CFL West: Stamps and Riders to battle for first
Football Betting Lines
08/25/2010 - Toronto, Canada (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The West Division returns to play this week after a bye, with the two basement dwellers set to host the top teams. The Edmonton Eskimos and BC Lions have a lot of work cut out for them to get back into the swing of things, a task made harder with all the coaching speculation underway. Few would have thought Wally Buono's position as head coach of the Lions would ever be in doubt, but after limping to a 1-6 record to start the season, those questions are now being asked.
BC LIONS
Since Buono took over in 2003, the Lions have never missed the playoffs. Although the team has shown its decline over the last three seasons, this year's dramatic fall for one of the all-time winningest CFL coaches still comes as a surprise.
The Lions' problem on the field this season has been the same since Week 1 - an inexperienced o-line that fails to protect its quarterback and running backs. The Lions just can't find the time to find their offensive rhythm when they are constantly being hurried.
With the league's best defensive team coming up next, it will be even tougher to find their mojo with the ball.
Offensive key to the next game (Calgary Stampeders): Protect the quarterback. There is a possibility Casey Printers will be back from injury to start this game and if that's the case, the Lions are better off for it. But BC will get nowhere if they can't control the field around the line of scrimmage.
Defensive key to the next game: The Stampeders have many offensive weapons, backed up by a healthy balance between their passing and running game. However, the Stamps rely on their quarterback Henry Burris more than anything (he's thrown more touchdowns than any QB out West), so the Lions need to force the Stamps to run the ball to keep it close. Doing that starts with cutting off Burris's favorite target, Nik Lewis.
Look ahead: After Calgary, the Lions play three different eastern teams. While two are against Montreal and Toronto, BC has historically done well against the East. The Lions' most realistic chance of making the playoffs will be crossing over to the East Division, making these three games crucial to its hopes of a postseason berth.
EDMONTON ESKIMOS
As dire as things are on the Pacific Coast, they aren't as bad as across the Rockies. Edmonton has put up a terrible -94 point differential in scoring, which is 50 points worse than the Lions.
What this stat suggests is that nothing has worked for the Eskies all season. Arkee Whitlock remains one of the league's best running backs, but more is needed for this once-proud organization.
Losing 56-15 against Calgary in Week 7 was the latest debacle for Edmonton.
There is good news, however. Ricky Ray, who had only five pass attempts in their last game before leaving with injury, will be back this week. Though Ray has yet to find the magic from earlier in his career, he is a much better option than the backups behind him.
Offensive key to the next game (Saskatchewan Roughriders): Ray must dazzle, and it's possible to do that against Saskatchewan. The Riders have given up (by far) the most passing yards of any team in the West, and so Edmonton's best chance at scoring points will be to get it done through the air.
Defensive key to the next game: Part of the reason for Saskatchewan's lackadaisical pass defense is that they welcome teams to try and outgun Darian Durant and the league's best receiving corps. The Eskimos have to find a way to limit Durant's ability to go big and force him to complete short passes.
Look ahead: The schedule does not get any easier for the Eskimos. After their tilt with the Riders, they have a home-and-home series with the Stampeders, followed by a date in Montreal with the Alouettes.
CALGARY STAMPEDERS
The Stampeders headed into the bye week with the greatest momentum of any team. They became the top team in the league while at the same time making a dynamic statement when they trounced their Albertan rivals, 56-15, in Week 7.
When the Stamps won the Grey Cup in 2008, they had a league-best 13-5 record. Though there are many games still to be played, Burris and company look even deadlier this year, as they're on pace to score more points and allow even fewer.
The Stamps have the record to back up their strong play, but with so many games having come right down to the wire, they have also shown a resiliency that was missing last season.
Another road game in BC will put that to the test once again.
Offensive key to the next game (BC Lions): Burris needs to be mistake-free, as BC has a much better defense than its 1-6 record would indicate. In their meeting before the bye week, Burris threw for just 238 yards and had one interception, a stat line that allowed BC to come within five points of forcing overtime. Burris will need to execute better against a hungrier team.
Defensive key to the next game: The Stamps used some clever ploys to knock Lions QB Travis Lulay off his game in Week 7. If Printers remains on the sidelines, the Stamps need to do the exact same thing this week and keep Lulay uncomfortable. Tactics don't change if Printers is in the game, but the Stamps will have to be more cautious with the more experienced quarterback.
Look ahead: The Stamps have a home-and-home series with Edmonton after their matchup with BC, meaning a 3-0 run is a strong possibility. However, Calgary has shown some weakness on the road - at least in the fact they aren't as dominating as they are at home. A 1-3 record, even against the league's two worst teams, is a possibility if the Stamps don't take their opponents seriously.
SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS
Since losing 40-20 to Calgary in Week 4, the Riders have lost a little of the magic they started the season with, when they beat Montreal, 54-51, in their season opener.
Much of that has to do with the sloppy play of quarterback Darian Durant. After throwing seven touchdowns and just one interception over the first three games, Durant has been picked off a whopping eight times over his last four contests, to go along with just four TD's. It's no surprise that during Durant's struggles the Riders have mustered a mediocre 2-2 record over that span.
Offensive key to the next game (Edmonton Eskimos): Playing a road game is never easy, and so the Riders need Durant to find his accuracy, and fast. The Eskimos are not as challenging a team to square up against, but the Riders QB should use this game as a launching point for an improved second half of the season.
Defensive key to the next game: QB Ricky Ray, wide receiver Fred Stamps, and running back Arkee Whitlock. These are the three biggest offensive weapons the Eskimos have. Stopping at least two of three will eliminate any hope of an Edmonton upset.
Look ahead: The Riders have a classic home-and-home series against prairie rival Winnipeg Blue Bombers coming up after this week. Though Saskatchewan has proven to be the superior team this season, there's no guarantee this will translate to two easy wins. With another match against Calgary looming three weeks from now, the Riders need to win in order to prepare themselves for the upcoming western showdown.
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Problem with Bears?
Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.
"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."
Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.
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SPORTS BETTING
NFL Football Betting OnlineIn terms of sports wagering, the NFL is "the most popular game in town." The explanation behind that is easy.
It is called the "pointspread."
Many years ago, NFL games, as well as the more popular college games, used straight odds as a vehicle for betting. For example, if the Bears were playing the Giants, and it shaped up as a competitive contest, the Bears might be, say, a 7/5 favorite. If they were playing an also-ran, it might be 10/1. Well, there is a point where a line becomes prohibitive, as far as betting the favorite. And who would waste money betting an underdog that has virtually no chance? Such a setup did not contribute to promoting betting action.
But in modern sports betting, a "pointspread" is used.
A NFL pointspreads are exactly that, a pre-established point difference between the two sides that will, for all intents and purposes, create a handicap that evens things out, and in doing so, produces comparable wagering activity on both sides of that proposition. So in lieu of a odds figure in which to bet the team to win outright, the Bears might be a three-point favorite over the New York Giants, and a 17-point favorite over the also-ran. Now that the team that is the underdog can "get" points, there can be equal action on both sides.
In sportsbooks, this is usually done with efficiency by charging the losing bettors 10% extra - in effect, bettors are laying 11/10 on those games. So they are actually betting $110 to win $100. If they lose, they pay the "vig." If they win, they simply collect.
The establishment of the pointspread as the corner stone around which team sports like football can be wagered upon was truly what brought gridiron betting into the stratosphere for online football betting .
Don't believe it? Just take a look at what happens around the Super Bowl.
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