[LLXC]

****BEST BET
*Green Bay over Seattle by 31
It happens just about every year with their constant cross-country flights. The Seahawks get worn down.The last time Seattle visited Lambeau Field it was in the 2007 playoffs. It was cold and snowy.The Packers easily won, 42-20.That same weather very well could be there again to greet the West Coast Seahawks. Note this is an early start, a huge biological disadvantage for Seattle.The Packers aren’t going to be in a good mood losing on the final play at Pittsburgh last week. Seattle hasn’t been a good team for two years now.The Seahawks have lost 21 of their last 30 games.The Seahawks have been held to 10 or less points four times this year.They have been especially non-competitive on the road this season going 1-6 SU and ATS with the lone win being against the one-win Rams. The Seahawks have been regularly getting blown out on the road losing by 27 at Houston, by 26 at Minnesota, by 21 at Dallas, by 17 at Indianapolis, by 13 at San Francisco and by 11 at St. Louis. Double-digit road losses are the norm for the Seahawks. Matt Hasselbeck has taken another pounding this season. It’s become clear that Hasselbeck is at the end of the line. He’s without his top deep threat, injured Nate Burleson. Chemistry has become a problem, too, for Seattle.The word soft is being used a lot in describing their toughness, or more accurately lack of toughness.There are rumors about a new gen- eral manager taking over. Seattle shouldn’t look for any sympathy from Green Bay.The Packers and Aaron Rodgers should light up Seattle’s vulner- able secondary. The Seahawks don’t have nearly enough depth to ade- quately cover all of Rodgers’ threats, including Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, James Jones and emerging tight end Jermichael Finley. Ryan Grant also does his best running in December. He’s gone above 100 yards rushing in five of his last 11 December games. GREEN BAY 38-7.

***BEST BET
Kansas City over *Cincinnati by 3
Even if they fall short of an outright win, we do see Kansas City covering in this spot.The underdog has covered in all but one of Cincinnati’s games this season. Some of this can be explained by the Bengals playing up or down depending on the level of competition.As a favorite, the Bengals are 1-5 ATS this season. Cincinnati has been favored by nine or more points three times this year and failed to cover each time. The Bengals lost to Oakland straight-up as a nine-point road favorite, beat the Lions by 10 as a 13 _-point home favorite and defeated the Browns by nine as 12-point home chalk. Making it ever harder for the Bengals to fully focus this week is the death of their teammate, wide receiver Chris Henry.There probably will be a funeral service this week for Henry. The Bengals have been through a death in the family before when defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer’s wife died.The Bengals upset the Ravens that week. However, the following week they lost straight-up as a 4-point favorite against the Texans. Many of the players attended Mrs. Zimmer’s funeral, which was held the week of the Texans’ game.The Bengals have become a grind-out team rely- ing on a rushing game spearheaded by Cedric Benson and a solid defense that hasn’t been as good minus run-stuffing tackle Domata Peko (check sta- tus), who has missed the last three games. The Bengals’ offense has pro- duced just nine touchdowns during the past seven games. Carson Palmer has exceeded 224 yards passing only once in the last six games. He has thrown six touchdown passes in the last seven games. He hasn’t resembled the Palmer of old. Chad Ochocinco has had only one game with more than 80 yards receiving during the past seven games. The Chiefs offense has more punch with Dwayne Bowe back from suspension and Jammal Charles emerging as a dangerous running threat. KANSAS CITY 23-20.

**PREFERRED
Houston over *Miami by 7
The Texans either win or lose close. Only one of their seven defeats this season has been by more than eight points. Houston usually is at its best when the pressure is off. The Texans have covered seven of their last 11 road contests.Their offense is much more explosive than the Dolphins. Matt Schaub ranks second only to Peyton Manning in passing yards. He’s thrown for more than 300 yards eight times this year. He has perhaps the best wide receiver in the game in Andre Johnson.The Dolphins’ secondary is extremely young with rookie cornerbacks.The Dolphins rely much more on the run, which means Ricky Williams.The 32-year-old Williams has been pulling down full-time duty since Ronnie Brown went out for the season. He could start to tire. Houston’s run defense has improved tremendously since Texans coach Gary Kubiak inserted strong safety Bernard Pollard into the starting lineup. Miami has committed almost twice as many turnovers as last season.The Dolphins had a league-low 13 turnovers last season with Chad Pennington at QB. Their tally this year is 25 with youngster Chad Henne behind center.The Dolphins have not been a good home favorite covering just twice in the last 10 instances in that role. HOUSTON 26-19.

**PREFERRED
Jacksonville over *New England by 2
The Patriots have had the Jaguars’ number beating Jacksonville in 2005, 2006 and 2007. The defeats during the 2005 and 2007 seasons ended Jacksonville’s season occurring in the playoffs. So even though the Jaguars’ playoffs hopes took a downward tumble with last week’s loss to the Colts, Jacksonville will be motivated.The Jaguars have had extra time to prepare and heal having played last Thursday.The Patriots are extremely battered in their defensive line. Starters Vince Wilfork and Ty Warren, along with pri- mary backup Myron Pryor, all missed last Sunday’s game. Maurice Jones- Drew is one of the elite runners in the game. He should be able to take advantage of the Patriots’ defensive vulnerability.Wilfork (check status) is a huge key probably being New England’s best defensive player. Keep in mind, the Patriots dealt star defensive lineman Richard Seymour to Oakland earlier in the season.The Patriots’ defense already was down several notch- es from past editions even before the cluster injury problem in the defen- sive line.Tom Brady and Randy Moss, though, can hurt a weak Jacksonville secondary. But the Jaguars have enough weapons of their own to trade points all the way with the Patriots. JACKSONVILLE 23-21.

[LLXC]

***BEST BET
*Miami over Indiana by 17
The Heat can’t afford to slip with this being their lone home matchup during a four- game span. Indiana has failed to cover 10 of the last 13 times it has been an underdog through Dec. 20 and is the playing for the second time in two nights. The Heat had no problem with the Pacers earlier this season, winning 96-83 at Indianapolis and that’s when the Pacers had their best player, Danny Granger. MIAMI 112-95.

[dogs1972]

Thanks

[goldengreek]

Clemson over Kentucky by 4

Few coaches have accomplished more with less, while getting almost no national
publicity, than Rich Brooks in taking Kentucky to four straight winning seasons,
and now a chance to win a fourth straight bowl game, quite a feather in the cap
for this senior class. And while this will be the third trip to Nashville in the span,
they have not been here in two years, and the venue is a particular favorite for the
fan base. That means plenty of spark for a bowl that is a genuine reward, and note
that the 7-5 regular season could have been better, with key injuries taking a toll
at mid-season. Now everyone on defense is healthy again, and QB Mike Hartline
will also return, which means an ability to throw the ball down the field, which the
offense has lacked without him. Clemson brings superior speed, but we can not say
the same about the focus. The Tigers were one defensive stand away from a BCS
bowl berth when they could not stop Georgia Tech on the final drive of the A.C.C.
title tilt, and it is a big comedown from those aspirations to this setting. They bring
enough talent to win, with C. J. Spiller the best big-play threat in the college ranks,

but not enough passion to get much of a margin. CLEMSON 27-23.