10/10/2008 - Winnipeg, MB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Joe Smith and Fred Reid each ran for 100-plus yards and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers hammered out a 25-16 triumph over the Toronto Argonauts in a pivotal Eastern Division matchup from Cannad Inns Stadium.
Smith gained 101 rushing yards on 12 attempts and put the game away with a late gritty touchdown while Reid carried the ball 14 times for 106 yards. Kerry Glenn threw for 157 yards and two scores, both to Terrence Edwards, on 14-of-31 passing with a pair of picks.
With the win, the Bombers (6-9) squared the season series at two games each and took a four-point advantage over the third-place Argos in the East Division with three games to play. While not mathematically eliminated, the Argos were dealt a severe blow to their playoff hopes.
Kerry Joseph was 25-of-36 for 311 yards but Jamal Robertson scored the lone touchdown with 50 yards rushing on 13 carries. P.K. Sam nabbed nine balls for 145 yards and Mike Vanderjagt connected on 3-of-4 field goal attempts for Toronto (4-11), which has now lost its last six games.
Vanderjagt started off the final quarter with a 39-yard field goal to give the Argos a 16-14 advantage. The Bombers were forced to punt with less than nine minutes remaining, but Arland Bruce coughed up the ball on the return and Winnipeg ran only two plays from its own 35 before Alexis Serna nailed a 34- yard boot to put the Bombers in front 17-16.
Toronto was forced to punt on its next two turns with the pigskin and the Winnipeg running game took hold of the contest with 2:41 left to play. Glenn hit Derick Armstrong for a 13-yard gain amidst three runs by Reid for 35 yards. Smith followed by gashing the defensive line for 18 yards on a pair of carries to reach the Argo eight. Smith then capped the 74-yard trek with a bruising TD run to help put the game away, falling just inside the right pylon with a defender draped on his back.
The drive left only 34 seconds left in which Toronto could work and any hopes of a miracle comeback were quashed immediately when Bruce mishandled Serna's ensuing kickoff and was brought down in his own end zone for a single to account for the 25-16 final.
Vanderjagt opened the scoring with a 22-yard strike in the first, the only score of the quarter, but Winnipeg went ahead 7-3 with a five-yard TD pass to Edwards for the second quarter's lone score, capping an 11-play, 86-yard romp.
Vanderjagt was steady, hitting from 47 yards to answer in the third and pull Toronto to within one, 7-6. However, Glenn hit Edwards for a second score, this time a 37-yard TD, and the Bombers had a 14-6 advantage.
Robertson finally pushed the ball over the goal-line for the Argos with just under four minutes to go in the third after Bruce returned a punt 59 yards to the Bomber two-yard line.
Game Notes
Toronto is 2-6 on the road this year and 3-6 within the East Division. Winnipeg is 4-4 at home and 4-4 against divisional competition...Winnipeg's Milt Stegall had four receptions for 42 yards...Each team donned throwback uniforms for the game.
<< Kotalik, Sabres edge Canadiens in shootout
Buffalo, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ales Kotalik scored the decisive goal in the
shootout, as the Buffalo Sabres opened the 2008-09 season with a 2-1 win over
the Montreal Canadiens at the HSBC Arena.
Thomas Vanek tallied in regulation for
<< 'Canes earn season-opening win over Panthers
Raleigh, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Carolina got goals from six different players
and erased an early two-goal deficit with a 6-4 win over the Florida Panthers
in a Southeast Division battle and the regular-season opener for both squads
from th
<< Kim leads Longs Drugs by one; Ochoa lurking two back
Danville, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In-Kyung Kim carded a three-under 69 in cold,
windy conditions Friday to move into the lead after two rounds of the Longs
Drugs Challenge at Blackhawk Country Club.
Kim completed the first 36 holes at eigh
<< Brodeur sharp as Devils edge Isles in opener
Newark, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Patrik Elias scored the eventual game-winner
and Martin Brodeur was his usual stingy self as the New Jersey Devils came
away with a 2-1 victory over the New York Islanders in the season opener for
both cl
Nash nets OT winner to lift Columbus over Dallas >>
Dallas, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Rick Nash scored with 21 seconds remaining in
overtime, as the new-look Columbus Blue Jackets opened the 2008-09 season with
a 5-4 victory over the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center.
Jakub Voracek
Busch wins caution-filled race at Lowe's >>
Concord, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kyle Busch won Friday's Dollar General 300
Nationwide Series race at the Lowe's Motor Speedway. The No.18 Joe Gibbs
Racing Toyota driver led 137 of 200 laps and held off a hard-charging Jeff
Burton
Dice-K dominant, Boston wins ALCS opener >>
St. Petersburg, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Daisuke Matsuzaka took a no-hitter into
the seventh inning, and the Boston Red Sox topped the gritty Tampa Bay Rays,
2-0, in the opener of the American League Championship Series.
Kevin Youkilis doub
Senators' Alfredsson has surgery >>
Ottawa, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ottawa Senators forward Daniel Alfredsson
underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Friday, and he could miss up
to two weeks of action.
The surgery was to remove a bone chip in the captain's knee
BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers SPORTS TRASH TALK
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
Matt Kenseth And Kevin Harvick Favorites To Take NASCAR Nextel Cup Championship
(September 15)—The NASCAR season has hit the homestretch with the opening event on this year’s Chase for the Cup taking place this weekend at the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway. With 10 races remaining to determine the Cup Series champion, leading online sportsbook MySportsbook.com today announced odds on all 10 Chase qualifying drivers capturing the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship.
One of the largest sportsbook sites on the Internet, MySportsbook.com currently lists the top two drivers in the point standings as the early favorites to win the Nextel Cup. Entering the Chase for the Cup with a slim five-point lead in the point standings, 2003 NASCAR champ Matt Kenseth has been made a slight favorite to win his second Cup at 7/2 betting odds. 2001 Cup Rookie of the Year Kevin Harvick has betting odds listed at 5/2 and four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon is listed at 6/1 to capture the Nextel Cup this year.
Hoping to follow in the footsteps of his legendary father who won six NASCAR titles, Dale Earnhardt Jr. stands at 8/1 to breakthrough with his first Cup victory. Staying with the family theme, MySportsbook.com lists 2005 Rookie of the Year Kyle Busch at 14/1 to succeed big brother Kurt’s 2004 NASCAR title. While Kasey Kahne was the final driver to qualify for the Chase with a third place finish last week, the oddsmakers give him a fighting chance at 10/1 mainly due to several mile-and-a-half tracks remaining on the schedule. Despite going winless on the NASCAR circuit this season, Jeff Burton enters the Chase at 5/1 to capture the Cup title. Meanwhile, rookie Denny Hamlin is 4/1 to win the championship, while veteran driver Mark Martin enters the Chase for the Cup as a 15/1 long shot to win his first NASCAR title in his 24th and final season.
MySportsbook.com will offer comprehensive Nascar betting lines on every race remaining on the Nextel Cup series including driver match-ups, props and odds to win each race. For a complete list of NASCAR odds, please visit www.MySportsbook.com.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts US credit cards needs.
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