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06/23/2009 - Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - FACTS & FIGURES: Division - East. 2008 Record: 4-14. Playoff Result: None. Stadium - Rogers Centre. Capacity - 53,000. Colors: Oxford blue, Cambridge blue, White
The 2008 season was a disaster for the Toronto Argonauts. The club scored the fewest points in the eight-team CFL (397) and allowed the most points (627) en route to a 4-14 record. Their home record (2-7) matched their road mark, and there was virtually nothing to cheer about.
So why should fans take an interest in the 2009 squad, aside from loyalty to the home team, of course? Well, ownership made it blatantly obvious that the poor showing would not be tolerated and spent a ton of money on free agents in the off-season.
There is also a new man running the show, as Bart Andrus was hired as the team's head coach. Andrus comes with 25 years of coaching experience, including his work with the NFL's Tennessee Titans in an assistant role.
Toronto decided to begin the rebuilding process up front with the signing of two big-time linemen, Rob Murphy and Dominic Picard. The addition of those two players alone make the team more formidable, giving quarterback Kerry Joseph protection.
With the offense seemingly addressed, Toronto turned its attention to the defensive side of the ball.
The biggest move was not a signing but a trade, as the Argonauts acquired stud middle linebacker Zeke Moreno from Winnipeg for defensive end Riall Johnson. Moreno makes plays from sideline to sideline, and he will get help from Jason Pottinger.
The most notable loss for Toronto, aside from Johnson, was Dominique Dorsey, as he took his game to the NFL.
Ultimately, the team will only go as far as Joseph can take it, and he certainly has his critics as the season begins. Last year, the signal caller completed 57.3 percent of his passes for 4,174 yards with 17 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. He also ran for 493 yards and four scores, but he did commit some costly fumbles.
It remains to be seen if Jamal Richardson can emerge as a true workhorse tailback, something he failed to do last season with his inconsistent play.
Overall, this Toronto team should be better, especially with the improved offensive line. Still, expect more losses than wins.
Sportsbook Betting Lines Predicted Finish: Third
<< 2009 CFL Eastern Preview - Hamilton Tigercats
Hamilton, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - FACTS & FIGURES: Division - East. 2008 Record:
3-15. Playoff Result: None. Stadium - Ivor Wynne Stadium. Capacity - 29,600.
Colors: Black and Gold
The 2008 season was one to forget for the Hamilton Tigerca
<< 2009 CFL Western Preview - British Columbia Lions
Vancouver, BC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - FACTS & FIGURES: Division - West. 2008 Record
- 12-8. Playoff Result: Lost, 22-18, to Calgary in divison finals. Stadium -
B.C. Place. Capacity - 29,706. Colors - Orange, black and silver
Last season, had
<< Roddick, del Potro reach second round at Big W
Wimbledon, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two-time runner-up Andy Roddick and
fifth-seeded Argentine Juan Martin del Potro were a pair of first-round
winners Tuesday at Wimbledon.
The sixth-seeded Roddick hiccupped in the third set in an othe
<< 2009 CFL Western Preview - Saskatchewan Roughriders
Regina, SK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - FACTS & FIGURES: Division - West. 2008 Record -
12-6. Playoff Result: Lost, 33-12, to British Columbia in the West Division
semifinals. Stadium - Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field. Capacity - 30,945.
Colors - Gree
Red Wings part ways with Chelios >>
Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Detroit Red Wings will not re-sign
veteran defenseman Chris Chelios, ending his nearly decade-long run with the
team.
The Detroit News reported that Red Wings general manager Ken Holland met wit
Safina, Venus win Wimbledon openers >>
Wimbledon, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - World No. 1 Dinara Safina and two-
time defending champion Venus Williams were a pair of straight-set
victors in opening-round action Tuesday at the Wimbledon Championships.
The French Open and
Bulls midfielder Richards called up by Jamaica >>
Secaucus, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New York Red Bulls midfielder Dane Richards has
been called up by the Jamaican national team for the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup and
will miss time with the Red Bulls starting July 1.
The Red Bulls have only one ma
Canada adds Dynamo's Hainault for Gold Cup >>
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Houston Dynamo defender Andrew Hainault was
named to Canada's 23-man roster for the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup, the Canadian
Soccer Association announced.
Hainault, 23, joined the Dynamo early this season f
In any football or basketball game (the main sports that use point spreads) there are two teams playing against each other.
Those teams, though, are rarely exactly evenly matched – meaning that typically one team has a better chance than the other to win the game. If bettors were allowed to bet on who was simply going to win the game, smart ones would obviously bet on the better team (likely winning more than 50% of the time in the process).
If winning were that easy the Las Vegas and online sportsbooks would stop taking any bets! This is where the point spread comes in: the basic function of the point spread is to balance the likelihood of each team “winning” by adjusting the final score by the point spread. After this adjustment is made you get the Against The Spread result (ATS result for short).
Let’s look at Super Bowl XXXIX, New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles. Most people believed the defending champ Patriots to be the better team – so if betting were simply based upon which team would win the game, an uneven majority of people would have wagered on New England. But, by using the point spread, the bookmakers adjusted the terms of the bet, evening the proposition so about half the people believed the Pats to be the smart bet, while the other half considered Philly to be the smart bet.
New England Patriots -7 vs. Philadelphia Eagles
The better team, called the Favorite, is expected to win the game and must “give” or “lay” points to the weaker team. The favorite is listed with a minus sign and the number of points they are favored by (e.g., New England -7)
In the case of our example, New England must not only win the game, but they must win by more than 7 points for Pats bettors to have a winning ATS result. An Eagles bettor wins his bet either if:
There was also the possibility that the final score could land exactly on the spread number (for example, the Pats winning 28-21 when -7), which is called a “push” or “no action” and a refund is then issued to bettors of both teams.
The same game with the same point spread can be considered from the weaker team’s perspective: The Underdog (Philly in the case of our example) is not expected to win the game and online football betting thus receives or “gets” points given by the stronger team. When a game is stated from the underdog’s perspective the team is listed with a plus sign and the number of points they are underdogs by:
Philadelphia Eagles +7 vs. New England Patriots
Keep in mind that Philadelphia +7 and New England -7 is the same point spread on the same game, simply stated differently. The first is from the underdog’s perspective; the later is from the favorite’s.
Not a must, but for some a mathematical approach is insightful. You can determine the ATS winner by either:
Let’s look at the actual result of Super Bowl XXXIX: New England 24 Philadelphia 21
The favorite, New England, won the game but not by more than the point spread they were favored by (7), so the ATS result was a LOSS for Pats bettors.
Looking at it from the underdog’s perspective, Philly did not win the game, but they lost by less than the point spread (7), so the ATS result was a WIN for Eagle bettors.
Mathematically considered, 24 for the favorite Pats minus 7 equals 17, which is less than the 20 the Eagles scored, so the underdog Eagles win the ATS result (or you could figure 20 plus 7 equals 27 for the Eagles, which is more than 24 for the Pats).
Emily’s boyfriend understood the point spread and wagered $100 on the Eagles at +7. The Eagles may not have gotten a Super Bowl ring, but since they won the ATS result Emily’s boyfriend cashed his bet – giving him money to take her out to a nice dinner.
And now hopefully you understand how to read point spreads, putting you one step closer to joining the fun of sports betting.
To visit this internet sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting and World Series odds.
El Duque expected to throw Tuesday
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.
Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.
El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.
MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds.
Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.
New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.
Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''
Additional baseball lines and World Series odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.
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