Chicago Bears - Detroit Lions 2013: Prediction, Point Spread, Over-Under, And Preview getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Chicago Bears - Detroit Lions 2013: Prediction, Point Spread, Over-Under, And Preview

Originally expected to miss a minimum of four weeks, Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler will reportedly start Sunday’s pivotal NFC North clash against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field.

Cutler tore the groin muscle in his left leg after he was sacked in the second quarter of Week Seven’s 45-41 loss to Washington, but made his return to Bears practice on Thursday. Head coach Marc Trestman told the Chicago Tribune he expects Cutler to play.

"There was a critical amount of hard work and effort he put in," Trestman said to The Tribune. "It says a lot about his commitment to the team."

At 5-3 and coming off a big win over Green Bay on Monday night, the Bears are at a critical juncture of the season. Another win over Detroit would split the season series and give Chicago sole possession of first place in the division.

The Lions and Matthew Stafford earned their most dramatic victory of the season two weeks ago against Dallas, and receiver Calvin Johnson made some history in the process.

Stafford lunged at the goal line with 12 seconds left, stunning his teammates and Dallas for a 31-30 comeback victory in Week Nine, and Johnson hauled in the second most receiving yards in a game with 329 yards and a touchdown off 14 receptions.

Chicago got by for one game without Cutler, knocking off the Aaron Rodgers-less Green Bay Packers 27-20. Josh McNown threw for 272 yards and two scores, and running back Matt Forte gained 125 yards and a touchdown off 24 carries, his first 100-yard game of the season.

The Bears defense also notched a season-high five sacks, just their second time with more than one sack in a game all year. Even with Pro Bowl linebacker Lance Briggs in the lineup Chicago’s pass rush was basically non-existent, totaling 14.0 sacks, the fifth-worst mark in the NFL.

Detroit hasn’t been much better, totaling 13.0 sacks, and just four in the last four games.

There’s been no word yet on when Briggs will return from the small fracture in his left shoulder, but defensive end Shea McClellin generated tons of pressure against the Pack with 3.0 sacks and another three quarterback hits.

The Lions have had to outgun opponents thanks to a defense that’s 22 nd overall, and letting up 24.6 points per game. Detroit is 14 th against the run, and in the last two games have only allowed a combined 119 rushing yards

Missing a third straight day of practice, Detroit could miss rookie defensive end Ziggy Ansah due a sprained ankle he suffered against Dallas, as reported by the Detroit Free-Press. Corner Bill Bentley and offensive tackle Corey Hilliard also missed Thursday’s session with a knee injury.

Betting Odds: Detroit is favored by 1.5 points

Over/Under: 52.5 points

Time: 1 p.m. Eastern

TV Channel: FOX

Prediction: Detroit 30, Chicago 24

Chicago Bears - Detroit Lions 2013: Prediction, Point Spread, Over-Under, And Preview

LSU Tiger Vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs: Prediction, Point Spread, TV Channel, Where To Watch Online, And Preview For Satrurday's SEC College Football Game getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® LSU Tiger Vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs: Prediction, Point Spread, TV Channel, Where To Watch Online, And Preview For Satrurday's SEC College Football Game

The No. 10 LSU Tigers can redeem their season on Saturday afternnon as they square off against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium.

A back and forth battle against Georgia resulted in a debilitating 44-41 loss and a drop in the rankings for the Tigers. Quarterback Zach Mettenberger tossed three touchdowns and 372 yards, and is now second in the SEC in touchdowns thrown, but LSU let up 196 rushing yards and a 25-yard touchdown from Aaron Murray to Justin Scott-Wesley with less than two minutes remaining.

As a team, LSU also rushed for a season-low 77 yards. Sophomore Jeremy Hill’s 86 yards on the ground were largely negated by Mettenberger’s four attempts for minus-26 yards, while junior receiver Jarvis Landry posted new career-highs with 10 catches for 156 yards and his seventh touchdown of the year.

Landry, along with Odell Beckham, could feast on Mississippi State and their young secondary.

Of the Bulldogs 18 defensive backs 12 are underclassman, a major experience gap that could mean a huge game for LSU. However, Mississippi State is still 16th in the nation with 14.8 points allowed per game, led sophomore linebacker Benardrick McKinney’s 24 tackles. The defense has also surrendered only three rushing touchdowns in four games.

Two weeks ago the Mississippi State blew out Troy 62-7, kick started by junior defensive back Jamerson Love’s 70-yard interception return for a touchdown, and three total touchdowns by sophomore quarterback Dak Prescott.

Prescott leads his team in passing and rushing, highlighted by five rushing touchdowns, but he’s likely to split snaps with senior quarterback Tyler Russell, who sat out the last three games due to a concussion.

Both will have to combine their powers for a dominant performance on Saturday to break LSU’s stranglehold on the all-time series. The Tigers are 20-1 all-time against Mississippi State, including 13 straight victories.

The game kicks-off at 7 p.m. ET and will be broadcast by ESPN, or watch a live online stream at Watch ESPN here.

Betting Odds: LSU is favored by 9.5 points.

Over/Under: 55.5 points.

Prediction: LSU 40, Mississippi State 20

LSU Tiger Vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs: Prediction, Point Spread, TV Channel, Where To Watch Online, And Preview For Satrurday's SEC College Football Game

Ohio State Buckeyes Vs. Wisconsin Badgers: TV Channel, Team News, Preview, Betting Odds, Point Spread getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Ohio State Buckeyes Vs. Wisconsin Badgers: TV Channel, Team News, Preview, Betting Odds, Point Spread

The No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes are facing a bit of a quarterback controversy, as Braxton Miller gets the starting nod over Kenny Guiton against No. 23 and Big Ten rival Wisconsin on Saturday night at Ohio Stadium.

Head coach Urban Meyer named Miller the starter two days ago, with the junior reportedly well enough to play after suffering a sprained knee ligament in the first quarter against San Diego State three weeks ago.

Since then Guiton has stepped up to the tune of 664 passing yards and 13 touchdowns, along with consecutive Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week awards.

"I think Braxton will probably start. He had a good day today and it looks like he's pretty close to 100 percent,'' Meyer said after practice on Wednesday. "I just wanted to make sure running the ball he's good, too. And he was. And Kenny's good.''

Guiton deserves plenty of credit, but he wasn’t alone on the field. While Guiton tossed six touchdowns last week against Florida A&M, running back Ezekiel Elliot also rushed for 162 yards and two touchdowns, and junior receiver Evan Spencer caught two scores. Ohio State won in a lopsided 76-0 game, and preserved leading rusher Jordan Hall.

The Buckeye defense has also done their part, allowing only 15.3 points and 319 total rushing yards, both fourth best in the Big Ten.

Meanwhile the Badgers have already started their Big Ten schedule with a 41-10 victory over Purdue last week, highlighted by who else, their running backs.

Melvin Gordon and James White combined for 292 yards and four touchdowns, with Gordon reaching the endzone three times. Gordon is second only two Ohio State’s Hall and Penn State’s Zach Zwinak, with seven rushing scores this season. Overall the Badgers are third in the nation in rushing at 349.8 yards per game.

Wisconsin’s defense has also set the tone for the rest of the conference, ranking first in points and total yards allowed per game.

A major mental mistake by quarterback Joel Stave late in the fourth quarter against Arizona State is the reason Wisconsin is 3-1 rather than 4-0. Stave, who’s passed for 761 yards and six touchdowns, downed the ball deep in the Sun Devils territory thinking he was down by contact. However the clock was still running and the Badgers couldn’t get a field goal off in time to win.

Much more focus will be required of Stave and the rest of the Wisconsin against a Buckeyes squad that’s only given up one rushing touchdown, 2.6 yards per rush, and recovered four of their opponents seven lost fumbles.

The game starts at 8 p.m. ET and will be broadcast by ABC.

Betting Odds: Ohio State is favored by 7 points.

Over/Under: 55.5 points

Prediction: Ohio State 30, Wisconsin 25

Ohio State Buckeyes Vs. Wisconsin Badgers: TV Channel, Team News, Preview, Betting Odds, Point Spread

LSU Tigers Vs Georgia Bulldogs 2013: Early Prediction, Betting Odds, Point Spread, And Preview For Saturday's Top SEC College Football Game getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® LSU Tigers Vs Georgia Bulldogs 2013: Early Prediction, Betting Odds, Point Spread, And Preview For Saturday's Top SEC College Football Game

The two best rated passers in the SEC collide when Aaron Murray and the Georgia Bulldogs welcome Zach Mettenberger and No. 6 LSU to Sanford Stadium on Saturday.

Murray and the No. 9 Bulldogs (2-1) are on the final leg of their early season gauntlet, facing their third ranked team of the season, and a victory could put them back on track for a national title.

The 4-0 Tigers can hand Georgia its second loss of the season, all but stamping out any chance for a championship run, while upping their chances of a 12th SEC title and first since 2011.

With a 201.8 passer rating, Murray has done his part to keep the Bulldogs in contention. They rattled off three straight victories after the disappointing season opener to Clemson, including last week’s 45-21 blowout of North Texas.

Murray threw for 408 yards and three touchdowns, while running back Todd Gurley had 91 yards and another score on the ground. Freshman receiver Reggie Davis also made his first two career receptions, totaling 134 yards and a touchdown.

Murray’s second interception of the season came in the first quarter, but Georgia reached pay dirt on its next three possessions. The Bulldogs then outscored Mean Green 24-7 in the second half.

LSU is coming off its own dominating performance, after running back Jeremy Hill notched 184 rushing yards and three touchdowns in a 35-21 victory over Auburn. Mettenberg tossed his first interception of the year, but finished with 229 yards and a touchdown. After four games Mettenberg is second in the SEC in passing touchdowns, and is well on pace to shatter his previous career-highs in passing yards, completion percentage, and touchdowns.

The Tigers did suffer two key injuries against Auburn, but received good news this week. Right guard Trai Turner suffered a bruised ankle, but will reportedly play on Saturday. With his offensive line intact, Hill should be just as effective against a Bulldog defense allowing 143 rushing yards a game.

LSU defensive tackle Anthony Johnson should also play, overcoming a left leg injury and helping a Tiger frontline letting up 19.5 points a game, 37th in the country.

The Tigers have won the last two meetings, the most recent a 42-10 regular season finale blowout in 2011. Georgia held an early 10-0 lead in the first quarter, but then-sophomore Murray was picked off twice and LSU clocked 207 rushing yards for 35 second half points and the win.

The game kicks-off at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday afternoon.

Betting Odds: Georgia is favored by 3 points

Over/Under: 62 points

Early Prediction: LSU 30, Georgia 24

LSU Tigers Vs Georgia Bulldogs 2013: Early Prediction, Betting Odds, Point Spread, And Preview For Saturday's Top SEC College Football Game

Denver Broncos Vs. Baltimore Ravens: Prediction, Betting Odds, Point Spread, And Preview For NFL's Thursday Night Football Season Opener [Week 1] getdiscountz.blogspot.com

getdiscountz.blogspot.com ® Denver Broncos Vs. Baltimore Ravens: Prediction, Betting Odds, Point Spread, And Preview For NFL's Thursday Night Football Season Opener [Week 1]

It seems only fitting that last year’s Super Bowl winner will open the 2013 NFL regular season against this year’s Super favorite. On Thursday night, the defending champion Baltimore Ravens will kick off Week One with a visit to the Denver Broncos.

Denver enters the new year with the best odds, along with the San Francisco 49ers, off playing for the championship at MetLife Stadium in 2014. They finished 2012 with the best record in football, and added Wes Welker and to an already dynamic offense.

The Ravens are coming off a championship season, but they aren’t expected by many to repeat in 2013. On the defensive side, they lost veterans Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. They also traded Anquan Boldin in the offseason.

With the game being played in Denver, the Broncos are heavy favorites. They are giving the Ravens 7.5 points in first meaningful contest of the year.

It’s a rematch from the second round of last season’s AFC playoffs. Denver entered that contest as a big favorite, but blew a late lead and lost in overtime. A 70-yard touchdown pass to Jacoby Jones with 30 seconds left turned the game around for the eventual champs.

In his first season with the Broncos, Peyton Manning helped turn one of the worst offenses in the league into a top unit in the NFL. On Thursday, the quarterback will take the field with even more weapons. Besides Welker, the team added running back Montee Ball in the offseason. The rookie will look to replace Willis McGahee.

Recent history suggests that it will be difficult for the Ravens to start off 2013 at 1-0. The homes team has won nine of the last 10 prime-time NFL kickoff games.

Betting Odds: Denver-7.5, 48

Prediction: On paper, the Broncos are the better team. Without Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, it will be tough for the Ravens to keep Manning out of the end zone for multiple scores. Despite having Ray Rice at tailback and a Super Bowl winner in Joe Flacco at quarterback, Baltimore doesn’t have nearly as many playmakers on that side of the ball. The Ravens must hope that the absence of Von Miller and the departed Elvis Dumervil will be enough for them to win a shootout.

Predicted Final Score: Denver 31, Baltimore 20

Denver Broncos Vs. Baltimore Ravens: Prediction, Betting Odds, Point Spread, And Preview For NFL's Thursday Night Football Season Opener [Week 1]