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<p>Many pundits had the&nbsp;<strong>Seattle Seahawks</strong>&nbsp;among their bottom two or three teams going into the 2022 season. But perhaps they had underestimated the ability of their head coach, who has been forced to improvise more than once.</p>



<p>After a heart-stopping 48-45 road win over the Detroit Lions, Pete Carroll has his team at the .500 mark (2-2) and, for the time being, a contender in the NFC West.</p>



<p>And they'll look to take another step forward on Sunday as they pay a visit to the Big Easy to play the&nbsp;<strong>New Orleans Saints</strong>, in a game that begins at 1 PM ET at the Superdome. It will be carried on a regional basis on Fox Network.</p>



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<p><strong>New Orleans Saints -5.5<br>Seattle Seahawks +5.5<br><br>Over 46 Points -110<br>Under 46 Points -110</strong></p>



<p>One thing everybody's got to understand about this Seattle team is that Rashaad Penny is quietly developing into a tailback who can perform at an elite level much of the time, and if he can do that, he is fulfilling coach Carroll's wishes of having an offense that is highlighted by the ground game. It really was a matter of philosophies that may have led to the cold distance between Carroll and Russell Wilson, who wanted to pass the ball more and more.</p>



<p>Last season Penny led all running backs in yards per carry (6.3). This year, after his 151-yard, two-touchdown performance against Detroit, he is now averaging six yards a pop, with 4.57 yards a carry after contact.</p>



<p>As injuries have affected the Seattle backfield, Penny, who has suffered through some hurts himself as well as "mental health issues," has been a godsend.</p>



<p>Yet after we have said all of that, the Seahawks are still only running the ball 39% of the time.</p>



<p>And part of this is that QB Geno Smith is also engineering an attack that has defied expectations. He is averaging 7.9 Intended Air Yards, which means that he is throwing it a distance beyond the line of scrimmage, and this isn't one of those deals where his receivers are continually catching short dumps and running the rest of the way, as the Seahawks are averaging just 3.7 yards after the catch.</p>



<p>Whatever the case, with 77% completions, Smith is operating at a high level of efficiency, so much so that he is third in the NFL in quarterback rating, fifth in yards per attempt and #1 in accuracy.</p>



<p>Oh, and in case you were curious, Russell Wilson's quarterback rating is 16th in the league.</p>



<p>So he began the season as a liability, and as of now, he's a revelation.</p>



<p>And there is something to be said for what Pete Carroll told reporters after the opening-game win over Denver, which is that Smith is better than he's ever been and part of the reason is that he has played in the system for four years.</p>



<p>The Saints would like to have running back Alvin Kamara available here. And as of this writing, there is no definitive word about Jameis Winston, who has four fractures in his back and sat out the London game against Minnesota. Andy Dalton had better metrics in his place, but we know how limited he really is at this point in time. Winston had five interceptions and eleven sacks in three games. So is there any news that would get Saints backers ecstatic? Chris Olave (335 yards, 16 per catch) has been a rookie standout, but the other receivers haven't given coach Dennis Allen what he wanted. Latavius Murray, who scored a TD in the 28-25 loss to Minnesota and then went back to the practice squad, was signed by Denver.</p>



<p>Looking at what we have in front of us, we'd be inclined to take the points with the Seahawks.</p>



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Pro Football Picks: Seahawks vs Saints Geno's been supremo, and Penny ain't bad either

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<p>The Rockets and Golden Grizzlies are set to face off at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. The Golden Grizzlies will host the game at Athletics Center O'rena in Rochester, MI. This non-conference matchup has an over/under of 154.5 points, and the Golden Grizzlies are favored to win at home vs. the Rockets.</p><h3>TOLEDO ROCKETS VS OAKLAND GOLDEN GRIZZLIES BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Oakland Golden Grizzlies -1</p><p>This game will be played at Athletics Center O'rena at 7:00 ET on Wednesday, December 6th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE OAKLAND GOLDEN GRIZZLIES:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 76-67 in favor of the Golden Grizzlies.</li><li>Not only will Oakland pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -1.</li><li>The over/under is currently sitting at 154.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 143 points.</li></ul><h3>Can the Rockets Offense Score Enough in Rochester?</h3><p>The Rockets come into today's game with a record of 3-4 after their most recent loss to George Mason (86-77). In their previous three road games, which includes last year, Toledo has a 1-2 record on the road. So far this season, Toledo holds a 4-3 ATS record as they prepare to face Oakland. In games played on the road, Toledo is 1-1 vs. the spread, and in their last ten road games, they have a 5-5 ATS record.</p><p>Toledo's games have, on average, featured 158.7 points per game leading to an over/under record of 4-3-0. Their average over/under line is currently 157.2 points so far. Over the course of the last five games, the Rockets' games have averaged 157 points per game, along with an over/under record of 2-3.</p><p>The Rockets' offense finished with 77 points in their previous game, mirroring their current average of 80.7 points per contest. On the offensive front, the Rockets have a season-long field goal percentage of 48%, ranking 70th nationally. When it comes to three-point shooting, they are ranked 68th in terms of percentage and 301st in three-pointers made.</p><p>At this time, the Rockets' defense is positioned 217th in the country, permitting 78.0 points per game. In their previous game vs. George Mason, the Patriots finished with a field goal percentage of 42% and a total of 86 points vs. Toledo.</p><h3>Will the Golden Grizzlies Live Up to Expectations at Home?</h3><p>The Toledo Rockets come into their game against Toledo with a 5-4 overall record. In their last five home games, including last year, Oakland has gone 2-3 at home. Oakland has a winning record against the spread, sitting at 8-1. The Golden Grizzlies have been particularly strong on the road, going 5-0 vs. the spread, while at home they are 3-1.</p><p>So far, Oakland's games have averaged 145.6 points per game with the average over/under line being 147.4 points. The Golden Grizzlies' have recorded an over/under record of 2-1 in their last three games, with their games averaging 147 points per game.</p><p>In their previous game, the Golden Grizzlies' offense finished with 77 points, which is right in line with their current average of 72.9 points per contest. On the offensive front, the Golden Grizzlies have a season-long field goal percentage of 44%, ranking 212nd nationally. When it comes to three-point shooting, they are ranked 221st in terms of percentage and 177th in three-pointers made.</p><p>At this time, the Golden Grizzlies' defense is positioned 154th in the country, permitting 72.7 points per game. Oakland's three-point defense is currently 108th in the country at 8.0 made threes per game. In terms of overall field goal percentage, opponets have hit 44.8% of their shots vs. Oakland.</p>

Toledo Rockets vs Oakland Golden Grizzlies Betting Pick & Prediction 12/6/23

The Milwaukee Bucks have just suffered their first consecutive loss of the season, and things are not getting easier as they play back-to-back at Pepsi Center in Denver on Monday night. Back in January, the Nuggets beat the Bucks 127-115 as massive 13-point road underdogs, and they will try their best to thrash off the best team in the league once more. However, the Nuggets are not playing in a good form at the moment, so we expect to see an exciting clash in Denver on Monday.

<strong>Injuries/Suspensions</strong>

The Bucks are missing Giannis Antetokounmpo for the second straight game, as the reigning MVP is dealing with a joint capsule sprain in his left knee. Kyle Korver (back) is also out. On the other side, the Nuggets are coming in full strength.

<strong>The Line</strong>

The Nuggets opened as 4.5-point favorites with a total of 220.0 points at <a href="http://bangthebook.com/sportsbooks/betonline/">Betonline</a> and <a href="http://bangthebook.com/sportsbooks/betdsi/">BetDSI</a>. Considering Giannis’ absence, it’s not strange that the bookies listed Denver as a -190 money line fave.

<strong>What's at Stake?</strong>

The visitors are cruising through the Eastern Conference, so even the third straight loss will do no harm. However, the Lakers are only three games behind them in the race for the best record in the league. The Nuggets are No. 3 seed in the West, a game behind the LA Clippers and a game ahead of the fourth-seeded Utah Jazz.

<strong>The Spot</strong>

Milwaukee has dropped two straight games for the first time this season. After a 113-103 defeat at the LA Lakers as 1.5-point road dogs this past Friday, the Bucks lost at the Phoenix Suns 140-131 as 6.5-point road favorites last night. The Nuggets, on the other side, are coming off a disappointing 104-102 defeat at the Cleveland Cavaliers as 9-point favorites this past Saturday. Denver has dropped three of its previous five games overall.

<strong>The Matchup</strong>

The Bucks surrendered 140 points in Phoenix last night which tells you a lot how much they missed Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek Freak is averaging 29.6 points, 13.7 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game, but he’s also a vital part of the Bucks’ defense that is the best in the league. Milwaukee allows only 101.3 points per 100 possessions (1<sup>st</sup> in the league) on 41.1% shooting from the field (also 1<sup>st</sup>).

In that surprising road victory over the Bucks in January, the Nuggets shot 48.0% from the field while making 22 triples out of 46 attempts (47.8%). They will need another hot-shooting night to beat the Bucks, and the Nuggets also have to control the glass. The Nuggets are 19<sup>th</sup> in the league in total rebounds per game (44.3), while the Bucks lead the league with 52.0 total rebounds per contest.

On the other side of the ball, the Nuggets will have to defend the 3-point line well. Without Antetokounmpo, the Bucks will have to lean more on their shooting from deep instead of taking the ball into the paint. Still, the Bucks are fifth in the league in 3-points attempts per 100 possessions (36.5), while the Nuggets are 25<sup>th</sup> (30.7), but Denver plays at a much slower pace than the Bucks.

Milwaukee records 105.1 possessions per 48 minutes which are the most in the NBA. On the other side, the Nuggets average only 97.1 possessions per 48 minutes which are the second-fewest in the league. Denver scores 112.8 points per 100 possessions (8<sup>th</sup> in the league), while the Bucks are right behind with 112.7 points per 100 possessions.

<strong>The Bets</strong>

The Bucks could struggle with fatigue, playing their third road game in just four days. Also, they are without Giannis Antetokounmpo, so I think this is a great opportunity for the Nuggets who love to play against tough teams. Therefore, I’m backing the hosts to win and cover, and I would stick with the side bet. Denver is 15-4 SU and 12-7 ATS in its last 19 meetings with Milwaukee

Betting on the totals seems like a tricky job in this one. Unlike the Bucks, the Nuggets love to play at a slow pace and will try their best to slow down the tempo. The Bucks will miss Giannis on both sides of the ball, but they are still capable of playing good defense. Also, they should be fired up to prove it after allowing 140 points last time out. This clash could easily go either way, so I would stay away from the totals. If you like to follow betting trends, the over has hit in the previous five meetings between the Bucks and Nuggets at Pepsi Center.

Milwaukee Bucks at Denver Nuggets NBA Expert Betting Picks 3/9/20

<p>Planning on watching today's Sooners and Cyclones game? Catch the action at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, IA, as the Cyclones hosts this showdown at 8:00 ET on ESPN+. The over/under line for this matchup is currently at 137 points, and Iowa State is favored by -9.5 to win at home against Oklahoma.</p><h3>OKLAHOMA SOONERS VS IOWA STATE CYCLONES BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Oklahoma Sooners +9.5</p><p>This game will be played at Hilton Coliseum at 8:00 ET on Wednesday, February 28th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE OKLAHOMA SOONERS:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 75-69 in favor of the Cyclones.</li><li>Even though we have Iowa State winning straight-up, we like Oklahoma at +9.5.</li><li>The over/under is currently sitting at 137 points, and we like the over with a projected 144 points.</li></ul><h3>Will the Sooners Exceed Expectations on the Road?</h3><p>After starting the season with a 13-1 record, Oklahoma has gone just 6-7 in Big 12 play, including back-to-back losses. On the road, the Sooners are 3-4 this year, and they have gone 4-6 in their last 10 games away from home.</p>

<p>Overall, Oklahoma is 19-8 this season, and they have been the underdog in eight of their 27 games. As the underdog, the Sooners are just 3-5, and they are 3-2 in their last five games on the road.</p><p>As the underdog this season, Oklahoma has gone 3-5 vs. the spread. On the road, the Sooners' ATS mark is 3-4 this year and 4-6 in their last 10 games. Their overall ATS record sits at 13-13.</p><p>Today's over/under line of 137 is lower than the average over/under line in Oklahoma's games this season (144.1). So far, the over/under record in their games is 11-15. Over their last three games, the average scoring total is 143 points.</p><p>Most recently, the Oklahoma offense finished with just 57 points vs. Kansas. For the game, they hit 8/23 three-point attempts and a field goal percentage of 32%. The team's scoring leader is Javian McCollum, who holds an average of 14 as they head into today's matchup. Additionally, Otega Oweh is averaging 12.1 points per game this season.</p><p>The Sooners' defense is presently ranked 56th nationally, allowing an average of 67.2 points per contest. In terms of field goal percentage allowed, Oklahoma's defense has allowed opponents to shoot 41.3% from the field, including a three-point shooting percentage allowed of 28.6% this season.</p><h3>Will the Cyclones Find a Way to Win at Home?</h3><p>At home this season, Iowa State has been dominant, going 16-1 with an average scoring margin of +24.1 points per game. They have won 12 straight games at home and are 17-2 when favored this season.</p>

<p>Recently, the Cyclones have been on a roll, winning their last five games and going 10-0 in their last 10 at home. Their overall record this season is 21-6, including a 10-4 mark in Big 12 play.</p><p>At home this season, Iowa State has an ATS record of 12-4-1. Over their last 10 games as the favorite, the Cyclones have gone 6-3-1 vs. the spread.</p><p>Today's over/under line of 137 is lower than the average over/under line in Iowa State's games this season (138.4). Over their last three games, the average scoring total is 142 points compared to their season average of 140.9 points per game. On the year, their over/under record is 15-12.</p><p>Against West Virginia, the Iowa State had a tough time putting up points compared to their season average of 77.9 points per game. They scored 71 points and posted a field goal percentage of 45% in the game. The top scorer for the Cyclones was Tamin Lipsey with 14 points, while Curtis Jones also chipped in with 12 points.</p><p>So far, the Cyclones' defense is ranked 10th in the country at 62.9 points per contest. Iowa State's three-point defense is currently 199th in the country at 7.9 made threes per game. In terms of overall field goal percentage, opponets have hit 40.7% of their shots vs. Iowa State.</p>

Oklahoma Sooners vs Iowa State Cyclones Betting Pick & Prediction 2/28/24

<p>Looking to win big? The Hawks and Owls face off at 6:00 ET on ESPN+. The Owls are hosting the game at CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton, NJ. The over/under for this game is set at 148.5 points, and Temple is favored by -3 against Monmouth in a non-conference matchup.</p><h3>MONMOUTH HAWKS VS TEMPLE OWLS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Temple Owls -3</p><p>This game will be played at CURE Insurance Arena at 6:00 ET on Friday, November 8th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE TEMPLE OWLS:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 79-67 in favor of the Owls.</li><li>Not only will Temple pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -3.</li><li>The over/under is currently sitting at 148.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 146 points.</li></ul><h3>Can the Hawks Offense Score Enough on the Road?</h3><h3>Monmouth Hawks Recent Game/Games</h3> 

<p>The Hawks faced a tough challenge on Monday, November 4th, as they went on the road to take on Michigan State. Monmouth, who entered the game as +19.5 point underdogs, fell 81-57 to the Spartans.</p> 

<p>Monmouth trailed 38-27 at halftime and struggled to keep pace in the second half, scoring 30 points while allowing 43. The game’s total points ended at 138, just under the 142.5 O/U line.</p><p>Monmouth's offense struggled in their last game, shooting just 27.9% from the field and 26.5% on two-point attempts. They connected on 29.6% from beyond the arc, hitting 8 of 27 threes, and finished with an effective field goal percentage of 34.4%.</p> <p>Jaden Akins led the way with 23 points and 9 rebounds, shooting 66.7% from the field. Abdi Bashir Jr. added 20 points, despite shooting 31.8% overall and 27.3% from three.</p><p>Monmouth's defense struggled, giving up 81 points on 49% shooting. They allowed 62% on two-pointers, with the opponent hitting 27 of 43 attempts.</p> <p>From beyond the arc, Monmouth held the opponent to 16% shooting, as they made just 3 of 18 threes. The opponent also went 18/27 from the free-throw line.</p><h3>Are Temple Ready for a Home Win?</h3><h3>Temple Owls Recent Game/Games</h3> 

<p>Temple opened their season with an 81-70 win over Sacred Heart on Monday. Despite being -13.5 favorites, the Owls didn’t cover the spread. The game’s total points reached 151, surpassing the O/U line of 144.5.</p> 

<p>Leading 37-36 at halftime, Temple pulled away in the 2nd half, outscoring Sacred Heart 44-34.</p><p>Temple's offense put up 81 points in their last game, shooting 49.1% from the field and hitting 47.8% from three-point range, making 11 of 23 attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 58.2%, and they connected on 16 of 23 free throws, good for 69.6%.</p> <p>Jamal Mashburn Jr. led the way with 26 points, shooting 62.5% overall and 71.4% from deep, hitting 5 of 7 threes. Tanner Thomas added 22 points, while Steve Settle III contributed 16 points and 6 assists, also grabbing 7 rebounds.</p><p>Temple's defense struggled in this one, giving up 70 points on 49% shooting from the field. The Owls allowed 27 made baskets on 55 attempts.</p> <p>From beyond the arc, Temple gave up 11 threes on 23 attempts, a 47% clip. They also sent the opposing team to the line 23 times, where they converted 16 free throws.</p>

Monmouth Hawks vs Temple Owls NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 11/8/24

An easy winner with the Campbell Fighting Camels put us off to a 2-0 start with this week’s spotlight games. It is definitely nice to get off on the right foot for a week, especially such an intriguing week at conference tournaments begin on Thursday with the Horizon League and continue into Saturday with the Big South and the America East.

My podcast isn’t at BangTheBook anymore, it is now over at ATS.io, but you can check out Monday’s edition of the show with Kyle Hunter when we <a href="https://ats.io/college-basketball/ats-io-radio-sports-betting-podcast-february-22-2021/47112/"><strong>talked about conference tournament handicapping</strong></a>.

The regular season is still in full swing, though, and we’ve got lots of games to pick from tonight. The game I’ve chosen to highlight is the matchup between DePaul and Creighton on CBS Sports Network with a 9 p.m. ET tip-off. Creighton is favored by 15 at <a href="http://bangthebook.com/sportsbooks/betonline"><strong>BetOnline Sportsbook</strong></a> with a total of 141.
<h3><strong><u>DePaul Blue Demons</u></strong></h3>
The DePaul Blue Demons are still fighting. That much was evident on Saturday when the Demons upset St. John’s on the road by an 88-83 score. It was an out-of-body offensive experience for DePaul, who was 30-of-46 from two-point range. It goes without saying that DePaul’s performance from that game will regress. After all, this is a team shooting 46.4% from two-point range for the season.

Give credit where credit is due, though. DePaul got a lot of high-percentage looks at the basket in this one. They were 25-of-35 at the rim and added a couple of dunks for good measure. DePaul was even able to overcome the fact that St. John’s scored 24 more points from beyond the arc and seven more points at the free throw line. DePaul also had 24 turnovers.

There were a lot of weird outliers from that game to say the least. One thing that was not an outlier was that DePaul played well defensively, despite giving up 83 points. The game was played to 80 possessions. St. John’s was just 12-of-38 from two-point range. DePaul has held four straight opponents to under 15 made two-pointers. Opponents are only shooting 47.9% on twos.

DePaul has also held the opposition to 30.7% on three-pointers this season, a really relevant number tonight when you consider the opponent. Creighton was 17-of-34 from two and 6-of-22 from three in the first meeting, a 69-62 win in Chicago. DePaul ranks second in adjusted defensive efficiency in Big East play, third in eFG% defense, and second in 3P% defense.
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<h3><strong><u>Creighton Bluejays</u></strong></h3>
We’ll have to see how the Big East Conference does tournament seeding, but Creighton is right there with Villanova after the big 16-point win on February 13. Creighton is 12-4 in league play and Villanova is 10-2. The two teams are scheduled to play again on March 3 in Pennsylvania. Creighton also has a plucky Xavier team coming up in Cincinnati on Saturday.

The Bluejays rank ninth in eFG% on the season. They are sixth in 2P% at 58% and 49th in 3P% at 36.8%. They’re also a pretty strong defensive team, holding opponents to just 44.6% on two-point attempts. Creighton takes a three-pointer 44% of the time in league play, so they have been able to get some margin on teams despite playing at a pretty average pace as far as Big East squads go.

Creighton also has a knack for playing close games. While they have a strong 12-4 record in league action, eight games have been played to a final score of five or fewer points. This is a pretty competitive conference from top to bottom and the number of close games is a good illustration of that, especially when you consider how potent the Creighton offense actually is.
<h3><strong><u>Pick &amp; Analysis</u></strong></h3>
Fifteen points is a huge number. The first game between DePaul and Creighton was played to 67 possessions. DePaul is a solid defensive team. They might not do a ton on the offensive end, but they are very good without the basketball. Creighton is coming off of a 10-day pause and has bigger fish to fry down the line with games against Xavier and Villanova on the horizon.

They’re worried about winning here. They’re not worried about blowing out DePaul. With this line where it is, they’ll need to blow out DePaul and I’m not so sure that they will.
<h4><strong>Pick: DePaul +15</strong></h4>
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DePaul at Creighton College Basketball Free Pick & Prediction 2/24/21

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