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09/28/2006 -
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -A game they absolutely, positively cannot afford to lose wasn't supposed to come this quickly.
Yet, quarterback Trent Green is sidelined with head trauma. The offensive line is in turmoil. The entire offensive approach is in flux and the defense is showing progress, but still working to adapt to a new way of going about the job.
The Kansas City Chiefs under Herm Edwards are 0-2, so expect a fired-up home team when the San Francisco 49ers and rapidly improving second-year quarterback Alex Smith hit town Sunday.
An 0-3 start, just their second since 1980, would likely doom the Chiefs to a 13th consecutive year without a postseason victory. Coming off an encouraging 10-6 campaign, they were hoping for better.
``We can't afford to be 0-3,'' said wide receiver Eddie Kennison. ``This is a must-win for us. I think everybody in the locker room will probably agree with that.''
Damon Huard will be the first quarterback whose name is not Trent Green to start a home game for KC since Elvis Grbac left the building in 2000. Green, injured in the opener Sept. 10, is out indefinitely.
Huard, who was Mr. Conservative while hardly attempting a downfield pass during in a 9-6 overtime loss at Denver two weeks ago, will be making his second consecutive start, and his second since 2000. The Chiefs are expected to open it up a bit, but still rely mostly on running back Larry Johnson, whose 157.5-yard average leads the league in yards from scrimmage.
If the 36-year-old Green remains out for long, many critics will begin to urge the Chiefs to follow the example of the 49ers of 2005 and thrust rookie Brodie Croyle onto the field for tough but valuable game experience.
Smith had a rough time last year while throwing 11 interceptions in 165 pass attempts. But so far during a 1-2 start, the No. 1 draft pick has zero picks in 108 attempts. His passer rating of 89.8 is more than double his shaky rookie mark and he's averaging a highly respectable 7.54 yards per attempt.
``He's impressive,'' said Chiefs defensive end Eric Hicks. ``I know he had some pretty good growing pains last year he had to battle through. But this guy's making plays this year. He has a cannon for an arm. People don't give him enough credit as a runner, too. We're going to have to be disciplined. He can beat you if we give him an opportunity.''
Arrowhead Stadium, one of the loudest in the league, will be a good test for Smith. Since 1994, first- or second-year quarterbacks making their initial appearance in the Chiefs' rowdy abode are 2-17.
``It's concerning when you're going into a stadium where the fans are so noisy and passionate,'' Smith said. ``Then you add our slow starts in the last couple of games to that, and it's a big concern for us to come out and execute from the very first series, because we can't wait too long to get going. We'd like to start a little faster, and we're working on that.''
The 49ers have injury problems of their own. Rookie tight end Vernon Davis is out and running back Frank Gore is slowed.
Gore was expected to be ready, however. His 266 yards rushing and three touchdowns are among the best in the league so far.
``They've been a big play offense averaging about 23 points a game and really in the second half is when they're doing a lot of their damage,'' said Edwards. ``They've actually scored (51) points in the second half of football games. They've fallen behind early, but they've had a late surge and they're third in the league in big plays. They've got 11 plays of 20 yards or more in passing and four of running. So they've had some explosion.''
With all their coming and going and changes in philosophy, the Chiefs, on the other hand, are hard to figure right now.
``With a new coach and a new quarterback on a team that's only played two games, it's kind of hard to sit down and say exactly what they're going to try to do against us,'' said San Francisco defensive end Bryant Young. ``There are a lot of variables there. They might have some new wrinkles, so we have to be aware of that.''
Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
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D.C.'s Leftwich, Jacksonville's Brunell cross paths again >>
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) -In a perfect world, Byron Leftwich would be the quarterback for the Washington Redskins, and Mark Brunell would still be the quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars.Leftwich grew up on 58th Street in Southeast Washington. He and
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Pedro Martinez out for the postseason with calf injury >>
ATLANTA (AP) -Pedro Martinez is out for the postseason after an exam Thursday showed the New York Mets ace has a torn tendon in his left calf muscle.The Mets, who won their first NL East title since 1988 with Martinez battling injuries most of the s
NFL betting action is back! At MySportsbook, all of the pro football odds are posted for the NFC North. Check out how we see the four teams in this cloudy division stacking up this year in the chase for the playoffs! Green Bay Packers (+125) - With QB Aaron Rodgers leading the offense and DC Dom Capers working his magic on defense, the Packers are a real force to be reckoned with.
Virtually nothing changed on this offense for Green Bay from last year to this year, save for the addition of rookie OT Brian Bulaga to the bunch. Expect more huge numbers from the Pack, and a relatively favorable schedule should get them over the hump and into the playoffs once again this season. My NFL Betting Predictions: 11-5, 1st place in NFC North Minnesota Vikings (+130) - There are still too many unknowns about the Vikes this year. There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not.
There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.
Chicago Bears (+350) - The Bears are probably a bit of an overhyped team once again this year.No, we don't think it is plausible for QB Jay Cutler to have as bad of a season as he did last year, and we do think the additions of RB Chester Taylor and DE Julius Peppers are going to help immensely, but there's still something in the water in the Windy City that we aren't so sure about. Maybe Chicago finds its way to .500... but then again, maybe it doesn't. If Favre comes back, Cutler might be the worst quarterback in this division this year.
Detroit Lions (+1500) - The Lions are probably once again going to be the whipping boys for the rest of the teams in the NFC North, but they aren't just going to roll over and die once again. There is some real talent amassing on this team offensively, as the combination of QB Matt Stafford, RB Jahvid Best, WR Calvin Johnson, and TE Brandon Pettigrew should put a bunch of points on the board if the offensive line can even remotely hold up. The questions really lie on defense, where it feels like DT Ndamukong Suh is going to be trying to stop opposing teams all by himself. This year should show some marked improvement in the Motor City.
The Patriots will make NFL betting fans a lot of money this season, get in early and enjoy the cash.
To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.
Will Ohio State continue to run the table in College Football betting odds?
MySportsbook.com favors Buckeyes, Fighting Irish and Golden Bears in this weekend's big games.
NEW YORK, NY, Sept. 21 - My Sportsbook NCAA football fans: things are beginning to get really interesting on college football's national stage. Following last weekend's "Separation Saturday", which included five teams ranked in the top 15 dropping games, the BCS Championship picture is beginning to take shape - with Ohio State leading the charge. And, according to odds makers at MySportsbook.com, the number-one-ranked Buckeyes will continue their winning ways this weekend.
Revenge will be the name of the game in Columbus this Saturday, as Ohio State looks to even the score following last season's loss to Joe Paterno's Nittany Lions. Although Penn State are listed as 16.5 point underdogs, they are 11-10 all-time versus the Buckeyes. Paterno and the Lions, however, will have to shut down Heisman Trophy favorite Troy Smith who has thrown for 769 yards and seven touchdowns this season.
Speaking of revenge, Notre Dame will be out for some against Michigan State, following last year's 44 - 41 overtime loss to the Spartans in South Bend. The thirteenth-ranked Irish, listed as a 3-point favorite, will also be looking to avenge last Saturday's thrashing from the Michigan Wolverines. The Spartans, meanwhile, have won seven of the last nine match-ups against Notre Dame and are coming off an impressive 38-23 victory over Pittsburgh.
Out west, 22nd-ranked Arizona State will be battling for their first victory over 21st-ranked California since 2000. Although the Golden Bears are listed as 7.5-point favorites, the Sun Devils are 3-0, lead the nation in sacks with 18 and possess the Pac-10's leading passer in sophomore quarterback Rudy Carpenter.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts Visa needs.
NCAA Football betting lines (home team in CAPS)
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Date Favorite Opponent Point Spread
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Sept 21 GEORGIA TECH Virginia 17
Sept 22 NEVADA Northwestern 6.5
Sept 23 MICHIGAN Wisconsin 14
Sept 23 Minnesota PURDUE 3
Sept 23 SYRACUSE Miami (Ohio) 6.5
Sept 23 MISSOURI Ohio 21.5
Sept 23 Louisville KANSAS STATE 14
Sept 23 TENNESSEE Marshall 22
Sept 23 CLEMSON North Carolina 16.5
Sept 23 FLORIDA Kentucky 24
Sept 23 Iowa ILLINOIS 20.5
Sept 23 FLORIDA STATE Rice 30.5
Sept 23 AUBURN Buffalo 41.5
Sept 23 BOWLING GREEN Kent 7
Sept 23 NAVY Tulsa 4.5
Sept 23 VIRGINIA TECH Cincinnati 27
Sept 23 BYU Utah State 29
Sept 23 OHIO STATE Penn State 16.5
Sept 23 TEXAS Iowa State 25
Sept 23 Washington State STANFORD 10
Sept 23 CALIFORNIA Arizona State 7.5
Sept 23 UCLA WASHINGTON 3
Sept 23 INDIANA Connecticut 1.5
Sept 23 Central Michigan EASTERN MICHIGAN 4
Sept 23 WYOMING Air Force 1
Sept 23 UTEP NEW MEXICO 9.5
Sept 23 West Virginia EAST CAROLINA 21
Sept 23 Boston College NORTH CAROLINA STATE 7
Sept 23 GEORGIA Colorado 27
Sept 23 ARKANSAS Alabama 1.5
Sept 23 BAYLOR Army 11
Sept 23 WESTERN MICHIGAN Temple 28
Sept 23 MISSISSIPPI Wake Forest 2.5
Sept 23 KANSAS South Florida 5.5
Sept 23 TEXAS A&M Louisiana Tech 23.5
Sept 23 UAB Mississippi State 9.5
Sept 23 LSU Tulane 36
Sept 23 Utah SAN DIEGO STATE 6.5
Sept 23 BOISE STATE Hawaii 15
Sept 23 Notre Dame MICHIGAN STATE 3
Sept 23 USC ARIZONA U 22
Sept 23 Oklahoma State HOUSTON 1
Sept 23 OREGON STATE Idaho 23
Sept 23 OKLAHOMA Middle Tennessee State 29
Sept 23 MARYLAND Florida International 18.5
Sept 23 AKRON North Texas 17.5
Sept 23 SOUTH CAROLINA Florida Atlantic 29.5
Sept 23 NEBRASKA Troy 23
Sept 23 SMU Arkansas State 6
For complete NCAA football odds and World Series odds please visit MySportsbook.com
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