Oistons Basketball Betting News

<< Rochus, Dabul reach Newport semis
Newport, RI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Fourth-seeded Belgian Olivier Rochus and unseeded Argentine Brian Dabul were a pair of straight-set quarterfinal winners Thursday at the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships. The 5-foot-6 Rochus rout

<< Agent: free agent DL Smith to miss season with Achilles tear
Littleton, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - NFL free agent defensive lineman Kenny Smith will miss the entire 2010 season after suffering a torn Achilles tendon, according to his agent. The injury occurred while Smith was working out and he's

<< Clarke leads at Loch Lomond
Glasgow, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Darren Clarke posted a six-under 65 on Thursday to take the first-round lead of the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond Golf Club. Clarke is riding a hot wave. He captured the unofficial JP McManus Pro-A

<< Samba Boys no more
Toronto, Canada (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It's long been a staple of Brazilian soccer, a free-flowing offensive attack that had opponents in fear of what was coming next. Referred to in Brazil as "Jogo Bonito" - beautiful soccer - fans in Brazil and a

Even the Germans lose >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Germany manager Joachim Loew abandoned his strategy at the wrong time. Loew said before Wednesday's FIFA World Cup semifinal against Spain that attacking was the only way Germany could win the title. Loew

Raptors officially sign F Johnson >>
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Toronto Raptors officially agreed to a contract with forward Amir Johnson, the club announced on Thursday. Per team policy, terms were not disclosed, but The Toronto Star previously reported the de

Philadelphia's Rodriguez claims WPS honor >>
San Francisco, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Philadelphia Independence forward Amy Rodriguez was named the Women's Professional Soccer Player of the Month for June on Thursday. Rodriguez, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 WPS Draft, had f

Toronto signs Kleiza to offer sheet >>
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former Denver Nuggets forward Linas Kleiza has been signed to an offer sheet by the Toronto Raptors. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed, however, the Denver Post cited Kleiza's agent a

2007 NFL Football Betting Preview

“You play to win the game!”

Those are the words of notoriously intense head coach Herman Edwards. Unfortunately, from a bettors’ perspective, most coaches don’t feel that way about the NFL preseason. August is a time to evaluate young players, finalize the depth chart and pray your star players stay healthy.

The trick to making money during the exhibition schedule is identifying coaches – like Edwards – who can’t stand losing even when there's nothing on the line.

The New York Jets betting won 15 of 21 preseason games and went 14-7 against the spread (ATS) during Edwards’s five-year tenure with the club. In his first season as the Kansas City Chiefs field boss, the team improved from 0-4 to 2-2.

Identifying win-a-holics like Edwards is a good start if you plan betting the preseason – even though most say you shouldn’t ... but what the hell do they know anyway?

Here’s a brief rundown of two teams that have a habit of winning during the second-stringers’ season, and another club that has a good chance of exceeding this year.

New York Giants betting lines

Playing in the media hub of North America can be stressful but the press can’t write anything negative about the way Tom Coughlin’s boys play in the preseason. The Giants won and covered all four games last summer, improving their record to 7-1 both straight up (SU) and against the spread over the last two years.

Coughlin has shown he’s not afraid to give his starters more time in the second preseason game than most of his colleagues, no doubt one of the reasons his team has been so dominant.

Dallas Cowboys betting lines

Bettors can count on America’s team early on. The Cowboys are 14-6 both SU and ATS since 2002 in warm-up contests. Former coach Bill Parcells, the coach of the team the last four years, has an intimidating, in-your-face presence – surely a reason Dallas has had so much early success.

The Big Tuna won’t be strolling the sidelines with looks of disgust, but new coach Wade Phillips will be anxious to make a good first impression for owner Jerry Jones.

Dallas plays the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos before things get serious. They then face the Houston Texans in their third contest (the game starters see most game time) and finish off with the Minnesota Vikings.

Expect a Dallas team able to walk away with another 3-1 preseason record.

Oakland Raiders betting lines

This team scored a league-worst 12 offensive touchdowns last season, so the rookies and veterans each have something to prove. There’s a bounty of first-unit jobs up for grabs and plenty of bodies competing for those slots.

First-time head coach Lane Kiffin will be eager to impress an owner who employs the philosophy, “Just win, baby!”

The 32-year-old Kiffin has to command respect from a locker room full of players older than him. All of these factors should lead to purpose in preseason. 

Don’t forget: before playing like a team that belonged in NFL Europe, Oakland went 4-1 (both SU and ATS) in exhibition games.

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