The conference play continues to heat up in NCAA football betting. Here are some news and notes for key games this week, some of which will put teams’ major bowl-game hopes on the line.

Penn State (6-3) vs (8) Ohio State (8-1)

Penn State travels to Ohio State riding its best offensive performance of the season, having totalled 528 yards of offense against Northwestern. But what will the quarterbacking situation be? Matt McGloin has replaced Rob Bolden off the bench twice in the last three games; he threw for four touchdowns last week. Joe Paterno said he always planned to rotate both quarterbacks into that game. Will he do the same this week?

The bye couldn’t have come at a better time for Ohio State. Quarterback Terrelle Pryor’s thigh strain should be fully healed now. The defense also gets a huge boost that betting sharps should note; linebacker, defensive captain and leading tackler Ross Homan will return from his foot injury. So should linebacker Dorian Bell, who is recovering from a concussion.

(22) South Carolina (6-3) vs (24) Florida (6-3)

Can South Carolina win its most important game since it joined the SEC 18 years ago? The winner of its matchup with Florida seals the SEC East and gets a berth in the title game. Concussions could stand in the Gamecocks’ way, though. Star offensive tackle Jarriel King is concussed and doubtful to play; same goes for cornerback C.C. Whitlock. Center T.J. Johnson and running back Marcus Lattimore both sprained their knees but have decent chances of playing this week.

Florida looks a bit healthier heading into this sportsbook matchup. Leading rusher Jeffery Demps didn’t play against Vanderbilt last week because of a foot sprain but looks good to go for Week 11. Will quarterback/tight end hybrid Jordan Reed steal snaps from John Brantley again at quarterback? He threw for 120 yards and ran for 84 more last week out of the Wildcat formation.

(17) Mississippi State (7-2) vs (11) Alabama (7-2)

The Mississippi State Bulldogs will have some extra emotion to their game this week after sophomore defensive end Nick Bell lost his battle with cancer. The Bulldogs are riding a six-game winning streak and have most of their personnel healthy. Linebacker Chris White earned SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors in their last win when he tallied 15 tackles and an interception.

An interesting question for the defending champion Alabama Crimson Tide: will Greg McElroy play the entire game? Nick Saban stuck with his ho-hum quarterback all season with a BCS title game still within reach but, after last week’s loss to LSU ended their hopes, he could consider experimenting. Don’t be surprised if A.J. McCarron sees some action in this game.

A sports betting picks warning has been issued for the Toledo vs. Northern Illinois contest.

This is a game in which the majority of professional bettors will be betting the winning sports prediction against the spread, while most of the square players will be betting on the losing Vegas odds pick. Oddsmakers have the college football point spread at Northern Illinois -10.5 with a total of 50. There are some Toledo +11 out there as well.

Spread betting trends (all records are against the spread): Rockets are 9-20 ATS in their last 29 games following a S.U. win,  4-10 ATS in their last 14 games following a ATS win, 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games following a bye week.  Toledo is 9-2 in the series.

Huskies are 6-0-1 ATS in their last 7 games overall, 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games after allowing more than 280 yards passing in their previous game. On the other hand, the Huskies are 1-8 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.

Over/under trends: Under is 22-8-1 in Huskies last 31 games after accumulating more than 200 yards rushing in their previous game.

Top expert pick on this game: America’s Greatest sports service in terms of lifetime units won, is GodsTips, anchor of OffshoreInsiders.com. Get the Toledo vs. Northern Illinois football winner with all the analysis. Click now to purchase

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Plenty of big names took licks and damaged their NFL betting chances in Week 9.

First off, here’s the list of guys who suffered minor injuries but aren’t expected to miss any time:

Don’t worry about: Matt Schaub (ribs), Roddy White (knee), Hakeem Nicks (ankle), Jeremy Shockey (ribs)

Now, onto the more serious stuff.

Matthew Stafford, Lions: SHOULDER

The kid can’t catch a break, can he? Stafford was leading Detroit to what looked like a big sportsbook upset over the Jets, tallying 240 passing yards and two touchdown passes, but went down with a shoulder injury that was “eerily reminiscent” of the one he suffered in Week 1 according to The Detroit News. It sounds like Stafford could be out an extended period again. Detroit can only hope Shaun Hill’s arm injury heals quickly enough for him to reassume the reins, as no one wants to see Drew Stanton in there.

Matt Moore, Panthers: SHOULDER

During New Orleans’ utter destruction of the Panthers, Matt Moore got knocked out of the game in the second quarter with a (throwing) shoulder injury. He’ll have an MRI today. It’s possible that he separated the shoulder. If so, the Panthers would have to give awful Jimmy Clausen or Tony Pike the starting job. As if you didn’t know already, betting on Carolina is akin to burning money. If you plan on doing so, you may as well watch the money burn instead of the Panthers game; that would be much more entertaining.

Jonathan Stewart, Panthers: HEAD

Stewart misses out on Concussion of the Week honors since his injury hasn’t officially been labelled one yet as of press time. It certainly looked like he got concussed though; Darren Sharper’s helmet-to-helmet hit knocked him out of the game.

Ryan Mathews, Chargers: ANKLE

Like Stafford, Mathews turned back the clock and suffered the same injury that hampered him earlier this season. He aggravated the ankle injury that bothered him last month. The Chargers are heating up but the promising rookie Mathews just can’t seem to get going.

Austin Collie, Colts: CONCUSSION

Collie took the Concussion of the Week award by a landslide. His injury was scary as can be; after a big collision with two Eagles defenders, he was motionless and unconscious for several minutes before leaving the field on a stretcher. He’s been diagnosed with a concussion but, amazingly, was said to be alert and responsive in the locker room shortly after waking up. Still, bettors, Colts fans and fantasy football junkies shouldn’t expect Collie to play next week.

Nate Allen, Eagles: NECK

The Eagles’ standout rookie free safety strained his neck in Philly’s win over Indianapolis on Sunday. He looks like he’ll miss at least one game but the injury isn’t considered serious.

Why did Ndamukong Suh and Wes Welker both attempt extra points yesterday? Because kickers Jason Hanson and Stephen Gostkowski both suffered leg

Tonight’s NBA schedule includes a contest between the Nuggets vs. Bulls.

NBA wagering buffs will want to note the Las Vegas basketball point spread is Chicago -2.5 to -3 with a total of 206.5 to 207.

Spread betting trends (all records are against the spread): Denver is 3-8 as underdogs, 6-17 vs. NBA Central, 3-12-1 ATS in their last 16 games playing on 1 days rest, 4-19-4 ATS in their last 27 games following a ATS win, 1-9-1 ATS in their last 11 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.

Bulls are 12-1 ATS in their last 13 games following a S.U. loss, 26-12 ATS in their last 38 games following a ATS win, but 3-7 on two days rest. The home team is 6-1 in the series.

Over/under trends: Under is 37-17 in Nuggets last 54 games as an underdog,

Rest report: The Nuggets are playing their third game in four nights. The Bulls are well rested.

Top expert pick on this game: Perfection. The Great One Stevie Vincent has hit seven straight football picks! Navy as a No Limit Play Saturday was the biggest in a long-line of winners. Perfect Play, which means a stat that is 100 percent with at least 12 games, is going on a pro basketball side Monday. He has hit 8-of-10 overall.   Click now to purchase

Magic vs. Hawks Las Vegas betting odds are up for NBA picks and predictions. This game is so strong that a Vegas sports betting alert has been issued.

The bookmaker’s point spread is Orlando -9 with a total of 194.

Spread betting trends (all records are against the spread): Hawks are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games as a road underdog of 5.0-10.5, but 4-9 off spread loss. Hawks are 7-19 ATS in their last 26 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game and 1-8 off straight up loss.

Magic are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game, 10-3 in one day rest, 35-15-1 ATS in their last 51 games as a favorite, 41-20 to the division. The favorite is 7-0 in the series.

Over/under trends: Under is 8-1 in Hawks last 9 vs. a team with a winning S.U. record. Under is 39-13-1 in Magic last 53 games following a ATS loss.

Rest report: Atlanta playing their third game in four nights including playing back-to-back nights. Orlando is playing their third game in four nights.

Top expert pick on this game: Perfection. The Great One Stevie Vincent has hit seven straight football picks! Navy as a No Limit Play Saturday was the biggest in a long-line of winners. Perfect Play, which means a stat that is 100 percent with at least 12 games, is going on a pro basketball side Monday. He has hit 8-of-10 overall.   Click now to purchase

The second game on the Don Best rotation on the NBA Vegas line is the Warriors vs. Raptors.

The NBA spread on this game has Toronto -1 with a total of 217.

Spread betting trends (all records are against the spread): Warriors are 17-5 ATS in their last 22 games following a ATS loss, 17-6 ATS in their last 23 games vs. a team with a losing S.U. record, 19-7 to the Atlantic. Golden State is 6-0 in the series.

Raptors are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a SU loss of more than 10 points, but  4-13 ATS in their last 17 home games.

Over/under trends: Under is 8-1-1 in Warriors last 10 road games, but the over is 53-22 in Warriors last 75 Monday games.

Rest report: Golden State is playing their third game in four nights including playing back-to-back nights. Toronto is playing their third game in four nights.

Top expert pick tonight: To the many who have been with GodsTips since the 1980s scorephone Cadillac Club days, you know we don’t whine about losers. We learn, accept they are a part of doing business and celebrate that long-term we always win more than we lose. But several shaky calls including the outlandish 15-yard penalty that gave the Colts the cover, will stick in my craw for as long as I will live.

But back to the winning.  We are 31-18 in the NFL with Majors, including moneyline underodgs of 180 (Browns yesterday), 230, and 280. Even several losers were juice free moneyline pups. Get the Monday Night Football major. Plus we’ve hit 70 percent of NBA plays this season. Get a Wise Guy NBA side. Wise Guy plays from GodsTips are widely accepted by virtually every bookmaker, Vegas runner, pro bettor, Vegas insider, oddsmaker, and fellow handicappers alike as the strongest pick in sports gambling.  Click now to purchase

Sports betting site OffshoreInsiders.com apparently scooped the media by several hours on the firing of head coach Wade Phillips. Now several sources are confirming that the sports betting site is right, the joke about preferring to work with Al Michaels (who is in fact with NBC Sports) notwithstanding.

The site stands by the equally accurate report that the Cam Newton evidence is piling up. However, Duffy did want to clarify his misunderstood statement, “From everything I’ve been told, I doubt of Newton makes it to the Iron Bowl.”

Duffy said that he means what he says, “It’s my prediction something will happen sooner rather than later. Nowhere did I say my sources assured me this would happen before the Iron Bowl.”

However, this does not mean any backtracking on the main scoop. Newton will eventually be declared ineligible. It may, ala Reggie Bush, happen retroactively. There is a strong opinion inside Auburn athletics to go out, win the National Championship, and put the onus on the NCAA to strip them.

But OffshoreInsiders.com absolutely trusts sources that Newton will not be cleared.

Further developments on the Phillips firing:

• While Jon Gruden is Jerry Jones top choice, he cannot be hired now because of the Rooney Rule.
• Gruden must get power over personnel moves or will not take the job. It’s unlikely Jerry Jones will fire himself as GM.

OffshoreInsiders.com will continue to scoop the lamestream media and continue to make the best sports betting picks.

Now CBS Dallas affiliate is reporting what OffshoreInsiders.com broke this morning: Wade Phillips has been fired>

NBA picks against the spread has the first game on the Don Best schedule as the Spurs vs. Bobcats.

The NBA spread on this game has San Antonio -4 and 187.

Rest report: Both teams are rested.

Spread betting trends (all records are against the spread): Spurs are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400, 11-3 ATS in their last 14 vs. NBA Southeast, 15-7-1 ATS in their last 23 games as a favorite.

Spurs are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games as a road favorite of 0.5-4.5. Bobcats are 15-33-3 ATS in their last 51 vs. NBA Southwest, 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS win. The favorite is 8-3 in the series.

Over/under trends: Under is 8-2 in Spurs last 10 vs. a team with a losing S.U. record. Under is 25-11 in Bobcats last 36 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.

Week 9 NFL Monday Night Football picks are up. Matt Rivers, who was the winningest handicapper ever—nobody came close—on a large network of sites.

NBA free picks are up for Monday from Matt Rivers and it is on the Dallas Mavericks -3.

Nobody respects the talent loaded Celtics more than I do but this is just not an easy spot at all for Doc Rivers’ squad. Boston had to run with Kevin Durant and the young Thunder last night in Oklahoma City and now travel and play the rough back-to-back here in Dallas. The Mavericks may not be the most aggressive in your face team out there but at home in Big D Dirk and the fellas can get after it and beat down a tired team.

Rajon Rondo is still fairly young and energetic and has been phenomenal dishing the ball but there is no debating that this Celtics team is getting a little long in the tooth. Garnett, Pierce and Allen are far from being spry young chickens and should not be at their top level here as the minutes pile up.

Dallas knows how to wet the bed in the playoffs with the best of them but these guys are a talented team led by a star in Nowitzki that can take care of business in a situation such as this one. Look for Dirk, Terry and the rest of the Mavs to try and feed off of the home crowd and push the pace against the potentially dragging and fatigued C’s.

Boston is a mentally tough team when they need to be but I’m not so sure that week two or so of the regular season is the spot they are going to show it.

It’s a bit much for me to believe the visitors from Beantown are going to compete until the bitter end in this thing and therefore I’ll make a small play on the fresher and better team today.

For more information: The Texans blew it late for Matt Rivers spoiling another winning day. No biggie, 10 of 13 on the positive side and another winning weekend which ain’t too shabby and I go right back to work here and bash that Crookie once again. Footy and hoops for one low price including an extremely rare total in the NFL. I only release a few totals a year but when I do look the heck out!

Three plays in all: 300,000* NFL total, 200,000* NFL side and a 200,000* between Denver and Chicago. 3-0 baby! Click now to purchase

One of the stronger betting opportunities for bettors a contest between the Steelers vs. Bengals.

The betting line has the point spread posted as Pittsburgh -5.5 or 6.0 with a total of 41.

OffshoreInsiders.com takes a look at the betting on football match-up using key numbers employed by Vegas insiders.

In comparing yards per rush on offense, the healthier records go to Pittsburgh by .2.

Insofar as passing yards per completion on the offensive side of the ball, the advantage is for the Steelers at 1.6.

According to yards per point, the not wasteful offense is the Pittsburgh Steelers by 1.7.

Defensively the more miserly team based on yards per rush is Pittsburgh by 1.9.

The more exceptional defense based on the stipulation of passing yards per completion is Pittsburgh by 1.2.

The yards per point statistic used by the best sports handicappers says the better defense is Pittsburgh by 6.0.

Who to bet on according to the pick nation The Texans blew it late for Matt Rivers spoiling another winning day. No biggie, 10 of 13 on the positive side and another winning weekend which ain’t too shabby and I go right back to work here and bash that Crookie once again. Footy and hoops for one low price including an extremely rare total in the NFL. I only release a few totals a year but when I do look the heck out!

Three plays in all: 300,000* NFL total, 200,000* NFL side and a 200,000* between Denver and Chicago. 3-0 baby! Click now to purchase

Yards per point is determined by diving total yards by number of points. Offensively a lower number is considered more efficient. On defense, a higher number is better.