Week Betting Preview: College Showdowns

This is the time of the year that is a sports bettor’s dream. Both the NFL and college football have reached the height of their seasons, and college basketball now adds the perfect complement to the NBA and NHL. Here's a look at some marquee games coming up this week along with their posted lines at 5Dimes.

Monday night’s nationally televised game on NBA TV is a Northwest Division clash between Denver and Utah. Each team is off to a painfully slow start with just one win between them in their first 12 games. The 1-4 Nuggets have been opened as 3-point road favorites against the 0-7 Jazz. The total for this contest has been set at 196.

If you are looking for an early week featured matchup in the NHL be sure to tune into the NBC Sports Network’s broadcast of the Phoenix vs. St. Louis game at 8pm ET on Tuesday night. The moneyline for this game is still off the board, but look for the 12-4-2 Coyotes to come into the Scottrade Center as slight road underdogs against the 11-2-2 Blues.

There are only two college football showdowns between ranked teams on Week 12’s schedule but both could have a major impact on a couple of conference title races. First, No. 25 Georgia will be on the road against the red-hot Auburn Tigers, who are currently the No. 7 team in the nation. The 9-1 Tigers have been opened as 3.5-point home favorites for that SEC tilt.

The other game takes us to the Big 12 where the No. 12 Oklahoma State Cowboys will face the No. 23 Texas Longhorns as 3-point road favorites. The Cowboys are 5-1 straight-up in conference play, and the Longhorns boast a perfect 6-0 SU start in the Big 12.

The NFL regular season enters Week 11 and every win and loss from here on in could have an impact on the final playoff picture in both the AFC and the NFC. One of the biggest matchups on the slate is 6-3 San Francisco on the road against 7-2 New Orleans in a late Sunday afternoon start. The Saints have been opened as 2.5-point favorites with the total set at 44.