Winning Points:
8:25 pm
* CLOSE CALL
Tampa Bay over St. Louis* by 4
Some injury overreaction (WR Vincent Jackson, possibly guard
Logan Mankins) has shifted the line from -1 to +2.5 on Tampa
Bay. Thanks, ambulance-chasers! The Rams will be running their
rookie RB Todd Gurley at the NFL’s #1 defense in yards per
carry allowed (3.4), and the Rams still have Nick Foles at
quarterback, whose season has been so bad that they had to use
Texans’ reject Case Keenum, the guy who led Houston to 2-14
after Matt Schaub got hurt two seasons ago. TAMPA BAY, 20-16.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17
10 pm
**PREFERRED
USC* over Cal-Poly by 1 (Road dog Cal Poly, + points)
Cal Poly comes off a 30-point loss at St. Mary’s on Monday night,
93-63. So, why Cal Poly? Well, St. Mary’s is a team full of sharpshooters.
They made 19 of 31 three-pointers. Most teams don’t attempt 19
three-pointers in a game, let alone make 19 three-pointers!
USC is more of a rim-attacking team. Cal Poly is famous for its
zone. Well, maybe not famous. But they play one. It’s a lot harder
to attack the rim with consistent success against a team that is
well-drilled in a zone defensive system, than it is to do it vs.
man-to-man. Cal Poly is better equipped to compete in this particular
match-up, and USC’s offensive numbers have been going down steadily
since the early-season tournament games that are often track meets to
build stamina. USC, 71-70.
8:25 pm
* CLOSE CALL
Tampa Bay over St. Louis* by 4
Some injury overreaction (WR Vincent Jackson, possibly guard
Logan Mankins) has shifted the line from -1 to +2.5 on Tampa
Bay. Thanks, ambulance-chasers! The Rams will be running their
rookie RB Todd Gurley at the NFL’s #1 defense in yards per
carry allowed (3.4), and the Rams still have Nick Foles at
quarterback, whose season has been so bad that they had to use
Texans’ reject Case Keenum, the guy who led Houston to 2-14
after Matt Schaub got hurt two seasons ago. TAMPA BAY, 20-16.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17
10 pm
**PREFERRED
USC* over Cal-Poly by 1 (Road dog Cal Poly, + points)
Cal Poly comes off a 30-point loss at St. Mary’s on Monday night,
93-63. So, why Cal Poly? Well, St. Mary’s is a team full of sharpshooters.
They made 19 of 31 three-pointers. Most teams don’t attempt 19
three-pointers in a game, let alone make 19 three-pointers!
USC is more of a rim-attacking team. Cal Poly is famous for its
zone. Well, maybe not famous. But they play one. It’s a lot harder
to attack the rim with consistent success against a team that is
well-drilled in a zone defensive system, than it is to do it vs.
man-to-man. Cal Poly is better equipped to compete in this particular
match-up, and USC’s offensive numbers have been going down steadily
since the early-season tournament games that are often track meets to
build stamina. USC, 71-70.
Scott Spreitzer
17-Dec-2015
(301) Tampa Bay Buccaneers at (302) St. Louis Rams
Time: 8:25 PM EST4%St. Louis Rams -3.0 (+107)
Betting Line Provider:
Pinnacle
View Analysis
I'm laying the points with the Rams on Thursday night. St. Louis has done one thing extremely well all season...get to the opposing QB. The Rams enter tonight's contest with 36 sacks, good enough to rank second in the NFL. Jameis Winston was a disaster in the season opening loss to the Titans, but with help from a veteran coaching staff, he's improved, while also being protected by not having to carry his team. Tonight, under pressure, and without his full offensive arsenal, Winston is going to have to attempt to make plays. The problem is that Winston has completed less than 56.5% of his passes in five of his last seven games and seven of his 13 starts, overall. And toss out the ridiculous anomaly against the Eagles in week-11, and Winston has thrown just three TD passes in his other five games since week-9. The Rams, meanwhile, snapped a five-game losing streak that saw their 4-3 record fall to 4-8. They'll enter this one looking for their 6th win of the season, just six points away from a 7-6 record. The Rams' named Rob Boras Offensive Coordinator last week and he was awarded the game ball after they beat Detroit on Sunday. Boras is a Lovie Smith disciple and that helps the STL offense. I expect QB Case Keenum to be well-schooled on the Tampa-2. The Rams enter on a 13-3 ATS run against teams that allow no more than 3.5 yards rushing per game. STL has devised solid game plans against those teams. Meanwhile, the Buccs are on a 1-4 ATS slide on the road against teams with a winning home record. I'm laying the points with the Rams, my Thursday night Hammer. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.
17-Dec-2015
(301) Tampa Bay Buccaneers at (302) St. Louis Rams
Time: 8:25 PM EST4%St. Louis Rams -3.0 (+107)
Betting Line Provider:
Pinnacle
View Analysis
I'm laying the points with the Rams on Thursday night. St. Louis has done one thing extremely well all season...get to the opposing QB. The Rams enter tonight's contest with 36 sacks, good enough to rank second in the NFL. Jameis Winston was a disaster in the season opening loss to the Titans, but with help from a veteran coaching staff, he's improved, while also being protected by not having to carry his team. Tonight, under pressure, and without his full offensive arsenal, Winston is going to have to attempt to make plays. The problem is that Winston has completed less than 56.5% of his passes in five of his last seven games and seven of his 13 starts, overall. And toss out the ridiculous anomaly against the Eagles in week-11, and Winston has thrown just three TD passes in his other five games since week-9. The Rams, meanwhile, snapped a five-game losing streak that saw their 4-3 record fall to 4-8. They'll enter this one looking for their 6th win of the season, just six points away from a 7-6 record. The Rams' named Rob Boras Offensive Coordinator last week and he was awarded the game ball after they beat Detroit on Sunday. Boras is a Lovie Smith disciple and that helps the STL offense. I expect QB Case Keenum to be well-schooled on the Tampa-2. The Rams enter on a 13-3 ATS run against teams that allow no more than 3.5 yards rushing per game. STL has devised solid game plans against those teams. Meanwhile, the Buccs are on a 1-4 ATS slide on the road against teams with a winning home record. I'm laying the points with the Rams, my Thursday night Hammer. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.
