Argonauts host Tiger-Cats in East Division melee
Football Betting Lines
09/28/2011 - Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Coming off a huge win in the second annual Touchdown Atlantic game last weekend in Moncton, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats get back to a traditional venue this week as they challenge the Toronto Argonauts at Rogers Centre.
Hamilton, which hasn't won back-to-back games since late July, put itself in position to make that happen this week after blowing the doors off Calgary in a 55-36 final. During the matchup with the Stampeders, quarterback Kevin Glenn converted 16-of-23 passes for 276 yards and three touchdowns, with two of the scoring tosses going to Marcus Thigpen who turned his six receptions into a game-high 139 yards. Thigpen also returned a missed field goal 118 yards for a touchdown near the end of the third quarter as well.
On the ground the club ordered up another three majors, one each by Avon Cobourne (84 yards), Terry Grant and Quinton Porter, who often finds himself involved in the action on short-yardage plays.
As for the Argonauts, they won for just the third time this season and the second time since the opener when they topped Calgary in a 23-21 decision. Last week, the team needed more than just a little luck to secure a narrow 25-24 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, getting the margin of victory from a single by Noel Prefontaine with under a minute remaining in regulation.
From a defensive standpoint, the Argos put a severe hurting on Winnipeg as they knocked out both Fred Reid and Carl Volny with torn ACLs, and also sent quarterbacks Buck Pierce and Alex Brink to the sidelines as well with aggravated ribs and a shoulder injury, respectively. Nevertheless, even as the Blue Bombers watched significant contributors fall to the turf they still were in the mix right up until the end.
Toronto got by with just 268 yards of total offense, a mere 88 yards through the air as Steven Jyles converted 11-of-20 passes for one touchdown, was sacked three times and had three passes intercepted by his old team which traded him away to Toronto in March. Running back Cory Boyd stepped up to produce a game-high 109 yards rushing on just 12 attempts, but was kept out of the end zone. Instead, it was Jyles who crossed the goal line from 18 yards out in the first quarter.
Chad Owens, who caught five passes for 34 yards in the decision last week, was huge for the Argonauts when it came to kick returns, bringing seven punts back for 85 yards and posting 142 yards on six kickoff returns as well. Just as was the case last season, Owens has been huge when it comes to combined yards in this league and easily paces the CFL with 2,211 yards at the moment. His next closest competitor is Hamilton's Thigpen who has 1,542 yards. Even though he might have some issues keeping his hands on the ball when he's taking big hits, Owens is still someone who can contribute mightily to Toronto's efforts when given the opportunity.
Getting the ball into the hands of Owens is becoming more and more important given how poorly the Toronto offense has operated, first under Cleo Lemon and now under the direction of Jyles, the latter showing a dismal 59.4 efficiency rating since assuming the starting quarterback job. Toronto's 20.9 ppg this season is easily the lowest average of any team in the CFL and it doesn't help that the defense, outside of last week, has been horrendous with a league-high 400.5 ypg allowed.
At the other end of the scoring spectrum is Hamilton, which is second at the moment behind Montreal with 29.2 ppg. The Cats have a quarterback under center in Glenn, who is tied for second in the league in passing scores with 18 and consequently has the third-best passer rating as well at 96.6, due in large part to his passing touchdown frequency. But make no mistake, Hamilton is also getting the job done thanks to Cobourne who, since coming over from the two- time Grey Cup Champion Montreal Alouettes, is third in the league in rushing with 735 yards and has reached the end zone eight times on the ground.
Dating back to 1950 and only taking into account regular-season matchups, Hamilton is ahead in the all-time series with the Argos by a count of 121-86-2. The Tiger-Cats won the most recent meeting by a score of 37-32 back in August, which means the squad has captured five in a row and six of the last seven encounters. The teams are set to close out the regular season against each other as well on November 3.
Calgary, AB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Still tied for first place in the West Division standings, the Calgary Stampeders try to get back on the right track this weekend as they entertain the Saskatchewan Roughriders in a divisional showdown at McMahon
<< Top two teams in East meet on Friday night in Winnipeg
Winnipeg, MB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A battle for supremacy in the East Division
this week, the matchup between the Montreal Alouettes and the Winnipeg Blue
Bombers at Canad Inns Stadium is as much about who will be on the field and in
the middle of
<< Huddlestone set for ankle operation
London, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tottenham midfielder Tom Huddlestone is set
to undergo ankle surgery, Spurs manager Harry Redknapp revealed on Wednesday.
Huddlestone has not featured for the club since a 5-1 defeat to Manchester
City
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Sunderland, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sunderland defender Titus Bramble was
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The 30-year-old is being held for questioning by police after an incident in
the early
<< Patriots bring back DL Gerard Warren
Foxboro, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New England Patriots have re-signed veteran
defensive lineman Gerard Warren.
Warren had 28 tackles and 3 1/2 sacks in 16 games (10 starts) for the Patriots
in 2010.
The 6-foot-4, 325-pounder was a firs
Vancouver, BC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - BC Place is scheduled to be open for business this week as the British Columbia Lions entertain the Edmonton Eskimos in CFL action on Friday night. The Lions, who have been playing their home games at Empire
Doyle signs new Wolves deal >>
Wolverhampton, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Wolverhampton striker Kevin Doyle
has signed a new contract that will keep him at the club until June 2015, it
was announced on Wednesday.
The 28-year-old had two years left on his previous de
Appalachian State's Kimbrough suspended for Wofford game >>
Boone, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Appalachian State linebacker Jeremy Kimbrough
must sit out the Mountaineers' game against Wofford on Saturday after getting
ejected in a win against Chattanooga last weekend, a newspaper reported.
Kimbrough was f
Lyon agrees to new deal with Bastos >>
Lyon, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Lyon announced on Wednesday that the club has
agreed to a new contract with Michel Bastos that will keep him at the Stade de
Gerland until 2015.
The Brazil international joined Lyon from Lille in 2009
Braves try to stop bleeding and extend season against Philadelphia >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - This is not where the Atlanta Braves wanted to be.
Once proud owners of a 10 1/2-game lead in the National League wild card
standings, the Braves are mired in a four-game losing streak, but can still
clinch a playoff spot
FOOTBALL BETTING
After all the trouble that’s ensued since Braylon Edwards allegedly punched one of LeBron James’ homeboys in the face at a club, the Cleveland Browns have sent away their last remaining player of worth to the New York Jets. This is a great move for Dirty Sanchez and all, but it’s even better for the Knicks. Now Donnie Walsh can say, “You get to haunt Braylon Edwards with your posse if you sign here!” next summer.
Putting that aside for a moment, the move is a clear indication that the new-look Jets are gunning for the Super Bowl this year. I don’t think that New York thought that Dirty Sanchez was going to be such a rock star. With a 75.2 passer rating that was killed against the Jets, Sanchez is doing an admirable job of managing games and putting the Jets in a position to win. The defense has been the major story in New York thus far, but the acquisition of Braylon Edwards makes this offense loaded with talent that can dent any defense…as long as Dirty Sanchez continues his meteoric rise.
Thus far, Edwards has been a non-factor in the NFL piling up just 139 receiving yards on 10 catches. He has yet to find the endzone, and with the Browns mired in the most unsexy quarterback controversy of all time (Anderson vs. Quinn...yawn), there going nowhere fast. Edwards is two seasons removed from a career year which saw him catch 80 passes for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns when the Browns were the spread killing monsters of 2007. In 2008, injuries slowed the receiver down to just 873 yards and three touchdowns though he played in all 16 games.
So that being said, we really don’t know if Braylon Edwards is just a flash in the pan, or a legit threat. At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, he is a prototypical receiver. But he’s also shown a strange, and unwarranted, talent for dropping passes. Lining up opposite Jericho Cotchery, a speed demon with 23 catches, 356 yards and a single touchdown, may give Braylon the open looks he needs. A change of scenery may also rejuvenate the star receiver.
In return, the Browns will receive Chansi Stuckey, online football betting a special teams player you’ve never heard of and a pair of draft picks. That’s a tall order for a guy whose only real value right now is in his name, and it shows no promise to the Browns that they can rebuild around those acquisitions. Braylon was the only reason to hope for the Browns to go 3-14 SU this year. Without him, they don’t have a single guy on offense that can scare any team.
For the Jets, it’s a response to the pounding that they took at the hand of the Saints. Thomas Jones and Leon Washington have averaged around 4.0 yards per carry each on the ground, but striking a fair balance between the passing and rushing attacks in New York has been a struggle. You have to believe that the trio of Dustin Keller, Jericho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards will give Sanchez the weapons he needs to unleash through the air. Theoretically, that would open up holes for the rushing game. But the proposed public option health care plan works in theory too. We need to see the proof in the pudding before we start loading up mega bucks on the New York Jets to take the AFC.
The one wrinkle in this whole thing is that Braylon could very well be suspended by the league for disciplinary action due to his “brawl” with LeBron’s friend. If that’s the case, the Jets may have to bench him for a few games leaving them with a somewhat depleted receiving corps for a few games. Also, this is a guy who gets in fights with people at clubs. New York may not be the best place for him. Just sayin’.
The Jets have a long week before they meet the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football Betting in a virtual pick ‘em game. Braylon’s excess baggage may be a distraction, and his curiously low production may be what we should be expecting of him overall, but for the Jets, taking a chance to strike gold is well worth it. At the end of the year, they can simply just blame it on their rookie quarterback.
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MySportsbook.com : Fortune Favors Favorites in March Madness betting?
Just like Day 1 of the “Sweet 16”, Friday’s games are chock full of some of the nation’s elite. Unlike Thursday’s games, there is a little bit more of a “Cinderella” feel as #7 seed UNLV and #6 seed Vanderbilt will attempt to move on to the Elite Eight. With powerhouses Florida, UNC and Georgetown looking to continue their momentum against lesser known teams, it isn’t surprising that once again the “betting public” is backing most of the favorites. As the early coin rolls in, 56% of Sportsbook.com bettors prefer Georgetown (-7.5) as they take on Vanderbilt; 84% of the early money is backing Oregon (-3) as they square off against UNLV; and a slight majority (52%) of the early cash is on Florida (-10.5) against Butler as the Gators continue their quest for another National Title. The only favorite the public don’t seem confident in is UNC, as 59% of the cash is backing the underdog Trojans (+8).
Midwest
#1 Florida vs. #5 Butler
The defending National Champs have been on a mission since last April. Joakim Noah and Al Horford turned down millions of dollars for one reason, to REPEAT. After a late season hiccup which saw them lose three out of four, the Gators have won six straight by an average of 20.3 points. More importantly, they covered in five of those six games. Behind their stymie defense that yields only 56.9 PPG, Butler has been a very pleasant surprise this season. As their 20-11 ATS record will indicate, “surprise teams” like Butler are often good bets for gamblers. Playing in an average conference, Butler wasn’t and underdog too often but when they were, they covered (6-0 ATS). Butler’s defense will have its hands full against a Gators offense which averages 80.1 PPG on an amazing 52.9% shooting from the field. With Florida’s tournament experience over the last few years, it isn’t surprising that they are 5-1 ATS this season, 20-4 ATS over the last three seasons and 38-20 since 1997 in tournament action.
#3 Oregon vs. #7 UNLV
As a #7 seed, UNLV is the closest thing to a “Cinderella” we have this year. If you bet on UNLV this season with any regularity, you most likely cashed in. Behind their guard oriented attack, the Rebels are an impressive 20-11 ATS this season. As an underdog they covered in 8 out of their ten games which isn’t surprising since they are 52-30 ATS as a ‘dog since 1997. The Rebels have been a consistent cover during the month of March as well. This March they are 6-0 ATS, 11-3 ATS over the last three seasons and 24-11 since 1997. Their impressive ATS trends don’t end there; versus teams with a winning record they are 15-6 ATS this season and 41-21 over the last three seasons. Although Oregon hasn’t been as generous to gamblers as UNLV this season, they have been covering consistently as of late. There is no question that they are playing their best ball of the season having won their last 8 straight up (SU) by an average of 14.5 points. Not surprising they covered in 7 of those games. It is interesting to note how similar these teams are in regards to scoring and scoring defense. UNLV averages 75 PPG while giving up 66.5 PPG and Oregon scores 75.8 PPG while yielding 65.5 PPG.
East
#6 Vanderbilt vs. #2 Georgetown
“Hoya Paranoia” is officially back! After a decent start, Georgetown has rolled through the second half of the season. Over their last 18 games, they are 17-1 SU. They have definitely improved ATS as the season has progressed as well. After opening the season 1-4-1 ATS, the Hoyas have covered 78.3% of their games. With their great interior play of Jeff Green and Roy Hibbert, the Hoyas as a team shoot 50.5% from the field. Like the Georgetown teams from years ago, they also excel on defense. Hoya opponents averaged only 56.8 PPG on 38.2% shooting from the field and an extremely low 30.4% from beyond the arc. The last stat could be of some concern to Vanderbilt considering they shoot 37.7% from long-range. Ranking second to last in the SEC in rebounding margin, Vanderbilt will have its work cut out for them against the Hoya trees. As far as covering is concerned, Vanderbilt has been almost a “sure thing” (7-1 ATS) versus good defensive teams that allow less than 64 PPG.
#1 UNC vs. # 5 USC
The Tar Heels are as talented and as deep as any team in the country. Going ten deep and chock full of HS All-Americans, UNC averages 86.1 PPG and scored 100+ seven times. Led by All-American forward, Tyler Hansbrough (18.6 PPG 7.9 RPG) UNC has a very balanced attack which can kill you on the inside as well as on the perimeter. UNC only real concern is their youth as eight of their rotation players are either sophomores or freshmen. UNC was a reliable cover this season going 20-13 ATS. An intriguing covering trend for the Tar Heels in recent years has been how they fared after non-conference games. This season they are 11-3 ATS after non-conference games and over the last three seasons they are 31-13 ATS. USC is also a pretty deep team which is loaded with swingman types. An match-up to keep an eye on will be freshman forward Taj Gibson (12.1 PPG, 8.6 RPG) as he squares off against the AA Hansbrough. USC has been a covering machine this season achieving a 21-10 record ATS. They have thrived in the underdog role, having covered 10 out of 12. When playing a team with a winning record, the Trojans are an incredible 20-6 ATS. Keep in mind, USC dedicated their season to former star to Ryan Francis who passed away before the season so as they get closer to the ultimate goal, emotion could definitely be on their side.
With Friday -105 juice on Basketball betting, MySportsbook.com is the place to bet on all of the “March Madness” action. Don’t forget to monitor who the public is backing at this sportsbook “Betting Trends”. By doing so, you have the best chance of predicting a possible line change, thus getting the best value for your wager.
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