The expected heavy influx of nonseniors applying for this year's NFL draft did not happen despite looming labour unrest in the league.
Although a record-tying 53 players declared for early entry, that number released yesterday by the NFL was short of projections. "I think that the colleges have really done a good job of telling these young men how it is to their advantage to stay in school," said NFL draft consultant Gil Brandt. With a potential rookie wage scale in the next collective bargaining agreement, more juniors were expected to declare.
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Six All-Americans did apply: defensive backs Eric Berry of Tennessee and Joe Haden of Florida; defensive end Derrick Morgan of Georgia Tech; tight end Aaron Hernandez of Florida; linebacker Rolando McClain of Alabama; and wide receiver Golden Tate of Notre Dame. Mississippi QB Jevan Snead, Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen, Southern California running back Joe McKnight and Penn State linebacker Navorro Bowman also declared early for April's draft.
The 53 players match the previous high in 2008; last year, 46 declared. Brandt said: "If you are good enough, you will get it (the money) anyway. This way, you get to enjoy your senior year and get that diploma."
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Showing posts with label Sport. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sport. Show all posts
Former Chief Allen is a big hit in Minnesota
MINNEAPOLIS | It’s impossible to avoid the larger-than-life persona of Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen in the Twin Cities.
Step off the plane, and there’s Allen’s purple Vikings jersey hanging on the wall at the security checkpoint. Walk past Mall of America Field, and a poster of Allen’s menacing visage stares from the stadium walls.
Tune in Thursday nights and listen to his weekly radio show, or turn on the television and watch him pop on as a guest on the Vikings’ weekly television program.
Jared Allen owns this town.
“That’s Jared,” said fellow defensive end Ray Edwards. “He’s a lovable guy.”
Allen added to his popularity as the Vikings reached this week’s NFC championship game at New Orleans with their 34-3 pulverizing of the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
Allen helped spark the win with his sack and strip of Dallas quarterback Tony Romo — one of six sacks by the Vikings — as he enjoyed the first playoff win of his NFL career.
“It took a while to get one,” said Allen, who was part of playoff losses with the Chiefs at Indianapolis in 2006 and with the Vikings against Philadelphia last season. “But we finally did and got it in a big way.
“It’s all perspective. This is just one. The only way to go out on a winning streak is to win the Super Bowl. So if you lose the next one, it doesn’t really matter, does it?”
Allen, for the second consecutive season, finished the regular season with 14 1/2 sacks, second in the NFL. But 7 1/2 of those sacks came in two games against Green Bay, and he had just two sacks in the final five games.
Still, the Vikings led the NFL with 48 sacks for the season, and the ability to get to Romo so often was critical in the win over the Cowboys — and will be equally as important against New Orleans’ Drew Brees this week. Read More!
Step off the plane, and there’s Allen’s purple Vikings jersey hanging on the wall at the security checkpoint. Walk past Mall of America Field, and a poster of Allen’s menacing visage stares from the stadium walls.
Tune in Thursday nights and listen to his weekly radio show, or turn on the television and watch him pop on as a guest on the Vikings’ weekly television program.
Jared Allen owns this town.
“That’s Jared,” said fellow defensive end Ray Edwards. “He’s a lovable guy.”
Allen added to his popularity as the Vikings reached this week’s NFC championship game at New Orleans with their 34-3 pulverizing of the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
Allen helped spark the win with his sack and strip of Dallas quarterback Tony Romo — one of six sacks by the Vikings — as he enjoyed the first playoff win of his NFL career.
“It took a while to get one,” said Allen, who was part of playoff losses with the Chiefs at Indianapolis in 2006 and with the Vikings against Philadelphia last season. “But we finally did and got it in a big way.
“It’s all perspective. This is just one. The only way to go out on a winning streak is to win the Super Bowl. So if you lose the next one, it doesn’t really matter, does it?”
Allen, for the second consecutive season, finished the regular season with 14 1/2 sacks, second in the NFL. But 7 1/2 of those sacks came in two games against Green Bay, and he had just two sacks in the final five games.
Still, the Vikings led the NFL with 48 sacks for the season, and the ability to get to Romo so often was critical in the win over the Cowboys — and will be equally as important against New Orleans’ Drew Brees this week. Read More!
Parity worked in the NFL...now, let's see if the NFL likes it
Let's face it: The NFL playoffs this year haven't exactly been as exciting as, say, eating a rice cake or painting the bathroom.
There have been eight games played so far, and a grand total of two of them have been competitive.
Take away the Cardinals-Packers game in the wild-card round and the Jets-Chargers game in the Divisional round on Sunday, and the other six games were decided by an average of a shade more than 21 points per game. That's three touchdowns and three point after tries (assuming Nate Kaeding isn't kicking them).
Take away the Jets' two upsets, and the favorites have won five of six.
The Patriots are gone. The Cowboys are gone. The Eagles are gone. The Packers are gone. And tradition is gone, too. What we're left with are four teams who, combined, have won one Super Bowl in the last 39 years.
The entire West Divisions in both leagues are gone, which leaves CBS and FOX with no media markets west of Minneapolis with a dog in the fight the rest of the way.
But, of course, this is what the NFL wanted.
This is parity.
Now, none of this is to say that there aren't some pretty good football teams moving on to the conference championship games Sunday. There are. There's probably no argument that the Saints and Vikings were the two most consistent, most polished teams in the NFC from September until now. And the Colts had a great chance to be unbeaten right now had they not taken their foot off the proverbial gas pedal after week 15. So, you can argue that the three best teams the NFL had to offer this season are still playing, along with the Jets, who run the ball and play defense better than any of them.
So this isn't a column about how the best teams aren't going to be competing for a spot in Super Bowl XLIV.
They're just, well, different teams.
Read More!
There have been eight games played so far, and a grand total of two of them have been competitive.
Take away the Cardinals-Packers game in the wild-card round and the Jets-Chargers game in the Divisional round on Sunday, and the other six games were decided by an average of a shade more than 21 points per game. That's three touchdowns and three point after tries (assuming Nate Kaeding isn't kicking them).
Take away the Jets' two upsets, and the favorites have won five of six.
The Patriots are gone. The Cowboys are gone. The Eagles are gone. The Packers are gone. And tradition is gone, too. What we're left with are four teams who, combined, have won one Super Bowl in the last 39 years.
The entire West Divisions in both leagues are gone, which leaves CBS and FOX with no media markets west of Minneapolis with a dog in the fight the rest of the way.
But, of course, this is what the NFL wanted.
This is parity.
Now, none of this is to say that there aren't some pretty good football teams moving on to the conference championship games Sunday. There are. There's probably no argument that the Saints and Vikings were the two most consistent, most polished teams in the NFC from September until now. And the Colts had a great chance to be unbeaten right now had they not taken their foot off the proverbial gas pedal after week 15. So, you can argue that the three best teams the NFL had to offer this season are still playing, along with the Jets, who run the ball and play defense better than any of them.
So this isn't a column about how the best teams aren't going to be competing for a spot in Super Bowl XLIV.
They're just, well, different teams.
Read More!
Vikes-Saints battle it out for NFL NFC Title Odds 2010 NFL Playoff Schedule
Vikes-Saints battle it out for NFL NFC Title Odds 2010 NFL Playoff Schedule - Current NFL Playoffs The Saints are coming off of a win over the Cardinals where they scored 45 and gave up 14 . The Vikings are coming off of a win over the Cowboys where they scored 34 and gave up 3 . Vikings are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 meetings. Over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.
NFL Playoff Predictions The Saints will have no answer for a balanced offensive team like the Vikings. In the end, the Vikings will win by a td. The line has opened for the NFC championship between the New Orleans Saints and the Minnesota Vikings and the Saints are NFL Odds 4.5-point home faves — the Total is set at 52.5 NFL Playoff Odds.
Seeded No. 1 overall in the NFC, New Orleans was able to capitalize on home-field advantage on Saturday, defeating the NFC West champion Arizona Cardinals by a final of 45-14, more than adequately covering the 7-point spread.
The Vikings were the second-best team in the conference and they also won at home, defeating the Dallas Cowboys 34-3. Minnesota was favored by a field goal and easily covered. Also NFL Point Spread Odds AFC Championship Indianapolis -7.5 favorites. 2010 NFL Playoff Schedule Sunday, January 24, 2010 Minnesota at New Orleans 6:40 PM ET. Read More!
NFL Playoff Predictions The Saints will have no answer for a balanced offensive team like the Vikings. In the end, the Vikings will win by a td. The line has opened for the NFC championship between the New Orleans Saints and the Minnesota Vikings and the Saints are NFL Odds 4.5-point home faves — the Total is set at 52.5 NFL Playoff Odds.
Seeded No. 1 overall in the NFC, New Orleans was able to capitalize on home-field advantage on Saturday, defeating the NFC West champion Arizona Cardinals by a final of 45-14, more than adequately covering the 7-point spread.
The Vikings were the second-best team in the conference and they also won at home, defeating the Dallas Cowboys 34-3. Minnesota was favored by a field goal and easily covered. Also NFL Point Spread Odds AFC Championship Indianapolis -7.5 favorites. 2010 NFL Playoff Schedule Sunday, January 24, 2010 Minnesota at New Orleans 6:40 PM ET. Read More!
NFL: San Diego extends Norv Turner's contract
The San Diego Chargers gave coach Norv Turner a three-year contract extension through 2013 last night.
No financial details were announced for the deal that came one day after the Chargers were shocked, 17-14, by the New York Jets in the AFC divisional playoffs.
Turner's regular-season record with the Chargers is 32-16, but he is 3-3 in the playoffs. His overall record as an NFL head coach is 90-98-1.
Vikes' Edwards ailing. Minnesota coach Brad Childress declined to elaborate on the extent of an injury to Vikings defensive end Ray Edwards, who appeared to hurt his right knee in the third quarter Sunday's against Dallas. He returned for a few plays, then was done for the day.
Childress said Edwards is "a tough guy," and if he is able, he'll play against New Orleans this Sunday.
Edwards said after the game that he should be fine. Read More!
No financial details were announced for the deal that came one day after the Chargers were shocked, 17-14, by the New York Jets in the AFC divisional playoffs.
Turner's regular-season record with the Chargers is 32-16, but he is 3-3 in the playoffs. His overall record as an NFL head coach is 90-98-1.
Vikes' Edwards ailing. Minnesota coach Brad Childress declined to elaborate on the extent of an injury to Vikings defensive end Ray Edwards, who appeared to hurt his right knee in the third quarter Sunday's against Dallas. He returned for a few plays, then was done for the day.
Childress said Edwards is "a tough guy," and if he is able, he'll play against New Orleans this Sunday.
Edwards said after the game that he should be fine. Read More!
2010 NFL Playoff Live NFL Betting
After watching the wild card games over the weekend I noticed something you need to keep in mind when you do some NFL football Betting this up coming weekend. Every single team that actually advanced to the next round had one thing in common, they were able to run the ball effectively, but I wouldn’t expect it to be a major factor in the rest of the playoffs.
All the winning teams this weekend were able to run the ball and outgained their rivals in that department, something that at first looked overrated, especially if you consider that this has become a passing league. NFL Live Odds on NFL 2010 Playoffs at Sportsbetting.com
For example, in the first game of the weekend both teams ran a total of 171 yards, the Jets beat the Bengals because they were able to establish the run first and then got some room for Mark Sanchez to make some key plays. As you can see, the main factor was the run.
The same thing happened in the Dallas - Philly game, the Cowboys outgained the Eagles 198-56 in rushing yards, they ran the ball and tired out the opponents defense using good ole’ old school football.
The New England – Baltimore match was a perfect example on how a playoff game was played back in the day and how you should face an opponent in cold weather. The Ravens crushed the Patriots in the running department, 234 rushing yards against 64; they were able to bag an easy win. Check out NFL Live Odds on NFL 2010 Playoffs at Sportsbetting.com
John Harbaugh knew that in this weather throwing the ball was going to be a bit hard so they decided to go through the ground, and with two really good backs like Rice and McGahee it was a safe bet. Read More!
All the winning teams this weekend were able to run the ball and outgained their rivals in that department, something that at first looked overrated, especially if you consider that this has become a passing league. NFL Live Odds on NFL 2010 Playoffs at Sportsbetting.com
For example, in the first game of the weekend both teams ran a total of 171 yards, the Jets beat the Bengals because they were able to establish the run first and then got some room for Mark Sanchez to make some key plays. As you can see, the main factor was the run.
The same thing happened in the Dallas - Philly game, the Cowboys outgained the Eagles 198-56 in rushing yards, they ran the ball and tired out the opponents defense using good ole’ old school football.
The New England – Baltimore match was a perfect example on how a playoff game was played back in the day and how you should face an opponent in cold weather. The Ravens crushed the Patriots in the running department, 234 rushing yards against 64; they were able to bag an easy win. Check out NFL Live Odds on NFL 2010 Playoffs at Sportsbetting.com
John Harbaugh knew that in this weather throwing the ball was going to be a bit hard so they decided to go through the ground, and with two really good backs like Rice and McGahee it was a safe bet. Read More!
MMA Picks: Getting Picks in Early
Let's take the last UFC as an example. Early lines appeared for Penn at around -190 or so. If you look at value, Pen at under -200 is awesome. Considering he was in great shape and came off the Florian fight with gas still in the tank, Penn was a good bet against anyone in the division, especially at anything under -200. BJ came in about -300 before the event, which was still decent but it wasn't sub two-hundred. An early commitment would have paid out handsomely.
The Alexander/Slice fight for the Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale showed this trend as well. With Alexander opening around -120 at most online sportsbooks and then gaining momentum as the favorite, he closed at the -300 range. An early bet would have been a good bet. If Alexander won of course. This just reminds us that we have to do our homework on the fighters as well. As you know, there's more to the bet than the making sure you get great odds.
If you know who you want to bet and will stick with that choice no matter how the action affects the lines, an early bet should be considered. Check out the day the lines come out as we always have a healthy discussion and a few early picks. Futures on your favorites can be a great value. Don't rush in though, but watch closely and when you see some movement and the direction they take, you should start considering your choices.
The main thing is to check lines early and to keep checking back. The next most important thing is to place the bet, because if you don't wager, you can't win.
Good luck with your MMA Picks.
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Indianapolis Colts Vs Jacksonville Jaguars – Thursday Night Football
Will the 13-0 Indianapolis Colts opt for safety over perfection on Thursday Night NFL in Jacksonville Jaguars?
Will the 13-0 Indianapolis Colts opt for safety over perfection on Thursday Night NFL in Jacksonville Jaguars? Indy has clinched top-spot in the conference and the AFC South and home-field throughout the postseason and there has been some suggestion that the team could rest its starters.
The Colts say they will play their starters on Thursday, for part of the game at least. “We’re going to approach the 14th game exactly like we did one through 13,” Indy head coach Jim Caldwell told The Indianapolis Star.
“We’ve got a great rhythm in terms of our preparation and we’re going to go out and play it just like we have done the previous 13.”
While undefeated Indianapolis is 7-3 SU in its last 10 overall against Jacksonville, it is also 3-7 ATS. The game is currently off the board. Both the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints are currently sitting at 13-0 SU and could very well go 16-0.
The Colts are listed at +190 to go undefeated during the regular season while the Saints are -130. Read More!
Will the 13-0 Indianapolis Colts opt for safety over perfection on Thursday Night NFL in Jacksonville Jaguars? Indy has clinched top-spot in the conference and the AFC South and home-field throughout the postseason and there has been some suggestion that the team could rest its starters.
The Colts say they will play their starters on Thursday, for part of the game at least. “We’re going to approach the 14th game exactly like we did one through 13,” Indy head coach Jim Caldwell told The Indianapolis Star.
“We’ve got a great rhythm in terms of our preparation and we’re going to go out and play it just like we have done the previous 13.”
While undefeated Indianapolis is 7-3 SU in its last 10 overall against Jacksonville, it is also 3-7 ATS. The game is currently off the board. Both the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints are currently sitting at 13-0 SU and could very well go 16-0.
The Colts are listed at +190 to go undefeated during the regular season while the Saints are -130. Read More!
Cards’ Fitzgerald Uncertain For Sunday
After suffering injuries on MNF, Arizona Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald might not play in the team’s game against Detroit this Sunday.
According to The Arizona Republic, Fitzgerald had an MRI which revealed “a bone bruise and a sprained right knee,” although there is said to be no structural damage.
The team will make a decision on his status this week and Arizona is a big 12-point road faves for the Detroit Lions game.
The Cardinals are 7-3 SU and ATS in their last 10 overall games against the Lions and have taken the Over eight times in those 10 games.
The WR suffered the injuries in a 24-9 road loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night — the Cards failed to cover at -3. Read More!
According to The Arizona Republic, Fitzgerald had an MRI which revealed “a bone bruise and a sprained right knee,” although there is said to be no structural damage.
The team will make a decision on his status this week and Arizona is a big 12-point road faves for the Detroit Lions game.
The Cardinals are 7-3 SU and ATS in their last 10 overall games against the Lions and have taken the Over eight times in those 10 games.
The WR suffered the injuries in a 24-9 road loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night — the Cards failed to cover at -3. Read More!
Dallas Cowboys Vs Oakland Raiders Live Streaming Week 12 Thursday Night NFL
NFL Betting Picks Week 12
OAKLAND AT DALLAS
Line: Cowboys -13.5
Over/Under: 40
NFL Betting : Oakland
- Oakland is 5-12 ATS following its past 17 ATS covers and just 1-4 ATS after winning a game straight-up.
- Oakland is 0-5 ATS in their last five games on fieldturf.
- Oakland has 3 overs and 6 unders in the team’s past nine games overall.
- The Raiders have stayed under the total 4-of-5 times on fieldturf.
- Oakland has produced 6 overs and 2 unders following its past eight straight-up wins.
- Oakland has a record of 2 overs, 5 unders and 1 push in its past eight games away from home.
- The Raiders have recorded 3 overs, 7 unders and 1 push when listed as a double-digit road dog.
NFL Betting : Dallas
- Dallas is 7-3 ATS in its past 10 home games overall.
- The Cowboys have a perfect 4-0 ATS in the team’s most recent games on Thursday.
- Dallas is 18-6-2 ATS at home when facing a team with a losing road record.
- Dallas is 1-5 ATS the past six times when being asked to lay double-digits.
- The Cowboys are 1-7 ATS in the games that followed a contest where Dallas held its opponent to 14 points or less.
- After holding a team to 14 points or less the Cowboys have a record of 13 overs, 6 unders and 3 pushes the past 22 times.
Trend Advantage: Cowboys
Check out more latest NFL Betting Picks Read More!
OAKLAND AT DALLAS
Line: Cowboys -13.5
Over/Under: 40
NFL Betting : Oakland
- Oakland is 5-12 ATS following its past 17 ATS covers and just 1-4 ATS after winning a game straight-up.
- Oakland is 0-5 ATS in their last five games on fieldturf.
- Oakland has 3 overs and 6 unders in the team’s past nine games overall.
- The Raiders have stayed under the total 4-of-5 times on fieldturf.
- Oakland has produced 6 overs and 2 unders following its past eight straight-up wins.
- Oakland has a record of 2 overs, 5 unders and 1 push in its past eight games away from home.
- The Raiders have recorded 3 overs, 7 unders and 1 push when listed as a double-digit road dog.
NFL Betting : Dallas
- Dallas is 7-3 ATS in its past 10 home games overall.
- The Cowboys have a perfect 4-0 ATS in the team’s most recent games on Thursday.
- Dallas is 18-6-2 ATS at home when facing a team with a losing road record.
- Dallas is 1-5 ATS the past six times when being asked to lay double-digits.
- The Cowboys are 1-7 ATS in the games that followed a contest where Dallas held its opponent to 14 points or less.
- After holding a team to 14 points or less the Cowboys have a record of 13 overs, 6 unders and 3 pushes the past 22 times.
Trend Advantage: Cowboys
Check out more latest NFL Betting Picks Read More!
NFL Week 11 Predictions
With the half way mark of NFL season, NFL Week 11 Predictions are right around the corner. This time, sports punters will have fun over NFL Week 11 for their betting prospects.
Week 11 NFL Picks were already depicted and most people believe they were quite interesting and there were controversy too for various reasons. How ever, Week 11 NFL Predictions are here and I’ll be updating you on the upcoming NFL Week Predictions too.
The following are NFL Week 11 Predictions, let's have a look and it would be great if you express your opinions on this:
Carolina 24, Miami 21:
These are two 4-5 teams that seem to play. Comparatively, Panthers are better but Dolphins have ability for big play and they can ameliorate their score.
Pittsburgh 31, Kansas City 17:
Against the Bengals, the Steelers played such a poor game and they will be looking to get back on their path. Despite a win of KC against Oakland, it was still only a win against them.
Detroit 20, Cleveland 13:
Week 11 bums are here.
New Orleans 31, Tampa Bay 10: Week 11 NFL Picks were already depicted and most people believe they were quite interesting and there were controversy too for various reasons. How ever, Week 11 NFL Predictions are here and I’ll be updating you on the upcoming NFL Week Predictions too.
The following are NFL Week 11 Predictions, let's have a look and it would be great if you express your opinions on this:
Carolina 24, Miami 21:
These are two 4-5 teams that seem to play. Comparatively, Panthers are better but Dolphins have ability for big play and they can ameliorate their score.
Pittsburgh 31, Kansas City 17:
Against the Bengals, the Steelers played such a poor game and they will be looking to get back on their path. Despite a win of KC against Oakland, it was still only a win against them.
Detroit 20, Cleveland 13:
Week 11 bums are here.
For last couple of weeks, Buccaneers have been so competitive but they have not played a defense any where as Saints did.
NY Giants 28, Atlanta 24:
For four straight losses, the bye week will have helped the Giants correct what ever led them. At home, the Falcons have been starring but have struggled on the road.
Jacksonville 24, Buffalo 14:
Statistically, the Bills are really near the bottom of the league. Though Jaguars do not have the best defense but still they can minimum score.
Dallas 31, Washington 17:
The Cowboys will get their offense back, after last week's offensive barbarity against the Packers. Washington has too many fixes for Dallas to feat.
Minnesota 27, Seattle 13:
Last week, on beating the Cardinals, the Seahawks saved their NFL season.
Green Bay 20, San Francisco 13:
The 49ers' defense flew on field by bringing mayhem, but their offense caused dejection. The Packers carry the edge in offensive capability.
Indianapolis 24, Baltimore 16:
The Colts contributed like any thing in their win against the Patriots. They can't go undefeated this season but they won't get their first loss at the hands of the Ravens.
Arizona 31, St. Louis 21:
The strength of Ram’s is their running game. Unfortunately, that is the one strong point on the Cardinals' defense.
New England 23, NY Jets 20:
The Patriots lost to the Colts just because of shocking coaching decision. To prove some thing to their coach, league and to them selves as well, the New England defense is going to come out. Due to Patriot’s ferocity, the Jets will not be ready.
Denver 21, San Diego 17:
Since Week Six, Broncos have lost three straight and the Chargers have won four in a row. A known opponent and an advantage of home field is the only thing in Denver’s favor in this week.
Cincinnati 35, Oakland 9:
The Bengals have been quite dominant and if they can hold off an offensive attack from the Steelers then they will have no problem with the hapless Raiders. Coming to Oakland, they really do not have any idea what's going on with their team.
Philadelphia 27, Chicago 16:
Through out the year, Bears did not beat any powerful team though they won in Week Two. I guess Jay Cutler is the secret weapon for the Eagles.
Tennessee 31, Houston 28:
The Titans have been performing and scoring well. Texans may come out plugging after a bye week but they can also come out flat. Read More!
Tiger opens with a 66 in Australia
Tiger Woods lived up to eight months of hype Thursday by running off three straight birdies late in his round for a 6-under 66 that gave him a share of the lead in the Australian Masters.
Playing for the first time Down Under in 11 years, before an enormous gallery only seen at major championships, Woods putted for birdie on every hole until the last one. He pulled his drive into a tea tree, chopped out into the rough and took two putts from 40 feet for his lone bogey.
"Other than that, it was a pretty good day," Woods said.
He was tied with Australia's James Nitties and South Africa's Branden Grace.
Nitties, who easily retained his PGA Tour card in his rookie season in America, played behind Woods and finished with two birdies on his final three holes. Grace ran off four birdies at the turn for a solid start in his first trip to Melbourne.
Woods missed only two fairways in a round that was relatively free of stress. He hit driver off the tee five times and except for the final hole, kept it in play and away from the trouble. Woods chose to lay back from the bunkers on several of the short par 4s at Kingston Heath, and a couple of times hit poor shots or played purposely away from the flags.
"You play for what it's giving you," Woods said. "I didn't have to change my game plan on any hole."
He made his move toward the end of the round, hitting 3-wood to the 294-yard sixth hole that held its line to the left of the bunkers and came up just short of the green, leaving an easy chip to a foot. After a poor tee shot left him a bad angle to the green on the seventh, Woods hit 8-iron over the corner of trees to 20 feet for another birdie, then hit 8-iron to 7 feet on No. 8 to set up his third straight birdie.
Far more impressive than the golf, however, was the gallery.
Traffic was backed up along Kingston Road outside the club for miles in the hour before Woods teed off.
"I know," he said. "I was stuck in it, too."
The tournament has been a sellout for months, and it remains peculiar to see a ticket window at an Australian golf tournament with a sign that says "Sold out." The cap was at 100,000 tickets for the week, and while it was impossible for 25,000 fans to stay on one hole, whoever couldn't fit in moved ahead to the next couple of holes.
That turned into a treat for the likes of Seve Benson, playing in the group ahead of Woods, feeling like a rock star himself.
"It was amazing," Benson said after a 70. "After a couple of holes, you get used to it. But then you realize that they were not on the hole before. They had been there for awhile waiting."
Thousands headed for the exit when Woods finished, although a fair crowd stuck around for the afternoon, even though the action slowed severely. Mathew Goggin, who played in the final group at Turnberry with Tom Watson, had a 69 to match the best score in afternoon, when bleachers were half-full.
Most of the crowd followed Adam Scott, slowed by three-putt bogey from 10 feet in his round of 71. Stuart Appleby also had a 69. News
Read More!
Playing for the first time Down Under in 11 years, before an enormous gallery only seen at major championships, Woods putted for birdie on every hole until the last one. He pulled his drive into a tea tree, chopped out into the rough and took two putts from 40 feet for his lone bogey.
"Other than that, it was a pretty good day," Woods said.
He was tied with Australia's James Nitties and South Africa's Branden Grace.
Nitties, who easily retained his PGA Tour card in his rookie season in America, played behind Woods and finished with two birdies on his final three holes. Grace ran off four birdies at the turn for a solid start in his first trip to Melbourne.
Woods missed only two fairways in a round that was relatively free of stress. He hit driver off the tee five times and except for the final hole, kept it in play and away from the trouble. Woods chose to lay back from the bunkers on several of the short par 4s at Kingston Heath, and a couple of times hit poor shots or played purposely away from the flags.
"You play for what it's giving you," Woods said. "I didn't have to change my game plan on any hole."
He made his move toward the end of the round, hitting 3-wood to the 294-yard sixth hole that held its line to the left of the bunkers and came up just short of the green, leaving an easy chip to a foot. After a poor tee shot left him a bad angle to the green on the seventh, Woods hit 8-iron over the corner of trees to 20 feet for another birdie, then hit 8-iron to 7 feet on No. 8 to set up his third straight birdie.
Far more impressive than the golf, however, was the gallery.
Traffic was backed up along Kingston Road outside the club for miles in the hour before Woods teed off.
"I know," he said. "I was stuck in it, too."
The tournament has been a sellout for months, and it remains peculiar to see a ticket window at an Australian golf tournament with a sign that says "Sold out." The cap was at 100,000 tickets for the week, and while it was impossible for 25,000 fans to stay on one hole, whoever couldn't fit in moved ahead to the next couple of holes.
That turned into a treat for the likes of Seve Benson, playing in the group ahead of Woods, feeling like a rock star himself.
"It was amazing," Benson said after a 70. "After a couple of holes, you get used to it. But then you realize that they were not on the hole before. They had been there for awhile waiting."
Thousands headed for the exit when Woods finished, although a fair crowd stuck around for the afternoon, even though the action slowed severely. Mathew Goggin, who played in the final group at Turnberry with Tom Watson, had a 69 to match the best score in afternoon, when bleachers were half-full.
Most of the crowd followed Adam Scott, slowed by three-putt bogey from 10 feet in his round of 71. Stuart Appleby also had a 69. News
Read More!
New England Patriots in the NFL
The league has clearly been stratified this year—there are the top contenders, and then there's everyone else. We have a bevy of teams that are just plain horrible: the Titans, Browns, Bucs, Chiefs, Rams, Redskins, Raiders, and Lions are all haplessly running out the clock at this point.
Pundits everywhere are decrying the blowouts and questioning what can be done.
Why does this matter to the Patriots? Well, the team has been on the winning side of some awfully lopsided games. Since the team is part of the NFL's current ruling class, it behooves fans to know when guillotine sales go up.
Successful teams should listen very closely whenever there is talk of leveling the playing field.
What complicates matters is the current collective bargaining agreement talks between the NFL and the players' union. This means the league would be ideally positioned to launch a large, system-altering change like the salary cap and free agency.
I believe, though, that a substantial change to the way the league is set up is unlikely.
When you look at the league's changes over the years, they have always intended to right a tangible wrong: free agency took away a team's ability to control a player's career, and the salary cap prevented the sort of payroll disparity we currently see in baseball.
What, then, would be the tangible wrong in today's NFL?
The teams mentioned earlier aren't there because they lack the money to compete, or because players are unavailable. No, those teams are currently losing because they have been mismanaged over several years (with the exception of the Titans, whose downfall this year has been unexpected).
Their personnel staffs have evaluated players incorrectly. Their front offices have signed ill-advised, cap-killing deals. They've likely had a revolving door at the coaching positions, each new one seeking to implement his own system (and consequently resulting in a whole lot of mismatched pieces).
Teams like the Pats, Colts, and Steelers succeed because they evaluate talent well, properly manage their caps, and have stable coaching situations.
How, then, could the problem be fixed? The league doesn't (and shouldn't) have the power to completely reshape noncompeting teams.
The NFL has spent years protecting teams from those factors typically blamed for imbalance, but it has finally found one that cannot be solved easily: organizational incompetence.
Perhaps things are as they should be—well-run teams (like the Pats, Colts, and Steelers) are seeing their foresight rewarded. Poorly-run teams are performing miserably.
Perhaps imbalance is the natural state of things.
That won't stop people from bemoaning 59-0 games, though. Read More!
Pundits everywhere are decrying the blowouts and questioning what can be done.
Why does this matter to the Patriots? Well, the team has been on the winning side of some awfully lopsided games. Since the team is part of the NFL's current ruling class, it behooves fans to know when guillotine sales go up.
Successful teams should listen very closely whenever there is talk of leveling the playing field.
What complicates matters is the current collective bargaining agreement talks between the NFL and the players' union. This means the league would be ideally positioned to launch a large, system-altering change like the salary cap and free agency.
I believe, though, that a substantial change to the way the league is set up is unlikely.
When you look at the league's changes over the years, they have always intended to right a tangible wrong: free agency took away a team's ability to control a player's career, and the salary cap prevented the sort of payroll disparity we currently see in baseball.
What, then, would be the tangible wrong in today's NFL?
The teams mentioned earlier aren't there because they lack the money to compete, or because players are unavailable. No, those teams are currently losing because they have been mismanaged over several years (with the exception of the Titans, whose downfall this year has been unexpected).
Their personnel staffs have evaluated players incorrectly. Their front offices have signed ill-advised, cap-killing deals. They've likely had a revolving door at the coaching positions, each new one seeking to implement his own system (and consequently resulting in a whole lot of mismatched pieces).
Teams like the Pats, Colts, and Steelers succeed because they evaluate talent well, properly manage their caps, and have stable coaching situations.
How, then, could the problem be fixed? The league doesn't (and shouldn't) have the power to completely reshape noncompeting teams.
The NFL has spent years protecting teams from those factors typically blamed for imbalance, but it has finally found one that cannot be solved easily: organizational incompetence.
Perhaps things are as they should be—well-run teams (like the Pats, Colts, and Steelers) are seeing their foresight rewarded. Poorly-run teams are performing miserably.
Perhaps imbalance is the natural state of things.
That won't stop people from bemoaning 59-0 games, though. Read More!
Week 10 NFL Power Rankings
All in all it was a 2-10 ATS Sunday betting favorites in the NFL and a day like that can create a lot of hesitation for bettors making picks in the week ahead.
If you had an off-week and were hurt by a bad beat or total that just missed, taking a few days to regroup could be a good strategy before charging into the Week 10 card.
Have a look at our Power Rankings to see how Week 9 changed the landscape Read More!
Indianapolis Colts Vs Houston Texas NFL Picks
This could be another tight match on NFL week 9. Both teams are heading with headstrong attitude. Indianapolis Colts is one of the three team which are unbeaten upto now in the NFL Regular season.
Indianapolis Colts are at 7th position with total points of 28.1, top team in pass yds. The team is looking weaker in rush yds. Indianapolis beaten St Louis, San Francisco in an unbelievable passion. They have scored 3, 6, 3, 6 and total of 18 to beat San Francisco who scored 7, 7, 0, 0.
This team is going strong with our any injuries for now. Peyton Manning, Joseph Addai, Donald Brown, Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark are the key players for Indianapolis Colts.
On the other hand Houston Texans are strong opponents for Indianapolis. With a total of 24.8 points Houston’s are at 12th position in the team. Houston has played 8 of their matches with 3 loses, 5 wins. Houston’s also in great form by winning the last three consecutive matches. Great Point for Houston’s also is no injuries are reported for them.
My Pick for this match is Indianapolis Colts. Read More!
Indianapolis Colts are at 7th position with total points of 28.1, top team in pass yds. The team is looking weaker in rush yds. Indianapolis beaten St Louis, San Francisco in an unbelievable passion. They have scored 3, 6, 3, 6 and total of 18 to beat San Francisco who scored 7, 7, 0, 0.
This team is going strong with our any injuries for now. Peyton Manning, Joseph Addai, Donald Brown, Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark are the key players for Indianapolis Colts.
On the other hand Houston Texans are strong opponents for Indianapolis. With a total of 24.8 points Houston’s are at 12th position in the team. Houston has played 8 of their matches with 3 loses, 5 wins. Houston’s also in great form by winning the last three consecutive matches. Great Point for Houston’s also is no injuries are reported for them.
My Pick for this match is Indianapolis Colts. Read More!
Carolina Panthers Vs New Orleans Saints - NFL Week 9 Matches Live Odds
New Orleans Saints takes Carolina Panthers at Super dome on Nov 8 at 4.05 PM -
Check out Live NFL Matches Previews, Picks, & Odds Sports TV Online
New Orleans Saints are near to one of the best ever record for their team. New Orleans Saints (7 wins), the unbeaten team in the NFL upto week 9. If they win the match against Carolina Panthers at Super dome on Nov 8 at 4.05 PM, then the present team is the first team to record a 8 wins in row for New Orleans.
Carolina Panthers with Three wins & 4 Losses stayed at a critical position. With 100% win rate New Orleans Saints are the hot favorites of the match. Carolina Panthers are also scored a win in the last match against Arizona cardinals. But For Carolina panthers Charles Godfrey (S), Muhsin Muhammad (WR), Dante Rosario (TE), and Thomas Davis (LB) are injured.
For New Orleans Saints also the injuries are worrying. Players Sedrick Ellis (DT), Scott Fujita (LB), Jermon Bushrod (T), John Carney (K) got injured. But for the NFL side saints is the only team unbeaten staying top with 39. Points.
My favorite for this match New Orleans Saints. Read More!
Check out Live NFL Matches Previews, Picks, & Odds Sports TV Online
New Orleans Saints are near to one of the best ever record for their team. New Orleans Saints (7 wins), the unbeaten team in the NFL upto week 9. If they win the match against Carolina Panthers at Super dome on Nov 8 at 4.05 PM, then the present team is the first team to record a 8 wins in row for New Orleans.
Carolina Panthers with Three wins & 4 Losses stayed at a critical position. With 100% win rate New Orleans Saints are the hot favorites of the match. Carolina Panthers are also scored a win in the last match against Arizona cardinals. But For Carolina panthers Charles Godfrey (S), Muhsin Muhammad (WR), Dante Rosario (TE), and Thomas Davis (LB) are injured.
For New Orleans Saints also the injuries are worrying. Players Sedrick Ellis (DT), Scott Fujita (LB), Jermon Bushrod (T), John Carney (K) got injured. But for the NFL side saints is the only team unbeaten staying top with 39. Points.
My favorite for this match New Orleans Saints. Read More!
Week 8 injury report
As we all know the injuries are the big probelm for the teams & players as well as Online Bettors. A winning team might loose the match with the absence of the important players because of injuries.
At NFL, this week we have few injuries those reported are
* Panthers QB Jake Delhomme took hits from his critics all week, then left the game against the Cardinals after absorbing a third-quarter blow to his chest. Delhomme went for tests at a local hospital, and the QB said they revealed he has a chest contusion. The Panthers also lost FB Brad Hoover to a right ankle injury.
* Cardinals WR Anquan Boldin aggravated his injured right ankle and had to leave the game against the Panthers. Boldin had been questionable to play because of the injury.
* Chargers LB Tim Dobbins was carted off the field with a knee injury, but he returned to the game against the Raiders.
* The Raiders reported that the following players were injured — CB Chris Johnson (groin), DT Tommy Kelly (elbow), DT Gerard Warren (toe) and LB Jon Alston (shoulder). No statuses were given.
Online NFL Bettors Keep an eye on the players injured list of the NFL teams, while making your NFL betting. Read More!
At NFL, this week we have few injuries those reported are
* Panthers QB Jake Delhomme took hits from his critics all week, then left the game against the Cardinals after absorbing a third-quarter blow to his chest. Delhomme went for tests at a local hospital, and the QB said they revealed he has a chest contusion. The Panthers also lost FB Brad Hoover to a right ankle injury.
* Cardinals WR Anquan Boldin aggravated his injured right ankle and had to leave the game against the Panthers. Boldin had been questionable to play because of the injury.
* Chargers LB Tim Dobbins was carted off the field with a knee injury, but he returned to the game against the Raiders.
* The Raiders reported that the following players were injured — CB Chris Johnson (groin), DT Tommy Kelly (elbow), DT Gerard Warren (toe) and LB Jon Alston (shoulder). No statuses were given.
Online NFL Bettors Keep an eye on the players injured list of the NFL teams, while making your NFL betting. Read More!
NFL power rankings Week 9 - NFL Betting
The results of the Saints vs Falcons Monday night NFL game are still pending but ourweek 9 NFL power rankings are ready to go.
The week 9 NFL power rankings are set and we are assuming that the undefeated Saints are going to be able to get past the Falcons in the Monday night game. If the Falcons manage to pull off the upset then we’ll adjust our week 9 NFL power rankings but it doesn’t appear they have much of a shot against the Saints with New Orleans currently favored by 12 points on the spread
We will go with the top 10 on the week 9 NFL power rankings for now and will provide a complete list of all 32 teams after the Monday night matchup.
The week 9 NFL power rankings top 10:
1.New Orleans Saints
2. Indanapolis Colts
3. New England Patriots
4. Minnesota Vikings
5. Dallas Cowboys
6. Philadelphia Eagles
7. Cincinnati Bengals
8. Pittsburgh Steelers
9. Denver Broncos
10. Baltimore Ravens
New Orleans gets the top spot in the week 9 NFL power rankings after the Colts struggled badly and looked off against the 49ers while the Eagles and Cowboys have been playing impressive football the last two weeks. The top 4 of the week 9 NFL power rankings could very well be a playoff preview with none showing many signs of weakness. Read More!
The week 9 NFL power rankings are set and we are assuming that the undefeated Saints are going to be able to get past the Falcons in the Monday night game. If the Falcons manage to pull off the upset then we’ll adjust our week 9 NFL power rankings but it doesn’t appear they have much of a shot against the Saints with New Orleans currently favored by 12 points on the spread
We will go with the top 10 on the week 9 NFL power rankings for now and will provide a complete list of all 32 teams after the Monday night matchup.
The week 9 NFL power rankings top 10:
1.New Orleans Saints
2. Indanapolis Colts
3. New England Patriots
4. Minnesota Vikings
5. Dallas Cowboys
6. Philadelphia Eagles
7. Cincinnati Bengals
8. Pittsburgh Steelers
9. Denver Broncos
10. Baltimore Ravens
New Orleans gets the top spot in the week 9 NFL power rankings after the Colts struggled badly and looked off against the 49ers while the Eagles and Cowboys have been playing impressive football the last two weeks. The top 4 of the week 9 NFL power rankings could very well be a playoff preview with none showing many signs of weakness. Read More!
NFL Betting odds for Week 7
NFL odds for Week 7 are posted already so there's no time for standing around. Let's make our picks!
Indianapolis Colts @ St. Louis Rams
Sunday, October 25, 1:00 p.m. ET
Online betting favorite: Colts -13
Remember what New England did to Tennessee last week? Expect more of the same in St. Louis this week. Arguably, the Colts are playing better football than the Patriots right now and, arguably, the Rams are even worse than the Titans. That means we could have a full-fledged massacre on our hands. The Colts pass the ball better than pretty much everyone, especially with Peyton Manning having perhaps his best season to date through five games. They'll torch the Rams secondary without trouble. Also, Indy defends the pass well and the Rams can't pass, so St. Louis won't score much. Pick Indy to cover with confidence -- even if the spread rises to 15 points.
Betting services recommend: Colts -13
Chicago Bears @ Cincinnati Bengals
Sunday, October 25, 4:15 p.m. ET
Online betting favorite: Bengals -1.5
Are the Bengals still for real or is a slide on the horizon? The Bears are a tough matchup for the Cardiac Cats this week. Chicago stops the run well, even without Brian Urlacher, so Cedric Benson may struggle a bit. That will put pressure on Carson Palmer and the passing game to put points on the board, and I'm not convinced they're up to the task. Palmer wasn't too effective over the last couple of weeks despite being sacked just twice over that span. He also seems to lack a true vertical threat; even Chad Ochocinco doesn't get separation like he used to. Also, with defensive end Antwan Odom gone for the year with a torn Achilles, Cincy's pass rush suffers dramatically. If they can't get to Jay Cutler, the Bears may pass on the Bengals all day. Make the Bears your NFL picks this week.
Betting services recommend: Bears +1.5 Read More!
Indianapolis Colts @ St. Louis Rams
Sunday, October 25, 1:00 p.m. ET
Online betting favorite: Colts -13
Remember what New England did to Tennessee last week? Expect more of the same in St. Louis this week. Arguably, the Colts are playing better football than the Patriots right now and, arguably, the Rams are even worse than the Titans. That means we could have a full-fledged massacre on our hands. The Colts pass the ball better than pretty much everyone, especially with Peyton Manning having perhaps his best season to date through five games. They'll torch the Rams secondary without trouble. Also, Indy defends the pass well and the Rams can't pass, so St. Louis won't score much. Pick Indy to cover with confidence -- even if the spread rises to 15 points.
Betting services recommend: Colts -13
Chicago Bears @ Cincinnati Bengals
Sunday, October 25, 4:15 p.m. ET
Online betting favorite: Bengals -1.5
Are the Bengals still for real or is a slide on the horizon? The Bears are a tough matchup for the Cardiac Cats this week. Chicago stops the run well, even without Brian Urlacher, so Cedric Benson may struggle a bit. That will put pressure on Carson Palmer and the passing game to put points on the board, and I'm not convinced they're up to the task. Palmer wasn't too effective over the last couple of weeks despite being sacked just twice over that span. He also seems to lack a true vertical threat; even Chad Ochocinco doesn't get separation like he used to. Also, with defensive end Antwan Odom gone for the year with a torn Achilles, Cincy's pass rush suffers dramatically. If they can't get to Jay Cutler, the Bears may pass on the Bengals all day. Make the Bears your NFL picks this week.
Betting services recommend: Bears +1.5 Read More!
Top Online Sport Bookmakers
There are currently hundreds of online sports books available on the net. Choosing the top online sports bookmaker can be very confusing, not to mention if you have just begun betting online. Clearly, you want to deposit your money in it that makes you feel safe, not only the one that offers you the best odds and fast payout. There are, however, several points to which bettors often pay attention before choosing their bookmaker.
* Easy and Fast Cash Out is a very important aspect as many bettors have complained about payout delay, which makes them uneasy while thinking about not being able to receive the money the have won.
* Credibility and Security. A sports book with high credibility and well established security allows bettors to rest assured as their money is safe.
* Attractive Bonuses/Free Bets are very important to some bettors and this offer can be very tempting to entice people to start betting online.
* Customer service shows how good and how credible a bookmaker is. Bad customer service tends to give bettors bad impression about it.
* Available Odds/Lines. Numbers are essential to betting, two or three points difference could mean a difference between winning and losing.
* Fund Transfer Methods. Various withdrawal and deposit methods give bettors many choices and make them feel more convenient because they will not worry too much about how to deposit and receive their money.
* Easy to Access Website. A magnificent betting interface allows bettors to place their wager comfortably without having to waste too much time on searching.
* Various Betting Coverage. Most have popular sports to bet on. A bookmaker with more various betting coverage introduces itself as a better bookmaker than others.
You would wish that a sport bookmaker has all those aspects covered in a package to offer. In fact there is no perfect one available. There is, however, several sports books that are close to being perfect. Read More!
* Easy and Fast Cash Out is a very important aspect as many bettors have complained about payout delay, which makes them uneasy while thinking about not being able to receive the money the have won.
* Credibility and Security. A sports book with high credibility and well established security allows bettors to rest assured as their money is safe.
* Attractive Bonuses/Free Bets are very important to some bettors and this offer can be very tempting to entice people to start betting online.
* Customer service shows how good and how credible a bookmaker is. Bad customer service tends to give bettors bad impression about it.
* Available Odds/Lines. Numbers are essential to betting, two or three points difference could mean a difference between winning and losing.
* Fund Transfer Methods. Various withdrawal and deposit methods give bettors many choices and make them feel more convenient because they will not worry too much about how to deposit and receive their money.
* Easy to Access Website. A magnificent betting interface allows bettors to place their wager comfortably without having to waste too much time on searching.
* Various Betting Coverage. Most have popular sports to bet on. A bookmaker with more various betting coverage introduces itself as a better bookmaker than others.
You would wish that a sport bookmaker has all those aspects covered in a package to offer. In fact there is no perfect one available. There is, however, several sports books that are close to being perfect. Read More!