Football Betting Odds
Sunday Night Football Betting Preview
2010-10-02
Kickoff: Sunday, 8:20 p.m. EDT
Sportsbook.com Odds: New York -3.5, Total: 44
The Giants catch a break from the schedule, getting Chicago at home as the undefeated Bears come off a late Monday night win. This could be our first chance to see how the wind affects play at the new Meadowlands, if the winds do indeed pick up during an October night game. Between that and a solid Giants pass defense, it could have an effect on a Bears offense that relies almost exclusively on the passing game.
One major concern for QB Jay Cutler (870 pass yds, 6 TD, 2 INT) is the absence of his blind-side protector LT Chris Williams who will likely miss a second straight game because of a hamstring injury. The Giants have talented pass rushers throughout their D-Line and could be throwing Cutler to the turf early and often. The Giants can also key on the passing game considering Chicago ranks 29th in the league in rushing yards (72.0 YPG).
The Giants should be fully healthy when Sunday night arrives. WR Mario Manningham suffered what was thought to be a concussion last week, but it appears the injury wasn’t too much more severe than a headache. Manningham, Hakeem Nicks and Steve Smith should all be able to get open for Eli Manning, considering the Bears pass defense is allowing 279 passing YPG (28th in NFL). New York has also been able to run the football with Ahmad Bradshaw who has 253 rushing yards on 4.9 YPC this year.
The teams have split their four meetings since 2000, with the Giants winning 21-16 the last time they met in 2007. But the road team is 6-0-1 ATS in the past seven meetings, dating back to 1992. However, this NFL betting trend sides with NY:
Play Against - Any team (CHICAGO) - off an upset win over a division rival as a home underdog, with a winning record on the season. (62-27 since 1983.) (69.7%, +32.3 units. Rating = 3*).
For bettors making a play on the ‘total’, here is something to consider:
Play Over - Road teams against the total (CHICAGO) - with a good scoring defense - allowing 17 or less points/game, after a win by 6 or less points.
(28-8 over the last 5 seasons.) (77.8%, +19.2 units. Rating = 2*).
Head over to Sportsbook.com now to get your 20% sign-up bonus and then spend it on the this Sunday Night Football match-up.
Chicago, Spokane duel on NFL Network Friday
2010-07-23
This week’s Friday night NFL Network broadcast of the Arena Football League features Chicago visiting Spokane in a battle of division leaders in the National Conference. Both teams have clinched playoff spots, with the Shock having wrapped up the West Division as well. Spokane has clinched the top seed in the conference playoffs already, and has little to play for. Thanks to Rush QB Russ Michna being placed on IR Wednesday, bettors have seen the line climb from the Shock as 7-point favorites at opener to 10-points now, according to Sportsbook.com.
Chicago wraps up its season here and needs a win to maintain any chance at winning the Midwest Division over Milwaukee. The Iron have games remaining at Iowa and Cleveland, and with the way they have struggled on the road this season, Chicago has to like its chances. Still, taking care of business here first is job #1.
This will be the largest underdog pointspread that Chicago has faced all season long, and it is warranted only by the Shock’s success, not by the situation of what’s at stake for each team. Spokane has won 10 games in a row, including four at home, but is a modest 6-4 ATS during the stretch. Making matters even stranger in terms of the line, Spokane hasn’t been favored by this much over any team in two months when they were laying 13.5-points to lowly Utah.
Spokane does solid work on both sides of the football, scoring 62.6 PPG and allowing 52.1 PPG. Each of those figures represents the #2 ranking in the Arena Football League currently, behind Milwaukee and Tampa Bay, respectively. Chicago does its best work on offense through the air, as Michna was averaging 8.8 yards per pass attempt, third in the league.
J.J. Ratternik will step in for Michna and is looking to make his Rush debut. He spent the 2009 season with the Quad City Steamwheelers playing in 10 games and finishing the season with 54 touchdowns and a 105.64 rating, so it isn’t like he is inexperienced with the AFL rules.
There is only one StatFox Power Trend worthy of significance heading into Friday night’s contest and it concerns Chicago’s troubles against good offensive teams:
• CHICAGO is 4-13 ATS (-10.3 Units) in road games vs. very good offensive teams - scoring 55 or more points/game since 1996. The average score was CHICAGO 47.1, OPPONENT 57.1 - (Rating = 0*)
The problem with that angle, at this point, there’s no definitive word on how much Spokane’s coaching staff plans to utilize the services of quarterback Kyle Rowley or any of the other starters.
The StatFox Power Line shows Spokane should be favored by 14 points, but the Outplay Factor Rating indicates only 7.5 points prior to home field advantage. Considering that Chicago is a prominent 5-2 SU & 4-2-1 ATS on the road (same SU mark as Spokane at home), it would be a stretch to figure that edge is 3-points or more.
Don’t be surprised to see a more motivated Chicago team come up big in front of a national TV audience at 8:00 PM ET.
NFL: Early Sunday Games (1:00 PM ET, FOX & CBS)
2009-09-14
The opening Sunday of the 2009 NFL season features nine early kickoffs, each loaded with awesome wagering opportunities. Among the highlight games scheduled for 12ET kickoffs are Miami-Atlanta, Philadelphia-Carolina, Jacksonville-Indianapolis, and Dallas-Tampa Bay. Here’s is a quick look at each game with some key betting tidbits to consider, plus a free pick from the StatFox Platinum Sheet. Be sure to check the TEAM STATISTICS, BETTING TRENDS, and LIVE ODDS pages for the latest information on all the games.
MIAMI at ATLANTA
Miami & Atlanta try to build on playoff seasons when they open the 2009 campaign in one the two inter-conference games scheduled for Week 1. Miami was the league’s biggest surprise in ’08, improving by 10-wins from ‘07. Oddsmakers don’t expect it to continue though, dropping the Dolphins’ regular season wins prop bet to 7.5 this fall. Perhaps that has something to due with the fact that the Fish had the best turnover ratio in the NFL. HC Tony Sparano’s team was 3-1 SU but 0-4 ATS vs. the NFC last year. Atlanta also experienced a meteoric rise, going from 4-12 to 11-5 behind new offensive weapons QB Matt Ryan & RB Michael Turner. Like the Dolphins however, the Falcons were beat in the wildcard round. In this h2h series, Atlanta has won four straight ATS.
PHILADELPHIA at CAROLINA
Top contenders in the NFC go head-to-head Sunday when Philadelphia visits Carolina. The Panthers are 1-point favorites, hoping to get off to a fast start and erase the memory of January’s embarrassing playoff loss. They rolled to a 12-4 regular season mark but were beaten 33-13 as a 10-point favorite vs. Arizona in the divisional round. Philadelphia also lost to the Cardinals a week later in the NFC title game, but has made several well received changes since in the offseason. The Eagles are 8-1 ATS as a road underdog over the last two seasons, and 33-15 ATS in that role under HC Andy Reid. They have won two straight in the h2h series, but haven’t visited Carolina since ’03. The Panthers were 5-3 ATS at home in ’08, their first winning mark since ‘02.
JACKSONVILLE at INDIANAPOLIS
There are seven divisional games scheduled for opening week in the NFL, perhaps none bigger than that in the AFC South between Indianapolis & Jacksonville. The AFC South is expected to be one of the most competitive divisions in football, and both the Colts and Jaguars boast playoff expectations. This has been a back-and-forth series as well, with road teams owning a 6-4 SU & 7-2-1 ATS record in the L10 h2h games. The last three games have been decided by a TD or less. Ironically, the pointspread for Sunday is set at Colts -7. They were just 3-8 ATS last year as favorites despite winning 12 games. Indy will begin a new era under Jim Caldwell, the former quarterback coach. The Jaguars are hoping to forget ‘08 after losing six of the L7 games, both SU & ATS.
DALLAS at TAMPA BAY
Dallas & Tampa Bay were 9-7 a year ago, but the teams don’t share similar aspirations for 2009. The Cowboys have re-tooled, the Bucs are rebuilding. HC Wade Phillips’ team moves on without WR Terrell Owens among others, but seems poised to make another charge at an NFC East title. In ’08, the Cowboys were outscored by 0.2 PPG and finished 7-9 ATS, including 3-5 ATS on the road. Dallas is a 3-point favorite, as Tampa has made massive change since January, having cut several recognizable veterans while turning to HC Raheem Morris to take over for John Gruden. As of presstime, Morris had yet to name his starting QB. In this series, home teams are on a run of 4-1 SU & 5-0 ATS. The Bucs are on a run of 27-6 UNDER the total in the first two weeks of the season.
StatFox Steve of the Platinum Sheet says…If Denver was the team that has undergone the biggest transformation since the end of the ’08 season, then Tampa Bay has to be #2 in line. The Bucs were a quality team a year ago too, and blew up the franchise for reasons beyond my comprehension. As of presstime, they had yet to name a quarterback and were working in their brand new offensive coordinator. That to me sounds like a recipe for disaster. Meanwhile, Dallas finally believes it is set personnel wise to make a charge. They are talented on the field and supposedly content in the locker room. Plus, the Cowboys have started fast in each of the last four seasons. It is typically not till December that they start to wear down. Road favorites have proven not a bad play in Week 1 NFL history. I’ll test that trend again.
NFL: Pro Bowl (4:30 PM ET – FOX)
2008-02-09
If you’re one of those football fanatics who just can’t enough, this Sunday’s Pro Bowl from Hawaii will at least offer you some solace from the post-Super Bowl emptiness. It will also give you one more shot to bet the sport you love so dearly.
Don’t despair too much though, as the 2008-2009 season will be back before you know it, and in the meantime, there’s still plenty of other action to be found. College & Pro basketball are in full swing, hockey is well into its second half of the season, and the Daytona 500 is right around the corner. We’re even less than a month away from the kickoff of the 21st season of Arena Football!
Plus, if you’re really into the NFL, you can get in on some of the futures odds already available for next season at Sportsbook.com. If you think you know who will win Super Bowl 43, put your money down on some potentially rewarding odds. Incidentally, Tom Brady and the Patriots are the early favorites.
Back to the Pro Bowl though. this is your last chance to back your favorite NFL stars in game action until August. While in truth, this game is an exhibition, don’t tell the players that, as the NFC & AFC battle for both bragging rights and a larger prize purse to the winner. As usual, the AFC is favored, by a field goal, and the total is set at about 63.
Early action on the game as of Friday finds 66% of the Sportsbook Betting Public backing the favored AFC bunch. Amazingly, the same number, 66%, find the UNDER to be the total of choice.
The key thing to watch for in any Pro Bowl game is which players have chosen to show up for the festivities. As usual, some of the biggest names on the rosters have decided to sit this one out. Among that group are Brady and WR Randy Moss of the Patriots and Packers’ QB Brett Favre. Therefore, the all important QB rotations should be:
AFC: 1) Peyton Manning, Indianapolis 2) Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh 3) Derek Anderson, Cleveland
NFC: 1) Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle 2) Tony Romo, Dallas 3) Jeff Garcia, Tampa Bay
The NFC has covered the spread in the last two games, despite losing a year ago 31-28. If you’re into totals and trends, the OVER could be your thing, and the last eight NFL all-star extravaganzas have produced 67.6 points per game.
Sign on to Sportsbook.com anytime between now and Sunday’s kickoff for game lines, totals, and some unique player props for the NFL’s season finale!