The MAC Championship Game will be contested on Friday night at Ford Field, and we are set to make our Ohio Bobcats vs. Northern Illinois Huskies picks for one of the biggest games on the schedule! Check out the MAC Championship keys to the game!

MAC Championship Game: Ohio Bobcats vs. Northern Illinois Huskies
MAC Championship Game Location: Ford Field, Detroit, MI
MAC Championship Game Date/Time: Friday, December 2nd, 7:00 p.m. (ET)
MAC Championship Game Television Schedule: ESPN2, ESPN3.com

Key #1: The Bobcats have to put a harness on Harnish
QB Chandler Harnish is one of the most athletic players in the entire country, and he is going to be the one player on the field that the Bobcats truly have to contain. If Harnish gets going with his legs and his arm, this NIU offense is absolutely impossible to stop. Harnish accounted for 2,692 passing yards and 1,351 rushing yards this year, and he has a total of 34 TDs to his credit. He hardly ever turns the ball over either, as he only has five picks on the campaign. The Bobcats have the speed in their front seven on defense to be able to at least keep Harnish under wraps, but the problem is that he can beat you with his arm as well in a big time way, and he isn’t afraid to spread the ball around to a slew of receivers. Ohio only ranked No. 62 in the nation against the pass at 226.7 yards per game.

Key #3: NIU special teams have to at least be remotely special
Though the Huskies do score a slew of points, they have a big time problem on special teams. Kick and punt returning isn’t a problem, but when it comes to the kicking game, there are some issues. P Ryan Neir is only averaging 35.3 yards per punt this year, and his long boot is only 54 yards. Meanwhile, K Mathew Sims has had problems kicking the ball from any sort of distance. He is only 3-of-6 in kicks that are longer than 38 yards on the season, and he hasn’t hit one from further than 44 yards. We tend to think that Ohio’s defense will at least make this sophomore kicking in his first big time game work for his points, and if that turns out to be the case, the Huskies could be in some real trouble.

The first annual Pac-12 Championship Game kicks off on Friday night at Autzen Stadium, as the Oregon Ducks vs. UCLA Bruins odds will be contested. The team that makes for great college football picks in this one will end up playing on January 2nd in the Rose Bowl!

Pac-12 Championship Game: UCLA Bruins vs. Oregon Ducks
Pac-12 Championship Game Location: Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OR
Pac-12 Championship Game Date/Time: Friday, December 2nd, 8:00 p.m. (ET)
Pac-12 Championship Game Television Schedule: FOX Sports

Key #1: UCLA has to show some heart
It goes without saying that the Bruins are the decided underdogs in this game, and everyone is just expecting them to lay down and die on Friday night. This is the last time that Head Coach Rick Neuheisel will get to coach the Bruins, and the team might be brutally disappointed, especially knowing that a bowl game would require a petition to the NCAA if this one is lost. Last week, UCLA just looked like it gave up after the first quarter against the USC Trojans, a game that ended 50-0, and if it isn’t going to show any more intensity than that on Friday, the final score could be a heck of a lot worse than that.

Key #3: UCLA has to hit the big play
We know that the Ducks are going to have a number of plays that travel at least 30 yards on Friday night, especially at home, but UCLA has to take advantage of its chances as well. Oregon doesn’t have the greatest defense in the world, and just as its offense plays with a lot of spunk, its defense does as well. Sometimes, that leaves the Ducks out of position and prone to the big play. Last week, QB Kevin Prince had his chances to hit players like WR Shaq Evans and WR Nelson Rosario down the field, until the last drive of the game, it just didn’t happen. Neuheisel is surely going to use every last trick that he has in his bag to get his team to Pasadena in shocking fashion, but when those tricks come out, the Bruins have to capitalize.

Our NFL prop picks continue with our Thursday Night Football picks and our Philadelphia Eagles vs. Seattle Seahawks prop picks. Be sure to check out our NFL prop picks for the big duel on Thursday, courtesy of BetOnline Sportsbook.

Brent Celek Over/Under 4.5 Receptions
Celek has looked like a significantly bigger piece to the offense for the Eagles in the last few weeks, and he could be in store for a nice game on Thursday as well. With QB Vince Young under center over the last two weeks, Celek has 11 receptions for 135 yards. The Seattle defense has been prone to underneath passing routes this year, and this is where Celek really makes his living. We just don’t trust that WR DeSean Jackson is going to be in the game mentally after being suspended and benched in two of the team’s last three games, and we already know that WR Jeremy Maclin is out, so that really could open things up for Celek to have a nice game on Thursday. Brent Celek Over 4.5 Receptions (-115 at BetOnline Sportsbook)

Seattle Longest Pass Completion Over/Under 34.5 Yards
This is a sucker’s bet if we’ve ever seen one. You’d like to think that this is a gimme to just get one pass play of at least 35 yards over the course of a game, right? However, we just don’t see this happening anywhere near half the time, especially against these great corners that the Eagles have. RB Marshawn Lynch isn’t a back that catches many passes out of the backfield, and RB Leon Washington, the man that could take a screen pass 60 yards doesn’t get on the field often enough to scare us. WR Doug Baldwin and WR Ben Obamanu are both relatively slow, and WR Sidney Rice, the team’s only game breaker on the outside was put on IR this past week. Last week, there wasn’t even a pass play that went for 30 yards, let alone 35, and you have to remember that we are talking about a quarterback here in QB Tarvaris Jackson that only has thrown for 221 yards or fewer in each of his last four games. Don’t count on a big pass play tonight. Seattle Longest Pass Completion Under 34.5 Yards (-115 at BetOnline Sportsbook).

Vince Young Over/Under 22 Pass Completions
We know that Head Coach Andy Reid loves to throw the football, and we know that Young has had himself two games with relatively gaudy stats over the last two weeks. However, it just isn’t going to be the case on Thursday. Last week, Young threw the ball 48 times because the Eagles were trailing the game from basically the start of the second quarter on against a team with no secondary whatsoever. The week before, he went 23-of-36 for 258 yards against a New York secondary that has had its share of problems as well. Now, VY is going against a Seattle team that doesn’t have a brutally bad secondary, and at least if the NFL betting lines hold up, Philly may actually be winning at some point over the course of this game. Asking a backup quarterback to go on the road and complete 23 passes is just a very, very tall order. Vince Young Under 22 Pass Completions (-115 at BetOnline Sportsbook).

Our NFL prop picks continue with our Monday Night Football picks and our New York Giants vs. New Orleans Saints prop picks. Be sure to check out our NFL prop picks for the big duel on Monday, courtesy of BetOnline Sportsbook.

Marquis Colston Over/Under 5.5 Pass Receptions
We really recommend playing all of the ‘overs’ for all of the New Orleans receivers this week, as the Giants just don’t have a great secondary and their pass rush probably isn’t going to be able to put all that much pressure onto QB Drew Brees. Colston has really started to build a great rapport with Brees since coming back to the lineup after missing a few games, and the end result has been some huge outings. Just in the last four weeks, Colston has at least 90 yards three times, and he has three TDs in that stretch as well. Don’t be shocked if he ends up with at least 10 looks on Monday, and if that’s the case, he’ll get at least six receptions for certain. Marquis Colston Over 5.5 Pass Receptions (-115 at BetOnline Sportsbook)

Drew Brees Over/Under 2.5 TD Passes
Think that Brees loves playing in primetime? So far this year, the Saints have played a pair of games in primetime, and in those two games, Brees has a total of eight TD passes without tossing an interception, and he has 744 passing yards to show for it. By the way, the team has a tremendous 96 points scored in those two games as well. Sure, we know that Brees hasn’t thrown for more than two scores against a defense not named the Indianapolis Colts since Week 3 against the Houston Texans, but the team hasn’t scored more than 30 but once in that stretch as well. Look for both of those stats to change on Monday against a suspect New York outfit that is definitely going in the wrong direction in the standings. Brees Over 2.5 TD Passes (+120 at BetOnline Sportsbook).

Will Eli Manning Throw a TD or an INT First?
Death, taxes, and Eli Manning throwing at least one pick in every crucial game for the Giants. They’re the only three things in life that you can absolutely count on 100% of the time. Manning has only been picked off nine times this season, but four of those INTs have come in the last three weeks. Now, he is going to be battling against probably the harshest crowd that he will face all season long, and you know that the boys from the Bayou are going to want to get off to a fast start. There has to be at least a 40% chance of Manning making the big mistake before finding the end zone through the air. Manning To Throw an INT Before a TD (+190 at BetOnline Sportsbook).

Fantasy Football picks are here at Bankroll Sports this year, and we are going to try to make the most of your NFL props betting options at BoDog Sportsbook by giving you some of the best fantasy football sleepers in Week 12!

Michael Jenkins vs. Atlanta Falcons
This is going to be an interesting week for the Minnesota offense without RB Adrian Peterson in the fold. WR Percy Harvin could be used more as a running back than anything else, and either way, QB Christian Ponder is likely going to have to put the ball in the air to get the job done against an Atlanta defense that typically excels against the run. The Falcons defense ranks No. 25 against fantasy wide receivers this year, and after DB Dunta Robinson, there really isn’t a heck of a lot out there in terms of defensive backs. Don’t be surprised if Jenkins, who has seen increased looks over the course of the last several weeks turns out to be a top target of Ponder’s on Sunday.

Harry Douglas vs. Minnesota Vikings
The Vikes have a miserable secondary, and they really don’t have the corners to be able to match up with QB Matt Ryan. Douglas has 16 catches and over 290 yards over the course of his last four games, and in one of those games, he didn’t have a catch because of WR Julio Jones’ massive game against Indy. The former Louisville Cardinal has a great chance to get the job done on Sunday. He doesn’t have a touchdown this year, but he does have a tremendous amount of big plays, and this could be the week that he breaks one into the end zone.

Joseph Addai vs. Carolina Panthers
If there is a week that you are going to want to use any of the Colts in your fantasy football lineup, this is probably the week to do it. Addai has been nursing a hamstring injury, but he is expected to give it a go this week. Be sure to check your injury report first. If Addai is out, you might want to give Delone Carter a shot this weekend. No matter who is going against the Panthers, the running backs seem to be picking up slews of yards and lots of touchdowns. Carolina ranks dead last in the league against running backs from a fantasy standpoint, and though Indianapolis seems to be rather anemic on the ground on a regular basis, this could be the week that everything changes.

Dustin Keller vs. Buffalo Bills
Keller hasn’t found the end zone since Week 2, and he really hasn’t had a remarkable game since Week 3, but he did have four catches for 64 yards against the Bills just three weeks ago. Now, the Jets are back at home, and the Buffalo defense doesn’t look all that much better. Against the Broncos last week, Keller had five receptions for 40 yards and a slew of looks, including a few in the red zone. The Bills tend to look like a mess right now, and we don’t think that they are going to be able to keep the Jets out of the zone all that often. We’ll take our chances on Keller at tight end if we’re in a bit of a bind.

Fantasy Football picks are here at Bankroll Sports this year, and we are going to try to make the most of your NFL props betting options at BoDog Sportsbook by giving you some of the best fantasy football sleepers in Week 11!

Carson Palmer vs. Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings rank No. 30 against the pass and are No. 31 against fantasy quarterbacks. Throw out that first game that Palmer played against Kansas City in which he was picked off three times, and you’ve got a man with some darn good fantasy stats. He’s thrown for 299+ yards in back to back games and has five touchdowns to go with it. Sure, those nine turnovers in 2.5 games are an eyesore, but it’s nothing that a couple touchdowns won’t make you feel better about. If you’re in a bye week binge at QB, this is your perfect start to make even though the Raiders are going on the road.

Michael Bush vs. Minnesota Vikings
Same game. Same type of result. The Vikings are a heck of a lot better against the run than the pass, but the way that the Raiders have force fed Bush over the last two games has been remarkable. It’s hard to believe that Bush is a backup tailback. When he has the backfield to himself though, look out! He had over 230 total yards and a TD last week, and we can see a heck of a lot more of the same this week against Minnesota. There’s just no way that Bush doesn’t get his hands on the ball at least 25 times if Run DMC is kept out of the lineup once again, which is sounding like more and more of a possibility.

Marshawn Lynch vs. St. Louis Rams
This is the same St. Louis team that just let Chris Ogbonnaya run for a ton of yards against it last week… Most have probably forgotten about Lynch, and we can see why that was the case up until a few weeks ago. He only averaged 6.4 fantasy points per game (standard ESPN scoring) over his first seven games of the year, and he looked like he was being overtaken by RB Leon Washington and a host of others in the Seattle backfield. That being said, against the Cowboys and Ravens in the last two weeks, Lynch has 55 carries, 244 yards, and a TD in each game. Now, he’s got an easy two game stretch against the Rams and Redskins and really should be started even if he is on your bench.

Dexter McCluster vs. New England Patriots
In most leagues, McCluster will work as a receiver or as a running back, which makes him the perfect play this week if you are weak in either spot due to a big bye week. We know that he hasn’t found the end zone all year long, but what we also know is that there really is no choice but to get the ball in his hands a heck of a lot more often that has already been the case. QB Tyler Palko will be checking down all game in all likelihood, and against a relatively not-so-athletic defense like that of the Patriots, this could ultimately be a game in which McCluster ends up with 60 rushing yards, 70 receiving yards, and that elusive touchdown.

NASCAR betting fans: We’re back with another fantastic race this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway, as 43 of the best drivers in the world look to make for great Ford 400 picks and the Chase for the Sprint Cup continues!

2011 Ford 400 Odds, Picks & Info
2011 Ford 400 Date: Sunday, November 20th, 2011
2011 Ford 400 Green Flag Time: 3:15 ET
2011 Ford 400 Location: Homestead-Miami Speedway, Homestead, FL
2011 Ford 400 Favorite: Tony Stewart (+475)
Defending Ford 400 Champion: Carl Edwards
2011 Ford 400 TV Coverage – Network: ESPN

There are only two drivers that are still in the running to win the Sprint Cup, and if either driver takes the checkered flag in this, the last race of the year, they will have won NASCAR’s biggest prize. We’ll start with the current points leader and the defending champion of this race, Carl Edwards (Odds to Win the Ford 400: 5.25 to 1 at SportBet Sportsbook). What we do like about Edwards is that he has been incredibly consistent during the Chase for the Sprint Cup. He hasn’t finished worse than 11th in a race since August 21st, and he has back to back second place finishes in races and five Top 5s in his last eight races. Edwards is as due as due could be for a checkered flag, something that he hasn’t had since way back on March 6th. With two wins under his belt in the last three years on this track, we just love Edwards’ chances on Sunday.

And then there is Tony Stewart (Current Ford 400 Odds: 4.75 to 1 at SportBet Sportsbook). “Smoke” won this race both in 1999 and 2000, but he hasn’t been victorious as the owner of his own car. Stewart already has four wins during the Chase for the Sprint Cup, and he has finished 8th or better in all but two of the nine races. That ugly 25th place finish at the AAA 400 is the only thing separating Stewart from running away from the rest of the field, and it is amazing to think that he still has a chance of claiming the Sprint Cup with a win. Don’t be surprised either if he gets the job done and claims glory for the first time since 2005 and for the third time in his career.

List Of Past Ford 400 Champions (Since 2000)
2010 Ford 400 Winner: Carl Edwards
2009 Ford 400 Winner: Denny Hamlin
2008 Ford 400 Winner: Carl Edwards
2007 Ford 400 Winner: Matt Kenseth
2006 Ford 400 Winner: Greg Biffle
2005 Ford 400 Winner: Greg Biffle
2004 Ford 400 Winner: Greg Biffle
2003 Ford 400 Winner: Bobby Labonte
2002 Ford 400 Winner: Kurt Busch
2001 Ford 400 Winner: Bill Elliott
2000 Ford 400 Winner: Tony Stewart

As great as it would be to see these two aforementioned drivers running neck and neck down the stretch on Sunday in the final laps for the race and for the entire Sprint Cup, the NASCAR odds have it that someone else is going to win this race. The man that we are going to be keeping a very close eye on is one that has had quite the frustrating season, Greg Biffle (Ford 400 Lines: 11 to 1 at SportBet Sportsbook). History is definitely on Biffle’s side having won this race three times in his career, in consecutive years no less, and it could really take away the sting from what has otherwise been a fairly disappointing season with no victories and only three Top 5 finishes.

Ford 400 Odds @ SportBet Sportsbook (as of 11/17/11):
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Tony Stewart 4.75 to 1
Carl Edwards 5.25 to 1
Kevin Harvick 8.50 to 1
Matt Kenseth 8.50 to 1
Jimmie Johnson 9 to 1
Greg Biffle 11 to 1
Jeff Gordon 12 to 1
Kyle Busch 14 to 1
Kasey Kahne 14 to 1
Denny Hamlin 22 to 1
Kurt Busch 27 to 1
David Ragan 27 to 1
Brad Keselowski 27 to 1
Clint Bowyer 33 to 1
AJ Allmendinger 38 to 1
Ryan Newman 38 to 1
Dale Earnhardt Jr. 40 to 1
Jeff Burton 42 to 1
Mark Martin 55 to 1
Martin Truex Jr. 55 to 1
Joey Logano 55 to 1
Juan Pablo Montoya 55 to 1

Ford 400 Odds @ JustBet Sportsbook (as of 11/17/11):
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Tony Stewart 4.50 to 1
Carl Edwards 5 to 1
Kevin Harvick 8 to 1
Matt Kenseth 8 to 1
Jimmie Johnson 9 to 1
Jeff Gordon 11 to 1
Greg Biffle 13 to 1
Kyle Busch 13 to 1
Kasey Kahne 16 to 1
Denny Hamlin 20 to 1
Kurt Busch 25 to 1
David Ragan 25 to 1
Brad Keselowski 25 to 1
Clint Bowyer 30 to 1
AJ Allmendinger 35 to 1
Ryan Newman 35 to 1
Dale Earnhardt Jr. 40 to 1
Jeff Burton 40 to 1
Mark Martin 50 to 1
Martin Truex Jr. 50 to 1
Joey Logano 50 to 1
Juan Pablo Montoya 50 to 1
Field 18 to 1