Sports Betting Online & Sports Books Reviews

On Thursday night, most bettors will be focused on the opening night of the college football season. However, there will be a final opportunity to cash in on the NFL preseason on the same evening. All 32 squads will be in action on to wrap up the 2010 exhibition slate. Starters are likely to play just a series or two in an attempt to avoid any injuries prior to the start of the regular season.

Ravens, 49ers are perfect against the spread

Only two teams have managed to cover all of their preseason games this year. The Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers are each 3-0 against the point spread in exhibition action. Both clubs are predicted to make the playoffs this season. The Ravens defense has allowed just 8.3 points per game in preseason action to rank as the top scoring defense in the NFL. Baltimore is a 3-point underdog for its preseason finale at St. Louis. The 49ers are a 3.5-point home favorite in its final preseason effort against San Diego. While the Ravens and 49ers have rewarded bettors in the preseason, four teams have yet to cover a spread in exhibition play.

The Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Kansas City Chiefs and Indianapolis Colts are each 0-3 ATS in the preseason. Among this group, the Seahawks are the only club that has won a preseason game this year. The Colts continue a trend that dates back several years. The Indy defense is allowing over 43 points per game during this season’s preseason struggles. Despite playing at home on Thursday, Indianapolis is a 6.5-point underdog against the Cincinnati Bengals.

In terms of over/under results in the preseason, seven teams have gone over the total in all of its games. The Bills, Broncos, Saints, Packers, Rams, Colts and Browns are all 3-0 to the over in exhibition play. Green Bay is averaging just under 37 points per game during the preseason to rank as the top scoring offense in the league.

In the other direction, three teams have gone under the total in all of its games. The Cowboys, Ravens and Panthers have yet to record an over in the preseason. The struggles of the Dallas starting offense has gained some attention this preseason. Overall, the Cowboys are averaging just 12 points per game in its four exhibition tilts. Dallas is favored by a field goal on Thursday against the visiting Miami Dolphins. 

On Thursday, the wait will be over for college football fans. The 2010 season will begin on Thursday night with a handful of games. In the following four days, there will be further action highlighted by a huge slate on Saturday. The odds for the opening week have been out for a few weeks now. While the main line moves will come closer to kickoff, there have several games that have seen some significant adjustments heading into this week.

A key suspension for opening night

It isn’t often that a team from the Sunbelt Conference gets an opportunity to entertain a Big 10 foe. The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders have been gearing up all summer for its chance to host the Minnesota Golden Gophers to kickoff the 2010 campaign. When the opening odds were released, MTSU was a 4.5-point favorite over Minnesota. However, the recent suspension of all-conference quarterback Dwight Dasher has had a huge impact on the odds.

The Gophers are now favored by a field goal in the opener. In other notable line shifts for Thursday, USC has moved up to a 3-touchdown favorite at Hawaii after opening as a 19-point choice while UAB is now a 15-point home favorite over Florida Atlantic (opened as a 12.5-point underdog).

On Saturday, underdog Illinois has gained some support in its matchup against Missouri in St. Louis. The Tigers have been moved down to a 12-point choice after opening at -14. In a battle between the SEC and Big 10, Northwestern will travel to Nashville to take on Vanderbilt. After opening as a 2-point favorite, the Wildcats are currently favored by 5.5-points in the contest.

With its starting quarterback questionable on Saturday, the UCLA Bruins are a 2.5-point underdog at Kansas State. The Bruins are hoping that Kevin Prince will be ready to go. UCLA opened as a 2.5-point favorite in the game.

In another Big 12-Pac 10 contest, the Oklahoma State Cowboys are now a 15.5-point home favorite over the Washington State Cougars after opening as a 13.5-point choice.

Across the state in Norman, the Oklahoma Sooners have moved up to a 34-point favorite over Utah State (opened as a 31-point underdog). The favorite has been flipped for the Cincinnati-Fresno State contest. The Bearcats opened as a 2.5-point road favorite in the game but the Bulldogs are now a field goal choice in the matchup.

Finally, LSU has moved from a 1.5-point underdog to a 1-point favorite over North Carolina for Saturday night’s opener in Atlanta. The Tar Heels are facing some possible suspensions for the game.

In the 2009 college football season, there was a lot of focus directed on some of the top quarterbacks in the nation. With Sam Bradford, Tim Tebow and Colt McCoy now in the NFL, running backs are poised to become the focal point of the 2010 campaign. Here’s a look at some of the top contenders in the battle to gain the most rushing yards in the 2010 regular season:

Mark Ingram, Alabama (+500)

The reigning Heisman Trophy winner rushed for 1,429 yards in the 2009 regular season. Ingram averaged 18 rushing attempts per game in his sophomore season. With the emergence of teammate Trent Richardson in Alabama’s backfield last year, Ingram may not get enough carries in 2010 to be the top rusher in the nation.

Dion Lewis, Pittsburgh (+500)

As a freshman, Lewis gained 1,640 yards in the 2009 regular season. He averaged 25 rushing attempts per game for the Panthers. He had a whopping 47 carries in Pitt’s regular season finale against Cincinnati. Lewis has a streak of eight consecutive games with at least 110 rushing  yards heading into 2010.

Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech (+500)

Like Lewis, Williams made a huge impact for his squad as a freshman. He rushed for 1,538 yards for the Hokies in the regular season in 2009. Williams averaged 22 carries per outing. He got a chance to play when the team’s top runner in 2008 went down with an injury before last season. Darren Evans (998 regular season rushing yards in 2008) is now healthy and could get some of the workload in Virginia Tech’s backfield in 2010.

LaMichael James, Oregon (+600)

After getting only 11 carries in his first two games as a freshman in 2009, James became a dominant force for the Ducks the rest of the way. He finished with 1,476 yards in the regular season. James should get some more opportunities to run the ball as a sophomore after averaging 18 carries per contest last season. However, he will only have 11 regular season games to work with after being suspended for Oregon’s opener against New Mexico.

DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma (+600)

While Murray has rushed for more than 700 yards (championship/bowl games included) in each of his three seasons with the Sooners, he has yet to have a breakout year. Murray gained just 688 yards on the ground in the 2009 regular season. He averaged only 14 rushing attempts per game in his 11 regular season contests. With Bradford and some other offensive standouts now in the NFL, Murray could be ready to have his impact season.

With the start of the NFL regular season just over two weeks away, let’s look at some player matchup props for the 2010 campaign. Here’s a look at some of the more intriguing prop bets that are available at the site:

Player to Record Most Passing Yards

Tom Brady (+300.5 yards) vs. Peyton Manning (-300.5 yards)

In 2009, Manning recorded an even 4,500 passing yards while Brady finished with 4,398. The 34-year-old Manning had his second-best career yardage total in 2009. He threw for 4,557 yards in 2004. The 33-year-old Brady also recorded his second-best yardage season in 2009. Before missing almost all of the 2008 campaign due to injury, Brady passed for 4,806 yards in 2007. The outcome of this prop could be determined by how well Patriots wideout Wes Welker is able to return from a knee injury that occurred in the final game of the 2009 regular season. Another potential factor involves the home stadium of each quarterback. While Brady could deal with some unfavorable conditions in the winter at New England’s outdoor stadium, Manning gets to play his home contests in the comfort of a dome.

Aaron Rodgers (+350.5 yards) vs. Drew Brees (-350.5 yards)

Rodgers actually threw for more yards than Brees in 2009. The Green Bay signal-caller threw for for 4,434 yards in his second year as the starting quarterback of the Packers while Brees passed for 4,388 yards. However, Brees was held out of the Saints final regular season game of 2009 as New Orleans had already clinched the homefield advantage for the NFC playoffs. Brees actually recorded his lowest yardage total as a Saint last season. New Orleans was able to run the ball better in 2009 for more of a balanced attack. Like the Brady-Manning prop, weather could be a factor in this wager. Rodgers could have to deal with some inclement weather in December at Lambeau Field while Brees will get to throw in the comfort of the Superdome.

Player to Record Most Passing Touchdowns

Eli Manning (+1.5 touchdowns) vs. Matt Schaub (-1.5 touchdowns)

Last year, Schaub fired 29 TD passes while Manning delivered 27 touchdown tosses. Schaub was able to stay on the field in 2009 after missing five games in each of the previous two seasons. Manning set a career-high in TD passes last season and has thrown for more than 20 touchdown strikes in each of the last five years.

With the first week of NFL preseason action in the books, there are just three more exhibition games left for each of the 32 squads in the league. The preseason slate got underway on August 8th with the Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio. The Dallas Cowboys defeated the Cincinnati Bengals by a final of 16-7 as a 3-point underdog. The game went under the total of 33.5.

In the first full week of play, home teams won 11 of the 16 games but were just 7-8-1 against the point spread. The Raiders, Vikings, Browns, 49ers and Giants were the five clubs that won away from home to open the preseason. Several contests fell close to the point spread. On Thursday, the New England Patriots gained a narrow cover as a 2-point choice over the visiting New Orleans Saints in a 27-24 win. In Baltimore, the Ravens stopped the Carolina Panthers by a final of 17-12 as a 5-point choice for a push.

In action on Friday, the Jacksonville Jaguars pulled out a cover in Philadelphia against the Eagles in a 28-27 defeat as a 3-point underdog. On Saturday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers covered in a 10-7 loss at Miami against the Dolphins as a 4-point underdog. In Seattle, the Seahawks gained a 20-18 victory over the Tennessee Titans but were unable to cover as a 3.5-point choice. In over/under results, 11 of the 16 games went over the total.

More action

On Thursday, the Falcons were a 2.5-point favorite heading into Atlanta against the New England Patriots, where the Falcons dominated. In a matchup of two playoff squads from last season, the Philadelphia Eagles traveled to face the Bengals in Cincinnati. The Bengals were a field goal favorite in the contest, however, they more than covered this with a 22 to 9 win.

On Saturday, Ben Roethlisberger made his preseason debut in New York against the Giants. The Pittsburgh Steelers were a 3-point favorite in the game, with a final score of 24 to1 7. Roethlisberger is suspended for at least the first four weeks of the regular season. In Denver, Tim Tebow will make his home debut in a battle against the Detroit Lions. The Broncos are a 3-point choice in the matchup. The action for the week concluded on Monday in Nashville when the Tennessee Titans beat the Arizona Cardinals 24 to 10.

The kickoff of the 2010 college football season is less than four weeks away. Here’s a look at some of the matchups involving squads that are ranked in the top 25 and another key game to begin the year:

9/4: San Jose State at #1 Alabama (-39)

After dropping a 56-3 contest at USC to open last season, the Spartans (2-10 in 2009) could face an even longer day to begin the 2010 campaign. The defending national champions will use the opener as a tuneup for a battle on September 11th against Penn State. With running back Mark Ingram, quarterback Greg McElroy and wide receiver Julio Jones returning for Alabama, the offense should be good enough for the Crimson Tide to make another title run in 2010.

9/4: #18 North Carolina vs. #16 LSU (-1.5) (@ Atlanta, GA)

The Tar Heels could have the most talented defense in the nation heading into this season. LSU fans have been disappointed with the Tigers since a BCS title in 2007. Junior quarterback Jordan Jefferson could be the key to LSU’s season in 2010. The Tigers hold a 5-1 lead in the all-time series against North Carolina. The last meeting between the two programs was in 1986.

9/4: UL-Lafayette at #21 Georgia (-28)

The Rajin’ Cajuns have gone 6-6 in each of the last two seasons. In visits to LSU and Nebraska last season, UL-Lafayette was outscored by a combined total of 86-3. After an average season in 2009, the Bulldogs will turn to freshman quarterback Aaron Murray to run the offense in 2010. Georgia wideout A.J. Green is one of the top receivers in the SEC.

9/4: Arkansas State at #23 Auburn (-30.5)

While the Red Wolves (4-8 in 2009) had a solid defense a year ago, the offense failed to produce much of an output. In contrast, the Tigers had a much improved offensive attack in 2009. Former Florida quarterback Cameron Newton is on board to direct Auburn’s offense in 2010. In the only prior meeting between the two squads, Arkansas State was blanked at Auburn by a final of 27-0 in 2006.

9/4: Connecticut at Michigan (-3)

The Huskies have gone to three straight bowl games under head coach Randy Edsall. All five of Connecticut’s defeats last year were by four points or less. Michigan head coach Rich Rodriguez could face a make or break year in his third season at the school. He is just 8-16 in his initial two years with the Wolverines.

The kickoff of the 2010 college football season is less than four weeks away. Here’s a look at some of the matchups involving squads that are ranked in the top 25 to begin the year:

9/4: Utah State at #8 Oklahoma (-31)

The Aggies (4-8 in 2009) were one of the worst programs in the nation in the last decade. Oklahoma will look to rebound from a rare down season (8-5 in 2009) behind sophomore quarterback Landry Jones. The Sooners rolled to a 54-3 win over Utah State in Norman three years ago in the last meeting between the two schools.

9/4: Western Kentucky at #9 Nebraska (-35.5)

The Hilltoppers bring a 20-game losing streak into this one. The squad dropped a 63-7 contest in last year’s season opener at Tennessee. The Cornhuskers are looking to go out with a bang in its final year in the Big 12. If the offense can improve its passing game, Nebraska could make a run at a national title.

9/4: New Mexico at #11 Oregon (-34)

New Mexico (1-11 in 2009) was overmatched more often than not under first-year head coach Mike Locksley. Oregon had a tough offseason. Starting quarterback Jeremiah Moseli was dismissed from the team while star running back LaMichael James was suspended for the New Mexico game due to an off the field incident.

9/4: #12 Wisconsin (-19.5) at UNLV

The Badgers pulled out a 20-13 win at Las Vegas in the last meeting between the two schools in 2007. Led by star runner John Clay, Wisconsin is expected to challenge for a Big 10 title in 2010. Former Montana head coach Bobby Hauck will make his debut on the sidelines for the Rebels. From 2005-09, Mike Sanford managed to win a total of just 16 games at UNLV.

9/2: #15 Pittsburgh at #24 Utah (-3.5)

These two schools will meet up on the gridiron for just the second time. In their first contest, the Utes rolled to a 35-7 win in the 2005 Fiesta Bowl to complete a perfect 12-0 campaign under head coach Urban Meyer. In 2010, the Panthers have high hopes in the Big East. Sophomore running back Dion Lewis could be a legitimate Heisman Trophy contender this year after ranking third in the country in rushing as a freshman with 1,799 yards. Current Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham has guided his squad to a 23-3 mark in the last two years.

10/2: Florida at Alabama (-3)

The last two BCS champions will square off in one of the most highly anticipated games of the year. The two SEC powers met only twice in the regular season (2005-06) in the last decade but have battled it out in the conference title game in each of the last two years. Florida junior quarterback John Brantley will face his biggest test of the year against the defending national champions.

10/2: Texas vs. Oklahoma (-3)

The “Red River Rivalry” in Dallas will likely have some national championship implications again. The two Big 12 heavyweights have combined to appear in five of the last seven BCS title games. With Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy now in the NFL, each squad will have to go with some less heralded quarterbacks in 2010. The Longhorns have won four of the last five meetings in the series.

10/9: Florida State at Miami-Florida (-5.5)

While this “Sunshine State” rivalry has lost some luster from some of the great battles in the eighties and nineties, the two programs appear to have some momentum heading into 2010. New Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher will rely on senior quarterback Christian Ponder. He was chosen as the ACC Player of the Year heading into the season. The Hurricanes pulled out a 38-34 win in Tallahassee in last year’s season opener.

10/16: Texas at Nebraska (-2.5)

In its last year in the Big 12, the Cornhuskers will get a chance for some revenge after losing to Texas in the final seconds of the 2009 conference title game. Sophomore quarterback Garrett Gilbert will need to step up for the Longhorns against the “Blackshirts” on the Nebraska defense.

10/23: Wisconsin at Iowa (-3)

While Ohio State is the favorite in the Big 10, these two squads are viewed as the next best title contenders in the conference in 2010. Wisconsin junior running back John Clay could be a Heisman Trophy contender after gaining over 1,500 yards in 2009. The Hawkeyes are 6-2 in the series since 2002.

11/4: Georgia Tech at Virginia Tech (-7)

The two schools that have combined for the last three ACC titles will meet up in Blacksburg. Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech are the only two teams to have won a Coastal Division title since the conference was split into divisions in 2005. The defending ACC champion Yellow Jackets are led by dynamic quarterback Josh Nesbitt. The Hokies counter with one of the most talented backfields in the nation.

While the opening week of the 2010 college football season will get underway on Thursday, September 2nd, Sportsbook.com has posted odds for some of the marquee games throughout the year. Here’s a look at some of the notable games:

9/11: Penn State at Alabama (-11.5)

Two of college football’s elite programs will meet for the first time since 1990. In the most memorable matchup between the two schools, Alabama recorded a 14-7 win over the Nittany Lions in the 1979 Sugar Bowl to capture a national title. Penn State must break in a new starting quarterback on the road early in the season against the defending national champions.

9/11: Miami-Florida at Ohio State (-8)

The two programs will hook up for the first time since Ohio State upset the Hurricanes to win the 2002 BCS title. Miami appears to be on the upswing after some recent struggles heading into 2010. In a battle of outstanding quarterbacks, Miami’s Jacory Harris will try to get the better of Ohio State’s Terrelle Pryor.

9/11: Michigan at Notre Dame (-5.5)

The two winningest programs in the history of college football haven’t done too much in the last couple of years. New Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly will try to jumpstart the Irish after an incredible run at Cincinnati. Michigan owns an 18-15-1 edge in the all-time series and have won three of the last four meetings.

9/18: Nebraska (-4.5) at Washington

The Huskers are hoping to make a BCS title run but this non-conference affair won’t be easy. While the Huskies have struggled in the last few years, quarterback Jake Locker is a major NFL prospect. Nebraska rolled to a 55-7 win over Washington in the last matchup between the two schools in 1998.

9/25: Oklahoma (-8.5) at Cincinnati

The Sooners are expected to return to elite status after being derailed by injuries a year ago. Cincinnati must adjust to the departure of Brian Kelly after rolling to a pair of Big East titles. New Bearcats head coach Butch Jones will try to gain some revenge for Cincinnati following a 52-26 setback in Norman two years ago.

9/25: West Virginia at LSU (-5.5)

The two schools will square off for the first time on the gridiron in Baton Rouge. Mountaineers senior running back Noel Devine could be a Heisman Trophy contender this season. While LSU has been a disappointment in the last couple of years, few opposing teams are able to escape “Death Valley” with a victory.

The 2010 NFL preseason will begin on Sunday with an intriguing matchup. The Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys will square off in the annual Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio. Wide receiver Terrell Owens could make his Bengals debut in the contest against one of his former teams. Cincinnati has been installed as a field goal choice in the contest with a total of 32.5. The Cowboys were hoping to showcase top draft pick Dez Bryant in the game. However, the rookie wideout will miss the entire preseason after suffering a recent ankle injury.

Week 1 preseason matchups to watch

Next week, the other 30 teams in the league will make their preseason debuts. On Thursday, August 12th, the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints will travel to New England to face the Patriots. The home team is a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 36. In action on the following night, Donovan McNabb and Mike Shanahan will make their debuts for the Washington Redskins. Washington is a 3.5-point home favorite against the Buffalo Bills with an over/under of 33.

On Saturday, August 14th, the Houston Texans will head to the desert to take on the Arizona Cardinals. The game is a pick’ em with a total of 33.5. Arizona will be seeking a replacement for the retired Kurt Warner in the preseason. Matt Leinart will try to secure the job as the club’s new starting quarterback.

In St. Louis, the Minnesota Vikings must also replace a signal-caller after the recent retirement of Brett Favre. The Rams-Vikings matchup is a pick with an over/under of 31.5. Tavaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels will try to emerge in the preseason for Minnesota. Top overall draft choice Sam Bradford will make his NFL debut under center for the Rams.

In Seattle, new head coach Pete Carroll will guide the Seahawks for the first time against the Tennessee Titans. Seattle is a 3-point choice in the contest with a total of 34.

On Sunday, August 15th, Denver Broncos rookie Tim Tebow will take the field as a pro for the first time in Cincinnati against the Bengals. The odds for this game will be set on Monday after the Hall of Fame contest. Finally, on Monday, August 16th, the Jets and Giants will break in the New Meadowlands Stadium. The Jets are a 1-point favorite as the designated home team in the game with an over/under of 32.5.