Archive for April, 2010

April 30th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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Kentucky Derby Picks

Confused with what to do with the 20 horse field in the Kentucky Derby this year? No worries! Cappers Info has you covered! Here is a look at the four horses that we are projecting out of this crop of three year olds to be the ones that are on the board at the end of Saturday afternoon's big race at Churchill Downs!

Paddy O'Prado (+1600 at BetUS Sportsbook - 100% Bonus) – A little luck of the Irish, shall we? The big grey colt won't be one to miss on the track on Saturday afternoon, as he'll be the grey blur that is always just on the outside of your television screen that starts to inch up towards the front of the pack as a stalker for the duration of the race. Unfortunately, we'd love to make Paddy O'Prado the winner of this race, but we just don't believe that he has the tools to get all the way to the front. As a traditional Irish turf horse though, running the full 1 1/4 miles isn't going to be an issue whatsoever. It's going to be hard for us to take this horse off of the board.

Mission Impazible (+2000 at BetUS Sportsbook - 100% Bonus) – Every year it feels like there's a horse that comes out of nowhere in the closing furlong or so that finds his way onto the board that screws up all of the odds. Last year, Mine That Bird did just that and more, as he actually won the race from well off the pace and posted the second highest "To Win" price that the Derby has ever seen. Mission Impazible won't be a horse that does all of that damage, but he can make an impact from the parking lot in this one if the horses around him aren't careful.

Dublin (+1200 at BetUS Sportsbook - 100% Bonus) – Dublin has been a bridesmaid a number of times, but has never quite had the opportunity to be a bride. Champion trainer D. Wayne Lukas knows that he has a very dangerous horse in this race, as Dublin has never gone off at less than 9/2 in any race that he has run. That won't be the case at the Derby, as he'll probably be one of the mid-range choices. Dublin feels like he finishes on the board in every race that he runs, and this probably won't be an exception. Unlike some other colts who ran against weaker fields, Dublin has taken on all challengers. Though he has come up short every time to date, this could be his race.

Lookin At Lucky (+375 at BetUS Sportsbook - 100% Bonus) – Lookin At Lucky was always on the radar, but he was never considered the real favorite to win this race until previous favorite Eskendereya was scratched last week. Now all of a sudden, people are paying attention to the horse that won five stakes races in preparation for the Kentucky Derby. Lookin At Lucky is the only $1M horse in this field, which immediately gives him a ton of credibility. Now all that has to happen is that he has to find a way to do something that no horse has done since 1986: Win from the rail. If Lookin At Lucky can have a relatively clean ride, he is going to be the horse to beat on Saturday afternoon.

Cappers Info Superfecta  – #1 Lookin At Lucky – #17 Dublin – #14 Mission Impazible – #10 Paddy O'Prado

 
April 29th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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The NFL Network is back with Week 5 AFL betting action from Amway Arena, as the Orlando Predators (0-2, 0-2 ATS) take on the Iowa Barnstormers (1-2, 1-2 ATS) in their first home game of the season.

Iowa Barnstormers (+7) @ Orlando Predators

Iowa Notes: The Barnstormers got into the win column for the first time this season when they took out the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz last week at home in "The Barn." QB Ryan Vena had his best game of the young season. Even though he only threw for 217 yards, he accounted for seven total touchdowns. Iowa's offense only turned the ball over one time. WR Jesse Schmidt is off to a great start this year, as he has already picked up 352 yards and five touchdowns receiving, three of which came in last week's win. There are still a ton of questions about the Iowa defense, as the unit has given up at least 60 points in all of its games this year, but the unit came up big when it had to in the third quarter against Oklahoma City, as it was down ten points and the football with less than half the quarter to play. Iowa didn't give up a touchdown on four straight possessions, its best string of the season.

Orlando Notes: Orlando enjoyed its second and final bye week of the season last week and is now ready to open the doors at "The Jungle" for the first time since the end of the 2008 season. The Predators have to be angry coming off of an embarrassing 57-31 loss at Jacksonville on national television two weeks ago at the Jacksonville Sharks. It was the worst road loss that the team had suffered in six years. Orlando's defense has only gotten four stops all season long, and the defensive line has yet to record a sack. The Predators may have the best set of wide receivers in the league, led by WR TT Toliver, who already has nearly 400 all-purpose yards on the year.

The Final Word: Iowa is a sneaky team that many don't know anything about. Two losses against Milwaukee and Chicago came against the only two undefeated teams left in the league. The win against Oklahoma City wasn't much to write home about either. We tend to believe that the Predators are going to notch their first win of the season in front of their home crowd, but doing so by more than a touchdown isn't likely. If Vena can keep the football for the Barnstormers, Iowa shouldn't have too tough of a time walking out of the Sunshine State with a cover.

Prediction: Orlando 54 – Iowa 51

 
April 28th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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Click Here For Free 2010 Kentucky Derby Picks

Last year, Mine That Bird stole the Kentucky Derby with jockey Calvin Borel riding. No one saw the three year old colt sneak between horses to jolt to the front of the crowded pack of 20 horses, just like no one at the betting mutuels saw it coming either. Mine That Bird cashed in for his horse racing betting fans at a cool 50.60-1, making him the second longest shot to ever win the Run for the Roses.

Giacomo pulled off a very similar feat in 2005, running from the far outside for a late close on what was supposed to be an incredible field of three year olds. He went off at 50.30-1 for a similar payout.

We don't expect you to remember the longest shot ever to win the Derby, Donerail back in 1913 (91.45-1).

On the day that the posts are drawn for the 136th Kentucky Derby, we have to go back and ponder why these major upsets are occurring in the first leg of this Triple Crown.

We were given a sharp dose of reality once again when Eskendereya was scratched from this year's Derby. Many thought that he was going to go off as a supreme favorite to win the race. Instead, Lookin At Lucky, a horse that was nearly perfect as a two year old but didn't perform all that well in his prep races, will most likely take the honors as the horse to beat.

This year's field will probably include a real mish-mosh of horses, including a filly that had mixed results against her own breed (Devil May Care), a trio of horses that have only been one hit wonders (Endorsement at the Sunland Derby, Ice Box at the Florida Derby, and Line of David at the Arkansas Derby), a horse that made almost all of its money as a two year old and has been awful since turning three (Homeboykris), a horse that has been the favorite nearly every time out yet has underachieved (Dublin), and even a horse that only has one career race under his belt on dirt… and he lost by 34 lengths (Dean's Kitten).

Yes, it's becoming more and more apparent that the so-called "Sport of Kings" is evolving into a crapshoot where we go to the track and try our best to handicap out horses that have been the picture of inconsistency.

However, that doesn't mean that the oddsmakers aren't going to throw a few curveballs on the board that could be incredibly profitable on Saturday afternoon. Here at Cappers Info, we'll have our eyes glued to all of the odds and the racing ins and outs for Saturday's Run for the Roses, so be sure to check back to the Cappers Info blog as the weekend draws nearer!

Check Out Some of These Horse Racing Betting Systems & Tools
 
April 25th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor
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The stock market goes up and down on a regular basis, and the market for Super Bowl betting lines has adjusted dramatically after the events of the 2010 NFL Draft weekend. Here at Cappers Info, we're looking at what stocks you should be buying and selling for the upcoming season!

Buy: Oakland Raiders 80/1 at Bodog Sportsbook – Are we really going to buy Oakland Raiders stock? Why not? Consider the fact that the rest of the AFC West is just pitiful now that the Chargers have completely revamped their team (we'll talk about them in a second) and the Broncos (whom we'll also discuss) aren't taking any steps in the right direction either. Oakland grabbed its franchise quarterback for a 2012 fourth round pick in the form of QB Jason Campbell from the Redskins. Campbell has all the talent in the world, and he can successfully lead this franchise to a respectable season and maybe even a playoff berth if the cards all fall right. At odds this long, the silver and black may be worth a shot.

Sell: San Diego Chargers 10/1 at Bodog Sportsbook – Trading up to get RB Ryan Mathews was a big reach for the Chargers. He's no LaDainian Tomlinson of old, and when you factor in the departure of DB Antonio Cromartie as well, the Bolts don't look to be as dominant as they once were. Sure, QB Philip Rivers is going to win games by himself at times this year, but there's no way that San Diego is winning one out of ten Super Bowls with this team that it has assembled. This is definitely a team that is on the downswing at this point, and it must know that the window of opportunity is starting to really close quickly.

Buy: Baltimore Ravens 18/1 at Bodog Sportsbook – Last year, the Ravens had a scary team that finished 9-7 and made the playoffs. Now, Baltimore has four rookies to add to its collection that can really make a big difference immediately even though it didn't have a first round draft pick. LB Sergio Kindle can step in opposite of LB Terrell Suggs and wreck havoc in that 3-4 scheme, while DT Terrence Cody next to DT Haloti Ngata is just going to be frightening. Don't discount TEs Dennis Pitta and Ed Dickson either, who both add athleticism to a team in dire need of it on the offensive end of the field. With the Steelers missing QB Ben Roethlisberger for six games and many believing that the Bengals were a flash in the pan last year, Baltimore is the team to watch in the AFC North.

Sell: Denver Broncos 50/1 at Bodog Sportsbook – It seems as though the books have caught on to how miserable this team could really be this year. The Broncos didn't do anything to help themselves in this offseason, as they essentially traded Brandon Marshall out for Demaryius Thomas, who has a lot of questions surrounding him after playing in an option offense at Georgia Tech. With a ton of holes still on the team, Denver traded back into the first round to draft QB Tim Tebow, who may never be able to help the team out. If the Broncos are right about the Florida Gator, they may be able to stay competitive. But in all likelihood, they're destined for yet another yet without a playoff berth.

 
April 23rd, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

On Friday night, the Utah Blaze will take on the Chicago Rush as one of the biggest underdogs in the history of Arena Football. Here at Cappers Info, we've got your free AFL picks for the game, as well as the entire Friday night card handicapped out for you to invest in.

Utah Blaze (+23) @ Chicago Rush

Utah Notes: The Blaze have clearly been one of the most disappointing teams in the AFL this year. However, they took a major step in the right direction last week with QB Brett Elliott starting in place of the owner's son, QB Michael Affleck, who was absolutely miserable in Utah's first game of the year against Spokane. Elliott's numbers aren't solid either, as 353 yards and six TDs against a pick with a completion percentage of under 60 percent still makes him arguably the worst starting quarterback in this league, but he at least gave Utah a chance in a 63-54 loss at home to Alabama. This is Utah's first road game of the 2010 campaign.

Chicago Notes: Even though the Tulsa Talons are still considered by many as the top team in the league, the Rush were voted upon as #1 in the AFL Coaches Power Poll this week, gaining that spot from a Tulsa team that held the distinction prior to Weeks 2 and 3. Chicago is scoring a hefty 63.3 points per game this season, albeit against relatively subpar competition. QB Russ Michna is a big reason for the success of HC Mike Hohensee's team, as he is completing 64.2 percent of his passes for 791 yards and 21 TDs against three picks so far this year. Coach Ho would love to see his veteran quarterback cut down on his turnovers, as he has committed seven blunders this season. All three starting wide receivers have at least five receiving touchdowns on the year. The real difference has been a defense which has combined for five sacks and an AFL-leading ten interceptions on the season.

The Final Word: We were burned last week playing against this Chicago team going into a very hostile environment. This week, we're going to go against the Rush again, but we're going to have a heck of a lot of points on our side. Catching 23 points in this league is relatively absurd, as a 64-35 game in the dying moments can be an absolute obliteration but still turn into a backdoor cover. The Blaze showed some sort of spunk and stuck with Alabama last week, and we think they can stay within three touchdowns yet again in the Windy City. Getting away from home may be the best thing that happens to this team.

Prediction: Chicago 61 – Utah 44

Friday Night AFL Week 4 Card
Utah +23 @ Chicago
Tulsa +5.5 @ Arizona

 
April 20th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

Cappers Info's 2010 NFL Draft coverage starts with our analysis of the AFC teams and what position each team needs to address and what they might do with their first pick in the draft this year.

Kansas City Chiefs: Barring any trades, the Chiefs are the first team to make a selection in the AFC this year at #4. Drafting an offensive lineman makes a lot of sense for Kansas City, as QB Matt Cassel was under constant harassment last year. It is also going to need to address a lot of defensive positions, so even though Eric Berry may be a decent option, Iowa T Bryan Bulaga makes the most sense.

Cleveland Browns: What don't the Browns need? If by chance Sam Bradford is still on the board, he seems to be the logical selection for a team that just doesn't have a quarterback right now. However, in the likelihood that he is gone, it's probably just going to be a case where this team takes the best player available. Tennessee S Eric Berry may be the best player in this draft period, and he'll be a great addition for Cleveland at #7.

Oakland Raiders: Does anyone in the Oakland War Room have any idea what Al Davis is thinking? Save perhaps a quarterback and a running back, the Raiders could do just about anything at Pick #8, as the team just has a million gaps in their lineup. If Oklahoma T Trent Williams is still available, expect to see him be in silver and black next year.

Buffalo Bills: Quarterback. That's where the Bills have to go at some point in this draft, but there's still a question if Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen is that man or not. There's a big need for an explosive playmaker on the offensive side of the ball as well. Buffalo is also certainly going offense with this pick, and we can see the Bills taking Clemson RB CJ Spiller with the #9 pick.

Jacksonville Jaguars: If the Jaguars trade down, don't be shocked if QB Tim Tebow is the pick for them considering that he is the local boy and a Jacksonville native. However, if they stay at #10, they're going to need to probably address the defense at some point for a team that only registered 14 sacks all year in 2009. Georgia Tech DE Derrick Morgan is a logical choice.

Denver Broncos: The Broncos need some major help on defense, but they also have glaring needs at offensive line and wide receiver. With WR Brandon Marshall now gone, this could be where Oklahoma State WR Dez Bryant ultimately ends up in what could be a total slam dunk or a horrifying blunder by the Denver front office.

Miami Dolphins: Miami's wide receiver problem was addressed by picking up the aforementioned Marshall, so the Fins are probably going defense. Considering the 3-4 defensive scheme, if Alabama LB Rolando McClain fell this far, the Dolphins would be doing cartwheels.

Tennessee Titans: The Titans are going to have to fill a major hole at defensive end with DE Kyle Vanden Bosch leaving through free agency. Morgan may still be on the board this late, but if he isn't, South Florida DE Jason Pierre-Paul, who has been rocketing up draft boards could be the pick. Don't be shocked to see a linebacker go here as well, especially if McClain is still available.

Pittsburgh Steelers: The Steelers have a huge need at offensive line for an aging group that did a miserable job of protecting QB Ben Roethlisberger last season. There are going to be plenty of options available here. In order, Pittsburgh would probably prefer Rutgers OT Anthony Davis, Idaho OT Mike Iupati, or Florida C Maurkice Pouncey.

Houston Texans: The Texans have made no bones about what they're aiming at in this year's draft. They need a running back and a defensive back of some kind. A reach for RB Ryan Mathews is possible, but if S Earl Thomas is there, he's going to be the pick. Houston already failed once by passing on a local Texas boy by not drafting LB Derrick Thomas (and instead going with Florida State DT Travis Johnson, who has never been heard from since), so it won't pass on a chance to grab a local star again.

Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals would be awfully upset at #21 if Houston grabbed Thomas one pick in front of them, but another Texas man would be a logical pick as well with LB Sergio Kindle. A wide receiver is also an option here, as WR Chad Ochocinco badly needs another friend in his receiving corps.

New England Patriots: Ever since Bill Parcells was calling the shots in New England, the Pats have gone with the "best player available" strategy. There really aren't any glaring holes on this team, but there are going to be plenty of value picks here. Bryant may still be on the board, but TE Jermaine Grisham is a better selection and can really stretch the middle of the field and open things up for WR Randy Moss on the outside.

Baltimore Ravens: Picking up WR Anquan Boldin from the Cardinals probably ended Baltimore's search for wide receivers, which opens the door for one of the most frightening defenses in the NFL to try to reload just a bit more. Penn State's DE Jared Odrick is another man that could step into the fold as a madman hybrid type of player that the Ravens just love. He could be the pick at #25.

San Diego Chargers: The Bolts have left themselves with some major holes to fill this season after getting rid of RB LaDainian Tomlinson and DB Antonio Cromartie. If Fresno State's RB Ryan Mathews is still on the board, he is a logical selection, as San Diego loves those smaller type of running backs that can zip through small holes.

New York Jets: If the Jets believe that there is any chance that DT Kris Jenkins might not be ready for the season, taking a nose tackle may be a wise option this late in the first round. Tennessee's Dan Williams is a perfect fit for this defense, though Alabama DT Terrance "Mount" Cody is also an option. If nothing else, Cody could rival HC Rex Ryan as the biggest man on the team bus.

Indianapolis Colts: Trying to figure out what the Colts are going to draft is always a difficult prospect. They really don't have any major glaring needs, it does seem as though the offensive line is where GM Bill Polian is going to want to go. The run on offensive linemen may be gone though. Still, USC OT Charles Brown seems like a logical fit.

 
April 20th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

Cappers Info's 2010 NFL Draft coverage continues with our analysis of the NFC teams and what position each team needs to address and what they might do with their first pick in the draft this year.

St. Louis Rams: The Rams still have to decide if they want to go with a defensive tackle or Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford with the #1 pick in the draft. Bradford is the far more logical option in spite of the fact that the team just traded former first round DT Adam Carricker. Look for the Oklahoma signal caller to be the man under center in St. Louis for the next decade.

Detroit Lions: There doesn't seem to be much doubt about the fact that the Lions are going with a defensive tackle in Round 1 of the draft. Even though most prefer the man that Tampa Bay is going to be looking at, expect yet another Sooner DT Gerald McCoy to be the selection. Left tackle is also a huge team need to protect last year's #1 overall pick QB Matthew Stafford.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: If the Lions really take McCoy, you'll see someone in pewter running up to the podium with the name "Ndamukong Suh" on a card. Many feel as though the Nebraska DT is the best player on the board in this draft, and the Bucs would love to have him. Tampa Bay will address needs at wide receiver and defensive back (specifically safety) as well in this draft.

Washington Redskins: QB Jimmy Clausen could be the pick for the Skins, as Donovan McNabb is most likely only a short term answer. However, knowing owner Daniel Snyder, he'll want Washington to take an immediate impact player. There's almost no doubt that one of the offensive linemen behemoths is going to be the pick here, so we'll look for Washington to go with Oklahoma State OT Russell Okung.

Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks have a pair of first round picks to work with this year, and if they're feeling frisky, they may try to package them to move up in the draft. However, landing any of the offensive tackles in the top end of the round should suit Seattle, and Oklahoma OT Trent Williams is a legitimate choice.

San Francisco 49ers: If Clausen slips this far, San Francisco is going to be thrilled to have him at #13. Regardless, the Niners are going to be looking for a playmaker, and if Clemson RB CJ Spiller isn't still on the board, Florida's DB Joe Haden makes a lot of sense as well. This is probably going to be a "best player available" type of situation. San Fran also picks at #17 as well.

New York Giants: Ideally, the Giants would land LB Rolando McClain from Alabama, but if he is already off of the board, they're probably going to have to go with a best player available feeling as well. Many are tabbing Rutgers OT Anthony Davis as the man here, but DE Jason Pierre Paul out of South Florida may be a possibility as well.

Atlanta Falcons: The cornerback problem for the Falcons was solved when DB Dunta Robinson was acquired via free agency. Atlanta would love to see either Pierre-Paul or Georgia Tech's DE Derrick Morgan fall to it as well, but if that doesn't happen, Michigan DE Brandon Graham seems to be the next best choice to be the bookend for John Abraham.

Green Bay Packers: It's going to be all about the defense for the Packers this year. They'd love to grab one of those in between type of LB/DEs, and TCU's Jerry Hughes fits that mold perfectly. He's the most logical selection at Pick #23.

Philadelphia Eagles: Whether it is a safety or a corner, it seems that defensive back is the biggest concern for HC Andy Reid and the Eagles. Texas S Earl Thomas makes sense, but Boise State DB Kyle Wilson is a solid athlete that will fit in well with a very physically gifted Philly squad.

Arizona Cardinals: The Cardinals are a bit of a mess after a tumultuous offseason. They're going to need to address several defensive positions, but the offense isn't exactly solid as well. If Florida State's Patrick Robinson is still sitting there, Arizona may grab him as a big corner to go up against some of the strong passing games in the NFC West.

Dallas Cowboys: Glitz and glamour. That's what the Cowboys have always been about. Don't be overly shocked if this is where QB Tim Tebow comes off the board, but more logically speaking, safety is a big need. Jerry Jones would be happy to see USC's S Taylor Mays still sitting there for him at #27.

Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings may elect to draft a quarterback for the future here in Texas QB Colt McCoy or Tebow, but we think that defensive tackle is going to be the better option for a team that is starting to get really old at that position. Alabama's Terrance Cody would be a "huge" acquisition for Minnesota at #30.

New Orleans Saints: Though a safety would be nice to replace Darren Sharper, outside linebacker is also a prime concern for the defending champs. Missouri's Sean Weatherspoon is a freakish athlete that can fly around the field, and he's just the type of player that HC Sean Payton's defense needs to invest in.

Chicago Bears: The Bears don't have a first round draft pick courtesy of the deal that brought QB Jay Cutler to town. Expect to see Chicago go after either an offensive linemen or possibly one of the several playmaking wide receivers to compliment Devin Hester.

Carolina Panthers: Carolina could really use a quarterback right now to replace QB Jake Delhomme. Though the Panthers don't have a first round pick, they may be in a position at #48 to snare Tim Tebow if he falls that far. If not, Colt McCoy could also be an option. A speed rusher to replace the departed DE Julius Peppers may also be in line.

 
April 16th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

The NBA playoff betting series prices are posted at BetUS Sportsbook, and here at Cappers Info, we're making our picks for the eight teams that will survive to reach the Conference Semifinals in the quest to be called NBA Champions.

Los Angeles Lakers (-800) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder  - The Thunder aren't your average #8 seed, as they won 50 games this year and proved that their youthful exuberance can give anyone trouble. Even though they can be expected to play the Lakers tight in each game in this series, there isn't a man on this team that has any real experience at this level. In close games, we're banking on G Kobe Bryant, who has been there and done that, to shine brightly and bring the purple and gold to the second round.

Dallas Mavericks (-175) vs. San Antonio Spurs – Dallas has taken on a completely new persona since the Caron Butler deal, and now, F Dirk Nowitzki has the best supporting cast around him that he has had in years. The Spurs have been banged up all season long, but they appear to be as healthy as they're going to be for the remainder of the postseason. San Antonio has all of the playoff experience in the world, but this is the year that the Mavs really could make a run at the whole enchilada. We like the boys from Big D to get through in a lengthy six-game series.

Phoenix Suns (-600) vs. Portland Trail Blazers – What a terrible break the Blazers suffered when they lost G Brandon Roy for the remainder of the playoffs! Without Roy, Portland's already anemic offense really just loses all of its punch. Phoenix runs up and down the court and will probably score in the vicinity of its 110.2 points per game. Anything near that should be enough to dismiss a bunch of Blazers that just have to be devastated by their loss.

Denver Nuggets (-170) vs. Utah Jazz – Here's another case where injuries are probably going to turn the tide in a series. Fs Andrei Kirilenko and Carlos Boozer are both up in the air for the start of Utah's series against Denver. Not having both in the lineup really hurt this team, as there would've been a huge difference between being the #3 seed had it beaten the Suns on Wednesday and the #5 seed where it sits now. The Nuggs went 34-7 at home this year, and even though Utah also went 34-7 on its home court, that pivotal seventh game being at Pepsi Arena may make all the difference. Don't be shocked if the home team win all seven games in this series.

Cleveland Cavaliers (-4000) vs. Chicago Bulls – Now, we're not suggesting that you actually lay -4000 on the Cavs at this point, but it's hard to see how Chicago, which just went .500 at 41-41 this year, can win four games against the best team in the NBA. Cleveland just has too much oomph, and barring a catastrophic injury to F LeBron James, it won't even break a sweat getting through the first round of the playoffs.

Orlando Magic (-1000) vs. Charlotte Bobcats – The Magic posted the best record in the NBA in the second half of the season, and they won their final six games both SU and ATS to help make a statement to the rest of the league. Orlando was the representative for the Eastern Conference last year, and it will take the first step towards going back to the NBA Finals in what should be a relatively quick series against an overmatched Charlotte franchise that has never tasted the postseason.

Atlanta Hawks vs. Milwaukee Bucks (+525) – If there's an upset brewing in the first round of the playoffs, this could be it. This is a nice price on a Milwaukee team that just has heart, grit, and tenacity and plays its heart out every single night. Even though C Andrew Bogut isn't in the lineup, the Bucks still have a deeper team than the Hawks do. Atlanta is clearly the more talented team, but this is a winnable series for Milwaukee.

Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat (+150) – This is another nice price on an underdog that is capable of pulling off an upset or two in the playoffs. G Dwyane Wade is going to be the most talented player on the court at all times in this series, which is going to keep the Heat in every game. The Celtics were only a .500 team over their L/54 games of the season, and they're overrated going into this best-of-seven set. If Miami can find anyone else aside from Wade to help take the pressure off, they can finish this series off in six games.

 
April 15th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

Friday night's AFL betting action that we're keeping our eyes on comes from the desert, where the Arizona Rattlers will play host to the Chicago Rush.

Chicago Rush @ Arizona Rattlers (+3.5)

Chicago Notes: Chicago was good enough to score a 59-56 win over the Gladiators to move to 2-0 last week, but it wasn't enough to make the Rush 2-0 ATS as well, as they closed as 4.5 point underdogs after opening up as 11 point choices. QB Russ Michna went 22/27 for 315 yards with eight touchdowns and no interceptions. With numbers like that, forcing three QB John Dutton interceptions should've been more than enough for the Rush to win and win comfortably. Still, turning the ball over once on downs and once via a fumble just isn't good enough on a regular basis for this team, and HC Mike Hohensee knows that improvement is something that must take place for Chicago to win the ArenaBowl.

Arizona Notes: The Rattlers were off last week, so we only have one game worth of data on them to dissect. QB Nick Davila had his moments against Cleveland in Week 1, as he threw for 273 yards and four touchdowns. However, without two kick returns for touchdowns and four interceptions by the defense, Arizona would be entering this game at 0-1, not 1-0. Arizona has put together an interesting marketing strategy for this game on Friday night, as every single ticket to the game will be given out for free to everyone in attendance. A packed house in the Snake Pit is expected for the home opener in what will be the first professional football game in this country ever free to the public.

The Final Word: History tells us that the Rush are in bad shape going into Arizona. Chicago has won once there in franchise history, capturing a 53-47 win in May 2007. However, that was the first in five tries at the Pit for the Rush, even though they historically play decent football outside of the Windy City. The Rattlers are 5-1-1 ATS all-time in this series. Even though the two teams look very little like they did back in '08 the last time that they met, the historical results will hold true in this one. There's just too much going against Chicago in its first road game of the year to overcome, especially considering that this should be a raucous crowd in Phoenix to watch.

Prediction: Arizona 54 – Chicago 50

Friday Night AFL Week 3 Card
Arizona +3.5 vs. Chicago
Tampa Bay -5.5 vs. Dallas

 
April 12th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

Send us your wounded. Send us your insane. Don't mind us. We'll just go contend for another Super Bowl.

That's what the New York Jets are thinking right now. A year ago, they traded for the embattled Cleveland Browns WR Braylon Edwards. All he did from Week 5 through the end of the season in green and white was bring in 35 receptions for 541 yards and four scores. Though those numbers are relatively pedestrian, he was certainly a big play threat for rookie QB Mark Sanchez, who needed all the help that he could get to go along with WR Jerricho Cotchery, who only caught three touchdown passes in 2010.

For lack of a better term, was this franchise out of its mind? After all, acquiring Edwards on offense seemed to do nothing but compliment a defense that was already considered a bit off its rocker. That 'D', headed up by Captain Crazy himself, HC Rex Ryan, was insistent on sending six, seven, or maybe even eight blitzers on the same play.

That "crazy" club not only made the playoffs, but after they got there, Ryan proclaimed that the Jets should be the favorites, not just to win their first round game against the Bengals, but to "win the whole darn thing."

Pardon my French, but damn was he almost right!

GM Mike Tannenbaum continued the offseason shenanigans by signing RB LaDainian Tomlinson, a man that was basically cast out of San Diego for his declining stats. Is there any doubt that LT is going to go off for a dozen touchdowns again just to spite the Chargers?

The pillaging of the Bolts continued when the Jets traded a conditional mid-round draft pick for CB Antonio Cromartie. The former first round draft pick fell out of favor in San Diego, but he is still one of the most talented defensive backs in the league. Pair him with the rising star, DB Darrelle Revis, and New York could have the most talented secondary that the NFL has seen in decades.

Now on Monday, the Jets finalized a deal that sent Pittsburgh Steelers WR Santonio Holmes to the Big Apple for a fifth round draft pick.

Holmes had a real bust out year in 2009 for the Steelers, catching 79 balls for 1,248 yards. Now, he packs his bags to New York, even though he'll have to sit out the first four games of the year after getting nailed for substance abuse.

The schedule is going to be significantly hard this year for New York than it was a year ago when it swiped the final playoff spot in the AFC. However, if you can find the right price on the Jets, they may be worth taking.

Don't let the fact that Holmes and Edwards will be suspended for the first four games of the season scare you. This is still a team that plays ridiculous defense, and DT Kris Jenkins should be back to even further nail down that defense that really became prominent in the postseason.

On top of that, it's pretty clear that Ryan isn't afraid of taking on anyone. Bring on Brady. Bring on Manning. Let's get it on with Rivers.

One thing is for certain. If Ryan can figure out how to keep his Jets just as insane as they were in 2009, with or without all of the distractions and off the field issues, there isn't going to be a team in the NFL that wants to match up with them in the 2010 NFL betting campaign.

The Jets can be found at +1500 to win the Super Bowl at Sportsbook.com.