Cektics Basketball Betting News

<< Bobcats, Kings set for battle at ARCO
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Sacramento Kings return home after going 1-3 on a four- game road trip, as they welcome the Charlotte Bobcats tonight to ARCO Arena. On Monday, Samuel Dalembert posted 20 points and 17 rebounds, as the Philad

<< Rockets in flight vs. Raptors
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Toronto Raptors conclude a three-game road trip tonight when they travel to Houston and the Toyota Center to battle the Rockets. The Atlantic Division-leading Raptors fell to 1-1 on the trek Monday when they were down

<< Bulls welcome Warriors to Windy City
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chicago is seeing its chances at a division title slipping away. The Bulls will try to rebound tonight when they host the Golden State Warriors at the United Center. Chicago has lost two straight, including Monday's

<< Hornets aim to sting visiting Hawks
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets will try for their sixth straight win at home this evening when they welcome the Atlanta Hawks to the Ford Center. The Hornets were on the road last night and fell to the Clevelan

Breaking down a busy deadline day >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Keeping track of all the activity at the NHL's trade deadline is kind of like trying to follow a tennis match on fast forward. When the dust finally cleared, there were 25 trades on Tuesday and those deal

Hawks fail to hang with the big boys >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The only saving grace for the Hawks' recent string of games was that they came into them well rested after the All-Star break. Otherwise, it could have been a lot worse. Atlanta recently wrapped a string of five games ove

Buck-ing the trend >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Milwaukee Bucks finally put the brakes on a season-long losing streak and have a healthy dose of home games on the horizon. The Bucks were mired in a seven-game skid and the return of star guard Michael Redd w

Henin, Hingis land in Doha quarters >>
Doha, Qatar (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former world No. 1s Justine Henin and Martina Hingis were among Wednesday's second-round winners at the $1.34 million Qatar Open. The top-seeded Henin, fresh off her title in Dubai, snuck past hard-servin

2007 NFL Football Betting Preview

“You play to win the game!”

Those are the words of notoriously intense head coach Herman Edwards. Unfortunately, from a bettors’ perspective, most coaches don’t feel that way about the NFL preseason. August is a time to evaluate young players, finalize the depth chart and pray your star players stay healthy.

The trick to making money during the exhibition schedule is identifying coaches – like Edwards – who can’t stand losing even when there's nothing on the line.

The New York Jets betting won 15 of 21 preseason games and went 14-7 against the spread (ATS) during Edwards’s five-year tenure with the club. In his first season as the Kansas City Chiefs field boss, the team improved from 0-4 to 2-2.

Identifying win-a-holics like Edwards is a good start if you plan betting the preseason – even though most say you shouldn’t ... but what the hell do they know anyway?

Here’s a brief rundown of two teams that have a habit of winning during the second-stringers’ season, and another club that has a good chance of exceeding this year.

New York Giants betting lines

Playing in the media hub of North America can be stressful but the press can’t write anything negative about the way Tom Coughlin’s boys play in the preseason. The Giants won and covered all four games last summer, improving their record to 7-1 both straight up (SU) and against the spread over the last two years.

Coughlin has shown he’s not afraid to give his starters more time in the second preseason game than most of his colleagues, no doubt one of the reasons his team has been so dominant.

Dallas Cowboys betting lines

Bettors can count on America’s team early on. The Cowboys are 14-6 both SU and ATS since 2002 in warm-up contests. Former coach Bill Parcells, the coach of the team the last four years, has an intimidating, in-your-face presence – surely a reason Dallas has had so much early success.

The Big Tuna won’t be strolling the sidelines with looks of disgust, but new coach Wade Phillips will be anxious to make a good first impression for owner Jerry Jones.

Dallas plays the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos before things get serious. They then face the Houston Texans in their third contest (the game starters see most game time) and finish off with the Minnesota Vikings.

Expect a Dallas team able to walk away with another 3-1 preseason record.

Oakland Raiders betting lines

This team scored a league-worst 12 offensive touchdowns last season, so the rookies and veterans each have something to prove. There’s a bounty of first-unit jobs up for grabs and plenty of bodies competing for those slots.

First-time head coach Lane Kiffin will be eager to impress an owner who employs the philosophy, “Just win, baby!”

The 32-year-old Kiffin has to command respect from a locker room full of players older than him. All of these factors should lead to purpose in preseason. 

Don’t forget: before playing like a team that belonged in NFL Europe, Oakland went 4-1 (both SU and ATS) in exhibition games.

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