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Thursday's Preseason Tips

August 19, 2015

Week 2 of the preseason gives us an opportunity to ****** all the happenings from the opening week which saw plenty of stars play for a limited time. In Week 1, home teams posted an impressive 11-5 straight-up and against the spread mark, as the Packers, Panthers, and Broncos were the only three underdogs to cash (and win outright). The ‘over’ went 8-7-1 last week, while eight teams scored 11 points or fewer.

Lions at Redskins (-2 ½, 40) – 7:30 PM EST

Detroit
Head Coach: Jim Caldwell (6-11 SU, 8-9 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback Rotation: Matthew Stafford, Dan Orlovsky, Kellen Moore, Garrett Gilbert

The Lions dominated the woeful Jets in their preseason opener, 23-3 as four-point home favorites. Detroit racked up over 400 yards of offense, including 193 yards on the ground, highlighted by Nebraska rookie Ameer Abdullah’s 67 yards. Detroit accumulated 26 first downs, compared to six from New York, as the Lions improved to 4-1 in their last five preseason openers.

Since 2011, the Lions have turned into one of the best underdogs in preseason action, covering six of the last seven when receiving points in the exhibition season, including a 3-0 ATS mark in 2014. In five preseason games since Caldwell took over, Detroit has cashed the ‘under’ four times.

Washington
Head Coach: Jay Gruden (4-1 SU, 3-2 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback Rotation: Robert Griffin III, Colt McCoy, Kirk Cousins

The Redskins rallied from a 14-3 deficit to beat the Browns, 20-17 last Thursday in a pick-em spot. In spite of the close score, Washington outgained Cleveland by 198 yards, as the Redskins turned the ball over twice in the win. Kirk Cousins put together a solid outing for the ‘Skins by completing 12 of 14 passes for 154 yards, while leading Washington to the go-ahead score in the third quarter.

Washington may not have performed well in the 2014 regular season by going 4-12, but the Redskins won three of four preseason games last August. The ‘under’ improved to 4-1 in Gruden’s preseason tenure, while the Redskins enter Thursday’s action riding an eight-game home exhibition winning streak since 2011.

Bills at Browns (-3, 40) – 8:00 PM EST

Buffalo
Head Coach: Rex Ryan (11-14 SU, 11-14 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback Rotation: Tyrod Taylor, Matt Cassel, E.J. Manuel, Matt Simms

The Bills are definitely not sold on a quarterback as they creep closer to their regular season opener against the Colts. Buffalo dropped its preseason opener to Carolina, 25-24 as three-point favorites, in spite of racking 368 yards of offense. The Bills held the ball for over 37 minutes, as E.J. Manuel tossed a 51-yard touchdown pass in third quarter. However, Manuel isn’t the front-runner for Buffalo’s starting quarterback.

Former Raven Tyrod Taylor gets the start at Cleveland, coming off a 5 for 8 effort against Carolina for 49 yards. Taylor will give way to Matt Cassel, who threw just one incompletion in eight attempts last week, then Manuel will likely see time in the second half after all the starters are out. LeSean McCoy is sidelined this week after suffering a hamstring injury, but another ex-Eagle stepped up against the Panthers as Bryce Brown rushed for 52 yards and one touchdown on six carries.

The Bills have dropped three of their past four preseason games away from Orchard Park, while Buffalo is 1-7 ATS in its last eight preseason contests overall.

Cleveland
Head Coach: Mike Pettine (1-4, SU, 2-3 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback Rotation: Josh McCown, Johnny Manziel, Thaddeus Lewis

The Browns didn’t accomplish much offensively in their 20-17 setback to the Redskins last Thursday, accumulating 170 yards. The lone highlight came from Johnny Manziel, who scampered for a 12-yard touchdown run several plays following a Washington fumble on a punt return. Manziel didn’t put up bad numbers, completing 7 of 11 passes for 42 yards, but the Heisman Trophy winner will once again play second-fiddle to Josh McCown, who makes his second straight start.

Cleveland hasn’t performed well in the preseason under Pettine, losing four of five games. Three of the four defeats have come by three points or less, while owning a 1-3 ATS record as a favorite. Can the Browns bust out of the gate against the Bills like they did against the Redskins? Cleveland scored 14 points in the first half last Thursday, a stark contrast from last preseason when the Browns failed to put up more than seven points in the opening half in three of four exhibition games.

[StarDust Bum]

Preseason Week 2 Essentials

August 17, 2015


Week 1 of the preseason went in the books with a Tim Tebow touchdown run as the final score. That’s fitting since the exhibition season often feels like Fantasyland. There’s always something teasing the imagination that can lead you to some wild proclamations.

For instance, the Vikings are 2-0 and clearly a lock for the Super Bowl since Adrian Peterson sat both games out and star safety Harrison Smith barely played. Chiefs quarterback Chase Daniel is about to set the league on fire.

A lot of people out there got more ammo for their argument, disproven to this point, that Kirk Cousins would be a better quarterback for Washington than Robert Griffin III. The Patriots are going to be 0-1 with Jimmy Garoppolo if Tom Brady fails to pull off a full pardon on his suspension via appeal.

It’s a Small World here. Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride over there.

The latter could definitely be utilized as an accurate description of Jameis Winston’s and Marcus Mariota’s debuts, or my fun run going 17-2-1 against the spread.

The preseason isn’t necessarily as random as the natural inclination to disparage it as meaningless forces you to believe. In some ways, it’s more easily predictable than the regular season despite far more participants and varying degrees of skill. Minnesota still has a ways to go before making reservations for Santa Clara and RG III still gives Washington its best chance to win, but not all we saw was a mirage.

Kansas City’s Daniel, if nothing else, has likely lit a fire under Alex Smith. Andy Reid isn’t going to ride out a lengthy slump. What we saw out of Winston and Mariota was likely a microcosm of what we should expect. There was some brilliance surrounded by plenty of miscues. Jimmy G. didn’t look so hot. Tebow is fourth on the Eagles pecking order of quarterbacks and showed why in between an impressive opening drive and his final glorious plunge into the end zone, struggling with reads and pressure.

There’s going to be considerably more material to scrutinize in Week 2, especially with more talent taking the field for longer periods. Here’s how the schedule unfolds:

Thursday, Aug. 20

Detroit at Washington: The Griffin-Cousins debate surges on in D.C. Since the next home game will be in the final week of the preseason, this will be the lone opportunity for the fans at FedEx Field to put in their two cents and have it register. RG III was 4-of-8 in the opener and needs to play well against a Lions team that should again compete for a playoff spot if healthy.

Buffalo at Cleveland: This nationally televised showcase pits Rex Ryan against his former defensive coordinator and confidant Mike Pettine for the first time as head coaches. With QB competitions going on in both cities, it will be interesting to see who stands out. Tyrod Taylor and Johnny Manziel are running second, but hoping to stand out by making plays with their legs that projected starters Matt Cassel and Josh McCown can’t.

Friday, Aug. 21

Atlanta at N.Y. Jets: The NYJ QB gig is Ryan Fitzpatrick’s now, so don’t expect them to risk losing him given the lack of experience behind him. You may ultimately see him draped in heavy duty plastic couch covers before the preseason is through. Rookie Bryce Petty threw for just 50 yards on 18 pass attempts against Detroit and will take the bulk of the snaps here too. The early battles between Falcons receivers and Jets corners might be the only reason to watch.

Seattle at Kansas City: There are a ton of intriguing story lines in this one, but none better than former K-State star Tyler Lockett taking his show to Arrowhead after an electric home debut where he racked up over 200 yards in returns. We’ll also see if Daniel can exploit a depleted Seahawks secondary after going 17-for-21 with three touchdown passes at Arizona.

Saturday, Aug. 22

Miami at Carolina: The Panthers are looking for their offensive line to gel throughout this month, so getting subjected to Ndamakong Suh this early is likely a blessing. Cam Newton led a scoring drive but struggled with his accuracy, while Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill was clutch in leading a scoring drive in his lone series against Chicago. Both will get more work here.

Baltimore at Philadelphia: Two of the three teams to score 30 or more in their preseason opener square off here. All eyes will be on Sam Bradford, expected to make his debut after missing all of last season after re-tearing his ACL last August. Considering how shaky Mark Sanchez looked, the Eagle faithful on hand will be crossing their fingers that he’ll look healthy and ease their concerns.

Chicago at Indianapolis: The Bears won their preseason opener 27-10 on the strength of their backups and third-stringers because the Jay Cutler-led offense and rebuilt defense were actually disappointing. Their first units will see more action against the Colts, who are likely to dust off Andrew Luck for more than the few snaps he took on Sunday.

New England at New Orleans: Since Tom Brady unexpectedly played last week, you know he’ll be a part of the equation here. Still, getting Garropolo more comfortable should be the main concern in this second preseason test. Drew Brees makes his debut as he moves on from departed favorite target Jimmy Graham.

Jacksonville at N.Y. Giants: The Eli Manning-led first unit managed one first down and 38 yards in four series against the Bengals, so boos may be heard insanely early if the listless play continues against the Jaguars. TE Julius Thomas broke his right hand on Friday, so Jacksonville’s newest weapon will miss the rest of the preseason.

Denver at Houston: Veteran Peyton Manning will need to avoid a meeting with J.J. Watt for a drive or two, debuting after sitting out last week’s win in Seattle. The Texans will have Ryan Mallett and Brian Hoyer continue their QB battle after both had solid showings against the 49ers on Saturday night.

Oakland at Minnesota: No, Peterson won’t play, but a defense that continues to look terrific can take another step forward as head coach Mike Zimmer looks to improve his preseason record to 7-0. The Raiders gave up three points themselves in stifling St. Louis 18-3 last Friday, so facing a quality opponent on the road could be a real confidence builder for an improving young team.

San Diego at Arizona: The Cardinals welcomed back Carson Palmer and Drew Stanton, showed them love and made sure they stayed upright in brief cameos. Expect more of the same against the Chargers, who didn’t even crack 75 passing yards against Dallas last week.

Sunday, Aug. 23

Green Bay at Pittsburgh: How much of two of the NFL’s most prolific offenses will we get to see here? If this were a regular-season affair, the total would be set over 50. Rodgers actually threw the ball 19 times against New England, so we might get a fun opening half if both coaches are feeling frisky and willing to trust their offensive lines to keep their franchise quarterbacks upright.

Dallas at San Francisco: Cowboys running back Gus Johnson separated his shoulder to bow out in the race to replace DeMarco Murray, but banged-up top candidates Joseph Randle, Darren McFadden and Lance Dunbar may all suit up and get some action at Levi’s Stadium. The 49ers got 120 total yards out of Aussie rugby player Jarryd Hayne in the preseason opener, so he won’t be sneaking up on the Cowboys.

St. Louis at Tennessee: The Rams got nothing going with their backups in Oakland, failing to score after starter Nick Foles left the game. Foles should get a longer look here, as will Mariota, who threw his first interception in his opening quarter against live action after going through camp unblemished.

Monday, Aug. 24

Cincinnati at Tampa Bay: The season’s unoffical first Monday night game has some appeal. Winston attempts to bounces back from a rocky debut to the Andy Dalton-led offense looking to go 2-for-2 on dominating opening drives. A.J. Green caught a pass, Jeremy Hill broke off a few strong runs and an offense that has the personnel to be imposing looked mighty impressive against the Giants.

[StarDust Bum]

Coaching Props - 1st Fired

August 19, 2015

The NFL regular season begins on Thursday Sept. 10 and some pundits believe there are already a handful of coaches on the proverbial hot seat for the 2015 campaign.

Oddsmakers at Sportsbook.ag are once again offering up a popular NFL prop for the upcoming season:

First NFL Head Coach to be Fired

The major offshore outfit opened Jay Gruden , head coach of the Washington Redskins, as the top betting choice with 5/2 odds (Bet $100 to win $250).

Listed shortly behind Gruden is Cleveland's Mike Pettine at 5/1 odds.

Other notable names with short odds include the Saints' Sean Payton (10/1) and Dolphins' Joe Philbin (12/1).

New Orleans won the Super Bowl in 2009 with Payton as coach but haven't advanced the Divisional Playoff round and are coming off a 7-9 season.

Many Miami fans have been calling for Philbin's termination since he arrived in 2012 and he's produced a 23-25 record in his first three years with no playoff berths. With expectations high in 2015 and an easy early schedule on tap, a losing record out of the chute could seal his fate by November.

Longshots at 500/1 odds include last year's Super Bowl coaches Bill Belichick and Pete Carroll.

Listed below are all the odds.

First NFL Head Coach to be Fired - per Sportsbook.ag

Jay Gruden (Washington) 5/2
Mike Pettine (Cleveland) 5/1
Ken Whisenhunt (Tennessee) 8/1
Sean Payton (New Orleans) 10/1
Joe Philbin (Miami) 12/1
Gus Bradley (Jacksonville) 15/1
Jim Tomsula (San Francisco) 15/1
Bill O Brien (Houston) 20/1
Ron Rivera (Carolina) 20/1
Todd Bowles (New York Jets) 20/1
Chip Kelly (Philadelphia) 25/1
Jeff Fisher (St. Louis) 25/1
Tom Coughlin (New York Giants) 25/1
Jack Del Rio (Oakland) 30/1
Jim Caldwell (Detroit) 30/1
Lovie Smith (Tampa Bay) 30/1
Rex Ryan (Buffalo) 30/1
Andy Reid (Kansas City) 40/1
Mike McCoy (San Diego) 40/1
Dan Quinn (Atlanta) 50/1
John Fox (Chicago) 50/1
Marvin Lewis (Cincinnati) 50/1
Mike Zimmer (Minnesota) 50/1
Jason Garrett (Dallas) 70/1
Bruce Arians (Arizona) 100/1
Gary Kubiak (Denver) 100/1
John Harbaugh (Baltimore) 100/1
Mike McCarthy (Green Bay) 100/1
Chuck Pagano (Indianapolis) 150/1
Mike Tomlin (Pittsburgh) 250/1
Bill Belichick (New England) 500/1
Pete Carroll (Seattle) 500/1

[StarDust Bum]

Wednesday's Sports In Brief

August 20, 2015

NFL

NEW YORK (AP) A federal judge made clear the NFL's four game suspension of Tom Brady over ''Deflategate'' is in jeopardy as the star New England quarterback returned to practice.

U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman, who's been asked by the NFL Players Association to void the suspension, warned a league lawyer during oral arguments in the scandal over underinflated footballs that there was precedent for judges to toss out penalties issued by arbitrators.

Berman continued to push for a settlement in the dispute - a potential result he called ''rational and logical.'' But throughout the hearing, he also cited several weaknesses in the way the NFL handled the controversy that could become the basis for handing a victory to Brady and his union.

If there is no deal, the Manhattan judge has said he hopes to rule by Sept. 4, six days before the Patriots host the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL's season-opening game.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) - Eli Manning didn't ask the New York Giants to make him the NFL's highest-paid quarterback.

A perplexed and slightly miffed Manning shot down a report that he wants to be the league's top-paid quarterback, insisting that was not the goal in contract talks.

The two-time Super Bowl MVP is in the final year of a contract that will pay him a $17 million base salary. His agent, Tom Condon, has been negotiating a new deal, but the two sides are not close to an agreement, Giants co-owner John Mara said Monday.

Manning insisted neither he nor Condon told the Giants to make him the highest-paid quarterback. He said he speaks with Condon occasionally, but he isn't looking for constant updates on the talks.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) - The New York Jets have signed veteran quarterback Matt Flynn, adding depth to the position with Geno Smith sidelined six to 10 weeks with a broken jaw.

Flynn took a physical with the Jets last Friday, but didn't work out for the team. The 30-year-old Flynn, who was dealing with a hamstring issue, was released by New England last week.

The Jets announced the signing a day after general manager Mike Maccagnan said the team would look into acquiring a veteran to back up starter Ryan Fitzpatrick. Smith was injured last week when then-teammate Ikemefuna Enemkpali punched him in the locker room.

BASEBALL

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Chase Utley is reuniting with Jimmy Rollins in Hollywood.

The Philadelphia Phillies traded the six-time All-Star second baseman to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Triple-A outfielder Darnell Sweeney and Single-A right-hander John Richy.

Utley didn't play in the Phillies' 7-4 win over Toronto, but got a standing ovation afterward and he tipped his cap to the crowd.

Utley had to waive his no-trade rights to go to his hometown Dodgers and he already cleared waivers. He joins Rollins, the franchise's all-time hits leader and his double-play partner for 12 seasons. The NL West-leading Dodgers lost second baseman Howie Kendrick to a hamstring injury earlier this month.

AUTO RACING

BRISTOL, Tenn. (AP) - Ryan Blaney took the lead from Matt Crafton off a restart in a green-white-checkered finish and held off Kyle Busch to win the NASCAR Camping World Truck race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Blaney rebounded after losing a lap early on the 0.533-mile oval when he was given a pass-through penalty for jumping a restart while leading. Blaney raced to his first victory of the year and fourth overall. Starting on the inside line on the final restart, he made the winning pass after beating Crafton to the first turn.

John Hunter Nemechek was third, followed by Daniel Hemric, Brandon Jones and Erik Jones.

OLYMPICS

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) - South Korean wind surfer Wonwoo Cho got his first ride in an ambulance the other day, taken to a Rio de Janeiro hospital with dehydration, vomiting, a headache and dizziness.

Cho is one of four athletes to have ''officially'' fallen ill so far at the week's Olympic sailing test event in Rio de Janeiro's polluted Guanabara Bay. Officials acknowledge the reporting is incomplete with many teams and some of the 300 athletes skittish about disclosing illnesses.

The 20-year-old Cho was back to ''50-60 percent'' strength Wednesday and out training, 24 hours after his hospital stay. He said he doesn't know ''the exact reason why I got so sick.''

His coach has fewer doubts.

''Probably it's from the water,'' Danny Ok, Cho's coach and an exercise physiologist, told The Associated Press.

NBA

SAN ANTONIO (AP) - San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan has been named the Twyman-Stokes Award winner given annually to the NBA's teammate of the year.

A panel of NBA stars from the past nominated a panel of six candidates. Then nearly 300 active players voted for the winner.

Duncan received 72 first-place votes. Vince Carter of the Memphis Grizzlies finished second and Atlanta's Elton Brand finished third.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Joel Embiid will have to wait at least one more season to start his NBA career.

Embiid, the injury-riddled Philadelphia 76ers center, is expected to miss the season following a second surgery on his right foot. His recovery should take five to eight months, the same timeframe the center was given following the first surgery last year. The Sixers were cautious with their prized prospect and held him out for the entire season. Team president Sam Hinkie said Wednesday the organization would follow a similar path again.

Embiid had a bone graft Tuesday, with two existing screws replaced and a graft using bone from his hip.

Hinkie said the foot did not break again, there was simply less healing than expected.

TENNIS

MASON, Ohio (AP) - Serena Williams pumped her fist after each important point and screamed as she smacked another emphatic shot. The defending Cincinnati champion wasn't going to ease into the tournament.

Williams put a lot of emotion into her opening match at the Western & Southern Open, a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Tsvetana Pironkova that made her the first of the top seeds to advance.

Novak Djokovic won his rain-delayed opening match, beating Benoit Paire 7-5, 6-2. Third-seeded Andy Murray and eight-seeded Rafael Nadal also advanced in rain-delayed matches that ended after midnight.

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CFL Betting Recap - Week 8

August 16, 2015

League Betting Notes

-- Favorites went 3-1 SU in Week 8
-- Favorites went 3-1 ATS in Week 8
-- Home/road teams posted a 2-2 SU record in Week 8
-- Home/road teams posted a 2-2 ATS record in Week 8
-- The 'Over/under' went 2-2 in Week 8


Team Betting Notes

-- Calgary (5-2) came off of their bye week and looked rejuvenated as they smashed Ottawa (4-3) by a 48-3 count. The Stampeders entered the game 0-6 ATS, but covered by a mile. They actually took care of the 'over' on their own, just their second over in seven tries this season.

-- The RedBlacks will be on the road again in Toronto (5-2), and they're not nearly as effective on the road as they are at home. Ottawa is 1-2 SU/ATS as the away team, and 3-1 SU/ATS at home. One thing that has been consistent for the RedBlacks has been the 'over', cashing for the fourth time in five games.

-- Winnipeg (3-5) was dropped at home by a 27-20 count against Toronto. The Blue Bombers have had the 'under' hit in six straight games, mostly due to their ineptitude on offense. They have average just 13.5 points per game over their past four outings.

-- Montreal (2-5) lost for the third straight games, and they failed to cover for the second consecutive outing. After starting out 3-1-1 ATS, the Alouettes have failed to cover in each of the past two. The 'under' is the play when involving Montreal, as the 'under is 6-1 overall.

-- Hamilton (5-2) slaughtered the BC Lions (3-4), winning their fourth straight game. Even more impressive, they have covered four in a row, and six of their seven games overall. The offensive outburst stopped a four-game 'under' streak, too.

-- Edmonton (5-2) will host Hamilton Friday in an early-season clash of titans. The Eskimos have covered five of the past six games, and the 'under' has also hit in five of the past six.

-- Saskatchewan (0-7) returns Saturday to host Calgary. They have dropped all seven of their games, but five of their losses have been by a combined 16 points.

[StarDust Bum]

CFL Betting Notes - Week 9

August 18, 2015

Week 8 Betting Recap

Week 8 of the 2015 CFL regular season wrapped things up this past Saturday and in a reversal from the previous betting trends, the favorites came out on top with a 3-1 record both straight-up and against the spread. The lone exception was Edmonton’s 15-12 victory against Montreal as a two-point road underdog last Thursday.

Toronto got things started as a 5 ½-point road favorite over Winnipeg with a 27-20 victory last Friday. Hamilton pummeled British Columbia 52-22 as an 8 ½-point favorite at home and Calgary made short work of Ottawa in a 48-3 romp as 10-point home favorites.

Thursday, Aug. 20

Montreal Alouettes (2-5 SU, 3-3-1 ATS) vs. British Columbia Lions (3-4 SU, 3-4 ATS)
Point-spread: BC-3
Total: 49 ½

Game Overview

Montreal continues its downward spiral after a posting a 2-2 SU (2-1-1 ATS) start. Last week against Edmonton, the offense sputtered behind quarterback Rakeem Cato with just 178 yards passing. The ground game was also stopped in its tracks with a total of just 63 rushing yards. The Alouettes are now ranked seventh in the CFL in scoring with an average of 20.3 points a game.

The Lions are another team headed in the wrong direction following a 2-1 start (SU and ATS). They have now lost three of their last four games both ways while giving-up an average of 32 points a game. BC fell behind 21-0 in the first quarter of last week’s loss to Hamilton and never recovered. John Beck took over at quarterback for an ineffective Travis Lulay.

Betting Trends

The Alouettes are just 3-14 ATS in their last 17 road games against BC and the total has stayed UNDER in three of the last four meetings. This will be the first meeting this season.

Friday, Aug. 21

Hamilton Tiger-Cats (5-2 SU, 6-1 ATS) vs. Edmonton Eskimos (5-2 SU, 5-2 ATS)
Point-spread: Hamilton -2 ½
Total: 50

Game Overview

Hamilton is tied with Toronto for the early lead in the East Division behind an offense that is putting-up an average of 34.7 points a game, which is tops in the CFL. Leading the way has been quarterback Zach Collaros with a league-high 2,014 yards passing. He has tossed 14 touchdowns against six interceptions and his overall completion rate is an impressive 71.3 percent on 223 attempts.

Edmonton has forged to the top of the West Division along with Calgary behind the stingiest defense in the CFL. Through its first seven games, this unit has allowed a total of 101 points for an average of just 14.4 PPG. Matt Nichols continues to fill in for an injured Mike Reilly at quarterback, but James Franklin replaced him in the third quarter of last week’s win. Nichols is not listed on the injury report, but slotback Adarius Bowman is listed as questionable for Friday night.

Betting Trends

Edmonton has a slight 5-3 edge both SU and ATS in the last eight meetings and the total has stayed UNDER in three of the last four games. The Eskimos are 6-2 ATS in their last eight games against a team with a SU winning record.

Saturday, Aug. 22

Calgary Stampeders (5-2 SU, 1-6 ATS) vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders (0-7 SU, 1-6 ATS)
Point-spread: Calgary -7 ½
Total: 51 ½

Game Overview

The Stampeders come into this heated West Division rivalry with a head of steam after winning four of their last five games SU, but last week’s romp over Ottawa was the first time they covered the spread this year. Calgary quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell continued to light thing up with 243 yards passing and two touchdown throws in that game. He now has 1,865 passing yards on the year and nine touchdown throws.

Saskatchewan is coming off a bye week after a dismal 0-7 SU start. It covered ATS for the first time this season in Week 7’s tight 30-26 loss to Toronto as a nine-point road underdog. The total went OVER (49 points) for the first time in its last four games. Both Darian Durant and Kevin Glenn are on the shelf with serious injuries, so look for Brett Smith or possibly Tino Sunseri to get the start on Saturday for the Roughriders at quarterback.

Betting Trends

Calgary has won four of the last five meetings SU and it is 3-1-1 ATS. The total has gone OVER in three of the five games. This will be the first meeting between the two this year.

Sunday, Aug. 23

Ottawa RedBlacks (4-3 SU, 4-3 ATS) vs. Toronto Argonauts (5-2 SU, 5-2 ATS)
Point-spread: Toronto -9
Total: 50 ½

Game Overview

Ottawa will look to get back on track after last week’s pasting at the hands of Calgary. It has been one of the biggest surprises in the CFL this season with four victories it its first six games both SU and ATS. The RedBlacks are going to have to find a way to pick-up the pace on offense with a league-low 19.1 PPG. Last week Quarterback Henry Burris was replaced by Thomas DeMarco, but turnovers plagued this team all night long no matter who was under center.

The Argonauts have feasted on the bottom feeders in the CFL this season, but they are 1-2 SU (2-1 ATS) against teams with a SU winning record. Trevor Harris only threw for 168 yards in last Friday’s win over Winnipeg, but he tossed two touchdowns while completing 18 of his 24 total attempts. He is now ranked second in the CFL in total passing yards with 1,987 and his 16 touchdown throws are the most in the league.

Betting Trends

This will be the first meeting this season after these two East Division foes split last season’s series 1-1 both SU and ATS with the home team winning each time. The total stayed UNDER in both contests.

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2015 Regular Season Standings

West Division

GP W L T PTS F A HOME AWAY DIV STREAK

Calgary 7 5 2 0 10 185 151 5 - 0 - 0 0 - 2 - 0 1 - 0 - 0 W2

Edmonton 7 5 2 0 10 180 101 3 - 0 - 0 2 - 2 - 0 2 - 1 - 0 W1

BC 7 3 4 0 6 166 211 2 - 1 - 0 1 - 3 - 0 3 - 1 - 0 L1

Winnipeg 8 3 5 0 6 160 237 2 - 2 - 0 1 - 3 - 0 2 - 2 - 0 L2

Saskatchewan 7 0 7 0 0 174 225 0 - 4 - 0 0 - 3 - 0 0 - 4 - 0 L7



East Division

GP W L T PTS F A HOME AWAY DIV STREAK

Hamilton 7 5 2 0 10 243 136 3 - 0 - 0 2 - 2 - 0 1 - 1 - 0 W4

Toronto 7 5 2 0 10 193 183 2 - 0 - 0 3 - 2 - 0 0 - 1 - 0 W2

Ottawa 7 4 3 0 8 134 198 3 - 1 - 0 1 - 2 - 0 2 - 0 - 0 L1

Montreal 7 2 5 0 4 142 135 2 - 2 - 0 0 - 3 - 0 1 - 2 - 0 L3

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http://www.cfl.ca/video/index/id/114807/autostart/true

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CFL

Thursday, August 20


Ti-Cats pegged as road dogs in Edmonton

The biggest matchup on the CFL docket sees the Hamilton Tiger-Cats visiting the Edmonton Eskimos Friday night and the Westgate LV Superbook has tabbed the visitors as 2.5-point underdogs for the affair.

The Ti-Cats are tops in the Eastern Division with a 5-2 record (6-1 against the spread) while the Eskimos are in second place in the Western Division with a 5-2 record (5-2 ATS).

The Superbook opened the total at 50.

Here is a look at the rest of the matchups and the odds courtesy the Westgate LV Superbook:

Montreal Alouettes at B.C. Lions (-3, 48.5)

Calgary Stampeders at Saskatchewan Roughriders (+6, 51.5)

Ottawa RedBlacks at Toronto Argonauts (-9, 50.5)


Finally a favorites weekend in the CFL

In a season where underdogs have dominated against the spread, we finally had a weekend where favorites came through for backers in the CFL.

With Toronto, Hamilton and Calgary all able to cover this weekend, favorites went 3-1 ATS in the four Week 8 matchups. The lone dog to cover was the Edmonton Eskimos.

Despite the solid weekend, favorites are still just 9-22-1 ATS to this point in the season.

The lines for Week 9 are currently off the board.

[StarDust Bum]

CFL
Dunkel

Week 9

Montreal @ BC Lions

Game 291-292
August 20, 2015 @ 10:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Montreal
112.246
BC Lions
111.148
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Montreal
by 1
54
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
BC Lions
by 3
49
Dunkel Pick:
Montreal
(+3); Over

Hamilton @ Edmonton

Game 293-294
August 21, 2015 @ 9:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Hamilton
111.463
Edmonton
116.436
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Edmonton
by 5
45
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Hamilton
by 2 1/2
50
Dunkel Pick:
Edmonton
(+2 1/2); Under

Calgary @ Saskatchewan

Game 295-296
August 22, 2015 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Calgary
117.328
Saskatchewan
108.813
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Calgary
by 8 1/2
54
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Calgary
by 6
51 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Calgary
(-6); Over

Ottawa @ Toronto

Game 297-298
August 23, 2015 @ 4:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Ottawa
108.486
Toronto
119.463
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Toronto
by 11
56
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Toronto
by 9
50 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Toronto
(-9); Over

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CFL

Long Sheet

Thursday, August 20

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MONTREAL (2 - 5) at BRITISH COLUMBIA (3 - 4) - 8/20/2015, 10:05 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
MONTREAL is 3-2 against the spread versus BRITISH COLUMBIA over the last 3 seasons
MONTREAL is 3-2 straight up against BRITISH COLUMBIA over the last 3 seasons
3 of 5 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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Friday, August 21

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HAMILTON (5 - 2) at EDMONTON (5 - 2) - 8/21/2015, 9:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
EDMONTON is 17-8 ATS (+8.2 Units) in games played on turf over the last 2 seasons.
HAMILTON is 10-2 ATS (+7.8 Units) in road games when playing on a Friday over the last 3 seasons.
HAMILTON is 12-3 ATS (+8.7 Units) in road games when playing with 6 or less days rest over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
HAMILTON is 2-1 against the spread versus EDMONTON over the last 3 seasons
EDMONTON is 2-2 straight up against HAMILTON over the last 3 seasons
3 of 4 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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Saturday, August 22

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CALGARY (5 - 2) at SASKATCHEWAN (0 - 7) - 8/22/2015, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
SASKATCHEWAN is 116-82 ATS (+25.8 Units) as an underdog since 1996.
CALGARY is 112-84 ATS (+19.6 Units) when playing with 6 or less days rest since 1996.
SASKATCHEWAN is 8-17 ATS (-10.7 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
SASKATCHEWAN is 8-17 ATS (-10.7 Units) in all lined games over the last 2 seasons.
SASKATCHEWAN is 8-17 ATS (-10.7 Units) in games played on turf over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
CALGARY is 3-2 against the spread versus SASKATCHEWAN over the last 3 seasons
CALGARY is 4-2 straight up against SASKATCHEWAN over the last 3 seasons
4 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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Sunday, August 23

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OTTAWA (4 - 3) at TORONTO (5 - 2) - 8/23/2015, 4:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
OTTAWA is 15-32 ATS (-20.2 Units) in road games since 1996.
OTTAWA is 15-32 ATS (-20.2 Units) in road lined games since 1996.
OTTAWA is 14-28 ATS (-16.8 Units) in road games in games played on turf since 1996.
TORONTO is 3-11 ATS (-9.1 Units) as a favorite of 3.5 to 9.5 points over the last 3 seasons.
TORONTO is 0-7 ATS (-7.7 Units) in home games after 2 or more consecutive straight up wins over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
TORONTO is 1-1 against the spread versus OTTAWA over the last 3 seasons
TORONTO is 1-1 straight up against OTTAWA over the last 3 seasons
2 of 2 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

[StarDust Bum]

CFL

Week 9

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Trend Report
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Thursday, August 20

10:00 PM
MONTREAL vs. BRITISH COLUMBIA
Montreal is 7-15 ATS in its last 22 games when playing British Columbia
Montreal is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against British Columbia
The total has gone OVER in 5 of British Columbia's last 6 games at home
British Columbia is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games


Friday, August 21

9:00 PM
HAMILTON vs. EDMONTON
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Hamilton's last 6 games when playing on the road against Edmonton
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Hamilton's last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Edmonton's last 6 games when playing Hamilton
Edmonton is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games


Saturday, August 22

7:00 PM
CALGARY vs. SASKATCHEWAN
Calgary is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Saskatchewan
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Calgary's last 8 games when playing Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing at home against Calgary
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Saskatchewan's last 5 games when playing at home against Calgary


Sunday, August 23

4:00 PM
OTTAWA vs. TORONTO
Ottawa is 5-15-1 SU in its last 21 games ,
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Ottawa's last 6 games when playing on the road against Toronto
Toronto is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games
Toronto is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home

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CFL

Thursday, August 20

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Game of the day: Alouettes at Lions
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Travis Lulay has thrown four touchdowns and seven interceptions over the Lions' past three games.

Montreal Alouettes at BC Lions (-3, 48.5)

The BC Lions look to get back on track when they host the Montreal Alouettes on Thursday. The Lions have dropped three of their last four games following an embarrassing 52-22 loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats as they allowed the most points in a single game since a 55-9 setback to the Calgary Stampeders in 1998.

BC quarterback Travis Lulay threw two more interceptions to give him seven in his last three games, and the Lions hope he can regain his confidence as they strive to beat the Alouettes in Vancouver for the fifth straight time. Montreal looks to get back into the win column after dropping a 15-12 decision to the Edmonton Eskimos in Week 8. It was a familiar story for the Alouettes, who held a late lead in the fourth quarter before falling on a last-second field goal to lose their third consecutive game by three points. Montreal's five defeats this season have come by a combined 15 points, and it looks to turn its fortunes around by replicating a 50-17 victory over the Lions in the East Division semifinals last year.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, TSN, RDS

LINE HISTORY: The opening lines have yet to move since hitting the board at BC -3, 48.5.

INJURY REPORT: Alouettes - N/A Lions - G Cody Husbad (Ques-Undisclosed), DL Ese Mrabure-Ajufo (Ques-Undisclosed)

ABOUT THE ALOUETTES (2-5 SU, 4-3 ATS, 1-6 O/U): Rakeem Cato was limited to 14-of-22 passing with an interception, and failed to throw a touchdown pass for the first time since a Week 3 loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Montreal defensive end Michael Sam, who is the CFL's first openly gay player, announced his decision to take a break from football because of personal reasons. "The last 12 months have been very difficult for me to the point where I became concerned with my own mental health," Sam said on Twitter. "Because of this I am going to step away from the game at this time."

ABOUT THE LIONS (3-4 SU, 2-4-1 ATS, 4-3 O/U): Lulay went 13-of-20 for 139 yards and two interceptions in the loss to the Tiger-Cats and has failed to top 200 yards passing in each of his last two games while Andrew Harris, who leads the CFL in rushing, was held to 36 yards. "We didn't come to play," Harris told reporters. "It's hard to be perfect every day." BC linebacker Solomon Elimimian, who won the CFL's Most Outstanding Player award in 2014, suffered a torn Achilles tendon against Hamilton and was placed on the six-game injured list.

TRENDS:

*Alouettes are 3-14 ATS in their last 17 meetings in BC.
*Lions are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games in Week 9.
*Under is 5-0 in Alouettes last 5 vs. a team with a losing record.
*Over is 5-0-1 in Lions last 6 home games.

CONSENSUS: 63.7 percent of users are backing the Lions -3 with 58 percent on the under.

[StarDust Bum]

CFL

Thursday, August 20


Alouettes continue to be strongest under team

Through their first seven games this season, the Montreal Alouettes are 1-6 over/under.

The Als are combining a poor offense (7th in CFL) and a stellar defense (2nd in the CFL) to be a hot under play this season. Als games have an average of 39.6 points per game scored with an average closing total of 48.5.

The Alouettes visit the BC Lions Thursday with the total currently set at 48.5.

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CFL

Armadillo's Write-Up

Thursday, August 20

Montreal (2-5) @ BCLions (3-4)-- Alouettes lost last three games, all by a FG, all after they led at halftime; they were outscored 35-13 in second half of last three games, are 0-3 on road, 2-0 as road underdogs, losing by 2 at Winnipeg, 3 at both Calgary/Ottawa. Home side won last nine series games; Alouettes lost last four visits here, all by 22+ points; five of last six played here stayed under. Lions lost three of last four games; they lost 50-17 at Montreal in playoffs last fall, last series meeting.