Rivers Shines As Chargers Beat Chiefs

By Ross Everett

The San Diego Chargers bounced back nicely from their Monday Night Football loss to Denver last week, opening a 20-0 halftime lead before coasting to a 37-7 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. Chargers' quarterback Phillip Rivers passed for 268 yards and three touchdowns in the victory. Running back Ladanian Tomlinson ran for a season high 71 yards as San Diego evened their record at 3-3. The hapless Chiefs dropped to 1-6.

The Chargers easily covered the NFL pointspread as -6 road favorites. It was only the second pointspread cover of the year for San Diego, who moved their ATS record to 2-4. Kansas City dropped to 2-5 against the spread. The 44 points pushed against the posted total.

After the game, QB Rivers suggested that the loss to Denver was a turning point for his team:

"Last week, we felt like we made progress. We had the attitude we were looking for, focus, but we didn't win. But we knew we got better."

Tomlinson broke off one of his most impressive runs of the year on the Chargers first touchdown drive, a 31 yard pickup that he said lifted the team's spirits and led to the easy victory:

"It kind of got us going. It was something we needed and it was a big play for us. It was a staple of our offense. It's been around for years, old power. It was perfectly blocked and was just a great job of execution."

The Chiefs continued to struggle on their home field, which at one point was considered one of the toughest venues in the league for visiting teams. Kansas City has now lost ten straight at Arrowhead Stadium, and 29 of their last 32 games. Chiefs' nose tackle Ron Edwards lamented this home field struggle:

"We want to win for the home fans, for us, for everyone out there watching," nose tackle Ron Edwards said. "It's real painful."

Rivers pointed to the Chiefs' legacy of home field dominance in celebrating the win:

"Any time you come to Kansas City and win, it's good. We talked about getting on a roll and you've got to win one first before you can. Hopefully, this is something we can build on."

The Chargers return home to take on their hated rivals, the Oakland Raiders. Next Sunday's game has San Diego listed as a -16' home favorite with the total set at 42'. They'll travel to play the New York Giants the following week before returning home to face the Philadelphia Eagles on November 15. Kansas City will enjoy a bye week before returning to action on November 8 on the road against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Their next opportunity for a home victory will come on November 15 against the Oakland Raiders. - 31493

About the Author:
Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and widely regarded sports betting expert. He is also a consulting handicapper for Sports-1 Sportsbook and is in charge of setting NFL lines. He has written extensively on sports handicapping theory along with a wide range of other topics including fencing, boxing and dog training.

Off-season Moves Aren't Paying Off Yet for the Jacksonville Jaguars

By Toby Hall

The 2007 season for the Jacksonville Jaguars was supposed to be the stepping stone for bigger and better things. The Jaguars went 11-5 in the AFC South and defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers at Pittsburgh (which is almost unheard of) in the Wild Card playoff game.

While the team did lose veteran running back Fred Taylor, the Jaguars have a magnificent athlete in Maurice Jones-Drew, and many NFL experts call him a top five running back in the league. This could be an enormous season for Jones-Drew, as he'll get more carries for the Jacksonville Jaguars than ever before. Many experts are concerned if MJD can handle more work at his size.

The team acquired pro bowl wide receiver Torry Holt, and despite the absence of Fred Taylor, Maurice Jones-Drew is one of the finest talents at the running back position in the NFL, and this would be his year to fully shine. A few other key acquisitions bolstered a roster that looked like it was ready to contend.

The team headed to Indy in week 1 of the NFL season. While the team usually plays some pretty good football against the Colts, beating the Colts on their own turf is a tall order, especially in week 1 while emotions are running high.

While the Jags almost won this game, they fell just short, losing a 14-12 squeaker in the fourth quarter. This was a frustrating loss for the Jacksonville Jaguars, but the team simply didn't have enough in the tank to overcome the Colts.

Week 2 was somewhat disappointing after the solid week 1 effort. The Cardinals, who had fallen to the 49ers in week 1, visited Jacksonville and ripped apart the Jaguars defense at the seams, winning by a 31-17 margin. Kurt Warner was 24 of 26 at quarterback, and such a high completion rate raises some serious questions about the defense in Jacksonville.

The Jaguars do have two pieces in place that have the potential to be good team once again, Garrard and MJD, it's that the rest of the team is mediocre.

If they don't get things right, they're going to end up worse than their 5-11 record last year. - 31493

About the Author:
Discuss the latest on the Jags on the Jacksonville Jaguars forum, at RootZoo Sports, the most active sports forum online.

Clear Improvements by the Detroit Lions

By Kyle Eckel

Could things be much worse for the Detroit Lions? After a win less 2008 season that saw the team finish 0-16 (for the first time ever), the Lions came into the 2009 season with high hopes, ready to put that disaster of a year behind them.

The Detroit Lions from 99' -- 08' compiled an astonishing record of 48-112. If the Detroit Lions were in a European soccer league they would have been demoted to another level -- or even disbanded the team and redistribute the players perhaps.

The most important position in football is the quarterback, the Lions are hoping QB Matthew Stafford will help the Lions reach a 8-8 or 7-9 record -- which by Lions standards that would be a great season.

Entering week 2, the Lions found themselves at home in Detroit, against division favorites (and last year's NFC North winners), the Minnesota Vikings. This, too, was a game they were expected to lose, but a team that goes 0-16 the prior year should be expected to lose just about every game it plays.

The Lions offense must not give away games and hand the opposing teams many turnovers. Rookie QB's turn the ball over often throwing interceptions, Matthew Stafford must stay calm and make smart decisions, easier said the done obviously.

Unfortunately, the answer to that question was no. The Vikings went on to score 20 the next 23 points, defeating the Lions by a 27-13 margin. It gave fans some sort of hope as they made it exciting.

The team continues on in its quest for a victory with a game against the Redskins next Sunday. Maybe they'll finally get that win.

The Detroit Lions should do much better in 09' then in 08'. Matthew Stafford has a high skill set and was drafted number 1 for a reason -- while he might not be the "savior" to lead the franchise to the promise land, he is the cornerstone of the Lions now. - 31493

About the Author:
Chat with other Lions fans on RootZoo's detroit lions fan zone. Make sure to check out their free sports trivia quizzes with over 60,000 questions!

For Men Only: Get Rid of that Beer Belly and Still Drink Beer

By Dorthy Weatherbush

Men are you annoyed with hearing about how flat your stomach once was and how you can barely see your feet underneath it? If so, I want to let you know that all that can change. I can show you how to get rid of your beer belly, and what's better, without giving up the beer! But let's first discuss what a beer belly really is and what causes it.

Let us first define what a beer belly is. By definition, a beer belly is an area of fat that is positioned between your chest and your waist, or what used to be your waist. Now, is it cause by beer? The surprising answer is no. Science has proven that beer bellies are caused by calories that haven't been burned up by your body that get deposited to that section of your body. Why is it deposited there? Men are genetically dispositioned to deposit the greatest amount of their fat in their stomach area.

Okay, now that we've discussed where that belly comes from, (probably those mashed potatoes you like to eat) we can now discuss what you can do to get rid of it. You should start by working on those fat cells that are spreading across your stomach. While I have already stated that beer is not the cause, it can contribute to your rotund stomach. Alcohol can make you hungrier (remember beer and pizza with the guys on Sunday night?). But if you stopped drinkg as much, you'd probably stop eating as much which would be one step on your journey to flat abs.

Lose the beer and you can also lose that increased appetite. But this article isn't about getting rid of the beer; it's about getting rid of the belly, so I won't tell you to stop drinking. You could also exercise and burn more calories than the amount of calories you take in from drinking beer. But exercise too may sound like a lot of hard work. So for the purposes of this article, we will focus on the best beers for your belly!

So the first thing that comes to your mind when I say low calories is all those light beers that taste likewell you know, but How to Get Rid of the Beer Belly without Giving Up Beer is for real men who would never think of ordering one of "them there sissy light beers."

First on the list is a nice and dark Guiness Draught, with 125 calories and 10 carbohydrates; this is no light beer but it is low on calories and you don't have to drink tons of them to make up for a lack in taste. Second on the list is Beamish Irish Stout, with 131 calories and it's still full of flavor all while making your waist happy. Third on the list is Busch, with 133 calories and about 10 carbohydrates. So drink responsibly and get rid of that belly!

Now you know How to Get Rid of the Beer Belly without Giving Up Beer. So the next time she tells you to get off the couch and lose some weight, go get yourself a cold Guinness, pop the tab and tell her your working on it right now! - 31493

About the Author:
Dorthy Weatherbush is an expert on weight loss for specific body types and has studied the effect genetics has on how people lose weight. She has written lots of information on diets that work and has reviewed the Medifast diet.

Minnesota Loses First Game of Season

By Ross Everett

Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings are undefeated no more. The Pittsburgh Steelers' used a couple of big plays from their defense in the fourth quarter to break open a close game and defeat the Vikings by a final score of 27-17. Favre put up decent yardage in the loss, throwing for 334 yards but had no touchdowns and an interception. The defending Superbowl Champion Steelers improved to 5-2, while the Vikings are now 6-1.

NFL pointspread players who backed the Steelers as -6 home favorites were rewarded with the cover. Pittsburgh had only covered one of their first six games heading into the contest, and the win improved their record against the number to 2-5. Minnesota dropped to 4-3 against the spread with the setback.

The Steelers largely shut down Minnesota's rushing game, holding Adrian Peterson to 69 yards. Pittsburgh safety Ryan Clark underscored his team's dominance against the run:

"That's the biggest point of the game. You have the best running back in the world and you don't give it to him. They're saying they can't beat us running, and that's a major statement when you have the guy they have back there."

Favre gave a mealy mouthed justification for the loss in his postgame interview:

"There were a lot of what ifs, a lot of reasons we didn't win. The red zone was one of them. They're physical, and they were as good as we thought they'd be. ... When I came here and looked at our schedule and saw the Steelers game, I went, 'Oh-h-h.' "

Favre has only thrown three interceptions in a Vikings' uniform, but #3 was a costly one as it was returned by Steelers' Keyaron Fox for a touchdown to put the game out of reach as Minnesota was driving for a potential game tying field goal. Afterwards, Fox recalled the play:

"Brett tried to force it in there and the running back bobbled it and slipped out of his hands and it fell into my lap. I had just run across the field after Peterson and I was winded, so it felt like it was 100-plus yards."

The Vikings now face another big game next week as they head to Favre's old stomping grounds in Green Bay for a battle with the Packers. It'll be Favre's first appearance at his old home in an enemy uniform. The Vikings will then have a bye weekend before hosting the lowly Detroit Lions on November 15. Pittsburgh will enjoy a bye week this week before returning to action on Monday, November 9th facing the Denver Broncos on the road. - 31493

About the Author:
Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and respected sports betting expert. He is also a staff handicapper for Sports-1 Sportsbook and is in charge of setting NFL football lines. He has written extensively on sports betting theory along with a wide range of other topics including fencing, boxing and falconry.

New Orleans Bowl Tickets

By Tavis Jackson

When the New Orleans Bowl kicks off on December 20, it will be the ninth edition of a great bowl in a great atmosphere. Once again, a team from the Sun Belt Conference will take on a team from Conference USA, and the game will be played in the famous Louisiana Superdome. Read on if you want to attend and see the end of the article for ticket information. The New Orleans Bowl is the only guaranteed bid for the Sun Belt Conference. Officially, the bowl is known as th e R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.

New Orleans is synonymous with a good time, and for a college football fan, a college bowl game in the Big Easy is fantastic. While New Orleans has long been known for it's Mardi Gras parties, it's also known for great restaurants, museums, casinos and music. The city has revived itself after Hurricane Katrina to prove you can't keep a good party town down and life in the Big Easy is back.

The New Orleans Bowl is accompanied by several events that are sure to delight fans, including the New Orleans Bowl Luncheon, which always features someone famous as an attendee, and the Fan Fest. The Battle of the Bands and the Tailgate party are all events which excite people coming to attend the game and take in the city.

The game kicks off in the Louisiana Superdome, known as the home of the New Orleans Saints of the NFL, and host of several Super Bowls and NCAA Championships. The Superdome is steeped in football history, and it's now one of hte places that all sports fans should see and enjoy. The configuration of the arena for football allows almost 73,000 fans to watch the game on the new artificial grass turf. The dome has been open since 1975, and few arenas can boast the history of this football palace.

The college bowl system is both beloved by some fans and hated by others, being unique in that there is no playoff system for FBS college football teams. While some fans dislike the idea of not having a true college football champion, others love the idea that many teams can end their seasons with a win. Whichever side you might fall on, there's no doubt that a college bowl game is still an amazing event.

If you are looking for tickets to the New Orleans Bowl, the first thing you should do is check out free online sites like TicketZinger.com to see the best prices and shop around to see if there are any deals available. You can browse classified ad sites or auction sites, and while good deals are out there, remember to use caution. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. - 31493

About the Author:
Use TicketZinger.com's free online tool to see all of the cheapest New Orleans Bowl Tickets at one time!

2009 Season Outlook for the NY Giants

By John Kaplan

The New York Giants became one of 8 NFL teams to start the 2009 season with a 2-0 record after a big win against the Dallas Cowboys in Dallas on Sunday night.

The Giants have a core of players who can lead them to a Super Bowl appearance again for sure. Eli Manning has experience and the quarterback patience like no other in the league.

The Giants are in the NFC which is up for the taking, while there are a few teams that have opportunities to reach the Super Bowl, no team is head and shoulders above the rest this season.

There is much parody in the league and if a team has a bad week and one team plays hard, that team will receive a loss. The Giants must play their game, running the football and Eli Manning distributing the ball all over the field.

This year could provide the Giants with the same opportunity - many favor the Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles ahead of the Giants at this time.

Manning is completing well over 60% of his pass attempts and limiting his interceptions. If Manning can keep this up over the course of the season the Giants will be in many ball games.

Young talents like Steve Smith and Mario Manningham did a great job at filling in for the Giants. Manningham scored a big touchdown that gave the team the lead late in the game, and a Lawrence Tynes field goal won the game for the team at the end of regulation. Eli and Mario have a bright future together.

The Giants have the potential, like a few other teams, to make it far into the playoffs if they gain some momentum. - 31493

About the Author:
Get over to the Giants forums and enjoy trivia at RootZoo.

An Outlook on the 2009 Arizona Cardinals

By Peter Abrams

The Arizona Cardinals are not starting off the 09' season as they ended the 08' season. QB Kurt Warner doesn't seem to be the same man who led the Cardinals to one of the greatest playoff pushes in recent memory. While the wide receivers for the Cardinals are still being productive - they are not close to where they were in 08'.

The team caught fire and scored big playoff wins against teams like the Panthers and Giants, advancing to the Super Bowl and nearly winning it against the Pittsburgh Steelers before a decisive 4th quarter Santonio Holmes touchdown won the Steelers the game, and the Super Bowl championship with it.

The front office for the Cardinals has loaded the team with Pro Bowl players and potential Pro Bowl players such as WR Larry Fitzgerald, WR Anquan Boldin, RB Tim Hightower, and WR Steve Breaston. WR Larry Fitzgerald might be the best WR in the NFL today and has seemingly has unparalleled leaping ability.

09' has proved one thing, what you did a previous season means nothing in today's NFL. Teams that win or go to the Super Bowl, the following year is a struggle. This makes you appreciate the teams such as the 1970's Pittsburgh Steelers, 1980's San Francisco 49ers, 1990's Dallas Cowboys, and the 2000's New England Patriots for maintaining years of constancy.

Kurt Warner has reinvented himself after spending time in the witness protection on the New York Giants helping groom QB Eli Manning. The entire culture of the Cardinals has changed and fans can actually get excited about their team and have expectations. With high expectation can come high disappointment as well.

The Cardinals defense is one of the lowest ranked in the NFL, but they are holding opponents to a low rushing total per game. Despite the bad start to the Cardinals 09' season, there is still time to turn things around.

The Cardinals have an average schedule which shouldn't be too difficult, playing the St. Louis Rams twice and Detroit Lions should give the Cardinals games to rack up wins. - 31493

About the Author:
Discuss the latest Cardinals news on the Cardinals forum at RootZoo Sports and play free fantasy football.

The Offensive Struggles of the 2009 Cleveland Browns

By Daniel Caldwell

The Cleveland Browns are looking quite miserable. After a very disappointing 2008 season, it doesn't look like things are much better so far in 2009.

No more Kellen Winslow. Braylon Edwards, depending upon his mood, might be completely ineffective. No shining hope at running back, as Jamal Lewis has aged another year. The defense? Nothing special there either.

There was Brady Quinn, a young quarterback with a promising future, and Eric Mangini, who came over as the team's new head coach after being dismissed from New York.

The 09' season for the Browns has been dismal at best. Brady Quinn is scrambling for his life and Derek Anderson has yet to regain his form from the 07' season. When two different quarterbacks throw more interceptions then touchdown passes, you know you are in trouble.

Eric Mangini, the new head coach of the Cleveland Browns, came from the New York Jets. While the pressure of coaching in Cleveland isn't as great as in the city that never sleeps, Mangini has a mountain to climb. After not telling the public who his starting quarterback were until the very last minute, the Browns have been going nowhere fast.

Was this really a new and improved Broncos defensive unit, or were the Browns really that bad on offense? I think it's a bit of both, but I could easily tell it will be a very long season for the Browns and their fans.

The future has looked dim for many teams in the NFL and remarkably they have turned their franchises around. The Browns have so many problems it's hard to know where to begin. Hopefully either Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson can become what Browns fans thought they could be and acquire some young, explosive receivers.

It seems the Browns will be getting a very high draft pick in the spring time - that can be one of the turning points for their franchise. - 31493

About the Author:
For more football talk, check out the Cleveland Browns chat at RootZoo Sports. Be sure to play their free sports trivia game.

Houston Earns Big Road Win At Cincinnati

By Ross Everett

Behind a career day for quarterback Matt Schaub, the Houston Texans erased a 17-14 halftime deficit to score 14 points in the second half and defeat the host Cincinnati Bengals 28-17. Schaub threw for 342 yards and 4 touchdowns against one interception in the solid road victory. Against a team that had won three straight games in the final seconds, Houston never gave Cincinnati the chance to create any late drama.

Houston took the money as +3' road underdogs with the outright win, and both teams are now 3-3 on the season against the NFL pointspread. The 45 points just managed to stay UNDER the posted total of 46. The Texans have gone UNDER in 4 of 6 this season while the Bengals evened their NFL totals record at 3-3.

After the victory, Schaub said that his team knew of Houston's penchant for late game comebacks and that 'putting them away' would be a priority:

"Every game went down to the wire for them. Credit goes to them because they were able to find ways to win those games. So it was a matter of putting the game away."

The Texans' taciturn head coach Gary Kubiak would only offer that:

"Matt continues to put up exceptional numbers on the road."

The defense did a stellar job as well, shutting out the Bengals in the second half. In the third quarter, Houston only allowed six yards on nine plays for a franchise record. Cornerback Dunta Robininson talked about the defensive corps mindset:

"It was swarm tackling. Everybody has a job to do, and today we made this team a one-dimensional team. Overall as a defense, we played well."

In the losing locker room, wide receiver Chad Ochocinco admitted that his team knew that they couldn't rely on last minute heroics to win games:

"That's our fault. We've been saying that we can't keep winning with the way we've been playing. We've got to be consistent for all four quarters."

The Bengals will play their next two games at home, starting with a contest against the Chicago Bears this Sunday. Cincinnati is a -1 home favorite with the total set at 42. They'll host the Baltimore Ravens the following Sunday before traveling to Pittsburgh for a game against the Steelers on November 15. The Texans host the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, with Houston a -3 home favorite and the total set at 44. - 31493

About the Author:
Ross Everett is a staff oddsmaker for Sports-1 Sportsbook as well as a freelance sportswriter specializing in fight sports, investing strategy and how to bet on NFL football. He is a respected authority on Internet sports betting, fine dining and fencing. He lives in southern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and a pet wallaby.

Pittsburgh Tops Cleveland For 12th Consecutive Time

By Ross Everett

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been playing the Cleveland Browns for longer than any other team in the National Football League, dating back to 1950. And while it hasn't been quite that long since the Cleveland Browns won a game against the Steelers it may be starting to feel like it. On Sunday, Pittsburgh won for the twelfth straight time dating back to 2003 as they topped Cleveland by a final score of 27-13.

The good news for NFL betting enthusiasts who took the +13' with the Browns as a road underdog is that they managed to cover the pointspread by the slimmest of possible margins. Betting against the defending Superbowl champion is a long standing handicapping concept, and this season at least its worked like a charm-the Steelers have only covered one of their first six games. Cleveland, meanwhile, evened their NFL pointspread record at 3-3 on the season. The Browns have covered three straight after dropping their first three both straight up and against the spread. The 40 combined points went OVER the posted total of 37'.

Pittsburgh dominated the game in virtually every statistical category. They amassed 28 first downs to 12 for Cleveland, held a 543 to 197 total yardage advantage and a 36:46 to 23:14 time of possession advantage. Both teams turned the ball over four times, and the Steelers led only 17-14 in the third quarter. Most of the post game talk from both sides was about a controversial spot in the first half where the Steelers were given a first down on a short yardage play when it appeared that they didn't make the required yardage.

After the contest, Derek Anderson spoke of the frustration of continually coming up short against the Steelers. The Browns have only one once in ten games since Pittsburgh moved into their new home at Heinz Field:

"We're not trying to lose every time we go out here. We put tons of hours in and ... it's frustrating. Every single week, it's frustrating."

Steelers' tight end Heath Miller said the team is happy to be where they are at this point despite not playing up to their standards:

"I think we haven't played our best ball yet and that's pretty comforting. We've gotten a few wins here without playing our best."

The Steelers will host Brett Favre and the 6-0 Minnesota Vikings next Sunday. The Steelers are a -4 home favorite with the total set at 45. After a bye week, the Steelers will hit the road to play another undefeated team as they take on the Denver Broncos on Monday, November 9. Cleveland will host the Green Bay Packers this Sunday, with the Browns a +7 home underdog and the total set at 42'. - 31493

About the Author:
Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer who has written on sports gambling and how to successfully bet on NFL football. He has appeared on TV and radio talking about boxing, hockey and NFL pointspreads. He lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and a lynx.

Packers Shut Out Lowly Lions

By Ross Everett

The Green Bay Packers didn't do a good job protecting their quarterback last Sunday, but against the lowly Detroit Lions it didn't really matter. Packers' QB Aaron Rodgers was sacked five times, but Green Bay used a big first half offensive outburst to coast to a 26-0 NFL victory over the Detroit Lions. Rodgers threw two first half touchdown passes which was complimented by four Mason Crosby field goals as Green Bay improved to 3-2 on the season. The Lions slumped to 1-5 with the loss.

NFL football betting enthusiasts who backed the Packers as -14 home dogs easily cashed their tickets with Green Bay's third pointspread cover in five games. Detroit slipped to 2-4 against the spread.

In the victory, Packers' receiver Donald Driver passed Sterling Sharpe for first place on the franchise reception list. Sharpe finished his career with 596 receptions, Driver now has 602. After the game, he talked about the accomplishment:

"It couldn't it come in a better place -- at home in front of the fans I've played in front of for so many years. It feels good. Now I just have to wait on Sterling to call me and congratulate me."

Despite the convincing victory, cornerback Tramon Williams wasn't happy with the relatively narrow margin:

"It feels like a 50 to zero game, but we didn't quite get there. I felt we should've put more points on the board."

For the Lions, their quarterback woes continued. Matthew Stafford is already out indefinitely with an injured knee, and against Green Bay backup Daunte Cullpepper injured his hamstring in the third quarter and was replaced by the Lions' third string quarterback Drew Stanton. Cullpepper is now listed as 'questionable' on the official NFL injury report. After the game, he talked about Detroit's lack of offense:

"It's very disappointing, very frustrating. It's embarrassing to me not to be able to move it on the field and get points on the board. We've got to figure out a way to do that, simple as that."

The Packers will play on the road this Sunday, heading to Cleveland to face the Browns. The game is currently off the board as linemakers try to get a handle on the personnel impact of the Browns' struggle with a flu bug making its way through the locker room. Green Bay will host the Minnesota Vikings the following Sunday followed by a trip to Tampa Bay on November 8. Detroit has a bye this weekend and will return to action as they host the St. Louis Rams on November 1. They'll play their next two on the road, with games in Seattle and Minnesota. - 31493

About the Author:
Ross Everett is a staff handicapper for Sports-1 Sportsbook as well as a widely published freelance sportswriter specializing in fight sports, investing strategy and how to bet on NFL football. He is a well known authority on Internet sports betting, food and wine and fencing. He lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and a pet wallaby.

Saints Blitz Giants To Claim NFC Supremacy

By Ross Everett

Heading into last Sunday, there was a consensus that the New York Giants were the best team in the NFL with an undefeated record, a productive offense and the league's top ranked defense. The New Orleans Saints made a compelling case to the contrary, however, as they dismantled the Giants to win 48-27 behind yet another MVP-like performance from quarterback Drew Brees. Brees threw for 369 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions as New Orleans kept their record perfect on the season at 5-0.

NFL betting enthusiasts who took New Orleans as -3 home favorites were confident that they'd be cashing a ticket by halftime as the Saints shot out to a 34-17 lead at the break. The Saints also remained perfect against the NFL pointspread at 5-0, while the Giants failed to cover for the first time this season and stand at 5-1 ATS. The 75 points scored sailed OVER the posted total of 47.

After the game, Brees explained his team's strategy:

"We wanted to really dictate the tempo of the game the whole way through. Seven different guys scored touchdowns. That's big. That's the type of rhythm that, when you get in, you feel like you can call anything and it's going to work."

The Saints are off to their best start since 1993 and have yet to trail in a game this season. Still, head coach Sean Payton wasn't entertaining talk that his team had established themselves as the presumptive Superbowl favorite:

"I don't think you can talk about big pictures after game 5."

Giants' QB Eli Manning was looking forward to a homecoming of sorts-his father, Archie, played the same position for New Orleans during his NFL career. Suffice to say it didn't go as he had planned:

"It's not the way I imagined it during the week, but you're going to encounter all sorts of games and all sorts of situations. I look at it as a loss. We need to go back to work this week, fix some things and try to improve."

New York head coach Tom Coughlin marveled at the play of the Saints' offensive line who gave Brees great protection all day long:

"I don't know that we ever hit him. At this level, if you're going to stop the pass, you've got to get pressure. You've got to force the quarterback not to throw it on his tempo."

The Saints will now face the Miami Dolphins on the road, with New Orleans a -6 favorite and the total set at 47. After the trip to south Florida they'll return home for a game against longtime rival Atlanta on Monday night football. The Giants return home to play the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday night, with New York a -7 home favorite and the total set at 46. They'll head to Philadelphia to play the Eagles next week before returning home for a date against the San Diego Chargers on November 8. - 31493

About the Author:
Ross Everett is a staff oddsmaker for Sports-1 Sportsbook as well as a freelance sportswriter specializing in fight sports, investing strategy and how to bet on NFL football. He is a respected authority on Internet sports betting, fine dining and fencing. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and a pet wallaby.

2008 SEC Championship Game: Florida Stuns Alabama

By Ross Everett

The Florida Gators rampage through the SEC reached its culmination with a 31-20 victory over #1 ranked Alabama in the conference championship game. This victory set the stage for the Gators' appearance in the National Championship Game.

The Gators scored first, taking a 7-0 lead on a three yard Tim Tebow TD pass to Carl Moore. The Crimson Tide quickly answered, tying the score on an eighteen yard run by Glen Coffee and taking their first lead of the game at 10-7 several minutes later on a 30 yard FG by Leigh Tiffin. Florida came right back in the second quarter, tying the game on a Jonathan Phillips 19 yard FG and taking a 17-10 lead into the halftime break on another Tebow TD pass, this one to David Nelson from five yards out. Alabama regained control in the third quarter, tying the score on a 2 yard Mark Ingram touchdown run and then regaining the lead at 20-17 in the final seconds of the period on another Tiffin field goal. Florida put them away for good in the fourth, however, on a 1 yard Jeffrey Demps TD run followed by Tebows third touchdown strike of the day.

Junior quarterback Tim Tebow was the big star for the Gators. The junior QB had 216 yards passing with 3 TDs and no interceptions plus fifty seven yards on the ground. Florida head coach Urban Meyer praised Tebow effusively in his post game comments:

"I've had some great players, and I've got some great players on this team. But I've never had one like this. Tim's got something special inside him. I'm not talking about throwing. I'm not talking about running. I'm talking about making everyone around him better. That fourth quarter was vintage Tim Tebow.

Alabama coach Nick Saban wasnt about to argue with him:

"He's a great competitor. He takes his teammates on his shoulders a lot. They have a lot of confidence he's going to make plays, and they play that way. They scored two touchdowns where we had them covered about as well as we could cover them."

The conventional wisdom is that the Gators are a speed and finesse team, but according to cornerback Joe Haden the world has underestimated their toughness:

"Our team is a tough team. The only reason they look past our toughness is our speed. They said we were a speed team and they were a tough team. We're just as tough. We can still be pretty and fast and tough at the same time."

While Crimson Tide fans were no doubt disappointed by their late season loss, some perspective is necessary: the team was only two years removed from a 6-7 record in their last year under Mike Shula. In only two years at the helm, Nick Saban has amassed a 19-7 record at Alabama with no signs of slowing down. - 31493

About the Author:
Ross Everett is a freelance writer who has written on sports betting and how to successfully bet on NFL football. He has appeared on TV and radio talking about boxing, cricket and NFL pointspreads. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and a wombat.

Alabama Survives Scare From Tennessee

By Ross Everett

Alabama didn't so much win their game against Tennessee on Saturday as much as they escaped. Despite playing one of their worst games of the year they managed to keep their undefeated season alive as nose tackle Terrance Cody blocked a potential game winning field goal on the last play of the game to preserve a 12-10 victory for the Crimson Tide. Alabama held a tenuous 12-3 lead late in the game before a Tennessee touchdown and recovered onside kick had them facing the specter of the defeat for the first time this season. Instead, Alabama improved to 8-0 while Tennessee slipped to 3-4.

College football pointspread players who took Tennessee as +14 road underdogs were in good shape throughout the contest and eventually cashed their tickets. The Vols improved to 4-3 against the spread while the Crimson Tide dropped to 5-3 versus the number.

After the game, Cody recounted his blocked field goal attempt that saved the day:

"I didn't really get off the ground. I just reached my arm up. That's how I got it. I knocked the blocker back. He was on his back."

First year Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin wasn't about to call the near miss loss a 'moral victory':

"It's a difficult loss to deal with. You come into a hostile environment and play the No. 1 team in the country, as I said before by far the No. 1 team in the country and the best-coached team around. You come in here and outgain them by nearly 100 yards and miss three field goals. I don't believe in moral victories, we should have won that game."

He explained the difficulty that placekicker Daniel Lincoln has getting elevation on his kicks since a quadriceps injury:

"He can't kick the ball up high. If you kick the ball up high it's never going to get there, so we can't allow the penetration up front."

Alabama coach Nick Saban views the game as a learning experience:

"You talk about how fragile a season is. You're controlling a game, even though you may say it's winning ugly. We're still ahead 12-3 and totally controlling the game with 3 minutes, 29 seconds and the ball. That's how fragile a season can be. You make one mistake and you have to go overcome it. I hope that there's a lot of lessons our team can learn from this."

Alabama has a week off before a tough game at home against LSU on November 7. They'll play at Mississippi State the following week. Tennessee hosts South Carolina next Saturday and Memphis the following week. They'll play at Ole Miss on November 14. - 31493

About the Author:
Ross Everett is a freelance writer specializing in boxing, college football and NFL betting. He serves as a consulting handicapper for Sports-1 Sportsbook in Costa Rica and is a noted authority on Internet sportsbook betting of all forms. He lives in Southern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and several pet nurse snakes.

Panthers Derail Struggling Buccaneers

By Ross Everett

Carolina Panthers' running back Jake Delhomme struggled on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and was fortunate that his running backs bailed him out. Delhomme threw for only 65 yards with two interceptions, but D'Angelo Williams (152 yards) and Jonathan Stewart (110 yards) kept the chains moving as the Panthers won their second straight game defeating the Bucs 28-21. Tampa Bay has now lost ten straight dating back to last season and are 0-6 for the first time since 1985. The fact that they ended up starting that year 0-9 on their way to a 1-15 record doesn't bode well for the rest of the season.

NFL sports bettors were faced with a choice between two teams with dismal ATS records in this game, and those who had the guts to take a 1-3 team as a -3 road favorite were rewarded with the cover. It was Carolina's first NFL pointspread cover of the season and left them with a 1-4 record against the number. Tampa Bay has covered one of their six games this year.

Delhomme attempted only seven passes in the second half, but the way Williams and Stewart were running there was no reason to put the ball in the air. Williams said that even though Tampa Bay knew what was coming they couldn't stop the Panthers' running game:

"I'm sure everybody in the stadium knew what we were going to do. There were times they had nine in the box and we were still getting 7 or 8 yards."

There's been little impatience locally with Bucs' rookie head coach Raheem Morris, but his weekly habit of explaining the obvious to rationalize yet another loss is starting to wear thin:

"We got overpowered at the end, and really throughout the game."

Carolina safety Dante Wesley was ejected after clobbering Bucs' return man Clifton Smith after a fair catch call. After the game, Wesley gave this defense for his actions:

"I was just trying to make a play. You can check my record. I've never really tried to hurt anybody. I've never tried to take a cheap shot on anybody."

Wesley could face a possible fine or suspension from the NFL but, in all fairness, it did appear to be a momentary mental lapse as he was trying to make a big play and not a deliberate attempt to injure Smith.

Tampa's schedule has the look of them going from 'the frying pan into the fire' as they host the New England Patriots next Sunday-fresh off of their 57 point drubbing of Tennessee. The Bucs are +14 home underdogs to the Patriots with the total set at 45. They'll get a week off after that contest and return to action on November 8 as they host the Green Bay Packers. Carolina has an easier draw, hosting the Buffalo Bills next Sunday. The game is currently off the board pending the status of Bills' QB Trent Edwards who suffered a concussion in Sunday's win over the New York Jets. The Panthers will then play on the road the following two Sundays, traveling to Arizona and New Orleans. - 31493

About the Author:
Ross Everett is a freelance writer who has written on sports gambling and how to successfully bet on NFL football. He has appeared on TV and radio talking about boxing, hockey and NFL pointspreads. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and a wombat.

Minnesota Remains Undefeated With Win Over Baltimore

By Ross Everett

The Minnesota Vikings' decision to facilitate Brett Favre's latest 'unretirement' is looking better and better with each passing week. This past Sunday, Favre's charges moved to 6-0 on the season with a wild 33-31 victory over the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens posted 21 fourth quarter points to charge back and claim the lead late, but Favre led a rally to set up place kicker Ryan Longwell's 31 yard game winning field goal. Baltimore evened their record at 3-3 on the season with the loss.

Minnesota has been one of the surprise teams of the season, and that fact has also enriched those who bet on NFL football. They didn't get the money on this occasion, however, as the Ravens took the cheese as a +3 road underdog. Still, it was only the Vikings' second loss of the year against the NFL pointspread (4-2) while Baltimore has also been solid against the number with a 4-2 mark. The cover broke a two game ATS losing streak for the Ravens. The 64 combined points soared OVER the posted total of 45'. The Vikings has gone OVER in five of six while Baltimore has exceeded the total in four of six.

Baltimore QB Joe Flacco got the Ravens in range for a last second game winning field goal, but Steven Hauschka's 44 yard try went wide left. After the game, he took his miss hard:

"It's tough for me. I feel like I let them down. That's something I have to live with."

Ravens' running back Ray Rice disputed Hauschka's self anointed scapegoat status:

"We didn't lose that game because of Hauschka's miss. If we start fast and put points on the board, our defense starts fast, I think the game is a totally different outcome. But that's what happens when you play against great teams."

Flacco praised his team for fighting back from a 27-10 fourth quarter deficit:

"We realize what kind of fighters we have in our locker room and that's what we're going to use the rest of the year. I think we were 3-3 last year, not that that matters, but we can overcome anything."

Ray Lewis concurred with his quarterback's comments:

"Every game has been a game of inches. But for me, being in this business for so long, it just speaks volumes for our team in the way we fight, regardless of the circumstance we've been put in."

The Vikings now face arguably their toughest scheduling stretch of the season, beginning with a trip to the 'Steel City' for a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The following week Minnesota heads to Green Bay for what is sure to be an emotional return for Favre. They'll then get a much needed break via a bye week and a November 15th game against the lowly Detroit Lions. The Ravens will face another undefeated team after a bye week, hosting the Denver Broncos on November 1. - 31493

About the Author:
Ross Everett is a staff handicapper for Sports-1 Sportsbook as well as a widely published freelance sportswriter specializing in MMA, boxing and how to bet on NFL football. He is a respected authority on Internet sports betting, food and wine and fencing. He lives in southern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and a pet wallaby.

Understanding The Differences Between CFL Canadian Football And The NFL

By Ross Everett

Its that time of the year again"Americans are getting ready for football. In a few months NFL teams will be opening training camp and college football teams starting practice. Up north, however, the footballs are already flying as pro football is in full swing up in Canada with the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Most Americans dont realize that the CFL has a lengthy and storied history. The league itself has been around since 1930, and the Canadian Football championship"known as the Grey Cup"has been contended since 1909. More recently, American fans are aware that a number of NFL stars got their start in the CFL including Doug Flutie, Jim Kelly, and Jeff Garcia.

The CFL is a very professional and highly competitive league, but its important to understand some important differences between it and the NFL:

First of all, the football itself is bigger--the CFL ball is larger than its American counterpart. If you know anything about rugby, its roughly the same as a #3 rugby ball meaning it is somewhat longer and fatter than the NFL ball. The CFL field is also longer (110 yards) and wider (65 yards vs. the NFLs 53.5 yards), and the CFL end zones are 20 yards deep as opposed to 10 yards in the NFL. The CFL goal posts are on the goal line, while the NFLs are on the end line at the back of the endzone.

CFL teams are allowed an extra offensive player (a wide receiver), and on defense they're allowed an extra defensive back. This means that 12 players can be on the field at one time as opposed to 11 in the NFL. CFL football also differs in that teams only have three downs to gain ten yards, as opposed to four in US football. The phrase "two and out" is as commonplace in CFL football as is "three and out" in the US game.

There's also a significant difference in the way the game is scored. The first time many US fans see a CFL score update reflecting a 1-0 game they're usually left scratching their head in confusion. CFL teams are able to score a single point, known as a "single" for a kick that lands in the end zone such as a punt or missed field goal.

The rule differences don't end there--CFL teams are required to maintain a certain percentage of Canadian born players on their roster. The idea is that this will protect the unique identity of the game, as well as prevent it from becoming little more than a farm system for the NFL. Currently 19 of the 40 players on a CFL roster must be Canadian natives.

Many US football fans look at the rules that include more players, a wider field, and fewer downs meant to encourage more passing and expect to see a wide open high scoring style of play similar to Arena Football. That's not really how it works out--most games end up with final score totals in the 40's, but the game itself really isn't much more offensively oriented than its American counterpart. The rules may be different, but as in the NFL you need a solid rushing game and a stout defense to win games and championships.

Furthermore, the parity that you see in the NFL where on any given Sunday any team can beat any other team is magnified in the CFL. The primary reason is the rules mandating Canadian native players. I dont think itll offend any Canadians if I suggest that football is played at a higher level in American high schools and colleges. That means that at least 50% of each team is of essentially equal level of talents. Now that may be a bit of an oversimplification"certainly there are differing levels of talent among Canadian players"but the Canadian native rules do serve to further codify the inherent tendency toward parity that you see in most professional sports.

The CFL isn't in a financial position to draw the top level US players away from the NFL or, in most cases, even a NFL practice or developmental squad. While some US players are uniquely suited to the CFL style of play, most of the US players that end up there are of a similar talent level as to that seen in Arena Football.

Despite some major differences, the NFL and CFL have more in common--they're both high level, intensely competitive professional football leagues. Once you understand the rule differences and the unique and fascinating history of the CFL, it is a very enjoyable brand of professional football to watch.

In the pre-Internet era, it was often difficult for US fans to find information on the CFL. They don't get coverage on ESPN, but they receive extensive attention in the Canadian press. Each CFL city has their own sports media, and the official CFL website also has many resources including previews and statistics. - 31493

About the Author:
Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer who has written on sports betting and how to successfully bet on NFL football. He has appeared as a guest on TV and radio talking about boxing, mixed martial arts and NFL pointspreads. He lives in Southern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and a lynx.

Falcons Hold Off Late Bears Rally

By Ross Everett

The Atlanta Falcons didn't so much win their Sunday Night NFL Football game against the Chicago Bears as much as the Bears lost it. A series of costly mistakes and turnovers in the red zone negated an otherwise solid road effort for the Bears, as Atlanta held on to win 21-14 at the Georgia Dome. Chicago held a decisive edge in most of the statistical categories, but was undone by untimely turnovers. Atlanta improved to 4-1 with the victory while Chicago slipped to 3-2.

Chicago also disappointed fans who bet on NFL football by failing to cover the pointspread as +4 road underdogs. Both teams' ATS records match their straight up records with the Falcons moving to 4-1 against the number while the Bears slumped to 3-2.

Winning Falcons' QB Matt Ryan chose to credit his defense rather than point to Chicago mistakes as the determining factor in the outcome:

"Our defense, give them some credit. Our guys stepped up and made some plays when we needed them to."

The Bears did a good job shutting down Falcons' star running back Michael Turner holding the NFL's second leading rusher to only 30 yards. He came through with the game on the line, however, rushing for the winning touchdown with just over three minutes remaining in the game. Ryan praised his running back's effort:

"Our offensive line did a great job just giving me just enough time to get the ball off, and then Michael Turner did what he does. The offensive line provided a great push and just paved his way."

The Falcons are now 4-1 for only the fifth time in team history, the last coming in 2004. Despite their solid start, they're still trying to keep pace with the red hot New Orleans Saints who improved to 5-0 with their win over the New York Giants earlier in the day.

Atlanta can improve to 5-1 and break the mark for best start in franchise history with a win on the road at Dallas next Sunday. That'll be followed by an even bigger road game, on Monday Night Football against the New Orleans Saints-a contest full of all sorts of implications for the eventual divisional championship in the NFC South. They'll return home the following Sunday to host the struggling Washington Redskins. The Bears will be back on the road next weekend to take on the Cincinnati Bengals before returning home for games the following two Sundays against the Cleveland Browns and Arizona Cardinals. - 31493

About the Author:
Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer who has written on sports betting and how to successfully bet on NFL football. He has appeared as a guest on TV and radio talking about boxing, hockey and NFL pointspreads. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and a ferret.

Manchester United Season Tickets Cost Explained

By Mike Post

Buying Manchester United football tickets never easy because the team has a huge following and ticket demand always outstrips supply. That means for many supporters, an opportunity to obtain a single Manchester United ticket is something they can only hope for, and a season ticket to Old Trafford, the stuff from which dreams are made.

However, on closer examination, despite the obvious advantages season ticket holders have of being guaranteed a seat for games at Old Trafford, and priority for the Red Devil's away games, some aspects of owning a season ticket to Manchester United games might be less than ideal. Including:

One example of this is the Manchester United policy called the Automatic Ticket Scheme. This policy ensures that every season ticket holder is guaranteed a ticket for all Champions League and FA cup home games. At first glance this might appear to be a good thing, but further examination shows that the season ticket holder is charged for each of these tickets even if he has no intention of attending any of the games. In the each of the 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 seasons, there were 10 of these extra games - and with a single game ticket starting at almost 50 pounds, this is a huge extra cost on top of the already very significant price paid for the season ticket.

If the seat to which the season ticket holder is assigned is in an area of the stadium that he thinks is less than ideal, there is nothing he can do to change it, short of being able to prove exceptional medical hardship. For this reason, there are those who choose not to renew their tickets at the end of the season, preferring to take their chances in the search for single tickets that may be in a more preferred situation - much as the Stretford End stands.

Those Manchester United fans who invest in a season ticket thinking they can sell their tickets for games they cannot attend might find that that is not as easy to do these days as it once way. Manchester United does have an official ticket exchange where season ticket holders can list their unwanted tickets for sale at face-value, but tickets cannot be listed there until the club announces that the game in question has been sold out. This means that there is no guarantee that the tickets put up for sale get sold, so the prospective seller not only loses the ticket he is unable to use, he is out the substantial listing and handling fee it cost him to post the seat for sale.

Once cannot deny that the price of a season's 19 single tickets is more expensive than a season ticket, when the other costs - approximately 500 extra pounds for the Cup games; the possibility of getting a seat in an undesirable part of Old Trafford; and the lack of guarantee of being able to sell any unwanted game tickets are added up, investing in season Manchester United tickets might not be worth it to even the most fanatical fans. - 31493

About the Author:
Buy Manchester United Tickets safe and securely at the Online Concierge for Sports Tickets, Premium Ticket Hub.

Sports Betting Champ - Football Betting Predictions

By Jimmy Salvato

Football is the name of several similar team sports, all of which involve kicking a ball with the foot in an attempt to score a goal. The Football Betting Predictions is a very good way in which people can establish a very reliable and predictable method of betting that will help them win their bets. Basically, they work using an advanced form of algorithm which integrates hundreds of statistics coming from the players and the teams involved. Algorithms are used several times to make sure that the results are accurate. By looking at the past games, the direction of the current game can be predicted.

Football betting predictions have given millions of people the chance to earn money through the beloved sport of football. However, bear in mind that, as the name implies, these are only predictions. Although they make use of the most advanced and reliable tools of mathematics and probability, it is still wise to ensure that you know what to do and what you are getting into before you start betting.

Before you place your wager, you have to study each player and make sure that you know the strengths and weaknesses of each team. There are people, called handicappers, who are very much well-versed in the game and they can give you a heads up on what could happen or get a glimpse of what bigger possibilities are in a particular game.

It would also pay a lot to read on the subject. You simply need to learn all about the rules of the game, the team, and the players involved. Remember that having a wealth of information at your fingertips is a big advantage on your part.

The football betting predictions have been the source for betting tips and guides. But of course, aside from having the knowledge to back you up, having a stroke of luck also won?t hurt. - 31493

About the Author:
This author writes about Instant Satellite TV on PC at Watch Satellite TV on Your PC

St. Petersburg Bowl Tickets - Touchdowns on Tampa Bay

By David Griffith

In only it's second season, the St. Petersburg Bowl has already established itself as an exciting bowl in a great venue. This year's bowl will take place on December 19,2009, just hours after the first bowl of the season, and will likely pit teams from Conference USA against the Big East. There are contingencies in place, however, so if for some reason one of those two conferences does not attend, a team from the sun Belt Conference will be invited. The St. Petersburg Bowl is played at Tropicana Field, which is home to the Tampa Bay Rays and Major League Baseball.

This year's St. Petersburg Bowl will again be televised on ESPN, and is the second bowl game of the year, with the New Mexico Bowl kicking off only a few hours earlier.This bowl game is a hit with college football fans in the Tampa area, being close to home and usually featuring Big East teams. It's great for fans to experience and FBS bowl right in their backyard.

Tropicana Field will once again play host to the St. Petersburg Bowl, a venue that usually is home to the Tampa Bay Rays, and thus, requires some seating modifications to allow for a football game's rectangular gridiron. However, seating is good and adjustments are not obtrusive. With many cities aware that single-use parks are no longer considered a wise economic idea, if the city approves a new Rays stadium in the future, the game will likely move there.

ESPN owns several bowl games, including the St. Petersburg Bowl, which means they organize and promote the bowl game. Along with this bowl, ESPN owns the aforementioned New Mexico Bowl, the Armed Forces Bowl, The Maaco Las Vegas Bowl, the Hawaii Bowl and the PapaJohns.com Bowl. ESPN has taken on these bowl games and done well, which leads one to think they may continue to take on bowl games in the future.

Last year's inaugural St. Petersburg Bowl featured local South Florida against C-USA's Memphis Tigers in a rout, where USF quarterback Matt Grothe torched the Tigers for 236 yards and three touchdowns. Grothe walked away with a win and the Most Outstanding Player award as his Bull won 41-14.

If you are looking for tickets to the St. Petersburg Bowl, be sure to shop around and check as many sources as possible. A good place to start is free online ticket comparison tools like TicketZinger.com, which shows all of the best available tickets at one time. You can also browse eBay or online classified ad sites, but remember that if a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is. - 31493

About the Author:
Fans can use the free ticket comparison engine, TicketZinger.com, to find all of the cheapest St. Petersburg Bowl tickets in one place.

The Basics Of NFL Totals

By Ross Everett

For those not familiar with NFL totals, its the large number youll see accompanying most pointspread betting propositions. For example, the 2009 Superbowl line opened with Pittsburgh a 6 point favorite over Arizona. The total was set at 47. Simply stated, the total allows the better to decide whether the combined score between the two teams will go OVER or UNDER. In the case of the aforementioned Superbowl, Pittsburgh won by a final score of 27-23 meaning that bettors who backed the OVER cashed their tickets.

To the uninitiated, betting on NFL totals can seem very arbitrary. In reality, theyre a valued tool of serious sports handicappers. Many are of the opinion that its easier to accurately foretell the *type* of game that will transpire between two teams rather than who will actually win and by how much. A successful handicapper can look for situations where the total itself is off as well as more subjective factors (weather, injury or matchups) that can contribute to the scoring output or lack thereof.

The basics of setting NFL totals are fairly simple: the bookmaker looks at the offensive and defensive data for the two teams and constructs a number based on points allowed and points scored. If one team had scored 275 points and allowed 350 in their previous sixteen games thats a total of 625. Divided by 16 and thats an average of just over 39 points per game. If their opponent had scored 285 and allowed 400 (685) over 16 games that translates to just under 43 points per game. Add the two numbers together, divide by two and youve got a base total of 40.5.

At this point other factors are considered such as the significance of key numbers like 3 and 7 on final scores, weather conditions, injuries, playing surface, etc. Another component that is important is the qualitative matchup between the offense and defense of each team"meaning that a team with a strong defense will be more likely to dictate the tempo' of a game resulting in a lower final score. All of these factors weigh into a final NFL total that is posted for betting.

Of course as in the case of the NFL pointspread, public perception is a crucial component of the linesmaking process. For example, the conventional wisdom is that bad weather like rain, snow, or sleet results in lower scores and for that reason a bookmaker will shade the total accordingly. However, its not quite that simple--some handicappers would maintain that sloppy weather can produce higher scores in certain situations.

In conclusion, NFL totals are a very good opportunity for a hard working handicapper to leverage his information about a situational matchup to find good wagering value. Like most elements of the sports handicapping discipline, its not easy to stay a step ahead of the bookmakers who have access to the same weather and injury--and have factored it into the number--but is a very entertaining and potentially rewarding challenge for the NFL betting enthusiast. - 31493

About the Author:
Ross Everett is a freelance writer and a noted authority on sports betting and NFL football betting lines. He is a frequent sports radio guest where he gives advice on how to successfully bet on football. He lives in Las Vegas with three dogs and a puma.

How To Maximize Your Official Recruiting Visits

By Coach Chris Berg

Have you scheduled all 5 of your official recruiting visits? It is important as you begin to schedule your official visits that you keep in mind that these are business trips. I know there are a lot of stories out there about how much FUN your recruiting visits are and don't get me wrong they are A TON of fun, but it is critical that you approach them as a business trip.

My senior year in high school, I had several recruiting visits set up. My first official visit was to Stanford University. It was a blast. I got to meet amazing players from all over the country, eat great food, visit with the coaches, see Palo Alto...it was amazing, but I always approached it as a business trip.

Why is this important?

One the most important reasons to think of it as a business trip is because as soon as you leave campus, the coach is going to call your host into his office and interview him about you. He is going to be asking your host:

Do you feel he could be an asset to our program?

Did he keep his wits while he was around you?

Did he keep his wits about him during the weekend? Did he cause any problems while he was with you?

These are only a few questions the coach will be asking your host. Obviously, there will be a ton of questions he will want answers to if he is going to offer you a scholarship. Coaches today are looking for kids that are great people both on and off the field.

KEY STRATEGIES ON A RECRUITING TRIP:

1. Be sure that you are prepared for your trip. Talk to people about the questions you want answers to, so when you make your final decision you will feel great about your choice in your heart.

2. Do the RIGHT Thing while on campus - typically the person you are teamed up with will take you to a party. DO NOT drink or do drugs (you shouldn't be doing this anyways) on your visit.

3. Talk to as many people on the team as possible. Find out how they feel about the program. What they like and don't like about the school, professors, student body, coaches and anything else you may want to know.

4. Always talk to students as well. Find out what they like about the school...how are the athletes treated on campus? Do the athletes fit in? Get a good feel of what your collegiate experience will be like from as many people as possible. - 31493

About the Author:
Learn Scholarship Secrets that college coaches don't want you to know from Coach Chris Berg at Athletic Scholarship Secrets. Discover all the scholarship secrets you need to achieve your collegiate dreams!

Life Lessons from the Best Teachers

By Coach Roz

Shaping our Youth: My name is Greg Roeszler (Coach Roz) and I am a high school football coach and head up an organization called Playmakers. Let me share with you some alarming statistics: 2 out of 5 kids today live in a home without their biological father There are 10 million single mothers raising their children 71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes 85% of youth in prison come from fatherless homes 90% of homeless and runaway children come from fatherless homes 63% of youth suicides come from fatherless homes 135,000 kids are carrying guns to school

These numbers cannot be denied and we have an epidemic of youth who have voids in their life due to fatherless homes.

Playmakers seek to teach the values and character traits that give our youth a playbook for becoming a responsible adult. We accept this role to assist single moms who have the challenge of parenting with fewer resources than they need in today's confusing times.

The Right Mentor Teaching Values and Character: The right mentor may be closer than you think. It can be a trained coach who understands his role in the bigger picture. The bigger picture can include True masculinity Values for life Character and what that means Serving others first

When the right coach who has developed a relationship with the youth and trust with the parent emerges and steps up to the task the results can be life changing.

Learning Laboratory: Our classroom is the football field. We teach by creating a FREE football summer camp for youth and high school kids who can not afford fee based camps. Our "Pay it Forward" tuition means the kids and coaches attending agree to perform structured Playmaker led community serving activities when called upon. The serving done in the community teaches the value of serving others first. These summer football camps are held nationwide serving over 600 kids and 150 coaches last summer. - 31493

About the Author:
Coach Roz is an author "Coaching for a Bigger Win" (Amazon) and speaks to a variety of audiences across the country. Coach Roz co hosts a weekly radio show on AM 950 KAHI that can be heard by going to www.theplaymakers.org/coachescorner. For more information how your organization can learn more of Playmakers or hosting a camp in your area, contact www.theplaymakers.org

iPhone Football Games Reviewed with Surprising Champion

By Eric Meister

Football season is here and iPhone gamers are scouring the App Store for the best NFL video games available for their device. Three of the best apps in this genre are included in our round this week. The titles which made the cut are EA's Madden 10, Gameloft's NFL2010, and Chillingo's Super Shock Football.

Madden 10, the 20-year-old king of football games, has finally been released by EA and is now available in the app store. As you might expect, though Gameloft's NFL2010 was the first on the iPhone and iPod touch, Madden 10 is a solid addition that leaves gamers with a dilemma.

Graphics are good, but not as good as we would have expected. They look like console graphics from some time ago, but do not compare to what we see today. They are adequate for the platform, though. Sounds are decent, with the obligatory John Madden comments and helmet-to-helmet sound effects. Madden 10 allows you to play music from your own library, so you can skip the included tracks if you wish. Controls work well and offer a lot of options with just a simple tap or two.

Hopefully, we the game will obtain multiplayer and roster updates as the title gets successive updates in the App Store. Where it stands today, Madden 10 offers tons of replay ability. Don't forget, this is a Madden football title. Gamers will be playing this feverously until the next Madden title is unleashed. Comparing it to NFL2010, it's a close draw as both offer a slightly different experience. If you like, you may choose to buy both and determine which options you like the best. Madden appears in the App Store at a $9.99 price point. We believe it will remain there for the rest of the season. We give Madden 10 a 4-Star rating that puts it neck and neck with NFL2010.

NFL 2010, the first full-featured football game specifically for the iPhone and iPod Touch, was released earlier than expected by Gameloft. With a graphic style similar to Madden, it is hard not to compare NFL 2010 to the king of all that is football. Fortunately for mobile gamers, NFL 2010 holds up quite well.

Graphically, the game looks gorgeous. This is the closest thing to Madden that we've seen. Sounds are good, with all of the expected football sound effects. Controls work well and are responsive. It just seems that it is lacking some of the functionality necessary to make us feel as if we have control over the plays. Often, it feels like we are simply watching them unfold as we've set them up. In fact, the plays where we felt like we had the most control were kicking plays, which utilize two gauges, one for aiming and one for power. This scheme works especially well.

If this is the first effort Gameloft has made with iPhone football gaming, we'd say NFL2010 is a glimpse of absolute success. We won't be putting down this title any time soon. When viewed in relation to Madden 10 and pricey console football games, the $7.99 price tag is cheap. A 4-Star rating is awarded this smash-hit title that impressed us through and through.

Super Shock Football, Chillingo's new sports game based on the classic electric football game, has been released in the app store. Combining the random exhilaration of vibrating players with some exciting new additions, Super Shock Football won't replace Madden or NFL2010, but it creates a whole new experience unto itself that many may find just as satisfying.

Graphically, the game looks terrific, with 2D men darting around in a 3D world. The view shifts back and forth between top down for setup and on field for close ups of the action during plays. Sounds are great, with the soft hum of vibrating players in the background and football sound effects (like crowd noise, whistles, etc.) in the foreground. Controls are simple touches and can be accomplished with a single finger. Game information (scores, time remaining, etc.) are in tiny print along the screen bottom. While these are a bit difficult to read, they won't detract from the overall gameplay. Several options exist, including quarter length (up to 15 minutes each) and number of men per side (as many as 11, but you can play with far fewer).

Nostalgia and humorous gameplay put Super Shock Football in a league of it's own against more traditional football games in the App Store. You'll have a blast if you don't take the game too seriously. No two games will ever turn out the same as the outcomes are so random. This leads to high replay ability. At a price of $1.99 Chillingo gives Super Shock Football a huge advantage over its competition. In fact, we give it a 5-Star rating that will make its more mature rivals jealous.

In just over a year, iPhone and iPod touch gaming has soared to new levels. As we planned these NFL video games for review, we had no idea they would all perform so well. Madden 10, NFL2010, and Super Shock Football all bring exceptional aspects to the table with the result being a major winner for mobile gamers the world over. These truly are some of the best apps we've come across. - 31493

About the Author:
Looking to find the best deal on an iphonebrowser, then visit www.AppSmile.com to find iTouch apps for you.

Florida State Bank Checks-Go Seminoles!

By Alan Plastin

Are you a fan of the Seminoles? Are you an alumnus of Florida State University? Are you looking for an inexpensive way to show your loyalty to your favorite school and team? A fantastic cost-effective way to do this is by purchasing Florida State personal bank checks. Two great designs exist to choose from and they cost less than traditional fan souvenirs. In addition, every check you write will be a reminder of your favorite team.

According to The Academic Ranking of World Universities, Florida State ranks in the top 100 American universities. It was also ranked 15th nationally in the February 2008 edition of Kiplinger's Best Values in Public Colleges.

Florida State University, or FSU, is a space-grant and sea-grant public university situated in Tallahassee, Florida. It was officially established in 1851 and is located on the oldest continuous site of higher education in the entire state of Florida.

The first FSU football team was fielded in the 1899 season and lasted until 1904. The team became the first Florida champions after beating both the Florida Agricultural College and Stetson University that year. Today, FSU football is one of the 120 NCAA Division I FBS collegiate football teams in the country.

Head coach is Bobby Bowden who is in his 33rd year as head coach. Upon winning 89% of their games, the Seminoles were the most successful college football team in the '90's. They played in five national championship games between 1993 and 2001 and won the championship in both 1993 and in 1999.

The Seminoles are Florida State's athletic teams' name. A traditional Antive American name, it is used with official sanction of the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma.

FSU competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference and the NCAA's Division I. Despite it's football team being great, Florida State also excels in basketball, golf, baseball, cross country, tennis, swimming, soccer, softball, volleyball, and track and field.

If you're a true fan then you might be interested in the Florida State University #1 Fan checks series. Any fan that has ever yelled at the coaches, participated in a post-game interview, or watched a game in the rain will be able to relate to this series.

The Florida State Logo Checks show the university's emblem and official colors. You can also buy a coordinating checkbook cover, address labels, logo stickers, debit wallet and Osceola Boyd's Bear with the Seminoles' logo.

If you would like to order Florida State checks, then check out some safe websites before you head down to your local bank to order them. By purchasing your Florida State University checks online, you can save as much as 50% off the cost that you might have encountered at your bank. Plus, you will have access to hundreds of different designs.

Just know your routing number and your checking account number when you order online because these numbers will be printed right onto your checks. You can usually expect to get your checks in around 5-7 days. - 31493

About the Author:
Before you purchase Florida State Checks, visit FloridaStateChecks.com to find coupon codes and to save 50% off your next purchase of Florida State University Checks.

Fourth Annual New Mexico Bowl Should Be Fun

By Jolie Davis

The fourth annual New Mexico bowl, played in Albuquerque, New Mexico, will once again feature some stellar college bowl action. Pitting teams from the Mountain West Conference against the Western Athletic Conference, the NCAA sanctioned New Mexico Bowl is young but steeped in regional affectations. Played on the campus of the University of New Mexico, the bowl game is one a handful run by ESPN.

One of the more interesting aspects of the New Mexico Bowl is the game trophy, which is a twenty inch tall piece of Zia Pueblo pottery, adorned with Pueblo symbols. The New Mexico Bowl logo and the logos of the competing teams is also added to the trophy.

The Zia symbol is the same symbol that is found on the New Mexico state flag and is also incorporated into the bowl game logo. The unique trophies extend to the most valuable player trophies, which are made of traditional leather shields, another nod to the culture of New Mexico.

The first ever New Mexico Bowl took place in 2006 and pitted hometown New Mexico against San Jose State, in a game which San Jose State emerged as the victor, 20-12. New Mexico returned to the bowl a year later to take on Nevada, and this time won the game 23-0. In 2008, Colorado State attended the bowl to defeat Fresno State.

Unlike many bowl games and sports promoters who are still trying to raise prices even in the tough economic climate, the New Mexico Bowl organizers are keeping tickets the same prices as previous games. This is a wise idea to allow more fans to attend the game, giving a full crowd more access to a college bowl atmosphere. After all, the players would rather play to a full house of happy fans instead of a quiet stadium.

If you decide to attend the New Mexico Bowl, either as a fan of college football bowl games or if one of your favorite teams is competing, be sure to check around for the best deals using free online tools such as TicketZinger.com, to make sure you know what the cheapest available tickets are from legitimate sources. You might be able to find good deals at places such as eBay, but remember that if it sounds to good to be true, you could end up losing money. - 31493

About the Author:
To find the cheapest New Mexico Bowl tickets, visit TicketZinger.com and see all of the cheapest prices at one time.

St. Petersburg Bowl Tickets - Touchdowns on Tampa Bay

By David Griffith

The St. Petersburg Bowl will play it's second annual college football game on December 19, 2009 in St. Petersburg, Florida. After debuting in 2008 as a new NCAA sanctioned FBS bowl, the game is played at Tropicana Field, known as the home of Major League Baseball's Tampa Bay Rays. The most likely teams to play in the St. Petersburg Bowl are from the Big East and Conference USA conferences, although there are contingencies for the Sun Belt conference as well. The bowl was approved in the same year as the EagleBank Bowl.

ESPN televises the St. Petersburg bowl and will show the game after the New Mexico Bowl. Although the bowl game is still in it's first few years of existence, it is a hit with fans in the Tampa and St. Pete areas as well as college football fans. What could be better than a college football game on the Gulf Coast in December?

Tropicana Field will once again play host to the St. Petersburg Bowl, a venue that usually is home to the Tampa Bay Rays, and thus, requires some seating modifications to allow for a football game's rectangular gridiron. However, seating is good and adjustments are not obtrusive. With many cities aware that single-use parks are no longer considered a wise economic idea, if the city approves a new Rays stadium in the future, the game will likely move there.

ESPN manages and owns the St. Petersburg Bowl, which is not unusual, as the network owns several bowl games. These include not only the New Mexico Bowl, but also the Armed Forces Bowl, the Maaco Las Vegas Bowl, the Hawaii Bowl and the PapaJohns.com Bowl. With ESPN getting more experience running bowl games, it's possible there may be more bowls they take on in the coming seasons.

The first ever St. Petersburg Bowl pitted nearby South Florida against the Memphis Tigers, in which USF star quarterback Matt Grothe threw for 236 yards in a win over the Tigers, 41-14. Grothe went on to garner the Most Outstanding Player award for the game, throwing three touchdowns in the rout of Memphis.

Before looking for St. Petersburg Bowl tickets, you should be sure to check out some various sources, including free online comparison tools like TicketZinger.com, which can give you a starting point. Sometimes tickets can be picked up on the cheap at eBay or other places as well. Before you pay, remember that if a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is. - 31493

About the Author:
Fans can use the free ticket comparison engine, TicketZinger.com, to find all of the cheapest St. Petersburg Bowl tickets at one time.

Vikings Lure Brett Favre Out Of Retirement

By Ross Everett

The retirement and un-retirement of Brett Favre is becoming an annual rite of the NFL preseason, and this year is no different. A few months after retiring from football after playing last season with the New York Jets, The Gunslinger is back in the NFL. This year he'll be slinging balls for the Minnesota Vikings, who'll pay Favre $12 million bucks if he's on the opening day roster.

Favre made his announcement at a Tuesday press conference where he spoke of the decision to come back for another NFL season:

"I felt I did everything I possibly could do to get where I need to be. You're 39, your arm may not feel like it did at 21. But the pieces are in place that you don't have to do that much and I agree with that. If they were willing to take that chance, I was, too. I don't know how I'll feel a year from now, five years from now, but I didn't want to say what if.

The Vikings will pay Favre $12 million this season and $13 million next season. If he makes the opening day roster in either year, he gets the full amount of the contract though the payments themselves will be deferred.

Favres mother was even asked for her thoughts on the matter:

"I have mixed emotions, but I have always loved to watch him play. This time, however, I thought he would stay retired and stay home. I guess he could not do it. They Minnesota seem to have a good team in place, and he liked that. I guess I need to get a Vikings jersey now."

Favre initially decided to not return to the NFL due to a torn rotator cuff suffered last season. After consulting with noted sports physician James Andrews, he had a change of heart:

"I just kept thinking I didn't want to go through what I did last year. Between three weeks ago and the phone conversation yesterday [with Vikings coach Brad Childress], I talked to Dr. [James] Andrews and he assured me it wouldn't be an issue. I felt if everyone was going to take that chance, I was to. As friends and family has told me, you never know until you take the chance,"

Favre said that he's optimistic that the Vikings can make a deep run in the NFL playoffs:

"I felt from my standpoint that I could offer some experience and leadership, and I have to admit through this whole process after I said no three weeks ago, sometimes I was OK with it, and other times I said. I can really help this team."

Less happy with Favres signing were Viking QBs Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson who were competing for the starting job and will now be relegated to backup status. - 31493

About the Author:
Ross Everett is a freelance writer and a noted authority on sports betting and NFL point spreads. He is a frequent sports radio guest where he gives advice on how to successfully bet on NFL football. He lives in Las Vegas with three dogs and a puma.

The Basics Of The NFL Point Spread

By Ross Everett

In order to successfully bet on NFL football its important to start with the fundamentals. Were talking about the fundamentals of understanding the wagering side of the equation. Theres a lot of misunderstanding about what NFL pointspreads mean and how they are set. A firm understanding of the bookmaking concept of setting NFL lines is a prerequisite for any sports betting success.

The general public has a tendency to oversimplify the meaning of an NFL pointspread. The conventional wisdom is that it is simply a prediction of which team will win and by how much. There is a component of that in the NFL bookmaking equation, but theres a lot more to it. In theory, a sportsbooks primary goal is to equally divide the action they take on an individual game. If they do their job right, the outcome of the game is irrelevant to the bookmaker. Youll frequently hear clueless sportscasters make inane comments following a big upset like Boy, the sportsbooks in Las Vegas must have lost their shirts on that one or whoever set the line got this one wrong. Thats something that simply cannot be determined from the outcome of the game alone.

Since a bookmakers primary goal in setting NFL betting lines is to equally divide action, they have to make each side of a wagering proposition attractive to a prospective player. For that reason, its more accurate to say that NFL lines are more of a reflection of the betting publics perception of which team will win a game and by how much than anything else. Some NFL teams are considered public teams due to their popularity and/or perceived qualitative skill. So if the numbers in a hypothetical game between Dallas and Cincinnati indicate that the Cowboys should be a -6 favorite a book may open the game at -7 or -7.

In early season wagering there are a few additional factors at play. A bookmaker may consider a teams NFL preseason record for the simple reason that the NFL betting public gives it undue attention. Sharp players know that there is little correlation between a teams preseason success (or lack thereof) and their regular season performance. Another consideration is a teams performance in the previous season or, in some cases, their historical performance.

Furthermore, its important to understand why NFL lines are moved after the opening numbers are posted. While it may occasionally be due to external factors such as injury or weather, more often than not its a direct result of the money a book is drawing on one side of the proposition or another. The idea is that by moving the line it makes wagers on the side a book wishes to attract money on more attractive.

NFL football betting is a very complex discipline, and many neophytes make the mistake of focusing exclusively on the nuances of the game itself. To successfully bet on NFL football, however, it is important to spend as much time understanding the intricacies of the sports gambling marketplace"and in this regard nothing is more fundamentally important than understanding how NFL pointspreads are made and why they are moved. - 31493

About the Author:
Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and a noted authority on sports betting and NFL betting. He is a frequent sports radio guest where he gives advice on how to successfully bet on NFL. He lives in Las Vegas with three dogs and a puma.

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