Vital Statistics as of 2/15

Record: 17-7 (5-5 Southeastern Conference)

RPI Rating: 48

Strength of Schedule Rating: 59

Current Record vs. RPI Top 50: 1-4

Record vs. RPI Top 100: 5-6

Best Wins: vs. Kansas State (neutral court), vs. UTEP (neutral court)

Worst Loss: vs. Arkansas (home)

SUMMARY: Coach Andy Kennedy’s ballclub is squarely on the bubble. The Rebels do have the kinds of non-conference scalps that will come in handy on Selection Sunday, but in a season when the SEC West hasn’t fared well at all, Ole Miss has produced only five wins in its first 10 conference games.

2) California Golden Bears

Vital Stats (2/15)

Record: 17-8 (9-4 Pacific 10)

RPI: 24

Strength of Schedule: 1

Current Record vs. RPI Top 50: 0-4

Record vs. RPI Top 100: 4-7

Best Wins: USC (home court), Washington (home)

Worst Loss: vs. UCLA (home)

SUMMARY: Coach Mike Montgomery’s team represents a fascinating challenge for the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee. The Pac-10 has been so lousy this season that the league might get only one at-large team into the NCAAs. Cal is that team, but the Bears would like to win the upcoming Pac-10 Tournament in Los Angeles so that they don’t have to sweat on Selection Sunday. If they are forced to sit in the at-large pool, the Bears might drown.

3) UTEP Miners

Vital Stats (2/15)

Record: 19-5 (10-1 Conference USA)

RPI: 56

Strength of Schedule: 143

Current Record vs. RPI Top 50: 1-3

Record vs. RPI Top 100: 5-4

Best Wins: at UAB, at Memphis

Worst Loss: New Mexico State (home)

Sports Betting SUMMARY: UTEP came close to beating Ole Miss in the non-conference portion of its season, and a league championship will certainly help the Miners if they have to sweat out the selection process, but it’s important that this team avoid bad losses in the coming weeks.

As the betting on Super Bowl 2010 odds heats up, the bookmakers are wondering if Peyton Manning and the Colts can win their second Super Bowl of the decade. Manning has an uphill climb, but he also may be able to exploit a Saints secondary that makes gambles of their own.

The Saints secondary is great at taking the ball away from the opposing offense. They intercepted the ball 26 times in the regular season and 3 times in the playoffs. But facing interception-prone QBs such as Brett Favre can help to boost the stats of any secondary. Peyton Manning is a dynamic and precision passer who only throws an average of one pick a game. They may get to Manning, but they will be hard-pressed to get him to make any mistakes.

On the Saints side of the ball, you have to wonder if guys like Reggie Bush and Jeremy Shockey are ready for this kind of spotlight. Last year Bush disappeared in the offense when Deuce McAllister was injured and Bush was called on to carry the load. Reggie Bush does not carry the load in New Orleans anymore, but it will be interesting to see how he responds to pressure.

Jeremy Shockey’s history of being a less than helpful teammate may rear its ugly head again in this pressure situation. There is nothing higher for a football player than the Super Bowl, and Shockey has shown glimpses of cracking under much less pressure in the past.

Super Bowl XLIV will be a shoot-out between Peyton Manning and Drew Brees. While there is no questioning the leadership of Drew Brees, there is a very good chance that Peyton Manning has been grooming his young receivers for this moment all season long. When Peyton Manning wants something, he usually goes out and gets it.

Pick: Colts 21-17

The Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills rivalry would never be mixed up with Patriots-Colts – and it won’t get the attention of the Patriots Saints betting this week – but it is a good matchup nonetheless. This week, the warm weather Dolphins make the trip up North to Buffalo to try and get a win in the brisk temperatures at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

The Dolphins have a number of things going for them, such as the fact that they have won four of their last six contests and are finally back to .500, and the fact that they have had nine days to prepare for this contest after playing last Thursday, but the road trip seems to affect them.

The Bills do have one of the worst run defenses in the NFL and the Dolphins are very much a run-oriented team, but the Bills have shown a much better offensive spark with Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback than Trent Edwards. The Bills should be able to score a good amount of points if necessary in this game as the Dolphins secondary is very leaky.

At home, the Bills should be ready for their division rivals. The Dolphins may be favored but our pick is for the Bills to win this game outright.

NFL Bet: Bills +3.5

If you’ve been known to place a sport bet online, then you’ve probably delved into some football betting at one point in time. This year’s Super Bowl odds are out, and after winning seven of the last 10 Super Bowls, it’s no surprise that AFC teams are leading the way.

New England Patriots (+400)

Tom Brady is back at the helm for the Pats, which means plenty of touchdowns to go around to Randy Moss, Wes Welker and new pickup Joey Galloway. The defense will be the story of the season, and look for Jerod Mayo to finally get some credit as one of the best defensive players in the NFL. The defense only needs to be decent, because the Pats are going to score a LOT of points.

Philadelphia Eagles (+700)

The Eagles are a surprising pick in this slot, and they may have gotten the steal of the draft by taking running back LeSean McCoy in the second round. Maybe now Andy Reid will call some more rushing plays and limit Donovan McNabb’s throws. The defense will be stellar as always, which will give them a fighting chance.

Pittsburgh Steelers (+775)

The defending Super Bowl champs should be in good shape heading into the season, although the Ben Roethlisberger sexual assault allegation could be a distraction. The No.1 defense in the league is intact, and they also have the fourth-easiest schedule in the league.

San Diego Chargers (+800)

The Chargers’ defense was horrible in 2008, but it’ll be infinitely better with a healthy Shawne Merriman back to hound opposing quarterbacks. It’ll be interesting to see how they handle the LaDainian Tomlinson/Darren Sproles duo at running back: will there be enough rushing attempts to go around?

Indianapolis Colts (+1100)

The Colts are starting their first season in the post-Tony Dungy era, but Jim Caldwell has been serving under Dungy since 2001, so he is very familiar with the system. Despite the loss of Marvin Harrison, Peyton Manning will still be throwing to the likes of Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark and Anthony Gonzalez, and the defense will be aiming to get a full season out of former Defensive Player of the Year Bob Sanders. Even with no Dungy, the Colts are still worth a shot if you’re placing a sport bet online.

World Series odds have the Phillies and Cubs behind the Dodgers in the National League, but either team is capable of going on a run in the second half of the year. The two meet at Citizens Bank Park in the second of a four-game set on Tuesday.

Cubs vs Phillies odds – Tuesday, July 21, 7:05 PM ET

Rich Harden (6-6, 5.05) had an inconsistent first half of the year, but he ended with a solid performance against Washington when he allowed a run on three hits over six innings of a 6-2 road win, and it was also the first time in 2009 that he didn’t walk a single batter. Away from Wrigley Field, Harden is a beast with a 4-1 mark in six starts and a 2.17 ERA, and he’s owned the Phillies in his two career starts against them with a 1-0 record and a sparkling 0.69 ERA.

Joe Blanton (6-4, 4.44) settled down as the campaign wore on, and he gave up only one run in his last 14.2 innings before the All-Star break. He’s only faced the Cubs once in his career, earning a no-decision, and he’s been a bit shaky at home despite a 3-2 record, racking up a 4.63 ERA.

It’s difficult to say who will be the sportsbook favorite, as Philadelphia struggles at home. But regardless of who is favored, Harden seems to have the Phillies’ number. He’s also a much better pitcher in the second half of the season than the first. World Series odds won’t be decided by one single game, but take the Cubs on the road on Tuesday.

MLB betting pick: Chicago Cubs

Making a sports bet online for Saturday’s matchup between Arizona and St. Louis could give some sportsbook players fits, as they’ll have to decide between two of the top pitchers in the National League.

Diamondbacks Cardinals odds – Saturday, 7:15 PM ET

Dan Haren (9-5, 2.01) has done more than step up in the absence of ace Brandon Webb, he dominated in the first half of the year and would have more wins if his team had scored more than three combined runs in his first three starts, when he allowed only four. The 28-year-old righthander, who actually spent the first two years of his career in St. Louis before he was traded for Mark Mulder, leads the NL in ERA, WHIP and is tied for the lead in complete games. Haren’s won his lone meeting with the Cardinals, and he’s a sparkling 4-1 on the road with a 2.36 ERA.

Adam Wainwright (10-5, 3.05) leads the NL in innings pitched, but he sometimes struggles with control as he is sixth in the league in strikeouts, but fifth in walks. The thing is, he should have a better record at home where he is 3-4 with a 2.35 ERA in 10 starts at Busch Stadium. The 27-year-old righthander has a solid 3-2 record in seven games (four starts) against the Diamondbacks in his career, posting a 3.04 ERA.

Baseball lines should favor the Cardinals at home, but it won’t be overwhelming as Haren has been arguably the most commanding pitcher in either league over the first part of the season. However, Haren’s career second-half numbers are far lower than his first half, while the opposite is true for Wainwright. Haren won’t get blown out or anything, but it looks like his St. Louis counterpart will do a number on the Arizona lineup.

Sports bet online pick: St. Louis Cardinals

The weekend is always the most exciting time if you’re sports betting online, but before you get to Saturday night’s UFC 100 odds, there are a few baseball betting matchups to watch for.

St. Louis Cardinals vs Chicago Cubs (2:20 PM ET)

Two pitchers known for injured pasts face off in this NL Central clash, as St. Louis’ Chris Carpenter (6-3, 2.32) takes on Chicago’s Rich Harden (5-5, 5.35), who got lit up by Milwaukee in his last start.

Cleveland Indians vs Detroit Tigers (7:05 PM ET)

Cleveland’s Cliff Lee (4-8, 3.45) will be praying for some run support as they head to Detroit to take on Edwin Jackson (6-4, 2.59). Look at the posted total when you’re sports betting online, because it’ll be low.

Los Angeles Dodgers vs Milwaukee Brewers (8:05 PM ET)

Los Angeles ace Chad Billingsley (9-4, 3.14) goes for his 10^th win of the year against Braden Looper (7-4, 4.78), and Billingsley has been great on the road with a 3-1 mark and a 2.92 ERA in nine starts.

Florida Marlins vs Arizona Diamondbacks (9:40 PM ET)

Dan Haren (8-5, 2.16) would have at least three more wins if it weren’t for a lack of run support, but he’ll give it another shot when his Diamondbacks host Ricky Nolasco (6-6, 5.42) and the surprising Marlins.

New York Yankees vs Los Angeles Angels (10:05 PM ET)

In a meeting of pitchers that were rocked in their last start, the Yankees will send out Joba Chamberlain (4-2, 4.04) will take the hill against John Saunders (8-5, 4.44), who has given up 13 runs in his last nine innings.