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07/20/2010 - Toronto, Canada (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - There is now just one team in the West with a perfect record, but their latest win looked far from perfect. The Saskatchewan Roughriders pulled another rabbit out of the hat in week three, this time storming back from a first half deficit to dominate in the final quarter against the Edmonton Eskimos.
Every other west team lost last week, meaning the Riders sit alone at first in the league. Calgary looked sloppy in a three-point loss to the Toronto Argonauts, particularly Henry Burris, who got picked off four times. Meanwhile. the BC Lions went out of their way to hold up to the CFL's image of a passing league with a mighty seven total rushing yards.
SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS
A fan can be forgiven if they thought they were watching a classic Alberta matchup between Calgary and Edmonton in week three. The Saskatchewan Roughriders donned burgundy and black in celebration of their centennial as a franchise, but looked an awful lot like the Stampeders in the process. Perhaps an unfamiliar look in Riderville, but the result of the game was not: The Riders won their third straight game, 24-20, and are the only team in the league with a perfect 3-0 record.
While getting the win was huge in an always tight division, the Riders need to work on getting out of the gates quicker. Against Edmonton, Saskatchewan was down 14-10 after the first half before coming alive in the fourth quarter, where they scored 11 unanswered points.
In the two weeks previous, the Roughriders put up 23 combined points over the first two quarters, while scoring 54 in the second halves.
Though it may take a while for Saskatchewan to get rolling, the team does perform best at the most crucial stages later in the game, so for now the Riders get a pass.
The Riders are on a high, but face their toughest opponent of the season when they travel to Calgary to take on the Stamps.
Offensive key for next game: Durant and the deep receiving corps get all the attention, but Wes Cates has been a big part of what Saskatchewan brings to the table. Calgary has shown tough defense against the rush, but in its one loss, they allowed Cory Boyd of the Argos to run for 142 yards. If Cates can find the wiggle room that Boyd found last week, the Riders will be able to keep the Stampeders on their toes and go 4-0.
Defensive key for next game: Calgary's Henry Burris has looked very sloppy so far this season, trying to force plays rather than go with the flow of what's developing in front of him. Burris has been picked off six times already, four more than any other quarterback, something the Riders should be able to exploit. With the likes of Luc Mullinder and Brent Hawkins pressuring Burris, the Riders could get some picks and really tighten their lead as best in the west.
Look ahead: The Roughriders face a tough opponent in Calgary this week, but can look forward to a home date with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. With the way the Riders' offense has been going - they lead the league in several categories, including touchdowns scored (12) and points per game (38.3) - it's entirely possible to improve to 5-0, provided they keep up their efficient play with the ball.
EDMONTON ESKIMOS
Edmonton fell to 0-3 for first time in 45 years in its loss against Saskatchewan. Certainly not what they planned to happen back in training camp, but then again, not many teams can predict experiencing two fourth quarter meltdowns in a row.
The Eskimos have yet to score a single point in the fourth quarter this season. Not a field goal, safety, or even a rouge: just a huge zero points for.
Combine that with allowing 26 points allowed in the final frame of the past two contests, and you not only have a recipe for disaster, but an entire home- cooked meal made for hungry opposing teams. And those teams aren't shy to have their fill.
The Riders were the latest team to feast on the Eskimos, capitalizing on two forced fumbles that halted any hopes for Edmonton's first win. Instead, the Riders scored 11 unanswered points against a bewildered Edmonton side.
A big reason for Edmonton's slow start is its inability to score touchdowns. Ricky Ray is getting the yards, but not when it counts the most, as he has just one touchdown pass all season.
It is not all his fault, however, as Edmonton dropped two catchable touchdown passes in its loss to the Riders.
While Edmonton came close against two of the best teams in the league, they need to figure out how to put points on the board if they want to get back in the thick of things.
Offensive key for next game: Though the game will be played in Manitoba, a struggling Winnipeg Blue Bombers club without their starting quarterback may just be what Edmonton needs to get in the win column. Ricky Ray should outclass Winnipeg's backup QB Steven Jyles, but needs to find the end zone - and for his receivers to catch the ball - to get his team on the right track. Ray's best option is Fred Stamps, who caught for an impressive 203 yards in their week three loss to the Roughriders.
Defensive key for next game: With Buck Pierce out of the lineup, Bombers running back Fred Reid will be called upon to carry the load. There's no telling how well backup QB Steven Jyles will perform in just his second career start, but there's a good chance that if the Eskimos shut down Reid, Winnipeg's offense will flounder for the second week in a row.
Look ahead: Edmonton's opportunity to take advantage of an injured Winnipeg side will be followed by two home games against BC and Toronto, respectively. This three-week stretch may make or break the Eskimos. Though a 0-3 start does not sit well with Edmonton fans, it is entirely possible to claw their way back into the race.
BC LIONS
BC was another team that could not get it going offensively, especially on the ground. Running back Jamal Robertson had one of the worst games of his career, rushing for just four yards on six carries. Worst of all, he gave up two fumbles, one of which led to a Montreal field goal.
Robertson did catch a TD pass for the Lions' lone major score, but that's not enough for one of the league's premier running backs.
Furthering BC's struggles is Casey Printers, who has yet to come close to finding the form that made him the Most Outstanding Player back in 2004.
Printers is a distant 7th overall in passing yards with 591, nearly 400 behind leader Darian Durant.
Though offense has been a major problem, the Lions have been decent defensively this season. They gave up just 10 points in their first game, and allowed only 16 against the defending Grey Cup champions in week three.
Giving up 37 points against the Riders in week two is certainly not something to brag about, but allowing just 13 points in the first half should have head coach Wally Buono pleased with what his team can do without the ball.
Offensive key for next game: At the beginning of the season, a date with the Toronto Argonauts would have been a probable win. But with the way the Argonauts have been able to pull out close wins, the Lions should not fall asleep on this resurgent franchise. Jamal Robertson will face his former team for the first time, and after a bad game last week, expect the running back to seek some redemption on a couple of fronts. If Robertson shows what he's capable of doing, the Argonauts are in trouble.
Defensive key of the game: Toronto's Cory Boyd has been getting better every game, and is a big reason behind their surprising 2-1 record. The Lions have to shut down Boyd, but also need to keep an eye out for Jeremaine Copeland. He is Toronto's best receiver, and after three so-so weeks, is due for a big game.
Look ahead: With a 1-2 record, BC can't afford to fall further behind. The Lions' next two games are on the road, but one is against the worst team of the past two seasons while the other is the last place Edmonton Eskimos. After dropping two at home, the Lions are seeking answers for a lot of question marks, but this relatively easy road trip might help shake the sputtering offense.
CALGARY STAMPEDERS
Henry Burris and the Stampeders may lead the league in time of possession, but they are also tops in turnovers. Burris's six interceptions are a telling statistic for his style of play right now: way too forced and risky, like a slow-footed baseball player trying to stretch a single into extra bases. Sure, the effort's there, but you're only hurting your team by getting called out.
Calgary took one too many outs last week in a three-point loss to Toronto, a game that was there for the taking. Calgary was up 24-15 heading into the fourth quarter, but two Burris interceptions, at a time where all Calgary had to do was eat up the clock and defend their lead, gave Toronto all the momentum.
Toronto deserves a lot of credit for its defense in the final quarter, but one suspects that if Burris played it a little safer, this wrap-up might be about how Calgary is one of two teams with a perfect record.
Offensive key to next game: Losing a heartbreaker to the Argonauts does not help a team's spirit when they have to face the league's best squad the following week. Given Durant's rise into one of the game's best quarterbacks, combined with Burris's propensity to throw, this game has the potential to be a shootout. In a game of who can outscore whom, Burris has to rein in his sloppy errors in order to win the battle.
Defensive key to the game: Calgary's defensive backs will have their hands full against the league's best all-around receiving corps. Cut Durant's flow downfield and the Stampeders will go a long way in slowing this offensive juggernaut.
Look ahead: Calgary begins a two-game homestand at the perfect time. The Stamps need to refocus in preparation for their biggest test of the season in the Riders, which will then be followed by a game with Winnipeg, which could still be without starting QB Buck Pierce. Both games can potentially be wins, but their performance against the Roughriders may go a long way in determining how close this team is to finding their Grey Cup-winning form of 2008.
<< Piniella to retire at the end of the season
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<< Westermann to leave Schalke for Hamburg
Gelsenkirchen, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Germany defender Heiko Westermann is
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Defending champ Davydenko advances at Hamburg >>
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Cubs recall P Stevens, option Atkins >>
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The AFC South and the NFC East are the favorite divisions to have the next Super Bowl champ among them in the NFL betting odds. But more down to the point, these football odds are in favor of the Indianapolis Colts, by far the strongest team in the AFC South, and the Dallas Cowboys of the NFC East.
Most sports fans would agree that these two teams top the list to win it all before the season even begins. In the BetUS Sportsbook football futures, the Colts are +800 in the odds to win the Super Bowl, while the Cowboys are sitting at +1000 and the Super Bowl XLIV champions New Orleans Saints at +900. In the AFC South, the Colts won the division for five straight years after the 2002 realignment, before the Tennessee Titans won it in 2008. But the Colts came back strong in 2009 to win the division again en route to the Super Bowl. The Cowboys are the favorite to win the NFC East, as well as to advance far into the post season. The Cowboys won the division last season before their horrendous loss in the NFC Divisional playoff to Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings. But the ‘Boys will take that loss humbly and be ready for the playoffs this time around.
The NFC South is also very strong, at +600 in the NFL futures, considering that it is home to the defending Super Bowl champions. However, some predictions have the Atlanta Falcons with possibilities of claiming the divisional title this season in place of the Saints, as no team has won back-to-back division championships since the division realignment took place. Let’s not overlook the AFC North at +500. As TO goes to Cincinnati to join Chad OchoCinco and Adam “Pac-Man” Jones, this team looks to claim the division title again. And it is likely they will do so. The Bengals lost in the AFC Wild Card spot in a hard-fought battle against the New York Jets last season. Lest not forget the Pittsburgh Steelers, the XLII Super Bowl Champions… All these teams present interesting odds and matchups for the upcoming season, but the safest and surest bet seems to be with the Colts in the AFC South and the Cowboys in the NFC East. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.
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Eastern Conference Playoff Betting Trends
We all know by now that the “public” loves to put their money on the FAVORITES and the OVERS. Just by taking a quick glance at Sportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends” it appears as is this tendency will continue as far as the Eastern Conference games are concerned. For the inaugural games of the first round, 69% of the early money is on Toronto -4.5; 59% of bettors prefer Chicago -4.5; 84% are backing Detroit -9; and 56% think Cleveland -11.5 is the way to go. As far as TOTALS are concerned, the only UNDER the “public” is backing is the Cleveland/ Washington game in which 83% are pounding the UNDER (190). Remember, there is no better way to predict a possible line change than by monitoring MySportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends”. By determining who the “public” is backing, you can get the most ideal line for your bet. For example, if you are siding with the public you better place your bet before the line moves in the wrong direction. On the other side of the coin, if you prefer the team that the “public” is betting against; you might be able to get and extra ½ or even more by placing your bet a bit later. Under the “Betting Trends” section, Sportsbook.com also provides plenty of statistical data and trends in order for the bettor to make the most informed pick. Below are some extremely important trends for the first round opponents of the Eastern Conference match-ups, more can be found at MySportsbook.com
New Jersey Nets vs. Toronto Raptors
Toronto was the most reliable covering team this season with a 48-33-1 ATS record but covered the OVER only 41.5% of the time.
The last 20 times these teams have played, the TOTAL has gone UNDER 16 times.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Toronto is 33-19 ATS including 17-9 at home.
New Jersey has covered four games in a row while Toronto has failed to cover their last four games.
When playing a team with a winning record during the second half of the season, New Jersey was just 5-13 ATS this season.
After scoring 105 points or more, Toronto has covered the OVER only 28% of the time this season.
Miami Heat @ Chicago Bulls
Miami has failed to cover their last 7 games whereas Chicago has covered 6 out of their last 8 games.
Miami has covered the UNDER in four of their last five games whereas Chicago has covered the UNDER in five out of their last six.
When playing on Saturdays, Miami covered 80% of their games this season.
Away from home, Chicago is just 16-25 ATS this season.
At home, Miami covered the UNDER about 66% of the time whereas Chicago covered the UNDER about 61% of the time.
The last 13 times these teams have played each other, Chicago has covered 9 times.
In Miami’s last 11 road games, the UNDER covered 9 times.
Orlando Magic @ Detroit Pistons
Detroit has covered 5 out of their last 6 games.
Away from home, Detroit is 28-13 ATS but just 14-26-1 ATS at home.
At home, Orlando covered the UNDER 64% of the time while Detroit covered the UNDER in 63% of their away games.
The last five times these teams have played in Detroit, the OVER covered each time.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Detroit is 8-17-1 ATS at home but 17-9 ATS away.
Detroit covered the spread 5 out of the last 6 times they played Orlando.
After a Division game, Orlando covered the UNDER 87% of the time this season.
Washington Wizards @ Cleveland Cavaliers
In a home game where the TOTAL is between 190 and 194.5 points, Cleveland is 9-1 ATS this season.
Washington has covered the UNDER in their last 6 games and in 8 of their last 9 games.
The last 6 times these teams have played each other, the UNDER covered each time.
When playing on 3 or more days of rest, Washington is just 18-37 ATS since 1996.
Since 1996, Washington is 28-16 ATS versus Cleveland including 11-5 over the last 3 seasons.
In their last 7 road games, Washington is 6-1 ATS.
Versus Eastern Conference teams at home, Washington is just 6-18-2 ATS.
For even more betting trends for not just the NBA but for all of the major sports, log on to Sportsbook.com and click on “Trends”. With only two months left in the NBA betting season it is important to be as well informed as possible in order to maximize your profit. Also for all of you poker players, check out MySportsbook.com’s “WSOP Low Bid Auction”. You could be on your way to Vegas to play against the world’s best poker players for under a buck.
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