Can Redskins Halt Slide In Seattle?
Football Betting Lines
11/21/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Back-to-back losses for the first time this year have the Washington Redskins fading in the NFC playoff picture. Currently holding the final Wild Card slot in the conference, Washington heads across the country this weekend to take on the Seattle Seahawks at Qwest Field.
Washington began the season 4-1, announcing itself as a contender in the NFC East. However, the club has lost three of five since, including two straight to Pittsburgh and Dallas, respectively.
After getting thumped, 23-6, by the Steelers in Week 9, the Redskins led the Cowboys late in last Sunday's home game before watching Dallas quarterback Tony Romo toss a 25-yard, fourth-quarter touchdown pass that lifted the Cowboys to a 14-10 win.
Jason Campbell was mediocre at quarterback for Washington, throwing for only 162 yards, while running back Clinton Portis ran for 68 yards on 15 carries despite being a game-time decision due to a sprained MCL suffered in his left knee during the Pittsburgh game.
Washington would love nothing more than to leave Seattle with a win, as its 6-4 record is tied with Dallas for second in the division, with both teams trailing the 9-1 New York Giants. The Redskins host the Giants next weekend.
This Sunday's game will mark a homecoming for both Washington head coach Jim Zorn and backup running back Shaun Alexander.
Zorn was Seattle' first-ever starting quarterback, playing under center in the Seahawks' inaugural season in 1976. He won NFC Offensive Rookie of the Year honors that year and played nine seasons with Seattle, getting inducted into the club's Ring of Honor in 1991.
Alexander, meanwhile, signed with Washington in the middle of this season after being released by Seattle this past summer. The 2005 NFL MVP, Alexander spent his last eight seasons with the Seahawks and is the club's all-time leading rusher with 9,429 yards.
Even a third-string role with the Redskins is better than what Seattle is going through this year. Winners of the past four NFC West titles, the Seahawks are just 2-8 this year, tied with St. Louis for last place in the standings.
Seattle has lost three straight and six of its last seven, and doesn't even bolster the home dominance it once did. The Seahawks have the third-best regular-season home record since Week 16 of the 2002 campaign at 35-11, but have gone just 1-4 in the Emerald City this year.
The Seahawks' third straight loss came in Arizona last week, a 26-20 setback. Both quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and wide receiver Deion Branch returned from injury, but Seattle still managed only 196 yards of offense. Hasselbeck was intercepted three times in his return from back and knee issues, including one late in the fourth quarter that ended a comeback bid against the NFC West- leading Cardinals.
This is the first of back-to-back games against the NFC East for Seattle, which will travel to Dallas next week for a Thanksgiving Day game against the Cowboys.
SERIES HISTORY
The Redskins hold a 9-4 edge in their all-time regular season series with Seattle, and have won four straight in the series dating back to 2001. The Redskins were 20-17 home winners in overtime when the teams met back Week 4 of the 2005 campaign, and took a 14-3 decision when they last traveled to Seattle for a regular season game, in 2002. The Seahawks, who are 2-4 at home against the Redskins all-time, earned their only home regular season victory in the series in 1998.
The last two meetings between the teams both occurred in postseason games played in Seattle, with the Hawks taking a 20-10 decision in a 2005 Divisional Playoff, and a 35-14 triumph in a 2007 NFC First-Round Playoff.
Seahawks head coach Mike Holmgren is 2-4 all-time against the Redskins, including 2-0 in the playoffs and 0-4 in the regular season. Zorn will be meeting the team for which he both played (1976-84) and served as an assistant coach (1997, 2001-07) for the first time as a head man.
WHEN THE REDSKINS HAVE THE BALL
It was thought that Alexander might get his first significant action of the season last weekend, but that turned out not to be the case with Portis (1,063 rushing yards, 7 TD) playing and backup Ladell Betts returning from a three- game absence due to a knee injury. Portis went over the 1,000-yard mark for the sixth time in his seven-year NFL career and leads the league with 1,219 yards from scrimmage this year, while ranking second in rushing yards. After five straight 100-yard rushing games, the 27-year-old Miami-Florida product has been held to 119 yards in his last two games. Campbell (2122 passing yards, 9 TD) completed 22-of-34 pass attempts versus the Cowboys and also threw a touchdown pass. However, he also threw an interception, his third in two games after not throwing a pick through the season's first eight tests. Washington needs Campbell to be efficient but not necessarily great, as it relies on the league's fifth-ranked ground game (139.4 yards per game). Tight end Chris Cooley (55 receptions, 1 TD) had seven catches for 47 yards last weekend and has caught a pass in 66 straight regular-season games. He is tied for first among NFL tight ends in receptions. Wideout Santana Moss (49 receptions, 701 receiving yards, 5 TD) made five catches for 29 yards last weekend, with fullback Mike Sellers hauling in Campbell's lone touchdown pass. Washington has allowed 26 sacks this year, but the line should be at full strength on Sunday, as both guard Pete Kendall (knee) and tackle Chris Samuels (knee) are probable.
Seattle received a blow on Wednesday, when defensive end Patrick Kerney landed on injured reserve due to a shoulder problem suffered against the San Francisco 49ers back on October 26. Despite having played in only seven games, Kerney (22 tackles) still leads the club with five sacks. Add in defensive tackle Red Bryant being questionable due to an ankle ailment that has forced him to miss the last two games, and Seattle's run defense that is ranked 21st in the NFL might be in some trouble. Portis might not run completely wild as long as the Seahawks still have linebackers Lofa Tatupu (59 tackles), Leroy Hill (81 tackles, 1 sack) and Julian Peterson (54 tackles) on the field. Those three have 194 tackles between the three of them, with Peterson notching four of Seattle's 24 sacks this season. With Arizona racking up 382 net passing yards a week ago, Seattle's secondary made a host of tackles. Corner Josh Wilson (52 tackles, 1 INT) had a team-high 10 to go along with an interception and forced fumble, while nickel back Jordan Babineaux (44 tackles, 1 INT) and safety Brian Russell (45 tackles, 1 sack) had seven tackles each. Defensive end Darryl Tapp (35 tackles, 2 sacks) and defensive tackle Brandon Mebane (27 tackles, 4 sacks) had a sack each. Wilson is questionable due to an ankle ailment.
WHEN THE SEAHAWKS HAVE THE BALL
The Seahawks' 31st-ranked offense (253.8 ypg) and passing attack (145.5 ypg) didn't get the boost it hoped for with Hasselbeck's (826 passing yards, 3 TD, 7 INT) return. After missing the last five games, the 33-year-old completed 17-of-29 pass attempts for 170 yards with a touchdown strike to running back Maurice Morris. T.J. Duckett (113 rushing yards, 6 TD), who spent 2006 with Washington, ran for a pair of short fourth-quarter rushing touchdowns against Arizona, while Julius Jones (616 rushing yards, 2 TD) had only 19 yards on the ground on 10 carries. Morris added just two yards on three carries for a Seahawks' ground game that rarely gets a chance to make an impact due to Seattle falling behind early. Seattle is tied for 19th in the NFL with 108.3 rushing yards per game. That unit takes a hit this week, as guard Mike Wahle is doubtful because of a shoulder injury. Branch, who had missed the past five games due to a bruised heel, made four receptions for 54 yards last Sunday. Tight end John Carlson (30 receptions, 2 TD) added three catches for 39 yards and leads all NFC rookies at his position in receptions and yards (337). Wideout Koren Robinson (19 receptions, 2 TD), who made two catches for 11 yards versus Arizona, is questionable due to a sore knee.
Washington limited the Dallas offense to 315 net yards, with just 198 of those coming through the air, in last week's loss. For the season, the Redskins are yielding just 276.4 yards per game (4th overall) and rank fifth against the run at 84.3 yards per game. Though the club failed to sack Romo, the secondary did receive a boost from cornerback DeAngelo Hall, who had an interception in his first game since signing with Washington after getting released by Oakland. Washington's secondary will get stronger for a second straight week, as corner Shawn Springs (16 tackles, 1 sack) is set to return from a calf ailment that has sidelined him for the past four games. Linebacker Rocky McIntosh (60 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) also had a pick against the Cowboys in addition to eight tackles. He continues to put forth an excellent return from a knee injury in 2007. Linebacker London Fletcher (84 tackles) and rookie safety Chris Horton each made nine tackles against Dallas. Horton (51 tackles, 1 sack) is tied for the lead among NFL rookies with three interceptions this season. Washington, though, continues to have trouble pressuring the quarterback, as it is ranked near the bottom of the league with just 15 sacks.
FANTASY FOCUS
Knee injury aside, Portis is poised for another big game against a struggling Seahawks defense. That only thing that may hinder the back is a big, early lead by Washington that could end his day early. Campbell remains a solid option, but his value goes up in this matchup, while Cooley and Moss are must- starts. Wideout Antwaan Randle El could have a good game for Washington as well, and don't forget he threw a touchdown pass versus Seattle in Super Bowl XL while with Pittsburgh. Washington's defense is also a great start.
Seattle offers little in the fantasy game right now outside of Carlson. Hasselbeck is banged up and still trying to find a rhythm, and Seattle's ground game -- possibly its one strength if it could just stay in games -- faces a tough run defense. No Seahawks wideout is worth a start, and while Seattle's defense has posted some sacks and turnovers this year, it remains a risky play.
OVERALL ANALYSIS
If it hopes to remain in the playoff picture, Washington needs to put the brakes on its losing streak now. Luckily, it draws a favorable matchup this weekend in Seattle, and although it will be an emotional game for Zorn, his team doesn't need to play perfect ball to leave the West Coast with a victory. Washington's defense will feast on Seattle's struggling offense, while Portis and company should have no problem moving the ball to stay in the Wild Card hunt.
Sportsbook Betting Lines Predicted Outcome: Redskins 27, Seahawks 13
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2007 online football betting Preview
My fellow Americans, as tempting as it may be to don the coat and HD-ready tie in order to deliver this State of the Game address before the cameras, I know better. As Brad Paisley sings on his latest album, "I'm so much cooler online."
The ideas for this annual essay to kick off the MySportsbook.com college football betting preview flowed like frat-house beer, which is to say they were cheap and spilled all over the floor. The 2007 season will be better than 2007, if only because there will be more of it. A year ago, the NCAA Football Rules Committee made two rule changes in the interest of speeding up the game. These changes went over like Kobe burgers at a vegan banquet.
To its credit, the rules committee rectified its mistakes. This season the clock once again will start when a kickoff is received, rather than when it is kicked, and the clock will not start so quickly on a change of possession.
However, kickoffs have been moved back five yards, to the 30, which will force more returns. (Thus forcing the clock to run. Clever, huh?) Special teams might decide a lot of games, because coaching strategy will come straight out of another new Paisley lyric (almost), I'd like to check you for kicks.
Paisley sings with a twang, which is why he's appropriate for this college football season. The sun coming up over the 2007 college football betting lines season rises from the south. It's a Southern football world. As the Southeastern Conference begins its 75th year, the power shift is noticeable.
Eight-figure budgets, glamorous settings -- and that's just for the head coaches. The SEC has four coaches who have won national championships -- the greatest aggregation of coaching know-how since Eddie Robinson dined alone.
Steve Spurrier, Phil Fulmer, Nick Saban and Urban Meyer have given lie to the idea that a conference championship game is too daunting a hurdle on the road to No. 1. In six of the past 10 seasons, the national champions played and won a conference championship game -- three of the six (Tennessee, 1998; LSU, 2003; Florida, 2007) from the SEC.
2007 College Football Betting Preview
There will be more of the same this season, if the preseason prognostications are correct. Six SEC teams are in the preseason coaches' poll, more than from any other conference. Only one conference has talent so deep that a team with 15 returning starters, including the best quarterback in the league, from an eight-win season is considered an afterthought. That may speak more to Kentucky's losing legacy than to the wisdom of the predictions, but there you have it. And seriously, keep an eye on Wildcats QB Andre' Woodson.
The reach of the South extends all the way to No. 1. Take a look at the team that is a consensus pick to win the national championship. The quarterback is from Shreveport. The best wide receiver is from Nashville. The top recruit is from New Orleans.
So what's the campus doing in Los Angeles? Hey, it is the University of Southern California.
USC lost two Pacific-10 Conference games a year ago, the first time that had happened in five seasons, and university officials withstood the urge to form blue-ribbon panels to unearth the cause of such a disaster. Instead, the Trojans gathered themselves and routed Michigan, 32-18, in the Rose Bowl.
USC's losses at Oregon State and at UCLA last year should have given pause to those who question the Pac-10's football prowess (such as, without naming names, L.M. from Baton Rouge). The league only got deeper this season; Dennis Erickson is taking over an Arizona State team that never quite got out of its own way under his predecessor, Dirk Koetter.
Erickson will resume his quest to become the first coach to win a national championship at two schools. Both he and Spurrier, now in his third season at South Carolina, returned to college football at schools with lower profiles than where they won their titles.
That isn't the case for the third coach looking for the national championship double. You may have missed this, but NASA reported the astronauts on the space shuttle last spring made contact with what can only be described as beings from another galaxy.
The leader of the aliens said, "We come in peace," followed by, "So how do you think Nick Saban will do at Alabama?"
The public is reacting to the new Crimson Tide coach as if he is the Barry Bonds of college football -- beloved at home for what his fans believe he is going to do, hated on the road for his intimidating attitude and for what his detractors believe he did (bend NCAA recruiting rules). I made this comparison from the dais at a charity dinner in Mobile, Ala., last month, and the chill that washed over me didn't come from the air conditioning.
Saban will attempt to prove that he can remake in Tuscaloosa what he built in Baton Rouge, much like another member of the national championship fraternity. Bobby Bowden is attempting to remake at Florida State what he built at, um, Florida State. Bowden rebuilt his offensive staff, bringing in four new coaches led by Saban's former offensive coordinator, Jimbo Fisher, to jump-start an offense that has been dead for a couple of years.
Las Vegas Sports Lines
The Atlantic Coast Conference is expected to show new signs of life, too. That is said with no disrespect toward last season's champion, Wake Forest, which provided one of the best story lines of 2007. The Demon Deacons begin this season in their customary position, overshadowed by the Virginia Techs, Miamis and Florida States.
It's not that Wake will find it difficult to duplicate its success in 2007 as much as the feeling that success engendered. Surprising success is the narcotic of sport. It never feels quite so euphoric the next time. Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese has figured this out. He refers to 2007, when a league looked down upon by fans and foes alike took three undefeated teams into November, as "Cinderella."
The fairy tale may be over, but the Big East has four genuine Heisman Trophy candidates in Louisville quarterback Brian Brohm, West Virginia tailback Steve Slaton and quarterback Pat White, and Rutgers tailback Ray Rice. Rutgers, as did Wake Forest and, of course, Boise State, proved last season that the have-nots in college football occasionally have quite a lot.
The Broncos' rousing 43-42 overtime victory over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl has raised the profile of all schools in conferences that don't get automatic BCS bids. This season, TCU and Hawaii are the preseason favorites to burst through the BCS doors and earn an at-large bid. The Warriors return 14 starters from an 11-3 team, including quarterback Colt Brennan.
Brennan not only broke the single-season record with 58 touchdown passes in 2007, but he also led Division I-A in passing efficiency (186.0). The senior is expected to contend for the Heisman Trophy, and neither his success nor the rise of his team should come as any surprise in the 2007 season.
After all, Hawaii is the southernmost team in the country.
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Super Bowl XLIII Betting Odds
Super Bowl XLIII, the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers.Super Bowl XLIII is now set, the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers will meet each other on February 1st in Tampa's Raymond James Stadium to battle it out for the coveted Lombardi Trophy. The game kicks off at 6:00pm ET on NBC with announcers Al Michaels and John Madden covering the on-field action. Super Bowl XLIII betting odds at online bookmaker MySportsbook.com have the Steelers listed as an early -6.5 against the spread favorite.Super Bowl XLIII Betting Odds
Pittsburgh earned their passage to the big game by beating their division rival, the Baltimore Ravens, 23-14 in yesterday's AFC Championship Game. The Steelers jumped on Baltimore early, building a 13-0 first half lead, and never let up on their way to a fairly easy win. Although the Ravens did close to within two points in the fourth quarter, it never appeared as if they had enough offense to pull off the upset.
The Steelers dominating defense held Baltimore to a total of 198 yards while allowing them to convert just three third downs in 13 attempts. Pittsburgh also forced quarterback Joe Flacco into three interceptions, one of which safety Troy Polamalu returned fourty yards for a touchdown.
The Cardinals, by far the playoff team with the longest odds to reach Super Bowl XLIII, did so yesterday with a 32-25 upset of the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship. Arizona charged out of the gates and built a 24-6 halftime lead that had the Eagles venerable defense reeling. Quarterback Kurt Warner and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald did most of the damage, connecting on three first half touchdowns.
Arizona, however, could not sustain their momentum and the Eagles took a 25-24 with 10:45 left to play in the fourth. The Cardinals, with the franchise's first Super Bowl appearance hanging in the balance, mounted a fourteen play, 72 yard touchdown drive that consumed 7:52 off the clock. Warner hit running back Tim Hightower on a short screen for the go-ahead, game clinching score that will forever live in Cardinal infamy.
MySportsbook.com's Super Bowl XLIII Betting Odds:
Pittsburgh Steelers -6.5 (-110), Over 46.5 (-110), -260 (Money line)
Arizona Cardinals +6.5 (-110), Under 46.5 (-110), +220 (Money line)
Matt Foust won both of his conference championship plays yesterday and he is ready to serve up plenty of Super Bowl action. Each individual play costs $15.00, however, MySportsbook.com recommends purchasing Matt's NFL Playoff Package which includes all of Matt's Super Bowl props and picks from just $45.00.
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