Saints take an unwanted trip back to the past
Football Betting Lines
11/01/2006 -
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - On most occasions, NFL teams benefit in the first game off
their designated bye week of the season. For the New Orleans Saints, however,
the break apparently couldn't have come at a worse time.
The Saints played with both passion and precision during their startling 5-1
start, which vaulted them to the top of the NFC South standings. But after
getting a week off following a dramatic victory over Philadelphia on October
15, the club put together a stinker on Sunday that was reminiscent of last
season's three-win debacle.
New Orleans committed five turnovers, including two Drew Brees interceptions
that were returned for touchdowns, and 10 penalties to suffer its first loss
at the newly-renovated Superdome, a 35-22 setback to the Baltimore Ravens.
This was one of those days where it seemed the Saints were doomed from the
start, as if under one of the Big Easy's mythical voodoo spells.
New Orleans was handed an early gift when Baltimore's Jamal Lewis fumbled near
midfield on the game's second play from scrimmage, only to give it back when
Brees and Reggie Bush messed up a handoff exchange two plays later. The Ravens
would later convert the miscue into seven points.
The Saints would turn it over three times on their first four possessions, the
last of which was a 12-yard interception touchdown by ex-LSU corner Ronnie
Prude that put the hosts in a 21-0 hole they would not climb out of.
"When we get down 21 points in catch-up football games, that does not suit us
well," said Saints' head coach Sean Payton.
New Orleans outgained the Ravens by a 403-293 margin in total yards, with
Brees racking up 383 yards and three touchdowns through the air, but could
never overcome all those mistakes.
"You can't expect to win turning the ball over five times with 10 penalties,"
Payton remarked. "All of the things that we preach about that keep you from
winning games hurt us today. It wasn't just offense, defense, or special
teams. I have to do a better job preparing this team. Coming off the bye week
we have to evaluate what we did, because it wasn't that good."
Turnovers and penalties were two major factors in the team's horrendous 2005
season, and the Saints definitely don't want to fall into those same bad
habits. New Orleans finished last year with a minus-24 turnover margin, which
matched Green Bay for the worst in the league, and had the third-most penalty
yardage.
BUSHWHACKED
The game was also an individual ordeal for Bush, who easily had the worst
performance of his burgeoning career. The rookie sensation was held to 16
rushing yards on five carries and mustered a mere five yards on four
receptions. Bush was also involved in two of the Saints' five turnovers, one
coming on the bad exchange with Brees and the other an overthrown option pass
that was intercepted by the Ravens' Ray Lewis in the end zone.
Adding injury to insult, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner was forced to the
sidelines midway through the fourth quarter after aggravating a left ankle
sprain that has nagged him for most of the season. While Bush will be limited
in practice this week, the injury isn't expected to keep him out of Sunday's
game with Tampa Bay.
ON THE MARQ
While Bush struggled, the Saints' other impact rookie on offense had a huge
day. Wide receiver Marques Colston racked up career-bests of 163 yards on six
catches and scored a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns. It was the first
multi-TD game and second 100-yard outing of the physical wideout's young
career.
The seventh-round steal now has six receiving touchdowns on the season, which
is just one shy of St. Louis' Torry Holt's league-leading total. Colston also
currently ranks eighth in the NFL with 577 receiving yards, and his 33
receptions trails only Bush (42 catches) for the most by a rookie this year.
Joe Horn also put up big numbers opposite Colston. The reliable veteran
amassed a season-best 126 yards on five grabs, including a 32-yard scoring
catch in the second quarter. Horn was coming off a six-reception, 110-yard,
two-touchdown effort in the Week 6 win over Philadelphia.
LEWIS READY TO DELIVER AGAIN
Michael Lewis was back in uniform for the first time in over a year, as the
Saints activated the popular return specialist from the physically unable to
perform list prior to Sunday's game. The New Orleans native, who had been
sidelined since suffering a serious knee injury during Week 2 of the 2005
season, took back six kickoffs for 136 yards, including a 46-yard return in
the second half. Lewis also totaled 14 yards on a pair of punt returns.
"It felt great", said the soon-to-be 35-year-old of his return to the field
"It was great coming out with the crowd in the dome. The bad thing about it
was that we didn't come out with a win. We worked hard all week to win this
game."
Lewis has been one of the NFL's greatest success stories in recent years. He's
affectionately known as "The Beer Man" because he worked as a delivery driver
for a distributor prior to making the Saints' roster in 2001 at age 29. He was
named to the Pro Bowl the following year after setting a league record for
most combined return yardage in a season (2,432 yards). Lewis also holds club
records for punt returns (129) and punt return yards (1,385) and has three
career kick return touchdowns as a Saint.
To make room on the active roster, New Orleans waived wide receiver Lance
Moore, who averaged 7.5 yards on six punt runbacks this year.
NEXT UP
The Saints and division-rival Tampa Bay get together for the final time this
season this Sunday at Raymond James Stadium. The two NFC South foes had an
exciting encounter in the Superdome on October 8, with New Orleans coming
through with a 24-21 win on a 65-yard punt return touchdown by Bush with under
five minutes remaining.
New Orleans will be playing on the road for the first time since a 21-18
setback at Carolina in Week 4.
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Catfight in Pullman >>
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Elite 8 NCAA Tournament Betting at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com
In what should be an outstanding Saturday of March Madness betting action, the top four teams in the South and West Regions square off in what should be extremely close match-ups. Three of the four teams are coming off extremely close games on Thursday evening, only UCLA won semi comfortably over Pitt 64-55.
Ohio State is coming off their second game in a row where in all reality they should have lost. Of course that doesn’t matter now since the name of the game is “survive and advance” but as the tournament continues, they can’t afford to keep getting down to their opponents early. Kansas also avoided a scare by holding off a scrappy Southern Illinois squad. In the third thrilling game of the evening Memphis pulled off the minor upset (+3.5) despite being the higher seed to Texas A&M.
Although the spreads are fairly small for Saturday’s games, MySportsbook.com continue to bet against the underdogs. Despite OSU’s two scares, 86% of the “betting public” feels the Buckeyes (-1.5) have what it takes to make the Final Four. In fact, so much of the early money is on OSU that the line has already moved from -1 to -1.5. In the second game of the doubleheader, Kansas and their high-powered offense are 2 point favorites as they take on UCLA and their effective defense. About 63% of the early money thus far is once again backing the favorites. If those percentages stay that high, don’t be surprised if this line moves as well. If you like Kansas (-2) you might want to jump on it early.
Memphis vs. Ohio State
Both squads were involved in thrillers on Thursday evening and should come out fired up. OSU can ill afford to get behind early like they did versus their previous two opponents (Xavier, Tennessee). Greg Oden needs to stay out of foul trouble; the Buckeyes are a completely different team when he is on the court. Memphis definitely has the athleticism and length to match-up with OSU. Of Memphis’ five leading minute earners, the shortest of the bunch is 6’5”. Each team has a very effective defense; Memphis surrenders 62.3 PPG whereas the Buckeyes give up only 61 PPG. With those type of numbers, it isn’t surprising that Memphis covered the UNDER almost 69% of the time this season. As a favorite, OSU has covered the UNDER almost 66% of the time over the last three seasons. The major concern for Memphis which is magnifies this time of the year is their brutal foul shooting (62%). This season, OSU is 17-11 ATS versus teams with a winning record and 7-2 ATS in all tournament games. Memphis has been an extremely reliable cover in tournament play in recent years with a 23-8 ATS record over the last three seasons.
UCLA vs. Kansas
In the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader, UCLA will play in a role which they are very unfamiliar with that of the underdog. Only twice this season have they been getting points from the handicappers and both times they covered. Over the last three seasons UCLA is a reliable 23-7 ATS in this unfamiliar role. UCLA has not fared well against Big 12 opponents recently going 1-7 ATS since 1997. Giving up only 59.6 PPG, UCLA will definitely look to do what they do best: keep this game as low scoring as possible. Their defense has been especially tough during the tournament. UCLA opponents have been able to muster up only 48.7 PPG while shooting a combined 34.5% from the field. UCLA definitely has a challenge at hand with a Kansas team that is capable of putting points on the board in bunches. As a team, they average 79 PPG and shoot an impressive 49.6% from the field and 39.4% from beyond the arc. During the tournament Kansas has been “lights out” from the field having shot 56.2%.
With Friday -105 juice on Basketball betting, MySportsbook.com is the place to bet on all of the “March Madness” action. Don’t forget to monitor who the public is backing at MySportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends”. By doing so, you have the best chance of predicting a possible line change, thus getting the best value for your wager.
To bet on March Madness games this online sportsbook accepts credit cards
MySportsbook.com and Kentucky Derby Offer Bonuses
The 2008 Kentucky Derby has announced a $1-million bonus for this weekend’s 134th ‘Run for the Roses’ and MySportsbook.com is doing the same.
Well, not quite $1 million, but MySportsbook.com is offering a 75% rebate for Kentucky Derby lines. Check out the exclusive horse racing bonus for all the details.
According to MySportsbook.com, the favorites for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky are: Curlin (+250); Street Sense (+500); Scat Daddy (+700); Circular Quay (+750); and Nobiz Like Shobiz (+800).
Derby organizers announced this week that there will be a $1-million bonus at the 2007 Kentucky Derby odds if the first-place horse wins by more than 6 1/2 lengths – the margin of Barbaro's victory last year. The bonus would be divided Saturday among the winning trainer, jockey, owner and a charity, with each receiving 25 percent. The designated charity is the Barbaro Memorial Fund.
''It's certainly creative, it's certainly fun and it has something for the horsemen, which we always want to embrace,'' Churchill Downs president and chief executive Robert Evans said at a news conference. ''What's really cool is it will force us to remember Barbaro.''
Meanwhile, the Derby favorite – Curlin – is going against the odds this year. It's been 125 years since Apollo won after skipping his 2-year-old season, and not since Regret in 1915 has such a lightly seasoned horse worn the blanket of red roses.
Arkansas Derby winner Curlin – unbeaten in three career races – tries to overcome both those obstacles in Saturday's 133rd Derby.
''We're not running against history,'' trainer Steve Asmussen said Monday. ''We're running against who they load up.''
Six other horses have run in the Derby without benefit of 2-year-old races and with three or fewer starts. The best any of them managed was a sixth-place finish by Showing Up last year.
Asmussen dismissed suggestions that Curlin's lack of racing experience could keep him from the winner's circle.
”He exudes confidence and he's got a great presence about him,'' the trainer said. ''I feel great about the position we're in. He's not worried about anything, why should you be?''
The Kentucky Derby is at 4:04 p.m., ET Saturday.
For complete odds on the Kentucky Derby, visit MySportsbook.com. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.
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Bonds nearly hits HR 751, SF wins
4 and drove in
a pair of runs, and Barry Bonds nearly hit homer No. 751 as San Francisco beat
1, in the middle contest of three at AT&T Park.
6) allowed five hits and one run over 6 2/3 innings, fanning
eight and walking three.
game slide.
Bonds, who came within five homers of Hank Aaron's record on Friday, went
1 with three walks, an RBI double and scored twice. The double ...
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