11/12/2008 - Stanford, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The sixth-ranked USC Trojans are once again the class of the Pac-10 Conference, and they will take on the Stanford Cardinal on the road this weekend.
USC is ranked in the Top 25 in every national offensive and defensive statistical category, proof of the tremendous all-around ability of the squad. The Trojans have allowed more than 10 points in only one game this season, their lone loss to Oregon State. Since then, the club has put together six consecutive victories, including three shutouts. While USC is clearly on the outside of the national title picture at the moment, there is still hope that the team will make it to college football's biggest game. The Trojans need some losses by teams ahead of them in the BCS standings, and that is certainly a possibility considering the amount of upsets we have seen in recent weeks.
Stanford's goal is simple, as it needs one more victory to earn bowl eligibility, something that the program hasn't done since 2001. The Cardinal brings a 4-0 home record into Saturday's game and hope to post their first perfect home season since Bill Walsh's 1977 team won all six of its home contests. Last weekend, Stanford dropped a 35-28 decision to Oregon, and the club has now rotated wins and losses in the last six outings.
USC owns a 58-25-3 lead in the all-time series with Stanford, including a 39-10-1 edge in the last 50 meetings. Still, the Cardinal scored the biggest upset of the 2007 college football season with a 24-23 victory over the Trojans on the road.
In the last four outings, USC has scored 69 points, 17 points, 56 points and then 17 points again in last weekend's 14-point victory over California. Clearly, the offense has been wildly inconsistent under the guidance of quarterback Mark Sanchez. So far this season, Sanchez has completed 64.8 percent of his passes for 2,122 yards with 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions, impressive numbers for sure. But with the amount of talent present on the offensive side of the football, and there is a ton, there is no reason that USC should have been held below 20 points in two of the last three games.
The Trojans posted 411 total yards against Cal last weekend and committed just one turnover, but the team simply wasn't able to generate many points. Sanchez threw a pair of touchdown passes in the tilt, a 19-yarder to Patrick Turner and a six-yard strike to Ronald Johnson.
"I felt we did a good job moving the football," said head coach Pete Carroll after the game. "We played under control and sustained some nice drives."
USC is ranked first in total defense (206.4 ypg), scoring defense (6.7 ppg), pass efficiency defense and pass defense. In fact, USC's scoring defense is its best in 56 years, its total defense average is its finest in 41 years. The Trojans are surrendering a lowly 77.8 rushing ypg on an average of 2.3 yards per carry. The pass defense has limited opposing quarterbacks to 8.2 yards per completion while compiling 13 interceptions. There are many standout performers on the defensive side of the ball, and Rey Maualuga leads the way with his 57 total tackles and two interceptions. Brian Cushing, another linebacker, has posted 54 tackles, including 7.5 TFLs.
Last weekend against Cal, the Trojans surrendered only 165 total yards, including 27 rushing yards on 26 attempts. USC posted four sacks in that tilt and limited the Golden Bears to 5-of-14 success on third down conversion attempts.
"The defense was playing like crazy--lights out tonight," said Carroll. "I really feel the game was more in control than the score showed."
Junior safety Taylor Mays was named Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Week after posting five tackles and four pass breakups against Cal.
Last weekend against Oregon, Stanford posted 325 total yards and scored three offensive touchdowns, but the effort was not good enough to avoid defeat. There weren't many big plays made in the passing game, as the Cardinal managed just 138 yards on 15 completions. As for the ground attack, Anthony Kimble led the way with 106 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries. Stanford held the ball for more than 39 minutes, surprising considering that the squad was 5-of-15 on third down conversion attempts.
Overall this season, Stanford is averaging 27.6 ppg and 341.9 total ypg. The club is rushing for 207.0 ypg on 5.0 ypc, clearly the strength of the offense. Of the 32 touchdowns scored by the offense, 23 have come on the ground. Toby Gerhart, who has rushed for 932 yards and 13 touchdowns, is expected to fight through hamstring injury and play this weekend. Quarterback Tavita Pritchard, who has as many interceptions (10) as touchdown passes, doesn't pose much of a threat with his arm.
The Cardinal did not register a single sack against Oregon last weekend and permitted the Ducks to make good on 6-of-11 third down conversion attempts. Oregon racked up 307 rushing yards on an average of 7.5 yards per carry and scored four offensive touchdowns in the clash, three of which came on the ground. Stanford recovered four Oregon fumbles, and if not for those miscues by the Ducks the score would have been more lopsided. Put simply, the defense did not play very well and needs to put forth a better effort against USC.
Opponents are posting 24.7 ppg and 374.9 total ypg against a Stanford defense that can be described as mediocre at best. The team has been much better against the run than the pass, so expect USC to air it out quite a bit this weekend.
<< Bearcats battle Cardinals in Big East brawl
Louisville, KY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 22nd-ranked Cincinnati Bearcats try to
remain in the thick of the Big East race this Friday, as they tangle with the
Louisville Cardinals at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium.
The Bearcats are coming off thei
<< With Pac-10 title in reach, 23rd-ranked Beavers host Golden Bears
Corvallis, OR (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 23rd-ranked Oregon State Beavers try to
take one step closer to capturing the Pac-10 title this weekend, as they
welcome the California Golden Bears to Reser Stadium for a key league battle.
The Beavers c
<< Eagles hope to soar past 20th-ranked Seminoles
Tallahassee, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 20th-ranked Florida State Seminoles
have their sights set on an ACC title and they will try to keep those
aspirations alive against the Boston College Eagles this weekend in
Tallahassee.
The Seminoles
<< Cougars and Falcons square off in Mountain West Conference action
Colorado Springs, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 16th-ranked BYU Cougars hit the
road for the first of two outings to close out the regular season as they
challenge the Air Force Falcons in Mountain West Conference play in Colorado
Springs.
BYU,
Rockets, Suns square off in the desert >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Rockets continue a tough five-game road trip
Wednesday when they travel to Phoenix to take on the Suns.
Reigning MVP Kobe Bryant scored 23 points and the Los Angeles Lakers came away
with a convincing 111-82
Kings pay a visit to Clippers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Sacramento Kings attempt to win for the first time on
the road this season when they arrive in Hollywood to take on the woeful Los
Angeles Clippers at Staples Center.
The short-handed Kings missed out on a chance
Magic open road trip at Oklahoma City >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Orlando Magic will attempt to get back on the winning
track Wednesday as they kickoff a three-game road trip by visiting the
struggling Oklahoma City Thunder at the Ford Center.
The Magic, who will be looki
Cadillac back in the Bucs' stable >>
Tampa, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have activated running
back Carnell "Cadillac" Williams off the physically unable to perform list and
could have the former first-round draft pick available for Sunday's game
against
New York, NY – October 3, 2007 – The dress rehearsal is over! The NHL preseason has ended and now that fans have had a glimpse of what is to come it is time to hit the book! Stanley Cup odds are live at MySportsbook.com, the world’s largest online sportsbook and casino.
The Ottawa Senators and Detroit Red Wings remain on top of the odds charts after an impressive start in the preseason. Betting lines opened for both teams at 6-1 in June. Since then the Sens have fallen to 7-1 and the Red Wings are now caught in a pack including the defending champion Carolina Hurricanes, the San Jose Sharks and the Anaheim Ducks, all at 10-1.
MySportsbook.com has also posted props on each team’s point total for the regular season. The Senators lead the charge at 108.5 followed by the Ducks at 106.5. Detroit will attempt a repeat for the prize as the Red Wings are deadlocked with the Predators at 104.5 a piece. The temporary loss of highly touted rookie Evgeni Malkin puts a lot of pressure on the stick of assistant captain Sidney Crosby - his lowly Pittsburgh Penguins are listed at 71.5.
Even if bettors are not brave enough to put their money on the underdog, an early bet on the favorites at sportsbook.com tends to produce bigger payouts than a mid-season wager. Placing a $1,000 bet last summer on the Detroit Red Wings or Ottawa Senators would have paid out to $8,000 and $10,000 respectively, opposed to a $2,500 or $3,000 payout at the beginning of the playoffs.
| Ottawa Senators Detroit Red Wings Carolina Hurricanes San Jose Sharks Anaheim Ducks Philadelphia Flyers Calgary Flames New Jersey Devils Buffalo Sabres Dallas Stars New York Rangers Nashville Predators Vancouver Canucks Colorado Avalanche Minnesota Wild Tampa Bay Lightning Boston Bruins Florida Panthers Montreal Canadiens Atlanta Thrashers Toronto Maple Leafs Edmonton Oilers Phoenix Coyotes Los Angeles Kings New York Islanders Columbus Blue Jackets St. Louis Blues Pittsburgh Penguins Washington Capitals Chicago Blackhawks |
7-1 10-1 10-1 10-1 10-1 12-1 12-1 12-1 12-1 15-1 15-1 15-1 20-1 20-1 25-1 25-1 30-1 30-1 30-1 30-1 30-1 30-1 40-1 40-1 50-1 50-1 80-1 80-1 100-1 100-1 |
NHL Regular Season Points - Team Must Play 82 Games
| Team Ottawa Senators Anaheim Ducks Detroit Red Wings Nashville Predators San Jose Sharks Calgary Flames Philadelphia Flyers New Jersey Devils Buffalo Sabres Carolina Hurricanes Dallas Stars New York Rangers Minnesota Wild Atlanta Thrashers Montreal Canadiens Team Los Angeles Kings Tampa Bay Lightening Vancouver Canucks Boston Bruins Colorado Avalanche Edmonton Oilers Phoenix Coyotes Toronto Maple Leafs Florida Panthers Columbus Blue Jackets New York Islanders Chicago Blackhawks St. Louis Blues Washington Capitals Pittsburgh Penguins |
Over/Under 108.5 106.5 104.5 104.5 103.5 101.5 100.5 99.5 97.5 97.5 97.5 95.5 94.5 93.5 92.5 Over/Under 91.5 91.5 91.5 89.5 89.5 88.5 88.5 86.5 84.5 82.5 80.5 72.5 72.5 72.5 71.5 |
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your hockey sportsbook needs.
Is there such a thing as a trap game in the NFL?
I once asked that question to Pete Korner, who at the time was office manager and a senior linesmaker for Las Vegas Sports Consultants.
Korner almost ripped my head off. There is no such thing as a trap game, he loudly berated me. It’s a myth. The numbers are made using power ratings, he said.
There are trap games, though. They just might not be what you think. The perception is of a good team, say Philadelphia, laying a small number against New Orleans.
Using the highly-respected power ranking from The Gold Sheet, you’d find the Eagles with a power rating of 4 and the Saints at 8. When you factor the game being played in New Orleans, you could see why the line opened so short at less than a field goal.
For some, this makes it enticing to take the Eagles. That’s not a real trap game, though.
A real trap game, says professional gambler Dave Malinsky, is thinking you’re getting value betting a bad team, which brings us to the Oakland Raiders-Denver Broncos matchup.
The Raiders are +15 in this long-standing division rivalry. Denver is on a short week having dispatched Baltimore Monday. However, the Raiders haven’t covered the spread their last 10 games.
Many bettors don’t trust the Raiders to give a full effort. Few think much of Art Shell and his Oakland’s coaching staff.
So oddsmakers have to do something to make Oakland attractive if they hope to get equal action.
Now Malinsky is a value shopper. But he won’t touch the Raiders even getting more than two touchdowns.
“I try to eliminate the undisciplined, unfocused teams because they’re the ones most likely to suffer the bad beats,” he said.
Near the top of Malinsky’s list of stay-away teams is the Miami Dolphins, who have yet to cover a spread this season.
“Whatever you think of Nick Saban, you have to look at the penalties and turnovers,” Malinsky said.
It’s easy to point out the Dolphins failed to get the money this past week against New England because Olindo Mare missed a field goal and had another field goal blocked. But even though the Dolphins outgained the Patriots, 283-213, they committed eight penalties.
Bad teams not only cost themselves victories, but pointspread covers as well. The Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers are two more examples.
The Cardinals couldn’t have been in a better position this past Sunday, up 14-0 at home against a mediocre Kansas City Chiefs squad. But they couldn’t hold it. The Packers got a push against St. Louis, but also could have won losing by three when Brett Favre fumbled at the St. Louis 11-yard line with 44 seconds left.
“The Packers were in a position to beat Philadelphia, too,” Malinsky said. “But they couldn’t even cover double digits.
“These teams just make mistakes and it costs you … they always will look good from a value standpoint. They really will. But that’s the trap.”
Houston and Tennessee rank among the six-worst teams. Malinsky wouldn’t be afraid to take either of these teams, however, if the price were high enough.
The Texans are bad, Malinsky said, but they have some discipline. The Titans showed they could not only come up with an outstanding game plan, but execute it as well, losing by one to the Colts on the road as an 18 ?-point underdog this past Sunday.
“Jeff Fisher is a worker,” Malinsky said of the Titans coach. “I’m not sure how hard Art Shell wants to work when he gets out of bed.”
Fisher, though, could be out as Tennessee coach after this season. Is he still worth backing in the right spot, with the right price, as a lame duck coach?
“It’s in his nature to keep working hard and not worry about any possible lame duck status,” Malinsky said. “He’s coaching for his resume.”
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting lines.
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