Football Betting Parlays – College and Pro

It’s time to write up a couple of three-team parlays. I have gone the traditional route of one three-team NCAAF parlay and one three-team NFL parlay. But remember, you can parlay any of these college football betting picks with any of the NFL betting picks to create your own parlay. Hell, use all six of these bad boys together and your bet will pay off an awesome 40-1 if they all come through! That’s right; a $100 bet with that $4,000 win will pay off your Christmas gifts and maybe allow for a trip to Vegas for the Super Bowl! Also, keep in mind that you can tease these parlays up to 9.5 points. Teasing will lower the payout, but greatly increase your odds of winning.

All games are graded on a scale of 1-4 stars.

COLLEGE BOWL PARLAY

Armed Forces Bowl

ARMY vs. SMU

Thursday, December 30 — Noon ET

Gerald J. Ford Stadium, Dallas (natural turf)

SMU  -8

Army +8

Total  52

The Armed Forces Bowl marks a sharp contrast between one team that travels extensively through the air with the Red Gun, against another that is moves exclusively on the ground with a triple option. Adding a different dimension is the fact that this game is being played at SMU’s home stadium.  It’s very difficult for the respective scout teams to simulate the opponent; maybe a little easier on the SMU side, but the Mustangs have had a penchant for turning the ball over (minus-09, compared with Army’s +14). We applaud the Cadets for being able to make it to a bowl for the first time since 1996, and they only lost to Hawaii earlier in the season (at their own home park) due to some very bad luck late. The way I see it, each of the offenses should be able to do what they want against the other’s defense, to a considerable extent.

JAY’S PLAY:  OVER 52 ***

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Insight Bowl

MISSOURI vs. IOWA

Tuesday, December 28 — 10 PM ET

Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, AZ

Missouri -3

Iowa      +3

Total      46.5

You have to really respect Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, who has covered five of the last six bowls he’s been in. But this Iowa team, which did not finish the season with a lot of flourish, losing to Northwestern, Ohio State and Minnesota, has also lost two of its top players – wideout Derrell Johnson-Koulianos and running back Adam Robinson, who accounted for 22 touchdowns between them. This version of the Hawkeyes did not overachieve all that much; the win over Michigan State came as a 6.5-point football betting favorite. Ferentz usually has some solid play on the interior lines, and you can’t disparage anything Ricky Stanzi ( 25 TD’s, four INT’s) can do, but Missouri has faced down better opponents, and brings the stronger defense to the table.

JAY’S PLAY:  MISSOURI -3 **

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Poinsettia Bowl

NAVY vs. SAN DIEGO STATE

Thursday, December 30 — 8 PM ET

Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego (natural turf)

San Diego State -3.5

Navy                  +3.5

Total                  60.5

Navy has been to a lot of bowls; in fact, this is their eighth straight. But just because it is "old hat" for them does not mean the experience gets old. The Middies are always mentally prepared for these games, and they are not going to be stale either, having just played the rivalry game with Army. You can’t lose sight of the fact that there are a lot of Naval people in the San Diego area, and the Midshipmen have never lacked for support in this area. There are positives for San Diego State; namely, Rocky Long as defensive coordinator has dealt with option attacks for years (particularly against Air Force), albeit with varying degrees of success. San Diego State has Ronnie Hillman, who can chew up yards on the ground (1,204 yards), and the Aztecs fought tooth-and-nail with Missouri and TCU, even in defeat, but we give the Middies a potential edge in the turnover battle (+7 to SDSU’s -7) and Ricky Dobbs will punish teams that cheat up against the run.

JAY’S PLAY:  NAVY +3.5 ***

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NFL PARLAY

HOUSTON TEXANS at DENVER BRONCOS

4:05 PM ET — Invesco Field, Denver (natural turf)

Houston  -2.5

Denver   +2.5

Total         48

Isn’t it kind of ironic that Gary Kubiak is quite possibly about to be shown the door in Houston, and he now visits Denver, a former "stomping ground" for him, where the Broncos are going to be looking for a new coach? We know that the Texans have continually been wide-open for opposing passing attacks, but the real question becomes whether Tim Tebow, very raw and in his second NFL start, is ready to stand there and riddle that Houston secondary. This, frankly, is his audition time, and maybe "throw-away" time as well for the Broncos, who bide time until the changing of their guard.

JAY’S PLAY:  HOUSTON -2.5 **

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DETROIT LIONS at MIAMI DOLPHINS

1 PM ET — Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL (natural turf)

Miami    -3.5

Detroit  +3.5

Total     41.5

Miami still can’t win at home, and that is a very real, perplexing problem. This is their last chance to put win #2 on the board at Sun Life Stadium. Behind Chad Henne, the Dolphin offense has stalled (34 points in the last three games). And Detroit is 11-3 in the football betting odds (ATS). With the confidence that comes from winning their first road game in 26 tries, the Lions will come swinging, perhaps with Shaun Hill at quarterback.

JAY’S PLAY: DETROIT +3.5 **

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NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS at BUFFALO BILLS

1 PM ET — Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park, NY (artificial turf)

New England  -8

Buffalo          +8

Total              44

The Patriots have now scored 30 points or more in six straight games, averaging almost 38 points over that time. Also, amazingly and historically, they have zero turnovers over this span. The Bills are not the kind of team that is going to force Tom Brady into a lot of mistakes, and Buffalo is in a bit of a scoring drought right now (60 points in last four). But Ryan Fitzpatrick is fully capable of doing some gun-slinging against this Pats’ secondary that allowed Matt Flynn plenty of room last week, and we acknowledge that, even in defeat, Buffalo hasn’t lost touch with many opponents.

JAY’S PLAY: BUFFALO +8 *