Jafuars Baseball Betting News

<< Cardinals try to avoid sweep versus streaking Astros
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - If the St. Louis Cardinals come up short in their quest to capture this year's National League Central title, the team can point to its performance against the non-contending Houston Astros as a reason for that failure. T

<< Rockies, Jimenez aim to slow down Giants
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - One of the National League's premier pitchers will attempt to slow down perhaps the hottest team in baseball right now when the San Francisco Giants wrap up a short two-game series with Ubaldo Jimenez and the Colorado Rockies

<< Pirates to face tough test from Cueto, Reds
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Pittsburgh Pirates scored more runs in one inning of Tuesday's victory over the Cincinnati Reds then they had in their previous five games. They'll likely find offense harder to come by this afternoon, given Johnny Cueto'

<< Indianapolis Colts 2010 Season Preview
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It's not very often that a 16-win campaign is considered a disappointment, but with the regular season the Indianapolis Colts put together in 2009, anything shy of a Super Bowl victory has to be thought of as such. The Co

Dodgers seek another win over first-place Padres >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Dodgers hope they can build off Tuesday's much-needed win over the first-place San Diego Padres when the two National League West foes continue a critical four-game series this evening from Dodger Stadium.

Mets ready to wrap crucial series in Atlanta >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - While a series in August is hardly a must-win, it is certainly one the New York Mets would like to walk away from victorious. That task could get a bit easier if 10-game winner Mike Pelfrey can find his first- half form.

Yanks aim to salvage set with Jays; A-Rod still going for No. 600 >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The wait continues. Alex Rodriguez's quest to become the youngest player to 600 home runs continues this afternoon when the New York Yankees try to avoid a three-game sweep at the hands of the Toronto Blue Jays

Ailing Phils go for second straight win over Marlins >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Phillies were still able to slug their way to a series-opening victory over the Florida Marlins on Tuesday despite placing slugger Ryan Howard on the disabled list prior to the contest. Florida hopes Phila

Betting Football

Is there such a thing as a trap game in the NFL?

I once asked that question to Pete Korner, who at the time was office manager and a senior linesmaker for Las Vegas Sports Consultants.

Korner almost ripped my head off. There is no such thing as a trap game, he loudly berated me. It’s a myth. The numbers are made using power ratings, he said.

There are trap games, though. They just might not be what you think. The perception is of a good team, say Philadelphia, laying a small number against New Orleans.

Using the highly-respected power ranking from The Gold Sheet, you’d find the Eagles with a power rating of 4 and the Saints at 8. When you factor the game being played in New Orleans, you could see why the line opened so short at less than a field goal.

For some, this makes it enticing to take the Eagles. That’s not a real trap game, though.

A real trap game, says professional gambler Dave Malinsky, is thinking you’re getting value betting a bad team, which brings us to the Oakland Raiders-Denver Broncos matchup.

The Raiders are +15 in this long-standing division rivalry. Denver is on a short week having dispatched Baltimore Monday. However, the Raiders haven’t covered the spread their last 10 games.

Many bettors don’t trust the Raiders to give a full effort. Few think much of Art Shell and his Oakland’s coaching staff.

So oddsmakers have to do something to make Oakland attractive if they hope to get equal action.

Now Malinsky is a value shopper. But he won’t touch the Raiders even getting more than two touchdowns.

“I try to eliminate the undisciplined, unfocused teams because they’re the ones most likely to suffer the bad beats,” he said.

Near the top of Malinsky’s list of stay-away teams is the Miami Dolphins, who have yet to cover a spread this season.

“Whatever you think of Nick Saban, you have to look at the penalties and turnovers,” Malinsky said.

It’s easy to point out the Dolphins failed to get the money this past week against New England because Olindo Mare missed a field goal and had another field goal blocked. But even though the Dolphins outgained the Patriots, 283-213, they committed eight penalties.

Bad teams not only cost themselves victories, but pointspread covers as well. The Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers are two more examples.

The Cardinals couldn’t have been in a better position this past Sunday, up 14-0 at home against a mediocre Kansas City Chiefs squad. But they couldn’t hold it. The Packers got a push against St. Louis, but also could have won losing by three when Brett Favre fumbled at the St. Louis 11-yard line with 44 seconds left.

“The Packers were in a position to beat Philadelphia, too,” Malinsky said. “But they couldn’t even cover double digits.

“These teams just make mistakes and it costs you … they always will look good from a value standpoint. They really will. But that’s the trap.”

Houston and Tennessee rank among the six-worst teams. Malinsky wouldn’t be afraid to take either of these teams, however, if the price were high enough.

The Texans are bad, Malinsky said, but they have some discipline. The Titans showed they could not only come up with an outstanding game plan, but execute it as well, losing by one to the Colts on the road as an 18 ?-point underdog this past Sunday.

“Jeff Fisher is a worker,” Malinsky said of the Titans coach. “I’m not sure how hard Art Shell wants to work when he gets out of bed.”

Fisher, though, could be out as Tennessee coach after this season. Is he still worth backing in the right spot, with the right price, as a lame duck coach?

“It’s in his nature to keep working hard and not worry about any possible lame duck status,” Malinsky said. “He’s coaching for his resume.”

Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting lines.