Minnesota Vikings at Philadelphia Eagles
Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2010, 8pm EST, NBC
Line: Eagles -14.5
Total: 39.5
The Philadelphia Eagles (10-4) will go for their seventh win in eight games when they host the injury-plagued Minnesota Vikings (5-9) on Tuesday Night Football. The Eagles (-17) have been virtually perfect in their last seven games outside of a 31-26 loss at Chicago in Week 12, completing a sweep of the New York Giants with an unbelievable comeback victory last week.
Quarterback Michael Vick has thrown two touchdown passes or more in each of the last four games for Philly, including three through the air and one on the ground last week against the Giants. Vick passed for 242 yards and ran for 130 while wide receiver Jeremy Maclin was on the receiving end of two of his touchdown throws.
Joe Webb is expected to make his first career start after throwing two interceptions in relief last week, although Minnesota head coach Leslie Frazier has yet to rule Favre out even though he is doubtful to play. The Vikings are hoping to have running back Adrian Peterson back after he missed the loss to Chicago with a thigh bruise. Peterson is listed as questionable and will be replaced again by rookie Toby Gerhart if he does not play. Gerhart rushed for 77 yards on 16 carries against the Bears.
Minnesota has lost the last five meetings with Philadelphia both straight-up and against the spread with the total going UNDER in three of the past four games between the teams. The Vikings are just 2-7 ATS in their last nine games overall while the OVER has cashed in four straight for the Eagles along with nine of 10.
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NCAAF INSIGHT BOWL PREVIEW:
Tues, 12/28/10, 10PM EDT, ESPN
Betting Line: Missouri -2.5
Total: 46.5
Iowa is 8-2 ATS as an underdog over the past three years and currently getting points on the college football lines page. The Hawkeyes finished the season bowl eligible for the 10th straight year and will be playing in their 25th bowl games. Iowa hold a 13-10-1 all-time bowl record and has recorded a 5-3 mark under Ferentz in postseason play. The program has played seven games in the state of Arizona, posting a 2-5 record, including a 34-27 loss versus the Arizona Wildcats on September 18. The Big Ten Conference is 2-4 in the Insight Bowl. Seven of Iowa’s 12 regular season opponents earned bowl invitations, while posting a 77-63 combined overall record this season.
Missouri will be facing Iowa for the first time since 1910 in a nationally televised contest in Tempe, Arizona on Tuesday night. The Tigers, ranked 12th in the last BCS standings, come into the game with a 10-2 overall record, including a 6-2 conference mark. The school will be playing in its sixth-consecutive bowl game, which has replaced the program’s record of four in a row. In all, the 2010 bowl game will mark Missouri’s 28th appearance in a bowl game, posting a 12-15 record in the process. The team was 7-5 ATS on the season.
The Tigers offense averaged 401.1 yards despite the dismissal of leading rusher Derrick Washington before the season. Missouri got at least 380 yards from three backs and a career-best 62.2 percent completion rate from second-year starter Blaine Gilbert. The team will be attempting to bounce back from last season’s 35-13 loss to Navy in the Texas Bowl. Missouri has done a lot of winning recently, tallying 40 wins since 2007, which ranks as 10th-most in the nation.
Bettors will be interested in the Tigers being 5-12 ATS versus teams with a winning record, while the Hawkeyes are 15-6 ATS in the same situation.
