Thursday Night Football Betting: NFL Bye Weeks Begin

Right from the first Thursday night game of the NFL season the weekly football betting routine can fly by at a furious pace. NFL lines for the following week’s games are often posted by online sportsbook before we have even heard the final whistle on Sunday Night Football but as fans and bettors, we wouldn’t have it any other way.

It’s hard to believe three weeks have already passed and as we work through the Week 4 card, it’s time to start focusing a little closer on matchups and situational football handicapping.

The bye weeks are here, starting with the Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It means a little less action from a viewing standpoint but the smaller card also frees up more time to handicap the other 14 games on the card.

LONG DIVISION

In Week 4, even with the bye weeks coming into effect, there are more divisional games scheduled than in any other week through the first month. Week 1 had seven, Week 2 there was only three and in Week 3 we saw six divisional matchups.

The road team will be favored in at least four of the nine divisional contests, possibly five, depending which way the line moves in New England at Miami.

There is a trend developing this season that involves divisional road favorites and it’s certainly worth noting for Over/Under bettors.

- When favored by -3 points or more, divisional road favs this year have played 0 overs, 4 unders and 1 push.

Cincinnati (-3) at Cleveland (Total of 37), NY Jets (-5) at Buffalo (Total of 37) and Indianapolis (-7.5) at Jacksonville (Total of 46) all fit the criteria and the "Under" in these three matchups is a play for you to consider.

PICK A SPOT

When looking at these divisional rivalries it is impossible to ignore certain trends that have developed between some of the teams. Two guaranteed meetings per season boosts the credibility of a betting trend because it involves more of the same players and coaches.

Just from the above matchups we can see that the underdog in the Bengals-Browns series is 6-0 ATS since 2007.

We also noticed that the road team in the Colts-Jaguars series is 6-0 ATS the past three seasons.

The road teams is 5-0 ATS in the past five tilts between the Jets and Bills but one of the more glaring trends shows that Buffalo has been a terrible play as a home underdog, going 1-8 ATS the past nine times.

Road favorites were 4-4 ATS in Week 3 but it doesn’t completely make up for their 0-4-1 ATS mark in Week 2. In these three divisional matchups we’ve listed, the road team and the "Under" look like the solid picks but before you circle any of them as a best bet, make sure to do thorough research into the local papers and team websites for injury information.

Think of it this way – with only 14 games on the card you should have some extra time!

Free Ryder Cup Contest

Aside from football, there is also a great golf event this weekend.

The best American golfers go head-to-head against the best Europe has to offer in the 2010 Ryder Cup. It only happens once every four years and for my money, is one of the top sports events of the fall when it tees off.

This year’s starts on Friday and runs through Sunday.

Check out this fun contest to make the event even more interesting.

Play the $100 Ryder Cup Contest…get your picks in today!

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Champions League Picks: Champions League odds

The second half of this week’s Champions League action kicks off today, but who will claim the points in today’s eight games? Let’s previews a selection of games.

Group C – Valencia v Manchester United:

The night’s biggest game comes from the Mestalla Stadium as La Liga leaders Valencia host second in the Premier League table Manchester United. Will United turn around their away form record this season with a victory? Valencia are the favourites to win the match with odds of 2.63, while Man United can be backed at 2.75 and the draw is available at 3.20.

Despite being massively in debt and selling off the majority of their top players, including David Villa, David Silva and Nikola Zigic, over the summer, Valencia have begun the La Liga campaign in fine form and top the table after five games. They have dropped just two points from their opening five games and they are ahead of Barcelona by a point and Real Madrid by two. They also thumped Bursaspor 4-0 in Turkey in their opening Champions League fixture, now can they add another win to their collection against Alex Ferguson’s men?

Manchester United sit second in the Premier League after an undefeated start to the season and, although they have shown glimpses of their brilliance, they are underperforming this season. They have played eight matches this season between the Premier League, Carling Cup and Champions League and they have won four and drawn four of these. Away from home they have drawn with Fulham, Everton and Bolton Wanderers in the Premier League and their only win has come at Scunthorpe United in the Carling Cup. Can they change that around and claim their first big name away win?

United are without Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes for this game, as well as the injured Antonio Valencia, and missing these players will affect them slightly. This will give Valencia an opportunity to win the game and I feel that they will take it and claim all three points. Both sides have good goal threats and I see plenty of goals in this game and, as a result:

we’re backing a Valencia win and over 2.5 goals to be scored.

Group A – Tottenham Hotspur v FC Twente:

This match sees the side that finished fourth in the Premier League take on the Dutch champions in the second round of matches from Group A. Can Twente get anything from their first away Champions League match of the season at White Hart Lane? Bet365 do not think so as they make Spurs the 1.73 favourites to claim all three points, with Twente available at 5.00 and the draw can be backed at 3.60.

Spurs have been an up and down this season so far and have followed up some impressive European results with poor showings in the Premier League. When they defeated Young Boys to qualify for the Champions League they were beaten by Wigan Athletic and after their 2-2 draw at Werder Bremen they were beaten by West Bromwich Albion, both games that they should have won. Last week was a poor one for Spurs too, losing to bitter rivals Arsenal in the Carling Cup before being beaten by West Ham at the weekend. Can they turn their poor week around and claim their first Champions League win?

FC Twente will be no pushovers for Spurs in this match as they are on an unbeaten run of thirteen games in all competitions in a run that stretches back as far as April. They began their Champions League campaign with a 2-2 home draw with defending champions Inter Milan and they sit fourth in the Dutch league following three wins and four draws in an unbeaten start to the season. They are drawing too many games at this early stage and they will need to step up a gear if they are to claim all three points in London.

Harry Redknapp will have his players psyched up for this game and although they are missing several players through in injury I expect to see a home win in this game. However, with the injuries that they have I do not expect things to be easy for them and I see both sides getting on the scoresheet in this game.

Our money is on a Spurs win with both sides to score.

Check the Champions League odds @ sportsbetting.com

For chat and plenty of bets on all of this week’s Champions League action, check out the Champions League Online Betting Stadium!

Some Recommendations:

· Valencia to beat Manchester United @ 2.63

· Over 2.5 goals in the Valencia v Manchester United game @ 2.10

· Tottenham Hotspur to beat FC Twente @ 1.73

· Both Tottenham Hotspur and FC Twente to score @ 1.73

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NFL Betting: An Early AFC Update

Before the season began, an argument could have been made for any one of three AFC divisions to be the top of the class. Sorry West, you weren’t invited to the party.

After three weeks, not a lot has been settled in the debate for divisional supremacy. The East and South divisions each contain three teams with identical 2-1 straight-up (SU) records while Baltimore and Cincinnati balance the North.

Miami impressed with back-to-back road wins to start the season but couldn’t handle the New York Jets Sunday night. New England has looked very good on offense for two and-a-half of its three games but a defensive breakdown cost bettors against the Bills and in the only half where the Pats offense was shutout, the Jets made them pay dearly.

Going back to the end of last season, New York’s record is now 6-2 SU/ATS in its past eight games and 9-3 SU/ATS in its past 12. No one seems willing to crown King Sanchez just yet, but a 75-percent record for bettors is at least worth a tip of the cap.

The Bengals have an edge over the Ravens, not just for beating them straight-up in Week 2 but also for dominating the Panthers Sunday with an offense that didn’t even shift out of second gear.

Baltimore does lead the AFC in fewest points allowed (41) but Tennessee is right behind, giving up just 42. And Houston is the only one of 10 teams in the conference with a winning record that has allowed more points (78) than they have scored (77).

But then there is Pittsburgh...

NO OFFENSE, NO PROBLEM

If you can find anyone that says they projected the Steelers (3-0 SU/ATS) to win three-straight games to start the season, shake their hand, say “Congratulations” and then never buy any real estate or insurance from that person.

QB Charlie Batch guided the Steelers to a an absolute drubbing of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, making plays and proving he is a capable backup. A Steelers team that was lost in `09 when defensive standout Troy Polamalu went down has positioned themselves as legitimate Super Bowl contenders. With one game left to play before Ben Roethlisberger returns, bettors need to have a strong system or trend in effect before fading Mike Tomlin’s crew.

The Baltimore Ravens are in Pittsburgh for Week 4 and the early line at sportsbook is Steelers (-1.5). The Over/Under is 34. Early betting action at Sportsbetting.com has 55% of the action on the visiting Ravens and 58% of the volume on the “Under”.

HOT STREAKS

We mentioned how well the Jets have performed if you include last season’s results, but Pittsburgh slips under the radar since they missed the playoffs in January.

- Pittsburgh is 6-0 straight-up in its last six games and for sports bettors, they have a record of 4-1-1 against the spread in that stretch.

- The Steelers are outscoring opponents 44-12 in the first-half through the first three weeks of the season

Not bad for a team built on defense!

FREE CONTEST

$100,000 FREE “NFL Games of the Year” Contest

You can win $100,000 this football season by playing the free "$100,000 Games of the Year Challenge" @ sportsbetting.com

Have a great week.

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Monday Night Football – Green Bay at Chicago

The Packers started the season with a decisive win in Philadelphia and backed it up with a proper throttling of Buffalo in Week 2 at Lambeau Field. Last season Green Bay had made a habit of beating up on lesser foes (by an average of more than 25 points per game) and last week’s 34-7 final was right in line.

Sportsbook have the line in this one posted as the Packers -3, with a Total of 46.

Chicago barely avoided an opening week upset at the hands of the Detroit Lions, while they were big underdogs Week 2 in Dallas, a game they won straight up.

Now Chicago is 2-0 SU on the season and looking for its first 3-0 start since a memorable 2006 campaign that ended with Super Bowl loss to the Colts.

In 2009, the Bears did start the year with a 3-1 SU/ATS record but the loss was suffered in Week 1 against these same Packers.

HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF

Chicago won only seven games last season so it’s not surprising they were 0-2 SU/ATS against the 11-win Packers. Green Bay also swept the Bears in 2008 against the number. In fact Chicago bettors have not had a winning season backing the Bears against the division since 2005 (4-1-1 ATS)

BACK IT UP

Green Bay was 5-1 SU/ATS against low-tier opponents last year, all five wins coming by a margin of 19 points or more (26.6 ppg avg). In the contest that immediately followed the five blowout victories Green Bay was 3-2 SU/ATS with 2 overs and 3 unders.

Worth noting is that both losses were against divisional foes and both of those game went "Over" the total.

GAMEPLAN

Green Bay was No. 1 against the rush last year and has to be expecting Chicago to go airborne in an attempt to free up lanes for Matt Forte. The Packer have to be on the lookout for swing passes, though, as all three of Forte’s TDs this year have come via the pass.

The Packers run game is still a bit of a mystery since Ryan Grant went down, as Green Bay split carries between Brandon Jackson (11, 29 yards) and John Kuhn (9, 36 yards). Expect Jackson to get a slightly heavier workload but for Green Bay’s offense to focus mainly on the passing game.

Monday Night Pick

Chicago is 6-14-2 ATS after its past 22 wins and has covered the spread back-to-back times just twice in the past two years. Their early season performance has forced online books to post a modest line for this game but getting at least three, we like the home underdog in this primetime matchup.

Take the Bears

You can check the props and NFL odds for the Monday nighter at Sportsbetting.com

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English Premier League Picks

There is another full card of English Premier League matches this weekend and after the excitement of last weekend’s games we’re expecting more fireworks this Saturday and Sunday! Let’s look at the four biggest games.
Chelsea vs. Man City
The weekend kicks off with the biggest game as Manchester City host Chelsea at the City of Manchester Stadium in Saturday’s lunchtime kickoff. Chelsea have started the season off in impressive style, winning all six of their Premier and Champions League matches and scoring 25 goals in the process. This game will be their first big test of the season though and it was one they failed last season, losing both games against Manchester City. However, they look stronger and better than last season when they won the Premier League. Checking the sportsbook lines, we like the Chelsea to win this one.

West Bromwich Albion vs. Arsenal
Also in action on Saturday are Arsenal, who entertain newly promoted West Bromwich Albion at the Emirates Stadium. West Brom will be in high spirits after beating local rivals Birmingham City last weekend, but a trip to the Emirates is daunting at any stage, but especially this season as Arsenal are in devastating form at home so far.

Arsenal have scored 16 goals in their 3 home matches this season, scoring 6 goals on two occasions and 4 in the other match. We expect that there will be plenty more goals to be seen in London this weekend too, so we’re putting our cash on the Over 2.5 goals.

Sunderland vs. Liverpool
Another game we’re looking at on Saturday sees Liverpool welcome Sunderland to Anfield. Both of these sides are fairly poor away from home, with Liverpool lucky to come so close to beating Manchester United last weekend and Sunderland having picked up just one point from three away games this season so far. We expect Liverpool to have the edge at Anfield this weekend and we’re backing a home win in this one @ 1.33.

Man U vs. Bolton
The final game we’re looking at comes from the Reebok Stadium, where Bolton Wanderers take on Manchester United. Last weekend Dimitar Berbatov scored a great hat-trick to claim the match ball and all three points against Liverpool. He’ll be looking to add more goals to his name this weekend and with Manchester United having won their last five matches against Bolton it is likely that he’ll be on the scoresheet again. Can Bolton do anything to stop Man United? There two home games have seen draws against Fulham and Birmingham City this season, so we’re expecting an easy win for the visitors in this one and we’re putting our money on a Manchester United to win @ 1.39.
You can check all the Premier League odds @ sportsbetting.com Read More!

NFL Betting: What Bettors Need to Know for Week 3

Upsets ruled the board in Week 2 of the NFL season with underdogs going 5-10-1 against the spread (ATS).

Divisional favorites were a bad bet, as Baltimore, Carolina and New England were all on the losing side – not only at the betting window – but straight-up (SU) as well.

The Patriots (-14.5) this week were already listed as the biggest favorite of the season when sportsbook opened the line for their game against the Buffalo Bills. Heavy action since Monday though, has pushed the line has high as 15 points at some places. Given Buffalo’s performance so far it is quite likely that number will touch 16 points by kickoff.

SPORTS BETTING FACT
The New England Patriots (66-percent) are the second highest picked public favorite among sports bettors since 2007.

DRAW A LINE
We’ve had a chance to see most NFL teams in home and away situations but during the next few weeks bettors are going to have to start considering other factors such as early bodyclock games, divisional sandwich situations and look-ahead spots. Perhaps it will be a revenge situation or even worse – a playoff revenge game.

When this happens, astute bettors will jump quickly on favorable lines but it can work both ways. An example is this week when San Francisco (-2.5) travels to Kansas City.

Against a team that finished last season 4-12 SU that seems like an awfully low line, especially for a 49ers team that nearly knocked off the defending Super Bowl champions just a few days ago. Or does it?

San Francisco played in just one Monday Night game in 2009, it was at home and they covered the spread as an underdog. Sound familiar?

Next, the Niners had to travel to Philadelphia which is three time zones ahead for San Francisco. Kansas City is only two hours different but the unusual travel situation can still take its toll.

Kansas City is also a non-Conference foe and wouldn’t you know it; the Niners lost each of their past three road games against AFC teams. In fact the only inter-Conference road game they’ve won since Mike Singletary took over the team was 10-3 at Buffalo.

So after just a quick look at this matchup the oddsmaker’s line starts to make a lot more sense. The Chiefs’ 2-0 SU record also needs to be considered but we’re discounting a few points away from any win against the Cleveland Browns!

TIME TRAVELERS
The 49ers were 0-4 straight-up in 2009 the first four times they traveled to play Eastern/Central time zone opponents

INTER-CONFERENCE BETTING STAT
In eight non-Conference matchups so far this year favorites are 6-2 SU but only 3-3-2 ATS.

Every one of the early games this week is either an inter-Conference or divisional matchup. Several more trends and systems are sure to develop as we move into Week 4. While it’s tough to look at all the angles, be sure to look at more than just one before placing your bets.

Check the updated NFL Odds @ sportsbetting.com Read More!

UFC 119:UFC Betting

UFC 119 is this Saturday September 25 in Indianapolis, Indiana and online sportsbook Sportsbetting.com has the odds on the upcoming fight card. This fight card may not have a Championship title on the line, it does offer plenty of opportunities to move into a position to challenge for one.

Frank Mir -250 vs Mirko Cro Cop +180
This is the last gasp for two great warriors of MMA. Frank Mir 13-5 coming off a devastating 1st round loss to Shane Carwin gets a chance back on the road for the heavyweight championship against Pride legend Mirko Cro Cop. Cro Cop 27-7-2 is riding a 2 fight winning streak and coming off an impressive come from behind win against Pat Barry. Cro Cop is a replacement for an injured Antonio Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira and this could be the break Cro Cop need. Classic striker vs BJJ match where if Frank Mir doesn’t watch himself, he may get caught. Likewise, Cro Cop’s chin isn’t what it used to be which makes this an exciting headliner.

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira +140 vs Ryan Bader -170
Little “Nog” has been on an impressive seven fight win streak while Ryan Bader enters this fight undefeated at 11-0. This is Bader’s toughest fight in his young career and the wrestler will have all he can handle. A win for Little “Nog” will put him in the spotlight for a shot at the light heavyweight title.

Matt Serra +105 vs Chris Lytle -135
Rematch of TUF 4 finale, and a candidate for fight of the night, Chris Lytle gets his shot at revenge of a split decision that went Matt Serra’s way. Chris Lytle, the busier of the two since TUF finale, is a slight favorite and gets his chance at revenge. The underdog, Matt “The Terror,” Serra will be plenty motivated to get back on the road to regaining his welterweight title he lost in 2008. Serra has a dangerous punch that Lytle will have to guard against and then pressure Serra on the ground. Should be an exciting fight.

Sean Sherk +180 vs Evan Dunham -230
Sean Sherk’s last fight was 16 months ago, a loss to current champion Frankie Edgar, and ring rust may be Sherk’s enemy in this fight. Sherk will need to overcome the rust fast, as fast rising Evan Dunham may not give him any time to overcome it. Dunham is a heavy favorite on his 11-0 record with big wins over Tyson Griffin and Efrain Escudero. Sherk has experience on his side, but he’ll need more to defeat Dunham and his layoff.

Melvin Guillard -170 vs Jeremy Stephens +140
Looking for an underdog to place a bet on? Jeremy Stephens may be your man. Tough fighter, with great striking abilities, Stephens is a live dog in this fight. Melvin Guillard is no slouch who has is 5-1 in his last 6 fights. Guillard is favored with a win over Glieson Tibau while Stephens lost to the same fighter. Stephens has stepped up his game since then and there will be fireworks between the two. A knockout is likely the outcome in this fight.

You can check all the UFC Betting & Odds @ Sportsbetting.com Read More!

NFL Betting: Look into the Futures

Parity is looming large through the first two weeks of the NFL season with eight teams at 2-0, eight more at 0-2 and the remaining 16 teams sitting with a 1-1 straight-up record.

It has set Week 3 up as a pivotal start for several teams and sportsbook have posted some tight lines. Out of 16 games, online sportsbook, Sportsbetting.com, has 10 teams favored by four points or less.

One way bettors can take advantage of the situation is to look ahead to Week 4 matchups and check ‘Prospective Betting’ lines that are currently being offered.

Prospective Betting involves picking sides from an upcoming point in the season and placing a bet based on odds being offered today. When the game comes "live", odds for the bet that’s already in your pocket don’t change.

For example, if you place a bet on a Week 5 underdog at +7.5 points and by game time the number is down to +5.5, you have given yourself a two-point advantage. And if the favorite wins by a touchdown, your play on the dog +7 is still a winner.

Indianapolis (-6) is at Denver this week and the following week the Colts travel to Jacksonville. Sportsbetting.com currently lists the Colts (-6) and while it will be second of back-to-back road games, if Peyton Manning plays in Denver the way he did last Sunday vs. his brother, laying six points will be a steal. You can check all the NFL odds.


CAUGHT RED HANDED
The new location for the umpire this season has had an immediate impact on the number of offensive holding penalties this season and teams that can’t help but hold are getting beat by the books.

Of the seven most-penalized teams (Jets, Cardinals, Raiders, Eagles, Titans, Rams and Cowboys), not one team has been a good bet this year.

New York, Arizona, Tennessee and St. Louis are 1-1 ATS while the others are a combined 0-8 ATS.

Compared with early season stats from 2007-09, offensive holding calls are up nearly 75-percent and while teams take time to adjust, bad offenses will continue to struggle, setting up solid plays AGAINST for bettors.

EAGLE FLYING HIGH
The Philadelphia Eagles have announced they will stick with Michael Vick as their starter for this week’s matchup in Jacksonville. Vick took over when Kevin Kolb was injured vs. Green Bay and led the Eagles to a road win in Detroit last weekend.

It was thought that Kolb would take back the starter’s job once he was cleared by medical staff but in the NFC East, where three teams share a tie for first, a Reid’s gotta do what a Reid’s gotta do! Read More!

F1 BETTING – SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX

The Formula One World Championship is heating up as the season nears its completion! There are five drivers who could possibly win the title and they are all separated by fewer points than can be claimed for winning a race, and this weekend we return to Singapore – the site of the biggest scandal in Formula One in recent years.

The Singapore race was first held as part of the Formula One World Championship in 2008 and that race was won by one of this season’s title contenders Fernando Alonso in a Renault. Alonso started the race in 15th and went on to win the race following a safety car period after his team-mate crashed when he was the only driver to have stopped for a pit stop. This allowed Alonso to control the race from the front, however it later emerged that Renault had order Alonso’s team-mate, Nelson Piquet Jr., to crash on purpose to allow Alonso to win the race. Following an investigation, several members of Renault were banned from Formula One and Renault were handed a suspended ban from F1.

While we don’t expect to see anything of this level of incident at this season’s race, the top five drivers will all be battling for the race win and there should be plenty of action and excitement. Red Bull are the favourites to win the race, with their drivers Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber available at odds of 3.25 and 4.00 respectively with sportsbook, and with their car having the best aerodynamic package one of their drivers likely to take the win. Can Alonso (available at 5.50) or the McLaren drivers – Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button (available at 4.50 and 12.00 respectively) – stop the Red Bull cars?

Alonso will be in confident spirits after his win in Italy two weeks ago and Button will upbeat about his chances after a strong showing at Monza that saw him lead the race and eventually finish second to Alonso. Hamilton won in Singapore in 2009 and after crashing out in the last race, he will want a good performance. Despite all this, we feel that the Red Bull cars will be the ones to beat as they have been on non-power based tracks this season.

Will it be Vettel or Webber to take the chequered flag though? After being beaten by Vettel at Monza, Webber will want to reassert his dominance over Vettel this season and we feel that he will take the win in the Far East.

As a result we’re backing Mark Webber to win the Singapore Grand Prix @ 4.00.

You can check all the Formula 1 Betting & odds @sportsbetting.com Read More!

NFL Betting Update

In case there was any uncertainty, Indianapolis laid everyone’s concerns to rest Sunday night in front of a national TV audience: Peyton Manning’s offense is still one of the best in the business, a championship defense can in fact be built on speed, and the Colts are the top team in the AFC South (yes, Houston we know you scored the victory Week 1).

A performance like Sunday’s win over the Giants makes the price that sportsbook have on the Colts (+400) to win the AFC look attractive and the opportunity for such an offer is likely only going to be around for a few more days.

Indianapolis is at Denver in Week 3 and Sportsbetting.com has listed the Colts as a 6- point favorite. After that one, Indy will face Jacksonville and Kansas City, a pair of 1-and-1 clubs, and even though Indy may not cover the spread in all three matchups, odds are very good they will be 4-1 SU (straight-up) by Week 6.

- Houston improved to 2-0 SU with an overtime win at Washington, who the Colts will meet in Week 6 and then Indianapolis has a bye. When they return it’s a rematch with the Texans on Monday Night Football!

Wouldn’t it be something if the Colts are 5-0 SU for that game since that loss in Houston Week 1.

‘Prospective Betting’ lines for that and every matchup from now through Week 17 are available now at the sportsbook . The current line shows Indianapolis (-6).

LITTLE BROTHER
Eli Manning must be used to getting picked on by his older brother. It started when they were kids and even in the pros Peyton has kept on given little brother the beats.

What doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger, though, and its possible bettors could find value looking for the Giants to go on a roll.

The last time big bros beat up on Eli was Week 1, 2006. The Giants followed that loss with a straight-up win as a divisional road dog in Philadelphia and then went on to five of their next six games SU (4-2 ATS).

New York is home for back-to-back games against two beatable foes stating Sunday (Tennessee, Chicago), and oddsmakers have listed the Giants as -3.5 favorites.

Ex-Giant Kerry Collins was calling signals for the fourth quarter of the Titans’ 19-11 loss against Pittsburgh but Coach Fisher says Vince Young will start in New York.

QB SCRAMBLE
One quarterback that will not be back under center this week is Steve Moore. Coach Fox did not liked what he saw in either of Moore’s first two starts and announced Monday that rookie QB Jimmy Clausen will make his first NFL start Sunday when the Bengals visit Carolina.

Cincinnati (-3.5) was far better at home against Baltimore than they were in New England and early money has already started to come in on the road favorite for this inter-Conference game.

There is also concern that Steelers QB Dennis Dixon (knee) could be out longer than expected with a torn lateral meniscus that could require arthroscopic surgery to repair the damage. Ben Roethlisberger would be back with the team before Dixon but in the meantime Pittsburgh has re-signed Byron Leftwich as a backup to Charlie Batch.

Pittsburgh (-2.5) is in Tampa Bay (2-0) this Sunday and the Steelers are 0-5 ATS in their past five non-Conference meetings away from Heinz Field.

Good luck this week @ sportsbetting.com Read More!

NFL Betting Update

In case there was any uncertainty, Indianapolis laid everyone’s concerns to rest Sunday night in front of a national TV audience: Peyton Manning’s offense is still one of the best in the business, a championship defense can in fact be built on speed, and the Colts are the top team in the AFC South (yes, Houston we know you scored the victory Week 1).

A performance like Sunday’s win over the Giants makes the price that sportsbook have on the Colts (+400) to win the AFC look attractive and the opportunity for such an offer is likely only going to be around for a few more days.

Indianapolis is at Denver in Week 3 and Sportsbetting.com has listed the Colts as a 6- point favorite. After that one, Indy will face Jacksonville and Kansas City, a pair of 1-and-1 clubs, and even though Indy may not cover the spread in all three matchups, odds are very good they will be 4-1 SU (straight-up) by Week 6.

- Houston improved to 2-0 SU with an overtime win at Washington, who the Colts will meet in Week 6 and then Indianapolis has a bye. When they return it’s a rematch with the Texans on Monday Night Football!

Wouldn’t it be something if the Colts are 5-0 SU for that game since that loss in Houston Week 1.

‘Prospective Betting’ lines for that and every matchup from now through Week 17 are available now at the sportsbook . The current line shows Indianapolis (-6).

LITTLE BROTHER
Eli Manning must be used to getting picked on by his older brother. It started when they were kids and even in the pros Peyton has kept on given little brother the beats.

What doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger, though, and its possible bettors could find value looking for the Giants to go on a roll.

The last time big bros beat up on Eli was Week 1, 2006. The Giants followed that loss with a straight-up win as a divisional road dog in Philadelphia and then went on to five of their next six games SU (4-2 ATS).

New York is home for back-to-back games against two beatable foes stating Sunday (Tennessee, Chicago), and oddsmakers have listed the Giants as -3.5 favorites.

Ex-Giant Kerry Collins was calling signals for the fourth quarter of the Titans’ 19-11 loss against Pittsburgh but Coach Fisher says Vince Young will start in New York.

QB SCRAMBLE
One quarterback that will not be back under center this week is Steve Moore. Coach Fox did not liked what he saw in either of Moore’s first two starts and announced Monday that rookie QB Jimmy Clausen will make his first NFL start Sunday when the Bengals visit Carolina.

Cincinnati (-3.5) was far better at home against Baltimore than they were in New England and early money has already started to come in on the road favorite for this inter-Conference game.

There is also concern that Steelers QB Dennis Dixon (knee) could be out longer than expected with a torn lateral meniscus that could require arthroscopic surgery to repair the damage. Ben Roethlisberger would be back with the team before Dixon but in the meantime Pittsburgh has re-signed Byron Leftwich as a backup to Charlie Batch.

Pittsburgh (-2.5) is in Tampa Bay (2-0) this Sunday and the Steelers are 0-5 ATS in their past five non-Conference meetings away from Heinz Field.

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NFL Betting: Saints vs. 49ers Preview

Monday Night Football is usually considered the ‘big’ game of the week during the regular season, but with the run the Saints have been on, primetime matchups are starting to become old hat. In a stretch that goes back to last year’s playoffs, tonight marks the fifth consecutive game for New Orleans in front of a national TV audience.

The Week 1 opener vs. Minnesota was not exactly the brand of football Saints bettors have become accustomed to, but a 14-9 win was enough to get the team past the mythical post-Super Bowl jinx that has sent several past champions to the mat.

San Francisco not only lost its first game, they were slapped hard by a divisional opponent (Seattle) who this weekend at Denver proved they were not very special after all. The pressure in this game for a strong performance is clearly on the 49ers.

Sportsbook have the line as New Orleans -5.

PAST PERFORMANCES
2010 marks the third straight year the Saints have opened the season at home and followed it with a non-divisional road game the very next week. They are 3-0 SU in the home portion and the games that followed the last two years had completely different results (5 point loss – 26 point win). Today’s Saints are nothing like the group from `08, however, so it’s not worth putting too much weight into the trend.

It is worth noting that the Saints are 6-9 ATS on Monday Night and they have won five straight over the 49ers since being swept in a 2001 home-and-home series against their then-NFC West rival.

San Francisco is looking to avoid its first 0-2 SU start since 2005. They are 4-1 SU in their home opener the past five years and 3-2 against the number.

SPOTLIGHT
No wonder the Saints don’t mind a lot of attention!

2009 Divisional Finals – Saints (-7) hosted the Arizona Cardinals, winning 45-14 (Over 57)

2009 Conference Championship – Saints (-3.5) beat Minnesota 31-28 in overtime (Over 54)

Super Bowl XLIV at Dolphins Stadium – Saints (+4) upset Indianapolis Colts 31-17 (Under 56.5)

2010 NFL Season Kickoff – Saints (-5) welcome Brett Favre back with another defeat, 14-9 (Under 49)

PUBLIC EYE
According to online sportsbooks, only three teams this week including the Saints (87-percent) were heavily over weighted with public money to one side. The other big favorites Sunday, Philadelphia (89-percent) and New England (89-percent), both came up short at the betting window.

Combine it with figures from Week 1, where overweight public favs went 1-3 ATS and it doesn’t paint a pretty picture for Joe Public. Can the Saints change the market?

PREDICTION
Expectations for the 49ers were high coming into the season and after the blowout at Qwest Field, no one should be sounding the alarms just yet. A 0-3 SU day for NFC West rivals on Sunday helps the cause and with a win today, San Francisco would be right on pace. Now getting that win vs. the most explosive team in football is another story.

QB Smith is going to be under a lot of duress from the front seven and when he does get the ball away the Saints’ ball hawking secondary will be looking to make plays. San Francisco’s run-game was good for only 49 yards against Seattle and if they fall behind it will be hard to get untracked.

The Niners also converted just 1-for-15 on third downs and while no team is ever ‘as bad’ as they were the week before, Mike Singletary’s squad has a lot of ground to make up.
Pick: Take the Saints

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Wednesdays Champions League Betting

The second night of Champions League football this week arguably has more anticipated clashes than last night. Where does the betting value lie? Let’s look at some selections.

Real Madrid v Ajax:

Europe’s big spenders take on the former European Cup holders from the Netherlands in a match that sees last year’s Champions League winning manager get back into action. Can Jose Mourinho get his attempt to win a second successive Champions League title off with a win? Bet365 make Real Madrid the 1.30 favourites to claim all three points, with Ajax available at 9.50 and the draw can be backed at odds of 5.50.

Neither of these two sides have looked particularly impressive at the start of the seasons, with Real Madrid having scored just one goal in their first two league matches and Ajax struggling to get into the Champions League. Real are undefeated in La Liga under Jose Mourinho with a draw and a win under their belt, but the highlight is that Mourinho has worked his magic already and Real are yet to concede a goal. Ajax were lucky to reach this point of the tournament, having overcome Greek side PAOK on away goals and beaten Dynamo Kiev 3-2 on aggregate in the qualifiers. However, they are joint top of the Dutch league having gone unbeaten for five league matches, winning four and drawing one, but can they remain unbeaten against massive superior opposition that the teams in the league?

I can’t see Ajax getting anything from this game as Real will keep things tight under the stewardship of Jose Mourinho, and I expect to see a Real win in a tight game. My money for this match is on Real Madrid to win the game by at least two goals. Check the odds at your sportsbook.

Bayern Munich v Roma:

Neither of these sides have started off the season well and Bayern sit mid-table in the Bundesliga, while Roma are doing even worse and sit second bottom of Serie A after two games. How will this game go? Books believe that Bayern will take all three points and make them the 1.67 favourites, with Roma available at 5.30 and the draw can be backed at odds of 3.80.

Bayern began their domestic season with a win over Wolfsburg, now managed by former England boss Steve McClaren, but since then they have picked up just one point from their following two games and they failed to find the net in either match. However, that pales in comparison to the start had by Roma this season. After pushing Inter Milan all the way to the title last season they would have hoped to start this season well, but a 0-0 draw on the opening day against newly promoted Cesena and a 5-1 thumping at the hands of Cagliari see them sit second bottom of the league. Both teams need to turn things around in this match, but which one of them will do so?

With Roma’s dismal away performance at the weekend against Cagliari I feel that they will struggle at the Allianz Arena this Wednesday and i’m backing a home win in this game despite their poor start to the season. As well as backing a Bayern Munich win at odds of 1.67, I’ll also be putting my money on both teams not to score at odds of 2.10. Both set of odds come from Bet365.

Arsenal v Sporting Braga:

The oddsmakers have Arsenal as 1.29 favourites to pick up all three points in the first Champions League match of the season at the Emirates Stadium. Braga are available at odds of 11.00 and the draw can be backed at 5.50. Will the game go according to these odds?

Arsenal have started the Premier League season well and have dropped just two points from their opening four games as they sit in second place in the table. The dropped points came on the opening day of the season against Liverpool at Anfield as they were outplayed by a ten man Liverpool side. Since then they have scored twelve goals and conceded just two, with ten of those goals coming in two matches at home and this will give them the confidence to believe that they can collect all three points against Braga.

However, Braga will be no pushovers as shown by the manner in which they qualified for the Champions League – a 4-3 victory at Sevilla, who had just previously beaten Barcelona 3-1 at the same ground days previously. However, they come into this game having been beaten in the league by FC Porto, will this motivate them to get all three points or will they fail to get anything from the match?

Arsenal are devastating at home at the moment and while Braga are a decent team they are will still be unable to deal with an Arsenal side that is at the top of its game at the moment. However, they have shown that they can score goals away from home, having scored in six of their last seven away games, and with Arsenal’s weak point being their goalkeeper I expect this game to see both teams on the scoresheet. My money is on Arsenal to win the game by at least two goals at odds of 1.80 and both sides to score.

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NFL Betting: Season Win Totals Still Offered

In the weeks leading up to the kickoff of the new NFL season, sportsbook offered lines on win totals for each team. These “Season Win Total” plays are always popular with the sports betting public.

Sportsbetting.com - However, with the advent of free agency and so much movement and parity interjected into the league these days, there is a sense it has become more difficult for bettors to handicap individual teams on a year-to-year basis.

With one week in the books we’ve now had a chance to see the first teamers respond to different playbooks, new teammates and coaching changes. Its knowledge we can use for betting sides and totals on the Week 2 card, but there is another option available that could offer even more value.

One sportsbook, Sportsbetting.com, is giving bettors a chance to make plays on Adjusted ‘Season Win Totals’ with revised pricing based on Week 1 results.

So now you can apply some of the things you learned opening week to handicapping these bets, something that hasn’t been an option in the past.

Favorites came out of Week 1 with a 10-6 straight-up (SU) record and for the six teams that were upset, this could be a viewed as a good buying opportunity as the loss gets swept under the carpet and these teams prepare for Round 2.

One play you might want to look at is the San Diego Chargers (Over 10 -120). The defending AFC West champs were rained on, beat up and bowled over by a feisty Kansas City team celebrating the grand re-opening of Arrowhead Stadium. San Diego was using a new O-line, featured a rookie running back and played its first game without last year’s top receiver (V. Jackson). The team was got caught off guard by a "live" divisional home dog.

The reward for bettors that waited is a half-point advantage over the Chargers preseason win total and the insurance of a ‘Push’ option on 10 wins. Remember, this team is notorious for starting slow but they did finish 2009 with 11-straight wins.

Or how about teams that mildly shocked the sports betting community with Week 1 performances that weren’t even on the radar screen for handicappers? Seattle, Washington and Houston are all 1-0 SU right now and it created a spike in their projected win total for the season. Will the winning ways continue?

The Redskins host the Texans in Week 2, guaranteeing (almost certainly) that one of these teams will be 1-1. If you think Arian Foster is the new Chris Johnson, the value for betting Houston "Over" may be gone. If Donovan McNabb’s first win was a hoax, however, and there’s no way the Redskins will survive such an obvious lack of chemistry for an entire season, then playing the inflated win total "Under" 8 wins offers immediate value.

A good strategy while setting up for Week 2 is to check the lines for all 32 teams in the football betting section your sportsbook. Compare your preseason thoughts with impressions from Week 1 and then look at this week’s matchups. If a team that lost in Week 1 has a good chance at winning straight-up in Week 2, reference the odds for their adjusted win total.

Spotting line value means more than just looking at the current matchups. If there is a good ‘Futures’ pick available, it could be your best bet.

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NFL Betting: Vikings at Saints

The long wait is over. The rosters have been cut, practice squads set and now the games actually count.

The NFL serves up a true marquee matchup to kick everything off, as the Vikings head back to the scene of the crime when they visit the New Orleans Saints. Sportsbook have been seeing heavy action on this one as the game gets closer.

The last time Minnesota played here it was the NFC Conference Championship game and we all remember how that finished for Favre and crew. Although those bettors who backed Minny in that one were able to smile as they cached in, playing the underdog at +4 in a 31-28 loss.

The Vikings are underdogs again, this time by 5 points. They will play without standout WR Sydney Rice, but otherwise have their usual assortment of weapons (Adrian Peterson, Bernard Berrian, Percy Harvin).

The defending Super Bowl champs, as stated, are laying 5 points in this game as they are again touted as one of a handful of Super Bowl contenders. The team is mostly in tact, with the exception of safety Darren Sharper, who was placed on the PUP list with a knee injury.

Will the Saints enter the game with the dreaded Super Bowl hangover? Or will they be fired up looking to defend their title? Will the Vikings avenge the Conference Final loss from last season? Or will they start the season the same way it ended last year? It should be a lot of fun finding out.

Looking at the sportsbetting.com, currently the action is heavily tilted to the home team, with 80% of all the money on the Saints.

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Navy Midshipmen vs Maryland Terrapins: Monday College Football Picks

On Monday, we’ll get a double-bill of college football action and while most of the public is eyeing the later game, the lead game should be quite intriguing.

Maryland is coming off a horrendous season, finishing with just two wins in 2009. Meanwhile, Navy is a team that appears to be on the rise and is the far more cohesive unit.

But coming from the ACC, Maryland has more talent and more athleticism on the roster. Everything went sour for them last year when the offensive line couldn’t block anyone but they have plenty of talent at the skill positions.

Navy is going to be a load to handle with the triple-option, especially the way Ricky Dobbs runs it, but Maryland could be a bit underrated. Don’t be surprised if they are able to hang with Navy in this contest and maybe even win it outright. Read More!

NFL Betting: Week 4 Pre-Season Picks

We’re a week away from the kick-off to the real 2010-2011 season, as the Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints prepare to start it all next Thursday night. However, before those festivities take us into the new season, there are still a few questions that need answering during the Week 4 preseason.

Let’s look at the betting action on a few of the games from the final week of the exhibition schedule.

Washington at Arizona

Who cares about this one? Let’s start with Willie Parker and Matt Leinart…and maybe Albert Haynesworth. Actually Albert probably doesn’t really care, but it is worth noting that everyone on the Redskins 1^st team defense is getting the night off, but Haynesworth is expected to start and get a lot of playing time in this one.

On offense, Willie Parker will start at RB, but for him, this is more likely a showcase for other teams needing depth at running back, as it looks improbable that he will make the ‘Skins.

For the Cardinals, rumors are swirling that they’re actively shopping QB Matt Leinart. Look for Anderson to start behind center as they try and get a handle on that messy QB situation.

But bettors still like the home side, with 65% of the action at the sportsbook on Arizona -6.

Carolina at Pittsburgh

Most star QBs will not see much action in any Week 4 preseason games. The exception is if your star QB is about to serve a four-game suspension to start the season. That’s the current scenario for Ben Roethlisberger, who will see his last action until his suspension is completed. Byron Leftwich will hold down the fort until his return.

For the Panthers’ QBs, Matt Moore is expected to get a little time, followed by a brief stint from Jimmy Clausen. The majority of the snaps will be shared between Tony Pike and Hunter Cantwell. If you think Week 4 doesn’t mean anything, watch this one, as it is possible whoever plays better between Pike and Cantwell will get the #3 spot, and the loser may be unemployed.

Bettors are all over the home team, with sportsbooks reporting 80% of the betting is on Pittsburgh -6.

Miami at Dallas

The big news out of Dallas is that Dez Bryant is back to the practice field, but will not see any action Thursday night. This is because the 1^st team offense will not play in the final regular season game. Jerry Jones has stated that Bryant’s first action will be versus the Redskins in Week 1, as a starter (always love how the owner is the one announcing news like this in Dallas).

Dolphins’ coach Tony Sparano was not pleased with the performance of his team last week and is looking for greater focus and urgency versus Dallas. He hasn’t indicated how long his starters will play, just that “they better be ready to play.” Henne will start at QB, and Pennington will also see some action.

Bettors are listening, as they think the Dolphins have an edge. A lopsided 85% of the action is on Miami -1.

Enjoy the games. You can check all the NFL Odds

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