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06/22/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Dodgers have fallen out of first place in the National League's West Division due to a current four-game losing streak. The team's lack of success against the area-rival Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim has gone on considerably longer.
Anaheim will be out to maintain its recent mastery of the Freeway Series when these two teams start up a three-game set at Angel Stadium this evening.
The Dodgers had held a slim half-game edge on San Diego for the NL West's top spot before its present slide, which has plunged Joe Torre's squad into third place in the standings and two games off the pace. The last three defeats were given by red-hot Boston over the weekend at Fenway Park, with the Red Sox completing the sweep with a 2-0 victory on Sunday.
That loss was the seventh in nine games for the Dodgers, a skid that began with three setbacks to the Angels at Chavez Ravine from June 11-13. Anaheim has now won 16 of the past 23 meetings in this series and owns an 8-3 record at Angel Stadium over that span, although the Dodgers did take two of three bouts from the Halos at the Big A last season.
The Dodgers were stymied by Clay Buchholz and two Boston relievers on Sunday, managing just four hits in the shutout loss. Two of them came from former Red Sox great Manny Ramirez, who went 5-for-12 with a homer and three runs scored in his first appearance against his former club since his controversial midseason trade to Los Angeles in 2008.
"[The Red Sox] did a lot of things better," catcher Russell Martin told the Dodgers' official site following Sunday's game. "The main thing is the whole lineup, top to bottom, they get quality at-bats and keep coming at you, fighting, and they capitalize on your mistakes. They pitch well. They're a tough team to beat."
The Dodgers fell again despite a strong showing from starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda (6-5), who held Boston to two runs and matched a season high with nine strikeouts in his seven innings of work.
Clayton Kershaw will try to give the Dodgers another solid pitching performance when he takes the mound for the visitors tonight. The talented youngster has been in top form as of late, having won three straight decisions to run his season record to 7-3. Since being tagged for seven runs in just 1 1/3 innings during a May 4 loss to Milwaukee, he's posted a 6-1 mark with a 1.82 earned run average and limited opposing hitters to a .187 average, with the Dodgers prevailing in all but one of those games.
Kershaw was outstanding once again this past Wednesday in Cincinnati, where he yielded one run and struck out seven over 7 1/3 innings in the Dodgers' win over the Reds. He fanned a season-best 10 St. Louis Cardinals in his previous start back on June 9, while allowing three runs through seven frames to notch another victory.
The 22-year-old did not oppose the Angels in this season's earlier edition of the Freeway Series, but he's given them problems in the past. Kershaw has permitted just one run in 12 innings over two previous matchups with Anaheim and tossed seven shutout frames in a win at Angel Stadium last season.
Kershaw will be taking on an Angels squad that's gone 13-5 since June 2 and had put together three straight wins before a 12-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs Sunday at Wrigley Field. Anaheim enters tonight's play 3 1/2 games behind scorching Texas, winners of eight in a row, for the lead in the AL West.
The Cubs roared out to an 8-0 lead after three innings of Sunday's rout, with all eight runs charged to Angels starter Joe Saunders (5-8). The left-hander was rocked for five earned runs and nine hits before exiting after only 2 2/3 innings.
Torii Hunter accounted for the Angels' lone run with a fourth-inning double, with Kevin Frandsen, Hideki Matsui and Mike Napoli each collecting two hits in the setback.
The Angels will be hoping for a better result from tonight's starting pitcher, Ervin Santana. The 2008 AL All-Star has struggled in his past two assignments, though, surrendering a total of 11 runs (10 earned) and 17 hits over 10 innings in back-to-back losses to Oakland and Milwaukee. Against the Brewers on June 15, he was tagged for six runs and 10 hits in only five innings.
Santana had been on a roll before those two rough games, winning five consecutive starts from May 15-June 5 and registering an excellent 1.80 ERA during that stretch. He's had problems at times pitching at home, however, as his 5.12 ERA in six Angel Stadium appearances this season will attest.
The right-hander is 2-3 with a 3.94 ERA in five previous starts against the Dodgers. Like Kershaw, Santana did not pitch when these teams met earlier in the month.
Santana likely won't have to face Rafael Furcal in tonight's opener. The Dodgers' shortstop and leadoff hitter is expected to sit out a fifth straight game due to the death of his father in the Dominican Republic last week.
<< Mariners shoot for another win in opener with Cubs
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Fresh off their first three-game series sweep in two
months, the Seattle Mariners will now shoot for their longest winning streak
of the season when they take the field tonight against the Chicago Cubs.
The Mariners ente
<< Homer-happy Holliday leads Cards into opener with Jays
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Though he turned in yet another stellar start last time
out, a lack of offensive support cost Jaime Garcia a victory. A continued
surge from Matt Holliday could prevent that from happening again on Tuesday.
Holliday will l
<< Braves head to Chicago to face red-hot White Sox
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Success in games against National League teams has enabled
the Chicago White Sox to vault back into contention in the American League's
Central Division. The resurgent club may be facing a step up in competition,
however, whe
<< Twins pay a visit to Brewers
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Minnesota Twins go after a third straight win this
evening when they open a three-game interleague series with the Milwaukee
Brewers at Miller Park.
After losing the first game of their three-game set with the Philadel
Braden tries to get going in middle tilt with Reds >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ever since his perfect game back on Mother's Day, Oakland
Athletics left-hander Dallas Braden has been hit pretty hard. Tonight he'll
try to get revenge on opposing hitters in the second portion of a three-game
series versu
Lincecum-Oswalt matchup on tap for Giants-Astros opener >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The good news for the Astros is that tonight they start Roy
Oswalt, who has recorded Houston's only win in its last nine games. The bad
news is Oswalt draws San Francisco Giants starter Tim Lincecum for the third
time this se
Red Sox, Rockies meet for first time since 2007 Fall Classic >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Colorado Rockies were dominated by the Boston Red Sox
the last time these two teams met one another on the diamond. Considering how
well both the 2007 world champions and Jon Lester have fared of late, a
similar outcome
Yanks try to bounce back against power-hitting Diamondbacks >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Arizona Diamondbacks ace Dan Haren has never lost to the
New York Yankees in his career. That streak will be put to the test with the
Bronx Bombers in town tonight for the second portion of this three-game
interleague series
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.
Michael Vick is back, Brett Favre isn't and the NFC East remains the best division in the NFC, maybe in all of football.
As players start to gather for the start of another season, some things change and some stay the same in the world of the NFL.
The NFC East has been the dominant division in the National Conference for a while, despite limited playoff success, save for the New York Giants surprise Super Bowl win two seasons ago.
Hell, there's a generation of kids in Texas who have never seen the Cowboys win a playoff game (last win was in 1996).
But collectively, the Giants, Eagles, Cowboys and Redskins (well, maybe not so much the Redskins) are as good as a division gets in an NFC conference that has struggled to stay competitive with the AFC side.
Sports bettors have both acknowledged the NFC East's dominance, as one glance at the NFL future odds menu will show.
Looking over the NFL betting odds at online sports book MySportsbook.com we see the top three teams listed to win the NFC Championship are all from the NFC East:
Dallas Cowboys - 7 - 1
Philadelphia Eagles - 13 - 2
New York Giants - 9 - 2
Slotting in behind these three are two teams from the NFC North: the Minnesota Vikings (15-2) and the Chicago Bears (10-1).
Again, despite the lack of recent playoff success, the Dallas Cowboys are popular with the sports betting community, as they hold 14% of all the money wagered on who will win the NFC Championship.
So far, the New York Giants are the bettors' favorite to represent their conference in the Super Bowl, as they have 24% of the overall NFC Championship betting volume.
And what about the Philadelphia Eagles? For the most part, the Eagles had a very productive offseason, the kind that could bring them back to the top.
They had a good draft adding the likes of WR Jeremy Maclin and RB LeSean McCoy.
Unfortunately, the team received a blow when long-time defensive coordinator Jim Johnson passed away on Tuesday.
But this team will make a real run at the division title this year. Going into the regular season, Philly is listed at +240 to win the division.
Last season the Eagles were 9-6-1 SU and 10-6 ATS.
Teams from the NFC East will play teams from the AFC West in the regular season and the Eagles haven't really been a good bet in the last 20 games against the likes of San Diego, Oakland, K.C. and Denver, only going 8-12 ATS.
Two seasons removed from that Super Bowl title, the New York Giants see themselves listed as the odds-on favorite in NFC East championship futures at +162.
Plaxico Burress is gone and with him all the bad publicity surrounding the gun in the sweatpants incident, but can they replace him in the offense?
Last season the Giants were a very reliable bet going 12-4 ATS.
In the Giants' last 20 games against fellow teams from the NFC East; they are 13-7 ATS.
Dallas is listed at +240 to win the division.
Dallas went 9-7 SU and 7-9 ATS last season and with the amount of talent the Cowboys have, a similar performance won't do.
The Cowboys have been atrocious against divisional rivals, going 6-14 ATS in their last 20.
The Washington Redskins are longshots to win the division at +550.
Visit MySportsbook.com for free sportsbook odds RSS feeds go to MySportsbook.com for all your betting football needs.
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