against opponent after being beaten by the spread by 36 or more points total in their last five games
46-18 since 1997. ( 71.9% | 26.2 units )
1-0 this year. ( 100.0% | 1.0 units )
CBB | JACKSONVILLE ST at MURRAY ST
Play Against - Home favorites of 10 to 19.5 points (MURRAY ST) in a game involving two average defensive teams (67-74 PPG) after 15+ games, after scoring 65 points or less 2 straight games
59-26 since 1997. ( 69.4% | 30.4 units )
CBB | N DAKOTA ST at ORAL ROBERTS
Play Against - Road teams with a money line of +135 to -155 (N DAKOTA ST) good shooting team (45-47.5%) against an average defensive team (42.5-45%) after 15+ games, hot shooting team - 3 straight games making >=47% of their shots
59-26 since 1997. ( 69.4% | 33.0 units )
CBB | N ARIZONA at SOUTHERN UTAH
Play On - Favorites of 2 to 5.5 points vs. the first half line (SOUTHERN UTAH) after being beaten by the spread by 30 or more points total in their last five games against opponent after being beaten by the spread by 36 or more points total in their last five games
46-18 since 1997. ( 71.9% | 26.2 units )
1-0 this year. ( 100.0% | 1.0 units )
This is Sal's "Best Bet." He was 12-3-1 with this pick in 2014 and has been 13-4 this season, including 7-1 over the last eight weeks of the regular season:
- Kansas City Chiefs -3.5 (at Houston Texans): "Two great defenses, I understand, but I don't see how the Texans are going to move the ball at all against this fierce Chiefs defense. Justin Houston is back and you have Brian Hoyer. He's going to be down 10-0 early in the second quarter and that's not where you want to have the Texans on a bet, down 10-0. KC, 4-0 against the spread on the road in their last four as a favorite and I love 'em. Not even Andy Reid's poor clock management can screw this up. The Chiefs win big over the Texans."
Norm Hitzgez
NFL FOOTBALL
DOUBLE PLAY: Houston--Kansas City UNDER 40
SINGLE PLAYS: Houston +3 KC
Cincinnati +2 1/2 Pittsburgh
Seattle -5 Minnesota
Green Bay PICK Washington
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Alabama -6 1/2 Clemson
Alabama---Clemson UNDER 50 1/2
NFL FOOTBALL
DOUBLE PLAY: Houston--Kansas City UNDER 40
SINGLE PLAYS: Houston +3 KC
Cincinnati +2 1/2 Pittsburgh
Seattle -5 Minnesota
Green Bay PICK Washington
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Alabama -6 1/2 Clemson
Alabama---Clemson UNDER 50 1/2
