Nite Owl's Side/Total BCS Title Game Twin Killing (Thu 8PM)
We like this game so much that we have picks on both our side and the total, for a total of 5 UNITS. And we also have a strong side/total teaser play, a side/total parlay recommendation, and likely strong individual team totals play(s) on one or both teams, once those lines are released on Game Day -- a total of 5 or 6 plays for10-13 UNITS, all for just $35, when you either buy this pick or our One Day CFB Pass. This pick comes with our typical detailed match-up analysis and full betting attack strategy, much like in Outback Bowl on NY Day, where WE "CLEANED UP" WITH IOWA AS OUR COLLEGE FB BOWL GAME OF THE YEAR. And we are sizzling hot for the past month -- 31-11 (73%) for +58 units L42 PODs, 33-20/+44 units L53 NBA, 8-4/+13 units L12 five unit NFL, and 8-4/+20 units L12 GOY/GOM picks.
$35 |  Add to Cart

COMBO

Season

NBA + CBB Season Package
Full season of our premium NBA picks with detailed analysis and our full game betting "attack" strategy, all the way through end of March Madness and end of NBA playoffs. -- these picks are guaranteed to win! But realize that TY we will be concentrating primarily on football and NBA until the college FB bowls are mostly done with (after Jan 2). And note that through Dec 27, we are 26-16 (62%) in our last 42 NBA picks, and recall that we closed very strong LY in NBA playoffs, winning more than 60% of our picks in NBA finals and conference finals.
$489 |   Add to Cart

NFL + CFB Season Package
This full CFB and NFL playoff combo package gets you all of our remaining CFB bowl picks through BCS Title game, and all of our 2009 NFL playoff picks, from the opening kickoff on Sat Jan 3 through the Super Bowl, all for just $150. And who could forget our incredible run through the NFL playoffs LY, where we hit > 60% of our sides picks, culminating in our huge double winner with NY Giants over NE Pats in Super Bowl, winning 3 units ATS at +13 points, and 4 units with our money line pick on G-Men at +400?
$150 |   Add to Cart

Monthly

All Sports 30 Day Package
One month of premium picks for all sports, with our typical detailed supporting write ups for all picks - guaranteed to win! This service presently includes NFL, CFB, MLB and even WNBA.
$250 |   Add to Cart

NFL + CFB 30 Day Package
This 30 day CFB/ NFL combo package gets you all of our remaining CFB bowl picks through BCS Title game, and all of our 2009 NFL playoff picks, from the opening kickoff on Sat Jan 3 through the Super Bowl, all for just $150. And who could forget our incredible run through the NFL playoffs LY, where we hit > 60% of our sides picks, culminating in our huge double winner with NY Giants over NE Pats in Super Bowl, winning 3 units ATS at +13 points, and 4 units with our money line pick on G-Men at +400?
$150 |   Add to Cart

Weekly

All Sports 7 Day Package
One week of premium picks for all sports, with our typical detailed supporting write ups for all picks - guaranteed to win! This service presently includes NFL, CFB, MLB and even WNBA.
$129 |  Add to Cart

NFL + CFB 7 Day Package
Seven days of premium college football bowl picks, and a full WE of NFL Playoff picks, with our typical in depth analysis and full betting attack strategy - guaranteed to win!
$79 |  Add to Cart

All Sports 3 Day Package
Three consecutive days of premium picks for all sports, at special promo rate, with our typical detailed write ups for all picks - guaranteed to win! This service presently includes NFL, CFB, and NBA.
$79 |  Add to Cart

NFL + CFB 3 Day Package
Three days of premium college football bowl picks, and (if you take your three days as Friday thru Sunday or Sat thru Monday) a full WE of NFL Playoff picks, with our typical in depth analysis and full betting attack strategy - guaranteed to win!
$69 |  Add to Cart

Daily

All Sports 1 Day Package
This is our special "short card" price for "slow" sports days with few games, or for most late Sunday afternoons. With it you get today's premium picks for all sports, with our typical detailed supporting write ups for all picks - guaranteed to win! This service presently includes NFL, CFB and NBA.
$35 |  Add to Cart

NFL

This full playoff package gets you all of our 2009 NFL playoff picks, from the opening kickoff on Sat Jan 3 through the Super Bowl, for just $99. And who could forget our incredible run through the playoffs LY, where we hit > 60% of our sides picks, culminating in our huge double winner with NY Giants over NE Pats in Super Bowl, winning 3 units ATS at +13 points, and 4 units with our money line pick on G-Men at +400?
NFL Football Season Package
$99 |  Add to Cart

Our price for a full WE of premium NFL football playoff picks (with all NFL playoff games being played Saturday and Sunday), with our typical in-depth analysis and full betting attack strategy - includes all picks for current round of NFL playoff games, and. guaranteed to win!! But for just $49 more, why not get even better value, with our full playoff package through the Super Bowl, for just $99?
NFL Football 3 Day Package
$50 |  Add to Cart

Our price for one day of premium NFL football playoff picks, with our typical in-depth analysis and full betting attack strategy - includes all picks for Saturday or Sunday playoff games, and. guaranteed to have you "in the black" (end up with plus units) for the day. But for just $15 more at $50, why not get all of our NFL playoff picks for the full WE? Or better yet, our full playoff package through the Super Bowl, for just $99?
NFL Football 1 Day Package
$35 |  Add to Cart

CFB

Full college football bowl package, with our premium picks and our typical detailed analysis, including our trademark full game betting attack strategy, for entire CFB "second season" (the bowls), through the final play of the BCS title game in January - guaranteed to win!
College Football Season Package
$79 |  Add to Cart

One weekof our college football picks, with our typical detailed analysis -- guaranteed to win!!
College Football 7 Day Package
$65 |  Add to Cart

Three days of premium college football picks during bowl season, with our typical in depth analysis for all of our picks - guaranteed to win (have you end up plus units for the 3 days in CFB!)
College Football 3 Day Package
$50 |  Add to Cart

This is our typical one day CFB price for remainder of the (bowls) post-season, with our trademark in-depth analysis and full game betting attack strategy. And our picks are guaranteed to have you "in the black" (end up with plus units) for the day.
College Football 1 Day Package
$35 |  Add to Cart

NBA

Full season of our premium NBA picks with detailed analysis and our full game betting "attack" strategy, all the way until a new NBA champ is crowned next June. -- these picks are guaranteed to win. Note that through Dec 27, we are 26-16 (62%) in our last 42 NBA picks, and recall that we closed very strong LY in NBA playoffs, winning more than 60% of our picks in NBA finals and conference finals.
NBA Basketball Season Package
$489 |  Add to Cart

Three months of our premium NBA picks with detailed analysis and our full game betting "attack" strategy, all the way until All Star break in February -- these picks are guaranteed to win. Note that through Dec 27, we are 26-16 (62%) in our last 42 NBA picks, and recall that we closed very strong LY in NBA playoffs, winning more than 60% of our picks in NBA finals and conference finals.
NBA Basketball 90 Day Package
$349 |  Add to Cart

One month of premium NBA playoff picks, with detailed analysis and our trademark full betting attack strategy - guaranteed to win!
NBA Basketball 30 Day Package
$199 |  Add to Cart

One week of premium NBA picks with detailed analysis and trademark full game betting "attack" strategy -- these picks are guaranteed to win!.
NBA Basketball 7 Day Package
$99 |  Add to Cart

3 consecutive days of premium NBA picks with detailed analysis and our trademark full game betting "attack" strategy -- these picks are guaranteed to win!
NBA Basketball 3 Day Package
$65 |  Add to Cart

Today's premium NBA picks with detailed analysis and trademark full game betting "attack" strategy -- these picks are guaranteed to win!
NBA Basketball 1 Day Package
$35 |  Add to Cart

CBB

Covers entire college hoops season, including all of March Madness - premium College Basketball picks with detailed analysis and our trademark full game betting "attack" strategy, all the way until a new NCAA champ is crowned on Magic Monday -- these picks are guaranteed to win.
NCAA Basketball Season Package
$399 |  Add to Cart

One day of premium college hoops picks, with our typical detailed analysis and betting attack strategy.
NCAA Basketball 1 Day Package
$35 |  Add to Cart

Navigating Dangerous Waters - Betting the NFL’s Final Week

by: Nite Owl Sports

As yet another NFL season full of surprises winds down to its final week, with all playoff spots filled except for the final wild card spot in each conference, it’s once again time to deal with that annual handicapper’s “mine field” otherwise known as the final week of the NFL regular season. Usually a knowledgeable NFL fan can look at the list of games for the upcoming weekend and predict within a couple of points what the line will be for most if not all of the games. But this weekend’s NFL “card” no doubt has left even seasoned football handicappers scratching their heads, with most of the games easily recognizable as being “unplayable” by anyone with at least one brain cell. At Night Owl Sports we have scoured the weekend NFL schedule, and found only five games worth serious consideration, one in particular (our Last Chance NFL Game of the Week). We have already posted our six NFL picks on these five games (one game producing both a money line and ATS pick), with complete game write-ups on those picks. All of the other games fall into four general groupings.

First there are the “who cares” games, like Cincy at Miami, KC at NY Jets, and the Rams at Arizona, to name a few. Then there are the  “sucker games,” which just look too good to be true, featuring playoff teams at attractive underdog prices against under .500 teams but playing in meaningless (for them) games on the road, such as “scorching” hot Jacksonville as a 6.5 point dog at Houston, and Seattle as a 2 point dog at pitiful Atlanta. When considering such games, remember one of my favorite sayings, that if something looks too good to be true, it probably is (too good to be true), and avoid them.

Then there’s the “trap” games like Cleveland vs SF, where the “early money” was all over the Browns, driving the line up to as high as - 10, until the word got out that even if the Browns win, they might find the playoff door closed to them anyway. Cleveland, you see, blew their chance last week to clinch their first playoff spot in five seasons, by inexplicably being held to 14 points in their loss at Cincy, with normally reliable QB Derek Anderson throwing 4 INTs, including two late in first half directly leading to two Bengal scores and enabling them to build a 19-0 lead which the Browns could not overcome in the second half. As a result, trying to secure the AFC's final slot is largely out of their hands, and their playoff fate instead rests on Sunday night's key game (at least for Browns and Titans) between Indianapolis and Tennessee, since the Titans gain the sixth and final seed in the AFC with a win at Indianapolis, regardless of what Cleveland does versus San Francisco (the only postseason scenario in which the result of Cleve-SF game matters is if the Colts and Titans tie, as in that unlikely case, Cleveland would get in with a tie or victory vs SF). That makes the Browns’ game earlier in the day vs the SF 49ers a meaningless regular-season finale rather than the “must win” playoff qualifying game for the Browns which the uninformed initially assumed it to be, Then there’s the weather factor, which always needs to be considered in handicapping Browns home games in December – what sense does it make to lay 10 points on Cleve against any NFL team if the playing conditions are like they were two weeks ago in Cleveland’s 8-0 win over Buffalo, where Browns backers were lucky to have their team cover the 6 point spread?

Finally, there are the games that matter for one team but not the other, and along with that scenario, uncertainty about who will (and won’t) play for the team that is already in the playoffs and is more interested in getting through the game without any serious injuries to key players than it is in winning the game or covering a point spread. For example, Dallas is a huge 9 point underdog to the suddenly “playoff eligible” Redskins, who can grab the final NFC wild card spot with a win over their hated rival, but have shown a disturbing tendency of being unable to cover the point spread as home favorites in the last two years, going just 2-6-1 in that span as home faves of 3 points or more. How can any sane sports handicapper be expected to give nine points or more to the #1 team in the NFC, which is also undefeated TY on the road? But Dallas, already without top WR Terrell Owens, who will not play due to a high ankle sprain, has already clinched HFA (home field advantage) and a first round bye for the NFC playoffs, and has little incentive to win this game, so  they will likely be resting some of their starters. But which ones, and how much will QB Tony Romo play with that injured thumb on his throwing hand, before Dallas coach Wade Phillips shakes the “mothballs” off of NFL “antique” Brad Johnson and puts him into the game? For answers to these questions we look to quotes during the week from “reliable” sources of information about the Cowboys, most notably their head coach (Phillips), such as the recent news release from Big D that “the coach has not confirmed if he will sit any starters or limit their playing time,” saying he will “play to win for the integrity of the game," whatever that means. Well that’s a big help. Basically, he will do what owner Jerry Jones tells him to do on this subject, because if he plays a key player and he gets hurt for the playoffs, you know he will get blamed for being “careless” unless he was just following instructions from “the boss.” But again, we don’t know what those instructions are, either, making this a difficult game to handicap.

Getting back to the aforementioned Sunday night game between the Colts and Titans, the opening line of Titans by - 4.5 points in that game looked almost too good to be true for Colts backers, and then it went even higher to where it now sits, with Tenn favored by 6 or 6.5 points playing not only on the road, but at the home of  the defending Super Bowl champs. Are you kidding me? But with the Colts, like Dallas, locked into their playoff position for the AFC playoffs, how much do they really care about winning this game, or do they just want to get through it healthy? And how many series will Peyton Manning play before he gives way to little used back-up Jim Sorgi (who has taken very few snaps in real NFL games since he played QB at Wisconsin for former Badger coach Barry Alvarez)? Geez, this is starting to sound like a pre-game write-up for an NFL pre-season game. As with Dallas, pre-game quotes by Colts coach Tony Dungi, such as the following, are not particularly helpful – “we've got the same type of situation this week (as last week at home vs then playoff hopeful Houston), where the game really doesn't mean much to us, and we got some rest for some of our regulars at the end of the game. That's probably what we'll do this week, only a little earlier. We do plan to play everybody, we're just not sure how long yet.” When asked about the Browns playoff hopes resting on his and his team’s shoulders, Dungy said  "You play for your team, you coach for your team and you can't worry about anyone else." But all that being said, how much sense does it make to be laying nearly a TD (and maybe a full TD by game time Sunday night) with a Titans team that has recently lost 35-6 at Cincy and 34-20 at Denver, and is 0-4 at Indy in their last four games there, with only their one point loss last year being respectable? On the other hand, it is risky (although tempting) to back a Colts team that was 0-8 ATS in their last two games of the regular season over the past four years (despite having a least a 12-4 record in all four of those years) before last week’s impressive win and cover vs Houston, and is likely just “playing through” this game, wanting to rest their players (especially the ones still recovering from mid-season injuries) and just get this game behind them without incurring any more injuries?

So if you take anything from this article about betting the final weekend of the NFL regular season, be wary of “investing” your money on games with too many question marks (such as uncertainty about which key players will or won’t be playing for your team and/or its opponent), and avoid betting situations which look “too good to be true,” especially those involving road teams which are already in the playoffs and have little to play for. Like Nite Owl Sports, be selective and bet smart -- we already have our six NFL picks "posted" for this weekend, all at good "prices," and won't likely have any more than that, even by Sunday. There will be plenty of better wagering opportunities in the upcoming NFL playoffs and even in the remaining college bowl games than most of the games on this weekend’s NFL “card.”

This article is copyrighted for the exclusive use of Nite Owl Sports and Top Ten Cappers.   

Nite Owl Sports Past Articles

The Annual Heisman Hoax
The Heisman trophy will be handed out this evening, but the "tarnish" on that once prestigious trophy resulting from (i) the premature determination ... read more

Let’s Get the BS out of the BCS
Ever since I can remember, talk starts to heat up in November about which team is #1 in college football, and reaches new heights during the bowl selection ... read more

2008 MLB World Series Preview
This article is the final sequel to Nite Owl's two earlier MLB playoff previews (of the four divisional playoff series, and then both league championship ... read more

Red Sox on the Ropes
The Tampa Rays are now one game away from a World Series "date" with the Philadelphia Phillies, after pounding the defending World Champion ... read more

2008 MLB Championship Series Playoff Preview
2008 MLB Championship Series Playoff Preview This article is a sequel to Nite Owl's MLB playoff preview (of the four divisional playoff series) published ... read more

All Nite Owl Sports Past Articles

Nite Owl Sports Recent Past Picks

NBA Basketball

New Orleans Hornets @ Los Angeles Lakers Tuesday January 6, 2009 10:30 pm
Game update -- see end of write up for strong team totals playWe like LA Lakers in this match-up, mostly because they seem to play their best aginst the better (.500> win %) teams, with a 9-3 ATS record TY against such teams, incl 6-2 at home. And NO is just the opposite, with ... read more

Nite Owl Sports Bio and Picks | Articles By Nite Owl Sports

College Basketball

Northern Iowa Panthers @ Creighton Blue Jays Tuesday January 6, 2009 8:05 pm
We like Bluejays here for two units at this high but not unfair price, as they are 3-0 ATS TY at home vs A and B teams (NI being a B-), with average MOV of 13, while NI is 1-3 ATS TY in its 4 lined roadies (all vs B teams, while Creighton is an A team), with one of those losses by ... read more

Nite Owl Sports Bio and Picks | Articles By Nite Owl Sports

NBA Basketball

New York Knicks @ Oklahoma City Thunder Tuesday January 6, 2009 8:00 pm
Game update -- see end of write up for indiv team totals playWhile we like Knicks in this match-up, and will play them, we'd like them more if they weren't not only starting a road trip here but also coming off odf their biggest win of the season, a 12 point upset win over hated ... read more

Nite Owl Sports Bio and Picks | Articles By Nite Owl Sports

College Football

Ball State Cardinals @ Tulsa Golden Hurricane Tuesday January 6, 2009 8:00 pm
Final Game update -- see end of write upOriginal write up -- While both teams are fairly even stats wise and both have prolific offenses, the "intangibles" strongly favor Tulsa here, enough that we will take them at -2 over Ball St, whose "dream season" pretty ... read more

Nite Owl Sports Bio and Picks | Articles By Nite Owl Sports

College Football

Ball State Cardinals @ Tulsa Golden Hurricane Tuesday January 6, 2009 8:00 pm
With ML at -130 to -135, we also like Tulsa at that price, just to win SU. And it's not that we are taking them on ML because we have doubts that they will cover the small spot of -2 or 2.5, but rather because with games in this price range, we often split our bets between ML and ... read more

Nite Owl Sports Bio and Picks | Articles By Nite Owl Sports

NBA Basketball

Boston Celtics @ Charlotte Bobcats Tuesday January 6, 2009 7:00 pm
Game update -- see end of write upWe are going to use a 5 unit phase in approach to betting Boston in this game, by making three small plays on Celtics -- one for two units vs FG line, one for two units vs first quarter line, and one for one unit vs first half line (this one). This ... read more

Nite Owl Sports Bio and Picks | Articles By Nite Owl Sports

NBA Basketball

Boston Celtics @ Charlotte Bobcats Tuesday January 6, 2009 7:00 pm
We are  using a 5 unit phase in approach to betting Boston in this game, by making three small plays on Celtics -- one for two units vs FG line, one for two units vs first quarter line (this one), and one for one unit vs first half line. This strategy is based not on just some ... read more

Nite Owl Sports Bio and Picks | Articles By Nite Owl Sports

NBA Basketball

Washington Wizards @ Orlando Magic Tuesday January 6, 2009 7:00 pm
We like Magic to blow out wash in this game, coming off embarrassing loss at Toronto Sunday, much like they did Cicago Bulls on road after their last upset loss.Magicg has easily beaten wash twice TY, by 15 and 25 (the latter in orlando), with Dwight Howard dominating both times ... read more

Nite Owl Sports Bio and Picks | Articles By Nite Owl Sports

NBA Basketball

Boston Celtics @ Charlotte Bobcats Tuesday January 6, 2009 7:00 pm
We like Boston in this spot, the main reason being that they are coming off of a big upset loss, to the lowly NY Knicks. And while Celtics are just 3-2 ATS after a loss TY, Boston is 3-0 ATS after an upset loss where they are playing on at least one day's rest, the situation here, ... read more

Nite Owl Sports Bio and Picks | Articles By Nite Owl Sports

College Football

Ohio State Buckeyes @ Texas Longhorns Monday January 5, 2009 8:00 pm
Game update -- see end of write up for first half playThis game is an interesting match-up -- on the one hand, we have a Texas team still steaming from being snubbed (no, actually screwed) by the strange Big 12 tie breaker system, which allowed Oklahoma to go to the Conference Championship ... read more

Nite Owl Sports Bio and Picks | Articles By Nite Owl Sports

All Nite Owl Sports Past Picks