Playoff Position on the Line for Pack, Vikes

Football Betting Lines

12/21/2006 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings will be fighting for their playoff lives on Thursday night, when the two longtime division rivals square off at Lambeau Field.

Both the Packers and Vikings begin Week 16 at 6-8, which puts them just a game back of the 7-7 Giants and Falcons for the NFC's second Wild Card spot. The clubs are part of a five-team pack that stands at 6-8, but superior conference marks place the duo at the forefront of that group. Minnesota has a 6-4 record against NFC foes heading into Thursday night, while the Packers are 5-5 within the conference.

The franchises have arrived at their current 6-8 records by far different means.

Green Bay started the year 1-4, and has placed itself back in the postseason discussion during a 5-4 stretch that included last Sunday's 17-9 win over the Lions. The Packers, who will finish their season at NFC North champion Chicago next week, have a chance to become just the second team in NFL history to reach the playoffs despite never being above .500 during the course of the year, joining the 1990 New Orleans Saints in that exclusive category.

Minnesota, meanwhile, has endured an ugly 2-6 stretch since opening the year at a healthy 4-2. The Vikings were 26-13 home losers to the Jets last week, a game in which starting quarterback Brad Johnson was pulled late for the third time this season. Rookie Tarvaris Jackson replaced Johnson late in the going, and will receive his first NFL start in Green Bay on Thursday night.

Brad Childress' team will finish its regular season schedule at home against the St. Louis Rams next Sunday.

The Vikings, who have won in three of their last four trips to Lambeau Field, will be trying to avenge a 23-17 home loss to Green Bay on Nov. 12th.

SERIES HISTORY

Green Bay leads the all-time regular season series with Minnesota, which dates back to the 1961 season, 45-44-1. The Packers broke a deadlock in the series at the Metrodome in Week 10, when they scored the aforementioned 23-17 victory. The Vikings swept last year's home-and-home, taking a 23-20 home decision in Week 7 as well as a 20-17 affair at Lambeau Field in Week 11. The Packers swept the 2004 regular season series with their longtime division rival, winning by identical scores of 34-31 in Weeks 10 and 16.

The teams' only postseason meeting to date was the Vikings' 31-17 upset of the Packers at Lambeau Field in a 2004 NFC Wild Card game.

The Packers' Mike McCarthy has a 1-0 edge in his personal series against both the Vikings and fellow first-year head coach Childress.

VIKINGS OFFENSE VS. PACKERS DEFENSE

Jackson won't have far to go to better the work of Johnson (2738 passing yards, 9 TD, 15 INT), who was among the NFL's least productive quarterbacks through 15 weeks. Johnson's nine touchdown passes are tied for 28th in the league and last among players than have made 12 or more starts this season, while the veteran's 71.9 passer rating ranks 26th. Before getting pulled against the Jets, Johnson was 10-of-17 for just 96 yards, with a 30-yard touchdown pass to Travis Taylor early in the first quarter accounting for his only scoring drive of the day. Taylor (51 receptions, 2 TD), who is listed as questionable with an ankle injury for Thursday, had six catches for 81 yards and a touchdown in what was arguably the best game of his two-year Vikings career. Former first-round draft pick Troy Williamson (36 receptions) also had a decent day, hauling in six passes for 74 yards in a losing effort. Jackson, who completed 14-of-23 passes for 177 yards with a touchdown and an interception, threw his first career TD pass to running back Mewelde Moore (41 receptions, 1 TD) in the first quarter. Tight end Jermaine Wiggins (44 receptions, 1 TD), who went without a catch against Green Bay in Week 10, comes off a three-reception day against the Jets. The Vikings offensive line has allowed 36 sacks on the year.

Pressure was a key to the Packers' Week 10 victory over the Vikings, and Green Bay figures to bring the heat on Jackson for 60 minutes on Thursday. The Pack had four sacks in the last meeting with the Vikes, with starting linebackers A.J. Hawk (3.5 sacks, 1 INT), Nick Barnett (2 sacks, 2 INT), and Brady Poppinga (1 sack, 1 INT) combining on three of those. McCarthy's team had six sacks of the Lions' Jon Kitna last Sunday, including three by tackle Cullen Jenkins (6.5 sacks) and two for top pass rusher Aaron Kampman (76 tackles, 12.5 sacks). Kampman is just one sack behind NFL leader Aaron Schobel as Week 16 begins. Starting Green Bay corners Charles Woodson (53 tackles, 6 INT, 1 sack) and Al Harris (40 tackles, 3 INT) both had interceptions of Kitna, with Woodson's pick ranking as his third in four weeks. Elsewhere in the secondary, safeties Nick Collins (68 tackles, 1 INT) and Marquand Manuel (78 tackles, 1 INT) combined for six stops.

Minnesota running back Chester Taylor (1136 rushing yards, 5 TD, 38 receptions) returned to the lineup following a one-week absence last Sunday, but his 11-carry, 38-yard effort suggests that perhaps his sore ribs should have been given another week to heal. The outing marked the third time this year that Taylor had been held to fewer than 40 yards in a contest. Backup Artose Pinner (178 rushing yards, 3 TD), who had recorded a career-high 125 yards and three touchdowns against the Lions one week prior, was limited to one carry for four yards versus the Jets. Third-down man Moore (121 rushing yards) had the greatest impact of the team's running backs, catching five passes for 53 yards and scoring his first touchdown of the season. Taylor rushed 20 times for 75 yards against the Packers in Week 10, and Moore had 57 yards worth of catches.

One week after scarcely being tested by the Detroit running game, Green Bay's run-stopping unit will have to re-focus against Chester Taylor and what remains a strong run-blocking Minnesota front. The Lions rushed just 12 times against the Packers, amassing 24 yards. Jenkins (26 tackle) and fellow tackle Corey Williams (30 tackles, 3 sacks), who combined for seven tackles and four sacks last Sunday, will be looking to provide a presence in the trenches. Linebackers Barnett (95 tackles), Hawk (109 tackles), and Poppinga (55 tackles) will be seeking to make some plays behind them. Barnett posted a game-high 12 stops against the Lions last week, while Hawk was credited with 11 tackles against Minnesota in Week 10.

PACKERS OFFENSE VS. VIKINGS DEFENSE

Packers quarterback Brett Favre (3315 passing yard, 17 TD, 15 INT) didn't get any closer to Dan Marino's career NFL passing TDs record in last week's win over the Lions, though the future Hall-of-Famer was able to secure win number 155 as a starting quarterback in the NFL. Favre was 20-of-37 for 174 yards with three interceptions in the victory, and his 413 TD strikes are still seven back of Marino's 420. As usual, wideout Donald Driver (80 receptions, 7 TD) was Green Bay's top target, catching seven passes for 70 yards in the game. No. 2 receiver Greg Jennings (44 receptions, 3 TD) was quiet with one reception for five yards, but newly-acquired third wideout Carlyle Holiday (4 receptions) made an impact with three receptions for 36 yards. Favre's 347- yard effort against the Vikings in Week 10 represents his highest passing total since 2004, and Driver's 191 receiving yards in that game established a career-best. The Packers have allowed 21 sacks on the year, including one last Sunday.

The Vikings will have to be much better against Favre than they were against Chad Pennington, who carved Minnesota up for a career-high 339 yards on 29- of-39 passing with a touchdown and a pair of turnovers. Jets wideout Laveranues Coles burned the Vikings' Cover-2 scheme for 12 catches, 144 yards, and a touchdown. Cornerbacks Antoine Winfield (83 tackles, 4 INT) and Cedric Griffin (41 tackles, 2 INT) will be locked on Driver and Jennings this week, with safeties Dwight Smith (64 tackles, 4 INT, 1 sack) and Darren Sharper (57 tackles, 3 INT, 1 sack) lending support. Each member of Minnesota's starting secondary had posted an interception in the two-game span that preceded last week's loss. The Vikings' pass rush has been non-existent for most of the year, with starting ends Kenechi Udeze (24 tackles) and Darrion Scott (41 tackles, 5.5 sacks) both struggling to provide pressure.

The Packers received a solid contribution from their rushing tandem of Ahman Green (946 rushing yards, 38 receptions, 6 TD) and Vernand Morency (380 rushing yards, 2 TD, 16 receptions) in last week's win over Detroit, and will be seeking more production from the ground game this week. Green carried 22 times for 79 yards to draw ever-closer to the 1,000-yard plateau, also catching a game-high-tying seven passes totaling 44 yards. Morency, meanwhile, scored the contest's only two touchdowns, going in from distances of 14 and 21 yards and finishing the day with 54 yards to show for his nine rushes. Green was held to 55 yards on 22 totes against Minnesota last month, and has gone over 100 yards in just three of 12 career meetings against the Vikes. Morency was inactive in the first Minnesota game.

Though the Vikings' season doesn't figure to end up as a particularly memorable one, Minnesota will likely etch its name in the NFL record book nonetheless. The Vikings have allowed just 771 rushing yards all year, an average of 55.1 per game, and would have to surrender a total of 200 ground yards over their final two contests to avoid breaking the 16-game record of 970, established by the 2000 Baltimore Ravens. No opposing player has amassed more than 78 ground yards against Minnesota, a figure that Buffalo's Willis McGahee managed on 28 carries back in Week 4. Defensive tackles Pat Williams (38 tackles, 1 sack) and Kevin Williams (29 tackles, 5 sacks) have been at the heart of the stifling scheme, with linebackers E.J. Henderson (96 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 INT), Napoleon Harris (48 tackles, 3 INT, 2.5 sacks), and Ben Leber (36 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 INT) making plays behind them. Pat Williams had five tackles against the Jets, Henderson posted a game-high 13 tackles, and Harris notched a sack, a forced fumble, and an interception off of Chad Pennington.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

The "these teams are heading in different directions" line of thinking is problematic in the NFL, where clubs seemingly alter or reverse their course on a week-to-week basis. Another theory that would seem to favor Green Bay, in regard to their advantage at storied Lambeau Field, also fails to hold much weight, since the Pack is 2-5 in their home building this year. What does make sense is to put your confidence in Brett Favre when he faces a team that a) doesn't rush the passer well b) has given up huge passing days to more than one quarterback this season and c) lacks the offensive punch to consistently answer any of Green Bay's potential big plays. The Packers aren't going to run away and hide against a Vikings team that has a slight talent advantage to Green Bay, but they'll do enough to give themselves a chance heading into Week 17.

Sportsbook Betting Lines Predicted Outcome: Packers 21, Vikings 17

Wmarketwatch Football Betting News

<< Stars dive into the Shark Tank
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Dallas Stars have a chance to gain ground on the San Jose Sharks tonight when the two Pacific Division foes face off in a key showdown from HP Pavilion. Both teams are looking up at the high-flying Anaheim Ducks in th

<< Oilers slide into Phoenix
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of struggling teams meet up this evening at Phoenix's Jobing.com Arena, where the Coyotes will play host to the Edmonton Oilers. Edmonton began the week with a slim lead atop the tightly-packed Northwest Division,

<< Inaugural Papajohns Bowl pits Bulls against Pirates
Birmingham, AL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In the inaugural PapaJohns.com Bowl, the East Carolina Pirates will clash with the South Florida Bulls at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. The Bulls are a relatively young football progra

<< Avs, Flames battle in Denver
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Colorado Avalanche open up a four-game homestand this evening when the surging club entertains the Calgary Flames in a Northwest Division showdown at the Pepsi Center. The Avalanche have moved within one point of firs

<< Kings and Blues meet in St. Louis
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After finally earning their first victory in nearly a month, the St. Louis Blues try to make it two in a row when they host the Los Angeles Kings tonight at Scottrade Center. St. Louis put an end to an 11-game skid with a

D.C. promotes Soehn to head coach >>
Washington, D.C. (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former D.C. United assistant coach Tom Soehn has been appointed to the head position, effective immediately, on Thursday, following the hiring of D.C.'s head coach Peter Nowak to the assista

Nowak named MNT assistant >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - U.S. Soccer and Major League Soccer's D.C. United announced Thursday that D.C. head coach Peter Nowak has been named the assistant coach of the U.S. Under-23 Men's National Team, effective immedia

Extra Point - Appalachian State dominates best of the 2006 season >>
Chattanooga, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Followers of the Football Championship Subdivision can take time this week to reflect on Appalachian States coronation as the first back-to-back championship since Georgia Southern in 1999-00. The fans and

Jonatas' father freed by kidnappers >>
Madrid, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Spanish La Liga's Espanyol announced Thursday that Brazilian midfielder Jonatas' father has been released by kidnappers after being held hostage for more than a week. "This morning the police were abl

D.C. United (MLS) >>
Named Tom Soehn heach coach.

Numerous College Basketball teams take final big step to March Madness betting

So, what turned on the lock spigot? Well, after what felt like weeks of teams treading water and slipping back into the bubble muck, a bunch of them finally decided to say "to heck with parity" and won games that should put them into the Big Dance.

Disagree with some of these? Then here's the challenge. Take all of the "should be ins" and make a legit case that each should be ahead of the team that's a lock. Then find 10 more teams that also should be placed in the bracket ahead of that lock team. Not so easy, is it?

If you want more evidence that these locks should be good to go, check out what our research department dug up. Since the NCAA Tournament went to 64 teams in 1985, only six teams from a "big six" conference have had a record of 10-6 or better in conference play and not been selected: Colorado (2004) and Nebraska (1999) from the Big 12, Boston College and Seton Hall (both 2003) from the Big East, Indiana (2005) from the Big Ten and UCLA, which somehow went 12-6 in the Pac-10 in 1988 and still missed out. (Note: Five teams went 11-7 and didn't get in, the latest being last season's Stanford team, which had a brutal nonconference run.)

Yes, 10 conference wins doesn't always mean what it used to because of unbalanced schedules, but this season, it should be plenty good in all but the extreme cases (see: Iowa).

In a way, this is a welcome development, because this is a bubble watch, not a lock watch. We can finally be done with teams like Maryland and Virginia Tech and start really bearing down on at-large battles such as Syracuse-West Virginia and Appalachian State-Georgia Tech.

Interestingly, all the shifting of teams into lock status appears to be more administrative than impactful. The number of remaining available at-larges didn't change one iota. The only difference is that teams on the bubble now have a clearer idea of which team(s) they are competing with for those precious bids.

The Bubble Breakdown
CONFERENCE LOCKS SHOULD BE INS AT-LARGES TAKEN
(assuming no auto bid outlier)
ACC Betting Odds 6 0 5
Big East Betting Odds 5 0 4
Big Ten Betting Odds 2 2 3
Big 12 Betting Odds 3 0 2
Pac-10 Betting Odds 5 1 5
SEC Betting Odds 4 0 3
MVC Betting Odds 1 1 1
MWC Betting Odds 2 1 2
TOTAL 28 5 25

As always, I've tried to be as inclusive as possible while only including teams that would have a reasonable chance of at least being discussed if this were Selection Sunday. If your team's not on here, there's probably a good reason (or three) -- start with the RPI and SOS numbers and work your way down.

(Please remember, per selection committee criteria, that records displayed are Division I only. Next update: Feb. 28)

If you have a legitimate grievance, or just like talking bubble, send an e-mail. Polite ones with fact-based arguments have a much better chance of receiving a response. I apologize in advance if I can't get back to all of you.

Atlantic Coast Conference

Work left to do: Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech

The ACC moves to six locks as BC, Va Tech and Virginia all got their 10th ACC wins, which should be more than enough this season, and Maryland rallied past North Carolina to get the final piece the Terps needed. After that? It could end there unless FSU, Ga Tech or Clemson picks things up in a hurry.

 

Work left to do:

Clemson [19-9 (5-9), RPI: 41, SOS: 42] The Tigers are closer to locking up the collapse of the year award (in a good battle with OK State) than they are to grabbing an at-large. Clemson's been very competitive, but there's no really positive way you can spin nine losses in 11 games. They now cannot get to .500 in ACC play and still must head to Virginia Tech in the season finale (after hosting Miami). Unless the Tigers win both and/or do some serious work in the ACC tourney, they very well could be left out. There are no great nonconference wins, but ODU, App State, Miss. State, South Carolina and Georgia are all respectable W's.

Florida State [18-11 (6-9), RPI: 48, SOS: 14] The Noles got thrashed at Maryland to run their losing streak to five, but then pounded NC State at home to set the table for what likely is an elimination game at Miami. You can at least make a case for the Seminoles at 7-9 in ACC play (and some work in the ACC tourney), but 6-10 is not going to cut it. Wins at Duke and over Florida will resonate, but the computer numbers remain questionable. Beyond Florida, FSU thrashed bubble buddy Providence, but there's not a ton beyond those two games that will help. They didn't show well in big-time opportunities against Pitt and Wisconsin (before the Florida win).

Georgia Tech [18-10 (6-8), RPI: 51, SOS: 46] The Jackets beat Wake on Wednesday but couldn't get it done at UVa on Saturday, which could be a crucial loss with UNC and BC (both at home) remaining and 8-8 almost a certain need for at-large consideration. A nonconference win over Memphis helps, but the RPI and SOS are not at-large quality right now; if you combine those with a sub-.500 ACC mark, that could spell NIT for GT.

For more College Basketball betting lines go to MySportsbook.com

Additional basketball lines can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.


Albert Pujols to be This Year's Home Run Champ Says Online Sportsbook

Barry Bonds is a 50-1 long shot to be this year's home run champ odds.  The favorite to be this year's home run champ is none other than Albert Pujols, however.

Now that Barry Bonds is signed and in Giants camp, it is on to his pursuit of all of sports most prestigious records: the all-time home run mark. Bonds sits just 21 homers shy of tying Hank Aaron for the career mark at 755. Word out of Giants’ camp is that Bonds is the healthiest he has been in a few years. Bonds is just two seasons removed from his injury riddled 2005 campaign where he played in only 14 games and hit only 5 home runs. He did come back last year and had a solid season hitting .270 with 26 bombs. All eyes will be on Bonds this spring and summer not only because of his home run chase but his highly publicized steroid abuse allegations. If and when Bonds breaks the record, he surely will not get the positive attention one should for breaking a record that was once thought of as “unbreakable”. Despite Bonds decent season last year, he is just 50-1 at MySportsbook.com to lead the MLB in long balls this season.

Not surprisingly, the favorites to go deep the most times this season are Albert Pujols 5-1, Ryan Howard 6-1, David Ortiz 8-1 and Alex Rodriguez 12-1. With 49 homers, Pujols finished second in the National League behind Howard (58). Pujols is considered the favorite due to the consistent power numbers that he has posted since breaking into the league in 2001. Also one must consider the fact that he played in 16 fewer games then Howard did due to an injury. Howard smashed 58 homers in his first complete season of big league play en route to the National League MVP odds award. He silenced his critics by successfully hitting left-handed pitching. Howard also displayed the ability to use his power to the opposite field. Two attributes which should keep Howard amongst the league leaders in long balls for years to come. From the American League representatives, David Ortiz leads the field. Ortiz was second in the majors last year with 54 home runs. Except for 1999 when he only played in 10 games, Ortiz has improved on his home run numbers each year he has been in the majors (1997).

Be sure to log onto online sports betting site MySportsbook.com to check out the odds for who will lead the MLB in home runs this season. Below is just a sample of the players listed. With the highest credit card rates in the industry, MySportsbook.com is the place to bet on baseball this summer.

World Series odds

Adam Dunn 15-1

Albert Pujols 5-1

Alex Rodriguez 12-1

Alfonso Soriano 15-1

Andruw Jones 25-1

Barry Bonds 50-1

Carlos Delgado 40-1

David Ortiz 8-1

Jermaine Dye 40-1

Ken Griffey Jr. 100-1

Lance Berkman 40-1

Manny Ramirez 20-1

Richie Sexson 40-1

Ryan Howard 6-1

Travis Hafner 20-1

Vladimir Guerrero 40-1

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.