Gambling Advisor blog

College Basketball Betting – Gaels, Racers Meet In Crucial Mid-Major Tilt

2012-02-16T21:01:00.003-05:00

While talk of the NHL trade deadline 2012 will dominate headline over the next 10 or 11 days, you should also have an eye on the world of college hoops, where there is an intriguing matchup brewing from the mid-majors. Saint Mary’s was rolling along, but have now dropped two of their last three as they prepare for Murray State, who was the last team in the country to lose a game and have already punched their ticket to the Tournament.

Saint Mary’s Murray State Odds – Saturday, 6:00 PM ET

The No.21 Gaels (23-4, 12-2 WCC) may have got caught looking ahead to Murray State, and a BetOnline.com review of their 75-60 home loss to Loyola Marymount shows that they were outscored by 10 in the second half and they couldn’t find the range from three-point land, where they were 6-of-28. Rob Jones had a huge night with 25 points and 15 rebounds, while Clint Steindl came off the bench for 12 points and five boards for the Gaels, who also turned the ball over 14 times to eight for Loyola Marymount. Saint Mary’s now has a lead of one game in the West Coast Conference, but their recent play can’t be encouraging to players that use price per head software.

The No.16 Racers (25-1, 13-1 WCC) jumped out to a 10-point halftime lead and then held on for a 75-66 win at Southeast Missouri State, and that was despite a poor game from leading scorer Isaiah Canaan, who was 2-of-11 from the field and finished with nine points. Donte Poole picked up the slack with a game-high 25 points, while Ivan Aska added 14 points and nine boards for the Racers, who were 22-of-28 from the foul line and free-throw shooting is a stat that March Madness betting players should really watch. It comes in handy in late-game situations, and the Racers made them when they needed to.

Murray State should be slight favorites at home in this contest, but they’re only 4-6 ATS at home this season, while the Gaels are 4-4 ATS on the road. These two have met twice, with Saint Mary’s taking both meetings: a 75-62 victory at home in December 2004, and then they romped to a 62-44 win in November 2006. The Racers have already booked their ticket to the Tournament as the win over Southeast Missouri State clinched the Ohio Valley Conference title for them, and now they’re just playing for momentum. A win over a team like Saint Mary’s would get some of the critics back on board, and the Gaels are extremely vulnerable right now. Take Murray State to pull out the college basketball betting picks win on Saturday.

College Basketball Free Pick: Washington State vs. Arizona

2012-02-15T10:45:00.000-05:00

Arizona already disposed of the Cougars by 24 points at home earlier this year and with a double-revenger with the Huskies on tap Saturday, it’s more likely that Sean Miller’s men will be more interested in dogs than cats tonight in Pullman.

That would be a mistake as Ken Bone’s (shouldn’t he be the coach of the Bulldogs or Huskies?) boys are 10-2 SU and 7-2-1 ATS at Friel Court this betting season.

And despite the disaster in the desert, the Cougars have covered 13 of 20 in this series since 2002, including all four when they show up as home dogs.

The Washington State University men's basketball team (13-12, 5-8) returns to Beasley Coliseum this weekend for a three-game home series. The Cougars will first face Arizona (18-8, 9-4) Thursday, Feb. 16 at 6 p.m. in a nationally televised event on FSN

Washington State also makes amends nicely when they get handled in the first meeting between these two, posting a 7-2 ATS log with same-season revenge from a loss of 7 or more points.

They may not want it, but in tonight’s catfi ght we have no choice but to throw the Cougars a ‘bone.’ Grab the points but the feeling here is you won’t need ‘em. State, outright!

Free betting pick: Washington ST over Arizona by 7.

NHL Game Preview for Saturday February 18, 2012: Chicago Blackhawks vs. Columbus Blue Jackets

2012-02-14T22:38:00.003-05:00

Online Betting Overview

The sports fans in Columbus, OH are spending much more time betting March Madness games than they are NHL hockey games. The Blue Jackets made some interesting moves in the off-season that were supposed to make the team more competitive. Columbus lured Jeff Carter away from the Philadelphia Flyers and then made sure that top players such as goalie Steve Mason and forward Rick Nash stayed with the team. But for all of its personnel moves and changes, the Blue Jackets are the worst team in the NHL by a long shot. The Blue Jackets trail the 29th team in the league, Edmonton, by 11 points. The only thing that the Blue Jackets can do at this point is try to play spoiler to any other team. But Columbus may not even be able to do that very well either.

A month before the All-Star break, the Chicago Blackhawks had everything under control. The price per head sportsbook experts were giving Chicago the nod as one of the top teams in the Western Conference. At one point, the Blackhawks were leading the league in the standings. But the Blackhawks suddenly collapsed and went into last week riding a five-game losing streak. Chicago’s inability to play defense is finally catching up with it and the fact that Chicago has not addressed its defense deficiencies since it broke up the Stanly Cup winning team three years ago is starting to show. Goaltender Corey Crawford is under siege every game and is starting to crack from the pressure. Chicago needs to learn how to play defense or it could find itself out of the playoff race.

Columbus Blue Jackets

A betting sports news review of the moves made by Columbus over the summer gave a lot of fans reason to hope. But everything that the Blue Jackets did right last year it is doing wrong this year. Steve Mason was a rock in goal last season, but this year the only thing he leads the league in is losses. The Columbus Blue Jackets should have been the perfect storm coming together to create a competitive team. But every one of the elements that the team was relying on to contribute has been a bust to this point. The Blue Jackets cannot salvage this season. But the team needs to perform better if it wants to generate any interest in next season.

Chicago Blackhawks

As the NHL trade deadline 2012 approaches, fans in Chicago are wondering if the Blackhawks will make any kind of move to improve the roster. The reality is that there is no one or two moves that Chicago can make that will significantly help the team. The Blackhawks need a defense, and that is something that will have to be built over the off-season. As for this game, nobody gives up more goals than the Columbus Blue Jackets. For an offensive team like the Blackhawks, that is the perfect scenario for a much needed win.

The Bottom Line

The Blackhawks are all offense and the Blue Jackets have no defense or goaltending. This should be a very one-sided game in favor of Chicago. But with the Blackhawks being so inconsistent lately, this one may actually be close.

Gambling Advisor blog Pick: Chicago Blackhawks

NCAA Basketball – Some Important Games This Weekend

2012-02-10T08:16:00.000-05:00

The college basketball betting is getting intense as the teams start to jockey for position in the annual March Madness betting. Kentucky has managed to maintain the number one ranking in the country, but there are plenty of teams that are chasing the Wildcats in search of that top status. There are also several teams on the bubble for making the tournament that are in action this weekend as well. This could prove to be a very competitive weekend that is extremely fun to watch.

Saturday – (1) Kentucky @ Vanderbilt

These two SEC rivals are both trying to solidify their standing to make sure that they each make it into the NCAA tournament. Kentucky is having a great season and has posted a 24-1 record to this point. What really helps Kentucky is that it is 10-0 in the SEC and leads the SEC by a pretty good margin. The pay per head sports experts are more impressed with the way that Kentucky plays defense than offense. In Kentucky’s only loss, an earlier game in Indiana, the Wildcats only scored 72 points. It is defense that wins the day in Kentucky and that is how a team wins it all in March.

Vanderbilt has lost to ranked and unranked teams. There have been close games to go along with some losses that bordered on blowouts. The only win Vanderbilt has over a ranked team this year is a December win over Marquette. While Vanderbilt is game, it does not have the players it needs to pull this one off.

Pick: Kentucky

Saturday – Connecticut @ (2) Syracuse

Syracuse is still kind of hurting from its January 21st loss to Notre Dame. But the Orange have beaten both ranked teams it has played this year and is 10-1 in the Big East. A bodog review of the Syracuse season shows that the Orange started off strong enough to be considered the top team in the country. Syracuse had lost a little momentum in January, but it is quickly gaining that momentum back.

Connecticut is a shell of its former self. The Huskies have not beaten a ranked team all season and wound up splitting a two-game season series with Notre Dame. Connecticut just cannot score points, and that seems to be the one thing that holds this team back in every game.

Pick: Syracuse

Saturday – (6) Baylor @ (4) Missouri

Even the writers that post on an NBA blog have been keeping an eye on the Baylor Bears. The Bears were rolling right along in the Big 12 and then took two consecutive losses to two ranked teams. But even with that kind of hit, Baylor still stands as the sixth ranked team in the country. Baylor has been able to rise to the level of its competition most of the season. That is what will make this game so much fun to watch.

Mizzou’s win over eighth-ranked Kansas is what has pushed this team to the number four squad in the country. With its recent win over Oklahoma, it really looks like Missouri is on a roll that cannot be stopped. But do not count the Bears out of anything.

Gambling Advisor blog Free Pick: Baylor

NHL Game Preview for Saturday February 11, 2012: Winnipeg Jets vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

2012-02-06T21:37:00.002-05:00

Sports Betting Overview

The sports fans in Pittsburgh were watching the Superbowl betting with some interest, but there would have been more interest if the Steelers had made it to the big game. The Atlanta Thrashers were not a playoff team, but many people felt that the Thrashers were only a few players away from being a playoff contender. When Atlanta moved to Winnipeg, many of those parts were picked up and the fans in Winnipeg feel that they have a good team. While there is a good team in Winnipeg, it is suffering from bouts of inconsistency. There are nights when the Winnipeg goaltending looks great and nights when the goaltending lets the team down. There are nights when Winnipeg can score and nights where the team is limited in its abilities to get the job done. If the Jets want to make the playoffs, they will need to become more consistent.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have suffered through just about every kind of adversity a team can go through. The team captain, Sidney Crosby, has been in and out of the lineup with an upper body injury. It was thought to be concussion-related, but Crosby recently announced that it is a spine issue that can be treated. Sportsbook reviews of the rest of the team’s performance shows that the Penguins have a lot of talent besides Crosby and they are using that talent to stay in the heat of the Eastern Conference playoff race. The strange part is that the Penguins are very adept at scoring goals, even though the team is missing its best goal scorer.

Winnipeg Jets

This analysis can start by pointing out that the Jets are 9-16-4 on the road. That is the third-lowest road win total in the Eastern Conference and is the main reason why the Jets are struggling to gain a playoff spot. The price per head sportsbook experts point to Winnipeg’s low goal totals as another reason why the Jets cannot seem to win. The Jets have one of the lowest goals-for totals in the league and the team’s scoring is especially shaky on the road. That is not something that Jets’ fans want to hear as the team prepares to play the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Penguins

The Penguins are 15-7-2 at home and are tied for third with the highest goal scoring total in the conference. Where the Penguins seem to run into issues from time to time is in goal. Marc-Andre Fleury is 4-1-0 in his last five games, but he has given up bad goals that have cost the Penguins games this season. The Penguins play a very physical style and that sometimes gets the opposition to respond in kind. When the action gets rough in front of the Pittsburgh net, Fleury will sometimes go off his game. We will see if the Jets can cause enough commotion in front of Fleury to put some pucks in the net.

The Bottom Line

In order to move up the NHL standings and get in line for a playoff spot, the Jets need to win games like this one against the Penguins. Depending on which Winnipeg team shows up, this game could be very close. But if Pittsburgh starts throwing its weight around and the Jets cannot respond, then this could be a long night for Winnipeg.

Gambling Advisor blog Pick: Pittsburgh Penguins

NCAAB Best Teams And Bets For The Week

2012-02-01T22:18:00.002-05:00

It’s been three months since fans, media, and handicappers all created lofty Super Bowl betting expectations for their favorite college basketball teams. Syracuse and Kentucky are basically deadlocked atop the AP 25 rankings, yet the other eight positions in the top 10 are literally up for grabs. With week 13 getting underway last night, fans and price per head handicappers alike are beginning to project, which teams will play in the March Madness Tournament at the end of the month. Here is a look at the best NCAAB teams and the best bets for the week.

Kentucky enters its second consecutive week, as the top seed in the AP 25 rankings. With a record of 21 and one, Kentucky was able to shock the sportsbooks, as for the first time since November; the Wildcats covered the spread in both of their games. To put this in perspective, consider, that leading up to week 12, the Wildcats had a record of six – 14 – one against the spread. With its two wins covering the spread in week 12, we wonder if Kentucky is actually a good team, and wasn’t just the beneficiary of a weak schedule to start the season. For the reason, that on paper the Wildcats have the scariest starting five in the nation, the fact that they covered spreads in back to back games, suggests that the Wildcats are beginning to get comfortable with one another.

Another team to keep your eyes on is the 10th ranked Murray State Racers. Currently sitting at an overall record of 21 wins and no defeats, the Racers are having a difficult time showing bookie software agents, that they deserve a higher ranking, for a couple of reasons. Firstly, despite being undefeated, the Racers have gone 0-four-one in their last five games against the spread. This suggests to handicappers, that Murray State isn’t necessarily a good team, but a team that has benefited from weak competition. Another reason, the Racers have not received much love from the AP 25 organizers, is the fact that they play in a weaker conference then the other nine schools to make up the top 10. For this latter reason, there is a belief, that Murray State may be one of the bubble team come March Madness time instead of a lock to make the tournament.

One game that provides bettors with the best NBA bet of the week is tonight’s game featuring Minnesota Golden Gophers taking on the Iowa Hawkeyes in Big 10 Conference action. The spread on the game is only one point, in favor of Iowa, as the Golden Gophers have shown fans and critics alike, they can play with any team in the conference. What’s most impressive about Tubby Smith’s Golden Gophers is that they have continued to win games, even though the majority of their starting five has succumbed to injury. This game is also perfect for bettors using the revenge betting system, as the Golden Gophers will attempt to exact some vengeance on the Hawkeyes after a loss earlier in the season.

NHL Odds: Maple Leafs, Senators Resume Battle Of Ontario On Saturday

2012-01-30T20:34:00.002-05:00

The rivalry between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators is one of the most heated in the NHL, as fans of the Maple Leafs tend to look down upon their little brothers from Canada’s capital. However, the Senators have surged up the standings and are ahead of Toronto by five points as of Tuesday. The two won’t meet until Saturday night in a huge primetime matchup.

Maple Leafs vs. Senators Odds – Saturday, 7:00 PM ET

The Maple Leafs won their last two games heading into the All-Star break, and it shouldn’t have surprised anyone, whether you are a 5Dimes veteran or a casual fan, that the trio of Toronto players were booed all weekend at the festivities in Ottawa. However, Phil Kessel, Joffrey Lupul and captain Dion Phaneuf reveled in it (Phaneuf even took a skate around the ice and behind the net to let the boos grow), but now it’s back to business. The Maple Leafs have to improve defensively if they want to be a force in the East, and even those watching Super Bowl odds will tell you that the New York Giants weren’t a thought for the big game until they sorted out that area of the team.

The Senators dropped three in a row before the break, but they weren’t a thought to players that use pay per head sportsbook software before the season started anyway, so they should be playing relaxed hockey. Ottawa had four players in the All-Star game that they hosted, led by captain Danie Alfredsson, and you have to pay attention to how the Senators use the face of their franchise as he may have had the busiest weekend of any player; it wasn’t really a break for the man they call “Alfie”.

Ottawa should be the favorites at home, but Toronto has won three of their last five on the road against their provincial rivals, with three games falling under the posted total. The Senators will also be in action on Friday night against the New York Islanders, while the Maple Leafs have a few days off after a home-and-home with Pittsburgh on Tuesday and Wednesday. This has been a running theme for this series as the Senators have played the night before in all four of their meetings with the Maple Leafs this season, and some Ottawa fans are miffed about it; we assume the players aren’t thrilled about it, either. But that being said, the Senators have managed to win three of those meetings and at least they’ll be at home the previous night, and they always get up for Toronto. We’re taking Ottawa in our online betting picks on Saturday.

College Basketball Betting: Top-Five Teams Look To Avoid Stumbling

2012-01-25T21:50:00.002-05:00

It might still be early in the college basketball betting season, but already the shifts and movement at the top are giving a good indication of how the year could play out. The Syracuse Orange are no longer at the top of the table following their first loss of the season, falling all the way down to No. 4 after dropping a game at unranked Notre Dame, and in their previous spot is the red-hot Kentucky Wildcats at No. 1. The Missouri Tigers climbed up to No. 2, continuing their hot pace, while the No. 5 Kansas Jayhawks look to remain relevant as they find their identity.

(1) Kentucky Wildcats @ LSU Tigers

Saturday, 4:00 PM ET

They beat the Alabama Crimson Tide last week, and now they have to travel to face the LSU Tigers. Good thing for Kentucky this is basketball and not SEC football, or they might be in trouble. The Wildcats make the trip to Baton Rouge looking to extend their season-high 12 game-winning streak in the second of three-of-four on the road, and given the play of the tandem of Doron Lamb and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist there is no reason to think they will slow down any time soon. Kentucky is blessed with one of the easier schedules among the top teams in the country, so they need to make sure that they deliver every time they are on the floor as pay head favorites.

College Basketball Betting Pick: Kentucky Wildcats

Texas Tech Red Raiders @ (2) Missouri Tigers

Saturday, 1:30 PM ET

One of the most unlikely teams in the top-five at this point in the season is Missouri, but they have rebounded well from a loss to Kansas State to pull off four straight wins, including a tight 89-88 win at Baylor earlier this week. The Tigers had some time off to regroup before Oklahoma State, and will now return home hungrier than ever for a chance to keep pace with Kansas in the Big 12 as they entertain Texas Tech.

College Basketball Betting Pick: Missouri Tigers

West Virginia Mountaineers @ (4) Syracuse Orange

Saturday, 1:00 PM ET

It is incredible not only how fast they fell, but how far they fell when considering that the Orange had won a record 20 straight per head contests to open their season. Syracuse faltered under the pressure of a packed house at Notre Dame, but regained its composure quickly and had no problem with Cincinnati. Kris Joseph and company now return home to take on a West Virginia team that has been surprisingly dangerous early on in the Big East, and the atmosphere should be electric.

College Basketball Betting Pick: Syracuse Orange

(5) Kansas Jayhawks @ Iowa State Cyclones

Saturday, 2:00 PM ET

The Jayhawks still haven’t overcome their early season struggles in terms of their place in the national rankings as two of their three losses came against Kentucky and Duke, with the other to unranked Davidson, but they have regrouped with 10 straight wins overall. Kansas State and Baylor were each no match for Thomas Robinson and company, and Kansas will want to flex its muscle as Bet online favorites ahead of games at Missouri and Baylor early next month.

College Basketball Betting Pick: Kansas Jayhawks

NFL Pro Bowl Preview: Sizing Up the AFC and NFC

2012-01-23T23:02:00.001-05:00

Online Betting Overview

Before we can get to the Super Bowl betting, we must first get through the Pro Bowl. It is a game that means nothing played by men that have earned a free vacation to Hawaii. While they are on that vacation, they are forced to stop off at Aloha Stadium and go through the motions of pretending to play football. Even the NFL has admitted that the game is largely useless by implementing rules such as no blitzing and no rushing the kicker. But, even though it is all pageant and no substance, the Pro Bowl still gets its fair share of viewers. When the NFL moved the Pro Bowl to the Sunday before the Super Bowl, it increased ratings even more.

The AFC, dressed in red will take on the NFC dressed in blue. The price per head sportsbook experts know that many of the best players in the league will not play in this game because they will be playing in the Super Bowl. Most betting sites do not assign odds to this game because there is no competition. Still, if you like offense and the potential for spectacular defensive plays in the secondary, then the Pro Bowl is a fun thing to watch as you wait for the week-long Super Bowl preview show to start. Even though guys like Tom Brady will not be playing in the Pro Bowl, this game will still be fun to watch.

AFC

Cincinnati rookie quarterback Andy Dalton will replace Tom Brady on the AFC’s roster, but it is doubtful that Dalton will be the first starter at quarterback for the AFC. More than likely, Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger will start the game and be relieved by San Diego’s Philip Rivers. A sportsbook review of the AFC roster shows a definite advantage for the AFC at running back. The AFC’s roster features running backs Maurice Jones-Drew of Jacksonville, Arian Foster of Houston, Ryan Mathews of San Diego and a surprise appearance by Willis McGahee of the Denver Broncos. Still, the AFC should be strong on offense and give the NFC a challenge. But he NFC is so deep in all positions that this could be a Pro Bowl blow out.

NFC

At quarterback, the NFC fans wisely chose Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers and Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints. As of now, there has not been a replacement named for Eli Manning’s spot. While defense is not a huge priority in a game like this, the defense that the NFC has put together could severely limit the NFL scores of any opposing offense. If the NFC can find a way to incorporate the extremely talented aspects of its defense into the rules of the Pro Bowl then the AFC might not be able to score a single point. But playing defense in the Pro Bowl is difficult and it often winds up being a shooting gallery for the quarterbacks.

The Bottom Line

Watching four of the best quarterbacks in the game going head to head and airing out the ball makes for some great television. If this game were being played for real, then the NFC would be a lopsided favorite. But since this is played as an exhibition, this will be a high-scoring but close game.

Gambling Advisor blog Pick: AFC

College Basketball Betting: Orange Look To Roll Through Notre Dame

2012-01-20T22:41:00.003-05:00

There are journalists and members of the media that are questioning whether the No. 1 Syracuse Orange should be labeled as the team to beat this year in the NCAA. After all, the Orange have started 20-0 for the first time in their history, and that is in the wake of all of the things that the program has been forced to deal with over the past few months both on and off of the court. There should be no doubt that head coach Jim Boeheim’s team are the frontrunners this season, and Syracuse will look to add to its case this Saturday as Betonline favorites against another Big East rival in the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

(1) Syracuse Orange @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Saturday January 21, 2011 – 6:00 PM ET

Joyce Center, Notre Dame, Indiana

College Basketball Betting Line: Syracuse Orange – 7.5

After winning three of their first four games against conference opponents, including victories over ranked opponents in Pittsburgh and at Louisville in double-overtime, the Irish haven’t shown much fight in consecutive losses. It won’t get any easier for them with the Orange in town, although they have performed well at the Joyce Center.

College Basketball Betting Preview: Syracuse

Even more impressive than the fact that Syracuse is still undefeated is the way that they have gotten there. The Orange have won all but one of their games this season by at least eight points, and the way in which they have dominated and controlled the tempo of those sports betting contests makes them that much more imposing. Senior Kris Joseph leads the nation’s 15th-ranked scoring offense with 13.7 points per game, one of seven players averaging at least seven points, which is no surprise considering Syracuse ranks 10th in the nation in average assists with 17.3.

College Basketball Betting Preview: Notre Dame

The biggest reason for Notre Dame’s recent slide has been their inability to execute on offense, putting up totals of 53 and 58 in consecutive losses to Connecticut and Rutgers. The Fighting Irish shot just 39.3-percent in the second half of their loss to the Scarlet Knights, finishing at 44.2-percent for the game, and were forced out of their zone defense to play the man-to-man on the other side of the ball after giving up 5-of-8 three-point shots in the first half. It won’t get any easier for Notre Dame against the undefeated Orange, especially if they can’t find a way to block lanes and contest shots.

College Basketball Betting Preview: Outlook & Pick

Considering that the Fighting Irish are in a funk and the Orange keep blowing away opponents, it looks like Syracuse will be able to cover the pay head bookies’ spread in this contest. Joseph and company are looking more and more confident with every passing game, and after setting a school record with their 20th win, the Orange are focused on extending their run with one win at a time.

College Basketball Betting Pick: Syracuse Orange – 7.5

NCAA Basketball Odds: Connecticut vs. Cincinnati Betting

2012-01-18T07:15:00.000-05:00

The 17th-ranked Huskies are off to a 13-3 start but they have shown some chinks in the armor with a neutral court loss to UCF and a road loss at Seton Hall.

And while we don’t think the Bearcats have enough to spring the outright road upset, we do feel there could be a scare in Storrs tonight for the homestanding Huskies.

The Bearcats were bounced by UConn from last season’s Big East tourney and are 5-1 ATS with revenge in this series when the Huskies arrive off a SU win.

And we figure that Calhoun’s clan will be out for blood in South Bend on Saturday when they attempt to stop a three-game losing streak to the Irish.

That may very well fi nd the hosts a bit lackadaisical early tonight in Gampel Pavilion.

Nonetheless, the Huskies’ 4-11 ATS log as chalk versus avenging conference foes assures this one will be nip-and-tuck all night. A solid Big East take.

Current line: Connecticut -6½ against Cincinnati at Bovada sportsbook.

College Basketball Betting: La Salle vs. Temple Free Pick

2012-01-17T22:40:00.003-05:00

A ‘Philly Five’ matchup takes place tonight in the Liacouras Center and with this betting game priced like a real road game for neighboring La Salle, we have no choice but to do some ‘Exploring’ with John Giannini’s group.

At press time, La Salle (13-4, 2-0) sits atop the Atlantic 10 and has triple-revenge on its mind from last season, with the three losses suffered to the Owls being the primary reason that the Explorers finished under .500 (15-18) in 2010-2011.

Giannini and company are already 3-0 ATS with revenge this year entering Saturday’s fray with Dayton and their 18-6 ATS mark as conference road dogs with revenge suggests the price is right for some more payback.

With Temple looking to make amends of its own on Saturday against Richmond (the Spiders sent the Owls packing from last season’s A-10 Tourney), it’s more than an observation that Fran Dunphy’s group will fall to 1-5 ATS after Spider revengers.

Points are optional as the Explorers discover their fi rst win in this series since the 2008 campaign.

Temple is the favorite at Bovada sportsbook, the current line is temple -4½.

Free Pick: La Salle over Temple by 1

Compass Bowl Odds: Southern Methodist Mustangs vs. Pittsburgh Panthers

2012-01-06T11:05:00.000-05:00

The Southern Methodist Mustangs and the Pittsburgh Panthers will fight on January 7 at Legion Field in the BBVA Compass Bowl.

Back in the old days, a team received a bowl invitation as a reward for an outstanding season. Not any more.

In fact, if we established the criteria that any team must (a) own a winning record overall and (b) own a winning record in its own conference, 21 of the 70 schools that qualifi ed for post-season play this year would NOT have made the cut.

One of those teams staying home would be 6-6 Pittsburgh, a program dealing with its third head coaching change in less than a year (Michael Haywood, who replaced Dave Wannstedt, never coached a game before getting canned, and current HC Todd Graham has already accepted the head job at Arizona State for 2012).

Thus, DC Keith Patterson will lead the Panthers today before new head coach Paul Chryst moves over from Wisconsin.

Similarly, there was some concern in Dallas that SMU coach June Jones was sniffi ng around for a better job but his top option – Texas A&M – went for Houston’s Kevin Sumlin, so JJ will be staying put for the time being.

The Mustangs busted out of the stall in 2011 with a 5-1 SU start but quickly headed to the glue factory with an awful 2-4 SU and 0-6 ATS finish.

However, we think that losing streak brings plenty of value to the 18-returning starter ponies, a team that was embarrassed by Army as 7.5-point chalk in last year’s Armed Forces Bowl.

We also unearthed more than a few negative trends for Graham but those get tossed into the trash following the recent coaching carousel high-jinks. SMU hasn’t done well SU against bowlers the last three seasons (5-14) but they’re catching 5-6 points here and our database informs us that the dog is 6-0 SU and ATS of late in Mustangs’ bowl games.

That’s enough ammo for us considering the Panthers’ players are likely in a state of emotional turmoil. Jones earns at least one week of his inflated salary by leading his ponies to the upset here.

Sportsbooks currently have the Panthers listed as 5½-point favorites versus the Mustangs, while the game's total is sitting at 49.

College Football Betting: Crimson Tide Look To Avenge Lone Loss on Biggest Stage

2012-01-05T11:00:00.000-05:00

The Alabama Crimson Tide missed its chance at the No. 1 ranking when they missed three field goal opportunities against the top-ranked LSU Tigers in their only loss of the season. Head coach Nick Saban and his team will get the opportunity to earn some revenge and make everybody forget about that loss if they can capitalize in a rematch against LSU in this year’s Allstate BCS Championship game as slight sports betting underdogs.

Allstate BCS Championship Game

Alabama Crimson Tide vs. LSU Tigers

Monday January 9, 2012 – 8:30 PM ET

Mercedes Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

College Football Betting Line: LSU Tigers – 1

The fact that the difference between these two programs this season came down to a couple of missed field goals is enough to warrant a rematch on the biggest stage. The Tigers had the tougher schedule and came out on top in the end, but it will be all for none if they can’t go 2-for-2 against the Tide this season.

College Football Betting Preview: Alabama

Saban understood the first time around that if his team was going to have any chance against a team as talented as LSU, it would come down to a strong effort on defense to keep it close until the end. The Alabama defense lived up to expectations by holding a Tigers’ offense that averaged 38.5 points per game during the regular season to just a pair of field goals in regulation, but their own special teams didn’t get the job done when they had the chance to win it with a field goal of their own. If the Tide are going to avenge that loss, they will need to get the same intensity from their defense, and capitalize on the opportunities they have on the other side of the ball in a game that could in which the line is so close according to the pay head bookies.

College Football Betting Preview: LSU

The only team that finished with a higher ranked defense than LSU during the regular season was Alabama, so head coach Les Miles understands full well that beating them a second consecutive time in the same season will come down to capitalizing on opportunities. The quarterback tandem of Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee combined for nearly 2,000 passing yards and 20 touchdowns while splitting time, but the focus for both will be on protecting the football. The running back tandem of Michael Ford and Spencer Ware will be relied on even more to move the chains, and how well they do against the Tide’s stingy defense will be a good indicator of how this game ends up.

College Football Betting Preview: Outlook & Pick

Alabama will have all hands on deck as it shoots for a second national title in three years, and as long as they are able to capitalize on their opportunities this time around there is no reason to think they won’t be able to get the job done. Rarely does a top-ranked team lose twice to the same opponent in the same year, and it won’t happen in this situation with the SEC bound to take home the NCAAF football national title once again regardless of the outcome.

Gambling Advisor blog Pick: Alabama Crimson Tide + 1

Cotton Bowl Betting Odds: Kansas State Wildcats vs. Arkansas Razorbacks

2012-01-05T10:11:00.000-05:00

The Kansas State Wildcats and the Arkansas Razorbacks will meet on January 4 and battle at Cowboys Stadium in the AT&T Cotton Bowl.

We’ll admit we’re mystified by the enigma known as Kansas State. Nearly every week this betting season, we watched the No. 8 Wildcats get chased up and down the field the entire game – only to emerge with the SU win AND pointspread cover.

In fact, we don’t even think Bill Snyder himself could explain to us how his team went just 3-9 ‘In The Stats’ (0-7 ITS versus fellow bowlers this season) but finished 10-2 SU and 9-2 ATS! On paper, that would make K-State the phoniest 10-win team in the land, especially with the ‘Cats allowing 55 YPG more than they gained his campaign.

Thus, it comes as no surprise to learn the only common opponent faced by Arkansas and KSU this betting season (Texas A&M) found the ‘Cats on the short end of a 193 net yardage deficit.

And when we take a look at recent ATS history for both squads, we start to get sweaty palms and an increased heart rate just thinking about a wager on the Hogs.

For starters, Big 12 bowlers off a win are just 3-17 ATS versus an opponent off a SU and ATS loss and Big 12 bowl dogs are a dead-on-the-slab 0-7 ATS when squaring off with the SEC.

But as soon as we envision snapping the rubber band against these imposters, our betting database warns us that Arkansas owns a few embarrassing stats of its own.

The Razorbacks have been led to the meat processing plant in recent bowl appearances, going 4-14 SU and ATS in the post-season since – including 0-9 ATS versus a foe off consecutive wins.

And Boss Hog himself, Bobby Petrino, has brought home the ATS bacon just ONCE in six trips to the alleys. Even so, we’ll take note of Arky’s outstanding 8-2 ATS success against the Big 12 and offer up a lean to the No. 6 Pigs. Lay it if you play it.

Sportsbooks currently have the Razorbacks listed as 7½-point favorites versus the Wildcats, while the game's total is sitting at 64.

NFL Betting: Saints Aim to Avoid Another Playoff Upset

2012-01-04T22:47:00.001-05:00

NFL fans and betting players alike have watched Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints set a slew of records this season, but they’ll be out to erase last year’s playoff upset at the hands of Seattle when they host Detroit for the second time in a month.

Lions Saints Odds – Saturday, 8:00 PM ET

The Lions (10-5) reached the playoffs for the first time since 1999, and sportsbook reviews of their season would point towards their incredible duo in the passing game, quarterback Matt Stafford and receiver Calvin Johnson, as the main reason for their success. Detroit isn’t a very good running team, so they lean on their stars in the aerial attack, although you can add in players like Nate Burleson, Titus Young and Brandon Pettigrew. The defense, however, has struggled over the second half of the season and a good price per head player would blame it on penalties (the Lions have the third-most penalties in the league) and a knee injury suffered by safety Louis Delmas, which really hurt their pass defense.

The Saints (13-3) won the NFC South on the back of Brees, who set the record for most passing yards in a season, and he is the leader of an offense that has scored more points than everyone but Green Bay. They also have Darren Sproles, who set the record for most all-purpose yards in a season, a crew of receivers and a better rushing attack than you expect. The defense bends, but doesn’t break and have played very well down the stretch. Players that use betting sports news picks systems will remember the Saints’ loss in Seattle during last season’s wild-card round, which ended their Super Bowl title defense, and you know that the Saints remember it as well. That is why they wanted to get homefield advantage as they’re 8-0 SU and ATS in the Superdome.

That is also why the Saints are 10.5-point favorites at home for this game, and you also have to consider that the Lions fell 31-17 in New Orleans last month. Brees and Stafford both had excellent games, but Brees got the edge for no picks and three touchdowns, while Stafford had more yards, but only one touchdown and he was picked off. The Lions also shot themselves in the foot with 11 penalties, and they can’t afford to give the Saints extra chances, especially when Brees is on the field. The Saints also did a great job on Johnson, who had just six catches for 69 yards and they’ll need a similar performance, especially after Johnson racked up 244 yards against Green Bay in the regular-season finale. However, New Orleans is just too deep, too smart and they’re at home, so they should be able to cover the spread in these NFL betting lines.

College Football Betting: Looking Ahead To New Year’s Eve Bowls

2011-12-30T19:26:00.003-05:00

While New Year’s Eve will always be about the countdown to midnight, the champagne, and the promise for change leading in to the next 12 months, there are several college football teams that will still be focused on everything that they have accomplished over the past year leading up to their bowl appearance. Once again, December 31 will be littered with a full slate of NCAA bowl games, and here is a quick look at some of the most interesting sports betting matchups.

Meineke Car Care Bowl Of Texas

Texas A&M Aggies vs. Northwestern Wildcats

Saturday December 31, 2011 – 12:00 PM ET

In a showdown of two of the most exciting quarterbacks in the nation this season, the Aggies will turn to Ryan Tannehill against Northwestern’s Dan Persa. However, adter losing four of their last five and watching head coach Mike Sherman get the axe, Texas A&M could have a tough time getting up to the same level as a Wildcats’ group that was knocked off by the Michigan State Spartans in the Big Ten Championship game the last time that they were on the field, and will be eager for revenge even though they are major underdogs according to the pay head bookies.

College Football Betting Pick: Northwestern Wildcats + 10

Hyundai Sun Bowl

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs. Utah Utes

Saturday December 31, 2011 – 2:00 PM ET

The Yellow Jackets will rely on the third-ranked rushing attack in the country to put a dent in Utah’s tough defensive front, which has helped the Utes to allow an average of less than 20 points per game. Georgia Tech ranked third in the country in rushing yards with an average of 316.8 per game, with the tandem of quarterback Tevin Washington and running David Sims leading the way, and they will look to lead the way once again in the Yellow Jackets’ 40th bowl appearance. In addition to his 890 yards and 14 scores on the ground, Washington has also thrown for 1,515 yards and 10 more touchdowns, although he is by no means a polished pocket passer. With an injury to starting quarterback Jordan Wynn the Utes have been forced to rely even more heavily on running back John White IV, and while he has been solid with 1,404 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, the Utah NCAA football offense is far too one-dimensional.

College Football Betting Pick: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets – 3

AutoZone Liberty Bowl

Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Vanderbilt Commodores

Saturday December 31, 2011 – 3:30 PM ET

Although they finished with a .500 record, three less wins than Cincinnati overall, the Commodores are still listed as the college football betting favorites for this game, which is testament to just how strong the SEC is. First-year head coach James Franklin is laying down the foundation for future success, and the fact that he already has his team in a bowl game for only the fifth time in the history of the program is very impressive. The Bearcats have something to prove after being edged out by West Virginia in a tiebreaker for the Big East championship, but unfortunately for them they will be playing a rising Vanderbilt team.

Gambling Advisor blog Free Pick: Vanderbilt Commodores – 1.5

New Orleans V Atlanta It All Comes Down To This

2011-12-27T20:00:00.002-05:00

The over last couple of NFL betting lines seasons, the NFC South has been viewed by fans and media alike, as the best division in football. Made up of the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the NFC South has had a different price per head divisional winner every year since 2002. In 2011, that trend appears to be set to continue, as a week 16 victory for the New Orleans Saints over 2010 divisional winner the Atlanta Falcons, seems more likely then ever. Here is a preview of the final game of the 16th week of the lockout season.

Despite being embarrassed by the lowly Seattle Seahawks in the first round of the 2010 – 11 playoffs, the New Orleans Saints have bounced back in 2011’s regular season, to show why, they won the Super Bowl nearly two seasons ago. Led by all world quarterback Drew Brees, the Saints quickly jumped out to a seven and three record to kickoff the first two months of the season. A little under a month later, the Saints continue to cruise, as they have won their last four contests, and are sitting comfortably at 11 and three on the season.

However, as betting sports news personal have become familiar with, the NFC South title is never safe, as the Atlanta Falcons appear to be hitting their stride just at the right time. The top quarterback wide receiver duo of a season ago, Matt Ryan and Rody White, appear to be back in sync, as they have the Falcons destined for another playoff berth, with a record of nine and five, heading into Monday night’s action. If the Falcons can pull off the upset against the Saints, then five out of the six playoff spots in the NFC will be up locked down, as the regular season concludes next weekend.

As we alluded to earlier, the New Orleans Saints got off to a hot start, after the first two months of the season. The Saints capped off the first two months, with an overtime victory over the aforementioned Falcons, after the latter’s Head Coach, Mike Smith elected to go for a touchdown instead of a chip shot field goal to win the game. Nevertheless, on Monday night, you can bet that Smith along with offensive weapons, Ryan, White and rookie wide receiver Julio Jones, will once again elect to play a smash mouth style of NFL football to clinch a playoff berth, and maybe a shot at the division.

Conversely, the Saints will be looking to not only lock up the division on Monday Night Football, but also set two new records in the NFL’s history books. Firstly, quarterback Drew Brees is attempting to shatter the single season passing yards record, as he closes in on 6000 yards. Meanwhile, the Saints as a team are trying to become the first team to lead the league in offense in three straight years.

PAC 12 The Bust Conference In College Hoops

2011-12-21T22:33:00.002-05:00

It’s been seven weeks since the 2011 – 12 college basketball betting season started. Since the beginning, one of the toughest conferences to figure out has been the PAC -12. The UCLA Bruins were figured by many price per head sharps to be the team to beat in the conference. Instead, the Bruins have become the team to beat up on, as they currently own one of the worst records in division one basketball. Meanwhile, the Stanford Cardinals are converting gridiron success to the hardwood, as they lead the PAC 12 rather convincingly. Today we’ll look at why bookie software agents have had a difficult time figuring out the PAC 12.

Historically known as one of the strongest conferences in sports, the PAC 12 was frequently known as one of the toughest conferences in basketball. Last season, the PAC 12 had several teams make the March Madness Tournament, but none go farther then the Arizona Wildcats. The Wildcats were led by second overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft Derrick Williams. Arizona’s biggest win, came when they destroyed the Duke Blue Devils of the ACC by nearly 30 points in the Sweet 16 portion of the tournament.

This season, the PAC 12 has been considered as the bust conference, as many teams are playing below expectation. Arizona currently sits in fifth place with a record of eight and four, while the aforementioned UCLA Bruins are in eighth with a six and five record. As we noted earlier, these two teams were expected to battle at the top of the PAC 12 standings when preseason projections were released. Now that could still happen, but it would require a significant collapse by the teams ahead of each of them.

The surprise story thus far, has to be the play of both the Stanford Cardinals and the California Golden Bears. Presently sitting first and second in the conference, the Cardinals and Golden Bears have blown the expectations of experts out of the water thus far in the season. Stanford came out of nowhere this year, as they spent the last two years at the basement of the standings. The Cardinals have upset the likes of Oklahoma State and North Carolina State. Meanwhile, the team’s only loss was to top NCAA ranked school the Syracuse Orange. However, if you talk to anyone close to the Cardinals, they’ll tell you, that they should have won that game against Syracuse, as they led into the final minutes of the game.

One team that’s taken fans, media and their own coaching staff by surprise is the Oregon State Beavers. The Beavers have jumped out to a quick start and sit third in the conference with a nine and two record. Oregon State has wins over Texas and Vanderbilt, two games that many believed they should have lost. Can the Beavers keep up their strong play over the course of an entire season?

NFL Betting: Green Bay Packers vs. Kansas City Chiefs Odds

2011-12-14T10:33:00.000-05:00

Okay, you can stop rolling your eyes now. We’re fully aware that mighty Green Bay has met every challenge this gambling season, but with TWO division hosters on deck to conclude the campaign, we expect the undefeated Pack to slack here at Arrowhead Stadium.

Before scoffing too loudly, you should realize that the loss of star WR Greg Jennings to a knee sprain (out 2-3 weeks) is a major blow to the Cheeseheads’ chances of attaining perfection.

And when it comes to today’s role, Packers head coach Mike McCarthy is just 2-3 SU and 1-4 ATS as a non-division road favorite versus a foe off a SU and ATS loss.

In addition, it’s possible that the woeful Chiefs could experience the ‘Del Rio Effect’ today; i.e., turn in a decent performance to celebrate the dismissal of a clueless head coach.

Todd Haley, who left Arizona after the Cardinals’ Super Bowl season in 2008 to take the reins in Kansas City, was issued his pink slip this week and Romeo Crennel, something of a coaching refugee himself, becomes interim leader.

Crennel can claim a 3-1-1 ATS log with Cleveland as a dog of more than 7 points against NFC opposition and the Chiefs chips in with an 18-7 ATS record as home dogs of more than 4 points, including 4-0 ATS from Game Fourteen out.

Remember, we’re not asking Geronimo to win the whole game here.

With the Pack covering just four out of its last seven games, we’ll back the 14-point home dog with over 50 YPG the better defense. Besides, Geronimo was our kind of chief – expelled from church for gambling!

Sportsbooks currently have the Packers listed as 14-point favorites versus the Chiefs, while the game's total is sitting at 46½.

Green Bay most recently:

When playing in December are 7-3

When playing on grass are 10-0

After outgaining opponent are 10-0

When playing outside the division are 10-0

Kansas City most recently:

When playing in December are 4-6

When playing on grass are 4-6

After being outgained are 3-7

When playing outside the division are 3-7

Divine Intervention Keeps NFL Playoff Race Exciting

2011-12-13T21:03:00.002-05:00

Week 14 of the NFL betting lines season may go down as the craziest week of the season, as plenty of teams experienced divine intervention. In Jacksonville, the Jaguars scored 41 unanswered points, after falling behind to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 14 to nothing early in the first half. If that wasn’t enough, the Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants, Houston Texans and of course the Denver Broncos all experienced miracles of their own on Sunday. Thus leaving the Gambling Advisor blog question, is God a fan of the greatest sports league on the planet?

The Houston Texans have experienced one of the most miraculous runs in the NFL this season. Houston started off hot out of the gate, and quickly became the main beneficiary of the Indianapolis Colts season from hell, after Peyton Manning suffered a season ending neck injury. However, if you were like us, you probably felt that the Texans, who historically had been known to crumble down the stretch, were destined to do so again after several injuries in weeks 10 and 11. First, the Texans lost wide receiver Andre Johnson to a hamstring issue, and then they lost quarterbacks Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart to season ending shoulder injuries. As a result, it wouldn’t have been a shock to anyone, if the Texans lost to the Cincinnati Bengals yesterday afternoon.

Instead, despite all the bookie software evidence pointing to a loss, third string quarterback TJ Yates was able to pick apart a depleted Bengals secondary, and mount a division clinching come back victory. Thanks to the aforementioned Falcons win over the Tennessee Titans, the Houston Texans will finally be able to reach the post season, the first time in franchise history. In theory, the Texans can rest up their starters except for Yates, which should then allow Andre Johnson and possibly Matt Schaub to return for playoffs.

The other game that had fans wondering if God was in the building, took place in Dallas, as the Cowboys battled the Giants. With five minutes 41 seconds remaining, the Cowboys were up comfortably 34 – 22. That is when, New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning took over the game. Manning connected on two touchdown plays, to give the Giants a 37 to 34 lead over the Cowboys. The Giants played the final moments of the game incredibly smart, as they ran in the second touchdown and two-point conversion, assuring the points. Then, the Giants called a time out at the end of the game, to mess up the timing of Cowboys kicker Dan Bailey. This would allow the Giants to hang on for the narrow victory over Dallas.

In the weekly God has an influence on the outcome game, the Denver Broncos once again came back to steal a victory away from an opponent. The Broncos kicked a game tying 59-yard field goal, and then followed suit with a 51 game winning field goal in overtime. Thus allowing the Broncos to take sole possession of first place in the AFC West.

NFL Betting Week 14: Buccaneers vs. Jaguars

2011-12-10T11:37:00.000-05:00

As kids, we would watch the city garbage truck noisily make its way through our neighborhood every week (not much on TV back then).

And while workers scurried back and forth, emptying and returning the dented metal pails, we asked ourselves the same question: how can they do it?

How can they fi ght past a wall of stench that would drive away an ordinary human? Ticket holders for today’s ‘game’ may be faced with a similar choice – risk asphyxiation at the stadium or just stay home and watch from afar.

From a handicapping point of view, garbageversus-garbage games this time of the year generally find the home team holding an ATS advantage (59-44 ATS since 1981 when each team is .333 or less).

Unfortunately for us, the home team today is Jacksonville, about as toothless a favorite as you’ll fi nd, going 3-11 ATS as home chalk the last four years, including 2-7 ATS versus sub .500 opposition. The bumbling Bucs are no bargains, either, as they’re currently stuck in a 1-5 SU and ATS slump.

However, the ATS archives suggest they may break out here: Tampa is 6-1 ATS in road revengers after allowing 35 or more points and pirate captain Raheem Morris owns a swashbuckling 7-1- 1 ATS mark as a visitor in the season’s final four games.

Yes, the Bucs have the numbers but the truth of the matter is the only money you’ll find us playing with in this game is found in a Monopoly box. Pass.

Sportsbooks currently have the Buccaneers listed as 2½-point favorites versus the Jaguars, while the game's total is sitting at 40.

San Francisco 49ers vs. Arizona Cardinals Week 14 Odds

2011-12-10T09:31:00.000-05:00

If not for some earlier losses that could have easily been wins – four of the Cardinals’ seven losses have come by a total of just 11 points – Arizona could be battling the Niners for the division lead instead of being relegated to the role of spoiler.

However, recent history tells us today’s game may not be much of a fi ght: the Niners have cashed in six straight meetings and gone 6-0 ATS in their last six trips to the Grand Canyon state.

The 49ers are also a perfect 12-0 ATS away if they’re .500 or better and playing on the division road versus a foe off a home game

Impressive as that may be, San Fran clinched its fi rst playoff berth since 2002 with last week’s 26-0 whitewash of St. Louis and the resulting celebration may fi nd them a tad fat here today.

As the 5-7 Cards proved in last week’s upset of Dallas, they haven’t called it quits just yet and actually fi nd themselves on a sneaky 4-1 SU and ATS run – with the lone loss coming against this Frisco squad.

The hosts have been gold as home dogs of more than 3 points versus a foe off a SU double-digit win, going 7-0 ATS, and head coach Ken Whisenhunt owns a money-making 12-3 SU and ATS mark on this fi eld versus a foe off a SU DD win – including 4-0 SU and ATS if tangling with a division opponent.

If Arizona can pull off the upset here, winnable games against Cleveland, Cincinnati and Seattle would give the Cards a shot at fi nishing with a winning season at 9-7.

Regardless, with strong numbers on both sides of this matchup, we’ll opt to take the points and fade the hungover, division-clinching Niners.

Sportsbooks currently have the 49ers listed as 4-point favorites versus the Cardinals, while the game's total is sitting at 40½.

Who Will Win The National Rematch We Mean Title Game?

2011-12-09T22:29:00.002-05:00

Earlier this week, the NCAA announced the 70 participants in the 35 college football betting bowl games scheduled to take place later this month. The games will take place from December 17 to January 9, concluding with a rematch of an SEC regular season game, featuring the LSU Tigers taking on the Alabama Crimson Tide. This will be the first time since the NCAA created the BCS format in the late 1990s, that two teams from the same conference face off twice in the same season. Thus many price per head fans of the NCAA are wondering if the BCS Title game should just be called the SEC Title game?

On paper, the 2011 – 12 football season bowl games will be met with criticism for years to come. Essentially, the NCAA has always prided itself on making a national title game featuring two teams from different conferences. However, as we noted earlier, that isn’t the case this season. What else is not the case, is the fact that several teams other major Bowl games will not be featuring teams with excellent records. For instance, despite finishing the season with a better record then any other school in the league, bookie software Conference USA team the Houston Cougars were snubbed all together from a BCS Bowl Game invite. Instead of having Houston v LSU for the National Title, or Houston v Michigan in the Sugar Bowl, fans are now stuck with Alabama v LSU and West Virginia v Clemson in the Orange Bowl. Thus making us wonder, is the NCAA more concerned with making revenue, as opposed to featuring the best teams in the league?

Looking ahead to the National Title Game on January 9, 2012, there are a couple of different views that fans and analysts alike can take with the game. Firstly, if you felt ripped off by the NFL defensive chess match that was LSU v Alabama during the regular season, perhaps a rematch was the best thing the NCAA could do, to determine which team truly is the best in the country this season. As you may recall, neither offense could really muster anything, as LSU and Alabama’s defenses came to play that day. LSU would win the first game on a field goal in overtime, after Alabama missed their opportunity moments earlier.

On the contrary if you are a believer in the NCAA’s AP 25 system, then you may feel distraught watching this National Title game. As we mentioned earlier, the NCAA has prided itself on giving the fans a matchup between two teams from separate conferences to determine the National Champion. For this reason, the game should have featured SEC Champion LSU and Big 12 Champion Oklahoma State. Instead, it appears as though because Alabama is a richer football program then Oklahoma State, they should play LSU. In other words, as long as you have the money and the history, you can be rewarded for losing.

NFL Betting: Packers Look To Stay Perfect; 49ers Right Behind Them in NFC

2011-12-02T11:11:00.000-05:00

Unlike in previous years when teams such as the New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, and Pittsburgh Steelers pulled away from the rest of the pack in the AFC and made it hard for other teams to catch up, this year that trend has shifted over to the NFC. The defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers are undefeated and well out in front in the NFC North, while the San Francisco 49ers are closing in on clinching their division with nine wins through 11 games. Here is a quick look at three key NFC matchups for this betonline week.

St. Louis Rams @ San Francisco 49ers (-13)

Sunday, 1:00 PM ET

Unlike a year ago when the Seattle Seahawks were able to clinch their division with a 7-9 record, San Francisco won’t let the NFC West be the joke of the conference this season, as they look to finish with the second-best record at the least. It will be impossible for the 49ers to catch the Packers until they start losing games, but a division title and home field advantage won’t be that terrible of a consolation prize if they don’t catch up. San Francisco has succeeded by playing every game as though it were a playoff game, and with an extra couple of days of rest will approach this game with that same urgency. Running back Frank Gore leads the league’s seventh-ranked rushing attack while the 49ers’ defense leads the league in stopping the run, two key fundamentals to winning in the NFL.

NFL Betting Pick: San Francisco 49ers - 13

Dallas Cowboys (-4.5) @ Arizona Cardinals

Sunday, 4:15 PM ET

It seems as though even when the team is winning the Cowboys can’t seem to do it without giving their fans a rough time. Last week’s 20-19 win over the Miami Dolphins was the latest of four straight wins for the new NFC East leaders, and while the New York Giants continue to struggle, owner Jerry Jones won’t let his boys take anything for granted. Running back DeMarco Murray has been a revelation as the missing piece that the offense needed, so look for him to get a ton of pay head touches against the league’s 20th-ranked rush defense and help open things up for quarterback Tony Romo to go over the top.

NFL Betting Pick: Dallas Cowboys – 4.5

Green Bay Packers (-7) @ New York Giants

Sunday, 4:15 PM ET

The Giants may be going through more than a slump after suffering their third straight loss, as opponents finally seem to be catching up to what made New York so successful earlier in the year. New York’s rushing attack ranks dead last in the NFL even though defenses are now keying in on quarterback Eli Manning and focusing on defending the pass, so until they can find a way to move the ball on the ground they will struggle to win. That won’t change against the defending Super Bowl champions as Aaron Rodgers and company look to move one step closer to sports betting perfection, with the chance to show just how good they are on the biggest stage once again.

NFL Betting Picks : Green Bay Packers - 7

Week 12 Monday Night Game A Preview Of NFC Championship?

2011-11-28T19:40:00.000-05:00

The final game of week 12 of the 2011 NFL betting lines
season could foreshadow the NFC Championship game if all goes according to plan. Featuring the New York Giants travelling to New Orleans to play the Saints, the Monday night game represents one of the more important games of the season. After all, it was only three weeks ago, that price per head football enthusiasts were led to believe that the Giants were for real this season. Now three weeks later coming off back to back losses, the Giants enter the confines of New Orleans, to face a Saints team coming off a bye week and are undefeated at home this season. Here is a preview of one of the biggest games of the season.

In what can be best described as a must win game for the New York Giants; tonight’s matchup with the New Orleans Saints will be no easy feat. As we noted, the Giants are losers of their last two contests, meanwhile, the Saints are not only undefeated at home, but also winners of their last two contests. The Giants are one game back of the Cowboys for the division lead, but overall are eighth in the NFC standings. Meanwhile, the Saints are first in the NFC South standings by one game over the Atlanta Falcons.

Entering tonight’s game, the Saints are a seven-point favorite, and quarterback Drew Brees leads the NFL with 3,326 passing yards through the first 10 games of the regular season. To put that number into perspective, consider, that it is the most passing yards through the first 10 games of the season, since the AFL NFL merger in 1970. Brees favorite target this year has been tight end Jimmy Graham. Through the first 11 games of their season, Graham has passed Jason Witten as the top tight end in the bookie software league, as he has 62 receptions and 873 yards.

On the Giants side of things, look for quarterback Eli Manning to go to the air often this game, as the run game has all but dried up. Ahmad Bradshaw is done for the year after breaking a bone in his foot, and backup Brandon Jacobs has shown, that he is not an all-purpose back. While Brees favorite target is a tight end, Manning’s favorite target is a fourth string wide receiver in Victor Cruz. Despite being picked off four times in hi last two games, Manning and Cruz have connected 25 times.

What’s more, this game could turn into a gunfight, as both Brees and Manning love to take to the air. Manning is showing this season, that he is far and away the best quarterback the Giants have ever had. His 120.5 passer rating in the fourth quarter, shows that there is no better pivot when the game is on the line. But hopefully, the Giants won’t need Manning to show off his skills in the fourth quarter of tonight’s game.

NFL Betting: Tebow, Leinart Take AFC Spotlight in Wide Open Playoff Race

2011-11-23T23:17:00.002-05:00

One of the most intriguing parts about the NFL season is how quickly the overall outlook can change in any given situation. The Houston Texans have never made the postseason in their brief franchise history, but seemed destined to finally reach that goal after the Indianapolis Colts lost Peyton Manning for the entire year. But in a cruel twist of fate, the Texans now face the tough task of finishing the year without their own franchise quarterback, as they look to hold on to first in the AFC South with an injured Matt Schaub watching from the sportsbook reviews sidelines.

Houston Texans (-3) @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Sunday, 1:00 PM ET

Texans’ fans are hoping that Matt Leinart can be successful down the stretch in his second chance to start for an NFL team, and he should be successful with a ton of help from his teammates. Houston’s rushing attack ranks third in the NFL betting with the running back tandem of Arian Foster and Ben Tate leading the way, and they should run the ball a ton this week against the Jaguars’ defense. Jacksonville has managed to keep games close with despite a passing attack that ranks 32nd in the NFL with rookie Blaine Gabbert under center, and unless they can slow down the Texans’ running attack they could be destined for their seventh loss of the season.

BSN Sports Free Pick: Houston Texans - 3

Denver Broncos @ San Diego Chargers (-6.5)

Sunday, 4:15 PM ET

Even the most knowledgeable of pay head experts can’t seem to figure out how the Denver Broncos have been able to turn their season around with a quarterback that many have argued isn’t good enough to be a starter at this level, but while the constant analysis has continued, Tim Tebow simply continues to win. A fourth-quarter game-winning drive against the New York Jets this past Thursday was the exclamation mark in what has been an incredible season for the sophomore Tebow, who has guided Denver to a 4-1 record as the starter, including two wins against division opponents. The Chargers on the other hand have drastically underachieved with five straight losses since their bye week, and regardless of whether or not they are able to get back on track this weekend this game should be close.

NFL Betting Pick: Denver Broncos + 6.5

Pittsburgh Steelers (-10.5) @ Kansas City Chiefs

Sunday, 8:30 PM ET

After a somewhat sluggish start by their standards, the defending AFC champion Pittsburgh Steelers have rebounded strong to climb back to the top of the AFC North division, and will look to continue their run against the struggling Chiefs. Things went from bad to worse last week for a Kansas City team that has lost three straight, with the news that Matt Cassel could be done for he remainder of the regular season. The sports betting spread for this game reflects what the oddsmakers think about Tyler Palko’s chances against the Steelers’ defense, as Pittsburgh continues to jockey for position with the Baltimore Ravens at the top of their division.

NFL Betting Pick: Pittsburgh Steelers – 10.5

NFL Betting: Bengals, Browns Stage another Battle Of Ohio

2011-11-23T09:17:00.000-05:00

Why the NFL schedule kicks off on Thursday, there are plenty of options in your sportsbook on the weekend and on Sunday, a pair of state and division rivals will go head-to-head in Cincinnati.

Browns Bengals Odds – Sunday, 1:00 PM ET

Cleveland (4-6) came out on top in a 14-10 win at home over Jacksonville, and BetOnline.com reviews would probably say that this game went exactly as planned: a low-scoring, scrappy affair in which points were at a premium. Colt McCoy was 17-of-24 for 199 yards, a touchdown and a pick, while Chris Ogbonnaya added 115 yards and a score for the Browns, who managed to hold the Jacksonville run game in check, and that was the difference. It was a testy game as both teams committed nine penalties, and each team received four first downs, and the offenses needed all of the breaks they could get. Cleveland is now two games behind Cincinnati in the standings and with the ever-changing landscape of the NFL, it’s possible that they could pull even with the Bengals, which would be a huge accomplishment given the start that Cleveland had to the season.

Cincinnati (6-4) may have been bitten by a bad call in their 31-24 loss in Baltimore as Jermaine Gresham had a late score controversially overturned, but price per head players may point to three interceptions by Andy Dalton, who was 24-of-45 for 373 yards and a touchdown as well. The defense almost overturned a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter, and they gave it a good effort to show that the Bengals are going to be a threat in the AFC North, but they’re not there yet. Dalton was also without fellow rookie A.J. Green at receiver, and the playmaker is one of those players who can mean the difference between a win and a loss.

Per head odds have the Bengals as a 7.5-point favorite at home, where they are 4-1 SU and 3-2 ATS in their last five trips, and the last four games have fallen under the posted total. Watch the injury report to see if Green will be available for the Bengals, but they should still have enough weapons to come away with the win, only because Cleveland’s offense is awful. The Browns’ defense can be run on, even though they did well against Jacksonville, but they had the luxury of going up against a team with no passing game. Cincinnati can keep them off-balance with their passing game and that will open up the field for Cedric Benson, who found the end zone twice against Baltimore, but he’d like to improve on his 41 yards. Go with Cincinnati to cover this sports betting spread.

Toledo Rockets vs. Central Michigan Chippewas Game Odds

2011-11-18T06:32:00.000-05:00

Friday, November 18

The Toledo Rockets and the Central Michigan Chippewas will meet on Friday when they battle at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.

The high-fl ying Rockets have their sights set on a second-straight eightwin bowl season and despite a 0-3 ATS weekday log this season, we’re not about to jump in front of team that has lit up the scoreboard for 126 points in its last two games – especially knowing that teams off back-toback 60-point scoring efforts are a confi dent 25-4 SU and 18-10 ATS.

And while series history (5-2 ATS last seven, 4-1 ATS last fi ve at home) points to the Chippewas, most of that damage was done with QB Dan LeFevour under center. With LeFevour two years removed from Mt.

Pleasant, the Chips are headed toward their second consecutive three-win season and this twelfth (and fi nal) straight game without rest should also hand them their seventh straight ATS loss (1-9 ATS to date).

Need a little more fuel before backing the Rockets? In three games against common opponentsthis season, Toledo holds a 207-YPG net stat advantage.

Need we say more? Chalk it up – over and out.

Oddsmakers currently have the Rockets listed as 14½-point favorites versus the Chippewas, while the game's total is sitting at 71½.

Toledo most recently:

When playing in November are 5-5

When playing on turf are 5-5

After outgaining opponent are 5-5

When playing within the conference are 8-2

Central Michigan most recently:

When playing in November are 4-6

When playing on turf are 3-7

After being outgained are 2-8

When playing within the conference are 3-7

NFL Betting: Packers Lead Top NFC Contenders This Weekend

2011-11-17T08:51:00.000-05:00

Unlike in the AFC where it seems as though every week there is a shuffling for the order of the top contenders in the conference, the NFC has been dominated by a select group of teams. At the top of the list is the defending Super Bowl champions Green Bay Packers, who along with the San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants have established themselves as the sports betting teams to beat in the NFC.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Green Bay Packers (-14)

Sunday, 1:00 PM ET

The Packers are at the top of the NFC pyramid, and actually appear to be distancing themselves more and more with every passing week. While the talk about a potential perfect season may be somewhat premature, there is no denying that the way in which Green Bay has dominated this season is something special. The Packers will look to continue their run at home this weekend against the slumping Buccaneers, which find themselves in a desperate situation after losing three straight. Tampa Bay will have a tough time ending their slide this week however, especially with injuries hurting their defensive line. The Buccaneers have allowed at least 24 points in each of their past three losses, and that pay head number could go way up this Sunday.

NFL Betting Pick: Green Bay Packers - 14

Arizona Cardinals @ San Francisco 49ers (-9.5)

Sunday 4:05 PM ET

While Green Bay remains undefeated, the 49ers’ only loss of the season has helped spawn their current seven-game winning streak, which has them second to only the Packers in the NFC standings. San Francisco has played every game like it is the Super Bowl, and if they continue to perform at this level they very well could have a chance. The 49ers’ defense ranks first in the NFL against the run, which means that the Cardinals will be in tough as quarterback John Skelton is forced to deal with the betonline bulk of the offensive responsibility.

NFL Betting Pick: San Francisco 49ers – 9.5

Philadelphia Eagles @ New York Giants (-4.5)

Sunday, 8:30 PM ET

The Eagles had several chances to put the Cardinals away last weekend and couldn’t do it, even with both Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson unavailable for the second half. But Jackson is no longer suspended and Maclin should be available, which automatically makes Philadelphia’s offense a legitimate threat as long as Michael Vick can take a hit even with his broken ribs. If Vick cannot play and Vince Young is forced in to a starter role than the Eagles could be in trouble, but if he does play then Philadelphia will have a chance. The Giants had done a good job of not turning the ball over until Eli Manning made a couple of mistakes in last weekend’s NFL loss to the 49ers.

NFL Betting Picks : Philadelphia Eagles + 4.5

Can The Bengals And Ravens Take Advantage Of The Steelers Bye In Week 11?

2011-11-15T08:08:00.000-05:00

Entering week 11 of the NFL regular season, the AFC North is once again showing us why it is the best division in professional sports. Despite three of four teams losing this past weekend, week 11 next Sunday can prove to be an integral point in the sports betting season. With Pittsburgh defeating Cincinnati and Baltimore dropping the ball against the lackluster Seattle Seahawks, week 11 showdown featuring the Bengals and Ravens will be the biggest game of the weekend. Here is a preview of week 11’s AFC North action.

After hanging on to end the Cincinnati Bengals five game win streak, the Pittsburgh Steelers head into week 11, the team’s bye week at an inconvenient time. The last thing the Steelers wanted right now is a bye, as their small lead on the AFC North division can vanquish regardless of who wins the aforementioned Bengals and Ravens game, and the Steelers can’t do anything about it.

Entering the price per head 2011 NFL season, nobody and we mean nobody could have anticipated, that the AFC North, would be a three headed race to the final game of the season. In fact, most bookies had Pittsburgh regressing, Baltimore finally showing up, and Cincinnati and Cleveland dueling it out for the worst record in the league. Instead, only the Browns have done their part for bookie software predictions, as Cincinnati, Baltimore and Pittsburgh are entrenched in a heated battle for the divisional crown. What’s more, the way these three teams have played, all three have the possibility of getting into the playoffs at the end of the season.

Looking ahead to next weekend’s game featuring the Cincinnati Bengals taking on the Baltimore Ravens, fans and experts alike will be curious to see which Baltimore team shows up. The Ravens have had a Jekyll and Hyde mentality this season, as they play outstanding football against contenders, but then forget how to play when they face pretenders and bottom feeders. Since Cincinnati has overachieved by all accounts this year, it is unclear if they are a contender or a pretender. This in turn, has us and many colleagues wondering, which Ravens team will show up next Sunday.

Furthermore, Cincinnati and Baltimore are each a half game behind the Steelers for the divisional lead. Meaning to say, with the Steelers off next weekend, the winner of Baltimore and Cincinnati, will be tied atop the division with Pittsburgh. If Baltimore wins, it is believed that fans and media alike will take a step back from rooting for their demise. Conversely, if Cincinnati can beat the Ravens, they will add more members to the “Who Dey?” bandwagon.

For Cincinnati to win they need two things to happen, firstly, they need the defense to play an entire 60 minutes, instead of settle into the game by the second quarter. Secondly, they will need AJ Green back, as the game changing rookie wide receiver left this weekend’s game with an apparent knee injury. If Green comes back, the Bengals should be in good shape for the game.

NFL Betting: AFC Showdowns Highlight Week 10 in The NFL

2011-11-10T10:05:00.000-05:00

Heading in to the 2011-12 NFL season, the defending Super Bowl finalist Pittsburgh Steelers were joined by the New England Patriots and New York Jets on the list of teams considered legitimate contenders to compete for an AFC Championship this season. However, nobody could have predicted that at this point in the season that those teams would be joined at the front of the playoff race by the Cincinnati Bengals, which have been one of the biggest surprises of the year and now have the chance to make a statement in the first of two crucial division games this sports betting weekend.

Pittsburgh Steelers (-3) @ Cincinnati Bengals

Sunday, 4:15 PM ET

For as good as the Bengals have been this season, the pay head fact that they haven’t proved anything against the Pittsburgh Steelers or Baltimore Ravens so far is testament to the fact that their record has to be taken with a grain of salt. In order to be the best, you have to beat the best, and the Buffalo Bills are the only team with a winning record that Cincinnati has beaten so far. The Bengals will be tested this weekend against a tough Pittsburgh team that comes in to this game looking to bounce back from their second loss of the season to the Baltimore Ravens. The Steelers played much better last weekend than they did in their opening loss to Baltimore, but it still wasn’t enough as they came up short once again. Ben Roethlisberger and company will provide Cincinnati with a real NFL test as they look to get back on track before their bye week, and it will be interesting to see how they hold it together.

NFL Betting Pick: Pittsburgh Steelers - 3

New England Patriots @ New York Jets (-1.5)

Sunday, 8:30 PM ET

After leading the AFC out of the gate with five wins through their first six games, the Patriots have come crashing down to earth in an incredible fashion, with losses in consecutive weeks to both the Steelers and New York Giants. While the defense has been as awful as it could be under head coach Bill Belichick, the offense has made their share of mistakes over the past couple of weeks, including two interceptions from Tom Brady in last week’s loss. Brady told reporters after that defeat that this would be a true test of the team’s character, and it will be interesting to see how they respond against a talented Jets’ team that has really taken off in recent weeks. New York has won three straight and this meeting against another division rival could not have come at a better time. The Jets’ defense is back at the level they played at when they made it to the AFC Championship game in consecutive seasons, and the offense may finally be catching up with quarterback Mark Sanchez leading the intertops way.

NFL Betting Pick: New York Jets – 1.5

South Florida Bulls vs. Syracuse Orange Odds and Analysis

2011-11-09T11:43:00.000-05:00

The South Florida Bulls and the Syracuse Orange will fight to pick up a victory on Friday at Carrier Dome.

Wasn’t it philosopher George Santayana who said, ‘those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.’ (Then again, maybe it was Gambling Advisor blog proverb from back in the day.)

Well, we clearly remember South Florida laying points on the road earlier this season at Pittsburgh and Connecticut and we weren’t about to repeat the mistakes we made analyzing those matchups.

We used the Bulls in both games (even as a 5* Best Bet against UConn) but quickly wised up last week as we grabbed Rutgers and the points versus visiting USF.

We’ve been known to be Taurus the Bull-like stubborn, but fool us twice, shame on us.

And despite a lifetime series history that favors South Florida (5-1 SU and ATS, including 3-0 SU and ATS at the Carrier Dome), there’s no shame in backing tonight’s Homecoming dogs under the Friday night lights as the Orange are already 2-0 SU and ATS this season in weekday tilts.

Toss in USF’s unprepared 2-9 ATS weekday log and you can see why we have no interest in backing a favorite who is coming off an overtime loss.

Or a coach (Skip Holtz) that is at his best when taking points (28-11-1 ATS) – not laying them (17-25 ATS).

Skippy and his Bulls may ‘squeeze’ out the SU win but, like our trips to a China shop, we’re not buying any of it. You know what to do.

Sportsbooks currently have the Bulls listed as 4-point favorites versus the Orange, while the game's total is sitting at 52½.

South Florida most recently:

When playing in November are 5-5

When playing on turf are 6-4

After outgaining opponent are 5-5

When playing within the conference are 3-7

Syracuse most recently:

When playing in November are 2-8

When playing on turf are 6-4

After outgaining opponent are 3-7

When playing within the conference are 4-6

NFL Week 10 Preview: New Orleans Saints (-1) vs. Atlanta Falcons

2011-11-08T19:09:00.005-05:00

Sports Betting Overview

The Atlanta Falcons have not cared whether it was home or on the road all season long. The Falcons are 2-1 at home and 3-2 on the road and it is currently riding a three-game winning streak. A few weeks ago, all NFC football fans were wondering what was wrong with the Falcons and would we ever see the Atlanta team that had such potential the past couple of years. The Atlanta defense has toughened up a little and now the Falcons trail the New Orleans Saints in the NFC South standings by one game. After this game, the Saints get its bye week. The Saints could either go into its bye with a commanding lead in the NFC South, or it could be watching the Falcons very closely to see if it will be a dogfight to week 17.

The Saints have had another one of those up and down seasons, and most of downs have come on the road. The bookie software shows the Saints with a 2-3 record on the road compared to a 4-0 record at home. The Saints know it has to start winning on the road if it wants to go deep into the playoffs. But the Saints are having all kinds of problems playing defense on the road. Opposing teams have been able to run and pass against a New Orleans defense that is normally pretty stalwart at home. The Saints need to figure out its inconsistencies to stand toe-to-toe with a much-improved Atlanta team.

Atlanta Falcons

The price per head services know that the Falcons are riding an impressive winning streak into this game, but not many betting experts are buying the notion that the Atlanta defense can stop the New Orleans offense. A bodog review of the Saints’ running game shows a dramatic improvement since the addition of rookie running back Mark Ingram. But even the chance that Ingram will not play in this game due to a leg injury has not changed people’s minds. The Falcons have had problems with effective passing games all season long, and the New Orleans Saints have one of the most effective passing games in all of football.

New Orleans Saints

The Saints seem to have problems putting pressure on the opposing quarterback when it plays on the road. The linebackers fall back in coverage more often on the road and leave the defensive line to put on pressure and stop the run almost by itself. When the Saints try to bring up the linebackers to help on the pass rush, it gets beat over the middle. The NFL scores from past Saints’ road games put a huge highlight on an issue that Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan and the Atlanta offense are hoping to exploit in week 10.

The Bottom Line

Both of these defenses are susceptible to the big play either on the ground or through the air. That brings this game down to a shoot out on offense, which the Saints would win. Matt Ryan and the Falcons can hang with the Saint’s offense for maybe a half, but by the second half Drew Brees and the Saints should be pulling away in this game.

Sports Betting News Pick: New Orleans Saints

NFL Betting: NFC Remains Wide Open Heading in To NFL Week Nine

2011-11-03T10:58:00.000-04:00

Despite all of the rhetoric and rambling, not much has changed in the NFC this season. While the East and South divisions are still incredibly competitive, the West division is once again a joke with the suddenly surging San Francisco 49ers among the best teams in the NFC at 6-1. The long road to the postseason still has several stops along the way which will determine the contenders from the pretenders, continuing in week nine with a ton of action to look forward to this NFL Sunday.

San Francisco 49ers (-3.5) @ Washington Redskins

Sunday, 1:00 PM ET

The 49ers seemingly came out of nowhere to win six of their first seven games, including a couple of big upset wins over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions to establish their place in the early NFC power rankings. San Francisco will look to extend their current winning streak and to six games and extend their division lead this weekend against the struggling Redskins, who have lost three straight following their bye week, and have major issues at the quarterback position with veteran journeyman John Beck currently the team’s No. 1. The biggest question mark heading in to this game is why the sports betting spread is so low even after big wins over the Bucs, Lions, and Cleveland Browns, as it appears as though the oddsmakers still aren’t sold on the 49ers this season.

NFL Betting Pick: San Francisco 49ers – 3.5

Seattle Seahawks @ Dallas Cowboys (-11.5)

Sunday, 1:00 PM ET

After losing two of their previous three games, the Cowboys simply couldn’t keep up with the explosive Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday Night Football, but will get the chance to catch their breaths this week. With the exception of last weekend’s 34-7 loss, Dallas has been excellent defending the run, and that should make things easy for them in a must-win game against the Seahawks this weekend. Seattle ranks 31st in the NFL running the ball and 24th in the passing game, and for some it remains a mystery how they have gotten to two wins. That total won’t change this NFL picks week against the Cowboys, as Tony Romo and the boys look to bounce back in a big way.

NFL Betting Pick: Dallas Cowboys – 11.5

St. Louis Rams @ Arizona Cardinals (-3.5)

Sunday, 4:15 PM ET

The pay head roof caved in on the Cardinals following a quick start to their eventual 30-27 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, a game in which they actually led 24-6 at the half. Arizona will hope to get off to a fast start again this week but avoid the collapse that they suffered last week when they take on the Rams, which finally got in the win column last week in surprising fashion as they topped the New Orleans Saints 31-21 with backup quarterback AJ Feeley leading the offense. That won’t happen again this week against a desperate Cardinals’ team.

NFL Betting Pick: Arizona Cardinals – 3.5

College Football Odds: Central Michigan vs. Kent State Betting the Spread

2011-11-02T11:38:00.000-04:00

It’s not surprising that the worst of the MAC games (is there really a best?) takes place on a Friday when most of us are out hitting the happy hours.

The Central Michigan Chippewas fight against Kent State Golden Flashes on Friday November 4th at Dix Stadium.

What’s shocking, however, is that you can actually watch this game on ESPN2.

We guess there’s only so many times you can see ‘World Series of Poker’ reruns (the cards never seem to change).

With the November Nine (ﬁnal table) set for the following Tuesday, we’re actually surprised that ESPN execs didn’t have it pushed to replace this college football bluff.

And speaking of frauds, how about that Central Michigan defense that is in complete shambles, allowing 444 YPG to FBS foes this season?

That’s 112 more yards per game than Kent’s under-the-radar stop-unit, which has held three opponents to season-low yardage in 2011.

Bet on College Football and Get a 35% Bonus at BetOnline.

And despite a 4-11 ATS record on weekdays, this meaningless MAC affair will ﬁnd us backing the defensive home dog that appears to be making strides under ﬁrst-year HC Darrell Hazell.

In other words, we can’t lay points with a visiting team on a 4-14 SU run that arrives with the nation’s 80th-ranked defense and is playing its 10th straight game without rest. Take it or leave it.

Central Michigan are listed as 1½-point favorites against the Kent State, while the game's total is sitting at 43.

Central Michigan most recently:

When playing in November are 6-4

When playing on turf are 4-6

After being outgained are 3-7

When playing within the conference are 3-7

Kent State most recently:

When playing in November are 3-7

When playing on turf are 3-7

After being outgained are 3-7

When playing within the conference are 4-6

Who Is Left in The Bottom Out For Andrew Luck Sweepstakes?

2011-10-31T23:42:00.002-04:00

The Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers close out week eight of the Breeders Cup betting NFL season tonight in Kansas City. With eight weeks set to be in the books, there are still plenty of teams in the mix for the first overall draft pick in April 2012. Known by price per head users as the ‘Suck For Luck’ sweepstakes, for the first time in the long history of the NFL, there are not one but two teams that could finish without a win this season. The teams at the bottom of the standings are playing for the opportunity to draft Stanford Cardinals quarterback Andrew Luck. Here is a look at who is left in the Suck for Luck bookie software sweepstakes.

Entering this past Saturday’s thrilling affair between Stanford and USC, Andrew Luck entered the game as the consensus number one pick on many scouts draft boards. However, this weekend, featured, Luck going up against USC Trojans quarterback Matt Barkley, who is considered to be the next best option, should a team miss out on Luck. The duo put on a brilliant display, as Stanford, walked away with a 56 – 48 victory in triple overtime over the Trojans.

Indianapolis Colts (0 – 7) – The Colts are an NFL picks to win the Andrew Luck sweepstakes, as they have literally been the worst all around team in the NFL this season. Indianapolis had to start the season without franchise quarterback Peyton Manning, who suffered a setback, recovering from offseason neck surgery. As a result, the Colts elected to sign former Tennessee Titans quarterback Kerry Collins, as opposed to former Minnesota Viking and Green Bay Packers great Brett Favre. Unfortunately, Collins would also succumb to injury, and now the Colts are stuck with Curtis Painter this season. For this reason, the Colts offense has been unable to muster much offense, as Painter is an awful quarterback, averaging two interceptions a game.

Drafting Andrew Luck, in theory, would allow the Colts to have a solid insurance plan, should Manning still need time to recover next season. Worst case scenario, the Colts draft Luck, and he has to learn under the guidance of Manning for a few years, similar to Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers a few years ago.

Miami Dolphins (0 – 7) – Theoretically, NFL fans would believe that the Colts are a lock to draft Luck this season. But, with that being said, the Miami Dolphins are doing everything in their power to find a way to draft Luck. The last few weeks, should have both ended in victories for Miami, but the team would blow the game in the final few minutes both against Denver last week, and the New York Giants this past weekend. If Miami drafts Luck, you can guarantee he’ll be the opening day quarterback in 2012.

Cleveland Browns vs. San Francisco 49ers Betting Odds on Week 8

2011-10-29T13:31:00.001-04:00

The Cleveland Browns and the San Francisco 49ers will have a meeting on Sunday at Candlestick Park.

Here’s the epitome of winning ugly: the 3-3 Browns have topped 17 points on only one occasion this season.

The points will probably be hard to come by for Colt McCoy and company, once again, this week as the rested Niners have allowed just 53 points in their last four games.

And speaking of rest, we’ll get to see if this season’s aforementioned Bye Week blues clashes with a money-making situation from past years as our sports betting news database reminds us that teams on a 4-0 SU and ATS run playing with a week of rest are 13-3 ATS as regular-season favorites.

With that being said, we’re still not keen on laying signiﬁcant points with a 5-1 squad that is allowing 33 YPG more than it gains.

Frisco may not fall to 0-6 SU in Game Seven but we do think the Browns will improve to 8-1 ATS as dogs of 7 or more points when .500 or greater and 5-1 SU and ATS in Game Seven of the betting season.

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Jim Harbaugh may have his squad believing that ‘no one has it better’ than them but we feel a lot better with the points this afternoon by the bay.

The 49ers listed as 9½-point favorites versus the Browns, while the game's total is sitting at 39½.

Cleveland most recently:

When playing in October are 4-6

When playing on grass are 4-6

After outgaining opponent are 4-6

When playing outside the division are 5-5

San Francisco most recently:

When playing in October are 5-5

When playing on grass are 6-4

After outgaining opponent are 4-6

When playing outside the division are 5-5

NFL Week 8 Preview: Minnesota Vikings vs. Carolina Panthers (-3)

2011-10-27T10:40:00.000-04:00

Sports Betting Overview

The Carolina Panthers’ week seven win over the Washington Redskins was a combination of two forces. The first is the downward spiral that the Redskins find itself on. Even though Rex Grossman took the Chicago Bears to a Super Bowl, he has never been considered a stable NFL starter. Quarterback John Beck has always been hyped as having a lot of skills and potential, but he is still winless as a starter in the NFL. A team without a proven winner at starting quarterback is not going to win a lot of football games.

The other cost per head factor working against the Redskins was the fact that the Carolina Panthers just keep getting better each and every week. The season started in a flash as rookie quarterback Cam Newton looked like he was going to break every single season NFL passing record in the books. But, early in the season, the Carolina defense was not pulling its weight. Over the past seven weeks, the Panthers’ defense has become very good at taking the ball away and putting pressure on the opposing quarterback. People forget that the Carolina defense, just like its quarterback, is very young. The entire Panthers team is learning how to win at a frightening pace.

Minnesota Vikings

Rookie quarterback Christian Ponder looked very impressive in his NFL debut in week seven against the defending World Champion Green Bay Packers. Ponder looked confident and seemed like he was ready to be an NFL quarterback. The price per head services noticed a lot of rookie mistakes Ponder made in his decision making, but all of his issues can be corrected with coaching and experience. Minnesota has definitely found its starting quarterback and the Minnesota defense also played extremely well in the second half of the game against Green Bay. But the Vikings’ defense got off to another slow start and that may have been what cost Minnesota the game.

Carolina Panthers

Cam Newton is proving to be one of the best NFL betting picks in recent draft history. After seven games, Newton has 2,103 passing yards. But Newton only has eight touchdown passes and has thrown nine interceptions, which shows that his red zone decision making is still suspect. The Panthers just keep getting better and better each week and Newton is just one part of a team that is developing into what could be a powerhouse NFL team in just a few years.

The Bottom Line

The intertops key to this game is the Minnesota defense. Cam Newton has thrown the ball all over the field, but he is not scoring points. Next season, Newton should have gained the necessary experience to be a scoring machine. But the Vikings’ offense is much-improved under Ponder, and the Minnesota defense should be able to force Newton to make critical mistakes. This will be a fun game to watch and it will be interesting to see if Ponder is going to improve week to week or if he is going to gather experience this year and become a top NFL quarterback next season.

Pick: Minnesota Vikings

NFL Betting: Chargers Look to Hold Off Surging Chiefs

2011-10-26T22:24:00.002-04:00

This is no BetOnline scam; after an awful start to the season, Kansas City has stormed back to pull within a game of San Diego in the AFC West, and the two will square off at Arrowhead Stadium in a huge Monday night contest.

Chargers Chiefs Odds – Monday, October 31st, 8:30 PM ET

The Chargers (4-2) let one slip away in a 27-21 loss on the road to the New York Jets, as they were up 21-10 at the half, but the Jets’ offense came alive and San Diego couldn’t slow them down. Philip Rivers was 16-of-32 for 179 yards and a touchdown, but he also threw a couple of picks NFL fans were left scratching their heads afterwards. The defense also gave the Jets four first downs due to penalties, and committing 13 penalties is an easy way to watch your lead down the drain. The Chargers also allowed the Jets to rush for 162 yards, and people are starting to ask the same questions that many have put forth for years; are the Chargers good or are they playing in a subpar division? They’ve beaten Minnesota, Kansas City, Miami and Denver, with losses against the Jets and New England, so that should be a hint.

The Chiefs (3-3) picked off Kyle Boller and Carson Palmer three times each in a 28-0 shutout in Oakland, running back two picks for scores in a game that got testy. Price per head players may have given the Chiefs an edge coming into this game because of the Raiders’ quarterback issues, but no one saw this coming, not even the most diehard Chiefs fan. Matt Cassel was poor, going 15-of-30 for 161 yards and a couple of picks, but he didn’t even have to be good on this day as the Chiefs ran for 139 yards and the defense did the rest.

Pay head odds have the Chargers as a 3.5-point favorite on the road in Kansas City, where they are 3-2 SU and 2-3 ATS in their last five trips to Arrowhead, with two games going over the posted total, along with a push. These two met on Monday Night Football last season, with the Chiefs coming away with a 21-14 win in the first week of the season, and they ended up going on to win the West. Injuries destroyed them in the first few games this season, but the Chiefs have been fortunate to play the likes of Minnesota, Indianapolis and the Raiders. San Diego won Week 3’s 20-17 clash at home, but the Chiefs were starting to come around in that game and only a late pick by Cassel stopped them. Kansas City isn’t as bad as they looked, and San Diego isn’t as good as you think. That leads to a Kansas City sports betting win.

Power Rankings To Be Impacted By Outcome Of Jets Leafs

2011-10-20T06:14:00.000-04:00

Tonight is a historic one for breeders cup betting enthusiasts across Canada, as this evening’s affair between the Winnipeg Jets and Toronto Maple Leafs, will be the duo’s first encounter in nearly 15 years. The last time Winnipeg and Toronto met, both franchises were in the Western Conference. However, 15 years later, NHL fans get to watch one of the most historic rivalries of the early 1990s rekindle itself in the Eastern Conference. A win by either team will also significantly impact the power rankings for the other 28 bookie software NHL teams. Here is a preview of the game.

Earlier this week, the new Winnipeg Jets recorded their first win of the season, as they defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins by a score of two to one. Winnipeg’s speed and youth was on full display, as top prospect and eventual number one center Alexander Burmistrov set up both Jets goals. The win was the first price per head victory for the Jets, although it was their fourth game of the season. Jets Head Coach Claude Noel was forced to read his team the riot act before the game because of lazy efforts in the team’s first three games.

On the other hand the Toronto Maple Leafs suffered their first loss of the season, in overtime, to the Colorado Avalanche. The notoriously slow starting Maple Leafs, have been feeling lucky as of late, as rough patches in the first period of all four of their games, have only resulted in one defeat. What was especially enticing to Leaf fans in their loss to Colorado was the fact that the Leafs were able to battle back from the Avalanche’s on slot and tie the game up in the third period.

Looking at each team’s roster, the Maple Leafs, who sit fourth in the Eastern Conference standings; need the win against Winnipeg almost as much as the Jets do. In essence, the Jets are not an NFL picks to make the playoffs this year; so losing in the first season is understandable. Conversely, if the Leafs do not collect wins early, it could affect their playoff aspirations later in the season. As a result, if the Leafs miss the playoffs for a seventh straight year, you can guarantee that changes will be made in the coaching and managing ranks.

In terms of the NHL power rankings, Toronto currently finds itself tied for fourth with the powerhouse Philadelphia Flyers. However, a victory tonight, could see them vault over not only the Flyers, but also Northeast divisional rivals the Buffalo Sabres. With the aforementioned loss to Colorado, the Leafs are one point behind Buffalo for the divisional lead.

On the other side of things, the Winnipeg Jets could see their power ranking slot jump from 27 to 22 with a win. The Jets are one of those teams, that if they can win a few games in a row, they could be in the thick of the playoff hunt by December. At the same time, another loss, and they may need to start looking for a new goalie.

NFL Trade Deadline Speculation Louder Then Ever

2011-10-19T23:57:00.002-04:00

Leading into tomorrow’s sports betting trade deadline, as many as 15 teams could find themselves entrenched in bidding wars for the top players around the league. Despite losing the first five games of their season, the St. Louis Rams made headlines earlier today, when they picked up the highly talented wide receiver Brandon Lloyd from the Denver Broncos. The move indicates, that the Rams feel they can still win their division despite price per head odds indicating otherwise. With that in mind, here is a look at several players that could be on the move and which teams are in need of their bookie software services.

Oakland Raiders – The 2011 NFL season has been an interesting one to say the least, for the Oakland Raiders. Currently riding a two game winning streak and sitting at four and two, the Raiders appear poised to take a run at the AFC West crown and then the Super Bowl. The last two weeks have been rough for the Raiders, as owner Al Davis passed away before the game last Sunday, and then top quarterback Jason Campbell suffered a season ending collarbone injury in the team’s victory last night.

Meaning to say, with the NFL trade deadline tomorrow, the Raiders may be in search for a top quarterback to help keep the team’s playoff hopes alive. Two interesting rumors for Oakland include Cincinnati Bengals hold out Carson Palmer and Denver Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton. Palmer hasn’t played all season, however his familiarity with Raiders Head Coach Hue Jackson from their days in Cincinnati, could allow Palmer to slide right in with the Raiders offense.

On the other hand, with Kyle Orton seemingly the odd man out in Denver, look for the Raiders to be entrenched in a bidding war with plenty of other teams for his services. Orton is not a bad quarterback, rather it appears he isn’t the NFL betting picks of the current Broncos regime.

New England Patriots – Sitting atop the AFC East standings for another consecutive year, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots are actually a team that is struggling pretty hard right now. Essentially, while the offense continues to keep the team in games, the defense is allowing the Patriots opponents to also remain in the games.

In order to help the Patriots take their game to the next level and convert regular season success into Super Bowl titles, the management needs to acquire strong defensive players. One player the Patriots have had their eyes on for a while, is Asante Samuel of the Philadelphia Eagles. With the Eagles lack of chemistry this season, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, the long serving Eagle may be sent packing.

If Samuel along with Champ Bailey from Denver both are traded to New England, it will give the Patriots much needed veteran guidance. However, if New England can’t acquire either, they may lose in the playoffs again.

NFL Betting: Raiders, Jets Face Key Home Contests in AFC This Sunday

2011-10-13T04:20:00.000-04:00

Two AFC teams trending in different directions will look to earn key wins at a crucial point in their respective seasons this week, with the Oakland Raiders and New York Jets each hosting teams that are below .500. While the Raiders look to build on last week’s win over the Houston Texans in their first home game since the passing of owner Al Davis, the Jets will look to avoid a fourth straight loss at home against the division rival Dolphins on NFL Monday Night Football.

Cleveland Browns @ Oakland Raiders (-6)

Sunday, 4:05 PM ET

The Raiders provided their fans with a memorable pay head comeback win a week ago, and return home looking to clinch one more with the chance to close on the San Diego Chargers for first in the AFC West. Oakland has channeled the traditional power running attack to start the season strong, with an average of 161.8 rushing yards per game good for the second-best mark in the NFL. If the Raiders are going to be a playoff team, they will need to be better on the defensive side of the ball, where they rank 22nd against the run and 29th against the pass. Cleveland comes in to this game off a bye week at .500 and looking to improve in several areas, but the potential for an upset here is slim with the Browns on the road for just the second sports betting time against an Oakland team looking to build some momentum. The Cleveland defense ranks fourth against the pass, but just 25th against the run with an average of 124.5 rushing yards against through their first four games.

NFL Betting Pick: Oakland Raiders - 6

Miami Dolphins @ New York Jets (-7)

Monday, 8:35 PM ET

While the Raiders will look to build off a big win, the Jets are hoping that they can get back in the win column after losing all three games of a season-high three-game road trip. New York has looked awful at times over that span, and hope that a return to East Rutherford will help them to end their slide. The problems for the Jets have reportedly carried over in to the locker room where some of the offensive players are unhappy with the play calling of offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, but a big win on the field should go a long way to ending all talk about pay per head tensions off the field. The seat isn’t nearly as hot for Schottenheimer at this point as it is Miami head coach Tony Sparano, who many consider fortunate to have kept his job through the bye week. Miami is winless through the first four games of the regular season and struggling on both sides of the ball. Dolphins’ fans are hoping that the extra week to prepare helps, but if it doesn’t then this could be the perfect game for the Jets to bounce back as Mark Sanchez and the offense looks to take off against Miami’s 31st ranked pass defense.

NFL Betting Picks: New York Jets - 7

NFL Betting: Rested Cowboys Try to Slow Down Patriots

2011-10-10T21:53:00.003-04:00

Gambling Advisor blog betting players waiting for the sixth week of the NFL regular season to kick off, and they’ll be treated to a matchup of two of the most popular teams in the league as Dallas, coming off a bye, will head to New England to take on a team many are picking to win the Super Bowl.

Cowboys vs. Patriots Odds – Sunday, 4:15 PM ET

The Cowboys (2-2) could be 4-0 or 0-4, that is how wild they’ve been so far in 2011, and a lot of that is down to the play of Tony Romo. The Dallas pivot has (and continues to) played through broken ribs, and he has also thrown some costly late NFL betting picks to take his team out of the game. The secondary is improved, but Detroit still rolled over them in the second half of a 34-30 win just over a week ago. The talent is there, but the Cowboys are shooting themselves in the foot with mistakes and that is the reason while some price per head sports fans are hesitant to put their faith in Dallas when it comes to making Super Bowl picks.

The Patriots (4-1) put up 446 yards of offense on their rivals from New York in a 30-21 win over the Jets at home, and even though Tom Brady had huge numbers (24-of-33 for 321 yards, a touchdown and a pick), the story is a running game that is improving each and every week. The Patriots ran for 152 yards, including 136 yards from BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who added a pair of scores as well. New England also took advantage of the Jets’ penalties (four first downs came from flags), and their defense also stepped up, holding New York to 255 yards.

Price per head odds should have the Patriots favored at home, and these two have met twice since 2003, with New England winning and covering the spread both times, and one of the games went over the posted total. This should be a high-scoring affair as both teams have shown the propensity to give up points, but it’s tough to bet against Brady and the New England offense, especially since they have a running game now. How do the Cowboys stop them? And if the game is close down the stretch, who are you more comfortable siding with, Brady or Romo? That is a no-brainer; Brady is, well, Tom Brady, and the New England defense, even though they give up a ton of yards, live off turnovers and that isn’t a good sign for Romo, who throws them at the worst times. Go with New England in your sports betting online picks.

Are The Detroit Lions For Real?

2011-10-06T11:30:00.000-04:00

Entering week five of the NFL sports betting season, fans and analysts are faced with one huge question, are the Detroit Lions for real? It was only three seasons ago, that the Lions became the first team in the history of the league to lose all 16 games. Now three years later, that same team appears to have the price per head services to become one of the elite teams in the NFL. Sitting comfortably at four and zero after the first month of the season, the Detroit Lions will face their toughest challenge yet, when they take on divisional rival the Chicago Bears. Today we wonder, are the Lions for real or are they just lucky?

The 2011 Detroit Lions are the culmination of a slew of tests that were used to accumulate the bookie software needed to turn the team into a legitimate threat. This Lions team historically is one of the best the fan base has ever seen, as even as recently as last year, the team could not win on the road. In fact, from 2001 – 2003 the Lions lost 24 straight games on the road. Last season, their road win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers snapped a zero for 26 streak on the road. Since that time, the team has won five straight on the road and become one of the most feared road warriors in the NFL.

To follow up the late season success in 2010, the Lions have set a new record in the league, as they are the first team to ever come back from 20-point deficits in two straight games. They first accomplished the feat against Minnesota two weeks ago when they stormed back from being down 20 points at half time to win the game outright 23 – 20 in overtime. Then Detroit followed up their late game heroics in Minnesota, by storming back to win a thrilling game 34 – 30 against the Dallas Cowboys this past weekend.

From losing all 16 games last year to going undefeated in their first four games of the 2011 season, the Detroit Lions are becoming one of the safest NFL betting picks on the line. What’s more, the Lions are led by a trio of franchise stars, as quarterback Matthew Stafford, wide receiver Calvin ‘Megatron’ Johnson and defensive back Ndamukong Suh have recaptured the hearts of Lions fans and bettors everywhere.

The Lions used to be the best team to fade on the NFL point spread line. However, dating back to the second half of the 2010 season, the Lions have managed to go 11-0-one in 12 games against the spread.

Detroit is in feel good story mode, as the Tigers are in the playoffs, and the Lions have gone from the kid being bullied to the one doing the bullying. In fact, the Detroit Lions opened the season at 75 to one odds to win the Super Bowl. Yet, now despite being six to one favorites, if the Lions do win the Super Bowl, the average payout will be $50,000.

What We Learnt During Week 4 Of The NFL Season

2011-10-03T20:14:00.002-04:00

Since the NFL reopened for business again a month ago, sports betting handicappers have been faced with the same question week in and week out, can this get any better? In the first week fans were able to witness unbelievable blow outs, week two brought us impressive come from behind wins, and weeks three and now four have seen crazy plays determine the outcomes of games. With week four in the books, here is what we have learnt using price per head services.

Youth Movement Making Waves In New NFL - Rookie quarterbacks have turned heads in the first month of the season, whether it is Cam Newton in Carolina or Andy Dalton in Cincinnati. Since debuting in week one of the bookie software season, Cam Newton has received praise that most veteran quarterbacks never get to hear. For instance, with his 374 passing yards against Chicago on Sunday, Newton has already reached 1000 yards passing in his rookie season. The calm cool and collected composure he has shown every week would have you believing the Panthers are a three and one team instead of a one and three team.

On the other hand, Andy Dalton in Cincinnati and Blaine Gabbert in Jacksonville have received mixed fishing games reviews from fans and analyst alike. For Dalton, he has done his best impression to replicate the story Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, as in one series he can appear as calm and focused as Dr. Jekyll, while in another his play making has you wondering if he is as crazy as Mr. Hyde. Conversely, Blaine Gabbert showed Jaguars fans that he can be high risk and high reward, as he looked too showed mixed results on Sunday.

Nevertheless, with the rumored starts of Tim Tebow in Denver and Christian Ponder in Minnesota for week five, fans will see more rookie starting quarterbacks in 2011 then any year before.

Is It Time To Panic In Dallas And Pennsylvania? – The Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Philadelphia Eagles have been anything but safe NFL betting picks throughout the first month of the season. Annually three favorites to make it to the Super Bowl, each team has had a disastrous first month of the season.

In Dallas, Tony Romo continues to make his case for biggest choke artist in the history of football, as his three interceptions in a loss to the Detroit Lions, indicates that Romo might be better served on the bench. Last season, when Romo went down with a season ending injury, America’s team played its best football.

Over in Pennsylvania, the two and two record for Pittsburgh and one and three record for the Philadelphia Eagles, paint false pictures for the two clubs. For Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers, the 500 record suggests they have been in every game. However in reality, they have been lucky in three games, and should be one and three. Philadelphia on paper should be better, but their play indicates they should be on a four game losing streak.

NFL Betting: Bills Aim For Fourth Win While AFC Gives Chase

2011-09-29T10:08:00.000-04:00

The Buffalo Bills are alone at the top of the AFC at 3-0, but fans in and around Orchard Park aren’t taking anything for granted after watching their team fall behind by 21 points in each of their past two wins. The Bills will look to keep their run going this week with a short trip west to face the Cincinnati Bengals, while the rest of the NFL betting lines conference plays catch up early on.

Buffalo Bills (-3) @ Cincinnati Bengals

Sunday, 1:00 PM ET

While it is not as surprising as that they are 3-0, the fact that Buffalo is listed as only three-point favorites this week against a struggling Bengals’ team has to have turned at least a few heads, especially considering the Bills were able to overcome a powerful New England Patriots’ team a week ago. But after falling behind in each of their last two contests, there are question marks about how long Buffalo will be able to overcome those early struggles, and they will look to avoid another slow start this sports betting week against Cincinnati. The Bills’ rushing attack ranks fourth in the NFL with running back Fred Jackson setting the tone on the ground with 303 rushing yards and three touchdowns through three wins, and he and CJ Spiller are averaging 6.4 and 8.2 yards per carry respectively. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick continues to produce but will need to do a better job with not turning the ball over.

NFL Betting Pick: Buffalo Bills - 3

Tennessee Titans @ Cleveland Browns (-1)

Sunday, 1:00 PM ET

The Titans are perfect through two home games, but they did lose to Jacksonville in their lone road game so far this season, and Cleveland has looked good in consecutive wins. The Browns have done a good job of bending but not breaking defensively, but they need to do a better job against the run after allowing an average of 128.7 yards per game through three contests. Tennessee hasn’t been able to get its running game going, with a league-worst average of 51.7 yards through three games, with Chris Johnson earning just 2.1 yards per carry. The Titans will need to get their rushing game going if they are going to have any chance at contending in the AFC this season, and it begins this NFL betting picks week against Cleveland.

NFL Betting Pick: Tennessee Titans +1

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Houston Texans (-4)

Sunday, 1:00 PM ET

The Steelers survived a close fishing games outing against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday Night Football even without Peyton Manning in the lineup, because they continued to struggle with turnovers. Pittsburgh has the weapons to keep this one close, but unless they can do a better job of securing the ball and not turning it over, they will have a hard price per head time getting a win on the road against a talented Texans’ team.

NFL Betting Pick: Pittsburgh Steelers + 4

NFL Betting Lines: Top Games to Watch in Week 4

2011-09-27T00:05:00.000-04:00

If you’re fishing for some games to wager on in the fourth week of the NFL’s regular season, you won’t have to look very far as all of the rust should be shaken off by now, and we’re going to really start to see what teams are made of. Here are the top three games of the week in pro football.

Panthers Bears Odds – Sunday, 1:00 PM ET

The Bears will be favored at home against the Panthers, who got their first win of the season against Jacksonville, and while No.1 overall NFL betting picks Cam Newton didn’t have a big game, Carolina was efficient and their defense did the rest. Chicago’s defense has come under fire this year, but you have to look at their competition: Atlanta, New Orleans and Green Bay, three of the top offenses in the NFC, and they should bounce back this week at home against Carolina, who will face former Panther Julius Peppers. The former North Carolina Tar Heel was huge against the Panthers last year, and Peppers should have a big game again; Chicago still has to protect Jay Cutler, though. Take Chicago to cover at home.

Patriots Raiders Odds – Sunday, 4:15 PM ET

The Patriots should be the NFL road favorites in Oakland, and they’ve scored 79 points in their last two meetings with the Raiders, who upset the New York Jets last week. New England’s defense let them down in losing a 21-0 lead in Buffalo, but it was also an uncharacteristically bad day for Tom Brady, who had four touchdown passes, but he was also picked off four times. Look for Brady to take out some frustrations on the Raiders, who managed to rush for 171 yards against a tough New York defense. They’ll need more of the same this week, but we’re rolling with the Patriots.

Jets Ravens Odds – Sunday, 8:20 PM ET

Finally, the Ravens should be a slight favorite according to NFL betting lines as Jets head coach Rex Ryan returns to Baltimore, where he spent 10 years as the architect of their defensive scheme. Ryan’s Jets will be hungry to bounce back from their loss to the Raiders, while the Ravens rebounded from a disappointing loss to Tennessee by blasting St. Louis at home. Ryan has some insights into how to beat the Baltimore defense, Mark Sanchez had a great game against the Raiders and you can expect the defense to step up after Oakland ran through them. Last year’s meeting was a 10-9 win for the Ravens on the road; look for the Jets to return the favor and come away with a victory in your online sports betting book.

Strangest NFL Betting Season of All Time

2011-09-22T07:05:00.000-04:00

The 2011 NFL betting lines season is underway, and fans and bookies alike have begun to scratch their heads at the results. From the Indianapolis Colts and Kansas City Chiefs experiencing dastardly records thanks to a slew of injuries, to the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions and Washington Redskins combining to go six and zero for the first time in nearly 30 years, fans have seen it all. Today for your fishing games pleasure, we will be looking at a few trends and lines that have us saying ‘what the heck is going on with the NFL this year?”

For the first time in nearly 30 years (coincidentally a lockout season) the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions and Washington Redskins, are giving their fans reasons to be optimistic. The Buffalo Bills pulled off one of the biggest blowouts in team history in week one, when quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick dismantled what was believed to be a great Kansas City defense. Buffalo would then follow it up, by winning the game of the year against the Oakland Raiders in week two.

On the other hand, after winning the first two games of the sports betting NFL season, the Detroit Lions have their fans and some analysts believing, that they are finally ready to contend. The Lions epitomize an underdog that everyone rallies around. Similar to movie character Rudy, the Lions are the team you cheer for, whether they are struggling or having success. At two and zero to start the season, and putting up back to back 40 point performances, the Lions have college football betting enthusiasts wondering if a Super Bowl is in the cards.

For many sportsbooks, the belief was that in the upcoming game between the Lions and Minnesota Vikings, the Vikings would be the favorites. However, for the second week in a row, the Lions find themselves in unfamiliar territory, as they are a three and a half point favorite.

While the Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions are causing bettors to question whether they should be fading or backing these historically bad teams, other teams are making bettors jobs much easier. For example, the Seattle Seahawks are flat out terrible, and have become a safe NFL pick to fade early and often. To put how bad the Seahawks are into perspective, you only need to look at the first two games of the 2011 season, as the Seahawks haven’t been inside their opponents red zone more then a combined two times.

Another team returning to terrible form are the St. Louis Rams. Coming off what can be argued as the team’s best season in the last five years an eight and eight finish in 2010, the Rams have stumbled out of the gate losing both of their games. Mind you, the Rams were in tough in both games, as they faced the dream team Philadelphia Eagles in week one, and followed up with the New York Giants in week two. Regardless of their opponents, the Rams under new offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels have been terrible in the red zone, as they lead the league in dropped passes.

NFL Week 2 Recap Season Gets Wilder

2011-09-20T21:18:00.003-04:00

Sports betting enthusiasts have received more then they could have asked for during the first two weeks of the 2011 NFL season. From crazy blowouts in week one, to wild finishes in week two, save for five games going to overtime in week three, things simply can’t get any wilder. On the online sportsbooks lines, the twilight zone results have caused many bookmakers both online and in person to question if they know how to properly set a line. Despite the St. Louis Rams and New York Giants having yet to play, here is a recap of all the action that has gone down thus far in the NFL fishing games week two.

The Carolina Panthers almost cost several bookmakers to go bankrupt on Sunday, after they jumped out to a 13 to six lead over the defending Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers heading into halftime. Entering the game, Aaron Rodgers and company were favored by eight points over Cam Newton’s Panthers. However, it was the rookie turning heads, as he would throw for over 430 passing yards for the second week in a row, even though he threw three interceptions. In the end the Packers would mount a historic comeback, winning the game outright 30 – 23. Nevertheless, the Panthers were still able to cover the college football betting line spread, which had moved up to eight and a half points to start the second half.

Another game that had fans and bookies alike scratching their heads featured the Buffalo Bills taking on the Oakland Raiders in Buffalo. On paper, regardless of each team winning their week one matchup, fans and handicappers alike expected this game to go under the total of 48 points. Both the Bills and Raiders had two of the top defenses in 2010, and that was expected to carry over in yesterday’s matchup. If you decided to be a wise guy and make an NFL picks on the over in this game, we salute you. What was believed to be a defensive gem, turned into a shootout at the Okay Corral. The Bills and Raiders combined for 73 points, as Ryan Fitzpatrick out dueled Jason Campbell and won the game in the final seconds of regulation on a game winning touchdown pass.

The most surprising win of week two, came in the afternoon affair between the Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions. A week after getting killed 41 to seven by the Buffalo Bills, many fans and analysts alike, we included, believed that the Kansas City Chiefs would have a bounce back game against the Detroit Lions. Instead, the Kansas City Chiefs continued to resemble the 2010 Cincinnati Bengals, as they were lit up by Matthew Stafford and Lions in a 48 to three blowout. To make matters worse, the Chiefs lost star running back Jamal Charles to a torn ACL during the first half of the game.

NFL Betting: Overview of Upcoming Sunday NFL Games

2011-09-15T15:01:00.002-04:00

Few would have been bold enough to project before the NFL betting lines lockout came to an end that while the Indianapolis Colts, Kansas City Chiefs, and defending AFC champion Pittsburgh Steelers struggled out of the gate, it would be the Buffalo Bills, Oakland Raiders, and new-look Cincinnati Bengals opening the year on a winning note. The fact remains however that it is just one week after all, and heading in to week two there is a lot that can change in the AFC. Here is a quick look at three AFC matchups for this weekend.

Oakland Raiders @ Buffalo Bills

Sunday, 1:00 PM ET

The Bills came out and absolutely dominated the Kansas City Chiefs in hostile territory week one to the tune of a 41-7 final at Arrowhead, opening the game with 20 straight points before allowing the defending AFC West champions the chance to even get on the board. Buffalo will look to parlay those efforts against one of the Chiefs’ divisional rivals as they open the home portion of their schedule against the Oakland Raiders, who managed to knock off another AFC West team on the road with a 23-20 win at Mile High. One of the biggest keys to victory for the Bills in week one was their ability to stop the run while opening things up through the air, and those sports betting strengths match up well again this week against the Raiders.

NFL Betting Pick: Buffalo Bills – 3.5

Baltimore Ravens @ Tennessee Titans

Sunday, 1:00 PM ET

The Ravens absolutely dominated from the outset against the Steelers, putting to rest any fishing talk about how they wouldn’t be able to beat their biggest rivals with Joe Flacco under center. All Flacco did was throw for 224 yards and three touchdowns while his opposing quarterback threw three interceptions and fumbled twice for five of Pittsburgh’s seven turnovers on the day. Baltimore was able to move the ball almost at will whether through the air or on the ground with running back Ray Rice, and that shouldn’t change against a Titans’ team that lost at Jacksonville week one. Tennessee is a team in transition, and why this spread is so low may be one of the biggest NFL mysteries heading in to week two.

NFL Betting Pick: Baltimore Ravens - 6

Cleveland Browns @ Indianapolis Colts

Sunday, 1:00 PM ET

While the Colts were expected to falter against a tough division rival on the road week one with Peyton Manning out, much more was expected of the Browns. Cleveland spent too much time concentrating on being conservative on offense rather than taking their shots downfield, and the defense ended up making them pay for it when they allowed the Cincinnati Bengals to score 14 in the final frame to lose at home. It doesn’t get much worse than that for the Browns, and it’s hard to imagine them now going on the road and laying an NFL picks beat down on the Colts even without Manning.

NFL Betting Pick: Indianapolis Colts + 3.5

NFL Betting – The Top Five Matchups of Week 2

2011-09-13T07:35:00.000-04:00

Even those who play fishing games had to be enthralled by an outstanding first week of regular-season action in the NFL, but it’s just getting started as Week 2 begins on Sunday (there are no Thursday night games until Week 10). Here is a look at the best sports betting matchups of Week 2.

Chiefs Lions Odds – Sunday, 1:00 PM ET

Look for the Lions to be favored in Detroit as Kansas City looked downright awful against Buffalo, and they may be without safety Eric Berry. That doesn’t bode well for a secondary going up against the Lions’ Matt Stafford and Calvin Johnson, a duo that might make Detroit one of the most popular darkhorse NFL picks of the season.

Bears Saints Odds – Sunday, 1:00 PM ET

In this clash of NFC contenders, the Saints should be favored at home despite losing in a shootout in Green Bay, while the Bears are coming off a manhandling of Atlanta in their opener. New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees doesn’t have great numbers against the Bears in his career, but NFL fans still have to consider the Saints after what the offense did in Green Bay. The problem is, they should be without receivers Marques Colston and Lance Moore because of injury.

Packers Panthers Odds – Sunday, 1:00 PM ET

The Packers should be favored on the road in Carolina, and the defense will be out to prove a point after they were lit up by the Saints. They’ll also be out to slow down the Panthers’ Cam Newton, who set a NFL record for passing yards in his debut in a loss against Arizona, and now he has to try and follow that up against a unit many feel is the best defense in the league.

Chargers Patriots Odds – Sunday, 4:15 PM ET

NFL betting lines should favor the Patriots at home, but they may be at a slight disadvantage as they’re in Miami on Monday night. That should be negated by San Diego’s cross-country travel, and to be honest they didn’t look that great in a win over Minnesota that needed a fourth-quarter rally. If the Chargers are going to prove that they’re a threat in the AFC, a win in New England would help.

Eagles Falcons Odds – Sunday, 8:20 PM ET

Finally, the Falcons should be favored in Atlanta, where they were phenomenal last year until the playoffs, but they’ll be trying to recover from the 30-12 beating they took in Chicago. Philadelphia beat St. Louis 31-13 on the road, but they still have some things to work on after their busy offseason. This could end up being the best game of the weekend, and a win for either team would give online sports betting players some faith in their chances.

Which Teams Will Rise And Fall During The 2011 NFL Season

2011-09-07T22:09:00.003-04:00

With week one of the NFL season only a day away, we figured today was as good a day as any for fishing around for neat trends. Essentially, every year, there are several teams at the start of the season, predicted to rise and fall based on a slew of factors, including last season, the offseason and training camp. Today for your sports betting pleasure, we will be looking at a few teams expected to rise and a team expected to fall this season.

Expected To Rise:

Green Bay Packers – Despite winning the Super Bowl for the 2010-11 seasons in February, the Green Bay Packers enter this season, with plenty of room to grow. Last year, the Packers got into the playoffs, using the sixth and final spot in the NFC and by being beneficiaries of the New York Giants late season collapse.

According to NFL betting lines statistics, the Green Bay Packers underachieved in the regular season last year. Looking at the statistics, the Packers should have technically ben a 12 and three team, as they had the second best point differential in the NFL during the regular season. However, due to injury and other factors, the Packers only had a 10 and six record, and had to win out to get into the post season. With the entire Green Bay roster healthy headed into the start of 2011, the defending Champions are expected to have a much better season then a year ago.

Cincinnati Bengals – The Cincinnati Bengals went from AFC North division Champions in 2009 to AFC North division basement dwellers in 2010. What’s hard to believe, is that on paper, the 2010 Bengals should have been the team to get to the Super Bowl for the first time in 22 years. However, after a four and 12 record in 2010, there is nowhere to go but up in 2011.

The four and 12 record for the Cincinnati Bengals was a bit misleading, as on average, the Bengals were not having smackdown laid on them, but rather losing by an four points or less. Using a variety of different calculations, the Cincinnati Bengals record, should have actually been six and nine.

This offseason, Head Coach Marvin Lewis was brought back for reasons we can’t even explain, while long time quarterback Carson Palmer and offensive coordinator Bob Bartkowski were exiled from Cincinnati. In there places are 2011 second round draft pick Andy Dalton from TCU and offensive coordinator Jay Gruden. While Cincinnati is expected to endure some growing pains from the youth of the team, this isn’t the worst Bengals team to watch.

Expected To Fall:

Jacksonville Jaguars – The Jacksonville Jaguars are considered by many to be one of the worst run teams in professional sports. Nevertheless, last season, the Jaguars managed to go eight and eight when their point differentials suggested, they should have finished six and nine, like the Cincinnati Bengals in the riser column. Jacksonville Head Coach Jack Del Rio wants to open the offense up more this season. However, on Tuesday, he cut long time quarterback and fan favorite David Garrard, in order to explain giving first string snaps to back up quarterback Luke McCown. What’s more, the Jaguars run game this year is virtually non-existent, as both Maurice Jones – Drew and Rashad Jennings will miss the season with knee injuries.

AFC Games In Week 1 Have Fans Chomping at The Bit

2011-09-06T00:14:00.001-04:00

Fishing games enthusiasts from across the nation are counting down the days until Thursday’s official kickoff to the 2011 NFL season. After what many fans and analysts alike consider to be one of the longest off-seasons in NFL betting lines history, Thursday will mark a fresh start for the world’s most popular sports league and their fans. Today we will be looking at the sports betting week one games coming out of the AFC. As has been the case the last few years, the AFC has appeared to be the stronger conference during the regular season, while the NFC is the strongest during the playoffs. Here are a few week one games to consider gambling on.

Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans – For NCAA football betting enthusiasts looking for a big NFL game to gamble on during week one, the clash between AFC South rivals Indianapolis and Houston is your best choice. The rivalry between the Colts and Texans, is considered to be one of the most important going into this season, as the Texans are believed to stand the best chance at winning the division, since the Colts enter the season injured.

In an ideal world, the Houston Texans, a team fans and handicappers alike have waited to breakout for years, should lay the proverbial smackdown on the injury depleted Colts. What’s more, the Colts are without star quarterback Peyton Manning, whose off-season neck surgery, has taken longer to recover from. Making matters worse for the Colts, backup Kerry Collins did not look good in his only start during training camp. Meaning to say, on paper, everything for this game is in Houston’s favor. Look for the Texans to cover the spread and then some, as they open up week one with a victory over Indianapolis.

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens – Betting enthusiasts still bitter about the divisional round of the 2011 playoffs upset victory by the Steelers over the Ravens, will waste little time watching the revenge game between these two AFC North divisional foes. Entering their week one clash, both Pittsburgh and Baltimore have made many changes to their offenses. In for Pittsburgh is former New York Jets fan favorite Jericho Cotchery, and out is Antwan Randle El.

For Baltimore, Anquan Boldin and TJ Houshmanzadeh are the only returning members of the 2010 – 11 seasons wide receiving corp. The overhaul for both Pittsburgh and Baltimore’s offenses indicates to fans and bookies alike, that each team is making this the year they win the Super Bowl. For all intents and purposes, we are picking the Baltimore Ravens, as this is the final year that defensive captain Ray Lewis plans on playing. Meaning to say, the Ravens should be more emotionally charged for this game, then the Steelers.

NFL Betting: Things Still Wide Open in AFC West Heading Into Preseason Week Four

2011-09-01T07:00:00.000-04:00

Of the four divisions in the AFC, perhaps once again it is the West that appears to be the most wide-open heading into this regular season. The Kansas City Chiefs will look to defend their title and hold on to the division heading into this NFL betting lines season, but they will face a tough test as each of the other three teams have all shown improvement this preseason.

Kansas City Chiefs @ Green Bay Packers

Thursday, 8:00 PM ET

The Chiefs have been a major question mark in the NFL futures this week, with a debate about whether they have a legitimate shot to repeat as division champions, or if they are simply one-year wonders. Kansas City does have a ton of talent on its roster, but whether or not those core players are capable of excelling for years to come has yet to be proven. The Chiefs have a tough preseason finale against the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, and although it won’t mean much in the long run the first quarter could serve as a strong test of sportsbook promo merit.

NFL Betting Pick: Kansas City Chiefs +3

Denver Broncos @ Arizona Cardinals

Thursday, 10:00 PM ET

While the Chiefs have to prove that they can repeat, the Broncos are simply trying to prove that they can compete as they look to close out their season on a winning note against Arizona. Denver will open the season with Kyle Orton as its starting quarterback, which leaves Tim Tebow to hold off Brady Quinn as the team’s second-string pivot. Tebow may not get another true shot at game action until a few weeks in to the season, and he likely will put on an NFL spectacle before taking a seat.

NFL Betting Pick: Denver Broncos + 3

San Francisco 49ers @ San Diego Chargers

Thursday, 10:00 PM ET

The Chargers’ offense has looked in midseason form so far this preseason, and will look to keep it going and avoid a slow start out of the gate this regular season. Phillip Rivers continues to emerge into one of the elite quarterbacks in the game today, and as long as the defense can play to an average standard San Diego should be golden. The Chargers have nothing left to prove heading into this exhibition finale, but they do have more depth than the 49ers and that will make the sports betting difference.

NFL Betting Pick: San Diego Chargers - 3

Oakland Raiders @ Seattle Seahawks

Friday, 10:30 PM ET

Terrelle Pryor will see his first NFL action on Friday night, as the Raiders take to the field in Seattle looking for their first win of the preseason. Things haven’t been pretty in Oakland so far in 2011, and you have to think that head coach Hue Jackson would like to see his team go fishing for at least one.

Gambling Advisor blog Pick: Oakland Raiders + 3.5

North Texas vs. Florida International Betting Mobile Odds

2011-08-30T23:22:00.003-04:00

Online Mobile Free Pick: Florida Int´l over North Texas by 20

Things sure have gone south at North Texas. After head coach Darrell Dickey was fired in 2006 for logging just fi ve wins in his final two seasons, legendary high school coach Todd Dodge was handed the reins – and he sank to an even-worse six total wins before being jettisoned just seven games into his fourth and final season at Denton.

Enter new head coach Dan McCarney, former mentor at Iowa State. Not only is McCarney a major step up in class for the not-so-Mean Green, he proved he can do more with less by clawing his way to a respectable 56-85 SU log during his 12-year tenure at Ames.

But even though he proved he can win with a lower-tier program, UNT’s new head man can’t seem to ring the ATS register when overmatched on the playing fi eld, posting a woeful 3-17 ATS mark as a conference road dog of 13 or more points.

Worse, North Panther QB Wesley Carroll may have graduated last year but he’s back with another season of eligibility.

Fla International is a - 14 point favorites and you can check on Luxbet Mobile that the total is set at 54.

Meanwhile, second-year OC Scott Satterfi eld has expanded the FIU playbook by 40% so it’s a good thing QB Carroll has plenty of free time to study the new schemes.

He’ll be tossing to T.Y. Hilton, arguably the best player in the conference and the team leader in receptions each of the last three years. Still, the question begs: can Mario Cristobal’s Panthers snap an 18-game losing streak during the fi rst three games of the season?

Reveals FIU as a play-on team (40-26-2 ATS) who improved its defense by 100 or more yards from the previous season. Lay the points as FIU beats the spread for the fi fth time in its last six games.

NFL Betting: The Top Five Preseason Finales To Watch This Week

2011-08-30T06:01:00.000-04:00

While fishing fans are looking to get in a couple more trips before the weather starts to cool down, NFL football fans will be getting ready for the final week of the preseason, which is usually a glorified practice as coaches don’t want to risk an injury to their starters just before the regular season and also, they have to finalize roster spots. Here are five games to keep an eye on this week in your sports betting book.

Lions Bills Odds – Thursday, 6:30 PM ET

The Lions are 1-point underdogs in this contest according to NFL betting lines, but Detroit fans may be praying that their team throws this game; Detroit is 3-0 and have looked extremely good in the preseason but remember, they went 4-0 in the 2008 preseason and ended up going 0-16. Winning is important, but the Lions don’t want to shoot all their bullets already.

Colts Bengals Odds – Thursday, 7:00 PM ET

The Colts are 6-point underdogs on the road, and those who make NFL betting picks will probably get to see Kerry Collins, who was brought out of retirement by Indianapolis as Peyton Manning may not be ready for the regular-season opener. It’ll be interesting to see how the veteran pivot picks up Indianapolis’ intricate offense.

Giants Patriots Odds – Thursday, 7:30 PM ET

This is currently no NFL line for this game in New England, but all eyes will be on the Patriots and specifically defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, who has yet to suit up for New England after coming over from Washington into one of the biggest moves of this shortened offseason. While he won’t get substantial time, Haynesworth should get a series of work, at least.

Broncos Cardinals Odds – Thursday, 10:00 PM ET

The Broncos are 3-point underdogs in the desert, but the attention in this game will be on their backup quarterback role as Tim Tebow and Brady Quinn are still battling to hold the clipboard behing Kyle Orton. Reports surfaced that Tebow was the fourth-string quarterback, but as a first-round pick and a high-profile player, he’ll get more chances, and he should get one on Thursday.

Raiders Seahawks Odds – Friday, 10:30 PM ET

Finally, the Seahawks are 3-point favorites at home, but their transition into the post-Matt Hasselbeck era hasn’t gone smoothly in the preseason as Tarvaris Jackson has struggled mightily. Jackson has offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, who was the coordinator in Minnesota while Jackson was there, and he also has Sidney Rice, who emerged as one of the biggest deep threats in the league, but Jackson has a scattershot arm, even when he isn’t under pressure. Unless he improves, Seattle won’t move up a bit in your sports betting book.

Should The NFL Get Rid Of The Preseason And Extend Training Camps?

2011-08-25T06:39:00.000-04:00

Ever since the NFL betting lines season for 2011 opened a couple of weeks ago, players both first string and backup have been dropping like flies due to injuries sustained during preseason games. As a result of a shorter training camp, players have had less time to prepare both physically and mentally for preseason sports betting games. With an increase in injury this preseason, fans and experts alike are wondering, should the NFL get rid of the preseason all together?

From the beginning of March to roughly the middle of July, the NFL and the NFLPA were entrenched in a heated labor dispute and consequential lockout. Since the dispute took four months to resolve, players were unable to properly train this offseason, for the upcoming season. For the reason that offseason training may be just as if not more important than regular season conditioning, more players reported to training camp out of shape then in years past.

What’s worse? In order to make the most money possible, the NFL was not willing to adjust the preseason schedule or cancel it all together, so that training camps could be extended. This being the case, not only were players more vulnerable, but teams were also less prepared for games.

There are many arguments both good and bad for keeping or getting rid of the preseason. On the one hand, most casual fans want the preseason to remain so that they can have an early glimpse at their favorite players. Players and coaches want preseason to remain because they can practice what they learned in training camp against real opponents.

On the other hand, people against preseason have a few arguments to get rid of it as well. For instance, by getting rid of preseason and extending training camp, teams from around the league, especially the bad ones, can practice every play both on offense and defense until it is fully engrained in their brains. Another argument against preseason is that the preseason schedule is too long. Meaning to say, a shorter preseason could also allow the regular season to start sooner.

Ultimately, there is no worse feeling for a team and its fan base, then to know that your favorite star was given the smack down by another team’s fourth stringer in a game that didn’t count for anything. By getting rid of preseason and extending training camps, the players and coaches will have enough time to fully educate themselves on any new systems, and training programs.

The only people that have a vested interest in preseason, is the NFL administration and the 32 owners, who want the extra revenue. As we mentioned earlier, fans can wait for football as long as their favorite players are healthy for week one of the regular season.

NFL Preseason Week 3 Betting: Carolina Panthers vs. Cincinnati Bengals

2011-08-23T06:27:00.000-04:00

Online Betting Overview

The third week of the preseason in the NFL is the most important week for the starters. Teams have made their decision on who will start the regular season opener, and that is who winds up playing the majority of the third preseason game. The fourth preseason game is used to find special teams players and third-stringers to fill out the roster. But the rookies that have been fighting for a spot during training camp and in the first two preseason games will find out if they made the cut or not when the starters for this first preseason game are announced.

The highest profile position on any football team is the quarterback, and there have been several rookies trying to find their way into starting positions on NFL rosters this season. Even though some rookie quarterbacks have shown some promise, it is unlikely that the NFL betting lines for opening day will feature a prominent rookie under center. This game features two rookie quarterbacks that are trying to be the starter in their first year in the league. Fans will be watching to see who starts at quarterback for these two teams and if the rookies have made the grade.

Carolina Panthers

First pick overall in the 2011 draft Cam Newton got his chance to start an NFL preseason game when the Panthers played week two against the Miami Dolphins. Newton was indecisive, inaccurate and unable to move the Panthers’ offense. But no one on the Panthers offense could get anything done. Second-year quarterback Jimmy Clausen threw for 69 yard in the second half. The Carolina running game combined for only 68 yards, and Newton accounted for 10 of those. Newton was a huge factor in NCAA football betting, but he may have to wait a few weeks to get his chance to start a regular season game in the NFL.

Cincinnati Bengals

The New York Jets looked great in their week two preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals, on the other hand, did not look so good. Even if fans do not feel that rookie Andy Dalton is not ready to start in the NFL, the Bengals may have no choice but to go with him. Bruce Gradkowski and Dan LeFevour could get absolutely nothing going at quarterback either. When you consider that the Bengals were only able to get 50 total rushing yards in the entire game, it may start to sink in that the problem in Cincinnati is the offensive line. Dalton may get the starting job because he is the best of a mediocre group of players, and that does not mean that Andy Dalton will be able to win games in Cincinnati.

The Bottom Line

Week three preseason NFL picks are as close to regular season betting as the preseason has to offer. Cincinnati fans will be watching to see how Andy Dalton performs against the Carolina defense, while Carolina fans will be watching to see who will be the Panthers’ starting quarterback in September.

BSNblog Pick: Carolina Panthers

Bears vs. Giants Can Eli Manning Prove He Is An Elite Quarterback?

2011-08-22T23:55:00.002-04:00

Tonight’s sports betting Chicago Bears verses New York Giants football game marks the resumption of the heated rivalry between two of the NFC’s most historic games. In 2010, the Chicago Bears offensive line hardly provided any protection for NFL betting lines quarterback Jay Cutler, against the New York Giants. On the other hand, this game will feature Giants quarterback Eli Manning, who claims that he is as good as 2010 MVP Tom Brady. Here is a preview of the game and the indications it holds in store.

Starting tonight, the New York Giants will be looking to show fans and critics from across the league alike, that they are the real deal. Entering this evening’s matchup with the Chicago Bears, the New York Giants have revenge on the mind, as the Bears were the team last year that essentially disqualified New York from NFL playoffs contention. This game also has huge indications for both teams internally, as the backup quarterback positions on both sides are wide open.

With a shortened preseason, the Chicago Bears and in particular offensive coordinator Mike Martz will be in tough to improve the offensive line. For those unfamiliar, the 2010 New York Giants defense laid the smack down on the Bears offensive line on several occasions. What’s more, despite making it to the NFC Championship, the Bears led the NFL last year in giving up the most sacks. Meaning to say, while preseason is about getting patterns and timing down, it is also a time for improvement.

As it stands right now, the current plan for both Bears Head Coach Lovie Smith and Giants Head Coach Tom Coughlin is to give their starters 20 – 30 snaps before letting the backups take over. The 30 snaps per team, should give fans and experts alike a good indication, of how each team may fair this season. For both Eli Manning and Jay Cutler, the snaps in week two of the preseason, should be able to form an early indication of whether or not both pivots will be good this season.

Just as we previously stated, Manning wants to be considered amongst the elite this season. On the contrary, after injuring his knee in the NFC Championship game and being ridiculed by his peers, Cutler just wants to show that he can continue to grow as a quarterback.

Also, this game will be a battle of the backup quarterbacks, as after Manning and Cutler, the depth charts at the pivot position for both New York and Chicago, appear to be rather thin. In New York, there is a three way battle for the second string position, between former Houston Texans duo David Carr and Sage Rosenfels. Meanwhile, in Chicago, last year’s near NFC Championship hero Caleb Hanie and 2011 fifth rounder Nathan Enderle will be competing for the right to be Jay Culter’s backup in 2011 – 12 seasons. The Giants are a four and a half point favorite as the bookies do not have faith in the Bears offensive line.

NFL Betting: Spotlight Around The AFC in Week Two Of Preseason

2011-08-18T05:30:00.000-04:00

With week two of the NFL betting lines preseason set to kick off on Thursday, here is a quick look at where teams from the AFC stand.

The New England Patriots are the favorites to get back to the Super Bowl in 2011, and after a 47-12 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in week one of the preseason with the majority of their starters watching from the sidelines, it is easy to understand just why that is. The Patriots head to Tampa Bay on Thursday to face a Buccaneers’ team that also won big in week one, and it will be interesting to see how they handle things with their starters in the lineup. Things didn’t look so good for the rest of the AFC East in week one after the rest of the division went 1-2, with the Miami Dolphins’ win over the Atlanta Falcons coming after the starters left the field. The Dolphins will debut Reggie Bush at home this week against the Carolina Panthers, while Shawne Merriman and a revitalized Buffalo Bills’ pass rush are on the road to take on the Denver Broncos. New York Jets’ head coach Rex Ryan wasn’t happy with his team’s execution in a close loss to the Houston Texans week one of the preseason, and will be expecting more at home against the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday.

Those same Bengals were blown away by the Detroit Lions 34-3 in their preseason opener, while the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens also lost to leave the Cleveland Browns as the only sports betting winners from the AFC North in week one. The Browns took down the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers 27-17, and will head home hoping to do better against the Lions than Cincinnati did. Meanwhile, the rest of the AFC North wraps up with the Steelers clashing against the Philadelphia Eagles in an in-state showdown, while Baltimore battles the Kansas City Chiefs at home.

In the AFC South, the Indianapolis Colts will look for a better effort from their backups in their second game without Peyton Manning in the lineup, and after a 33-10 blowout loss to the St. Louis Rams there may be nowhere to go but up. The Colts will host a Washington Redskins’ team that made betonline life difficult for the Steelers a week ago, while the Houston Texans host the New Orleans Saints, and the Tennessee Titans travel to take on the Rams on Saturday. The Jacksonville Jaguars are at home against the Atlanta Falcons.

The AFC preseason week two schedule rounds out in the AFC West where the Broncos will continue to watch the battle between quarterbacks Kyle Orton and Tim Tebow despite the fact that a decision has already pretty much been made against the Bills. The San Diego Chargers are at Dallas to face the Cowboys, while the Chiefs will look to bounce back from their opening week sports betting bonus disaster against the Ravens. The Oakland Raiders will also travel in-state, as they get set to clash with the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park.

NFL Preseason Week 2 Game Preview: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

2011-08-16T00:25:00.000-04:00

Online Betting Overview

The Pittsburgh Steelers do not like losing, especially when they are coming off a year where they lost in the Super Bowl. Forget that it is preseason. The Steelers defense was embarrassed by Rex Grossman and the under-achieving Washington Redskins offense. While the Pittsburgh starters did not stay in the game for very long, the Steelers’ pride still works its way down to the second and third string, whether the second and third string players like it or not. The Steelers spent most of their first preseason game looking over talent. But in the preseason battle of Pennsylvania, there may be a little more at stake here.

After that first preseason performance, the NFL betting lines on the Eagles getting to the Super Bowl improved. The Eagles defensive secondary is almost completely brand new, and it will take a couple of games to get the players used to each other. This game would be the perfect one to give the secondary some extended time together. The Eagles’ offense will spend more time looking at second-string players such as quarterback Vince Young. But that is not a weak spot for the Eagles. Young always looks good in the preseason but then falls apart in the regular season. Michael Vick may get some more playing time in this game, but with the Steelers still smarting from last week’s loss, Philadelphia head coach Andy Reid may not keep Vick out there very long.

Pittsburgh Steelers

NFL fans in Pittsburgh know not to get too worried about preseason. But getting touched up by Washington quarterback Rex Grossman for 207 yards when Grossman had limited play in a preseason game is a definite concern for Pittsburgh. The Steelers have always prided themselves on depth in their defense, and that depth was non-existent in the Washington game. Head coach Mike Tomlin will be giving his second and third strings a long look in this game, but he will also give the first string defense a chance to set the tone in the first quarter. The Steelers are still trying to figure out their passing game, so look for a constant carousel of wide receivers to come in and out of this game all night long.

Philadelphia Eagles

The new and improved Eagles would make this one of the best regular season games of the year. But in the preseason, Andy Reid is always protective of his starters. The first quarter of this game will be exciting with the first-string Eagles’ offense against the first-string Steelers’ defense. But when the first teams come out, the Eagles definitely have the upper hand.

The Bottom Line

NFL picks in the preseason can sometimes be difficult because the first stringers are not in there for very long. In this game, depth will decide the outcome and the Eagles have a lot of depth while the Steelers do not. Once the excitement of the first quarter is over, Pittsburgh fans will want to stay tuned and see what Mike Tomlin does about his team’s need for quality second and third string players.

BSNblog Pick: Philadelphia Eagles

NFL Betting: Top Five Week 2 Preseason Games

2011-08-16T00:03:00.003-04:00

If you bet football online, this may have been the most anticipated preseason in league history as teams threw together training camp in two weeks after the lockout and got the schedule underway. Sports betting players should watch even more football as the regular season approaches as starters will be playing more with each week. Here is a look at the top five games of Week 2.

Patriots vs. Buccaneers Betting – Thursday, 7:30 PM ET

You should see the debut of New England’s Tom Brady, as well as newcomers Chad Ochocinco and Albert Haynesworth, who weren’t needed in a 47-12 romp over Jacksonville last week. They’ll be going up against a young and hungry Tampa Bay defense that completely dominated Kansas City in a 25-0 mauling on the road, but quarterback Josh Freeman also looked great in his short cameo. This game could steal some of the spotlight from MLB highlights.

Eagles vs. Steelers Betting – Thursday, 8:00 PM ET

State bragging rights aren’t the only thing at stake when these Pennsylvania rivals meet at Heinz Field; both come into the season as legitimate Super Bowl favorites. The Eagles beat Baltimore 13-6 in their debut, but they looked disjointed at times, which is sure to happen on a team with so many new faces. The Steelers fell 16-7 in Washington, and the defense will be the focus after getting lit up by the Redskins’ Rex Grossman and a subpar Washington passing game.

Chiefs vs. Ravens Betting – Friday, 7:30 PM ET

The Chiefs were manhandled by Tampa Bay and it should be noted that they had barely practiced with pads ahead of the game, so it’s no surprise that they were physically outmatched. They should be able to get up for this game against the Ravens, who destroyed the Chiefs 30-7 in Kansas City in last year’s wild-card round and even though it’s the preseason, you don’t need a Bet Online review to know that will come up at some point this week in practice.

Lions vs. Browns Betting – Friday, 8:00 PM ET

Detroit looked impressive in a 34-3 destruction of Cincinnati, and Matt Stafford proved once again that when he is healthy, the Lions’ offense can be explosive. They’ll face another Ohio team in the Browns, who are still getting used to the way new head coach Pat Shurmur does things and as always, pay attention the way he handles young pivot Colt McCoy.

Saints vs. Texans Betting – Saturday, 8:00 PM ET

The Saints looked in midseason form in a 24-3 beatdown of San Francisco, and the defense put up six sacks, all in the first half as they took their foot off the gas in the second. Still, the San Francisco offense looked awful and coach Jim Harbaugh can’t be encouraged about the play of Alex Smith. As long as he’s around, the 49ers will always be considered betting underdogs.

NFL Betting: Ravens Get First Shot At “Dream Team” This Preseason

2011-08-11T00:17:00.003-04:00

All of the talk about the Philadelphia Eagles as a “dream team” this coming sports betting season is definitely premature, something that head coach Andy Reid has already stepped up and said. The problem is that while the Eagles have admitted that they are far from being a dream team this year, the rest of the league has taken notice and is already looking forward to getting their shot at popping them in the mouths. First on that list is the Baltimore Ravens, who land in Philadelphia looking to prove that the Eagles aren’t so special at all.

Baltimore Ravens @ Philadelphia Eagles

Thursday August 11, 2011 – 7:30 PM ET

Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

NFL Betting Lines: Philadelphia Eagles – 3

The Baltimore defense likely won’t rely on their starters for too long in this game, and it is doubtful whether safety Ed Reed will even see the field among others. The key for both teams will be establishing offenses with tons of potential, but that have a lot of work to do after a lockout-shortened training camp period.

NFL Betting Preview: Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens feel as confident as ever going forward with Joe Flacco one year closer to reaching his potential in Cam Cameron’s offensive system. However, gone are veterans Todd Heap and Derrick Mason, and the team will need to find replacements for both in a hurry. Baltimore signed running back Ricky Williams to help Ray Rice in the backfield, and their ability to rush the football will be key as the Ravens relied on the play-action pass more than any other offense in the NFL last season. There are openings on the defensive line and secondary for young players to step up, and it will be interesting to see how they perform against a talented Eagles’ offense.

NFL Betting Preview: Philadelphia Eagles

There is little doubt that the Eagles want to establish a dominant culture from the outset, but putting together all of the pieces that they acquired in the offseason won’t necessarily be easy. Philadelphia’s defense can be stellar with Nnamdi Asomugha and Domenique Rodgers-Cromartie joining Asante Samuel in the secondary, but first the team will need to plug in a capable front-seven to protect them with question marks on both the defensive line and at linebacker. The Eagles’ offense will open under Michael Vick, but it will be most interesting to see how much of a grasp Vince Young has on the playbook so far, and whether or not he is capable of being the No. 2 ahead of Mike Kafka.

NFL Betting Preview: Outlook & Pick

The Eagles still have a lot of work to do, and the players will feel a sense of pressure under the media spotlight that has been placed on them because of all of their sports betting bonus offseason activity. Meanwhile, Baltimore will approach this game with much more tempered expectations, and it will serve them well on the road.

Gambling Advisor blog Pick: Baltimore Ravens + 3

Can Teams That Brought In Most Free Agents Contend For Super Bowl 46?

2011-08-09T00:49:00.002-04:00

Due to the sports betting NFL lockout, free agency for the 2011 offseason, has gone by quicker than ever. As a result, many teams were left scrambling, as they no longer had the luxury of playing hard ball with their players, since other teams in desperate need for star players were around to sweep them up. While some teams appear to be improved for the upcoming NFL betting lines season, others seem to be far off from contention. Today we will be looking at the teams that are most improved due to free agency.

Comparable to the 2008 New York Yankees after missing the playoffs, the Philadelphia Eagles recognized their main area of weakness and rebuilt through free agency this offseason. The Eagles defense was average at best in 2010 and in order to compete for an NFL Super Bowl title, the Eagles needed some serious upgrades. Similar to the 2008 Yankees, who brought in pitchers CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett, to be their workhorses, the 2011 Philadelphia Eagles shocked the rest of the league by landing free agents, Nnamdi Asomugha and Jason Babin.

On paper, the 2011 Philadelphia Eagles are arguably the favorite to win the Super Bowl coming out of the NFC, ahead of last season’s Super Bowl winner, the Green Bay Packers. While the defense has improved greatly, Philadelphia returns essentially the same offense as last season. In theory, if Michael Vick can stay healthy, the Eagles can thank free agency for a Super Bowl ring.

Another team that made a few big and bold moves was the Houston Texans. Last year’s worst defensive team, will no longer have the smack down laid on them by the rest of the league. The Texans shocked everyone, by signing former Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Jonathan Joseph. As we mentioned earlier, because of the lockout, teams could no longer play hard ball with their free agents. For Joseph, leaving Cincinnati and joining a young Houston Texans squad will be providing him with an excellent opportunity to play a more important role.

Aside from bringing in underrated cornerback Jonathan Joseph, the Houston Texans biggest offseason acquisition actually came from the coaching ranks. Earlier this year, before the NFL lockout, the Texans were able to hire former Dallas Cowboys Head Coach Wade Philips as the team’s new defensive coordinator. Throughout his career, Philips has been able to turn mediocrity into stardom, as he turned a horrific San Diego Chargers defense into one of the best in the league. In theory, with an improved defense, the Texans should be able to finally make the playoffs, and perhaps the Super Bowl.

NFL Betting: Chargers Will Return To The Top Of AFC West In 2011-12

2011-08-04T05:39:00.000-04:00

For years the San Diego Chargers got by on mediocrity, taking advantage of a relatively easy path through the AFC West to consistently reach the postseason. That all changed a year ago, as the Oakland Raiders returned to respectability and the Kansas City Chiefs broke out under head coach Todd Haley to capture the division title. The Chargers will need to raise their game this season to avoid another letdown, and with the Denver Broncos rebuilding once again, San Diego has all of the sports betting tools to run away with what has become a three-team division.

The Chargers’ strength is their offense, which is led by one of the top quarterbacks in the game in Phillip Rivers. Rivers has grown in the offense to the sports betting bonus point where he is on the verge of being classified as elite, and if he can reignite that chemistry between himself and wide receiver Vincent Jackson, this offense will be among the most dangerous in the league once again. Running back Ryan Matthews should be more comfortable in his second year in the league, and big things are expected of the player that San Diego drafted to be their workhorse back. The Chargers’ defense actually exceeded expectations a year ago by allowing the fewest total yards, but that wasn’t really that big of a surprise with the Broncos, Chiefs, and Raiders owning some of the worst offenses in the league. The focus in San Diego will once again be on stopping the run, and the additions of first round pick Cory Liuget and linebacker Takeo Spikes are crucial.

Most of the talk this preseason has been about the Chiefs’ ability to repeat as division champions and the Raiders’ chances of taking another step forward and clinching an AFC West title, but there are reasons to bet against both. In Kansas City, the offense won’t surprise anyone this season and a much tougher schedule will make things harder for a team that capitalized on a weak path to the postseason a year ago. In Oakland, a new head coach following the lockout year will mean a more difficult transition period, and the losses of both Nnamdi Asomugha and Robert Gallery have not been accounted for. The Raiders will also have a tougher schedule this NFL betting lines season, so it is difficult to think that they will continue to progress.

The Broncos meanwhile will continue to rebuild with a potential public relations disaster brewing in the quarterback battle between Tim Tebow and Kyle Orton. Orton has put up the better numbers and has more betonline experience, but Tebow is the future and a fan favorite that could make supporters relentless if the team starts losing. Ultimately, Denver is rebuilding and both the Chiefs and Raiders will face tough tasks elevating their level of play with a tougher schedule. That leaves the Chargers to become the class of the division, as they return to the top of the AFC West.

NFL Betting: NFC East Belongs To Eagles; Cowboys, Giants For Wild Card

2011-08-02T10:30:00.003-04:00

For the better part of the past decade, the NFC East has been recognized as the deepest division in pro football, with the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, and Washington Redskins all making postseason appearances. The Giants and Eagles each made an appearance in the Super Bowl with New York winning it all in Super Bowl XLII, and after loading up again in the offseason there is a good chance that one of those NFL teams can make an appearance in the big game again in 2012.

The Eagles made the biggest additions to their team, including inking the biggest name on the free agent market in cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. With Asante Samuel already in the mix and the addition of Domenique Rodgers-Cromartie from the Arizona Cardinals in a trade for Kevin Kolb, Philadelphia has three starting corners and a ton of options defensively. The Eagles also added defensive end Cullen Jenkins from the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers, and with Michael Vick now in his first full sports betting season coming into camp as the starter, there is no limit on what Philadelphia can achieve.

There will still be a spotlight on New York with both the Jets and Giants, and while the latter took a backseat in the headlines this offseason they could be the team that surprises this year. New York will return one of the most promising young receiving cores with Eli Manning under center, and defensively this sports betting bonus team has a ton of weapons along the line. Catching Philadelphia might be a stretch this year, but a Wild Card spot isn’t out of the question.

After a disastrous season in which many projected that the Cowboys would compete for a Super Bowl with the big game set in their hometown, Dallas will look to regroup and redeem itself after falling apart last year. Quarterback Tony Romo is back healthy and has his former offensive coordinator Jason Garrett as his head coach, while the defense should make strides under new coordinator Rob Ryan.

The odd team out at this point is the Redskins, which have a ton of question marks on both sides of the ball. Washington was able to move Albert Haynesworth to the New England Patriots to ensure there will not be another media circus that takes centerstage in the nation’s capital, but with no proven starting quarterback, no superstars, and a ton of holes it will be at least a year before head coach Mike Shanahan has his team in contention.

There is no NFL betting lines doubt that the Eagles are the favorite to emerge from the division listed at 6-to-1 odds to win the Super Bowl this year, second only to the Patriots. The Cowboys and Giants should both be improved enough to challenge for a Wild Card spot, while the Redskins show signs but take it slow in year two under Shanahan. Philadelphia will clinch the NFC East title this season, but it is what they can do beyond that, that will define this team.

Looking At The Best And Worst World Series Scenarios For 2011

2011-07-27T23:11:00.004-04:00

With roughly two and a half months left in the sports betting MLB season, fans and experts alike are beginning to think of the best and worst possible World Series finals for the 2011 season. This year has been one of the more intriguing MLB betting seasons, as many teams that by all accounts should have been out of the playoff hunt by now remain intact. Today, we will be looking at the best and worst case scenarios for the 2011 MLB World Series.

According to the MLB standings, if the playoffs started today, the teams to make the post season would be Boston, Detroit, Texas and New York in the AL and Philadelphia, St. Louis, San Francisco and Atlanta in the NL. However, for all intents and purposes, we are basing this article on how we believe the final standings will turn out.

In our scenario, Boston, Cleveland, Texas and New York are the AL playoff teams. Meanwhile, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Francisco and Arizona are the NL playoff teams. Here are a couple of the best and worst scenarios for these eight teams.

Best Scenarios:

Boston Red Sox vs. Philadelphia Phillies – On paper, this World Series final is literally a baseball fans dream, as the two best teams in the entire MLB, get to find out who truly is the best. Boston’s incredible offense would go toe to toe with Philadelphia’s outstanding pitching staff.

New York Yankees vs. Arizona Diamondbacks – In a rematch of the 2001 World Series, New York and Arizona would put together a great series. Now, at first glance, many would believe that the Yankees should sweep Arizona. However, consider that Arizona has been one of the best teams in the NL this year, and fans have plenty to get excited about. Similar to the Red Sox vs. Phillies World Series, this would feature a hitting verses pitching match again.

Texas Rangers vs. San Francisco Giants – For the second year in a row, the high powered Rangers would take on the flame throwing Giants. This time, we believe that Texas could win the World Series, as their pitching staff is more diversified than the 2010 World Series runners up team.

Worst Scenarios:

Cleveland Indians vs. Pittsburgh Pirates – In the world of sports, the resurgence of the Cleveland Indians and Pittsburgh Pirates has been one of the most feel good stories ever. Yet, having said that, this World Series would be one of the worst from a viewership standpoint, since nobody but either team’s fans would watch. Both Cleveland and Pittsburgh have developed decent teams, but can they really make it this far?

Texas Rangers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks – Playing in two of the hottest States in America, the Ranger and Diamondbacks would be a bad series because the Rangers would obliterate the Diamondbacks.

Baseball Betting: White Sox Look To Make Ground In AL Central Versus Tigers

2011-07-25T22:01:00.001-04:00

The Chicago White Sox have been one of the bigger surprises in baseball again this season, and once again it is for all of the wrong reasons. The team that was picked to be among the best in baseball this season has struggled and is looking up at two teams in the American League Central alone. One of the teams that the White Sox are looking up at is the Detroit Tigers, which makes the three-game sports betting set between these two teams that much more important.

Detroit Tigers @ Chicago White Sox

Tuesday, July 26, 2011 – 8:10 PM ET

US Cellular Field, Chicago, Illinois

MLB Betting Pick: Detroit Tigers – 110

The White Sox cannot afford to slide any further out of contention, while Detroit will look to this series as an opportunity to gain some ground on both Chicago and the Cleveland Indians in the AL Central. The Tigers haven’t been great on the road this season, but neither has the White Sox at home.

MLB Betting Preview: Detroit Tigers

The Tigers cannot perform at a .500 level on the road and make a World Series run, so whether or not they hold on to first place the focus for the remainder of the season should be on performing regardless of where they play. Detroit will have a strong shot to get the win on Tuesday with their ace Justin Verlander on the mound, as he won’t ask the offense to do too much to help him. Verlander is 13-5 with a 2.24 ERA, and he has allowed more than one earned run just once through his past nine MLB starts. Jhonny Peralta has been a pleasant surprise with his .322 average, and he is surrounded by a ton of offensive talent.

MLB Betting Preview: Chicago White Sox

The White Sox record at home is simply inexcusable, as is the play of hitters such as Adam Dunn, who symbolize all that is wrong with the team so far this season. Dunn will need to do something to help Chicago get to Verlander, while the pressure will be on veteran Jake Peavy, who has also struggled mightily this season. Peavy is 4-4 on the year but his inflated 5.19 ERA is the worst of his career, and he could be in trouble against one of the most powerful offenses in the majors.

MLB Betting Preview: Outlook & Pick

The Tigers have too much firepower for the White Sox to compete with as long as Peavy is on the mound, and considering how good Verlander has been it doesn’t look like Chicago’s chances at home are very good once again. Detroit is alone out front in the AL Central, but not by much, and will need this win to push the White Sox even further away while keeping some distance between them and the Cleveland Indians in the race for the sports betting bonus division title.

Gambling Advisor blog Pick: Detroit Tigers - 110

NFC South Turning Into Best Division in NFL

2011-07-21T06:00:00.000-04:00

With the NFL set to resume working relations with its players union later this week, it is once again time to open up the sports betting debate as to which of the six divisions to make up the NFL is the best and most challenging? For years, NFL betting lines handicappers have suggested that the AFC is the more difficult conference to win in, while the NFC has more bottom feeder teams. However, over the last couple of years, as seen by Super Bowl Champions, the New Orleans Saints in 2010 and Green Bay seven months ago, the NFC is becoming a more respectable conference.

Over the last couple of years, the NFC South, made up of the Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions, New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has become the best division in the NFL. During the 2010 – 11 NFL seasons, the average amount of wins in the NFC South was an astounding 10. To put this into perspective, consider that in the NFC’s East and West Divisions, a 10 and six record would have allowed a team to win the division. However, in the NFC South, that was only good enough for third place.

Meaning to say, the South is becoming the best division in the entire NFL, if for no other reason, then the fact that they have raised the bar for how well teams must play. Last season, Atlanta came out of nowhere, to accumulate the second best record in the NFL at 13 and three. New Orleans had an equally as impressive record, at 11 and five, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a team synonymous with mediocrity finished third in the division with an overall record of 10 and six. Detroit rounded out the division with a six and 10 record, which if they had played in the NFC West, may have got the team a divisional crown.

This offseason, while the NFL lockout was lifted for the draft, the NFC South laid the smack down on the rest of the league, as each of the four teams drafted absolute studs. Atlanta traded eight draft picks to be able to draft Julio Jones, a wide receiver to compliment Roddy White. New Orleans had two picks in the first round, as they picked up former Heisman winner and only running back of the first round, Mark Ingram, as well as defensive stand out Cam Jordan. While both Atlanta and New Orleans made great moves at the draft to help them contend now, Detroit and Tampa Bay acquired talent for the future.

Detroit had one of the best drafts in the last couple of years, as Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley literally fell into the Lions lap with the 13th pick. Fairley and former 2009 second overall pick Ndamukong Suh will form one of the scariest defenses for years to come. Tampa Bay on the other hand, was able to draft two stud defensive prospects in Adrian Clayborn and Da’Quan Bowers. In theory, with the improvements to both Detroit and Tampa Bay, the fourth place team in the NFC South may win 10 games next season.

MLB Betting: Red Sox Look To Build Cushion In East Against Orioles This Week

2011-07-19T07:40:00.000-04:00

Despite a slow start to the 2011 MLB season, the Boston Red Sox rallied to take control of the American League East by the All Star break, and if they can avoid another terrible stretch they should be able to lock up yet another division title this year. The Red Sox took two of three against the Tampa Bay Rays to open up the second half, and will look to take another series on the road against an AL East opponent as they take on the Baltimore Orioles to open this week.

Boston Red Sox @ Baltimore Orioles

Tuesday July 19, 2011 – 7:05 PM ET

Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts

MLB Betting Pick: Boston Red Sox - 120

Despite consecutive wins the Orioles headed into their series against Boston an unbelievable 18.5 games back of the division leaders after posting the worst record in the AL through the first half. Baltimore managed to hurt the AL Central-leading Cleveland Indians a bit in their first series back from the break, but should have a much tougher time against the Red Sox.

MLB Betting Preview: Boston Red Sox

While Boston’s bats continue to pace the majors in runs scored, the team has struggled to find consistent pitching behind All Star starters Jon Lester and Josh Beckett this season. The Red Sox will hand the ball to 24-year old Kyle Weiland on Tuesday hoping that the rookie can be better than he was in his first start, in which he gave up six earned runs in just four innings of work against this same Baltimore team. Weiland should feel a little more comfortable after getting his MLB debut out of the way, but Boston will need to give him a ton of run support if he is going to have any chance at clinching his first career win.

MLB Betting Preview: Baltimore Orioles

That run support will have to come against the 3-13 Jeremy Guthrie, who has allowed six earned runs in two of his four straight losses to see his ERA rise to 4.45 on the campaign. The 32-year old wasn’t awful in his last appearance against the Red Sox, but will need to stay in command of his location and make sure not to become too flustered early on. Unlike Weiland, Guthrie won’t have the best sports betting bonus offense in the majors behind him to bail him out if he struggles early, so he will need to bring his best.

MLB Betting Preview: Outlook & Pick

The expectation is that Weiland will be calmer in his second career start, and that will translate to more consistency at the dish as he does a better job against the Orioles than he did when he made his sports betting debut against them. Guthrie has struggled over the past month, so Weiland shouldn’t have to be too good to get his first win.

GAB Betting Pick: Boston Red Sox - 120

2011 Copa America Betting: Uruguay favorite against Peru

2011-07-19T00:23:00.003-04:00

The Copa America semifinal started with Peru against Uruguay on Tuesday July 19th, 2011. Both teams fell apart in the tie after the teams that left as Luxbet online betting favorites.

The Peruvian franjirrojos beat Colombia in overtime, while the Uruguayans, reissued the "Maracanazo" 61 years ago against Brazil, in putting the competition to host Argentina in a penalty shootout. Uruguay, as bettors are favorites on the odds, but seeing how it's going the Copa America so far, full of surprises, any talk of favoritism.

In the group stage, teams were finalists with the final result of a tie. Paolo Guerrero Peru ahead on 23 minutes and Liverpool striker Luis Suarez managed to equalize in injury time of the first half in a match where charrúas deserved more. Uruguayan defender Mauricio Victorino is ultimately discharged with a thigh injury in his left leg produced during the match against the Argentines, and neither will play Diego Pérez expulsion. Meanwhile, Diego Godin and Edinson Cavani, are a serious doubt to play the "semis". If you can count charrúas with Sebastian Coates, who returns after serving a penalty.

As far as Peru is concerned, makes it to the semifinals 14 years after his last appearance. It is a Uruguayan Sergio Markarian, who has starred this sprung from the bench, and not the first time the Peruvian away to Uruguay's victory. In 1939 they took the championship to the "celestial," which finished second in the playoffs where the America's Cup was decided at that time. It was not until 1975 that Peru was able to reissue the championship, after getting rid of Colombia in three games. From then until 1983, when he finished third, one can not mention any results worth mentioning.

Baseball Betting: East Division Battle Will Once Again Pace AL in Second Half

2011-07-13T23:55:00.000-04:00

When the Boston Red Sox failed to reach the postseason a year ago, the sports betting media around the league was quick to point out that they were a team that was only a couple of offensive pieces and a healthy roster away from being a legitimate World Series contender. General Manager Theo Epstein went out and signed Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford to mega deals, and a ton of Red Sox stars took the winter to rest and rehab from a variety of injuries that had compromised their 2010 season. Boston was labeled as the consensus favorite to win the AL after they completed those moves, and despite a slow start they rallied over the past couple of months to clinch the best record in the American League at the All Star break.

The Red Sox are one of the few teams in the league that can win games both ways, whether it’s an explosive performance by their offense or an outstanding start from one of the deeper pitching staffs in the MLB standings. Led by All Star starters Adrian Gonzalez and David Ortix, Boston finished the first half of the season with the league’s top-ranked offense, scoring 482 runs through their first 90 games, and registered the best team batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage. They also sent two of their starting pitchers to the Midsummer Classic with Jon Lester and Josh Beckett both getting the nod, and if they could find some consistency with John Lackey and Clay Buchholz they could have one of the best staffs in the AL. That depth will be one of the keys to the Red Sox closing out the year with a pennant and clinching home field advantage for the postseason, but they are still a ways away from doing that.

The New York Yankees are right behind Boston in the AL East, riding the league’s best run differential to first place in the division for most of the season. The resurgence of AJ Burnett, Bartolo Colon, and Freddy Garcia behind CC Sabathia has been one of the biggest MLB betting surprises of the year, and how well those guys are able to hold up the remainder of the way will go a long way to determining their fate. This is still a team that gets by with its power-hitting, which is illustrated by the Yankees’ dominance with the long ball as Mark Teixeira and Curtis Granderson are right behind home run leader Jose Bautista. The loss of Alex Rodriguez for a couple of weeks could hurt, but New York should still be able to lock up a Wild Card spot.

The Central and West divisions remain wide open as well, although it would take a major collapse for the defending AL champion Texas Rangers to lose out to a Los Angeles Angels’ team that hasn’t been able to pass them despite an outstanding first-half finish. The Cleveland Indians have been one of the surprise MLB contenders this season, and their playoff hopes will come down to whether or not they are able to stay consistent over the second half and hold off the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers have long been considered a talented team that just couldn’t make it over the hump, and this could finally be the year that they get the job done in the AL Central.

American League Side Looks To Bounce Back With Bautista Leading The Way

2011-07-06T23:19:00.003-04:00

After hitting 28 home runs up until a week away from the 2011 MLB All Star game, Toronto Blue Jays’ slugger Jose Bautista will lead his American League side into the summer classic looking to get them back on track. The AL conceded their first All Star game in 14 years with a 3-1 loss in 2010, but with a powerful order led by the reigning home run king, they should be able to get back in the sports betting win column.

2011 MLB All Star Game

American League vs. National League

Tuesday July 12, 2011 – 8:00 PM ET

MLB Betting Odds: American League - 110

Bautista leads the top-three home run hitters so far in 2011 on the American League side, with New York Yankees’ teammates Mark Teixeira and Curtis Granderson right on his heels, and heading to Arizona as two of the five pinstripes’ players that will start.

MLB Betting Preview: American League

With David Ortiz and Adrian Gonzalez of the Boston Red Sox also among the starters named, the AL side has a decisively East division flavor. All but two of the starters are from the AL East, with Detroit Tigers’ catcher Alex Avila and reigning AL MVP Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers in the outfield. The AL might not have the big name pitching staff of its league rivals, but there is much more power in their order, and they should have no problem crushing some long sports betting bonus balls with Bautista leading the way.

MLB Betting Preview: National League

The National League has become known for its complete-game dominance, and the Philadelphia Phillies are a big reason for it. That is illustrated in the fact that the Phillies will send three starting pitchers to the All Star game in reigning NL Cy Young award winner Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, and Cliff Lee. All three of those pitchers could be the ace of nearly any team in this league, and the fact that all three come from Philadelphia is a big reason why they have dominated the NL in 2011. A couple of top hitters that those pitchers are very familiar with have been among the best in baseball in Atlanta Braves’ catcher Brian McCann, and New York Mets’ shortstop Jose Reyes, whose month of June showed everyone why he has long been considered one of the most dangerous hitters in the MLB.

MLB Betting Preview: Outlook & Pick

As far as the home run derby is considered, consider it to be in the books. The All Star game is a little different, but the AL has enough arms that they should be able to take care of the NL order, and as Bautista showed in the Blue Jays’ series against the Phillies last weekend, he is more than capable of going yard against both Halladay and Lee. The AL has dominated this midsummer classic for years, and in 2011 they will return to the top.

MLB Betting Pick: American League - 110

Baseball Betting: Red Sox Look To Flex Muscle Against Blue Jays Tuesday

2011-07-04T23:46:00.003-04:00

The Boston Red Sox have struggled to stay above the .500 mark over their past 10 games, and are hoping to get back on track against a Toronto Blue Jays’ team that has struggled to hit that mark over the course of the season so far. The Red Sox are looking up at the New York Yankees in the top spot in the American League East, and will need to put together a couple of quality outings to close the sports betting gap before the All Star break.

Toronto Blue Jays @ Boston Red Sox

Tuesday July 5, 2011 – 7:10 PM ET

Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts

MLB Betting Odds: Boston Red Sox – 130

In order to get that done the starting rotation will need to find a way to slow down All Star voting winner Jose Bautista, whose major-leading 27 home runs earned him a record 7.4-million votes. Bautista has been among the best in baseball since clinching the home run crown last season, and it will be on Boston ace Jon Lester to slow him down Tuesday.

MLB Betting Preview: Toronto Blue Jays

For all that Bautista has done for the Blue Jays this season, he could sure use some support. Bautista has hit .337 with 27 home runs, but the rest of the Toronto order has been largely inconsistent. With the exception of Adam Lind, the Blue Jays will need much more out of their young stars, with players such as Aaron Hill needing to step up in a major way. Toronto will send Brett Cecil to the mound on Tuesday, and that means the offense will need to be even better. Cecil has allowed at least five earned runs in three of his past four starts, and his ERA heading into the game is an awful 7.24.

MLB Betting Preview: Boston Red Sox

When you contrast that 7.24 mark with the 3.43 that Lester has sported so far this season, the picture for this game begins to really come into focus. Adrian Gonzalez is among the leaders for AL MVP, and although he hasn’t been able to match Baustista’s numbers his are very close, and he has gotten a ton of support from the rest of the order. Lester is 10-4 this season and is coming off perhaps his best start, a 5-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in which he didn’t allow a run in seven innings of sports betting bonus work.

MLB Betting Preview: Outlook & Pick

The Red Sox will enter this game with a lethal combination of offense and pitching, and that makes it hard to imagine the Blue Jays will be able to keep it close. Bautista has been arguably the best hitter in baseball the past two years, but he can’t do it alone and Boston simply has too much MLB firepower to compete with as they continue their chase for an AL East crown.

MLB Betting Pick: Boston Red Sox - 130

Bet On MLB Baseball: Los Angeles Aces Scheduled To Square Off Again On Saturday

2011-06-30T08:54:00.000-04:00

If you’re betting on baseball this weekend, you should be in for a duel on Saturday night in Los Angeles as the Angels face off with the Dodgers, and a pair of pitchers who should garner consideration for the Cy Young in their respective leagues will be on the mound for the second time in less than a week.

Dodgers vs. Angels Betting – Saturday, 9:05 PM ET

Clayton Kershaw (8-3, 2.98) tossed his second straight complete game in a 3-2 win over the Angels at home last weekend, allowing a pair of runs on six hits, and for the second consecutive outing, he also whiffed 11 batters. Kershaw now leads the National League in strikeouts, and he has walked just one batter over those two starts. Those who bet on MLB baseball should definitely keep track of Kershaw’s progress, because he is going to win a Cy Young one of these years, and it could be in 2011. The 23-year-old southpaw is now 2-1 in four starts against the Angels with an ERA of 2.60, and he’s 1-1 in two starts at Angel Stadium, posting an ERA of 3.29. Kershaw is also 2-2 in seven road starts this year with a 4.36 ERA.

Jered Weaver (9-4, 1.97) was on the hill for that 3-2 loss, but he took a no-decision by allowing a run on seven hits over seven innings, along with four strikeouts and a walk. Weaver hasn’t lost in seven starts, and over that time, he has allowed three runs or more in a start only once. But he’s not getting great run support from his team as Weaver is second from the bottom of the American League in run support, which makes his ERA look even more impressive. The 28-year-old righty is 4-2 in eight starts against the Dodgers with a 2.89 ERA, and he is 3-1 at home with a 2.23 ERA in six starts.

This is a grudge match that even WWE Raw fans could get behind, and it’s tough to even figure out who will be the favorite in this contest as both pitchers can be lights out when they have to be. This is the third time that Weaver and Kershaw will meet as Weaver won at Dodger Stadium in May 2009, while Kershaw struck back last week. Both meetings fell under the posted total, and it’s a safe bet to assume that this game will come in under as well, even though there will probably be an extremely low total. There isn’t much to set these pitchers apart, and the edge has to go to Weaver and the Angels at home, so that’s the play to make in your online sports betting book.

Bet On MLB Baseball: Greinke Continues Inconsistent Season in New York

2011-06-28T05:52:00.000-04:00

If you follow MLB baseball news, you probably paid attention to New York’s pursuit of Zack Greinke, the former Cy Young winner who was on the market in Kansas City last summer, but Greinke, who suffered from depression and anxiety issues, decided to shun the bright lights of the Bronx for Milwaukee. Greinke has been all over the place as of late, and now he’ll head to New York as the Brewers open a three-game set with the Yankees.

Brewers vs. Yankees Betting – Tuesday, 7:05 PM ET

Greinke (7-2, 4.77) whiffed 10 batters for the second straight game in a 5-1 win at home over Tampa Bay, scattering a run on four hits, and he never allowed a walk. That was coming off a six-run out in which he also struck out 10 in Chicago against the Cubs, and those who bet on MLB baseball wondered when Greinke was going to hit his stride after missing the beginning of the year with broken ribs. The 2009 Cy Young winner has shown glimpses of that form, and he just needs to be consistent, although Greinke has been receiving some great run support. The 27-year-old righty is 2-3 in 10 games (Seven starts) against the Yankees with a 5.27 ERA, and this is his first outing in the new Yankee Stadium.

Freddy Garcia (6-6, 3.30) gave up a pair of runs, but they weren’t earned in a 4-2 win in Cincinnati, and he also allowed three hits through seven innings, along with four strikeouts and a walk. Garcia has done an excellent job for the Yankees, who have suffered some injuries to their rotation, and you could make an argument that he has been the most consistent pitcher the Yankees have had all season. The 35-year-old has dropped both of his starts against the Brewers, posting a 3.38 ERA, and he is 4-4 in eight starts at home with a 3.68 ERA.

In what WWE fans would possibly label as a grudge match, look for the Yankees to be slight favorites at home on Tuesday as they would like to give Greinke a taste of what he has been missing in New York, although he has gotten some great support, both on and off the field, from his new teammates in Milwaukee. Greinke is also 2-2 in four road starts in 2011 with a 5.64 ERA, and he just hasn’t been steady away from Miller Park, where he is 5-0 despite an ERA of 4.26. If he doesn’t get the run support he needs on the road, Greinke has looked ordinary, while Garcia has been steady all season. Go with the Yankees at home in your betting picks.

Wimbledon Field Stacked With Nadal, Federer, Djokovic - Tennis Betting

2011-06-23T00:21:00.002-04:00

Perhaps there has never been this many sports betting bonus players performing at such a high level as there is heading into the 2011 Wimbledon tournament. While Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer used this year’s French Open as a final warm up before the grand slam at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Andy Roddick, and Robin Soderling have emerged with some brilliant play so far this tennis season and that has the competition as fierce as ever heading into the third grand slam of the season. There is also the emergence of names like Canada’s Milos Raonic as a potential dark horse to win it all. Here is a quick look at who to wager on at this year’s Wimbledon tournament.

Favorites

Rafa Nadal 3-1

The top-ranked player in the world flexed his muscle at this year’s French Open, but it was really no surprise that the king of clay court got the job done once again at his favorite grand slam. It won’t be as easy over the next couple of weeks as the 3-to-1 betting odds favorite faces one of the tougher roads to the finals and won’t have the advantage of playing on his favorite surface.

Roger Federer 3.25-1

The Swiss Star will shoot for grand slam title No. 17 once again when he lines up at Wimbledon, and if the French Open was any indication this could be his best chance to finally hit that record mark. Federer looked incredible in slaying Djokovic and ending his 2011 undefeated streak, and while he couldn’t keep up with Nadal on clay he should have no problem on the grass at Wimbledon.

Next in Line

Novak Djokovic 4.33-1

Djokovic took each of the first seven tournaments that he entered in 2011, and although he fell short at the hands of Federer with some surmountable pressure at the French Open, there is no reason to be betting against him bouncing back. The Joker will rebound as determined as ever and should be a lock to reach the final four. What he does from there is a mystery until it unfolds.

Andy Murray 6.5-1

Murray has never won a grand slam, but many agree that his best chance may very well be in front of adoring fans as England’s best hope to win Wimbledon. The young star hasn’t handled pressure situations well in the past, but with a little luck he could be a surprise to reach the finals.

Dark Horse

Robin Soderling 41-1

The online casino odds are against Soderling going all the way, but with one of the easiest paths to the final four anything can happen. Soderling has gotten there before but hasn’t been able to take down either Federer or Nadal so far. Perhaps this is the grand slam where that changes.

The Longshot

Milos Raonic 67-1

Many feel that the grass court may suit Raonic and his lethal serve more than any other court, and he has shown some promise in what has been a breakthrough season so far. The young Canadian will meet Nadal in the third round if everything plays out as it is projected to, and it will be interesting to see how he fares on the big stage against the best in the world with the MLB world back home watching from overseas.

MLB Betting: Gonzalez Feeds Off Excitement As He Faces Former Teammates For First Time

2011-06-20T23:14:00.002-04:00

Not a single MLB betting fan will doubt that this week will be special for Boston Red Sox first basemen Adrian Gonzalez, as for the first time in his career he steps into the batter’s box to hit against the San Diego Padres. It will be an emotional reunion between the American League MVP candidate and his former teammates, and that excitement will only enhance Gonzalez’s play as he looks to help carry his new teammates to a division title.

San Diego Padres @ Boston Red Sox

Tuesday June 21, 2011 – 7:10 PM ET

Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts

Online Sports Betting Odds: Boston Red Sox – 130

While Boston has climbed the ranks in the AL East to take the division lead after looking lost at the beginning of the season, the Padres have trended in the opposite direction and are now stuck in the basement of the NL West. It was only a year ago that San Diego looked destined for a playoff spot as division leaders, but things have changed and it doesn’t look like it will get any easier this week at Fenway Park.

MLB Betting Preview: San Diego Padres

Without Gonzalez to turn to as the team’s most dominant offensive force, the Padres have struggled to get anything going this season and are ranked at the bottom of the league in runs scored. San Diego heads to Fenway Park on the heels of five straight sports betting bonus losses, and it is unlikely that 23-year old Mat Latos will be able to turn things around against one of the best offenses in the league, especially with Josh Beckett on the mound for Boston.

MLB Betting Preview: Boston Red Sox

Beckett has been one of the most pleasant surprises on a Red Sox team that has been full of them this season, leading one of the deepest and most talented starting rotation’s in the majors with a 6-2 record and 1.86 ERA. Beckett allowed just two runs combined in consecutive wins over the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays, and if he can continue to pitch the way he did against those division rivals Boston will have no problem locking up a division title in the MLB news. Gonzalez is hitting a team-high .348 this season with 64 RBI, and with a rejuvenated David Ortiz there to keep him safe the Red Sox are rolling.

MLB Betting Preview: Outlook & Pick

Don’t expect the Red Sox to slow down anytime soon, especially not against the weakest offense in the majors in San Diego. Latos will be in big trouble as Gonzalez thrives against his former teammates, and Boston will continue to inch closer to becoming the first team in the AL to lock up their spot in the postseason as their surge continues with another big win against the Padres in the opener of a three-game set.

Gambling Advisor blog Pick: Boston Red Sox - 130

MLB Baseball Betting: Verlander Leads Tigers into Coors Field To Face Rockies

2011-06-16T07:50:00.000-04:00

Those who bet horses know that some tracks just yield a certain type of race; some places are known for having a fast race, which means a quicker pace will be set. In baseball, Coors Field in Colorado has always been known as a hitter’s ballpark, but on Sunday, it’ll be host to arguably the hottest pitcher in baseball as Justin Verlander and Detroit wrap up a three-game set against the Rockies.

Tigers vs. Rockies Betting – Sunday, 3:10 PM ET

Verlander (8-3, 2.66) almost tossed his second no-hitter of the season, and even though it was broken up in the eighth inning, the Detroit ace still tossed a two-hit complete-game shutout in a 4-0 win over Cleveland at home. Verlander struck out a season-high 12 batters with a single walk, and MLB baseball betting players were five outs away from witnessing his third no-hitter, a feat that only five pitchers have achieved, and four of those made their way to the Hall of Fame. The 28-year-old righty has faced the Rockies once back in 2008 at home, and he gave up a pair of runs on five hits over 5.2 innings of a 7-6 win, taking a no-decision, and Verlander whiffed six with four walks.

The Rockies counter with Aaron Cook (0-1, 3.97), who will make his third start of the season after a 3-1 loss at home against San Diego at home, allowing two runs on five hits over 5.2 innings, and he had the same amount of walks as strikeouts (two). Cook spent the first two months of the season on the disabled list because of a broken finger, so it was probably best that he started the campaign with two starts against San Diego’s anemic offense, but he’ll have his hands full in this matchup. The 32-year-old righty has never faced the Tigers, and he took a no-decision in his first home game of the year, going 5.2 innings and giving up three runs on six hits in a 5-3 win, along with four walks and four strikeouts.

Even those who bet on NFL football picks would be able to guess that the Tigers will be favored in Colorado, where they have dropped three of four, most recently in 2005, and three of those games fell under the posted total. Verlander has been on a roll as of late, allowing two runs or less in his last four starts, and when he is on his game, he’s one of the top five pitchers in baseball. Cook is still shaking the rust off, and the Tigers have been heating up over the last month. Take Detroit away from home in your online sports betting picks on Sunday.

Betting On MLB: Kershaw Looks To Bounce Back Against Reds

2011-06-13T23:43:00.002-04:00

Those betting on MLB odds may have had Clayton Kershaw has a darkhorse to win the Cy Young in the National League, but the Los Angeles ace has been roughed up in his last two starts. He will try to bounce back on Tuesday as the Dodgers host Cincinnati in a clash of two teams who have aspirations of winning the pennant.

Reds vs. Dodgers Betting – 10:10 PM ET

Johnny Cueto (3-2, 1.93) tossed seven scoreless innings in a 3-0 shutout in San Francisco, striking out eight and walking two. He started the season on the disabled list, but Cueto looks like he’s 100% healthy and has been the best pitcher in the Cincinnati rotation, which has been something like online casino gambling as you never know what you’re going to get. The 25-year-old righthander has never beaten the Dodgers in four starts, going 0-3 with a 4.50 ERA, although he did take a no-decision in an 11-8 loss at home two starts ago. He is also 0-2 at Dodger Stadium with a 7.88 ERA, but this looks like as good a time as any for Cueto to earn his first win in Los Angeles.

Kershaw (6-3, 3.44) allowed six runs for the second consecutive start in a 9-7 loss in Colorado, along with seven hits and three walks in six innings of work, while striking out six batters. Kershaw was also on the mound for that 11-8 win, taking a no-decision, and he has been fortunate to avoid losses in this past two starts because of a strong Los Angeles offense, but the Dodgers need him to get back to his best if they’re going to compete in the West. The 23-year-old southpaw is 1-1 in four starts against the Reds with a 3.86 ERA, and he’s 4-1 in seven starts at home with a 2.61 ERA.

The Dodgers should be favored in this contest as linesmakers will lean towards Kershaw, while Cueto may be remembered more for his WWE-style kick in a brawl with St. Louis last season, but he has been excellent to start the year since coming back from history. Kershaw will get his act together and not give up six runs again, and you can give him a little leeway as his last two starts have come in places that are considered “hitter’s parks”, like Colorado and Cincinnati. Heading into Monday’s series opener, the Dodgers had won eight of their last 10 at home against the Reds, with five games going over the posted total, along with a push, and they seem to have Cincinnati’s number on the west coast. In a quieter affair than their last meeting, take Kershaw over the Cueto as the Dodgers snatch a win when you’re betting online.

2011 Belmont Stakes Betting: Take Nehro Over Animal Kingdom, Shackleford

2011-06-09T09:25:00.000-04:00

2011 Belmont Stakes betting is hitting high gear as the final race of the Triple Crown will be run this Saturday at Belmont Park, and even though we won’t have a winner of the Triple Crown, we should still get an exciting 143rd running of the Belmont Stakes, the longest of the races at 1.5 miles. While everyone is falling over themselves to wager on Animal Kingdom and Shackleford, the winner will be a horse that had a brilliant run at the Kentucky Derby, and sat out the Preakness.

Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom (+200) should be running for the Crown now, but he came up just short in the Preakness Stakes against Shackleford (+450), who is probably the fastest horse out of the gates, which he proved at Churchill Downs and Pimlico. Mucho Macho Man (+600) will be in the mix after a third-place run in the Derby, and a sixth-place run in the Preakness, but his run at Pimlico was compromised by a lost shoe, the second time that has happened to Mucho Macho Man. He has new shoes that shouldn’t come off now, so look for this horse to push the lead group.

The longshots to watch for online horse betting players are Master of Hounds (+1200) and Santiva (+1500), and Master of Hounds is a horse from Ireland, where they bred horses for endurance rather than speed, so that should help for the Preakness. Santiva has been up and down when it comes to his most recent races, and he’s run against some pretty talented fields, so it all depends which Santiva decides to show up on Saturday. Both horses have been off since the Derby, so they’ll be rested.

But the horse to wager on is Nehro (+400), who would be the guy who sneaks into the ring out of nowhere to draw a comparison to WWE Monday Night Raw. Nehro finished second in the Derby, his third consecutive runner-up finish in a race, and along with Animal Kingdom, he made a late run to surge past the field. His handlers held him out of the Preakness in hopes that he’ll be 100% for the Belmont, and it appears as though he is in good shape heading into the final Triple Crown race. He was getting stronger as the Derby wore on, which is excellent when discussing the 1.5-mile Belmont, and he’ll hope to do it again. A saying goes in sports, if you put yourself in position to win enough times, eventually you’ll win, and Nehro has done that plenty in recent months. Get a little value and go with Nehro in your online sportsbook.

NHL Finals Betting Analysis: Canucks vs.Bruins

2011-06-07T08:22:00.000-04:00

Sports Betting Overview

Game four of the Stanley Cup finals will be one of the most fiercely played games of the series. Considering how tight the games have been to this point, saying game four will be the most fierce is saying a lot. As the 2011 Belmont betting gets closer, the Vancouver Canucks are proving that they are just a little bit better and a little bit luckier in each game against the Boston Bruins. The NHL highlights show that Vancouver goaltender Roberto Luongo is ready to get the playoff monkey off his back with a Stanley Cup victory. Both Luongo and Boston goalie Tim Thomas have played extremely well in the finals. But it has been Luongo that has had the bounces go his way.

The pay per head Boston Bruins fans need to keep their heads up, because their team is not out of this series quite yet. There is a strong chance that this series could be a “homer” series where the home team wins every game. While that would create an exciting seven-game series, it would also mean that the Bruins lose the Cup. Boston needs to win one game on the road, but game four will not need to be that game. The Bruins have played the entire playoffs like this. Games that they should win, they are losing. The Bruins are keeping the scores close against the Canucks and, at some point, that will translate into wins. There is also a very strong chance that the Bruins will come out of games three and four tied in this series, and that could change everything.

Vancouver Canucks

The Canucks have everything going for them. They are out-skating the Bruins, the puck is bouncing Vancouver’s way and Roberto Luongo is playing his best goal of the season. But the one big difference between the two teams in this series are those lucky bounces. Was the Vancouver Canucks player offsides in the only goal in game one? Do the Canucks have an advantage at home because they know the boards better than any team in the league? Whatever the real answers to those questions are, the fact is that the Canucks are seeing all of the lucky bounces come their way. Momentum is a funny thing, and when the only thing between you and your opponent is momentum then it can be a dangerous thing. The Canucks need to keep flying around the ice and forcing the Bruins to make mistakes. If the Canucks ever stop skating, the momentum will change.

Boston Bruins

The Bruins have lost both games of this series by one goal, and both of those goals were strange to watch. But Boston’s game plan will not change. The Bruins will continue to hammer the Canucks and keep looking for chances to get shots on Luongo. Goalie Tim Thomas will continue to be an anchor in the Boston net, and the Boston defense will continue to keep players out from in front of Thomas. All Boston needs is that one good bounce of the puck to get back in this series and shift things in their favor.

The Bottom Line

The Canucks looked like they were living on borrowed time in game two. The heart-breaker for the Bruins was that quick overtime goal. But the Bruins need to pick themselves up and remember that they held the lead in that game going into the third period. Boston needs to get better at closing out games in this series or game four could be the last Stanley Cup finals game of 2011.

Gambling Advisor blog Pick: Boston Bruins

NHL Finals Betting: Canucks Have Enough To Edge Bruins To Stanley Cup Win

2011-06-02T05:21:00.000-04:00

While 2011 Belmont Stakes betting players are getting ready for the final leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown on June 11th, the Stanley Cup finals are almost here as Vancouver will host Boston in Game 1 on Wednesday night. The Bruins haven’t won since 1972, while the Canucks haven’t won in their 40-year history. Can the Canucks take the Cup back to Canada?

Bruins vs. Canucks Betting – Wednesday, 8:00 PM ET

The Bruins are coming off a grueling seven-game series against Tampa Bay, their second series that has gone the distance, and they’re doing it with grit, physical play and the effort of goalie Tim Thomas, who helped the Bruins escape with a couple games against the Lightning, although he was poor in other games as well. The Bruins have been getting points from everyone as Nathan Horton and David Krejci have been in some NHL highlights thanks to seven combined game-winning goals, the defense is solid with Zdeno Chara leading the way, and Patrice Bergeron has done it all at both ends of the ice for the Bruins. Their major drawback is a power play that has been successful only 8.2% of the time.

The Canucks have been off since May 24th, when they ended a five-game series with San Jose, and the Sedin brothers, Henrik and Daniel, finally came back to life after a poor series against Nashville. Still, the MVP of the team is Ryan Kesler, who carried the team against the Predators, he has been phenomenal in the faceoff dot, and he has gone up against the likes of Chicago’s Jonathan Toews and San Jose’s Joe Thornton and shut them down, for the most part. The defense, powered by Kevin Bieksa, has been very good in front of Roberto Luongo, who still doesn’t get enough respect, but he stopped 54 shots in the Canucks’ clincher against San Jose.

The Canucks are a -240 NHL betting favorite according to your sports bookie software, while the Bruins are listed at +200, and Boston has won three of their last five meetings with Vancouver, with three games falling under the posted total (along with a push). The Bruins are a tough team, but they’re going to need their best performance of the playoffs to beat the Canucks. Preferably, they need Vancouver native Milan Lucic to be a disruptive force, and he had three points when the Bruins won 3-1 in Vancouver back in January 26th. But that may not even be enough. The Canucks are too deep, too fast, and they’re too good on special teams to lose this series. It’s going to be tough, but take Vancouver at your favorite betting website.

NBA Betting: Heat Silence Critics, Win NBA Championship

2011-05-30T20:47:00.002-04:00

Even Belmont Stakes betting players have had one eye on the NBA season, and surely they would have heard about the fuss that has surrounded Miami since the offseason, when they recruited LeBron James and Chris Bosh to join Dwyane Wade in South Beach. It’s been a tumultuous season for the Heat, but now they’re four wins away from the NBA title, and standing in their way is Dallas, who will be out to avenge their loss to the Heat in the 2006 Finals.

Mavericks Heat Betting – Game 1, Tuesday, 9:00 PM in Miami

The Mavericks needed six games to beat Portland, then they rolled over the two-time defending champions from Los Angeles in a humiliating four-game sweep, and then they stopped a young Oklahoma City team in five games. Through it all, Dirk Nowitzki has been the best player of the postseason, drawing some comparisons to Larry Bird, and he’s been absolutely unguardable. MLB baseball betting players would compare him to Josh Hamilton for Texas: the Mavericks are a good team without him, but they can beat anyone with him. The Mavericks also have an outstanding bench with Jason Terry and J.J. Barea leading the way.

The Heat have won each of their three series against Philadelphia, Boston and Chicago in five games, and they’ve done with stingy defense and newfound confidence at the end of games. LeBron James seems to have taken over the role as closer, although Dwyane Wade can surely hit some buckets, and Chris Bosh has played exceptionally well at points. When he’s on his game, the Heat are very tough to beat. They’ve also gotten some contribution from their role players as Udonis Haslem returned to give the Heat some quality minutes in the Chicago series, and Mike Miller also came on strong as well.

Miami is favored at -175 in your price per head sportsbook, while Dallas is listed at +155, and since losing in six games in the 2006 Finals the Mavericks are 10-0 SU and 5-4-1 ATS in their last 10 meetings with the Heat. This series will boil down to a couple of matchups: the most important is Miami’s shutdown defense against Dallas’ explosive and highly efficient offense. Shutting down Notiwzki is a big part of that, but the Heat will have to focus on the Dallas bench, where the Mavericks have the edge. Also, look for James to guard Nowitzki in late-game situations, or if the German star gets hot. In the end, you have to go with the team who plays the best defense, and the Heat have the advantage in that aspect, so they’re the smart play when making a sports bet.

2011 Belmont Stakes Betting – Five To Watch at Belmont Park

2011-05-26T07:50:00.000-04:00

Early 2011 Belmont Stakes betting odds are out as sportsbooks aim to give their clients a jump on the final leg of the Triple Crown, and here is a look at five horses who should stand out and garner consideration when you’re looking to make your horse betting picks.

2011 Belmont Stakes Betting – Saturday, June 11th

Animal Kingdom (+400): He may wind up being the overall favorite after following up his Kentucky Derby win with a second-place run in the Preakness in which another late rally came up just short. He looks to get better as the race goes on, which is promising for his horse betting odds in the longest race of the Triple Crown at 1.5 miles.

Shackleford (+400): Shackleford faded in the Derby, and did just enough to hold off Animal Kingdom in the Preakness, but there are obviously going to be questions about his stamina. Shackleford was the toughest horse to get into the starting gate at the Preakness, and you have to be worried about a tendency to expend energy unnecessarily.

Nehro (+400): Nehro finished second in the Derby and was held out of the Preakness, so he’ll be well rested for the Belmont. He was one of the horses who made a late run to track down Shackleford at Churchill Downs, so again, his stamina will be a factor when he gets on the track at Belmont Park.

Mucho Macho Man (+800): WWE fans will likely put something down for Mucho Macho Man, who bears a close similarity to the name of recently deceased Randy “Macho Man” Savage, and he’s finished in the top six in the first two Triple Crown races (third in the Kentucky Derby, sixth in the Preakness). He’s a balanced horse, which bodes well for a long race like the Preakness, and he should be one to watch going into the final turn.

Jaycito (+1200): Jaycito hasn’t raced in any of the Triple Crown races, but he has an excellent trainer in Bob Baffert, who won the Preakness with Point Given in 2001. He did manage to finish second in a solid field at the San Felipe Stakes, and he’s finished first or second in three of his four stakes races that were classified as a Grade 1 or Grade 2, so the talent is there. He had a foot bruise that kept him out of the first two races, but he’s been off since March, so look for Jaycito to be raring to go when it comes to the Belmont, and he’s going to be a horse that should move up the ranks as we get closer to the big race at your favorite online betting sites.

NHL Betting: Canucks Look To Clinch Spot in Stanley Cup Finals Tuesday

2011-05-23T23:41:00.003-04:00

17 years after the Vancouver Canucks fell short in the Stanley Cup finals against the New York Rangers in 1994, the franchise has the chance to earn their shot at redemption now one win away from earning their spot in the championship series. The Canucks have San Jose on the ropes up three-games-to-one heading into game five of their Western conference final series Tuesday night, the first of three potential chances to punch their ticket.

San Jose Sharks @ Vancouver Canucks

Tuesday May 24, 2011 – 9:00 PM ET

Rogers Arena, Vancouver, British Columbia

Online Sports Betting Odds: Vancouver Canucks – 110

Three second-period powerplay goals powered Vancouver to a 4-2 game four-win Sunday afternoon, forcing the Sharks to the road to keep their postseason hopes alive. The Canucks have outscored San Jose 14-7 in three wins, and as long as the offense continues to click the Presidents trophy winners could have more pay per head hardware headed their way.

NHL Betting Preview: San Jose Sharks

The Sharks did an excellent job of keeping up with Vancouver through the first 20 minutes of game four after earning their first win of the series in game three, but untimely penalties and an inability to capitalize on their own chances ultimately cost them. San Jose failed to capitalize on five consecutive powerplay opportunities to open the game, and then fell apart after taking four straight penalties in the middle frame. The Sharks allowed three goals in a span of less than two minutes, each of them netted when they were two men down. San Jose will need to do a better job on special teams to have a chance to claw their way back into the series, and they won’t have much time to prepare.

NHL Betting Preview: Vancouver Canucks

Henrik Sedin and company needed just 13 shots to pull out the critical game four-win, becoming the first team in NHL scores history to score three goals with a two-man advantage in the playoffs. Henrik assisted on all three of those goals and added another helper on the Canucks’ third period goal to set the franchise record for assists in a game, which increased his total to 19 points to lead all scorers this postseason. Brother Daniel finished with three assists of his own, giving the Sedins a total of 15 points in four games for the series. One more big game could have Vancouver in the Stanley Cup finals, and they will get the opportunity to perform on home ice.

NHL Betting Preview: Outlook & Pick

The Sharks failed to capitalize on their opportunities in the opening frame of game four, and then looked fatigued in the second as they began taking unnecessary penalties as they fell apart. Two nights later San Jose will be asked to rebound on the road, and it may be a case of not having enough left in the tank to compete with one of the most complete and dominant teams that the league has seen in recent years, leaving the in-state MLB betting teams as California’s only spring hopes.

Gambling Advisor blog Pick: Vancouver Canucks - 120

NBA Odds:Look For More Scoring in Game 2 Of Thunder-Mavericks

2011-05-18T23:49:00.003-04:00

Those checking out Preakness odds can appreciate the matchup in the NBA’s Western Conference finals between Oklahoma City and Dallas, as there are thoroughbreds all over the place in this series, and they raced out of the gate in Game 1. If you’re a fan of high-scoring games, you should get another one in Game 2 in Thursday.

Thunder vs. Mavericks Betting – Thursday, 9:00 PM ET

Kevin Durant had a huge night with 40 points, eight boards and five assists, but it wasn’t enough for the NBA odds as the Thunder fell 121-112 in Dallas in Game 1. Russell Westbrook added 20 points, but he had just three assists with four turnovers, and even those watching NHL highlights will tell you that isn’t a good enough ratio for a point guard, especially at this point in the playoffs. The Thunder managed to get to the line 43 times, making 37 of their free-throw attempts, but they couldn’t slow down the Dallas offense and in particular, their bench was outscored 53-22.

Jason Terry and J.J. Barea combined for 45 of those bench points, and the Mavericks will need more of those as the series goes on, but the story of Game 1 was Dirk Nowitzki, who went insane on the Thunder with 48 points, going 12-of-15 from the floor (without attempting a single three-pointer), and he was a perfect 24-of-24 from the foul line, which is an NBA playoff record. Nowitzki and the Mavericks picked up right from their four-game sweep of the two-time champion Lakers, shooting 53.4% from the floor, and if they keep that up, it’s tough to imagine anyone beating them in the last two rounds of the postseason.

Your sports bookie software will find the Mavericks as a 5-point favorite at home in Game 2, and NBA betting players have probably fallen in love with Dallas, who is a staggering 11-0 ATS so far in the playoffs, and they have yet to lose at home. The Thunder need to shore up on defense to slow down the Mavericks, and they shouldn’t feel too bad about giving up all of those points to Nowitzki; that’s going to happen because he’s just playing too well right now. Where the Thunder really have to pick it up is with the second unit, and they can’t allow Terry and Barea to drop another 45 points on them. Also, in what has been a running theme, Westbrook has to do a better job of distributing and taking care of the ball. He shot 3-of-15 from the floor, and that’s discouraging, but the assist-to-turnover is a bigger issue. Look for him to have a better game, and the bench will step up too, so lay a sports bet on Oklahoma City.

Preakness Stakes Odds: Five Horses You Should Bet On at Pimlico

2011-05-17T00:31:00.002-04:00

Preakness Stakes odds will be the hot play this week as the second jewel in horse racing‘s Triple Crown will be up for grabs on Saturday at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. Animal Kingdom was a longshot bet in the Kentucky Derby, but that didn’t stop him from taking the “Run For The Roses”. Now, how will he fare in the “Run For The Black-Eyed Susans” as a favorite? Here is Animal Kingdom and four more horses to watch on Saturday.

Animal Kingdom (+270): His closing kick at Churchill Downs wasn’t all that surprising, but still, no one expected this horse to come as it did. Horse betting players will give Animal Kingdom a long look as four horses in the last nine years have won the first jewels in the Triple Crown, and he’ll have a very good chance to become the fifth.

Mucho Macho Man (+425): This horse has finished out of the top three in only one of his nine races, and he’s probably the most balanced horse in the entire field. The Kentucky Derby was his first Grade-1 race, and he should earn some strong consideration at Pimlico as well.

Nehro (+500): Nehro finished one spot ahead of Mucho Macho Man at Churchill Downs as the two battled with Shackleford heading into the final turn, and he has now finished second in his last three races, including a pair of Grade-1 races. Like the above horse, Nehro is very balanced, but he may be a little bit better when it comes to closing.

Shackleford (+1000): If pressed for a pick, Shackleford would be the way to go after his performance at Churchill Downs, in which he finished fourth, but he led a large portion of the Kentucky Derby. Shackleford’s problem has been closing races as Dialed In (who is rated at +400 after an eighth-place run in the Derby) caught him in the Florida Derby, but he may not be exposed as badly at Pimlico, which is shorter and faster than Churchill Downs. He should be the play in your sports bookie software.

King Congie (+2000): King Congie has a very strong stable that has motivation; jockey Robby Albarado was taken off Animal Kingdom in favor of John Velazquez after breaking his nose, even though Albarado says he could have raced. He has also won the Preakness before, claiming the black-eyed Susans with Curlin’ in 2007, and his trainer Tom Albertrani won in 2006 with Bernardini. King Congie finished third in the Grade-1 Blue Grass Stakes, and even though he hasn’t raced on dirt in four races, it shouldn’t bother him too much. King Congie is definitely the darkhorse to watch in your online sports book.