AFC West: Broncos Impressive on Multiple Fronts
Football Betting Lines
11/18/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Heading into their game at Atlanta last week, the notion of the Denver Broncos scoring only 24 points would have likely been met with jubilation by Falcons fans.
The way Denver had played defense this season, there was great reason to believe that a young but dangerous Falcons offense would do whatever it wished in Week 11, and that limiting Jay Cutler and the powerful Broncos attack to 24 might just mean a double-digit victory for the home team.
When Mike Shanahan's club opened the game without All-Pro cornerback Champ Bailey and minus 100 percent of its opening day starting linebacker corps, fantasy owners of Falcons stars like Roddy White and Michael Turner had to be licking their chops, too.
But something funny happened on the way to an Atlanta runaway. The Broncos actually played some defense.
Three Falcons running backs combined for just 96 yards on 30 carries (3.2 yards per attempt), with a makeshift Denver linebacking corps consisting of rookie Spencer Larsen in the middle and Wesley Woodyard and Jamie Winborn on the outside making a number of big tackles and consistently guarding against the game-changing big play.
Against the pass, the Broncos didn't have a sack and allowed White to go over 100 yards, but also kept quarterback Matt Ryan from throwing a touchdown strike and got a big interception from cornerback Dre' Bly in the second half.
In all, not a performance being edited down into celluloid history by the folks at NFL Films, but given their depleted defensive state and less-than- sterling reputation on that side of the ball, the Broncos' 24-20 win might as well have been engineered by the Pittsburgh's vaunted Steel Curtain.
"A lot of people say that we're not a good defense because of numbers, but any smart mathematician would know that after three or four high-number games, the numbers aren't going to look good," said rookie cornerback Josh Bell, who opened opposite Bly for his first career start and made five tackles. "But the past three weeks, we've stopped the run -- Ronnie Brown, Jamal Lewis, Michael Turner. [Turner] had his good play -- every good player in the NFL is going to get his -- but we played a complete game today."
Clearly, the defense gave the Broncos a chance to win on a day in which the offense was not at full strength or optimum efficiency.
One week after throwing for 447 yards in a 34-30 win at Cleveland, Jay Cutler went for a more modest 216 yards and a touchdown on 19-of-27 passing.
Meanwhile, a running game that had been beset by injuries in recent weeks received a group effort from three players who probably never envisioned playing such a significant role when the calendar flipped to November.
Converted rookie fullback Peyton Hillis scored two of the Broncos' three touchdowns and rushed for 44 yards on 10 carries. Practice squad promotee P.J. Pope made his four carries count for 35 yards, and prodigal son Tatum Bell - who looked like he might never wear an NFL uniform again following a bizarre teammate-theft story after being cut from the Lions in early September - carried seven times for 34 yards just days after being re-signed to the team.
Yes, it was an all-around effort, one that the Broncos didn't previously seem capable of given their injuries and recent play.
In addition to moving the team to 6-4, now two full games up on the San Diego Chargers in the AFC West, the game showed that Denver is something more than a one-trick pony, a fact that will likely do wonders for team morale.
"It means a lot for confidence," said Woodyard, another rookie proving his mettle as an unlikely starter. "We just came off a three-game losing streak, and now we're on a two-game winning streak. We've got to continue to keep that momentum going and just come back every week -- continue to play hard."
"We feel good about it, but we know we have a job to do," said Winborn. "We're on to the next team right now -- we've got Oakland coming into our house, and I'm pretty sure they want to get a win real bad. We're going to wipe this out and we know we've got to bring our A-game if we want to win next week."
CHARGERS: At least the San Diego Chargers are talking a good game.
At 4-6 with six games to play, Norv Turner's team is well aware that time is running out if it wishes to win the moribund AFC West and avoid joining the Jacksonville Jaguars, Cleveland Browns, and Seattle Seahawks on a short list of the NFL's most disappointing teams in 2008.
The recovery has to start this week, when the Bolts open a three-game homestand against the Indianapolis Colts (6-4), who are on a three-game win streak and harbor postseason aspirations of their own. Following that tilt are contests against the Falcons (6-4) and a Thursday nighter against the Raiders (4-6).
"We're continually backing ourselves into a corner, and we're probably facing the corner now," said Chargers linebacker Matt Wilhelm following the 11-10 loss to Pittsburgh on Sunday. "Speaking for myself, we're excited to play three games at home. We feel there's a great opportunity with a very good Colts team coming to town."
Added tight end Antonio Gates, "You continue to grind. We said from day one that this is a marathon. You just continue to play one game at a time. Our whole focus has definitely switched to the Colts. We're going to have a chance...to make some corrections offensively, and move forward. That's all we can do."
Despite Sunday's defeat, Turner saw things he found encouraging
"We've been in must-win mode. This group of guys, there's no quit in this group. This group fought as hard tonight, that was a physical football game and that's a very physical football team we're playing against. Every guy was in it on every play and guys being helped off and someone going in and fighting for them. That's the way we're going to play next week and that's the way we're going to play every week. That's what this group is about."
"The mindset is keep on playing," said linebacker Shaun Phillips. "You can't roll over. We have too many high-character guys to lie down. That's just not going to happen."
CHIEFS: A Chiefs team that has counted depth as a serious issue this season actually got a tad deeper on Sunday, as running back Larry Johnson returned from a four-game absence in Kansas City's 30-20 home loss to the Saints.
Johnson missed four games for disciplinary reasons stemming from a series of off-the-field incidents, with the team piling a de facto three-game suspension on top of the league's one-game slap on the wrist.
In his return, the former Pro Bowler rushed 19 times for 67 yards but failed to score a touchdown on several chances inside the 5-yard line. The Chiefs had to settle for field goals of 20 and 21 yards on two separate drives, helping to seal their 18th loss in 19 games dating back to last year.
Still, Johnson, who also caught a 20-yard pass out of the backfield, received high marks from at least one of his teammates.
"I think he ran tough today," said Chiefs guard Brian Waters. "I think he ran physical and I think that the little offensive wrinkle that we showed today gives us the ability to do both things (power run and spread) we want to do. We just have to do a better job executing."
RAIDERS: With yet another season heading nowhere, fans of the Oakland Raiders are now left to speculate about who the next coach to try to turn salvage this sunken ship will be.
A great number of coaches, including a selection of the best available candidates, will want nothing to do with the Raiders as long as owner Al Davis is pulling the puppet strings. Apparently, that group does not include former Giants head man Jim Fassel, who reportedly sent a letter to Davis expressing interest in the job.
In comments made on Sirius NFL Radio on Tuesday, Fassel did not deny the existence of the letter, or his interest in taking over the head coaching reins in Oakland. Fassel previously worked for the Raiders as the team's quarterbacks coach in 1995.
"I can honestly say this, and I mean this with all sincerity," said Fassel. "I know Al Davis. I've talked to him at different times and I've worked for him and I can honestly say...the year I was there we were doing good now, we were lighting it up pretty good on offense until we lost [quarterback Jeff] Hostetler, [Davis] never interfered with me one time. I think he called me a couple of times and asked me a couple of things and said, 'Well, if you need anything just let me know. Other than that, just keep on doing what we're doing, I guess.' He didn't interfere at all. He treated me great. He paid me really good money and we did this. So I don't have the same problem that maybe other people do."
Fassel, who last worked in the NFL in 2006, when he was fired as Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator at midseason, served as head coach of the New York Giants from 1997 through 2003. Fassel, who will turn 60 next August, was 60-56-1 (.517) overall (regular season and playoffs), and led the Giants to the playoffs three times including a Super Bowl in 2000.
In terms of his candidacy for the Oakland job, the Raiders could do a lot worse (and have).
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How did changes to college football betting rules affect bettors?
The 2007 college football rules changes that were implemented to shorten games are now history. The NCAA rules committee did what they set out to do; games were cut by an average of 14 minutes per game last season. There were also, on average, 14 fewer plays per game. We’ll get into how that did (or didn’t) affect games in regards to the pointspread a bit later.
While the NCAA rules committee may have had the betterment of the game in mind, they'll now “turn back the clock” for next season. Two key rules have now been overturned by the NCAA committee for the 2007 season, something definitely for the better.
For those of you who may not remember what those rules actually were, let us refresh your memory.
1) The first one was actually starting the clock on a kickoff as soon as the kicker touched the ball rather than waiting until the returner touched it. The problem here was near the end of the half (or game), if the team leading was kicking off, they could milk the clock by intentionally running offsides and then re-kicking. They could run 10-15 seconds off the clock each play while taking just five-yard penalties each time. They could run the clock down and simply cause the half (or game) to end on a kickoff, keeping the opposing offense off the field. In 2007, the clock will now start when the returner touches the ball as it had before last season.
2) The second rule dealt with starting the clock after a change of online football betting possession rather than waiting until the ball was snapped. This took a lot of time off the clock throughout the game as teams changed possession, however it caused the most problems late in games (or halves). Rather than huddling up and calling a play, the offensive team would have to rush onto the field as the clock started. This was a definite disadvantage to a team that was trying to come from behind late in the game. This year the clock will start on a change of possession, after the ball is snapped.
How did those rules affect the college game last year and will it make a difference this year when it comes to the pointspread? We commonly heard two theories when it came to these changes. First, it would affect scoring negatively. Second, it would hurt favorites as they would have less time and fewer plays to cover the number.
Did the rules hurt scoring? Yes. It seemed obvious that shortening the game by what amounted to 14 plays would push scoring downward. That was the case last year. Of the 119 Division 1A teams, 69 squads scored fewer points in 2007 than they did in 2005. Just 48 teams had a higher PPG scoring average and two stayed the same. Almost 59 percent of the teams in college football last year had a lower PPG average than they did in 2005. Expect more scoring in 2007 as we revert back to the old rules.
Did the rules hinder favorites from covering the number in 2007? Not really. Last year the favorites posted an overall spread record of 336-350-16 (48.9 percent). The year before, favorites were 316-326-13 (49.2 percent). In 2004, the favorites were 316-339-2 (48.2 percent). In fact, college football favorites have been above 50 percent for the season just once in the last seven years (in 2003). Last year’s numbers fell right in line with where they have been historically.
How about big favorites? The rules must have hurt them? Maybe a little bit. Double-digit favorites last year came in at a 47.8 percent clip compare with an average of just over 50 percent over the last seven years. Since 1980, favorites of -10 or more have covered at exactly a 50 percent clip (measured over 6,716 games).
Even bigger favorites must have struggled? Not really. In fact, it was just the opposite. Favorites of three TD’s or more were 59-54-2 last year (52.2 percent). Since 2000, those same favorites (-21 or higher) hit at 51.3 percent and since 1990 came in a clip of 50.3 percent. Stepping it up a notch to four TD favorites or higher, we actually see they've covered at a much better rate last season than before. Last year, favorites of -28 or more were 31-21-1, or almost 60 percent. Historically, four-TD-or-higher favorites have come in at a 50.7 percent spot since 2000 and only 48.9 percent since 1990. The “perceived” problem with the favorites covering at a reduced rate really never came to fruition.
Bottom line is, there might be some more scoring in 2007, but no real revelations when it comes to finding any pointspread golden nuggets.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on college football needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.
Albert Pujols to be This Year's Home Run Champ Says Online Sportsbook
Barry Bonds is a 50-1 long shot to be this year's home run champ odds. The favorite to be this year's home run champ is none other than Albert Pujols, however.
Now that Barry Bonds is signed and in Giants camp, it is on to his pursuit of all of sports most prestigious records: the all-time home run mark. Bonds sits just 21 homers shy of tying Hank Aaron for the career mark at 755. Word out of Giants’ camp is that Bonds is the healthiest he has been in a few years. Bonds is just two seasons removed from his injury riddled 2005 campaign where he played in only 14 games and hit only 5 home runs. He did come back last year and had a solid season hitting .270 with 26 bombs. All eyes will be on Bonds this spring and summer not only because of his home run chase but his highly publicized steroid abuse allegations. If and when Bonds breaks the record, he surely will not get the positive attention one should for breaking a record that was once thought of as “unbreakable”. Despite Bonds decent season last year, he is just 50-1 at MySportsbook.com to lead the MLB in long balls this season.
Not surprisingly, the favorites to go deep the most times this season are Albert Pujols 5-1, Ryan Howard 6-1, David Ortiz 8-1 and Alex Rodriguez 12-1. With 49 homers, Pujols finished second in the National League behind Howard (58). Pujols is considered the favorite due to the consistent power numbers that he has posted since breaking into the league in 2001. Also one must consider the fact that he played in 16 fewer games then Howard did due to an injury. Howard smashed 58 homers in his first complete season of big league play en route to the National League MVP odds award. He silenced his critics by successfully hitting left-handed pitching. Howard also displayed the ability to use his power to the opposite field. Two attributes which should keep Howard amongst the league leaders in long balls for years to come. From the American League representatives, David Ortiz leads the field. Ortiz was second in the majors last year with 54 home runs. Except for 1999 when he only played in 10 games, Ortiz has improved on his home run numbers each year he has been in the majors (1997).
Be sure to log onto online sports betting site MySportsbook.com to check out the odds for who will lead the MLB in home runs this season. Below is just a sample of the players listed. With the highest credit card rates in the industry, MySportsbook.com is the place to bet on baseball this summer.
World Series odds
Adam Dunn 15-1
Albert Pujols 5-1
Alex Rodriguez 12-1
Alfonso Soriano 15-1
Andruw Jones 25-1
Barry Bonds 50-1
Carlos Delgado 40-1
David Ortiz 8-1
Jermaine Dye 40-1
Ken Griffey Jr. 100-1
Lance Berkman 40-1
Manny Ramirez 20-1
Richie Sexson 40-1
Ryan Howard 6-1
Travis Hafner 20-1
Vladimir Guerrero 40-1
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.