CFL Western Division: BC bursts out of major slump
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09/10/2010 - Toronto, Canada (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Wally Buono's Lions team put together a vintage BC performance when they trounced the Alouettes in Montreal by a 38-17 count in Week 10. The beat-down came out of nowhere, as the Lions entered the game on a seven-game losing streak. The same type of surprise could not be shared by fellow basement dwellers the Edmonton Eskimos, who managed just five points in their loss to Calgary. Saskatchewan picked up another win, but Darian Durant went another game without a passing TD.
BC LIONS
The Lions took advantage of an injured Anthony Calvillo, allowing just 17 points against the East's best offensive team. They did it by limiting first- time starter Chris Leak to just 135 passing yards with two interceptions.
In addition, The Lions defensive line shut down all avenues around the line of scrimmage, as All-Star running back Avon Cobourne managed to pile up just 57 yards on 13 carries.
More surprising than the play of the defense is how everything clicked on offense for the first time all season. Casey Printers, though forced to leave the game in the third quarter with leg cramps, was serviceable in his start, throwing two TD's. He's expected to play this week against Toronto.
Offensive key to the next game (Toronto Argonauts): A healthy Printers is crucial, as he is clearly the best option the Lions have at quarterback. The Toronto secondary has shown some weakness in recent games, making for a perfect opportunity for receivers Geroy Simon and Paris Jackson to build off their strong showing in Week 10.
Defensive key to the next game: Get Toronto to over-commit and cause turnovers. Cleo Lemon continues to force on offense, as evidenced by his zero touchdown, three interception day against Hamilton last week. Make him throw by cutting out Cory Boyd on the ground. The Lions' best chance of winning this one remains with their defense.
Look ahead: Three of BC's next four games are all at home against Eastern teams. Less than a week ago the Lions looked out of it. With this schedule, they have an excellent opportunity to claw their way back into the playoff hunt.
CALGARY STAMPEDERS
If only every opponent could put up the fight - or lack thereof - that the Edmonton Eskimos bring to the table when they face the Stampeders.
In two games this season, Calgary has outscored Edmonton 108-20, including last week's 52-5 thrashing. The Stamps' offense eviscerated any and all defensive schemes the Eskies threw at them.
And after a game that saw the Stampeders not allow a single touchdown, head coach John Hufnagel admitted that even he wouldn't want to play against his own defense with the way it is performing now.
The most telling stat of all; they allowed Edmonton to accumulate just five rushing yards.
In essence, there's very little Calgary is doing wrong. It's the Stamps' best start in a decade, as they now sit at 8-1 on the season. The only question is whether their six straight wins have come as a result of playing five games against sub-.500 teams, or whether they represent genuine top-notch football.
That question may not be answered for a while yet, as the Stamps get another date with Edmonton this week.
Offensive key to the game (Edmonton Eskimos): Keep doing what they've been doing against the Eskimos. Punish Edmonton's lackluster play inside its own 30- yard line and keep the pressure on the defense. As this is a road game, scoring points early to get the crowd out of it will be the most important tactic of all.
Defensive key to the next game: The Eskimos will be without running back Arkee Whitlock, meaning the rushing game will be weak again. Stopping the Esks on the ground will be more than possible, but the focus remains on hurrying quarterback Ricky Ray with their superior defensive line.
Look ahead: Three straight games against western road teams leave Calgary on the verge of clinching the CFL west.
EDMONTON ESKIMOS
Edmonton lost its best offensive player in the first quarter last week went Arkee Whitlock left with a foot injury. Head coach Richie Hall believes he will miss Friday's game, making the team's fight for revenge that much harder.
Whitlock, despite playing with a struggling o-line and quarterback, sits third in the league in total rushing yards with 689 yards on 114 carries.
Perhaps a bigger problem for Edmonton as the season comes to a close is how to solve its quarterback woes. With Ricky Ray failing to get it done, Hall is looking at backups Jason Maas and Jared Zabransky as viable options to take the helm on the field.
There is a lot of season left, but time is running short to find the consistency Edmonton desperately needs to compete for a playoff spot.
Offensive key to the next game (Calgary Stampeders): It starts with getting a lot more than five rushing yards, and the only way to do that is to actually attempt to go to the ground. Nine attempts last week, even without Whitlock for much of the game, is not enough against the league's best defense. Regardless, the story of the season remains their passing game. The Esks have to stop dropping easy passes, and Ray has to hit his targets.
Defensive key to the next game: Where to start? It is impossible for the Esks to stop all aspects of Calgary's dominating defense, and judging by the last two games, even a single aspect. A gritty win is the only way, and to do that they need to score first, get the crowd riled up, and ride whatever momentum they can gain in the first quarter by limiting Calgary's points to field goals at best.
Look ahead: After Calgary, Edmonton plays two road games and a home match against eastern opponents and none of them are against the struggling Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The outlook is not so good for a team in need of the same kind of boost BC got in Week 10.
SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS
Saskatchewan's 27-23 win over Winnipeg last week was hardly the stuff of Labor Day Weekend legend, but a win's a win for a struggling team with great ambitions.
Quarterback Darian Durant didn't throw a touchdown pass, but he did generate key scoring drives, none more important than in the fourth quarter.
Up just 18-17 after three hard-fought quarters, Durant manufactured an impressive 91-yard drive to seal the win in the final frame, capped off by a 11-yard run into the end zone.
With the Stamps running away with the West lead and given their overall quality of play, the Riders need all the inspiration they can get to push the league's best team.
Offensive key to the next game (Winnipeg Blue Bombers): The Riders head to Winnipeg seeking their third straight win in the Banjo Bowl. To get it done offensively, Wes Cates will have to do better than rushing for 15 yards over seven carries.
Defensive key to the next game: The Blue Bombers will be without quarterback Buck Pierce, who is out with a possible season-ending elbow injury. The Bombers have struggled to thrive without Pierce, as Steven Jyles has shown a tendency to run more than throw when scrambling. That's fine for the Riders - forcing Jyles to run over running back Fred Reid is a set-up Saskatchewan would love to see.
Look ahead: Of all the games in the near future, September 17 is the date on the calendar that Saskatchewan has circled, highlighted, cut out, blown up, and posted on the mirror. On that day the Riders face the Calgary Stampeders and they will be itching to make a statement against the western juggernaut.
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Colts give the ‘D’ its due
The Indianapolis Colts know that winning the Super Bowl last season put a huge target on their backs, and they expect opponents to go all-out to knock them from the top of the mountain.
They’ll get their first test from the New Orleans Saints this Thursday night. The defending champs had nothing but good things to say about the New Orleans defense this past week, praising their opponents’ pass rush and run-stopping abilities.
"They play very aggressively," head coach Tony Dungy told the New Orleans Times-Picayune. "They play a lot of man-to-man coverage, and they come after you. They have good pass rushers, and they're going to try to pressure us, I'm sure."
Both center Jeff Saturday and quarterback Peyton Manning gave New Orleans’ front four props, admitting keeping guys like Will Smithand Charles Grant contained would be a tall task for the offensive line.
New Orleans ranked second in total defense during the preseason at a sportsbook, allowing just under 233 yards per game. Last season, the defense finished 11th in the league after giving up 307.3 yards and 20.1 points per contest.
Not so sound on the ground
If Indianapolis' efficient offense has a weakness it has to be its running attack. The Colts one-two-punch of Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai is no longer, leaving the bulk of the carries to Addai, the second-year back out of LSU.
Former Saskatchewan Roughrider Kenton Keith was named Addai’s backup this week after beating out DeDe Dorsey for the second-string position. Indy has only three backs on the roster right now, including fullback Luke Lawton, and coach Dungy is aware of the thinness of his ground game. Sports Betting lines on the game can be found at BettingExpress.com
“We’ll continue to look. Luke Lawton’s done a good job for us too. So probably getting a third true tailback is something that we’d like to do,” Dungy told the Indiana Tribune-Star.
Last season, Addai rushed for over 1,000 yards in his rookie campaign and scored seven touchdowns on the ground.
Brees says bring it on
Opening the season on the road against the defending Super Bowl champions is not the way most teams would like to kick off their year – unless you’re the New Orleans Saints or their quarterback Drew Brees. This internet Sportsbooks had the Saints as the favorites.
Brees told the New Orleans Times-Picayune that he is excited to get the regular season started and the Colts are a great challenge for him and his teammates. The 28-year-old QB, entering his second season with the Saints, is expecting a wild environment in the RCA Dome this Thursday when the franchise celebrates its 2007-2007 championship.
Brees said he sees the opening game scheduling as an honor and a testament to how well New Orleans did last season. The Saints missed facing the Colts in the Super Bowl by one game, losing to the Chicago Bearsin the NFC Championship game.
"I mean, people think we can hang with these guys," Brees told reporters. "Even if they didn't, it wouldn't matter what they thought because as a team we're very confident. We know what we can do. We're not satisfied where we finished the season last year. And we've been looking forward to this opportunity for a long time."
SportsBooks ready for a shootout
Oddsmakers are preparing for some fireworks this Thursday when the NFL season kicks off. online Sportsbooks have Thursday’s total set at a whopping 52 points, accounting for two of the league’s most explosive offenses.
“This is like must-see TV,” Saints cornerback and former Colt Jason David told the Baton Rouge Advocate. “It’s two exciting offenses with great players. You’ve got a lot of star power on offense. At any given time a big play can happen. If I was a fan, I wouldn’t miss a snap.”
New Orleans, who ranked No.1 in total offense last season, can go blow-for-blow with the Colts’ attack. Head coach Sean Payton’s offensive schemes will get even better production out of Drew Brees, Reggie Bush and receiver Marques Colston now that they’ve each had a season of playing together under their belts.
The Saints and Colts were the top two passing teams in the NFL last year, but while Indianapolis managed to put up almost 27 points per game, New Orleans struggled to capitalize on their efforts. The Saints ranked fifth in points per game.
“Yards are great,” running backDeuce McAllister told reporters, “but to be able to score more touchdowns would be important for us.”
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Betting the NFL preseason
Rule No. 1 in the gamblers' handbook states, "Avoid sports betting on meaningless games."
When you're drowning in a sea of baseball monotony, however, things change. Even a hint of pro football betting can persuade the most disciplined bettor to break a few rules.
The NFL preseason is around the corner, with a tempting Hall of Fame match kicking off on Sunday. But bettors must stay vigilant. Wagering on NFL exhibition games is an entirely different beast than the regular season. Most fans don't recognize the players on the field because starters get as much action in August as Warcraft fans get on Prom night.
The only certainty about the NFL this time of year is uncertainty – and yet there are some who say betting in August can be a gold mine.
“I actually feel the NFL preseason presents solid profit opportunities for sharp bettors and handicappers,” Sports Expert Steve Merril explains. “My experience has been that the sportsbooks fear the preseason, which is evident by lower limits and massive moves.”
The line moves are attributed to the limited knowledge available regarding playing-time distribution. One team’s top unit out on the field for one more series has an impact on the pointspread. Setting lines in the preseason often is a shot in the dark.
“We base the betting lines mostly on public perception,” Pete Korner, founder of the Sports Club in Las Vegas, says. “It’s very tough to predict, almost a guessing game.”
The preseason is all about figuring out who’s in and for how long.
“It becomes a race between bettors and oddsmakers to find out how long the quarterbacks are going to stay in,” Korner admits. “If a sharp gets the information first, he could exploit an early line. I’m a full believer in moving the line in the preseason if the books find out something late in the week.”
Determining what each team’s motive is can help bettors handicap. To do this you must pay close attention to the philosophies head coaches employ in exhibition play.
“You need to know what a coach is trying to accomplish,” says Covers Expert Bryan Leonard. “Sometimes a new coach will want to instill a winning attitude. Others just want to make sure their starters don’t get hurt."
So how do you distinguish who’s playing scared and who’s playing for keeps?
“Head coaches on the hot seat or new coaches trying to implement a winning attitude usually try harder to win in the preseason,” Merril says.
Cleveland Browns head coach Romeo Crennel fits this criteria. He’s entering his third season as the sideline boss and has yet to lead the Browns to more than six wins.
Cleveland is an enticing bet as well because of the unresolved quarterback situation. General manager Phil Savage sacrificed the Browns’ first-round pick in next year’s draft for Brady Quinn, but the former Notre Dame quarterback hasn’t signed or reported to training camp yet.
Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson split time at QB last season and it looks like either player (or even Quinn) could be the opening-day starter.
“If a team has quarterback depth and the pecking order hasn’t been decided, it’s a big advantage,” Leonard says.
Even in the third week of the preseason when starters generally play the most, the final outcome of the game is in the hands of fringe players. A team's talent, all the way down to the last man on the roster, is something to consider.
The New England Patriots have long been considered one of the deeper teams in the NFL and coach Bill Belichick has said in the past he’s unafraid of stars getting hurt in games with nothing on the line. He shocked his colleagues in 2003 by playing some of his starters on special teams in the preseason.
“We want to have the team ready to play a tough, physical game and preparation has to go into that and I imagine a certain amount of injuries go with it,” Belichick told the Providence Journal in August 2003.
Bettors can only hope to find more teams that share the Pats' business-like approach to the preseason (New England is 17-9-3 against the spread since 2000) and take advantage of teams who detest the exhibition schedule.
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