Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Tuesday 8* (Regular Play) on LSU vs. Notre Dame @ 3:00 p.m. ET
The LSU Tigers face the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Music City Bowl Tuesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on LSU with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Notre Dame backed into bowl season on four straight loss and had just one win since mid-October. The Fighting Irish have allowed an average of 44.5 points per game during that four-game slide. 2. The Tigers have one of the best defensive units in the country, allowing only 305.8 yards per game. Louisiana State is especially stingy against the pass, giving up just 162.3 yards through the air per game. The Tigers allowed only nine passing touchdowns all season and picked off 10 passes. 3. The Irish offense has a QB controversy brewing this bowl season. Everett Golson was terrible down the stretch with 10 interceptions in the final six games as well as countless fumbles and miscues. Notre Dame replaced him with Malik Zaire in the final game of the season. Zaire is reportedly getting the start in the Music City Bowl despite attempting just 20 career passes and facing one of the best defenses in the country.
Play on LSU as an 8* Regular Selection Tuesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Monday 10* (Top Play) on Chicago at Indiana @ 7:05 p.m. ET
The Indiana Pacers host the Chicago Bulls Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Chicago with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Bulls could be the hottest team in the NBA right now, rolling into Monday with six straight wins. Chicago is dominating on both ends of the floor, ranked seventh in scoring and 10th in defense. 2. The Bulls backcourt of Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler will be too much for Indiana’s guards to handle, most notably George Hill. He just returned from a knee injury and will be put to the test against a very active Chicago backcourt that likes to get to the bucket. 3. Indiana is used to beating up most teams on the boards, however, they’re going up against a towering Bulls frontcourt that helps pull in almost 55 rebounds a night – fourth most in the NBA. Indiana has the same trouble against the Pistons last week, with Detroit fighting hard for every loose ball.
Play on Chicago as a 10* Top Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Monday 10* (Top Play) on Toledo at Duke @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Duke Blue Devils host the Toledo Rockets Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Toledo with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Blue Devils scored a huge win over the defending national champ UConn before the holiday and have enjoyed an 11-day hiatus since. Duke could be a little flat in this matchup with a mid-major opponent, looking to get its legs back before ACC play starts. 2. Toledo is playing great basketball, having won five in a row heading into Cameron Indoor. The Rockets have already played some big-name programs in VCU and Oregon and took a road win at Cleveland State at the start of the month. 3. The Rockets can score, ranked 31st in the country in points per game (77.5) and have upped that production during this winning run, averaging 81.5 points during this stretch. Toledo has a balanced scoring attack with five starters scoring at least 9.7 points per contests and is a versatile team that can put up points on the run or in a halfcourt set.
Play on Toledo as a 10* Top Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Monday 8* (Regular Play) on Clemson vs. Oklahoma @ 5:30 p.m. ET
The Oklahoma Sooners face the Clemson Tigers in the Russell Athletic Bowl Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Clemson with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Oklahoma is returning QB Trevor Knight under center after he injured his neck back on Nov. 8. Clemson will try to capitalize on a rusty passer, throwing a lot of pressure at the Sooners QB. The Tigers ranked second in the ACC with 44 sacks and were tops in the conference with 122 tackles for a loss. 2. Clemson has the top defense in the country, giving up only 259.6 yards per game. The Tigers have given up just 97.7 rushing yards per game and set their sights on OU’s powerful rushing attack. The last time the Sooners faced a stout run defense they were locked down 48-14 by the Baylor Bears – getting shutout in the three final quarters. 3. Clemson will be without standout freshman QB Deshaun Watson, who tore his ACL, but luckily have a solid backup in senior passer Cole Stoudt, who started seven games this season. The Tigers offense won’t see a decline in production thanks to that depth at QB.
Play on Clemson as an 8* Regular Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Monday 8* (Regular Play) on West Virginia vs. Texas A&M @ 2:00 p.m. ET
The West Virginia Mountaineers face the Texas A&M Aggies in the Liberty Bowl Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on West Virginia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Texas A&M backed into the postseason with two straight losses and just two wins in its last seven games. The Aggies opened the season strong but were exposed in a very competitive SEC. 2. West Virginia can put up points in a hurry, averaging 33.2 points per game behind an explosive passing attack that ranks third overall in the FBS. Texas A&M has had trouble finding the end zone ever since Alabama wrote the blueprint for shutting down the Aggies with a 59-0 slamming in mid-October. Since that game, Texas A&M is averaging just over 21 points per game. 3. WVU head coach Dana Holgorsen has the inside scoop on the Aggies, having worked under Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin at Houston. Sumlin is already on the hot seat after a disappointing 2014, and Holgorsen is trying to get his program to the top of the Big 12 after showing its ability to win some big games this season. Expect WVU to be one step ahead of the Aggies Monday.
Play on West Virginia as an 8* Regular Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on Cincinnati at Pittsburgh @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The Pittsburgh Steelers host the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Cincinnati with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Cincinnati could be playing the best football of any team in the AFC right now. The Bengals have just one loss in their last six games, including a huge win against Denver on Monday. That lone defeat came at the hands of the Steelers, so there is plenty of motivation to erase that loss with an AFC North title on the line Sunday night. 2. Cincinnati has a dominating running tandem in Jeremy Hill and Giovanni Bernard. The Bengals marched for 207 yards against the Broncos and have averaged 179 yards on the ground per game in their last three games. The Bengals can wear down the Steelers front line with those two dynamic backs and own time of possession (32:35 average last three games). 3. The Bengals defense has finally found its form and looked incredible on Monday night. Cincinnati sacked Peyton Manning twice and forced him to throw four interceptions. It watched Ben Roethlisberger pass for 350 yards and three touchdowns three weeks ago, so expect the Bengals to bring the same intensity and get Big Ben on his heels.
Play on Cincinnati as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

*10* Top Play Buffalo Bulls (+) @ Wisconsin @ 8 ET - This is a lot of points to be given to a Buffalo team that played Kentucky tough all the way through the mid-way point of the second half back on November 16th. While it's true the Bulls lost that game by 19 points they gave a strong effort and the Badgers are not quite at the level the Wildcats are. That said, grabbing more than 20 points here is certainly offering nice value to big dog players. This is a good spot to fade Wisconsin as they won't be at their sharpest. The Badgers have only played 1 game in the past two weeks and that was a road game at Cal Monday. Also, Wisconsin could get caught looking ahead to their next game, a Big Ten match-up with a 12-1 Penn State team. Buffalo is 7-2 on the season and having played at Kentucky earlier this season prepares them well for this match-up with a top tier opponent Sunday evening. Note that Buffalo is 20-12 ATS the last 3 years in games against teams with a winning record. They've also excelled in the month of December going 8-3 ATS the last 3 years combined. The Badgers win by a good margin here but it's not going to be enough to cover this inflated spread as the Bulls hang tough just like they did against Kentucky last month.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on Detroit at Green Bay @ 4:25 p.m. ET
The Green Bay Packers host the Detroit Lions Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Packers aren’t playing their best football down the stretch. Green Bay took a loss to Buffalo three weeks ago and was anything but dominant against Tampa Bay in Week 16, not breaking away until late in the fourth quarter. The Cheeseheads are not in top form with the postseason closing in quickly. 2. The Lions have the opportunity to build some major momentum before the postseason with a win and divisional title over the Packers. Detroit has won four in a row and already has a 19-7 victory over the Packers this season. Yet, books continue to disrespect the Lions in this matchup. 3. Detroit’s defense continues to set the bar in the NFL. This stop unit limited the Packers to a touchdown in their Week 3 meeting and gives up only 16.8 points per game – second lowest in the NFL. The Lions pass rush was able to get to Aaron Rodgers twice and force a number of hurries in that first meeting, limiting the Packers star QB to 162 yards on 16-for-27 passing. Detroit has the best rush defense in the NFL - 63.8 yards against per game – and will take Eddie Lacy out of the equation, leaving Rodgers to face the Lions pressure.
Play on Detroit as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 10* (Top Play) on Carolina at Atlanta @ 4:25 p.m. ET
The Atlanta Falcons host the Carolina Panthers Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Carolina with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Panthers bring a ton of momentum into this matchup for the NFC South title, winning three straight to put themselves in a position to punch a playoff ticket. The Falcons, on the other hand, have just one win in their last three contests. 2. The Panthers defense is rounding into form at the right time. This unit was among the best in the NFL last year but had trouble playing to those standards in 2014. However, over the last three games, Carolina has allowed an average of just 13.3 points on 275 yards against per contest. The Panthers have been especially stingy against the pass, giving up an average of 166 yards through the air in that three-game span with eight total sacks in those outings. 3. Cam Newton looked like his normal self in last week’s win over Cleveland. Despite being injured in a car accident the week before, Newton wasn’t afraid to break off big run and finished the day with 65 yards rushing and touchdown. If Newton continues to grab big yards when plays break down, Carolina is a very tough team to stop. The Panthers can dominate the football and time of possession, holding on to the pigskins for more than 38 minutes last week. That will keep Atlanta’s high-powered pass game on the sidelines.
Play on Carolina as a 10* Top Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on Kansas City vs. San Diego @ 1:00 p.m. ET
The Kansas City Chiefs host the San Diego Chargers Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Kansas City with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Kansas City will be without QB Alex Smith for the season finale, which puts extra emphasis on the Chiefs ground game. Luckily, KC is going up against a soft San Diego defense that just surrendered 355 yards on the ground to San Francisco and has given up an average of 184.3 rushing yards the last three games. 2. This is the season finale in Arrowhead, where despite the Chiefs’ slim playoff chances, the ground will give the Chargers offense fits at the line of scrimmage. This line has come down to far with the injury to Smith and the public is overreacting, opening up value on the home side. 3. The Chargers aren’t playing great football and needed a remarkable comeback against a damaged San Francisco team last week. If the 49ers had properly closed the door, San Diego would be on a three-game skid heading into Week 17. The Bolts defense has allowed more than 28 points a game over their last four contests.
Play on Kansas City as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

*8* Philadelphia 76'ers (+) @ Utah @ 9:05 ET - The 76'ers fell apart in the 4th quarter at Portland last night after hanging tough and looking like they were going to stay inside the big number against the Trail Blazers. Now the 76'ers are again getting a big number tonight but they are facing a much weaker foe than Portland. Utah is only 9-20 on the season and note that the Sixers have been playing better, last night notwithstanding, as they had covered 10 of their last 15 games through Christmas Day. Tony Wroten returned for the Sixers last night and he contributed nicely off the bench. Look for another big game from him tonight. Philadelphia has an impressive long-term mark of 57-29 ATS when installed as a road underdog of 9.5 to 12 points. As for the Jazz, they enter this game off of an upset win of Memphis prior to the Christmas break. Note that Utah is an ugly 2-5 ATS this season when they are off an upset win in their prior game.

*10* New Mexico State (+) vs Colorado State @ 9 ET - Long-time followers know that I am a contrarian handicapper. That said, this play should not come as a big surprise. The undefeated Rams are facing an Aggies team that is 5-8 on the season and without a top player (Daniel Mullings) and yet Colorado State is a very small favorite here. Something doesn't look right, does it? That's right, while the public is likely to grab the 12-0 team here laying small points we'll gladly grab the dangerous home dog in this one and fade the masses. Note that the Aggies are very tough to beat at home and they have played a tougher schedule this season then has Colorado State. That is helping to give us some line value here. The Aggies are 34-3 straight-up in all home games the last 3 seasons combined. They also are 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 games as a home dog of 3 points or less. As for Colorado State, they are 9-17 ATS the last 3 seasons in road games and they struggle again here. Look for an upset as the Rams enter a very tough venue Saturday night.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 10* (Top Play) on Nebraska vs. USC @ 8:00 p.m. ET
The USC Trojans face the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Holiday Bowl Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Nebraska with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. With the firing of Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini, the public has puffed up this spread to the point where value is undeniable on the Huskers. Bettors are getting a steal on this team as the public overvalues the coaching impact. 2. Nebraska RB Ameer Abdullah is one of the most dominant rushers in the country and can single-handedly control the pace and tempo of this game. He rushed for 126.92 yards per game and 18 touchdowns on the ground. He’s also a threat to reel in the short pass for big gains after the catch. 3. Nebraska will bring a ton of pressure to fold the USC offensive line, which has struggled to keep QB Cody Kessler clean all season. Kessler was sacked 30 times and doesn’t have much of a running game behind him to relieve some of that pressure. The Trojans rush for only 3.9 yards a carry and have only scored 16 touchdowns on the ground. With the fear of a run game, Nebraska can confidently bring multiple pass rushers on almost every snap.
Play on Nebraska as a 10* Top Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

*8* BYU Cougars vs Gonzaga @ 6 ET - Brigham Young seeks revenge for their loss in the WCC Championship Game in March. Note that the Cougars high powered offense will be hard for the Bulldogs to hold in check as BYU gets this game on their home floor. Brigham Young is being given a half dozen points here and we see this one being tight all the way with the potential for a Cougars upset. Note that BYU is 35-5 straight-up in home games the last 3 seasons combined. As for Gonzaga, the Bulldogs are 6-10 ATS in December games the last 3 seasons combined and 46-66 ATS long-term in December. This holiday month has always seemed to throw Gonzaga out of their comfort zone and we look for them to struggle after being off for a full week heading into this game. Conversely, the Cougars have the added benefit of having just played on Tuesday. That tough OT win over UMass helped BYU build some confidence for this big conference match-up with the Bulldogs.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on Penn State vs. Boston College @ 4:30 p.m. ET
The Penn State Nittany Lions face the Boston College Eagles in the Pinstripe Bowl Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Penn State with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Penn State won’t budge to Boston College’s run-heavy playbook Saturday. The Nittany Lions are ranked No. 2 in the country in yards allowed and have locked down opposing run games to just 84.8 yards per game – tops in the FBS. 2. Penn State has the linebackers to contain BC’s dual-threat QB Tyler Murphy. The Nittany Lions have plenty of speed on defense and will contain Murphy to the pocket and force him to throw the ball under pressure. Murphy has just 10 touchdown passes to 11 interceptions on the season. 3. This is a big turning point for Penn State’s football program following the Sandusky scandal. The Military Bowl is the Nittany Lions first game back from a postseason ban and head coach James Franklin is looking to make a statement with a big bowl win that can start this program heading back toward the top.
Play on Penn State as an 8* Regular Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on Virginia Tech vs. Cincinnati @ 1:00 p.m. ET
The Cincinnati Bearcats face the Virginia Tech Hokies in the Military Bowl Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Virginia Tech with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. As always Virginia Tech has one of the better defenses during bowl season. The Hokies ranked 16th in the country in yards against and limited their last three opponents to 42 total points – an average of only 14 points a game. 2. The Bearcats coasted into bowl season on an extended winning streak, however, those victories came against bottom feeders in the AAC. Cincinnati’s only notable win during its seven-game run was a 54-46 shootout over East Carolina. This team is not as strong as its record would advertise. 3. The Hokies have a tremendous front seven that can put pressure on opposing passers and snuff out the run. Virginia Tech ranked in sacks per game - 3.83 – and tackles for a loss per game - 8.75 – in the country. The Bearcats aren’t used to playing under such pressure and will crumble with VT dominating the line of scrimmage.
Play on Virginia Tech as an 8* Regular Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Friday 10* (Top Play) on Philadelphia at Portland @ 10:05 p.m. ET
The Portland Trail Blazers host the Philadelphia 76ers Friday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Philadelphia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Philadelphia went into the Christmas break on a high note, taking wins over Orlando and Miami – covering the spread in both road games – including an impressive fourth-quarter comeback in South Beach. 2. The Sixers have been breadwinners against the Western Conference, covering in each of their last six non-conference clashes. Philadelphia played Portland tough at home on Nov. 24, losing 114-104 but covering as 13-point underdogs. 3. The Blazers have been one of the hottest teams in the league, with six wins in their last seven. Those games have come against elite Western Conference competition on the road. Now, Portland has been off for three days and faces a big letdown spot hosting the lowly Sixers Friday night. The Blazers have covered just once in their last five home games.
Play on Philadelphia as an 10* Top Selection Friday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Friday 10* (Top Play) on North Carolina State vs. Central Florida @ 8:00 p.m. ET
The Central Florida Knights face the North Carolina State Wolfpack in the St. Petersburg Bowl Friday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on NC State with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. North Carolina showed character toward the end of the season and turned a mid-season slide into a strong finish with wins over North Carolina and Wake Forest to finish off the regular season. The Wolfpack covered the spread in four of their five final games and have gone 4-1-1 ATS in their last six bowl appearances. 2. Central Florida has puffed up its record thanks to an incredibly weak schedule. Outside of a last-second win over East Carolina in the season finale, the Knights handled bottom feeders like SMU, South Florida, Tulsa and UConn in the second half of the season. Central Florida will be exposed by a tougher NC State programs Friday. 3. NC State will look to ground and pound the UCF defense, coming off a 388-yard performance with the run against UNC. The Knights defense isn’t as good as its numbers would indicate, taking on much weaker offensive programs down the stretch. That stop unit was exposed in the fourth quarter versus ECU, which put up 21 points in the final frame and would have knocked off UCF if not for a 51-yard prayer that was answered in the end zone with no time remaining.
Play on North Carolina State as a 10* Top Selection Thursday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Friday 8* (Regular Play) on Illinois vs. Louisiana Tech @ 1:00 p.m. ET
The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs face the Illinois Fighting Illini in the Heart of Dallas Bowl Friday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Illinois with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Illinois finished strong with two wins in its final two games to make the bowl cut. The Fighting Illini ride that momentum into this matchup and are a Big Ten tested programs. 2. The Bulldogs stumbled to end the season with two losses in their last three games. Louisiana Tech allowed an average of 29 points in that span and face an Illinois offense that can explode in the passing game. 3. This Bulldogs defense relies on turnovers to keep their heads above water. Louisiana Tech was tops in the country in takeaways but faces a Fighting Illini team that has relied on its stop unit in big games, getting their share of takeaways in its three conference victories. La Tech coughed the ball up 25 times this season, so the tables could easily turn on the Bulldogs.
Play on Illinois as an 8* Regular Selection Friday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Thursday 10* (Top Play) on George Washington at Wichita State @ 9:00 p.m. ET
The Wichita State Shockers host the George Washington Colonials Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on George Washington with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. George Washington brings momentum into this Xmas Day matchup, winning and covering in back-to-back games over Ohio and Colorado in the opening two games of the Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu. 2. Wichita State barely made the final for the holiday tournament, needing a late putback in the dying seconds to avoid a loss to host Hawaii Tuesday. The Shockers failed to cover as 12.5-point favorites and are 1-4 ATS in their last five games. Wichita State, after the success of last season, is watching its lines inflate and it is proving too much for WSU to cover. 3. George Washington has leaned on its stingy defense in the first two games in Hawaii. The Colonials, who rank 26th in the country in points allowed (57.9), limited Colorado to just 36.5 percent shooting and forced 14 turnovers. GW was especially tough against the 3-pointer, holding the Buffaloes to just 1-for-8 shooting beyond the arc – a practice that will come in handy against a sharp-shooting WSU team Thursday.
Play on George Washington as a 10* Top Selection Thursday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Thursday 10* (Top Play) on LA Lakers at Chicago @ 8:00 p.m. ET
The Chicago Bulls host the Los Angeles Lakers Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on LA Lakers with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Lakers guard Kobe Bryant is under a lot of fire recently but this is Christmas Day, a stage that Kobe knows better than anyone in the league. He took Tuesday off to rest up and will be in top form on Dec 25. 2. The Lakers enter the holiday break off a huge win, stumping the Golden State Warriors 115-105. It was a big game for Los Angeles’ role players, who stepped up with Bryant out of the lineup. The Lakers have a 4-1-1 ATS mark in their last six games heading into Xmas Day. 3. Chicago could be one of the hottest teams in the NBA right now, taking a four-game winning streak into the holiday break. However, the Bulls are giving a ton of points to the Lakers and have gone just 4-7 ATS inside the United Center this season. The underdog is also 6-2 ATS in the last eight clashes between these non-conference rivals.
Play on LAL Lakers as a 10* Top Selection Thursday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on Washington at New York @ 12:00 p.m. ET
The New York Knicks host the Washington Wizards Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Washington with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Washington has been elevated to NBA royalty with a spot on the Xmas Day schedule. Expect this young team to jump at the chance to play in the showcase game inside MSG Thursday. 2. The Wizards could have got caught looking ahead to the holiday with back-to-back losses in Phoenix and Chicago before the break. Washington’s offense stumbled, scoring just 92 and 91 points in those defeats, but this is one of the most explosive teams in the NBA, averaging more than 100 points per game while limiting foe to just over 97 points against. 3. The Knicks are a mess, bringing a five-game losing skid into Xmas Day. New York has just one win in its last 10 and has gone just 4-11 ATS inside MSG this season. The Wizards have covered in their last four clashes with the Knicks.
Play on Washington as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Wednesday 10* (Top Play) on Fresno State vs. Rice @ 8:00 p.m. ET
The Rice Owls face the Fresno State Bulldogs in the Hawaii Bowl Wednesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Fresno State with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Bulldogs defense played well down the stretch, giving up an average of just over 23 points in its last four games – a big uptick from their season average of 32.6 points against. 2. Fresno State’s time between the bowl game has allowed RB Marteze Waller time to heal up from a shoulder injury suffered in the third quarter versus Boise State in the season finale. Waller rushed for 1,292 yards and scored 11 touchdowns this season. 3. Rice has been poor defensively in its last two games away from home, allowing 76 points to Louisiana Tech and 41 points to Marshall in its final two road games. The Owls allowed an average of 30.3 points per game on the season – 91st in the nation.
Play on Fresno State as a 10* Top Selection Wednesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Wednesday 8* (Regular Play) on Central Michigan vs. Western Kentucky @ 12:00 p.m. ET
The Central Michigan Chippewas face the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in the Bahamas Bowl Wednesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Central Michigan with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Chippewas had one of the most overlooked defenses in the country, giving up only 331.2 yards against per game – 16th in the country. Central Michigan is especially stingy against the run, allowing an average of only 119.8 yards on the ground per game. 2. The Hilltoppers are ripe for a letdown heading into the Bahamas Bowl. Not only is WKU traveling to paradise for bowl season – it’s first bowl game outside the US since the 30’s – but the Hilltoppers are still fat and happy with a season-ending overtime win against Marshall, which ended the Thundering Herd’s undefeated season. 3. Western Kentucky isn’t much on defense and if the offense isn’t firing, the Hilltoppers don’t have a way to slow down opponents. WKU allowed more than 39 points on 502 yards against per game – 123rd in the nation. Central Michigan has shown it can put up points with 38 and 34-point efforts in Weeks 10 and 12.
Play on Central Michigan as an 8* Regular Selection Wednesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Tuesday 10* (Top Play) on Chicago at Washington @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Washington Wizards host the Chicago Bulls Tuesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Chicago with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Chicago is one of the hottest teams in the NBA heading into Tuesday. The Bulls have won six of their last seven while going 5-2 ATS in that span. Chicago is coming off two big wins over Toronto and Memphis, covering the spread in each. 2. Washington lost to Phoenix in its last time out and has failed to cover the spread in six of its last eight games. The Wizards offense is sputtering, scoring 93 points or fewer in four of those outings. 3. Chicago returned star PG Derrick Rose from illness in the win over Toronto and with him and Jimmy Butler in the backcourt, have one of the most explosive guard combos in the NBA. They combined for 56 points versus the Raptors. The Bulls also got big man Taj Gibson back from an ankle injury, giving them more depth in the frontcourt.
Play on Chicago as a 10* Top Selection Tuesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Tuesday 8* (Regular Play) on Marshall vs. Northern Illinois @ 6:00 p.m. ET
The Northern Illinois Huskies face the Marshall Thundering Herd in the Boca Raton Bowl Tuesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Marshall with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Marshall wobbled a bit at the end of the season, failing to cover in its final three games while losing to Western Kentucky in a wild overtime shootout. The Herd have had time to put those problems behind them and prepare for NIU. Marshall didn’t taste defeat until Nov. 28 and are a deserving big favorite Tuesday. 2. The Thundering Herd have had time to heal up, most importantly RB Devon Johnson, who was limiting down the stretch of the season with a shoulder injury. Johnson is backed up by Steward Butler, who exploded for 233 yards when Johnson was out against WKU. That two-pronged attack is overwhelming and will wear through the Huskies defense. 3. Northern Illinois won a weak group in the MAC this season and haven’t faced a true test since non-conference play. The Huskies are just 2-7 ATS in their last nine bowl appearances and face a balanced Marshall squad that has covered in five of its last six contests with non-conference opponents.
Play on Marshall as an 8* Regular Selection Tuesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Tuesday 8* (Regular Play) on La Salle at Hofstra @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Hofstra Pride host the La Salle Explorers Tuesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on La Salle with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. La Salle has shown its toughness on the road, winning and covering in all three true road tests this season. The Explorers took a victory in Towson last Saturday and stole a win in Drexel on Dec. 13. La Salle is giving up just 59.3 points per road game to start the year. 2. Hofstra is ripe for a letdown as it returns home for the first time in three games. The Pride have played inside the Mack Sports Complex only once in almost a month and won’t have much a homecourt edge with most of the students and faculty gone home for the holidays. 3. Hofstra has some impressive offensive numbers but has puffed up those stats against weaker opponents. The Pride haven’t been able to step up to better competition and face a tested Big 5 member in La Salle, that has already gone to war with its Philadelphia rivals as well as taken the fight to major programs like Virginia and Vanderbilt.
Play on La Salle as an 8* Regular Selection Tuesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Monday 8* (Regular Play) on Cincinnati vs. Denver @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The Cincinnati Bengals host the Denver Broncos Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Cincinnati with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Bengals defense has been sharpening its claws with the playoff hunt heating up. Outside of a 42-21 loss to Pittsburgh in Week 14, Cincinnati has allowed an average of just nine points in its last four contests. The Bengals have been getting good pass pressure with their front four and that has allowed them to drop linebackers into coverage – an important task in defeating Denver. 2. The Bengals need this win to clinch a postseason spot. Cincinnati doesn’t want to head into a Week 17 showdown in Pittsburgh needing to knock off the Steelers on their home turf to punch a postseason ticket. 3. The Bengals have the ground game to control the pace of the game and keep Peyton Manning and the Broncos attack iced on the sidelines. Cincinnati has a potent one-two punch in RBs Jeremy Hill and Giovanni Bernard and has dominated time of possession the last three games – averaging 32:14 TOP. In the shutout win against Cleveland, the Bengals held on to the ball for 38:52.
Play on Cincinnati as an 8* Regular Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Monday 10* (Top Play) on Long Beach State at St. John’s @ 7:30 p.m. ET
The St. John’s Red Storm host the Long Beach State 49ers Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Long Beach State with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Long Beach State has lost three straight games, but all three have come on the road and against stiff competition. The 49ers are one of the most dangerous mid-major programs in the country, as proven by a 4-0 ATS record in their last four games. 2. The Johnnies could get caught in a letdown Monday. Not only are the Red Storm looking ahead to the holiday break but they’re coming off a big win over St. Mary’s Friday night, but failed to cover as 6.5-point favorites in that contest. 3. Long Beach State can quickly light up a scoreboard with its perimeter shooting. The 49ers are hitting better than 39 percent from outside and have two of the most talented mid-major backcourts in the country with Mike Caffey and Tyler Lamb combining for almost 29 points a game.
Play on Long Beach State as a 10* Top Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Monday 8* (Regular Play) on Brigham Young vs. Memphis @ 2:00 p.m. ET
The BYU Cougars face the Memphis Tigers in the Miami Beach Bowl Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on BYU with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Cougars are a seasoned bowl program going up against a Memphis team that hasn’t been bowling since 2008. Expect the lights to be a little bright for the Tigers Monday. 2. Brigham Young is playing its best football to end the year and won’t lose too much momentum with this bowl game early into the month The Cougars have won four in a row, going 3-1 ATS in that span. Brigham Young was 4-2 SU and ATS away from Provo this season and covered in four of its last five bowl games. 3. Memphis struggled when stepping up in competition this season. The Tigers fell to UCLA and Ole Miss and puffed up their record with wins against weak AAC opponents. They take on a powerful BYU offense that averaged 36.2 points per game despite losing its top QB and RB midway through the schedule.
Play on Brigham Young as an 8* Regular Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on Arizona vs. Seattle @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The Arizona Cardinals host the Seattle Seahawks Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Arizona with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Arizona has the running game and zone-blocking technique to keep the ball moving on the ground. The Cardinals, despite losing RB Andre Ellington, where able to push St. Louis around for 143 yards rushing last Thursday. Establishing the ground game is not only important to keeping the pressure of QB Ryan Lindley, but will ice Seattle’s offense on the sideline. 2. Arizona’s defense continues to keep it in games. The Cardinals are one of the most aggressive stop units in the league and will throw plenty of pressure at Russell Wilson Sunday night. Arizona had seven sacks in the loss to Seattle on Nov. 23 and has 33 sacks and numerous QB pressures on the season. 3. Arizona head coach Bruce Arians isn’t going to back off on offense with this third-string QB taking snaps. Arians says he will attack the Seattle secondary with deep throws and won’t dumb down his playbook. The Cardinals have some talented targets down field and a proven third-down option in WR Larry Fitzgerald, who missed the first meeting with Seattle. Arizona has covered the spread in six of its last eight home games versus the Seahawks.
Play on Arizona as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Sunday 10* (Top Play) on Georgia vs. Seton Hall @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Georgia Bulldogs host the Seton Hall Pirates Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Georgia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Bulldogs have had two weeks to prepare for the Pirates, having last hit the court on Dec. 7. Georgia picked up back-to-back wins before the finals break and has a solid game plan Sunday night. 2. The time off has allowed UGA to return guard Kenny Gaines from a shoulder injury. Gaines averages 11.3 points per game but is just as impactful on the defensive end, leading the team in steals to start the year. 3. Georgia has a dominant defense inside and is one of the best shot-blocking teams in the country, which means Seton Hall has to stay hot from outside. The Pirates are one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the country but depending on those outside shots to drop is risky, especially when playing on the road. In the loss at Wichita State, Seton Hall went 8 for 20 from beyond the arc and turned the ball over 18 times. Long misses often turn into fastbreaks, so all UGA needs to do is get its heels above the 3-point arc and defend from distance. Play on Georgia as a 10* Top Selection Sunday. Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 10* (Top Play) on Indianapolis at Dallas @ 4:25 p.m. ET
The Dallas Cowboys host the Indianapolis Colts Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Indianapolis with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Indianapolis is still in the hunt for a top seed and home field in the AFC, so this non-conference matchup is very important to the Colts. Not having to travel to Denver or New England could be the difference when it comes to making the Super Bowl. 2. Dallas is terrible at home. The Cowboys are just 2-5 ATS inside AT&T Stadium this season and welcome an Indianapolis offense that will be right at home on the turf inside. 3. The Colts bring the best passing game in the NFL to Arlington, and even with WR TY Hilton nursing an injury, Andrew Luck has plenty of options. Dallas has given up an average of 256 passing yards over the past three games and opponents have been able to convert on third down on 44.69 percent of their snaps. On the other side of the ball, Indianapolis’ defense is tops in the league on third downs (32.95%).
Play on Indianapolis as a 10* Top Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on Chicago vs. Detroit @ 1:00 p.m. ET
The Chicago Bears take on the Detroit Lions Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Chicago with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. There is major turmoil in the Windy City but let’s not forget this is still a heated divisional rivalry. The Bears are at home and have a chance to play spoiler to the Lions postseason hopes. This is a lot of points to give the host team – regardless of the situation. 2. With Jimmy Clausen getting the start, expect a healthy dose of RB Matt Forte, who has been chomping at the bit for more touches. Not only with a run heavy attack keep the Lions potent pass game off the field but it will also relieve some of the pass rush pressure from Detroit’s defense. 3. For the amount of weapons Detroit has on offense, the scoring attack just hasn’t produced this season. The Lions managed only 16 points against Minnesota last week and has scored 20 or fewer points in four of their last six contests. Giving 8.5 points on the road could be a tall task for this team.
Play on Chicago as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

NBA *10* Top Play: Dallas Mavericks (-) points @ 8:35 ET - Quick hoops write-up on a busy Football Saturday. Simply put, this is an amazingly advantageous situation for the Mavs against the Spurs and it's the reason this gets a top play ranking even though Dallas is such a big favorite. Note that San Antonio (with a number of aging veterans) is playing their 8th game in 12 nights. Worse yet, this is the 2nd night of a back to back. Even worse yet, each of the Spurs last two games has gone into TRIPLE overtime! You will rarely ever see such a huge advantage in scheduling as this match-up provides. Note that the Mavericks haven't played since Wednesday while the Spurs come in tired and with significant personnel issues. Tony Parker is listed as doubtful. Kawhi Leonard is out. Tim Duncan is coming off a game in which he played 43 minutes last night. San Antonio is walking into a tough spot here as they are depleted and yet they face a Dallas team with playoff revenge from last year plus with revenge from a tight one point loss early this season in San Antonio. That is a big reason why laying the double digit points here is an easy call. The Mavs won't take their foot off the pedal in this one. Dallas is 27-16 ATS against divisional opponents the last 3 years. The Spurs are 4-7 ATS this season in games against teams with a winning record. Play Dallas minus the big points as a *10* Top Play selection Saturday.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on Air Force vs. Western Michigan @ 5:45 p.m. ET
The Air Force Falcons face the Western Michigan Broncos in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Air Force with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Air Force picked up a big win before bowl season, knocking off the Colorado State Rams in the finale game of the schedule. The Falcons finished the year on a 6-1 SU run and covered in five of those seven games. 2. Western Michigan backed into bowl season with a loss to Northern Illinois in the regular season finale. The Broncos didn’t knock off anyone of note this season and failed whenever they did step up in competition. Air Force on the other hand scored big-name victories over CSU and Boise State this year. 3. Much is made of the Falcons’ triple-option offense but the Air Force defense has been the big reason this program has done so well. The Falcons are giving up only 24.2 points per game and played with a similar speed on that side of the ball, leading to 33 sacks this season. The 3-4 defense is undersized by makes up for it in speed and smarts. They were able to slow up Boise State and Colorado State – two of the most explosive offensive teams in the country.
Play on Air Force as an 8* Regular Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on Philadelphia at Washington @ 4:30 p.m. ET
The Washington Redskins host the Philadelphia Eagles Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Philadelphia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Eagles can’t afford to drop another game after losing to Dallas last Sunday. Philadelphia will be very motivated to rebound from that loss and stay in the NFC East title hunt, and won’t take any chances Saturday. Expect the Eagles to pile on the points. 2. The Redskins offensive line is doing a terrible job of protecting the passer. Washington allowed Robert Griffin III to get sacked seven times against the Giants and have allowed 53 sacks on the season – second most in the NFL. Philadelphia has an aggressive pass rush that is among the fastest defenses in the league. The Eagles have 47 sacks on the season – second most in the NFL. 3. Turnovers have killed the Eagles offense, especially when it comes to QB Mark Sanchez recently. Philadelphia will be careful with the playcalling and lean on dynamic RBs LeSean McCoy and Darren Sproles. Philadelphia’s relentless pace and dominating ground game will wear on Washington. The Redskins allow an average of 7.9 points per fourth quarter – fourth most in the NFL – and the defense will be running on empty come the final quarter after chasing around the Eagles around all afternoon.
Play on Philadelphia as an 8* Regular Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on Utah vs. Colorado State @ 3:30 p.m. ET
The Colorado State Rams face the Utah Utes in the Las Vegas Bowl Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Utah with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Utes were one of the most underrated teams in the country this season. Utah stumbled toward the end of the schedule but was a solid bet away from home with a 5-1 ATS record on the road. 2. Colorado State could have found itself in a much bigger bowl if not for a loss to Air Force in the final game of the regular season. It was only the Rams’ second loss of the season but dropped them enough to play on the opening weekend of bowl season, leaving them deflated for the Las Vegas Bowl and wondering what could have been. 3. Colorado State is reeling after head coach Jim McElwain took the job in Florida. The Rams are left with interim coach and offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin for Saturday. After such a great year, CSU has suffered some rough times heading into bowl season.
Play on Utah as an 8* Regular Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on Nevada vs. UL Lafayette @ 11:00 a.m. ET
The Nevada Wolf Pack face the UL Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns in the New Orleans Bowl Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Nevada with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. UL Lafayette looks like the better team when measuring the records of these two teams, but the Ragin’ Cajuns didn’t earn a win over any noteworthy opponents and lost to FCS Appalachian State in the second last game of the year. 2. Nevada has a potent offense that averaged 31.3 points per game. The most impressive part of the Wolf Pack attack is that it gets stronger as the game goes on. Nevada averages 19.4 points per second half, including a FBS-best 12.9 points per fourth quarter. UL Lafayette allows an average of 8.5 points per fourth quarter – 102nd in the country. 3. Oddsmakers are trimming this spread with the Ragin’ Cajuns holding a home-field edge in New Orleans but Nevada travels well and boasted a 5-1 ATS away from home this season. There is great value with the Wolf Pack Saturday.
Play on Nevada as an 8* Regular Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Friday 10* (Top Play) on Utah at Orlando @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Orlando Magic host the Utah Jazz Friday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Utah with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Orlando limps back home after two straight road losses and has only one victory in its last five contests. The Magic are averaging just under 89 points in that span, firing under their season average, and are just 4-5 ATS inside Amway Center this season. 2. Utah picked up a big road win over Miami last time out. The Jazz have turned up the intensity on offense the last two games, scoring 111 and 105 points – well over their season scoring mark of just 96.6 points per game. That offensive push has helped Utah cover in three straight contest heading into Friday. 3. Utah has covered in seven of the previous 10 encounters with Orlando and have gone a perfect 4-0 in its last four trips to the Amway Center.
Play on Utah as a 10* Top Selection Friday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Friday 8* (Regular Play) on St. Mary’s at St. John’s @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The St. John’s Red Storm host the St. Mary’s Gaels Friday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on St. Mary’s with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Gales stumbled around some tough situational spots recently. They lost Boise State before a win in Creighton and fell to Northern Arizona Tuesday before making this cross-country trip to Queens, New York. St. Mary’s is focused on the nationally-ranked Johnnies and is getting tremendous value with this spread. 2. St. Mary’s can light up the scoreboard, averaging 75.6 points per game to start the season. The Gaels are no strangers to the big stage, so a marquee road game won’t phase this program. They’ve covered in their last five clashes with Big East opponents, including the win over the Bluejays last week. 3. The Johnnies’ last loss came against Gonzaga at Madison Square Garden, falling 73-66 and allowing the Bulldogs to hit almost 53 percent from the field. No team in college basketball knows Gonzaga as well as St. Mary’s and you can be sure Gaels head coach Randy Bennett has studied that game film a few times, targeting what worked for Gonzaga against St. John’s pressure defense.
Play on St. Mary’s as an 8* Regular Selection Friday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on South Florida vs. Seton Hall @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The South Florida Bulls host the Seton Hall Pirates Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on South Florida with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Pirates stumbled in their first true road test of the season, losing 77-68 at Wichita State last week. Seton Hall wasn’t truly tested on the road, instead playing all of its games away from home on neutral courts. The Pirates coughed the ball up 18 times, was outworked on the boards and shot an embarrassing 57 percent from the foul line versus the Shockers. 2. South Florida started hot but has fallen off that pace with three straight losses. Head coach Orlando Antigua benched his starters to open the second half of USF’s loss to Georgia Southern and will light a fire under his players for this important home game. 3. The Bulls like to get out and run, and have some big guys who can fill the lanes. South Florida has the fifth-highest percentage of points coming inside the 3-point arc, so they like to get around the rim before pulling the trigger, and is shooting 55.2 percent on 2-point field goals – which ranks in the Top 20 in the country. This is an efficient offense that can pile it on if Seton Hall struggles away from home again.
Play on South Florida as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Wednesday 10* (Top Play) on Atlanta at Cleveland @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Cleveland Cavaliers host the Atlanta Hawks Wednesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Atlanta with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Hawks are one of the hottest teams in the NBA, winning 10 of their last 11 games. Atlanta didn’t let a loss to Orlando throw its off, rebounding with a win over Chicago Monday. The Hawks are holding opponents to an average of just over 88 points per game in this span – a big step up in intensity from their season average of 96.9 points against. 2. Cleveland has also been stacking wins with its own winning run but has stumbled against elite competition recently. The Cavaliers fell to New Orleans and Oklahoma City last week – two teams that rely on defense to get the job done. 3. Cleveland comes into this matchup highly overvalued by the oddsmakers and has failed to cover in four straight games and is 2-6 ATS in its last eight outings.
Play on Atlanta as a 10* Top Selection Wednesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Wednesday 10* (Top Play) on Tennessee at North Carolina State @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The North Carolina Wolfpack host the Tennessee Volunteers Wednesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Tennessee with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Volunteers overcame a nine-point halftime hole against Butler last time out, doubling up the Bulldogs 42-21 in the second half to secure their second straight win. Tennessee took a victory over Kansas State the game before and is 7-2-2 ATS in its last 11 outings when coming off a win. 2. North Carolina State is coming off a crushing upset at the hands of Wofford. The Wolfpack had what would have been a game-winning buzzer beater called back and instead settled for a 55-54 loss as 10-point favorites. They haven’t faced that tough a schedule to start the year, with their only other loss coming at Purdue. NC State has covered the spread just once in its last seven non-conference contests. 3. Tennessee on the other hand has been playing a tough slate of games the past month. On top of those wins over Butler and Kansas State, the Volunteers took on Marquette and Kansas at the Orlando Classic in November. Despite that high level of competition, oddsmakers are still discounting UT on the road.
Play on Tennessee as a 10* Top Selection Wednesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Tuesday 10* (Top Play) on Drexel at Buffalo @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Buffalo Bulls host the Drexel Dragons Tuesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Drexel with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Drexel has played some top-tier opponents to start the season, with names like St. Joseph’s, Colorado, Miami, USC. Cornell and LaSalle on their schedule. The Dragons have tested themselves during non-conference play and are a much better team than their record would indicate. 2. The Dragons are ranked in the Top 50 in team defense, giving up just 58.6 points per game – 42nd in the country. Drexel has held its last three opponents to an average of 51.6 points, limiting foes to 40.3 percent shooting in that span. 3. Buffalo is coughing up the ball 14.6 times an outing, including 16 turnovers in its game against Robert Morris. The Dragons defense can turn those mistakes into easy buckets, making it a frustrating night for the Bulls. This is a big spread for Buffalo to handle, even at home.
Play on Drexel as a 10* Top Selection Tuesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Monday 8* (Regular Play) on New Orleans at Chicago @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The Chicago Bears host the New Orleans Saints Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on New Orleans with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Saints are in must-win mode after a bad loss to Carolina last week. New Orleans is not out of the NFC South race and head coach Sean Payton isn’t giving up on the season. He shook things up in the Big Easy this week, trimming some fat off the roster and holding one-on-one meetings with players, trying to light a fire under his team. 2. Chicago, on the other hand, is just counting down the days until the 2014 schedule is finally over. The Bears suffered a bad loss to Dallas at home last Thursday, losing WR Brandon Marshall in the process. The coaching staff is blasting QB Jay Cutler and there is a poison atmosphere in the Windy City. 3. The Saints love to play on the Monday night stage, going 5-2 ATS in their last seven MNF games. Unlike past seasons, this New Orleans team has shown a toughness on the road. It has won back-to-back games away from home, thanks in part of a balanced offense that can run the ball and take pressure off QB Drew Brees and the passing attack.
Play on New Orleans as an 8* Regular Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Monday 8* (Regular Play) on Philadelphia vs. Boston @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Philadelphia 76ers host the Boston Celtics Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Philadelphia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Boston was putting up big points thanks to a break-neck pace of play, but the Celtics offense has hit a speed bump in their last two outings. Boston scored 87 and 95 points in their last two games respectively, losses to Charlotte and New York – well under their season scoring average of 104.2 points per game. 2. Philadelphia continues to cover, playing better basketball than it was during that embarrassing losing skid. The Sixers held their own against one of the best in the West, losing to Memphis in two overtime periods but covering as 10-point underdogs. The 76ers have covered in seven of their last 10 contests. 3. Philadelphia is getting solid production from its reserves during this stretch. Against the Grizzlies, the 76ers received 40 points off the bench. Leading scorer Tony Wroten provided 17 of those points working his way back from injury. Reserve-made-starter Robert Covington continues to contribute, scoring 24 points versus Memphis, and is averaging more than 19 points over the last six games.
Play on Philadelphia as an 8* Regular Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Monday 10* (Top Play) on Georgia Southern at South Florida @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The South Florida Bulls host the Georgia Southern Eagles Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Georgia Southern with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Eagles narrowly missed on an upset of Central Florida last time out, losing 61-59 on a 3-point shot that went in and out. Georgia Southern had won four straight before that loss, including another narrow loss to a major conference programs. It was edged 80-71 by Illinois in the season opener, covering as a 23-point underdog. 2. The Eagles have the 40th-ranked offense in the country, putting up 77 points per game. Georgia Southern is paced by senior Jelani Hewitt, one of the best mid-major players in the country, who is averaging 21.5 points a night. 3. The Eagles are tough on the road and tough against non-conference opponents, posting a 4-1-1 ATS mark in the last six away games and last six contests outside the Sun Belt. The Bulls haven’t been so kind, covering just twice in their last eight games and lugging a 7-20 ATS mark in their last 27 tilts inside the Sun Dome.
Play on Georgia Southern as a 10* Top Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on Philadelphia vs. Dallas @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The Philadelphia Eagles host the Dallas Cowboys Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Philadelphia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Eagles torched the Cowboys on Thanksgiving, with their speed exposing what is a slow-moving, lumbering Dallas defense. Philadelphia will once again pick up the tempo and leave the Cowboys in their dust Sunday night. 2. The Eagles’ speed isn’t just reserved to the offense. The Philadelphia defense is one of the fastest stop units in the NFL and were one of the few teams to crack Dallas’ talented offensive line. Philadelphia had Cowboys QB Tony Romo on the run all night – recording four sacks – and snuffed out RB DeMarco Murray, allowing just 73 yards on 20 carries from the NFL’s rushing leader. 3. The Cowboys defense has fallen apart since the beginning of November. It’s allowed an average of 26.8 points per game in its last five games and can’t get opposing defenses off the field. The Cowboys are watching foes convert on 51.22 percent of their third downs over the past three games. That’s killed Dallas’ time of possession numbers – holding on to the ball for an average of only 28:58 in that span. Playing keep away from the Eagles is Dallas’ best chance at staying in this game but it will be tough to do with the defense getting rolled over.
Play on Philadelphia as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on Western Michigan at Pacific @ 8:00 p.m. ET
The Pacific Tigers host the Western Michigan Broncos Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Western Michigan with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Western Michigan has a potent offense that is putting up more than 75 points a night. The Broncos are especially dangerous from distance, shooting 41.5 percent from beyond the 3-point arc. 2. Pacific depends mostly on its backcourt to carry the team, specifically guard TJ Wallace. He’s strong on the basketball and does it all for the Tigers. Get to Wallace early and keeping him off the boards is key for the Broncos. Western Michigan has a much deeper bench so keeping fresh bodies coming at Wallace will wear him down. 3. Western Michigan was plagued with turnover issues early in the season, as the offense found its form. After averaging more than 14 turnovers per game to start the season, the Broncos have given up the ball an average of just 11 times in the last three and coughed the ball up only five times in a loss to Northeastern. On defense, WMU forces more than 15 turnovers per game. Pacific has turned the ball over an average of 11.3 times in its last three outings.
Play on Western Michigan as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Sunday 10* (Top Play) on Miami vs. Chicago @ 6:05 p.m. ET
The Miami Heat host the Chicago Bulls Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Miami with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Heat are back in South Beach after an extended road trip which ended with a win in Utah. Miami has enjoyed some time off and has a huge Eastern Conference matchup with Chicago. The home teams has covered in each of the last four games between these teams. 2. Chicago’s road record is deceiving. While it looks like the Bulls have rolled over opposition on their own courts, they’ve faced some weaker teams away from the Windy City. Chicago has notable road wins over the Clippers and Raptors, but the remaining victories away from home have come against all teams either at the bottom of the standings or the middle of the pack. They couldn’t cut it against better opposition, like Portland, Sacramento or Denver. 3. There is some added motivation to beat Chicago on the Miami sideline. Former Bulls forward Luol Deng has a bone to pick with Chicago after the franchise cut ties and dealt him for peanuts. He’s not the only one stepping up Sunday. Guard Dwyane Wade, a Chicago native, always gets up to play the Bulls and takes on the challenge of playing fellow Windy City product Derrick Rose, in a battle to see who’s the best to come out of Chicago.
Play on Miami as a 10* Top Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on Indianapolis vs. Houston @ 1:00 p.m. ET
The Indianapolis Colts host the Houston Texans Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Indianapolis with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Indianapolis knows it has a target on its back and can’t afford to slip up in December. The Colts are just ahead of the Texans in the AFC South standings and holding out hope for a shot at home field in the postseason. This is a must-win for Indianapolis. 2. The Colts have dominated the Texans at home since Houston brought back a franchise. The Texans are 0-12 SU and 3-9 ATS in Indianapolis with their last road cover coming way back in 2008. 3. Houston’s defense has been a bend-but-don’t-break unit, allowing 373 yards per game (25th in NFL) but just an average of just 20 points per game (7th in the NFL). The Colts erupted for 33 points and 370 passing yards from Andrew Luck in their win over the Texans back in Week 6, with TY Hilton having another big game versus Houston. He caught all nine passes thrown his way for 223 yards and a touchdown.
Play on Indianapolis as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 10* (Top Play) on Cincinnati at Cleveland @ 1:00 p.m. ET
The Cleveland Browns host the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Cincinnati with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Browns are giving the ball to Johnny Manziel under center, and that prompted a line move on Cleveland. Regardless of public opinion, the Browns are marching out a rookie QB for his first start and this spread has no business being this short. There’s great value on Cincinnati here. 2. The Browns offense was also out of sorts before throwing a completely new QB into the mix. Star WR Josh Gordon was targeted seven times and made just two catches for 15 yards in his first game back. This is Manziel’s first week working with the first teamers and you can expect more than a few miscues Sunday. The Bengals have 12 interceptions on the season. 3. Cincinnati is in danger of slipping back in the AFC North and falling out of the playoff picture. The Bengals will institute a run-heavy game plan behind RBs Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard. Hills is more of a downhill runner while Bernard has the ability to catch the short pass and pick up gains after the catch. Cleveland is allowing 129.5 rushing yards per game which ranks 26th in the NFL.
Play on Cincinnati as a 10* Top Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Saturday 10* (Top Play) on Portland at Indiana @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Indiana Pacers host the Portland Trail Blazers Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Portland with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Damian Lillard erupted for 35 points in a loss to the Bulls Friday night, shooting 7 for 11 from 3-point range. Lillard is the type of scorer that can carry a team when he has the hot hand. He had just 23 points in his last meeting with Indiana but was overcoming an illness and suffered a hand injury in that 88-82 victory over the Pacers. 2. Indiana is playing its third game in four nights – as are the Blazers – but the Pacers home court edge is no longer an X-factor. They’ve failed to cover in four of their last six home stands (3-7-1 ATS at home on the season) and are just 2-5 ATS in their last seven overall. A lack of scoring has plagued Indiana, averaging only 93.6 points per game. 3. With both teams coming off Friday night games and playing a tough stretch of schedule, it will be the Blazers’ scoring depth that will prevail. On top of Lillard’s efforts, Portland big man LaMarcus Aldridge also scored 35 points versus the Bulls. Aldridge is a tough matchup, with his ability to stretch the defense with his mid-range shooting or play with his back to the basket.
Play on Portland as a 10* Top Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Saturday 10* (Top Play) on Tulsa vs. Oklahoma @ 2:30 p.m. ET
The Tulsa Golden Hurricane host the Oklahoma Sooners Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Tulsa with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Tulsa will have a huge home-court edge against their big bad state rivals Saturday. Expect the Donald Reynolds Center to be rocking and lift the Golden Hurricane to a solid performance – especially after losing to Div. II Southeastern Oklahoma State in their last outing. 2. The Golden Hurricane have already played some tough opponents during non-conference play. On top of major-conference foes like Oklahoma State and Auburn, Tulsa has also faced mid-major monsters Creighton and Wichita State. The Golden Hurricanes are always a tough team in non-conference play, covering 20 of their last 28 games against non-conference opponents. 3. Tulsa has an explosive backcourt featuring James Woodard and Shaquille Harrison, who combine to average almost 26 points per game. Those two have stepped it up in recent games and will test an inconsistent OU offense that has trouble producing away from home. The Sooner are averaging just 63.2 points per road game, compared to 83.3 points per game at home – a 20-point dip in production.
Play on Tulsa as a 10* Top Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on North Carolina at Kentucky @ 12:00 p.m. ET
The Kentucky Wildcats host the North Carolina Tar Heels Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on North Carolina with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Kentucky lost starting forward Alex Poythress for the season due to a torn ACL. While he was averaging only 5.5 points per game, Poythress is one of the rare veterans on this team and UK will miss his toughness and leadership. 2. Kentucky has been rotten against the spread in recent outings, failing to cover in three of their last four games in big part to an offensive power outage. The Wildcats have faced some lofty spreads and aren’t living up to oddsmakers’ expectations, including a flat effort in the win over Columbia. 3. North Carolina rebounded from a loss against Iowa with a dominating performance versus East Carolina. The Tar Heels have covered in three of their last four, including wins over Florida and UCLA in that span. North Carolina has covered in nine of the last 11 encounters with UK, including a push in that span.
Play on North Carolina as an 8* Regular Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Friday 6* (Regular Play) on Miami at Utah @ 9:00 p.m. ET
The Utah Jazz host the Miami Heat Friday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Miami with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Heat look to close out an unsuccessful road swing on a high note with a win in Utah. Last time out, Miami found itself in a tough spot playing the second night of a back-to-back in the altitude in Denver. The Heat have enjoyed a day off and face a Jazz team which they have covered in 13 of their previous 18 encounters with. 2. Utah is ripe for a letdown after snapping a nine-game losing skid against none of other than the San Antonio Spurs. The Jazz have managed to cover just twice in the last nine games. 3. Miami is looking to its defense to help spark some easy offense. The Heat couldn’t get the fastbreak going against the Nuggets but is among the leaders in forcing turnovers - 15.3 opponent turnovers per game. The Jazz played a conservative pace but still cough the ball up 14.9 times per game – 19 times in the win over San Antonio. The Heat are looking to turn those takeaways into buckets Friday.
Play on Miami as a 6* Regular Selection Friday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Friday 6* (Regular Play) on Iowa State at Iowa @ 8:00 p.m. ET
The Iowa Hawkeyes host the Iowa State Cyclones Friday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Iowa State with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Cyclones are down a big part of their rotation with Bryce Dejean-Jones suspended due to drug charges. While those charges have been reportedly drop, the Cyclones are ready to rally against the state rivals. Playing without a key contributor is nothing new for ISU, which rallied when star Georges Niang went down in the NCAA tournament. The Cyclones defeated North Carolina in the Round of 32 without Niang and know how to step up. 2. Due to the suspension, oddsmakers have quickly tacked on extra points to the spread, giving added value to this very resilient team playing in a heated rivalry. 3. Iowa State has plenty of talent to make up for this subtraction. Niang is one of the best in the country and punished Iowa for 24 points last season. Replacing Dejean-Jones in the starting lineup is Matt Thomas, who averages more than seven points per game and can stretch the defense with his 3-point shooting.
Play on Iowa State as a 6* Regular Selection Friday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Friday 6* (Regular Play) on Portland at Chicago @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Chicago Bulls host the Portland Trail Blazers Friday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Portland with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Blazers are looking to rebounds in a big way after losing outright to Minnesota Wednesday. Portland, which was on a five-game winning streak, was terribly flat in that game and will look for more energy on offense Friday night. 2. With Joakim Noah out with injury, Chicago will have a tough time matching up with Portland forward LaMarcus Aldridge, one of the most versatile big men in the league. Aldridge had a poor showing against the T-Wolves and his ability to work inside and stretch the defense with his mid-range game will give the Bulls frontcourt fits. 3. The Blazers have dominated the Bulls when it comes to the spread in their recent meetings. Portland has covered in six of their seven previous clashes and has cashed in five of its last seven trips to the Windy City.
Play on Portland as a 6* Regular Selection Friday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Thursday 10* (Top Play) on Central Florida at Illinois-Chicago @ 8:00 p.m. ET
The Illinois-Chicago Flames host the Central Florida Knights Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on UCF with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Illinois-Chicago showed some fight earlier in the non-conference schedule but have suffered bad loss in recent games. The Flames have dropped three straight, including back-to-back home losses. They’re just 1-6 ATS on the season. 2. Central Florida has a balanced attack that is tough to key in on just one player. Through their first seven games, the Knights have had five different players lead the team in scoring. That includes some solid efforts off the bench. The reserves contributed 23 points off the pine in the loss to Florida State. 3. UCF is among the top teams in the conference from beyond the arc, shooting better than 37 percent from distance. The Knights are knocking down an average of seven 3-pointers per game, and face a Illinois-Chicago team allowing opponents to shoot 38.5 percent from outside – 315th in the country.
Play on Central Florida as a 10* Top Selection Thursday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Wednesday 10* (Top Play) on Dallas vs. New Orleans @ 8:05 p.m. ET
The Dallas Mavericks host the New Orleans Pelicans Wednesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Dallas with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Mavericks continue to pace the NBA in scoring, averaging 110.4 points a night. Dallas has multiple options on offense – Dirk Nowitzki, Chandler Parsons, Monta Ellis – and is a tough team to stop even for the most defensively-sound squads. 2. Both teams are coming off games Tuesday night, so it will be the reserves who make the difference. The Mavs are among the top NBA teams in bench points, with an average of 36.8 points per game. New Orleans, on the other hand, doesn’t have the same depth and gets just 29.4 points per game from its bench. 3. The Mavericks have the size inside to keep the Pelicans off the glass. Dallas center Tyson Chandler is a threat to block shots and averages 11.7 rebounds per night. Nowitzki’s ability to hit from anywhere on the court will stretch the New Orleans defense and pull big men away from the rim, opening up space for Dallas’ other weapons.
Play on Dallas as a 10* Top Selection Wednesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Wednesday 8* (Regular Play) on Temple vs. Towson @ 8:00 p.m. ET
The Temple Owls host the Towson Tigers Wednesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Temple with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Temple has been playing at a very high level of competition to start the season. Not only have the Owls faced programs like Duke and UNLV in preseason tournament play but they’re coming off two Big 5 games against Philadelphia rivals. That intensity will bleed over into this matchup Wednesday. 2. Towson was rolling along until it took a step up in competition and was crushed by Georgetown last time out. The Tigers were thumped 78-46, and shot a dismal 0 for 12 from beyond the arc. Temple is limiting opponent to 60.1 points on 38.4 percent shooting, including just 26.5 percent from outside – 20th in the country. 3. This is a revenge game for the Owls, who lost 75-69 as 5-point underdogs at Towson last year. Temple won’t be taking the Tigers lightly and know they can’t afford to have blemishes against mid-major programs on their tournament resume. Expect the Owls to try and bury Towson at home Wednesday.
Play on Temple as an 8* Regular Selection Wednesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Wednesday 8* (Regular Play) on Philadelphia at Atlanta @ 7:30 p.m. ET
The Atlanta Hawks host the Philadelphia 76ers Wednesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Philadelphia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Philadelphia picked up its second win of the season versus Detroit Monday and rides that momentum into Wednesday’s game in Atlanta. The Sixers have covered in five straight games and are 7-1 ATS in their previous eight contests. 2. The Hawks are playing great basketball right now, which is adding a few more extra points to this line. However, Atlanta hasn’t been able to hold home court against Philadelphia in recent meetings, with the Sixers covering in five of their last seven games inside Philips Arena. 3. The 76ers are getting solid production off the bench during their recent turnaround. Philadelphia’s reserves contributed 43 points in the win over Detroit, 38 in the loss to Oklahoma City, and 32 in the victory against Minnesota. Second-year reserve forward Robert Covington has scored 63 total points in that span – an average of 21 points per night – to help boost the Sixers offense.
Play on Philadelphia as an 8* Regular Selection Wednesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Tuesday 10* (Top Play) on Toronto at Cleveland @ 7:05 p.m. ET
The Cleveland Cavaliers host the Toronto Raptors Tuesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Toronto with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Cleveland is coming off a blowout game in Brooklyn Monday and could get caught looking ahead to a possible NBA Finals preview with the Oklahoma City Thunder Thursday, especially since the Cavs rolled Toronto just last Friday. 2. The Raptors have revenge on their minds after getting beat 105-91 by the Cavaliers at home last Friday. Even with leading scoring DeMar DeRozan on the mend, Toronto is trying to stay among the top teams in the East and Cleveland is their biggest competition. 3. In DeRozan’s absence, the Raptors are getting a spirited effort off the bench. Toronto reserves Louis Williams and Patrick Patterson score 26 and 19 points respectively in the win over Denver Monday night. Toronto has been solid on the road, covering in five of their previous six away game. It’s also pulled its socks up on short rest, covering in three of its last five games which were the second halves of back-to-back outings, with a push in that span.
Play on Toronto as a 10* Top Selection Tuesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Tuesday 8* (Regular Play) on Villanova vs. Illinois @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Illinois Fighting Illini and Villanova Wildcats face off in Madison Square Garden Tuesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Villanova with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Wildcats are scoring 75.4 points a night behind a deep and balanced offense. Villanova has seven players averaging 7.6 points or more per game and got 40 points off the bench in their rivalry win over St. Joseph’s this past weekend. 2. Villanova is a dominant 6-1 ATS on the season and has won its last six games by a double-digit margin. The Wildcats have rolled over cupcakes either. On top of the win over St. Joe’s, they’ve also beat Michigan and VCU this season, covering in all three of those games. 3. Illinois hasn’t been great offensively in recent games. The Fighting Illini allowed America to control the pace of the game in their last outing, slowing down the action and limiting Illinois to only 48 shots. The Illini struggled from the field in the two game prior, shooting just under 36 percent against Miami and Baylor. Villanova is ranked 19th in the country, allowing just 55.8 points per game and will enforce its will on an overrated Illinois squad.
Play on Villanova as an 8* Regular Selection Tuesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Monday 8* (Regular Play) on Atlanta at Green Bay @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The Green Bay Packers host the Atlanta Falcons Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Atlanta with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Falcons are building momentum heading into the home stretch of the season, having won three of their last four, including a huge victory over the Arizona Cardinals last Sunday. Atlanta is try to stay atop the NFC South and earn that automatic playoff bid with the wild card out of the question. 2. The Falcons were able to dominate the NFL’s best defense with the ground game last week, rushing for 142 yards on 34 carries and chewing up 37:03 in time of possession. Atlanta faces a Green Bay stop unit allowing 132.2 rushing yards per game – 29th in the NFL. The Falcons can control the pace of the action and keep Aaron Rodgers and Packers powerful offense on the sidelines. 3. While many point to the Falcons issues on the road, Atlanta has been right at home in Lambeau Field in recent trips to Wisconsin. The Falcons have covered in each of their last four games in Green Bay. The road side has also been the big winner when the Falcons and Packers collide, covering in seven of the last eight overall meetings between these two franchises.
Play on Atlanta as an 8* Regular Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Monday 8* (Regular Play) on Yale at Florida @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Florida Gators host the Yale Bulldogs Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Yale as his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Many look at Yale’s upset over UConn as a big stunner but the Bulldogs are one of the top teams in the Ivy League and have played some stiff competition already this season. They won’t be intimidated by facing Florida Monday. 2. The Gators have dropped three of their last four games against some notable opponents and could come out flat after a crushing loss at Kansas. Florida held a 15-point halftime lead but squandered that cushion, losing 71-65 Friday. The Gators haven’t had much time to rest since that loss. They returned home early Saturday morning, had a short practice Sunday, and are back on the court tonight. 3. This is a feisty Bulldogs team that plays stingy defense and fights for every rebound. Yale limited UConn to 22 points below its season average and is giving up only 59.5 points an outing. The Bulldogs are going to battle for every loose ball. They grabbed 31 boards, including nine offensive rebounds, versus the Huskies.
Play on Yale as an 8* Regular Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on New England at San Diego @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The San Diego Chargers host the New England Patriots Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on New England with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Chargers defense isn’t generating any pressure on opposing passers, with only 18 sacks on the season. The last thing they want to do is giving Tom Brady extra time to pick apart the secondary. 2. The Patriots are coming off a game in which they limited the Green Bay Packers potent passing game to only 26 points – a solid defensive effort despite giving up 478 yards. New England is used to protecting against the deep ball – having just played Green Bay, Detroit, Indianapolis and Denver - and will face a Chargers offense with plenty of speed downfield. 3. Those expecting a dropoff in play due to the cross-country trip from the Patriots are dead wrong. In fact, the Pats have been on the West Coast since losing to Green Bay. New England flew directly to San Diego and has practiced there all week, getting accustomed to the time change. The Patriots have won five of the last six meetings with San Diego, posting a 4-2 ATS mark in those games.
Play on New England as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on Baltimore at Miami @ 1:00 p.m. ET
The Miami Dolphins host the Baltimore Ravens Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Baltimore with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Ravens missed out on a big win versus San Diego last week, getting edged by one points, and are try to stay in the race for the top spot in the AFC North. Baltimore have covered in each of its last four meetings with the Dolphins and has comes away with the cash in four of its last five trips to Miami. 2. Baltimore’s rushing attack is ranked among the best in the NFL, rumbling for 131.8 yards per game. Running back Justin Forsett has stepped up, averaging an incredible 5.6 yards per carry on the ground. Miami was just rolled for 201 yards rushing against Denver and gave up 277 yards on the ground to the Jets last week. 3. Ravens QB Joe Flacco has been steady under center in the past three games, passing for a total of 637 yards with four touchdowns and zero interceptions. Baltimore’s balanced attack is helping boost their production on the scoreboard, scoring 34 and 33 points in their last two outings.
Play on Baltimore as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 10* (Top Play) on Indianapolis at Cleveland @ 1:00 p.m. ET
The Cleveland Browns host the Indianapolis Colts Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Indianapolis with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The controversy has started in Cleveland, where pressure is on QB Brian Hoyer to fight for his job. Hoyer was yanked after throwing two interceptions against Buffalo last week, forcing the Browns to go with rookie Johnny Manziel. Hoyer will be playing extra tight knowing the bench is just one bad throw away. 2. Indianapolis will try to add to that pressure with a devastating pass rush that has recorded 34 sacks on the season – tied for fifth most in the league. The Colts defense has nine sacks the last two games. 3. There’s a personal edge to this game for the Colts, with former Cleveland castoffs RB Trent Richardson and KR Josh Cribbs on Indianapolis’ roster. The Browns gave up on both players, who will undoubtedly want to show up their former club. Richardson will go up against a run defense allowing 132.5 yards per game. The Colts will rally around these two guys and lay it on thick in front of the Cleveland faithful Sunday.
Play on Indianapolis as a 10* Top Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on Wisconsin vs. Ohio State @ 8:17 p.m. ET
The Ohio State Buckeyes face the Wisconsin Badgers in Lucas Oil Stadium Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Wisconsin with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Buckeyes march out unproven third-string QB Cardale Jones for the Big Ten title game, after losing J.T. Barrett to a broken ankle last week. Jones not only faces the pressure of the programs biggest game of the season but also a stingy Wisconsin defense. 2. The Badgers have a dominant offensive line that has plowed the road for the third-ranked rushing attack in the country, picking up 334.2 yards on the ground per game. Running back Melvin Gordon is gained 2,260 yards rushing and will control the pace of the game and wear down the Buckeyes stop unit over four quarters. 3. As mentioned, Wisconsin’s defense doesn’t give much to its opponents. The Badgers are limiting foes to only 260.3 yards a contest – second lowest in the FBS. They’ve locked down opposing passers for an average of only 156.6 yards and have 35 sacks on the year.
Play on Wisconsin as an 8* Regular Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 10* (Top Play) on Kansas State vs. Baylor @ 7:45 p.m. ET
The Baylor Bears host the Kansas State Wildcats Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Kansas State with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Kansas State’s defense is tuning up just in time for this showdown with the Bears explosive offense. Outside of a loss to TCU, the Wildcats have limited their last four opponents to an average of just under 12 points in that span – including high-powered West Virginia, which bested Baylor 41-27 in Week 8. 2. Baylor has puffed up its record and stats with a soft schedule. It’s why the Bears are currently on the outside of the College Football Playoff picture entering this high-pressure game. Baylor just avoided an upset to Texas Tech last week, showing just how fragile this program is right now. 3. The Wildcats have dominated Baylor at the window in recent meetings, covering the spread in four of their last five encounters. Kansas State was once again among the top money makers in the college ranks, with an 8-3 ATS record heading into Saturday. It’s also covered in 13 of its last 15 road games, with a push in that span.
Play on Kansas State as a 10* Top Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on Missouri vs. Alabama @ 4:00 p.m. ET
The Alabama Crimson Tide faces the Missouri Tigers in the Georgia Dome Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Missouri with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Missouri has an underrated defense which ranks 16th nationally - 330.9 yards allowed per game – and has allowed just under two touchdowns an outing. The Tigers have an aggressive pass rush that has totaled 38 sacks this year – most in the SEC. 2. Alabama must be careful of a letdown following a very emotional win over Auburn in the Iron Bowl. The Tide were jacked up to exact revenge on the Tigers for last year’s shocking upset and may find themselves flat in this game. Alabama allowed 44 points to Auburn last weekend – definitely causing red flags to fly for a defense that allows an average of only 16.9 points per game. 3. The Tigers are accustomed to life away from home. They’ve covered in all five road games this season and have an 11-0 SU and ATS road streak going back to last season.
Play on Missouri as an 8* Regular Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on Marshall vs. Louisiana Tech @ 12:00 p.m. ET
The Marshall Thunder Herd host the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Marshall with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Marshall takes the field with vengeance Saturday, coming off its first loss of the season. While the Thundering Herd are likely out of the big bowl game conversation, they don’t want to let a C-USA title slip through their hands. Expect an extra effort from the Herd. 2. Louisiana Tech comes out of the C-USA West, a much weaker side of the conference. The Bulldogs were able to punch their ticket to the title game with an 8-4 record and have been bowled over by tougher competition this season, not to mention a bad loss to Old Dominion in the second last game of the season. 3. Marshall has too much punch on offense. Quarterback Rakeem Cato is one of the better unknown talents in college football, passing for 3,314 yards and 35 touchdowns. He’s backed by a dominating rushing attack, which ranked seventh in the country with an average of 288.5 yards per game. Running back Devon Johnson is questionable with a shoulder injury Saturday but behind him is Steward Butler, who rumbled for 233 yards in the loss to Western Kentucky last week.
Play on Marshall as an 8* Regular Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Friday 10* (Top Play) on Oregon vs. Arizona @ 9:00 p.m. ET
The Oregon Ducks face the Arizona Wildcats at Levi's Stadium Friday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Oregon with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Oregon’s lone loss came at the hands of the Wildcats, so Friday’s Pac-12 title game is loaded with revenge for the Ducks. Oregon not only needs to win the conference crown to stay in the College Football Playoff picture but winning in blowout fashion over their one defeat would definitely boost their sitting with the CFP committee and earn a possible No. 1 seed. 2. Arizona QB Anu Solomon is showing his inexperience as the pressure mounts. The freshman is averaging just under 199 yards passing over his last five games, and failed to throw a TD pass in two of those games. The Wildcats top receiver Samajie Grant won’t start Friday night after being cited for a DUI. 3. While Oregon’s offense gets all the attention, the Ducks stop unit has tightened up in recent weeks. Oregon allowed an average of just 18 points per game in its last four contests. The Ducks are putting an emphasis on shutting down the big plays Arizona’s offense is known for and is taking Friday’s game very personal after losing the last two meetings with the Wildcats – allowing a combined 73 points in those defeats.
Play on Oregon as a 10* Top Selection Friday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Friday 10* (Top Play) on Philadelphia vs. Oklahoma City @ 7:05 p.m. ET
The Philadelphia 76ers host the Oklahoma City Thunder Friday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Philadelphia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Sixers have been a solid bet in recent outings, covering the spread in five of their last six. Philadelphia is finally coming off a win, defeating the T-Wolves 85-77 as a 7-point road underdog. 2. Oklahoma City has returned its two star players in Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, boosting this spread even more. The Thunder now have to work those scorers back into an offense that was ranked among the bottom in the league without them. There will be some timing and chemistry issues as Durant and Westbrook play themselves back into form. 3. Philadelphia got a solid effort from its bench in the win at Minnesota, with the reserves chipping in 32 of the team’s total 85 points. The Thunder don’t have much in reserves so the Sixers should be able to produce when they look down the bench Friday night.
Play on Philadelphia as a 10* Top Selection Friday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Friday 10* (Top Play) on Providence at Boston College @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Boston College Eagles host the Providence Friars Friday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Providence with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Providence Friars are coming off a one-sided loss to Kentucky last Sunday and have had plenty of time off to rest up and prepare for this road trip. The Friars hung with the No. 1 team in the country for the first half, down 26-22 at the break, before UK’s overwhelming talent took over in the final 20 minutes. 2. This Providence team it tested with a tough non-conference schedule. The Friars won the Hall of Fame Tip-Off tournament with victories over Florida State and Notre Dame and edged Yale, one of the best teams in the Ivy League, before going down swinging against Kentucky. 3. Boston College has had a tough time playing up to stronger competition, losing to Dayton, West Virginia and UMass already this year. The Eagles, who are scoring just 64.5 points a game, will have a tough time against the Friars defense, which has limited opponent to an average of 58.3 points and held Kentucky to a season-low 58 points – 21 points fewer than UK’s season scoring average.
Play on Providence as a 10* Top Selection Friday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Thursday 10* (Top Play) on Iowa State vs. Arkansas @ 9:00 p.m. ET
The Iowa State Cyclones host the Arkansas Razorbacks Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Iowa State with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Most programs are overwhelmed by Arkansas’ offensive pace, but Iowa State will be able to fire back at the Razorbacks Thursday. The Cyclones average 83.4 points per game and are coming off a 96-point performance versus Lamar. 2. Iowa State rolled Lamar Tuesday and offered head coach Fred Hoiberg a chance to rest his starters in the second half. The Cyclones will need those fresh legs to keep pace with the Hogs, who have a deep rotation. 3. Arkansas’ offense thrives on turnovers, averaging 9.5 steals a game. Iowa State played sloppy in the loss to Maryland but is among the best teams in the country at protecting the ball, averaging just 10 turnovers a game – tied for 12th lowest in the nation. The Cyclones won’t give the Razorbacks any extra opportunities on offense and it will show on the scoreboard.
Play on Iowa State as a 10* Top Selection Thursday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on Chicago vs. Dallas @ 8:25 p.m. ET
The Chicago Bears host the Dallas Cowboys Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Chicago with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Dallas makes another cold weather trip to the Windy City. The Cowboys were embarrassed in Chicago last season, playing in sub-zero temperatures. Dallas didn’t want any part of that game. This season, the mercury isn’t as low but the forecast is calling for temperatures in the low 30s and winds making it feel a lot colder on the field. Expect the Cowboys to be out of their comfort zone Thursday. 2. The Cowboys defense is crumbling. The stop unit has overperformed all season but is getting exposed in recent weeks. Dallas is allowing 404.7 yards per game over its last three contests, which ranks third worst in the NFL during that span. 3. Chicago is hungry for a victory after getting rolled by the Lions on Thanksgiving Day. Expect a healthy dose of RB Matt Forte, who only carried the ball six times last Thursday. The Cowboys were bowled over for 256 yards rushing in the loss to the Eagles and will have a tough time slowing down a motivated Forte Thursday night.
Play on Chicago as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Thursday 8* (Regular Play) on UCF at East Carolina @ 7:30 p.m. ET
The East Carolina Pirates host the UCF Knights Thursday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on UCF with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Knights can capture a share of the AAC regular season title with a win in East Carolina Thursday night. Central Florida rides a three-game winning streak into this season finale, including a tough road win in South Florida last week. 2. East Carolina was looking like a Cinderella out of the AAC early in the season but the wheels fell off the bus with losses at Temple and Cincinnati. The Pirates righted the ship with wins over AAC basement dwellers Tulane and Tulsa and are getting too much credit for those victories from oddsmakers in this game. 3. UCF has a smothering defense that ranks tops in the AAC and fourth in the nation, allowing only 271.2 yards per outing this season. East Carolina has avoided the AAC’s top defenses until now but was upended by Temple, which has the fourth-best defense in the conference, holding the Pirates to only 10 points.
Play on UCF as an 8* Regular Selection Thursday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Wednesday 10* (Top Play) on Miami vs. Atlanta @ 7:30 p.m. ET
The Miami Heat host the Atlanta Hawks Wednesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Miami with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Hawks traveled overnight to South Beach to play the second half of back-to-back games after narrowly defeating an up-tempo Celtics team Tuesday. This is a tough spot against a physical Heat side trying to catch Atlanta in the Southeast standings. 2. Miami has this home stand before hitting the road for an extended road trip Friday. The Heat suffered a rough 107-86 loss in Washington last time out and want to build some steam before hitting the road. 3. The Heat have held home court in previous meetings with the Hawks in South Beach. Miami has won five in a row over Atlanta at home and have covered in 20 of their previous 28 encounters inside American Airlines Arena.
Play on Miami as a 10* Top Selection Wednesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Wednesday 10* (Top Play) on Iowa at North Carolina @ 7:30 p.m. ET
The North Carolina Tar Heels host the Iowa Hawkeyes Wednesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Iowa with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. North Carolina lost to Butler, a team with a similar build to Iowa, which relies on hard-nosed defense and controlling the pace of the game. The Heels want to get up and down the court, but if the Hawkeyes can grind the speed of the game down, they can throw UNC out of its comfort zone. 2. North Carolina has been sloppy with the basketball, averaging 16.3 turnovers over its last three outings, including 19 turnovers in the win over Florida on the weekend. Iowa’s defense has forced 18.7 turnovers per game over its last three outings. 3. Iowa has the size to compete and force UNC to the perimeter. The Hawkeyes bring Big Ten blocks leader Gabriel Olaseni off the bench and have 7-foot-1 center Adam Woodbury in the middle, not to mention two athletic forwards in Jarrod Uthoff and Aaron White – standing 6-foot-9 and 6-foot-8.
Play on Iowa as a 10* Top Selection Wednesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Wednesday 8* (Regular Play) on Temple at St. Joseph’s @ 6:30 p.m. ET
The St. Joseph’s Hawks host the Temple Owls Wednesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Temple with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. These Big 5 rivalry games are always close, exciting battles. Like most heated college rivalries, there is a ton of added value on the underdogs in these matchups. 2. St. Joe’s is coming off a loss to Western Kentucky. The Hawks offense is struggling and has only cracked the 60-point mark in two games so far this season. They’re shooting 38 percent from the field and just over 24 percent from beyond the arc. 3. Temple has dominated its Philadelphia rival when it comes to cover the spread versus the Hawks. The Owls have won ATS in 11 of the last 14 clashes between these Big 5 teams, including last season’s 77-69 victory as 1.5-point favorites.
Play on Temple as an 8* Regular Selection Wednesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Tuesday 10* (Top Play) on Boston at Atlanta @ 7:30 p.m. ET
The Atlanta Hawks host the Boston Celtics Tuesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Boston with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Celtics run one of the fastest offensive paces in the NBA, ranked third overall in points per 100 possessions (100.0). Their athletic backcourt of Rajon Rondo and Avery Bradley is the engine behind that offense. Atlanta’s offense is based more on efficient shooting and plays a much slower pace. The Celtics will set the tempo and bring the Hawks out of their comfort zone, forcing Atlanta to rush on offense. 2. Boston could catch Atlanta looking ahead to its big divisional battle in Miami Wednesday. The Hawks are just ahead of the Heat in the Southeast standings and need that game a lot more than Tuesday’s contest. 3. The Hawks have a tendency to run cold when coming off an extended break. Atlanta hasn’t been on the court since Saturday and is a staggering 6-25 ATS when playing on two-days rest.
Play on Boston as a 10* Top Selection Tuesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Tuesday 10* (Top Play) on Syracuse at Michigan @ 7:30 p.m. ET
The Michigan Wolverines host the Syracuse Orange Tuesday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Syracuse with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Wolverines are banged up heading into the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Point guard Derrick Walton Jr. is nursing a toe injury and is a game-time decision. Forward D.J. Wilson is out for at least three weeks due to a sprained knee. Walton, who averages 13.8 points per game, missed the weekend game versus Nicholls State and was seen on crutches. 2. Michigan’s one loss came at the hands of Villanova, who bullied the Wolverines with strong physical play and blocked five shots while dominating the board. Syracuse is cast from a similar mold and will look to use its size to slow down Michigan’s up-tempo attack. 3. With the Orange’s 2-3 zone throwing a lot of size at Michigan, head coach John Beilein has no choice but to play two true forwards and break up his quick four-guard set. The Wolverines frontcourt is very young and will go against a veteran Syracuse forward corps who will take advantage of those mismatches.
Play on Syracuse as a 10* Top Selection Tuesday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Monday 8* (Regular Play) on NY Jets vs. Miami @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The New York Jets host the Miami Dolphins Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on NY Jets with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Jets are making a switch at QB, turning back to Geno Smith over Mike Vick. Smith looked much for comfortable under center in relief of Vick last week, posting a 97.6 QB rating – his highest of the season. 2. The Dolphins were rolled for more than 200 yards rushing versus Denver’s so-so ground game last week. Miami, which ranks 10th in rushing defense at 104.2 yards per game, goes up against a potent Jets run playbook, with a strong RB tandem in Chris Ivory and Chris Johnson. New York is picking up 136.4 yards on the ground an outing – third best in the NFL. 3. Miami’s secondary is beat up heading into this Monday matchup, and New York has the talent to exploit that weakness with speedsters Percy Harvin and Eric Decker. The Jets run game will open up the passing lanes, especially on playaction. Play on NY Jets as an 8* Regular Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Monday 10* (Top Play) on Philadelphia vs. San Antonio @ 7:05 p.m. ET
The Philadelphia 76ers host the San Antonio Spurs Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Philadelphia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Sixers are playing hard despite their 0-16 record to start the season. Philadelphia gave Dallas a run for its money Saturday, losing 110-103 but covering as a 12.5-point home underdog. Value is there with the 76ers, who have covered in three of their last four outings. 2. San Antonio is playing the second game of back-to-back road outings, winning 111-89 in Boston Sunday. The Spurs are one of the oldest teams in the league and have big games in Brooklyn and Memphis coming up. Don’t be surprised if San Antonio is a few steps slower Monday night. 3. The Philadelphia offense, which ranks at the bottom of the league in almost all categories, has shown signs of life recently. The Sixers have cracked the century mark on the scoreboard in two of their last three contests, shooting better than 44 percent and averaging 99.3 points over that span.

Play on Philadelphia as a 10* Top Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Monday 8* (Regular Play) on Nebraska at Florida State @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Florida State Seminoles host the Nebraska Cornhuskers Monday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Nebraska with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Florida State has already been dealt three losses this season – Providence, UMass, Northeastern – struggling to put up points with shooting issues plaguing the early games. 2. The Noles are expected to be veteran guards Devon Bookert and Aaron Thomas again Monday. Bookert is out due to a foot injury and Thomas, who averages 14 points per game, is dealing with a dehydration and illness. 3. Nebraska boasts one of the top players in the country in Terran Petteway. The 6-foot-6 forward is scoring more than 20 points and grabbing 5.6 rebounds per night. He’s not just a force on offense either, blocking 1.6 shots a night. Play on Nebraska as an 8* Regular Selection Monday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on Denver at Kansas City @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The Kansas City Chiefs host the Denver Broncos Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Denver with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Denver hasn’t played its best football the last two weeks, losing to St. Louis and narrowly avoiding another upset against Miami. The Broncos know that level of football won’t cut it in Arrowhead Stadium. Expect Denver to pick it up against this divisional foe, covering the spread in eight of their last 12 games versus AFC West rivals. 2. The Broncos aren’t just leaning on their passing game to get the job done and can keep the Chiefs defense on their toes with the emergence of their rushing attack. Denver rumbled for 205 yards in the win over Miami and had 118 yards against Oakland three weeks ago. A potent running game will limit the amount of pressure Kansas City can bring at Peyton Manning, opening up the passing attack. 3. The Chiefs have weapons but aren’t the most explosive offense, picking up only 5.3 yards per play – 21st in the NFL. If Denver gets up big – and it will – Kansas City can’t shift into that next gear. We saw this in the first meeting between these teams, when the Broncos jumped out early and Kansas City couldn’t come back, despite keeping Denver out of the end zone in second half.
Play on Denver as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 10* (Top Play) on New England at Green Bay @ 4:25 p.m. ET
The Green Bay Packers host the New England Patriots Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on New England with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Patriots have faced and conquered some of the elite passers in the NFL this season. New England has wins over Peyton Manning, Andrew Luck, and Matthew Stafford the last three games, so facing a red-hot Aaron Rodgers is nothing new to this secondary. 2. The Patriots offense isn’t getting the respect it deserves in this matchup. New England is putting the ball in the end zone any which way it can. One week, Tom Brady is hitting his WRs for huge strikes. The next TE Rob Gronkowski is plowing through the secondary. And the week after that, New England is rushing the ball down its opponent’s throat. The Pats have far too many ways to find paydirt. 3. Green Bay’s defense has depended on turnovers to make up for its sub-par stats. However, don’t expect New England to just hand the ball over. The Patriots have just nine turnovers on the year with all nine coming via Tom Brady, either by interception of fumble. New England just isn’t going to give Green Bay any extra chances with the football.
Play on New England as a 10* Top Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NFL Sunday 8* (Regular Play) on New Orleans at Pittsburgh @ 1:00 p.m. ET
The Pittsburgh Steelers host the New Orleans Saints Sunday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on New Orleans with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Saints are being undervalued in this matchup, with oddsmakers looking to their past struggles away from home when setting this line. New Orleans has been a bad pay on the road but has already shown it can win away from the Big Easy with a huge divisional victory in Carolina. 2. New Orleans isn’t relying solely on the passing game against the Steelers. The Saints have an impressive balance on offense, and are able to pound the football with RBs Mark Ingram and Pierre Thomas. New Orleans has the ninth-best rushing attack in the NFL, averaging 124.8 yards on the ground per game. They are among the top teams in time of possession - 30:46 – and can take the air out of the Steelers offense. 3. Saints TE Jimmy Graham is a handful for any defense, but Pittsburgh has been bullied by big TEs this season. Eight of the 19 receiving touchdowns Pittsburgh has allowed have been caught by tight ends. Graham had two TD catches in last week’s loss to Baltimore.
Play on New Orleans as an 8* Regular Selection Sunday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 10* (Top Play) on Washington State vs. Washington @ 10:30 p.m. ET
The Washington State Cougars host the Washington Huskies Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Washington State with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Washington State is putting in a good fight to end the season. The Cougars knocked off Oregon State in Corvallis two weeks ago and challenged Arizona State last weekend, scoring a combined 70 points in those games. Washington State is the No. 1 passing team in the country with 488.8 yards per game. That explosive attack always makes Wazzu a threat to cover. 2. The Huskies have watched the wheels come off a promising season with just two wins in their last four games. Washington gives up a ton of yards through the air – 278 yards per game – and have failed to cover versus WSU in the last two Apple Cups. The Huskies are a dangerous team to bet on, leading the land with 31 fumbles – 10 of those going the other way. 3. As mentioned above, Washington State has covered in the past two meeting with Washington – both as an underdog. The Cougars are a valuable home pup Saturday, with the underdog covering in 14 of the last 19 clashes between these state rivals. These Week 14 games are one of the few times bettors can throw the matchups out the window and wager on pure motivation.
Play on Washington State as a 10* Top Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Saturday 10* (Top Play) on Philadelphia vs. Dallas @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Philadelphia 76ers host the Dallas Mavericks Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Philadelphia with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Mavericks are ripe for a letdown after taking a big win in Toronto over the Eastern Conference-leading Raptors Friday night. This is the second half of back-to-back games for the aging Mavericks, one of the oldest teams in the NBA, against a young and rested Sixers squad that has been off since Wednesday. 2. The 76ers are starting to show terrific value against the spread. Depending on where you wagered on Philadelphia in Wednesday’s game with Brooklyn, the 76ers could be a perfect 3-0 ATS in their last three games. 3. The Sixers have actually been in plenty of games despite their dismal 0-15 record. Philadelphia was leading into the fourth quarter versus Brooklyn Wednesday but the wheels came off in the final frame. In fact, the 76ers have averaged 25.7 points per fourth quarter in the last three games – compared to an average of just 21.1 points per fourth quarter on the season.
Play on Philadelphia as a 10* Top Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on Pittsburgh at Miami @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Miami Hurricanes host the Pittsburgh Panthers Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Pittsburgh with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Panthers’ offense is peaking down the home stretch of the season, averaging almost 38 points per game over Pitt’s last three contests. The Panthers are a ground-and-pound team with the 14th best rushing attack in the country picking up 253.6 yards per game. 2. The Hurricanes are spinning out of control in the final games of the schedule. After stringing together three straight wins, the Canes have dropped back-to-back contests, including a bad 30-13 loss to Virginia last week. Miami allowed 195 yards on the ground versus the Cavaliers and take on a more potent running attack in Pitt Saturday. 3. The Panthers still need one more win to become bowl eligible, aiming for magic win No. 6 Saturday in Coral Gables. The road team has been the wise play in recent meetings between these programs, covering in each of their last four clashes.
Play on Pittsburgh as an 8* Regular Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on George Washington at Seton Hall @ 4:00 p.m. ET
The Seton Hall Pirates host the George Washington Colonials Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on George Washington with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. George Washington isn’t taking it easy in the non-conference stretch of schedule, facing major conference members Rutgers and Virginia – both loss – already this year. The Colonials are playing at a high level of competition and will be ready for Seton Hall. 2. The Pirates are ripe for a letdown after enjoying some fun in the sun at the Paradise Jam in the Virgin Islands. Seton Hall won the event but now heads back to the winter weather in Newark, New Jersey. 3. George Washington has plenty of firepower, putting up more than 90 points in wins over Longwood and Grambling State. There are three players - Kethan Savage, Patricio Garino, and Kevin Larsen – scoring in double figures and seven players scoring more than 6.5 points per game. That depth will help GW keep pace with the Pirates.
Play on George Washington as an 8* Top Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on Mississippi vs. Mississippi State @ 3:30 p.m. ET
The Mississippi Rebels host the Mississippi State Bulldogs Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Mississippi with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. Ole Miss has fallen out of the College Football Playoff picture but that has diminished the Rebels’ fight heading into the Egg Bowl. Mississippi would love nothing more than to spoil the Bulldogs playoff hopes with an upset Saturday. The home team has covered in five of the last six meetings between these rivals. 2. Ole Miss is out for revenge after losing to MSU last season. The Rebels will turn to their stingy defense to get the job done. Ole Miss is giving up only 310.4 yards and a FBS-best 13.5 points per game this season. The Rebels have limited opposing passers to an average of just 179 yards through the air and have picked off an SEC-leading 19 passes. Bulldogs QB Dak Prescott has 10 interceptions on the year, including three in the loss to Alabama. 3. Mississippi State’s defense has been beaten up by the pass all season, getting burned for 281.4 yards through the air per game – 120th in the country. Ole Miss may be done its top WR but there is plenty of firepower on this offense, despite what last week’s embarrassing shutout loss to Arkansas says.
Play on Mississippi as an 8* Regular Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Saturday 8* (Regular Play) on Michigan at Ohio State @ 12:00 p.m. ET
The Ohio State Buckeyes host the Michigan Wolverines Saturday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Michigan with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Wolverines season has been a bust and head coach Brady Hoke will likely be shown the door – if Michigan fails to put up a good showing against rival Ohio State. The Wolverines are playing with house money in “The Game”, which should take the pressure off for this high-stakes showdown. 2. Ohio State isn’t playing its best football right now. The Buckeyes have won but failed to cover in their last two contests, getting a scare at Minnesota then allowing Indiana to put up 27 points. Ohio State has allowed more than 29 points per game in its last three and this spread is awful lofty for a stop unit losing its focus. 3. It’s “The Game”. Like most heated college rivalries, all stats go out the window. The Wolverines know they can stun the Buckeyes, nearly knocking them down last season in a 42-41 loss as 17-point home underdogs. Michigan QB Devin Gardner was a monster in that game, passing for 451 yards and four touchdowns and adding another score on the ground. Gardner isn’t intimidated by big bad OSU and is getting a ton of points to play with Saturday in Columbus.
Play on Michigan as an 8* Regular Selection Saturday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAF Friday 10* (Top Play) on Tulsa vs. East Carolina @ 8:30 p.m. ET
The Tulsa Golden Hurricane host the East Carolina Pirates Friday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Tulsa with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. East Carolina is still in the hunt for the AAC title and needs win in its last two games, as well as losses from Memphis and Cincinnati, to do so. However, the Pirates could get caught looking past the 2-9 Golden Hurricane and to next week’s important finale with Central Florida. 2. Tulsa has an underrated passing attack, headlined by WRs Keyarris Garrett and Keevan Lucas. The Golden Hurricane are averaging 270.6 passing yards per game and take on an ECU secondary that has allowed an average of 267.8 yards through the air. The Pirates roll the dice on defense, looking for big plays. If Tulsa can make them miss on those INT tries, there is big yardage to be had. 3. The Golden Hurricane will have a packed house on Friday night. Not only is this a holiday but also senior night for Tulsa. East Carolina has lost its last two road games and is just 2-3 ATS away from home on the season.
Play on Tulsa as a 10* Top Selection Friday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NBA Friday 10* (Top Play) on Dallas at Toronto @ 7:30 p.m. ET
The Toronto Raptors host the Dallas Mavericks Friday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Dallas with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Mavericks are one of the few teams that can match Toronto’s offensive production, ranking No. 1 in the NBA in scoring with 109.2 points per game. Dallas is shooting a blistering 48.3 percent from the field and would be more than comfortable getting into a shootout Friday night. 2. Toronto, known for its hard-nosed defense, has watched those numbers slip significantly in recent games. The Raptors have allowed 215 points in their last two games, a dangerous regression from their season average of 96.4 points against. 3. Dallas has a big obstacle in the paint in center Tyson Chandler. Not only will he deter the Raptors from attacking the hoop but he’s also a monster on the boards and won’t allow many second-chance buckets. Toronto isn’t a great rebounding team, so if it isn’t getting the looks it needs it could come up short on offense.
Play on Dallas as a 10* Top Selection Friday.
Good luck, Scott.

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NCAAB Friday 8* (Regular Play) on Gonzaga vs. St. John’s @ 7:00 p.m. ET
The Gonzaga Bulldogs face the St. John’s Red Storm at Madison Square Garden Friday. “The Bulldog” breaks down his selection on Gonzaga with his Three-Factor Analysis: 1. The Bulldogs are blowing away the competition during non-conference play, with an average margin of victory of 36 points. Gonzaga is averaging over 93 points per game and sit fourth in the nation in offense. That’s too much firepower for most opponents to hang with. 2. Kentucky transfer Kyle Wiltjer will take the fight to St. John’s big man Chris Obekpa. Obekpa is a dangerous shot blocker but also finds himself in foul trouble. Wiltjer outclasses him and will quickly get the Johnnie big man on the bench, which changes the entire complexion of St. John’s defense. 3. The Bulldogs don’t back down from the major conferences and have covered in five straight meetings with Big East schools. Gonzaga has come away with the cash in six of its last eight games overall.
Play on Gonzaga as an 8* Regular Selection Friday.
Good luck, Scott.