[LLXC]

****BEST BET
*Baltimore over Chicago by 24
It has been a very frustrating season for the Ravens. One thing the Ravens have done well, though, is crush inferior competition. They are 10-0 ATS versus teams with a losing record.The Ravens are far more intimidating when playing at home. It’s not a fluke that they have won 57 of their last 79 home contests.The Bears fit into the bad category.They will miss the playoffs for the third straight year. Chicago has dropped seven of its last nine, covering just once in their last nine games. They have been terrible away from Solider Field going 1-5 SU and ATS.They have lost three of their road games by a combined 65 points. Coach Lovie Smith may be on the way out. Much of the blame is pinned on beleaguered quarterback Jay Cutler, who has 22 interceptions. Cutler certainly is overrated, but the Bears’ problems are much deeper. Matt Forte isn’t nearly as good as some thought entering the season and Chicago’s offensive line hasn’t played well. The Bears’ defense hasn’t been able to recover from the loss of star linebacker Brian Urlacher. Cutler doesn’t have the weapons he had in Denver with Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal. He’s yet to develop a rap- port with any of his new receivers and could be missing Devin Hester (check status) again. Forte needs to step up and give Cutler at least the threat of a ground attack. But if you discount a 121-yard rushing game against the Lions, Forte is averaging just 42 yards on the ground in his last 10 games.The Ravens have surrendered just two rushing touchdowns in their last five games. The Ravens have their best pass rusher, Terrell Suggs, back from injury and also could get back star safety Ed Reed (check status). BALTIMORE 34-10.

**PREFERRED
*Buffalo over New England by 1
Cleveland stopped a 12-game losing streak to Pittsburgh last week. Now it’s the Bills’ turn to end their 12-game loss streak to the Patriots. New England nipped Buffalo, 25-24, in Week 1. That was at Foxboro. The Patriots pulled that victory out because Tom Brady threw two touchdown passes in the final 2:06. A fumbled kickoff probably cost Buffalo the game. The Patriots are in their customary spot, leading the AFC East. But this New England squad is way down from Bill Belichick’s previous dominant teams.These Patriots have chemistry issues, a pass defense that is vulnerable and can’t win on the road. New England is 1-5 SU away from Foxboro, 1-4-1 ATS. Its lone away victory was in London, a neutral site, against weakling Tampa Bay.The Bills like their interim coach Perry Fewell.They’re playing hard for him.The Bills have lost eight times, but in all but one of those defeats they led or were within a touchdown going into the last quarter. Brady has seven 300-yard passing games, but this hasn’t been a vintage year for him. He is banged-up with assorted injuries.The Patriots could be without star defensive tackle Vince Wilfork (check status), who suffered a foot injury. The Bills have two good runners, Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson. BUF- FALO 21-20.

Green Bay over *Pittsburgh by 9
Mike Tomlin said his Steelers would “unleash hell” in December. The Steelers have. Unfortunately the hell has been on them losing to bottom- feeders Oakland and Cleveland. Since mid-November, Pittsburgh has lost five in a row.That hasn’t happened to a defending Super Bowl champion since 1987. Injuries, mistakes in the kicking game, poor pass protections and the defense being down a notch have all contributed to the Steelers being out of it. A club that loses to the Raiders, Browns and Chiefs as the Steelers have done during the past five weeks is not a good team. The Browns showed that a team more physical and determined can beat the Steelers no matter the talent gap. Pittsburgh clearly has hit the wall. The Packers are vastly superior to the Browns and closing in on a playoff berth riding a five-game winning streak.Aaron Rodgers can take his rightful place among the elite quarterbacks.The Packers entered last week ranked No. 1 in the NFL in defense. Charles Woodson is a serious candidate for defensive MVP honors.The Steelers haven’t been able to protect Ben Roethlisberger all season. Green Bay isn’t going to be bothered playing in cold weather either.This is the time to ride a hot team at the expense of a dead one. GREEN BAY 26-17.

[LLXC]

***BEST BET
*Detroit over Los Angeles Lakers by 6
The Pistons have played tough at the Palace of Auburn Hills winning and covering five in a row there, including beating quality foes Denver, Atlanta and Milwaukee. They are a very strong home club when healthy. The Lakers are at the tail end of a five-game road swing playing for the fourth time in six days. DETROIT 102-96.

***BEST BET
*Boston over Minnesota by 2
While we can’t quite call for a straight-up Timberwolves’ victory, we expect Minnesota to get a pointspread cover in this spot. It’s more a play against Boston, which is 2-8 ATS the past 10 times it has laid double-digits through Dec. 13. The Celtics are miss- ing a number of key reserves, including Marquis Daniels and Glen Davis. Their starters are playing well, but Celtics coach Doc Rivers has no interest in keeping them in after the game already is decided. The Celtics are built for the long run, which Rivers knows. So it’s no fluke their cover rate is so low when big chalk. The Timberwolves are more competitive with Al Jefferson getting healthier and Kevin Love back on the glass. BOSTON 97-95.

[LLXC]

***BEST BET
North Texas* over Florida International by 33
Losing Isiah. Gotta tear ‘em down before you can build them back up again. North Texas will be happy to help the demolition along. FIU hits about 25% on three-point- ers, allows about 37%. “They just manhandled us. They definitely didn’t play like a team that hadn’t won a game,” said FIU head coach Isiah Thomas after a recent 17- point defeat...to Florida Gulf Coast. This is a seventh straight road game for FIU, so if Isiah can prep a lousy team well enough for a decent conference foe that has a week between games, then more power to him. NORTH TEXAS, 81-48.