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September 3rd NFL news ... Welcome to Betting football pro, the site for the pro football gambler.

Welcome to Betting football pro, the site for the pro football gambler.

This site was created to help you score a profit come football season. Whether you are looking for the status of an injured player or information on how a team performs away from home, this site gives you everything you need to create an edge over the book.

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Football betting: A look at college football's opening week
2010-08-25

While most of college football's elite squads are involved in projected mismatches to begin the season, there are a few contests that should be quite competitive. The marquee attraction will be on Labor Day night in Landover, Maryland when 5th-ranked Boise State will square off against 6th-ranked Virginia Tech. The Broncos have gone undefeated in each of the last two regular seasons but haven't had to face a team like the Hokies during the stretch.

While Virginia Tech's fans won't have to travel far to watch the matchup, Boise State is a 2.5-point favorite in the battle. Broncos quarterback Kellen Moore fired 39 TD passes in 2009 to lead the offense. The Hokies counter with running back Ryan Williams. He burst on the scene to rush for 1,655 yards as a freshman in 2009. Another top 25 battle will highlight the schedule on the first evening of the season on Thursday, September 2nd.

The 15th-ranked Pittsburgh Panthers will head west for a matchup against the 24th-ranked Utah Utes in Salt Lake City. The home team is a 3.5-point choice in the game. While dynamic running back Dion Lewis (1,799 yards in 2009) is back for the Panthers, the club will have to break in a raw quarterback to replace Bill Stull. Utah would like to make a statement against a Big East squad before moving over to the Pac-10 in 2011.

The football betting will really get cranked up two days later in the first Saturday of the year. There will be 29 booked games on Saturday, September 4th. A couple of top 25 contests will top the slate. In Atlanta, the 16th-ranked LSU Tigers will line up against the 18th-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels in an SEC-ACC battle. Both teams are expected to have two of the better defenses in the country. Each squad has some question marks on offense heading into the opener. The Tigers are a narrow 1.5-point favorite in a game that should draw plenty of football betting interest.

At Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, 7th-ranked TCU will make the short trip from Fort Worth to take on the 22nd-ranked Oregon State Beavers. The Horned Frogs had a perfect regular season in 2009 before falling to Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl. The Beavers are a 13.5-point underdog in the opener. The club will have to go with an untested quarterback after the graduation of quarterback Sean Canfield. The top 4 teams in the initial top 25 poll of the season are overwhelming favorites in the first week of the season.

Top-ranked Alabama will begin its national title defense at home against the San Jose State Spartans. As a 39.5-point favorite, Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram who’s line at www.sportsbook.com has him listed as the early favorite to repeat as Heisman winner at +350, and his teammates will likely have this game wrapped up by halftime. On the opening Thursday, the 2nd-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes will host the Marshall Thundering Herd. Behind star quarterback Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State is a 29-point favorite in the contest.

With the Buckeyes possibly looking ahead to a matchup on September 11th against 13th-ranked Miami-Florida, Marshall could pull out a cover in the second half. On Saturday, the 3rd-ranked Florida Gators will move on from the Tim Tebow era in Gainesville against the Miami-Ohio Redhawks. Against a team that won just a single game in 2009, Florida has the right opponent to break in new starting quarterback John Brantley. The Gators are a 34.5-point favorite in the mismatch.

After coming up short in last year's BCS title game, the Texas Longhorns will open the 2010 campaign at Reliant Stadium in Houston against the Rice Owls. The former Southwest Conference rivals are clearly on different ends of the college football landscape. in 40 meetings since 1966, Rice has been able to post just a single win against Texas. Sophomore quarterback Garrett Gilbert will try to continue the recent signal-caller success (Vince Young and Colt McCoy) for the Longhorns. Texas is a 28.5-point favorite against the overmatched Owls.

There are a couple of other top 10 mismatches on the opening Saturday involving a pair of Big 12 schools. 8th-ranked Oklahoma is a 32-point choice over Utah State in Norman while the 9th-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers are expected to cruise in Lincoln as a 35.5-point favorite over a Western Kentucky squad that has lost 20 consecutive games.

NFL Tight Ends to watch 2010
2010-08-25

This year’s group of NFL tight ends is marked by great depth. There is a great combination of experienced, superstar players as well as younger ones who have performed at a very high level yet are still capable of further developing their considerable talents. This position may have more players capable of being ranked number one than any other. Outside of kicker, tight end may be the most undervalued position in fantasy football, but there are a few tight ends that could put up numbers comparable to a team’s best wide receiver, and being ahead of the game on specific positions is very important to football betting. The little things make the biggest difference. Choosing a great tight end at the right point in a fantasy draft can propel a team over the top. Here are the top five options:
Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers- Although Gates is now 30 years old, he may have had his best statistical season yet last year. After minor injuries had limited his complete effectiveness in years past, he was injury-free last season and had a career-best 1,157 receiving yards to go along with 79 receptions and eight touchdowns. The former college basketball standout is so skilled due in large part to his explosiveness; his 14.6 yards per reception is the best for any NFL tight end with over 35 receptions. The future bodes well for Gates and he has many factors in his statistical favor. Not only is former red-zone favorite LaDainian Tomlinson now with the New York Jets, Vincent Jackson is suspended and will miss at least four games. Phillip Rivers’ dependence on Gates will only increase, especially in the short term. He may have more career years in the future.

Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers- Davis has always been teeming with talent and is finally beginning to deliver. He is as fast as many wide receivers and his characteristic speed parlayed into a breakthrough season last year, leading all tight ends with 13 touchdowns. He was not merely a red zone machine as he also accounted for 78 total receptions and 965 yards. There’s no doubt Davis has the potential for even more but the biggest question surrounding him is his attitude. Prior to last year, his first three seasons were marked by a petulance that prevented him from performing his best. Last year was much better but he’ll need to build on that. The other concern is that Davis won’t have a capable quarterback to get him the ball. Alex Smith, the current starter, has been rather erratic and there are major question marks surrounding his ability as a starting quarterback. The team’s backups haven’t proven to be much better either. However, Davis’ talent is so great that I briefly considered ranking him over Gates.

Dallas Clark, Indianapolis Colts- As Reggie Wayne benefits from being Peyton Manning’s top receiver, so does Clark benefit as his tight end. He has posted obscene numbers throughout the course of his career, including a staggering 100 receptions, as well as 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns, last season. Clark has also maintained amazing consistency that shows no signs of ceasing. He could undoubtedly be argued for as the top tight end in the NFL. I believe Gates and Davis have slightly more upside for fantasy but if you play in a league where each reception counts for a point, Clark may be the number one tight end to take. Manning loves going to him in all situations and he’ll continue to have seasons with large numbers of receptions.

Brent Celek, Philadelphia Eagles- Celek was one of the great surprises in all of the NFL last season, going from unknown player to bona fide superstar. Celek caught 76 passes for 961 yards and eight touchdowns. He was a huge red zone target last year and his touchdown numbers should only increase. There may be a justified worry that Kevin Kolb will be able to pick up where Donovan McNabb left off at quarterback. However, there shouldn’t be a chemistry issue with Celek, who is great friends with Kolb and was a frequent passing target during Kolb’s two starts last year.

Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys- The only reason Witten isn’t ranked higher is because of his shortage of touchdowns. He only had two last season and four the year before, a shockingly low number for such an excellent player. Touchdowns aside, Witten has still achieved great stats. He had 94 catches for 1,030 yards last season and there’s reason to think his lack of touchdowns is a mere aberration. If anything, he has become a victim of his own skills. He is an excellent blocker as well and is an asset when blocking in red zone situations. However, he’s such an excellent player with great size and it seems like just a matter of time until he gets more chances and finds the end zone more. Witten will be a big factor in helping the Cowboys win the Superbowl, www.sportsbook.com has the Cowboys at +800 to win the Superbowl this coming season.

The depth at tight end doesn’t end with the top five. There are multiple players outside of this elite echelon who either are superstars or are capable of becoming superstars. Tight end is becoming an increasingly top-heavy position. As good as the 10 or so best at the position are, there’s a point in which the returns begin to quickly diminish. Unlike a position like running back, the difference between the best and the average is substantial. It’s important for fantasy owners to grab one of the elite players or be relegated to settling for a rather pedestrian player. Here’s the rest of the top 10:

6. Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta Falcons- Even at 34 years old, Gonzalez is still easily one of the best tight ends in football. Similar to Antonio Gates, he is a former college basketball star who has tremendous hands. He had a prolific 2009 season in which he registered 83 catches for 869 yards and six touchdowns, a number that should increase as he remains a focal point of the Falcons red zone offense. He should only benefit from the more balanced offense Atlanta will have this year with Michael Turner’s return from injury.

7. Jermichael Finley, Green Bay Packers- Finley is emerging as one of the NFL’s stars of the future. At just 23 years of age, he has already displayed the immense athleticism and production that promise to make him great for an extended period of time. His 55 catches, 676 yards, and five touchdowns last year look minor until it’s taken into consideration that he missed three games with injuries and came off the bench for much of the season. Now that Finley is the clear-cut starter, these numbers should skyrocket assuming he stays healthy. Furthermore, Finley has shown he can perform in the clutch. He caught six passes for 159 yards in the Packers’ playoff game last year. Aaron Rodgers clearly has confidence in him and this is a duo that should be great for years to come. Although Finley is currently my seventh best overall tight end, I’d recommend taking him first in keeper leagues. His youth and potential are similar to that of Vernon Davis but he gets the edge due to having a better quarterback.

8. Owen Daniels, Houston Texans- Daniels figures to take care of unfinished business this upcoming season. He was on his way to a tremendous season last year before an ACL injury forced him to miss the entire second half of the season. Daniels had an excellent first half of the season and had already accounted for 40 receptions, 519 yards, and five touchdowns before the injury. Some might fear Andre Johnson would cut into Daniels’ numbers but the fact is that Daniels is Matt Schaub’s number two option and provides a threat in and of himself. The only worry with Daniels is his ability to stay healthy. He’s ruptured his ACL three times but it appears his rehab from the latest incident is going well.

9. Visanthe Shiancoe, Minnesota Vikings- Shiancoe is a red-zone extraordinaire who excels near the goal line. His 11 touchdowns last season were second among all tight ends. After a middling career, he really found his stride last year with Brett Favre under center. A concern with Shiancoe, as is the case with Minnesota’s other pass catchers, is how they’ll perform if Favre decides to retire. Also, there is some concern that Shiancoe’s contribution to fantasy owners is too touchdown-dependent. His 56 catches and 566 yards were rather unimpressive compared with those at the position ranked ahead of him and if his touchdown figures dip, his value diminishes greatly.

10. Heath Miller, Pittsburgh Steelers- Miller continues to be the steadiest of performers for the Steelers. He caught 76 passes for 789 yards and six touchdowns last season, his best season in a stretch of consistency. Similar to Shiancoe, the biggest question surrounding Miller’s fantasy usefulness will be the continuity at his team’s quarterback position. Last year, The Steelers moved to a more high-octane passing offense behind Ben Roethlisberger, something that undoubtedly benefited Miller’s stats. However, Roethlisberger is suspended for the first four games and it’s yet to be seen how his backup will perform and who will have the job once Roethlisberger returns, let alone how the chemistry with the Steelers’ pass catchers evolves. The Steelers may return to a run-first mentality.

Football betting: NFC East/North Regular Season Wins Predictions
2010-08-25

Over under lines from www.sportsbook.com the home of NFL betting.

The Dallas Cowboys (O/U: 10) are hoping to become the first team to ever play in its own stadium at a Super Bowl this season. After gaining a victory in the playoffs last year for the first time since, Dallas could be poised to make a deeper postseason run in 2010. Quarterback Tony Romo leads a balanced offense. The club will need to improve its red zone offense this season after ranking just 14th in the league in scoring offense last year despite finishing 2nd in the NFL in total offense. The schedule appears to be one of the most difficult slates in the league this season. The Cowboys will have to battle five teams on the road that reached the playoffs in 2009. Dallas fails to meet football betting expectations for an under.

The New York Giants (O/U: 8.5) struggled to a 3-8 finish in its final 11 contests of 2009 after a 5-0 start. The collapse of the defense was the main problem for New York. After ranking 5th in the NFL in scoring defense in 2008, the Giants slipped to 30th in the category last year. On offense, quarterback Eli Manning has enabled New York to finish in the top 8 in total offense in each of the last two years. Like Dallas, the Giants must face five playoff squads from 2009 away from home. Once again, New York fails to produce a winning season for an under.

It's a new era for the Philadelphia Eagles (O/U: 8.5) after the offseason trade of veteran quarterback Donovan McNabb. Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick will be counted on to keep Philly's offense moving in 2010. Under McNabb, the Eagles finished in the top 6 in the NFL in scoring offense in three of the last four seasons. With the exception of a trip to Dallas, Philadelphia won't face a team on the road that went to the postseason in 2009. After recording just one losing campaign in the last decade, the Eagles win at least nine games again for an over.

New Washington Redskins (O/U: 7.5) head coach Mike Shanahan is hoping that McNabb will boost a franchise that posted only two winning seasons in the last decade. While the defense has ranked in the top 10 in the league in total defense in each of the last three seasons, the offense has struggled in recent years. McNabb will certainly help but the lack of other playmakers on offense will doom the Redskins to an under in the difficult NFC East.

In the NFC North, the Green Bay Packers (O/U: 10) are looking to build on last year's trip to the playoffs. After ranking in the top 6 in total offense and defense in 2009, the club appears to be strong enough on both sides of the ball to make a run at a Super Bowl bid in 2010. While there are a few difficult road games on the schedule, Green Bay is good enough to get over the number this season.

The Minnesota Vikings (O/U: 9.5) are still waiting on a decision from quarterback Brett Favre. While many football betting skeptics are quick to dismiss Minnesota's hopes without Favre in 2010, the club did win ten games en route to a division crown in 2008 without him. Running back Adrian Peterson and an outstanding defensive line could enable the Vikings to contend this year, if Favre shuts it down. For the third straight year, Minnesota wins at least ten contests for an over.

After being the most aggressive team in free agency this offseason, the Chicago Bears (O/U: 8) are hoping to challenge the Packers and Vikings in the NFC North. While the addition of Julius Peppers will aid the defense, the unit still has some question marks heading into this season. On offense, the lack of quality wide receivers will hinder the club's air attack. Chicago suffers through another losing campaign for an under.

The Detroit Lions (O/U: 5) have been limited to just two wins over the last two seasons. With the recent draft choices of quarterback Matthew Stafford and defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, Detroit has the potential to build something down the line. This year, Detroit improves a little but not enough to avoid an under.

Football betting: Colts favored to win Super Bowl XLV
2010-08-25

Despite coming up short in last year's Super Bowl, the Indianapolis Colts enter the 2010 NFL campaign as the favorite to take home the Vince Lombardi Trophy. In the football betting lines at www.sportsbook.com, the Colts are a +700 choice to win a championship. Led by MVP quarterback Peyton Manning, Indianapolis has won 12 or more games in the regular season in each of the last seven years. However, the Colts have been able to cash in with only one Super Bowl title back in 2006. This season, Indy will face a challenging stretch following a bye in week 7.

After the bye, the Colts will play seven straight games against squads that finished .500 or better in 2009. Five of those games will be against clubs that went to the postseason last year. The franchise that will showcase its home stadium in Super Bowl XLV is the top contender from the NFC. The Dallas Cowboys (+800) are looking to take the next step in 2010 after gaining a playoff win in 2009 for the first time in over a decade. With a talented and balanced squad, the Cowboys could be ready to be an elite club in 2010. There could be a potential Super Bowl preview in week 13 when the Cowboys travel to Indianapolis to face the Colts.

In the prior week, Dallas will entertain the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints on Thanksgiving Day. New Orleans listed at www.sportsbook.com at (+800) is the third top contender in the Super Bowl pool. Quarterback Drew Brees leads an explosive offense for the Saints. While the defense gave up plenty of yards last season, the unit had a knack of creating big plays with turnovers. After opening at home against Minnesota in a rematch of the NFC Championship game, New Orleans will face only one playoff team from 2009 over its next nine games.

The San Diego Chargers are the next choice at +1000. San Diego has won four straight AFC West titles but has been unable to reach a Super Bowl during the stretch. In a division that appears to be the weakest in the conference, the Chargers have a decent shot to gain home field advantage in the AFC Playoffs. San Diego will only have to face four teams this year that reached the postseason in 2009. The Green Bay Packers (+800) appear to have made a nice transition from the Brett Favre era after making the playoffs last year behind emerging quarterback Aaron Rodgers. If the Packers are going to become a legitimate contender in 2010, the club will need to matchup better against the Vikings (0-2 vs. Minnesota in 2009).
In a period of under a month, Green Bay will face defending NFC North champion Minnesota twice. The first meeting will be a Sunday night contest at Lambeau Field in week 7. In week 11, the Packers will battle the Vikings at the Metrodome.

The New England Patriots (+1200) were the NFL's top squad in the last decade with three championships. However, the Patriots last Super Bowl crown was back in 2004. Quarterback Tom Brady will try to get his club back to the top this season in a deep AFC field. In its first seven games of the season, New England will face five teams that reached the playoffs in 2009.

A popular team in football betting circles heading into 2010 is the Baltimore Ravens (+1200). Behind young quarterback Joe Flacco, the Ravens have reached the postseason in each of the last two years as a Wild Card. While Baltimore has won three road playoff games since 2008, the team would like to take an easier path this season as a division champion. The addition of veteran wideout Anquan Boldin should enable the Ravens offense to be a little more dangerous this season. Baltimore's initial five road games of 2010 will be against squads that posted winning records in 2009.

The Super Bowl hopes of the Minnesota Vikings (+1200) could be derailed before the season begins. If Brett Favre decides not to return for a second year with the Vikings, Minnesota will have to rely on a couple of marginal quarterbacks in 2010. Without Favre, the Vikings go from a legitimate title contender to a squad that will have to battle just to reach the playoffs.

Football betting: AFC South/West Regular Season Wins Predictions
2010-08-24

Over under lines supplied by www.sportsbook.com the home of NFL betting.

The Indianapolis Colts (O/U: 11) have been the most consistent team in the NFL over the last several years. In each of the last seven seasons, Indy has won 12 or more games in the regular season. With MVP quarterback Peyton Manning showing no signs of slowing down, the Colts should continue to be an elite team as a new decade begins. While the offense gets most of the headlines for the club, the defense has ranked in the top 8 in the NFL in scoring defense in four of the last five years. The schedule will have some challenges but the Colts will only have to face two playoff squads from 2009 on the road. Indianapolis goes over the football betting number with another big regular season.

After breaking through for the first winning season in the history of the franchise in 2009, the Houston Texans (O/U: 8) will try to take the next step with a postseason bid in 2010. While the club's passing game is one of the NFL's best, the offense could use some better production on the ground. The defense (13th in NFL in total defense in 2009) has gradually improved in recent years. Houston produces another winning campaign to go over the total.

It was a tale of two seasons for the Tennessee Titans (O/U: 8) in 2009. After an 0-6 start, the club went 8-2 the rest of the way. Running back Chris Johnson will once again be a difference maker after rushing for over 2,000 yards in 2009 but the Titans playoff hopes in 2010 will be determined by the performance of quarterback Vince Young. A defense that struggled last year has lost some key veterans. Tennessee comes up short of the .500 mark for an under.

The Jacksonville Jaguars (O/U: 7) appear to be the weak link in the AFC South. The club has managed only 12 wins over the last two seasons. With the exception of dynamic running back Maurice Jones-Drew, the Jags don't have any other impact performers on either side of the ball. In a deep division, Jacksonville is overmatched to yield an under.

In the AFC West, the San Diego Chargers (O/U: 11) are an overwhelming football betting favorite to win the division title for a fifth straight year. The club has undergone a bit of a transition from 2009. LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Cromartie are now with the New York Jets. In the preseason, the Chargers are dealing with a couple of key holdouts. Still, there is plenty of talent to work with in San Diego. Quarterback Phillip Rivers is one of the best signal-callers in the league. The defense will be looking for some more consistency. A reasonable schedule should enable the Chargers to go over with at least 11 victories.

In each of the last two seasons, the Denver Broncos (O/U: 7) have started quickly before fading in the second half of the year. While the team just missed the postseason a year ago, expectations aren't too high in 2010. A couple of key personnel losses will make it difficult for the Broncos to challenge for the playoffs again this season. Star wide receiver Brandon Marshall is now with the Miami Dolphins. On defense, linebacker Elvis Dumervil (led NFL with 17 sacks in 2009) is expected to miss most of the season due to injury. Denver takes a step back in 2010 for an under.

The Kansas City Chiefs (O/U: 6.5) have struggled to a 10-38 record since 2007. However, the club is on the right track under second-year head coach Todd Haley. With a backfield combo of Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles, Kansas City should have one of the top running back duos in the league in 2010. The defense has a long way to go but the unit should be better this year. In a mediocre division beyond San Diego, the Chiefs manage at least seven wins for an over.

In each of the last seven years, the Oakland Raiders (O/U: 6.5) have lost at least 11 games. While former Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell (20-32 record as starter) should help the offense improve a little bit, he may not be the right player to turn around the team's losing culture. Despite some talented players on the defensive side of the ball, the Raiders have finished in the bottom 10 in the league in total defense in each of the last two years. Oakland's losing way continue for an under in 2010.