Atlantafalcobs Basketball Betting News

<< Celtics look for third straight win against Pacers
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After opening the season with two impressive wins at home, the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics try their luck on the road for the first time in 2008-09 as they travel to Indiana for the Pacers' home opener. Kevin Gar

<< Sixers to test Hawks in Atlanta
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia 76ers head to Dixie to take on Atlanta in the Hawks' home opener at Philips Arena Saturday. The Sixers opened the season by splitting a pair of home games. After a lackluster loss to Toronto in the season-

<< Kjeldsen leads after round two of Volvo Masters
San Roque, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Soren Kjeldsen managed an even-par 71 on Saturday to finally complete the weather-plagued second round of the season- ending Volvo Masters. Kjeldsen finished 36 holes at six-under 136 and is two clear

<< In-Kyung Kim takes over lead in homeland
Incheon, South Korea (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - South Korean In-Kyung Kim posted a three-under 69 Saturday and took a one-stroke lead after two rounds of the Hana Bank - KOLON Championship. Hee-Won Han also carded a 69 Saturday to move into a share

Gone dry: Oilers try to halt skid in road test with Hurricanes >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After opening the season with four straight wins, the Oilers have gone cold at both ends of the ice. Edmonton will attempt to halt a five-game losing streak this afternoon in a test with the Carolina Hurricanes at the RBC Cen

Bruins return home to face Stars >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Bruins begin a three-game homestand tonight, when they welcome the Dallas Stars to TD Banknorth Garden. Boston is returning home from what can be considered a successful three-game road trip. Netminder Tim Thoma

Semin leads Caps into Buffalo to battle Sabres >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With their star Alexander Ovechkin struggling and over in his native Russia, the Capitals have relied on his countryman to pick up the scoring. Alexander Semin will try to lead Washington to another win tonight, as the club v

Rangers aim to extend hot start against Maple Leafs >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Off to their best start in franchise history, the New York Rangers head north this evening to take on the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre. New York was last in action on Thursday, when it posted a 3-2 win over At

Football Betting

The San Francisco 49ers (5-11 SU, 5-10-1 ATS in 2007; 1-1 SU & ATS in pre-season) found some offensive life last week, and they will try to build some momentum on Thursday night as they travel to the Windy City to take on the Chicago Bears (7-9 SU & ATS in 2007; 0-2 SU, 0-1-1 ATS in pre-season) in an NFL matchup that is set to get underway at 8 PM ET at Soldier Field (natural turf) in Chicago.

Thursday, August 21

NFL betting odds: CHICAGO -3 (-120), Total 37

NOTABLE STAT: San Francisco was last in points, last in total offense in 2007
KEY NFL BETTING TREND: SF has lost its last seven SU on pre-season road

In the BetUS NFL pre-season football betting odds, the Bears are listed as a three-point favorite (laying -120), with the total posted at 37 points.

Here are some NFL football betting trends as they relate to this matchup (reflecting numbers going into the 2008 season):

* SF has lost 11 of its last 14 games SU
* SF has covered three of its last 11 games
* SF has lost six of its last seven road games SU
* SF has covered one of its last seven road games
* CHI has covered five of its last eight games
* CHI has played five of its last seven games OVER the total
* CHI has covered four of its last 13 home games
* SF has lost its last seven pre-season road games SU
* CHI has covered two of its last seven home pre-season games

Well, I guess we should congratulate the Bears on making their quarterback choice for the season's opening game, as they have designated Kyle Orton the starter against Indianapolis. The Bears obviously have lost patience with Rex Grossman, and what they do with him at this point is anybody's guess. But suffice it to say that there isn't a quarterback competition anymore, at least in training camp.

Meanwhile, the quarterback competition may also be settled in San Francisco, where the Niners bounced back from a lackluster 18-6 loss to the Raiders, in which they turned the ball over four times, to execute a 34-6 rout of the Packers last Saturday. However, coach Mike Nolan has stopped short of saying that, insisting that the job is still open. But J.T. O'Sullivan, the longshot of the trio of Niner signal-callers who opened camp, will start his third straight pre-season game here. Against Green Bay, O'Sullivan was only 8-for-17, and was intercepted, but he also threw for 9.1 yards an attempt, which included a 59-yard TD pass to Josh Morgan. The others struggled.

Some offensive cohesion is badly needed, in light of the Niners' dismal 2007 campaign, in which they were dead last in the NFL in scoring, with just 13.7 points a game. And O'Sullivan is the guy who is most familiar with offensive coordinator Mike Martz's exacting system, because he learned it last year in Detroit. O'Sullivan will go at least the entire first half and may even last longer. He'll be relieved by Alex Smith, with Shawn Hill doing the mop-up work. Three receivers who were out last week - Bryant Johnson, Ashley Lelie and Arnaz Battle - will miss this game too.

That may hurt a little here, especially since the Bears will be using a lot of their defensive starters. And it's the defense that has been keeping the Bears in games thus far. In fact, the defense and special teams were responsible for the first 19 points Chicago scored against Seattle last time out, as the offense really struggled with Grossman at the controls. But maybe the first-team offense has a chance to settle a little bit as it works more with Orton at the helm.

Certainly we have concerns about the Bears' offensive line, but we like the scenario for them here, especially if O'Sullivan doesn't make some bis plays. The Niners may have nowhere else to turn right now, and they have lost seven straight road games in the pre-season. Let's take Chicago, the three-point favorite in the NFL football betting odds.

CHICAGO -3 (-120) **
(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)

The 2008 NFL betting lines season is almost upon us! If you like to bet on the NFL, you are in the best possible place for online betting. The sportsbook has NFL odds up on a ton of futures, and you will also find NFL lines up for early games as well. Join sportbook today and we'll help guide you right through to Super Bowl XLIII and beyond!

Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting odds .