MLB Shocker of the Month - Thursday! (Thu 7:10PM)
With games going every day, oddsmakers can't keep up with every change on the baseball diamond, such as injuries, bullpen overuse, road travel and emotional factors. They REALLY blew it on Thursday, making a dog of a team that should be favored. Go inside the stats and collect with Jim's Baseball Shocker of the Month before the oddsmakers wake up!

$35

10-4 on Totals: Hi Roller NBA Playoff Total Power! (Thu 9:35PM)
Jim Feist is 10-4 with NBA playoff totals, including the Pacers/Heat Game 1 under on Sunday! Totals offer just as much value as sides, many times even more so, and what better way to build your bankroll than with a High Roller basketball total winner from Jim Feist! This is a terrible total that oddsmakers misjudged. Grab this High Roller NBA PLAYOFF "Total" POWERHOUSE and play with the Las Vegas big boys Thursday!

$35

MLB

Get a full week's worth of baseball plays from World Handicapper Jim Feist -- EVERYTHING that's released on this sight, including Games of the Week, Games of the Month and his coveted Inner Circle selections. It's all here, 2-3 plays per day, 15-20 per week!
MLB Baseball 7 Day Package
$99 | 

$99

NBA

Get the remainder of the NBA season, all of Jim's Executive Service selections, with all of his picks right through the Finals at a discounted rate. That is every side, every total and every top play through the end of the NBA Finals!
NBA Basketball Season Package
$180 | 

$180

Seven days of premium NBA picks and analysis, straight from legendary handicapper Jim Feist. All his analysis and insight brought to the table each night. Don't hope to win, sit back, play with a pro and KNOW you have an ace on your side!
NBA Basketball 7 Day Package
$75 | 

$75

Jim Feist's 2009 CF Top 20 Countdown!

by: Jim Feist

by Jim Feist

20. North Carolina: It's all about talent and recruiting and Butch Davis knows how to do that. The Tar Heels are off an 8-5 SU, 6-5-1 ATS season, going to a bowl. This offense was productive, despite a lot of injuries, averaging 27.5 points, 125 yards rushing and 192 passing. Junior QB T.J. Yates is back after throwing for 11 TDs, 4 picks and 1,168 yards in half a season (battling injuries).

His top wideouts are gone, but Davis has a slew of potential NFL prospects in John Blake, Todd Harrelson, Dwight Jones and Rashad Mason. Converted defensive back RB Shaun Draughn (866 yards, 4.4 ypc) provided a spark, and begins his sophomore season as the feature back. North Carolina was 8-4 over the total, with a good offense and a defense that allowed 20.3 ppg. There is plenty of hope under Davis and another bowl is likely.

19. Michigan State: Mark Dantonio has turned the program around. They are off an impressive 9-4 SU, 6-7 ATS campaign and have 7 starters back on offense, 8 on defense. The tough news is they lost their key players on offense in senior QB Brian Hoyer and power RB Javon Ringer. Sophomore QB Kirk Cousins (310 yards, 2 TDs and one pick) steps in, though QB Keith Nichol, the one-time super-recruit, is available.

There is a lot of experience at wideout and they hope for more from junior WR Mark Dell, who tore up Cal in the opener (9 catches, 202 yards), but wasn’t consistent. The defense allowed 21.9 ppg and has much of its top talent back. They were good overall, but gave up 49 to Penn State, 45 to Ohio State and 38 to Cal. There is a ton of returning experience, led by junior LB Greg Jones and DE Trevor Anderson leading a good front seven. The schedule is easier, though note that Michigan State is 9-18 ATS its last 27 home games.

18. Oregon: Head coach Mike Bellotti stepped down after his 14th season, taking over for Pat Kilkenny as athletic director. His timing was good, after back-to-back seasons of 9-4 SU/ATS and 10-3 SU, 7-6 ATS. There is a lot of talent returning for new head coach Chip Kelly, the former offensive coordinator. His spread attack averaged 42 points, 277 yards rushing and 200 passing!

They are loaded at quarterback with junior QB Jeremiah Masoli is (13 TDs, 5 picks), who ran for 718 yards. Junior QB Nate Costa is highly thought of but didn't play in 2007 or 2008 because of an ACL injury. The offensive line lost its top players, so we will see how that affects senior RB LeGarrette Blount (1,002 yards, 17 TDs, averaging 7.3 ypc.) On defense, three-fourths of the interior is gone, headed by Pac-10 sack leader Nick Reed, while rover Patrick Chung was lost to the NFL in the second round, so the secondary has some shoes to fill. They get USC at home and the only tough road game is at Arizona.

17. Georgia Tech: Is there a better football coach than Paul Johnson? He worked wonders at Navy, then took over a .500 Georgia Tech program and went a sizzling 9-4 (8-3 ATS). This is a run-oriented team that averaged 282 yards rushing, 95 passing and 26 points. Johnson recruits speed for his option-attack and found an ace in junior QB Josh Nesbitt. He wasn't much of a passer (2 TDs, 5 picks, 43% completions), but ran the option for 693 yards.

Tech returns 17 starters, nine on offense and eight on defense. On offense, every skill position player returns, paced by junior B-back Jonathan Dwyer (1,395 yards, 7 yards per carry, 12 TDs), the 2008 ACC Player of the Year. All five offensive linemen who started the final four games of the season return, paced by second team All-ACC guard Cord Howard. The defense allowed just 18.8 ppg and is loaded. Georgia Tech carries a 7-4 run under the total into the new season.

16. BYU: Coming off a nationally ranked 10-3 season in 2008, the Cougars are rolling under head coach Bronco Mendenhall. The offense was electric, averaging 35 points, 135 yards rushing and 309 passing behind QB Max Hall (35 TDs, 14 picks, 3,957 yards), who is back for his senior season. Junior RB Harvey Unga (1,132 yards) is a bull.

The defense is stocked with 8 starters back. The Cougars were the nation’s sixth-ranked passing offense last season at 310 yards per game and have been ranked in the top six in the country in three of Mendenhall's four seasons in Provo. BYU is 18-9-1 OVER the total the last three years with a deadly offense. September games against Oklahoma and Florida State are tough ones, but they are the favorite to roll to another MWC title.

15. Florida State: Hard to believe a football factory like Florida State is off back-to-back 7-6 and 9-4 seasons, but it's true. But hopes are high, with 8 starters back on offense, 5 on defense. The offense (32.7 ppg) has junior QB Christian (14 TDs, 13 picks) and don't rule out sophomore QB E.J. Manuel, a terrific recruit from 2008. This ground game is loaded behind a strong offensive line and sophomore RB Jermaine Thomas (482 yards, a whopping 7 yards per carry).

The Florida State defense was strong up front, allowing 20.8 ppg, ranked 13th nationally in total defense. Both outside linemen are gone, but FSU returns two of its starters on the interior in Kendrick Stewart and Budd Thacker. The Seminoles led the nation in third down conversion defense last season. They are 3-1 SU/ATS their last 4 road games. A September trip out to Utah to play BYU is odd, plus they end the season with three of four tough road games (at Clemson, Wake and Florida).

14. Alabama: The third season for Coach Nick Saban and his first two Tide teams started strong and finished weak. Last season, they started 10-0, then lost to Florida in the SEC title game (31-20) and had nothing left for the bowl, a 31-17 loss to Utah as a big favorite. Oddsmakers were perplexed in 2007 as 'Bama was 4-8 ATS, but went 9-4 ATS last season. Saban prefers the power running game and last year's squad averaged 31 points and 196.5 yards rushing. They return nine starters on defense, four on offense.

Junior QB Greg McElroy was the backup and steps in, though he only threw 11 passes. The ground game is loaded behind the powerful Mark Ingram, along with veterans Roy Upchurch and Terry Grant and highly touted freshman Trent Richardson. Ingram ran for 728 yards and a team-high 12 touchdowns as a freshman, plus 6-4 sophomore WR Julio Jones was great as a freshman, with 58 catches for 924 yards. The terrific defense allowed 13 ppg. Alabama LB Rolando McClain and nose guard Terrence Cody were selected to the 2009 Lott Trophy Watch List, leading the nation's second-best rush defense. Road games at Georgia, Tennessee and LSU will make this a more challenging schedule than last season.

13. Kansas: The Jayhawks have senior QB Todd Reesing (32 TDs, 13 picks, 3,888 yards) back, after a 2008 campaign where they averaged 32.7 points, 129 yards rushing and 302 passing. 8 starters are back on offense, 7 on 'D'. Senior WR Kerry Meier (1,045 yards) and junior WR Dezmon Briscoe anchor a dynamite air game.

The Jayhawks also have senior RB Jake Sharp (860 yards, 4.6 ypc). Second-year defensive coordinator Clint Bowen has some holes to fill on a suspect defense that allowed 29.5 ppg, going 4-4 in the Big 12. Does that make the Jayhawks a team to look at over the total?

12. California: This is one great coaching staff at Cal, led by head coach Jeff Tedford. They are off a 9-4 SU/ATS campaign and the offense has 7 starters returning, the defense 8, including QB Kevin Riley and stud RB Jahvid Best. Cal's offense averaged 33 points, 187 yards rushing and 195 yards passing. Riley threw for 1,360 yards, 14 TDs, 6 INTs and doesn't have to share time with Nate Longshore. In his career he is 7-2 as a starter.

The offensive line returns three starters, blocking for star junior tailback Jahvid Best (1,580 yards, 8.1 ypc), a Heisman contender. He and sophomore RB Shane Vereen (715 yards, 5.0 ypc) give Cal the best backfield duo in the country. The defense returns 8 starters to a unit that allowed 20 points and 3.9 yards per rush. The 3-4 was so successful that all four linebackers earned All-Pac-10 recognition, with LB Mike Mohamed returning. The schedule isn't that bad and they get USC at home October 3rd, which is the BIG ONE.

11. Virginia Tech: The Hokies (10-3 SU, 6-7 ATS) had another powerful defense that allowed 17.5 ppg. Despite a young team and all kinds of running back injuries, Coach Frank Beamer's team won a second straight ACC title. They were rebuilding in 2008, so expectations are high in 2009 with so much returning talent. The offense is a ball control unit that averaged just 167 yards rushing (3.8 ypc), just 128 passing, but their 28.7 and 22.2 points per game the last two years is because the defense set up great field position (or scored).

The QB situation is strong with mobile junior Tyrod Taylor (1,036 yards, 2 TDs, 7 picks, 738 rushing yards). Soph RB Darren Evans (1,265 yards) was lost for the season with an August injury, but there is a lot of backfield depth. The defense is loaded once again with sophomore defensive tackle Antoine Hopkins, defensive end Isaiah Hamlette and LB Derrick McCoy. They carry a 5-1 run under the total into this season.

10. Mississippi: Think Houston Nutt can coach? Only one team didn't win an SEC game in 2007 (0-8), and that was the Rebels. Nutt took over last season and the Rebels made huge strides, going 9-4 SU, 9-3 ATS. The offense was much better, averaging 30.8 points, 182 yards rushing and 215 passing and the defense made even bigger strides, allowing just 17.8 ppg. As an underdog, they flattened Texas Tech in the Cotton bowl, 47-34, and were the only team to beat Florida, 31-30 -- in the Swamp. Nutt was honored as SEC Coach of the Year for the third time.

Six starters return on offense, led by junior QB Jevan Snead (26 TDs, 13 picks). Senior WR Shay Hodge (725 yards) returns, along with 5-foot-8 senior RB/WR Dexter McCluster (625 yards). Eight starters return on defense, led by seniors Marshay Green, who was Defensive MVP of the Cotton Bowl. Ole Miss was 3-2 SU, 4-1 ATS on the road. Auburn and South Carolina are the only two tough road games, so expectations are high.

9. L.S.U: LSU has done very well under fifth-year Head Coach Les Miles, back to back 11-2 season followed by 2007's 12-2 national title team and last year's 8-5 squad. They are loaded with talent for 2009. Last year the Tigers averaged 30.3 points, 167 yards rushing and 204 passing. Sophomore QB Jarrett Lee returns (13 TDs and 16 picks) but 2008 Parade All-American QB Russell Shepard is in the wings.

The Tigers got great news with the decisions by OT Ciron Black and WR Brandon LaFell to come back for their final seasons. LaFell was the leading receiver, with 63 receptions for 929 yards and 8 TDs. This offensive line is terrific, opening holes for senior RB Charles Scott (1,174 yards, 18 TDs, 5.4 yards per carry) and senior RB Keiland Williams (417 yards). LSU lost five starters on the defensive side of the ball, but return senior defensive end Rahim Alem (8 sacks) for new defensive coordinator John Chavis. LSU is 13-5 SU, 8-7 ATS on the road the last four seasons.

8. Oklahoma State: The Cowboys (9-4 SU, 8-4 ATS in 2008) begin their fifth season under Head coach Mike Gundy and his electric offense. They go with a no-huddle at times and dazzled with 41 points, 256 yards rushing and 233 passing per game! Oklahoma State finished sixth in the nation in total offense, was ninth in scoring, fifth in passing efficiency and eighth in rushing offense. Best off all, they get almost everyone back with eight starters returning.

Senior QB Zac Robinson is off a strong junior season with 3,064 yards, 65% completions, 25 TDs and 10 picks. He's an electric runner, rushing for 847 and 562 yards the last two seasons. He teams with fast, 5-foot-8 senior RB Kendall Hunter (1,555 yards, 6.5 ypc) and senior RB Keith Toston (686 yards, 6.7 ypc). Speedy senior WR Dez Bryant (1,480 yards, 19 TDs) is a keeper, while 6-foot-5 junior WR Damian Davis (414) averaged 21 yards per catch as a sophomore. This group is outstanding, so there is plenty of pop in the offense. The Cowboy defensive front was last in the Big 12 in sacks and struggled against top offenses. Yes, they are 17-14 over the total the last three years and look like an offensive machine in 2009.

7. Ohio State: Last season the Buckeyes went 10-3 SU, 6-6 ATS, but flopped against top competition. USC hammered them, 35-3, and they lost to Penn State (13-6) and Texas (24-21). The dynamite defense lost its top players, but the offense should be better behind sophomore QB Terrelle Pryor (1,311 yards, 12 TDs, 4 picks), who used his quick feet to rush for 631 yards.

Power back Chris Wells jumped to the NFL, but sophomore RB Daniel Herron impressed with 439 yards and 4.9 ypc. When opponents stuffed the run,, the Buckeyes' offense wilted, so they want to opening up the passing game. The defense returns hard-hitting junior LB Ross Homan, while senior SS Kurt Coleman is terrific in the secondary. Note that Ohio State is 47-4 SU, 28-19-1 ATS their last 51 home games! The big game comes early: September 12 hosting USC.

6. Georgia: Head Coach Mark Richt is one of the best in the business: Georgia is 34-8 SU/25-17 ATS on the road under Richt. The big story in 2009 is senior QB Joe Cox, who threw 2 TDs and no picks and 151 yards last season, though he has seen action in each of the last three years. The passing game should be fine with 6-foot-4 sophomore WR A.J. Green, who exploded as a freshman with 963 yards and 8 TDs, leading the team.

The defense is experienced and should be fine against the run with senior DT Kade Weston. Georgia junior LB Rennie Curran and senior defensive tackle Jeff Owens have been named to the 2009 Lott Trophy Watch List. They open at Oklahoma State, and have SEC road games at Arkansas and Tennessee. They probably won't beat Florida, but will be very good again.

5. Texas: Everyone remembers Oklahoma winning the Big 12 title game then losing to Florida in the national championship game. What they may forget is that Texas upset Oklahoma during the regular season, tied for first (7-1) in the Big 12 with the Sooners, then got jobbed as a committee chose Oklahoma over Texas to go to the Big 12 title game. That should add some motivation to a talented team, especially one with four-year starter QB Colt McCoy back. The Longhorns are loaded on offense once again, on a unit that averaged 44 points, 177 yards rushing and 299 passing.

Senior QB Colt McCoy had another strong season, with 3,859 yards, 76% completions, 34 TDs and 8 picks. The running game usually is a staple at Texas, but has been a disappointment, as McCoy led the team in rushing. Four starters are back on the offensive front, along with junior RB Vondrell McGee. Defensive coordinator Will Muschamp installed a more physical attacking unit that allowed 18.6 ppg. Texas is 45-7 SU, 35-16 ATS the last four seasons, 7-1 SU/8-0 ATS as a dog and on a 30-14-2 OVER the total run.

4. Penn State: Joe Paterno is off an 11-2 SU, 7-4-1 ATS season that saw a Big 10 title (7-1) and another Rose Bowl. This offense is about balance, averaging 40 points, 211 yards rushing and 240 passing. Fifth-year senior QB Daryll Clark is a strong runner who impressed with his passing skills, throwing for 2,592 yards, 19 TDs, 6 picks in 2008, plus running for 282 yards.

The main concern is on the offensive line, which lost its top players. Guard Stefen Wisniewski might be the best in the country, but he's one of just two returning starters. The offensive backfield is loaded with QB Clark and running backs junior Evan Royster (1,236 yards, 6.5 ypc) and sophomore RB Stephfon Green (578 yards, 5.5 ypc). The physical defense returns a terrific linebacking corps led by senior LB Sean Lee (back from a knee injury) to join Josh Hull and Navorro Bowman forming one of the nation's best linebacking corps. Penn State is 0-6 SU/ATS its last 6 as a dog, and just 9-7 SU, 7-7-1 ATS its last 16 on the road. Of course, at home the Lions are 28-2 SU, 19-9 ATS their last 30!

3. Oklahoma: Oklahoma is off a 12-2 SU, 10-3 ATS season with a powerhouse team, one that outscored opponents by a 54-24 average. Junior QB Sam Bradford decided to stay rather than be the first pick in the NFL draft on an offense that averaged 205 yards rushing and 356 passing. Bradford had 50 TDs, 8 picks and 4,720 yards! Great news is that senior Jermaine Gresham (950 yards, 14 TDs) is one of the nation's best tight ends.

The offensive line is a concern, though the ground game is loaded with junior RB DeMarco Murray (1,002 yards, 5.6 ypc) and senior RB Chris Brown (1,220 yards, 5.6 ypc). On defense, senior DT DeMarcus Granger anchors a solid line, though the usually strong linebacker corps has some new looks. Oklahoma is 20-3 SU, 14-6 ATS at home the last three seasons. The schedule is easy, outside of a revenge game with Texas on October 17. A rematch with Florida? By the way, the Sooners are on an 8-1 run over the total.

2. U.S.C: USC opened in Vegas as the team to beat for the national title in 2007 and again in 2008, falling short, but not by much. 9th-year head coach Pete Carroll's team is stocked despite losing a ton of talent to the NFL. The Trojans are off a 12-1 SU, 7-5-1 ATS season, which makes Carroll 71-7 SU, 46-31-1 against the spread the last six years. USC outscored opponents by an astounding 37.5-7.8 last season.

The offense has to find a new QB, but there are plenty of options with junior QB Mitch Mustain, a talented transfer from Arkansas, 6-4 sophomore QB Aaron Corp, and freshman QB Matt Barkley. They will inherit an offense that averaged 206 yards rushing and 247 yards passing. The offensive line is loaded, as this backfield with tailbacks senior C.J. Gable (617 yards yards), senior Stafon Johnson (705 yards, 5.1 ypc) and speedy junior Joe McKnight (659 yards, 7.4 ypc). The defense lost a lot to the NFL, but they keep reloading with top talent. With this great defense, USC is 16-4 under the total the last two years. USC is 38-1 SU, 25-13-1 ATS at home the last six seasons.

1. Florida: National champs, again! 2006 was the 100th year of Florida football, and the Gators certainly made it memorable by winning the national championship, trouncing Ohio State as an underdog, 41-14. A very young team in 2008 went 9-4 SU, 9-4 ATS with some ups and downs, but it paid dividends last season as the Gators rolled to another title (13-1 SU, 11-2 ATS), topping Oklahoma in the BCS Championship game.

Head Coach Urban Meyer has only been here four years and has two titles. The triple-option attack was deadly in 2008, averaging 45 points, 229 yards rushing and 212 passing per game. They are loaded for 2009 with 7 starters back! Senior QB Tim Tebow passed for 2,746 yards, 30 TDs, 4 picks and led the team with 673 yards and 12 TDs.

As great as the offense is, the defense allowed just 12.8 ppg and returns all 11 starters. The entire two-deep depth chart returns from a defense that led the nation in interceptions, ranked fourth in scoring defense and finished ninth in the nation in total defense. Florida's first-team defense did not allow a touchdown in five of the last eight. Florida was 6-1 SU/4-2 ATS in The Swamp last season, which makes Meyer 27-3 SU, 18-10 ATS at home. The schedule is easy, with the only difficult road games at LSU and South Carolina -- teams they whipped last season. The Gators will be playing in January and could run the table.

Jim Feist Past Articles

Baseball Hot and Cold Starts
More than any other sport, baseball is a game of patience. It's not how you start, but where you finish, and with a 162-game regular season, there is ... read more

NBA Stretch Run: The Best of the East
It's been a long haul, even in this abbreviated 66-game NBA regular season, but the playoffs are just around the corner. So who wins the NBA title? The ... read more

Some NBA Teams Pack It In Late
There are three more weeks to go in the NBA regular season. This means there are professional athletes in the NBA who will be going on vacation in a month, ... read more

Tourney Matchup Tips
It's the final stretch of a long college basketball season. There are better teams, tougher matchups, and defensive intensity. It's a good time of the ... read more

March Hoops: Beware of No Name Teams
It's that time of year again: Basketball games night and day, day and night and after a few hours of sleep, we wake up the next day and go through it ... read more

All Jim Feist Past Articles

More past picks...

All Jim Feist Past Picks