Miscellaneous Articles

2009-10 Miami Dolphins Predictions
by Justin Johnson - 8/16/2009

Behind the cotton candy arm of Chad Pennington, who won NFL Comeback Player of the Year for the second time in four years, the Dolphins were 10th in the league in passing yards and No. 8 in the league in yard per play. Pennington may be the perfect player to lead this risk conscious offense.

2009-10 Green Bay Packers Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 8/15/2009

I would argue that the Green Bay Packers were the most misleading 6-10 team in the NFL last season. OK, they were the only 6-10 team, but by that I mean the Packers could have easily been above .500 in 2008 – so consider that when making your NFL predictions for 2009.

2009-10 Washington Redskins Predictions
by Jay Horne - 8/15/2009

The Washington Redskins got off to a solid start in 2008, holding a 6-2 record after the halfway point. The majority of NFL predictions forecasted the Redskins to contend in the NFC East and that appeared to be the case as they trailed the Giants by one game in the division. However, Jim Zorn’s new offense was stopped in its tracks and the Redskins dropped six of their last eight games, falling out of playoff contention in the second half of the season.

2009-10 Oklahoma Sooners Football Predictions
by Josh Nagel - 8/15/2009

There are some critics who have suggested that Bob Stoops’ nickname “Big Game Bob” is now somewhat of a misnomer for the Oklahoma football coach. This might be a tad unfair when you consider that Stoops continues to win more than his share of big games for the Sooners, he’s just been unfortunate enough to come up short in the biggest of them all a couple of times.

NASCAR: Carfax 400 Odds and Predictions
by Christopher G. Shepard - 8/14/2009

By virtue of winning his third race of the season at Watkins Glen last week all Tony Stewart needs to do is get in his car and start his engine at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday at 1 p.m. for the Carfax 400 and Smoke is guaranteed a spot in the Chase, which means there are 11 Chase spots up for grabs with four races to go before the points reset.

2009-10 New York Giants Predictions
by Jay Horne - 8/13/2009

The New York Giants had everything going wonderfully through the majority of 2008. After riding a big wave of momentum from a stunning upset in Super Bowl XLIII, the defending champions backed up their impressive season by jumping out to a dominating 11-1 start.

2009-10 Chicago Bears Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 8/13/2009

The Chicago Bears made the biggest news of this NFL offseason by acquiring the franchise quarterback this team has been looking for since, oh, Sid Luckman in the 1940s (sorry, Jim McMahon, you didn’t last long enough). Of course I’m speaking of the trade with Denver for Pro Bowler Jay Cutler.

2009-10 Philadelphia Eagles Predictions
by Jay Horne - 8/13/2009

The Philadelphia Eagles faced some big challenges last season. After struggling for most of the year offensively, frustration reached its peak in Week 12 when quarterback Donovan McNabb was benched due to multiple interceptions as the Eagles were sitting at a record of 5-5-1.

2009-10 Buffalo Bills Predictions
by Justin Johnson - 8/12/2009

For a team that finished below the median of the league in every offensive category except rushing yards per game (115.13-ypg, good for 14th) the Bills may have made a deal with the Devil to improve their offense when they signed the sideshow that is Terrell Owens. Owens, despite his constant turmoil, has been productive at every stop in his career and could provide a solid redzone weapon alongside WR Lee Evans

2009-10 Pac-10 Football Predictions
by Robert Ferringo - 8/11/2009

A 5-0 bowl season was able to mask what was an otherwise mediocre season for the Pac-10 conference in 2008. The Pac-10 was the Mountain West’s bitch after going 1-6 against it, and besides USC’s blowout over Ohio State there were multiple nonconference embarrassments. Personally, I thought the conference was way down and ready to hit a slide.

NFL Predictions: 2009 AFC Division Winners Futures
by Matt Severance - 8/11/2009

The first NFL exhibition game took place on Sunday, so that means it’s definitely time to start getting serious about those NFL futures bets. With this article, I’m going to try and guide you toward the best value in each division of the AFC (NFC is its own story). All odds are courtesy of Bodog.

NFL Predictions: 2009 NFC Division Winners Futures
by Matt Severance - 8/11/2009

Do you realize that the NFC has won just two of the past nine Super Bowls? But I think it’s safe to say that this conference is starting to gain on the AFC in terms of championship-caliber teams. The beauty of the NFC is that each division is probably up for grabs this year, whereas the AFC seems to have clear betting favorites in each division. So let’s look at the NFC and try to gauge the best value of teams winning their division. All odds are courtesy of Bodog.

2009-10 Dallas Cowboys Predictions
by Jay Horne - 8/11/2009

The Dallas Cowboys repeated familiar trends last season by starting off strong and fading down the stretch. The Cowboys won four of their first five games before hitting a rough road during the middle of the season. However, the Cowboys were still legitimate playoff contenders up until they fell apart once again in the month of December, suffering three losses.

2009-10 Minnesota Vikings Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 8/11/2009

The Minnesota Vikings were caught up in all the Brett Favre drama for a second consecutive offseason, with Favre shocking the Vikes by saying he would stay retired. Thus now coach Brad Childress has to convince his players that he really did have faith in the two guys currently battling for the starting job: Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels.

Tips for Wagering on NFL Preseason Games
by Josh Nagel - 8/8/2009

There are usually two types of bettors that enjoy wagering on NFL preseason games: those who just can’t get enough of pro football, and those who refuse to let any profitable opportunity slip through their grasps.

NASCAR: Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at the Glen Odds and Predictions
by Christopher G. Shepard - 8/8/2009

A 10th-place finish last week at Pocono kept Tony Stewart in first place --197 points in front of challenger Jimmie Johnson in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series with five races to go until the Chase for the Sprint Cup as NSCS heads to New York’s Finger Lakes region for the circuit’s second road-course of the season, the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at the Glen on Sunday at 1 p.m.

NFL Handicapping: Futures Breakdown
by Robert Ferringo - 8/7/2009

Chamfort, an18th century French author, was a big fan of epigrams and the cornerback blitz. And his wisdom on public perception couldn’t be a more suitable lead in to discussing the grueling, sadistic endurance trial that is betting in the National Football League.

NFL Handicapping: Top NFL Free Agent Pickups
by Robert Ferringo - 8/5/2009

For NFL players the first week of August is a time to get your bearings, stretch out, and get back in the flow. For NFL fans the first week of August is a time to get your bearings, stretch out, and figure out which players shuffled around in the offseason and how that is going to impact their new squads.

College Football Handicapping: Bounce-Back Players
by Robert Ferringo - 8/4/2009

You can’t handicap injuries. But you certainly can adjust to players returning from seasons lost to things ranging from fluke knee tears in the spring games to eligibility issues from the previous year. Below is a list of 12 guys that missed all or most of last season. Each one should have a tremendous impact for their teams while coming back from lost 2008 seasons:

NASCAR: Pennsylvania 500 Odds and Predictions
by Christopher G. Shepard - 7/31/2009

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points leader Tony Stewart will try for a sweep in the Keystone State as NSCS returns to the “Tricky Triangle” of Pocono Raceway this Sunday at 1:00 p.m. for the Pennsylvania 500. Gamblers interested in backing the June winner Stewart (6/1) should note that since 1974 there have been eight season sweeps at Pocono, but only twice in the past ten years. Denny Hamlin was the last driver to accomplish this feat in 2006 while Johnson swept in 2004.