After missing the NBA betting playoffs for the first time in five seasons, the Phoenix Suns are prepared to run their way back to the postseason in 2009-10.
The determined Suns look to open the season Wednesday night with a fifth straight victory over the visiting Los Angeles Clippers, who are trying to get by without injured No. 1 overall draft pick Blake Griffin.
Poised to bounce back after a first-round playoff exit the previous NBA season, Phoenix took a step back in 2008-09.
New coach Terry Porter, who tried to transform the fast-paced Suns into more of a halfcourt, defensive-minded team, was fired with the Suns 28-23 and averaging 104.4 points per game at the All-Star break.
Assistant coach Alvin Gentry took over and sped up the tempo as Phoenix went 18-13 while averaging 117.4 down the stretch.
The Suns, though, were already in a hole and then hit hard by a season-ending eye injury to star forward Amare Stoudemire (21.4 ppg, 8.1 rpg) in February. Despite finishing 46-36, they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2004.
Read more at : http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/10284242/Suns-Clippers-Preview
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Sports Betting Community: Suns-Clippers Preview
Sports Betting Community: NFL offers free medical followup
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell plans to tell Congress that the NFL League will offer free follow-up medical work to 56 players who reported dementia, Alzheimer’s disease or other memory-related problems in a recent survey that helped spark a hearing Wednesday on head injuries.
In written testimony to the House Judiciary Committee Roger Goodell said that, the NFL League also will reach out to the players to see whether they are receiving money from the 88 Plan, which provides up to $88,000 a year to former players suffering from dementia, Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, regardless of the cause.
"The recent study, conducted for the NFL by researchers at the University of Michigan, suggested that retired pro football players may have a higher rate than normal of Alzheimer’s disease or other memory afflictions".
"We have directed Dr. Weir to contact in a confidential manner those 56 former players and their families who reported memory problems to see if they are receiving 88 Plan funding and offer them the opportunity to have follow up medical work done at our expense,” Goodell said. “That process has already begun.”
Goodell said the health and welfare of all members of the “NFL family, particularly our retired players,” is personally important to him. “Since becoming commissioner, I can think of no single issue to which I have devoted as much time and attention.”
Goodell said that while this was a “a telephone survey and not a true medical diagnosis, we share the views of the Michigan researchers that the number of retired players reporting memory-related problems is a concern that needed further research.”
Regarding head injuries specifically, he said medical considerations must always trump competitive ones, and that the league has established a toll-free hot line for players if they believe they’re being pressured to return to the field before fully recovering from a concussion or other head injury.
“All return-to-play decisions are made by doctors and doctors only,” the commissioner said. “The decision to return to the game is not made by coaches. Not by players. Not by teammates.”
Read more at Jacksonville....
Sports Betting Community: Johnson Banished From Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson was told to stay away from the team yesterday while the NFL Season and the Chiefs complete their investigation into his use of a "homosexual slur" twice this week.
The Chiefs said they have told Larry Johnson he would not be allowed to practice with the NFL team or participate in team activities until the matter was resolved.
Larry Johnson issued an apology, and a national gay rights advocacy organization called on the league and the team to take action against the two-time Pro Bowl back.
The latest chapter in Johnson's stormy career began Sunday night when he questioned coach Todd Haley's football credentials on his Twitter account.
"He used the slur during an exchange with one of his Twitter followers".
On Monday, Johnson used the slur again as he brushed off reporters and told them he would not comment, according to the Kansas City Star, which recorded the comment.
Johnson, who needs only 75 yards rushing to become the Chiefs' all-time leader, apologized to Haley, the team, fans and the league "for the words I used."
"I regret my actions. The words were used by me in frustration, and they were not appropriate," he said through a spokesman. "I did not intend to offend anyone, but that is no excuse for what I said."
Jarrett Barrios, president of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, called on the NFL and the Chiefs to take disciplinary action against Johnson and seize a chance to educate "on the dangers of homophobia in sports."
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Week 8 NFL Power Rating Picks
The further into the NFL season we go, the more line movement we are seeing in the first few days of betting the new NFL card.
Early numbers have pointed to two side plays in the NFL Power Rating Picks for Week 8, one favorite and one underdog.
These picks are 12-6 ATS (67-percent) through Week 7 and looking to hit ‘70’ this Sunday.
Early NFL power rating picks for the Week started out on the right foot Sunday when the Pittsburgh Steelers pulled the cover out of their sleeves in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. The New York Jets did their part against the Raiders, too, but Atlanta was unable to hang with the Cowboys.
Dallas is now 5-0 ATS off their bye and money moved that line heavily but covering was never a question as the Boys registered their highest offensive output since Week 2, 2008!
Power rating picks needed the Sunday nighter and betting on the Giants off that loss in New Orleans seemed like it had a good shot of hitting. Unfortunately Arizona didn’t see things that way and the early picks ended up 2-2 ATS for the week.
Results from these early plays, which don’t account for stats from the most recent games but take advantage of early line value are now 13-8 (62-percent) overall; 12-6 ATS and 1-2 when
BetRepublic's NFL Power Rating Picks For Week 8
2. Jacksonville +3: Rare power rating spot that came up only three times in 2008 (3-0 ATS) and was "live" once this year with Washington in Week 5 in Carolina, also a winner. It seems the oddsmakers had to make Tennessee a favorite here, coming off a bye, playing at home and needing a win in the worst way. But the Jags are also rested and are 3-1 SU in their past four outings, the one goose egg in Seattle standing out as a black eye.
These plays are generated from a system that matches up ratings from each team in the league, based on statistics and adjusted for injuries, factors in the pointspread and then accounts for home field advantage. Results are graded based on the team’s situation that week (i.e. home favorite, road dog).
It’s not suggested to use the BRPR plays as the sole foundation of a bet but over the years the system has had a proven track record and can be a great tool for supporting other handicapping, systems or trends on a game.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Week 8 NFL Power Rankings
Two things happen when such a high percentage of heavy favorites win straight-up and cover the spread, as was the case in NFL betting for Week 7.
First, bookies and online sportsbooks take a big hit. Dog money exists but it is usually not going to be enough to counter all of the late public money that pours in on Peyton, Brady and Drew Brees.
Secondly, the BetRepublic Power Ranking charts get a bit dusty. The good teams that were supposed to win did their part this week while the bad teams, well; they just kept on being Oakland.
NFL Power Rankings for Week 8
Top of the Charts
No change this week at the top of our power rankings as the New Orleans Saints illustrate yet another talent in a comeback win over Miami. Back-to-back divisional home games, starting with Atlanta in this week’s Monday Nighter will give anyone who hasn’t seen much of the Saints this year a chance to witness the improved defense and potent offense. New Orleans (-10) was quickly bought up to double-digit favorites in early betting.
New England has made back-to-back attempts at taking over the No. 2 spot from Indianapolis but the Colts’ dominance over St. Louis is on par with the Patriots win vs. Tampa Bay in London so rankings stay inline.
The Pats are off this week and Indy (-12) hosts San Francisco so we are unlikely to see any change in the Top 3 for Week 9 either, unless…
Upticks
Pittsburgh pulled out all the stops in its 27-17 win against Minnesota, covering the spread (and then not covering), and then covering it again when Steelers LB Keyaron Fox returned an interception 82 yards for a TD with a minute to play. Pittsburgh has now won four-straight and will follow a Week 8 bye with a Monday Night clash against the Denver Broncos.
Read here for more results from Denver’s game.....
NFL Week 7 Wagering Opportunities
In this nfl week, there might only be 13 games on the schedule, however 5 exceptional matchups are really standout on Sunday afternoon.
This week AFC-NFC conflicts dominate the NFL schedule and four in particular are worth noting. The NFC leads 13-10 SU and Minnesota will put unbeaten record on the line at Pittsburgh.
Two upstarts, San Francisco and Houston will try to keep pushing playoff aspirations. Chicago and Cincinnati meet in the Queen City and one team will have consecutive losses at the end of the day. New Orleans is in potential flat spot on the road against rested home underdog Miami and Dallas also returns from a bye week and to face a dangerous Atlanta squad.
Minnesota at Pittsburgh 1:00E FOX
Minnesota (6-0, 4-2 ATS) continues its most difficult stretch of the 2009 season with a trip to what could be the NFL’s toughest environment, Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.
The defending champion Steelers (1-5 ATS) are starting to find their groove, having won three straight games to move to 4-2, with 27-14 win over Cleveland.
They’ll head into their bye week next, important since underdogs and road teams are 6-1 ATS in the last seven Pittsburgh pre-bye week games. Head coach Mike Tomlin’s team is also just 2-5 ATS in its last seven tries vs.
NFC foes and just 1-2 SU & 0-3 ATS hosting the Vikings. Still, with a 28-11 ATS record vs. teams with winning percentage of 75 or higher, Pittsburgh has to like its chances. Minnesota will be out for more late game magic vs. the Steelers and is 3-0 SU and ATS on the road.
Keys to the Game-
At 40-years old, Brett Favre has the third highest quarterback rating at this juncture of the season, as the offensive line has done superior work in keeping his jersey clean.
This allows Favre to step into his throws and getting attacking defenses. Last week was perfect example as they built 14-0 lead on Baltimore before they knew what hit them.
Minnesota has performed poorly in two of last three games in the fourth quarter, being torched on the ground and thru the air. That won’t work against Ben Roethlisberger and the Vikes are 1-10 ATS in road games after allowing seven or more yards a play in their previous game.
The Steelers haven't allowed a 100-yard rusher in 24 consecutive regular season games and keeping Adrian Peterson in tow is tantamount. Favre has hit a number of plays to WR Sidney Rice the last few weeks, those have to be contained.
Pittsburgh is 11-2 ATS in home games after gaining 300 or more passing yards and must keep Jered Allen away from Big Ben and keep the pressure on 24th ranked pass defense.
StatFox Power Line – Pittsburgh by 5
StatFox Dave – Minnesota covers
Sportsbook.com Line – Pittsburgh -6, 46.5
San Francisco at Houston 1:00E FOX
After being off last week, San Francisco coach Mike Singletary faces a challenge of getting his 49ers (3-2, 4-1 ATS) teams to play well, as they were 0-5 SU and 1-4 ATS in post-bye week games prior to his arrival.
Another obstacle figures to be the fact that this will be the 49ers first ever trip to Reliant Stadium. They are still stinging from the 45-10 loss to Atlanta, their first ATS setback of 2009.
Fore more information, read more...
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