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07/16/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Troy has either won or shared the Sun Belt football title the last four years, but that string could end in 2010 as Middle Tennessee is primed to take over the top spot. Regardless of which team wins the title, the upward ATS trend that the conference took in recent years fell flat last season.
The league's ATS record in out-of-conference play plummeted below the .500 mark (13-20-1) for the first time since 2006. Similar poor numbers existed against BCS teams as the nine clubs combined to go 7-15 ATS after a 13-9 mark the year before.
Within league play, favorites came out on the winning side by a 19-16 margin helping to produce a 53-37 record over the last three seasons - a solid 59- percent winning percentage.
The race for the Sun Belt title should be decided Oct. 5 when Troy travels to Middle Tennessee. Which club will take the crown? Let's look deeper into the league and find out from worst to first, with predicted SU overall and conference records for those wagering on over/unders for total victories.
9) WESTERN KENTUCKY - The Hilltoppers were 6-5 ATS in '09, but 4-0 in their last four. They were 5-0 ATS in games that went under the total, but 1-5 in the overs.
Offense - Western Kentucky averaged 24.5 ppg versus the rest of the league last season, a huge jump from the 16 ppg in the five contests the year before. The ground game picked up with a 5.0-yard mark in league action, and the club might have found a solid quarterback in junior-college transfer Matt Pelesasa. Four starters return on the offensive line, so continued improvement is expected.
Defense - Last season was a transition year with only three returning starters. Still, the defense picked up as the season moved along, giving up just 25 ppg in the final three games after allowing 45 ppg in the first nine. Two of those three contests came on the road at ULM and Florida Atlantic. With 10 of the top 12 tacklers back, this unit will be surprisingly better.
Prediction - Even though their record might not show it, the Hilltoppers will be more competitive week in and week out, so keep an eye on them ATS, especially early in the season. (1-11, 1-7)
8) ULM - The Warhawks were 5-6 ATS in '09, 0-3 in their last three contests. They are 24-12 ATS in conference play the last five years.
Offense - This side of the ball will be altered in 2010 as new head coach Todd Berry installs an offense that is heavily quarterback-driven. Unfortunately, this year might not be the best season for change after the club lost its top two receivers. In addition, only two offensive line starters return. Expect a drop off in production.
Defense - The Warhawks turned their defense around last year, leading the league versus the run after coming in last place the season prior. Nevertheless, look for a return to '08 numbers as seven of the top 10 tacklers depart. Moreover, only three starts were lost to injury last year.
Prediction - This looks to be a down year, so don't wager too much money on ULM. (3-9, 2-6)
7) LOUISIANA - The Ragin' Cajuns were 5-6 ATS last season and 4-1 to the under in their last five games. They are 9-4 ATS as favorites the last three years.
Offense - The offense stumbled last year, dropping from first to sixth in scoring against the rest of the league. The offensive line is in rebuilding mode minus three longtime starters, which could dampen an uninspired ground attack.
Defense - Louisiana has allowed 30 ppg or more each of the last three years. In order for the Cajuns to make any inroads, they must improve their line play as the team has recorded an average of just 17 sacks per season since '07, and last year's top three sack leaders all departed.
Prediction - Bet on the Ragin' Cajuns in week two vs. Arkansas State, but against them the rest of the way. (3-9, 3-5)
6) FAU - The Owls were 4-8 ATS last year and are just 7-15 as road underdogs the last four years.
Offense - The Owls return only two starters on this side of the ball and the last time that scenario took place the club averaged just 13.5 ppg after going for 25 the year before. The troubles begin with an offensive line that brings back a grand total of zero career starts and end with five of last season's top six receivers gone from the program.
Defense - The defensive outlook is brighter with 11 of the top 13 tacklers coming back. However, those players allowed 6.1 yards per carry, good for 119th in the Football Bowl Subdivision. If the offense struggles to maintain drives, look for the "D" to be on the field a lot more than last year's 775 plays, when the unit allowed a league-worst seven yards per play.
Prediction - It will take a while for the offense to click so bet against the Owls early and often. (3-9, 3-5)
5) NORTH TEXAS - The Mean Green went 5-7 ATS in '09. The club is 7-15 ATS in Sun Belt play the last three years.
Offense - North Texas averaged a touchdown more per game last year (27 ppg) than in '08, and that number should improve once again. Nine starters return, including Lance Dunbar, who rushed for 1,378 yards on 6.9 yards per carry. Riley Dodge moves to wide receiver, giving new offensive coordinator Mike Canales another option in a very experienced offensive set.
Defense - This unit was the major reason North Texas wasn't blown out every week (six losses by a touchdown or less). Still, there is work left to be done as opposing league squads gained over 5.0 yards per carry for the second straight year.
Prediction - The Mean Green has not had a winning ATS season since 2004. This year will break that streak. (4-8, 4-4)
4) FIU - The Golden Panthers were 4-8 ATS in '09, a major disappointment after an 8-4 mark in 2008. They are 7-13 ATS in their last 20 games as road underdogs.
Offense - Wesley Carroll takes over at quarterback and Syracuse transfer Jeremiah Harden has a chance to shine at running back. The O-line returns fewer than 20 career starts, but the predecessors allowed an average of 31 sacks the last four years while the running backs have failed to gain more than 3.3 yards per carry since 05. Star wideout T.Y Hilton should rebound after an injury-plagued season to spark the once-moribund offense.
Defense - The one area of concern remains the defensive line, especially after finishing 116th nationally against the run. However, look for the hire of new defensive coordinator Geoff Collins (from UCF) to pay immediate dividends. The Panthers have one of the top linebacker crews in the conference, and if safety Ashlyn Parker can stay healthy this season, the defense will look more like the one that roamed the field in '08 (28 ppg) than in '09 (35 ppg).
Prediction - FIU will rebound in 2010 with a much-improved ATS record over last year's 5-7 mark. (4-8, 4-4)
3) ARKANSAS STATE - The Red Wolves finished '09 at 2-9 ATS for a two-year 5-17 ATS total. They are 0-7 in their last seven games as road favorites.
Offense - The no-huddle spread offense arrives in Jonesboro after 2009's last- place finish in both scoring and total offense in Sun Belt play. This year's O-line is the most experienced the Red Wolves have had in years and the replacements for the departed running backs and wide receivers will put up huge numbers in the new offense.
Defense - Arkansas State ranked first in total defense versus the eight other league squads last season after finishing second the prior three years. The only question mark is at cornerback as the Red Wolves must break in two new starters.
Prediction - This is a team that could fly under the radar after a disappointing season a year ago. Hit them hard and often in the second half of the year. (6-6, 5-3)
2) TROY - The Trojans were 8-4-1 ATS last season and 7-1 to the over in their final eight games. They are 15-6 ATS in conference play the last three years as favorites.
Offense - Not much will change even with Jamie Hampton replacing Levi Brown at quarterback. Hampton engineered road wins over Middle Tennessee and FAU before an injury sidelined him two seasons ago. The Trojans, who averaged over 40 ppg in league play last year, are lethal enough to do so once again.
Defense - Last year's defense allowed 8.5 more ppg than in 2008, primarily because seven starters, including the entire secondary, were not with the club. This year, only three starters return, including just one of the top seven tacklers. Troy usually rebuilds with JC transfers, so don't expect a depleted unit. However, the "D" will not dominate as it had in the past.
Prediction - The Trojans will have their first losing ATS conference record in five years. (9-3, 7-1)
1) MIDDLE TENNESSEE - The Blue Raiders were 10-3 ATS last year and 7-0 in their final seven games. They are 6-1 ATS as a road favorite the last four years.
Offense - Middle Tennessee erupted last season for 32 ppg, a nine-point increase from the year before, and that was with '08 leading rusher Phillip Tanner missing the last 11 games. On the other hand, quarterback Dwight Dasher must cut down on his interceptions (14 a year ago). If he does, look for the offense to post monstrous numbers in 2010.
Defense - The offense was not the only area of improvement as the defense finished first in league play, allowing just 21 ppg after giving up 26 ppg in '08. The unit was also second nationally in tackles for loss with 113. Unfortunately, over one half of that total will not be back.
Prediction - It's doubtful the Blue Raiders will reproduce their 10-3 ATS record of a year ago, especially since they were 44-46 the previous eight years combined. (10-2, 7-1)
<< Stars sign veteran D Lukowich, two others
Frisco, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Dallas Stars signed veteran defenseman Brad
Lukowich and two others to one-year, two-way contracts on Friday.
Lukowich, 33, has registered 23 goals and 90 assists in 653 regular season NHL
games with six
<< Barca set to add Adriano from Sevilla
Barcelona, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sevilla wing back Adriano is poised to
join Barcelona after the two clubs agreed to a fee for the Brazilian.
The 25-year-old has been with the Rojiblancos since January 2005, making just
over 200 appe
<< Hamburg completes signing of Diekmeier
Hamburg, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hamburg have completed the signing of
right back Dennis Diekmeier for an undisclosed fee on a four-year contract
from Nurnberg.
The 20-year-old has played for Germany at three junior levels and m
<< NL East: With playoffs in sight, Braves make a switch at short
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It appears as though the Atlanta Braves got tired of
waiting for Yunel Escobar.
The Braves dealt the 27-year-old shortstop to the Blue Jays on Wednesday in a
five-player trade that sent 33-year-old Alex Gonzalez to the Bra
Celtics to bring back Robinson >>
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Celtics are reportedly set to re-sign
guard Nate Robinson.
According to the Boston Herald on Friday, Robinson will ink a two-year, $8
million deal with the club that traded for him last season.
Barrera completes West Ham move >>
London, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mexico international Pablo Barrera
completed his move to West Ham on Friday, the club announced.
The 23-year-old winger has moved to Upton Park from Mexican side UNAM Pumas on
a four-year contract
Szavay moves on in Prague; Garrigues ousted >>
Prague, Czech Republic (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Last week's Budapest titlist
Agnes Szavay advanced to the semifinals of the $220,000 Prague Open tennis
event with a straight set win over Slovenian Polona Hercog.
The seventh-seeded Sza
Sunderland's Gordon to miss start of new season >>
Sunderland, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon will
miss the start of the upcoming Premiership season after he fractured a bone in
his arm.
Gordon sustained the injury in training on Thursday after he fell awkwar
The Indianapolis Colts know that winning the Super Bowl last season put a huge target on their backs, and they expect opponents to go all-out to knock them from the top of the mountain.
They’ll get their first test from the New Orleans Saints this Thursday night. The defending champs had nothing but good things to say about the New Orleans defense this past week, praising their opponents’ pass rush and run-stopping abilities.
"They play very aggressively," head coach Tony Dungy told the New Orleans Times-Picayune. "They play a lot of man-to-man coverage, and they come after you. They have good pass rushers, and they're going to try to pressure us, I'm sure."
Both center Jeff Saturday and quarterback Peyton Manning gave New Orleans’ front four props, admitting keeping guys like Will Smithand Charles Grant contained would be a tall task for the offensive line.
New Orleans ranked second in total defense during the preseason at a sportsbook, allowing just under 233 yards per game. Last season, the defense finished 11th in the league after giving up 307.3 yards and 20.1 points per contest.
Not so sound on the ground
If Indianapolis' efficient offense has a weakness it has to be its running attack. The Colts one-two-punch of Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai is no longer, leaving the bulk of the carries to Addai, the second-year back out of LSU.
Former Saskatchewan Roughrider Kenton Keith was named Addai’s backup this week after beating out DeDe Dorsey for the second-string position. Indy has only three backs on the roster right now, including fullback Luke Lawton, and coach Dungy is aware of the thinness of his ground game. Sports Betting lines on the game can be found at BettingExpress.com
“We’ll continue to look. Luke Lawton’s done a good job for us too. So probably getting a third true tailback is something that we’d like to do,” Dungy told the Indiana Tribune-Star.
Last season, Addai rushed for over 1,000 yards in his rookie campaign and scored seven touchdowns on the ground.
Brees says bring it on
Opening the season on the road against the defending Super Bowl champions is not the way most teams would like to kick off their year – unless you’re the New Orleans Saints or their quarterback Drew Brees. This internet Sportsbooks had the Saints as the favorites.
Brees told the New Orleans Times-Picayune that he is excited to get the regular season started and the Colts are a great challenge for him and his teammates. The 28-year-old QB, entering his second season with the Saints, is expecting a wild environment in the RCA Dome this Thursday when the franchise celebrates its 2007-2007 championship.
Brees said he sees the opening game scheduling as an honor and a testament to how well New Orleans did last season. The Saints missed facing the Colts in the Super Bowl by one game, losing to the Chicago Bearsin the NFC Championship game.
"I mean, people think we can hang with these guys," Brees told reporters. "Even if they didn't, it wouldn't matter what they thought because as a team we're very confident. We know what we can do. We're not satisfied where we finished the season last year. And we've been looking forward to this opportunity for a long time."
SportsBooks ready for a shootout
Oddsmakers are preparing for some fireworks this Thursday when the NFL season kicks off. online Sportsbooks have Thursday’s total set at a whopping 52 points, accounting for two of the league’s most explosive offenses.
“This is like must-see TV,” Saints cornerback and former Colt Jason David told the Baton Rouge Advocate. “It’s two exciting offenses with great players. You’ve got a lot of star power on offense. At any given time a big play can happen. If I was a fan, I wouldn’t miss a snap.”
New Orleans, who ranked No.1 in total offense last season, can go blow-for-blow with the Colts’ attack. Head coach Sean Payton’s offensive schemes will get even better production out of Drew Brees, Reggie Bush and receiver Marques Colston now that they’ve each had a season of playing together under their belts.
The Saints and Colts were the top two passing teams in the NFL last year, but while Indianapolis managed to put up almost 27 points per game, New Orleans struggled to capitalize on their efforts. The Saints ranked fifth in points per game.
“Yards are great,” running backDeuce McAllister told reporters, “but to be able to score more touchdowns would be important for us.”
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts US credit cards
American Idol Betting Odds: Season 6
The online gambling websites are in the process of deciphering each American Idol contestant and his or her chances of winning Season 6 to come up with the early American Idol betting lines.
Tim Dalton of MySportsbook.com has been locked away in a soundproof room coming up with all the latest tallies, we are told. "American Idol has become one of the most significant betting events of the year," claims Jack Black of MySportsbook.com. "Last year, millions were bet during the season across the globe, not just in America.It's tough early on since we really do not have a glimpse as to how well each of these individuals will perform solo on a week-to-week basis. It's like Week 1 of the NFL. Pre-season means nada!
We do know the 24 finalists however.
Sanjaya Malakar is the young man whose sister failed to make it into the Top 24. He's very low key but - unless he totally flubs - will probably win over the young girlie vote for a few weeks anyway. He's too young to go all the way, according to Payton O'Brien.
Brandon Rogers - Who?
Phil Stacy is the military guy who missed his daughter's birth because of the Memphis audition. He should go a good distance.
Chris Sligh - He's got the humor and in many ways he's the Anti-American Idol much like last year's winner Taylor Hicks was. And this is why he'll probably get pretty far in this competition. He's chubby, white with a big curly afro....but more importantly, a great voice! People love "real", not "real cute" to go all the way.
"Blake Lewis should go far because of his uniqueness and looks. He's the boy next store with a twist - he beat boxes. But on top of this, he's a great singer, and I adore him," Payton O'Brien relayed.
A talented beat-boxer Blake Lewis was a hit during the group sing in Hollywood but Simon explained that this is a singing contest just before he told him he was “in.”
Paul Kim has caught our own roving reporter, Jenny Woo's eyes.
"I love the fact that there is a Korean American on the show and he is bound to get more Asians tuning into the show," Woo said from her Miami Beach estate. "There has never been a major presence of Asian-Americans on American Idol in the past. He's a hottie with a nice voice so that should help to take him far. Expect heavy betting action from the Asian community."
Sundance Head - He's not perfect, but he's got the personality that will take him through a few weeks, plus he's got the lineage (son of Roy Head - whose 1965 single, "Treat Her Right," hit No. 5 in the charts)
And the others:
Rudy Cardinas
AJ Tabaldo - the 5th time is the charm
Nicolas Pedro
Chris Richardson
Jared Cotter
The girls
"Melinda Doolittle has one of the best voices," says MySportsbook.com Reporter and an acclaimed dancer in her own right, Destiney Lewis. "It is great to see a back up singer step out like she has. The girl needs to gain more confidence but that can also be a positive. I think she will go far."
Alena Alexander - Those tears (she never seems to stop bawling) should get her far.
"Single mom Lakisha Jones I suspect will be a pretty big favorite entering Week 1 of the competition," says Destiny Williams. Jones is an excellent singer and down to earth. "She'll have a wide appeal," echoed O'Brien.
Nicole Trellis - Seems to exert confidence.
Amy Krebs - a powerful singer.
Antonella Barba
Gina Glocksen
Hailey Scanardo
Jordan Sparks
Stephanie Edwards
Leslie Hunt
Sabrina Sloan
MySportsbook.com is offering a 20% signup bonus with an initial deposit (i.e. open your American Idol betting account with $300, receive another $60 in which to bet with).
Last two contestants will be?
1 Male/1 Female +100 (a $10 bet pays $10 plus your initial $10)
2 Males +170 (a $10 bet pays $17 plus your initial $17)
2 Females +130 (a $10 bet pays $13 plus your initial $10)
MySportsbook.com is an online sportsbook accepts Visa Credit Cards and online sportsbook accepts Mastercard Credit Cards for easy American Idol betting lines.
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