Liverpool vs. Real Madrid betting preview and pick – Ronaldo and Co. licking their chops

Reds put porous defense on home pitch

The front cover of Monday's edition of Madrid's best-selling sports daily said it all. Or rather it said nothing. Two days before Real Madrid traveled to Anfield to face Liverpool in the Champions League, Marca's entire front page was taken up by a headline focusing on Saturday's forthcoming La Liga Clasico. 

It would be incorrect of course to suggest that there is no excitement about the European clash against one of the continent's most iconic sides, yet the feeling among Madrid fans is that they would sacrifice a result at Anfield for success against their eternal rivals on Saturday. 

However, they might not have to. While Los Blancos have been devastating in recent weeks recording seven blistering wins in a row, Liverpool have been utterly unconvincing, and it is unsurprising to find them at +340 at the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook to overcome Madrid on Wednesday (2:45 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1). 

The visitors meanwhile are offered at -135, and given the respective form of the two sides that looks to be generous.  A draw can be backed at +300 at the SuperBook.

World Series Game 2 odds and pick - Linemakers, Vegas differ on tonight's result

Can Royals solve red-hot Peavy?

LAS VEGAS -- The Royals will try to even the 2014 World Series at one game apiece tonight behind right-handed rookie Yordano Ventura, who the South Point opened a -117 favorite over the Giants and Jake Peavy. After losing their first postseason game, 7-1, in Game 1 on Tuesday, the Royals hope to avoid the fate of other 2014 playoff teams that lost Game 1 of each postseason series and eventually lost the series.  

The total is set at 7 UNDER -120 for Game 2 and the series price has been adjusted from the Royals opening as a -115 favorite to the Giants being a -190 favorite.
    
Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - 8:07 pm (ET) - TV: FOX
Giants lead 1-0
Series Price: Giants -190/+170 (Westgate), opened Royals -115 (South Point)
Season Series: Royals won 3-0

Series schedule
Game 1, Tuesday: Giants 7-1, Madison Bumgarner (18-10, 2.98 ERA) -104, 6.5 UN -120 vs. James Shields (-14-8, 3.21) 
Game 2, Wednesday: Jake Peavy (7-13, 3.73) vs. Yordano Ventura (14-10, 3.20) -117, 7 UN -120
Game 3, Friday: Jeremy Guthrie (13-11, 4.13) vs. Tim Hudson (9-13, 3.57)
Game 4, Saturday: Jason Vargas (11-10, 3.71) vs. Ryan Vogelsong (8-13, 4.00)

What's the book on Ventura?
The Royals went 20-12 behind Ventura this season with a profit margin of +4.0 units, and 18 of his starts stayed UNDER the total. Kansas City is on a roll of winning his past five starts and 12 of his last 14. However, he has given up four runs in two of his last three starts. This will be his first career start against them.

College football money-line picks - Tar Heels present value opportunity on the road

UNC offense thriving behind Williams

AccuScore’s computer simulates games 10,000 times to predict their outcome. Throughout the football season, we’ll be stacking up these forecasts against Las Vegas money-lines. When AccuScore gives a team a better chance to win than the money-line odds imply, it’s a recommended play. 

Here’s a pick for a potential upset for this week’s NCAA Football card:

North Carolina Tar Heels (3-4) @ Virginia Cavaliers (4-3)

North Carolina visits Virginia this weekend for a matchup that AccuScore projects to be much more competitive than initial Vegas odds would suggest. North Carolina is listed as a +235 underdog, indicating just under a 30 percent chance of winning. With Virginia depending so heavily this season on its defense to force turnovers, North Carolina has a chance to pull off a road upset if they can just take care of the ball.

Heisman Trophy odds update – A Badger enters the conversation

Two QBs fall off pace after losses

In last week's Heisman forecast, we listed four top contenders. Two of those players saw their hopes diminished with their teams losing pivotal games and falling from the ranks of the unbeatens.

Baylor lost for the first time this season, with quarterback Bryce Petty completing only 16-of-36 passes at West Virginia. Unlike the previous week when Petty sparked an incredible comeback win over TCU, the Bears were outscored 14-0 in the fourth quarter of a 41-27 defeat.

If not for an offensive pass interference call in the final minute at Florida State, one that negated a potential game-winning touchdown pass for Everett Golson, the Notre Dame quarterback would've been a more serious candidate today than last week. Golson produced a Heisman-type of moment when his athleticism earned him more time to make a play on a fourth-and-18 conversion in the final drive. But in the end, the Seminoles prevailed and Golson's hopes took a major hit.

Even though he had an open date, the results for Petty and Golson pumped some life into the candidacy of the nation's second-leading rusher, Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon. Also, Oregon's Marcus Mariota produced another stellar performance to remain right behind our favorite, who also enjoyed an off week.  Here's how we have the odds updated going into Week 9.

NFL Audit – Without an offensive turnaround, Falcons powerless to stop their plummet

Will Bears, Chargers provide value in Week Eight?

Welcome to “The Audit,” our recap of the week that was in the NFL from a point-spread perspective and a look at the week ahead, with an emphasis on the lessons, observations and trends needed to pick future winners.

Falcons fading fast

When a team suddenly can’t rely on its greatest strength, look out below.

So it goes with the Falcons, who have lost and failed to cover in four consecutive games. Moreover, all four of the defeats have been by double digits.