12/01/2008 - Udine, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Udinese's general director Pietro Leonardi has admitted that the club have slumped into a mini crisis, having lost their last four games in Serie A.
A 1-0 home defeat by Chievo added to the pressure at the Friuli, with Udine having dropped into mid-table as a result of their recent struggles.
Leonardi said: "We are in crisis, but have to regain belief in our capabilities as soon as possible.
"Everyone laughed when, at the times we were top of the table, I talked about getting precious points to ensure safety.
"Now, after four straight defeats, that idea is back on the table. It is a terrible moment for us, but we have to get back on track."
(Courtesy of sportbox.tv)
<< Strachan promised transfer boost from Celtic board
Glasgow, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell has
confirmed that the club's board will do all they can to back manager Gordon
Strachan in the January transfer window.
The Bhoys currently lead the SPL title
<< Pampling to No. 59 in world rankings
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Rod Pampling beat Marcus Fraser in a
playoff Sunday to win the Australian Masters, and that victory that gave the
Aussie a 12-spot bump in the world rankings to No. 59.
Nothing changed at the top o
<< Burress surrenders to authorities
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress
surrendered to authorities on Monday and is expected to be charged with an
apparent weapons possession after accidentally shooting himself.
Burress, who spent a
<< Huskies host Hornets in Storrs
Storrs, CT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The nation's second-ranked team will be in
action this evening, as the Connecticut Huskies host the Delaware State
Hornets in what appears to be a tremendously lopsided matchup.
Delaware State has already played
Sabres host Predators in western New York >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Buffalo Sabres will aim for their third win in four
games when they welcome the Nashville Predators for this evening's contest at
HSBC Arena.
The Sabres ended a five-game losing streak with consecutive victories over
Canucks try to rebound with test in Columbus >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Vancouver Canucks will try to avoid a third straight
loss when they visit the Columbus Blue Jackets for tonight's battle at
Nationwide Arena.
The Canucks had won four in a row before being swept in a home-and-home seri
Recent Cup winners clash as Red Wings host Ducks >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A matchup between the last two Stanley Cup champions is on
tap tonight in the Motor City, as the Detroit Red Wings welcome the Anaheim
Ducks to Joe Louis Arena.
The Ducks won it all in 2007 and defeated Detroit in the West
Avs aim to end Minnesota drought >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Colorado Avalanche will try to halt a five-game losing
streak in Minnesota, where they play the Wild tonight at Xcel Energy Center.
The Avalanche haven't won in Minnesota since a 2-1 shootout victory on January
6, 2007
Chiefs' Treen Green out for Sunday's game
How long Trent Green will remain sidelined is unknown. Coach Herm Edwards said Monday he will miss a second straight start Sunday when the Chiefs host the San Francisco 49ers.
A two-time Pro Bowler, Green was going into a feet-first hook slide when he was knocked unconscious by a thunderous, head-snapping hit from Cincinnati's Robert Geathers.
Oddsmakers at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com currently have the Chiefs listed as 7-point favorites versus the 49ers.
The 49ers got beat by Philadelphia 38-24 as a 6.5-point underdog last week. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (42.5).
Alex Smith completed 27-of-46 passes for 293 yards with a touchdown. Michael Robinson rushed for 29 yards and a pair of touchdowns on five carries.
The Chiefs lost 9-6 to Denver last week as an 11-point underdog. The combined score was well UNDER the posted over/under total (38).
Larry Johnson rushed for 126 yards on 27 carries. Damon Huard completed 17-of-23 passes for 133 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.
To visit this online sports book got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting 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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