A no-win situation
After the MNF doubleheader, I asked Brent Musburger who would win if the Bears played the Raiders.
The former voice of the Raiders texted back: “Bears.”
Instead, they played on the same night and both lost.
With their starting QB in doubt, the Raiders started the day +5.5 vs. the Falcons and were +6.5 at kickoff. So the ATS result depended on your number, helped or hurt by the Raiders getting an extra point blocked in the fourth quarter in a 15-9 loss. The Bears (+7) were never in danger of covering, falling to the Vikings 30-12. >>Dave Tuley‘s Week 15 ATS report.
Injury Report: KC QB Patrick Mahomes has a mild high ankle sprain and will be week-to-week . . . . The Lions, plagued by injuries on defense, lost RB David Montgomery (MCL) for the season. . . . Dolphins WR Grant DuBose remains in a Houston hospital with a head injury, but has movement in his arms and legs.
I don’t dwell too much on Bad Beats, but this one qualifies: 2024 Circa Survivor co-champion Rob Brandt pointed out that Montgomery’s season rushing total at FanDuel was 775.5. Yep, you guessed it: Montgomery ended his season with 775.
Now for the meat of the action
We start a run of nine bowls between tonight and Christmas Eve, plus four CFP games.
VSiN.com managing editor Adam Burke previews the Frisco Bowl featuring Memphis vs. West Virginia (9 ET, ESPN).
Now if you read Monday’s VSiN Daily, you know that I asked for your handicapping contributions.
So here is the inaugural VSiN Fan Bowl Preview, presented by Omaha Steaks, from Ace Hunt.
Memphis ended Tulane’s potential run at a chance for the College Football Playoff with a 34-24 win at Tulane in the regular-season finale and also easily defeated UAB and Rice to win each of its last three games. Only a narrow loss to UTSA has separated Memphis from winning each of its last five games. West Virginia has won three of its last five games, but was humbled losing 52-15 at Texas Tech to close the regular season. The future is bright for West Virginia with the return of Rich Rodriguez as its head coach, but Memphis will put the American Athletic’s 4-1 all-time record against the Big 12 in Bowl Games on the line. Memphis is tied for the longest active streak in FBS with three consecutive double-digit wins in bowl games. QB Seth Henigan, with 23 touchdown passes and more than 3,000 passing yards this season, says Memphis means the world to him and is grateful for one more opportunity to put on the Tiger helmet. The West Virginia defense ranks 125th out of 133rd nationally in pass defense.
Let’s lay the 4.5 with Memphis as the Tigers are committed to finishing the season strong and West Virginia is looking to begin the next chapter for its program.
I asked Ace a little bit about himself.
I live in Terre Haute, Indiana and I am a school bus driver who watches [VSiN] in between bus routes (and now me and the wife get to watch Mitch and Pauly in the afternoons). I’ve been watching since 2001 and have enjoyed meeting you guys, the hosts and [Circa owner] Derek Stevens on our trips out to Vegas. VSIN has changed my life. I take what I knew before, factor in the advice of the hosts and guests and now I am able to work with our kids here locally and still make a good side hustle on sports based mostly on the advice in the email, on TV and the website.
Thanks to the fine folks at Omaha Steaks, I’m sending Ace a gift certificate worth more than $275.
Send me your pick with an explanation for one of the bowl or CFP games through Dec. 24. If I pick your pick, the Omaha Steaks are coming your way.
(If you don’t want to submit your pick but Omaha Steaks sound good, you can get $30 off your next order and 50% off sitewide. Visit omahasteaks.com/VSIN and enter the code VSIN30 to get this limited-time offer. Minimum purchase may apply.)
Other bowl resources
>Steve Makinen‘s Best Bets for the week, including the Frisco Bowl.
>All of our bowl previews will be posted here.
>Get your VSiN College Football Playoff Betting Guide. There are 27 pages of previews, picks and predictions. Plus Brent Musburger and Steve Makinen pick a side and total for every bowl game. Download the PDF here.
Don’t forget: The deadline is Thursday for the VSiN Road to Jansanity Contest. It’s free to play and $5,000 goes to the winner. Read the contest rules and then register at VSiN.com/Jansanity.
NBA Cup tonight
This is my takeaway from reading Zach Cohen’s preview of tonight’s NBA Cup final between the Bucks and Thunder (-5 / 216.5):
The Under is 5-0 in the five knockout-stage games that have been played in Vegas in the history of the NBA Cup. With this final featuring two teams that primarily like to execute in a half-court setting, it’s hard to imagine that changing.
Today in college basketball
Greg Peterson has posted his Best Bets for today’s menu.
>Adam Burke‘s top plays will be up later today.
Quick Hits
Contest Corner: There are 50 live Circa Survivor entries heading to Week 16 after 15 advanced thanks to the Vikings’ MNF victory.
NHL: Look for Jonathan Davis‘ picks by mid-day on our NHL page.
This is The VSiN Daily newsletter for Tuesday, December 17. Sign up for this free email and get picks and insights delivered to your in-box every morning.
