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09/10/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Red-hot lefty John Lannan can make it three straight wins and six in seven starts tonight when the Washington Nationals host the Florida Marlins in game one of three between the National League East Division foes at Nationals Park.
Lannan, who'll turn 26 later this month, was 2-5 on the season after a 6-3 loss to the Chicago White Sox in an interleague game on June 20. He got a no- decision in his next start against Philadelphia but is 5-1 in six outings since, including seven innings of five-hit, one-run ball in a 9-2 win at Pittsburgh on Sept. 4.
One start earlier, Lannan twirled 7 2/3 innings of one-run ball against the St. Louis Cardinals, scattering eight hits and striking out four while walking none.
His only loss since June came Aug. 24 against the Chicago Cubs.
The Long Beach, N.Y. native dropped a 9-3 verdict to the Marlins in their last matchup on May 2 in Miami, but he's 2-2 against them in five career starts over 25 1/3 innings.
Lannan is 2-3 in 10 home starts this season.
Florida counters with rookie righty Alex Sanabia, who turned 22 years old on Wednesday.
The San Diego native, a 32nd-round pick in 2006, has made 11 appearances overall since debuting on June 24 with a 3 1/3-inning stint against the Baltimore Orioles.
He pitched in relief for the first three outings, but has made eight subsequent starts in which he is 3-1 over 39 2/3 innings of work.
Sanabia last won on Aug. 25 against the New York Mets, allowing four hits and two earned runs in 6 1/3 innings of a 5-4 Marlins triumph.
In two starts since - a loss and a no-decision - he's given up 13 hits and nine runs in 10 2/3 innings.
The loss came Aug. 30 against the Nationals in Miami, reversing the verdict of a July 18 start when he pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings in Florida's 1-0 defeat of Washington.
Sanabia is 2-0 on the road in six appearances with a 4.56 earned run average.
On Wednesday in Washington, Nick Evans' pinch-hit double in the seventh inning drove in the winning run as New York upended the Nationals, 3-2, to capture the rubber match of a three-game set.
Livan Hernandez (9-11) was charged with the loss after allowing three runs on six hits while walking two and fanning four over 6 1/3 innings for the Nats, who have lost 10 of their last 13 rubber games.
Wilson Ramos' first major league home run accounted for the Washington offense.
In Philadelphia, Ryan Howard finished 3-for-5 with a three- run homer and tied a season-high with six RBI as the Phillies built a double-digit lead but held on to top Florida, 10-6, in the finale of a four-game set.
Gaby Sanchez hit a three-run blast and Cameron Maybin contributed a two-run double for the Marlins, who have lost four of six.
Andrew Miller (1-1) was tagged in defeat for 11 hits and seven runs over just four innings, boosting his earned-run average to 6.16.
Florida has won 10 of its 15 meetings with the Nationals this season.
<< Brewers try to make it three straight wins in opener with Cubs
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Right-hander Dave Bush can push Milwaukee's win streak to
three tonight when the Brewers host the visiting Chicago Cubs in the
initial test of a three-game set between National League Central Division foes
at Miller Park.
<< CFL Western Division: BC bursts out of major slump
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 se
<< Tigers welcome Orioles to Comerica Park
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The streaking Detroit Tigers can boost an already
impressive home record tonight when they begin a three-game weekend series
with the Baltimore Orioles at Comerica Park.
Detroit, a distant third in the American League's C
<< Aging Senators and Gonchar a good fit
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Ottawa Senators have made the playoffs in
12 of the last 13 seasons and that's an impressive statistic. But for a city
that hasn't won a Stanley Cup since 1927, it's only the first step. Playing in
the post
CFL Eastern Division: Tiger-Cats on a roll >>
Toronto, Canada (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hamilton began the year meekly, but has now
won four straight to finally get over .500 on the season. Two of those wins
came against the Toronto Argonauts, who have slipped in the standings and are
now playing
Reds hope to get on track at home versus Pirates >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - If a return home isn't enough to fix the Cincinnati Reds,
then perhaps a visit from the woeful Pittsburgh Pirates will do the trick.
Tonight, the Reds will try to stop a five-game losing streak when they begin a
three-game se
AL Central-leading Twins visit Indians >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Minnesota Twins take a growing lead atop the American
League Central's Division into a six-game road trip that begins with tonight's
matchup with the Cleveland Indians from Progressive Field.
The red-hot Twins just con
Rays continue road trip in Toronto >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Although the Tampa Bay Rays still stand a good chance of
reaching the postseason, they haven't played like a playoff participant over
most of the team's current road trip. The American League Wild Card leaders
will attempt to
BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value
If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture. Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).
For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot. The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win.
TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.
"While 'Babel' lost several guild awards to 'Sunshine' and 'Departed,' it still enjoys loyal support, and historically Oscar voters favor dramas with social messages over comedies like 'Sunshine' and violent crime movies like 'Departed'."
"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.
Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash. Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts Visa needs.
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