NCAA Football Odds – Golden Bears aim to slow down Cardinal

Sports betting players didn’t expect Stanford to challenge for the Pac-10 title, but the Cardinal are still right there as they head into their Saturday night clash with California, who are looking to end a disappointing season on a high note.

California vs Stanford odds – Saturday, November 21, 8:00 PM ET

Cal (7-3, 4-3) bear Arizona 24-16 at home by scoring nine points in the final 4:46, and Shane Vereen stepped in for the injured Javhid Best quite nicely, running for 159 yards and a touchdown on 30 carries. Kevin Riley was 13-of-22 for 181 yards, a touchdown and two picks, while Giorgio Tavecchio added four field goals for the Golden Bears, who were supposed to be one of the top teams in the conference before midseason beatdowns at the hands of USC and Oregon.

A week after blowing out Oregon at home, the Cardinal (7-2, 6-2) went to Los Angeles and throttled USC 55-21 in a result that no one in the world of NCAA football odds saw coming. Toby Gerhart was having a great year before, but people are taking notice after he lit up the Trojans for 178 yards and three scores on 29 carries. Andrew Luck was 12-of-22 for 144 yards and two touchdowns, while the Stanford defense forced four turnovers.

The Cardinal are 81st in the nation in defense, but if they keep getting performances like that, they may overcome the NCAA football odds and reach the Rose Bowl for the first time since 2000.

NCAA football odds in your sportsbook have the Cardinal as a 7.5-point favorite at home, where they are 5-0 this year. The Golden Bears have a 6-3-1 record against Stanford in their last 10 meetings (they tied 30-30 in 2000 at Cal), but they fell 20-13 in their last trip here in 2007. This looks like it’ll be a shootout as neither defense cracks the top 70 nationally, while the offenses are in the top 35 in terms of scoring.

The running backs will be the story as Vereen and Gerhart open up the field for their quarterbacks. With Stanford averaging 53 points in their last two games, go with the Cardinal.

Bet on sports: Stanford -7.5

NCAA Football Betting – Ohio State/Michigan Pick

The sportsbook world will be abuzz this weekend with rivalry week arriving in full force. Though Michigan isn’t the power it once was – not even close – it still always seems to give Ohio State an interesting run. Interestingly enough, the Wolverines have more to play for this week. Ohio State is set to play in the Rose Bowl while Michigan is fighting for its bowl-game life.

(9) Ohio State Buckeyes vs Michigan Wolverines

Saturday, November 21, 12:00 p.m. ET

Sports betting favorite: Ohio State -12

We at least know Michigan has an emotional advantage on Saturday, playing in the Big House and with much bigger motivation. But does it have the personnel to hang with Ohio State?

It’s hard to know what we’ll see from the Wolverines this week. Freshman pivot Tate Forcier made decent strides early in the season but took a step back at Wisconsin last week, throwing for just 188 yards. Meanwhile, Michigan’s usually-potent rushing attack, which entered the Wisconsin game averaging 200 yards per contest, fell flat with just 71 yards. Simply put, Michigan’s offensive starters just have to be better to have any chance against a stout Ohio State “D” on Saturday. The Buckeyes have stymied much better teams – they shut down Iowa in overtime to earn their Rose Bowl berth – so they won’t be intimidated by Michigan’s attack.

Ohio State’s offense isn’t the driving force behind its success but quarterback Terrelle Pryor is improving, making more plays with his feet than he did earlier in the season. His scrambling ability will keep Michigan honest; the Wolverines got embarrassed by Wisconsin last week, allowing 45 points – their most ever against the Badgers.

On paper, the natural edge goes to Ohio State, but this isn’t the week to pick the Buckeyes. They had a huge emotional high with their overtime win last week. Rivalry or not, how can we expect them to bring it in a game that has no bearing on the rest of their season? Michigan should get fired up on front of the home crowd and overachieve. It’s just another game to the Buckeyes but it may as well be the Super Bowl odds for the Wolverines. Bet on Michigan to at least beat the 12-point spread.

College football betting pick: Michigan +12

Brian Westbrook Injury

Brian Westbrook has always returned from various injuries throughout his career, a second shock could not leave on this occasion. Westbrook's status is uncertain even after the All-Pro running back for his second concussion in three weeks during Philadelphia's 31-23 defeat in San Diego last Sunday.

Westbrook played back after being rested the previous two duels with a concussion suffered on October 26. Was injured in the third quarter on a screen play in which he was trapped in the block by Eagles receiver Jason Avant and deep Chargers Eric Weddle.

Head Coach Andy Reid of the Eagles said the team would take precautions with Westbrook, and it was too early to decide at what point would return if it does.

"Football is not the most important for Westbrook at this time," Reid said. "Rest assured that is being analyzed, tested, and we're watching, then we will see from where. There is nothing we have not done before. "

"We have experts checking their condition and be sure that the previously heard and as we did. First, here is your brain health. "

Westbrook was not available to reporters Monday. His agent, Todd France did not return calls made to his mobile phone.

Westbrook 30-year-old suffered his first concussion of his career when he hit his head on the knee of a defender during Monday Night Odds against Washington last month. Westbrook lost consciousness briefly, but walked off the field under his own power.

He was inactive for Philadelphia's victory over the New York Giants on November 1st and got the green light to face Dallas last week, but again remained inactive for precautionary reasons after experiencing headaches. Westbrook had no trouble in their game against the Chargers.

"We will leave this to doctors," said Reid. "There was a chance to play a week earlier and kept him and symptoms because of evidence presented."

The eight-year veteran participation has been limited this season because of ankle injuries, knee, and commotion. Westbrook to carry the ball 47 times for 225 yards, an average of 4.8 yards per carry, with 1 touchdown in his credit. He also caught 19 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown.

Westbrook has never played a full season, has lost 16 games by a variety of ankle injuries, knee, ribs and triceps. Before last season, Westbrook signed a three-year contract worth $ 21 million, including $ 13 million guaranteed the first two years. The Eagles have the option of not renewing his contract for 2010.

NFL Week 11 Betting Parlay

NFL betting is getting tougher instead of easier as the season progresses. Big favorites like the undefeated Saints didn’t cover the spread last week. The rolling Cowboys lost to Green Bay. The NFL is throwing us curveballs every week, so advance preparation for our football picks is all the more important. Let’s get a parlay going.

Panthers -3 over Dolphins

The Dolphins’ bread and butter is their running game but Ronnie Brown almost certainly won’t play Thursday night after injuring his ankle. Can Ricky Williams shoulder a full workload? Tough to say. Even if he does, the Dolphins have other problems. They won’t pass on Carolina’s fourth-ranked pass defense and their leaky secondary could allow a big play to Steve Smith. Even though the Dolphins’ stout run defense could contain the Panthers’ NFC-leading rushing attack, Carolina looks good to cover at home. With wins over Arizona and Atlanta in recent weeks, the Panthers are forcing us to take them seriously.

Steelers -10 over Chiefs

It seems no lock is legit these days but the Steelers do seem like solid sportsbook picks to win this week after a frustrating home loss to Cincinnati in Week 10. The Chiefs don’t do anything well on defense so you have to think Ben Roethlisberger and Rashard Mendenhall will put some major points on the board for the Steelers. The Steelers’ dominant run defense should swallow Jamaal Charles whole.

Packers -6.5 over 49ers

Is there a more frustrating team in sports betting than the Green Bay Packers? They lose to Tampa, breaking our hearts, then upset the Cowboys? Come on. Based on the matchup, we’re cautiously optimistic about the Pack hosting San Francisco this week. If their “D” can contain the Cowboys’ offense, it should handle Alex Smith, Frank Gore and the 49ers. San Francisco’s pass defense is still suspect. It picked Jay Cutler off five times last week but still allowed over 300 yards, suggesting that Cutler may have been giving them the ball with dumb throws as opposed to them taking it. As long as Rodgers gets some semblance of pocket protection, he should lead Green Bay to a second straight win.