VCU extends Smart's contract

NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

08/18/2010 - Richmond, VA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Shaka Smart, the head men's basketball coach at Virginia Commonwealth University, received a two-year contract extension on Wednesday.

In his first season on the job, Smart led the Rams to a 27-9 record, one win short of a school record. VCU won the College Basketball Invitational Championship.

"The job Coach Smart and his staff has done in a short period of time is remarkable," VCU athletics director Norwood Teague said. "In just over a year, they've had 27 wins in their first season and done just an unbelievable job on the recruiting trail. We're fortunate to be able to have this group of men leading our program and look forward to many more years together."

Ebettingofftrack NCAA Basketball Betting News


<< Bills safety Byrd out indefinitely with groin injury
Pittsford, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Buffalo Bills safety Jairus Byrd is out indefinitely after having surgery to repair a nagging groin injury. Byrd's rookie season in 2009 was cut short by the problem. He was felled after racking up 45

<< NASCAR releases 2011 schedules for top three series
Daytona Beach, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - NASCAR on Wednesday officially released its 2011 schedule for all three of its national touring series. As expected, there are several major changes to next year's schedule, particularly in the Sprint

<< Patriots reach injury settlement with Holt
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New England Patriots have reached an injury settlement with veteran wide receiver Torry Holt. The Boston Herald reported Wednesday evening that Holt and the team worked out a deal where the Patriots

<< Cowboys G Kosier out with MCL injury
Oxnard, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dallas Cowboys left guard Kyle Kosier will miss anywhere from 4-to-6 weeks after suffering what is believed to be a strained medial collateral ligament in his right knee. Kosier sustained the injury during

<< U.S. to host Poland at Soldier Field
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The United States men's national soccer team will face Poland on Oct. 9 at Soldier Field in Chicago, U.S. Soccer announced on Wednesday. "These fixture dates are a fantastic opportunity to have the group

Richard, Padres continue to roll in win over Cubs >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Clayton Richard allowed just one run in 6 2/3 strong innings, leading the San Diego Padres to a 5-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs in the third of four games at Wrigley Field. Richard (11-5) yielded seven h

Cardinals release S Rouse >>
Tempe, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Arizona Cardinals have released safety Aaron Rouse. The 26-year-old played in 14 games, eight as a starter, last season for the New York Giants and compiled 52 tackles and one sack. He was orig

Pelini says he might relent on media lockdown >>
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) -Nebraska coach Bo Pelini's hard line with the media on Wednesday morning seemed to be softening by nightfall.Irritated by some media members' reporting methods, Pelini announced he was cutting off access to players and coaches fo

Nadal, Djokovic, Federer, Murray reach third round in Cincy >>
Mason, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Top seeds Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic and last week's Canadian Masters titlist Andy Murray were a trio of second-round winners Wednesday at the $3 million Western & Southern Financial Group Mas

UConn backup QB Endres suspended indefinitely >>
Storrs, CT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Connecticut head football coach Randy Edsall announced he has indefinitely suspended junior quarterback Cody Endres and sophomore offensive guard Erik Kuraczea for violating school policy. Edsall did no

2007 NFL Football Betting Preview


“You play to win the game!”

Those are the words of notoriously intense head coach Herman Edwards. Unfortunately, from a bettors’ perspective, most coaches don’t feel that way about the NFL preseason. August is a time to evaluate young players, finalize the depth chart and pray your star players stay healthy.

The trick to making money during the exhibition schedule is identifying coaches – like Edwards – who can’t stand losing even when there's nothing on the line.

The New York Jets betting won 15 of 21 preseason games and went 14-7 against the spread (ATS) during Edwards’s five-year tenure with the club. In his first season as the Kansas City Chiefs field boss, the team improved from 0-4 to 2-2.

Identifying win-a-holics like Edwards is a good start if you plan betting the preseason – even though most say you shouldn’t ... but what the hell do they know anyway?

Here’s a brief rundown of two teams that have a habit of winning during the second-stringers’ season, and another club that has a good chance of exceeding this year.

New York Giants betting lines

Playing in the media hub of North America can be stressful but the press can’t write anything negative about the way Tom Coughlin’s boys play in the preseason. The Giants won and covered all four games last summer, improving their record to 7-1 both straight up (SU) and against the spread over the last two years.

Coughlin has shown he’s not afraid to give his starters more time in the second preseason game than most of his colleagues, no doubt one of the reasons his team has been so dominant.

Dallas Cowboys betting lines

Bettors can count on America’s team early on. The Cowboys are 14-6 both SU and ATS since 2002 in warm-up contests. Former coach Bill Parcells, the coach of the team the last four years, has an intimidating, in-your-face presence – surely a reason Dallas has had so much early success.

The Big Tuna won’t be strolling the sidelines with looks of disgust, but new coach Wade Phillips will be anxious to make a good first impression for owner Jerry Jones.

Dallas plays the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos before things get serious. They then face the Houston Texans in their third contest (the game starters see most game time) and finish off with the Minnesota Vikings.

Expect a Dallas team able to walk away with another 3-1 preseason record.

Oakland Raiders betting lines

This team scored a league-worst 12 offensive touchdowns last season, so the rookies and veterans each have something to prove. There’s a bounty of first-unit jobs up for grabs and plenty of bodies competing for those slots.

First-time head coach Lane Kiffin will be eager to impress an owner who employs the philosophy, “Just win, baby!”

The 32-year-old Kiffin has to command respect from a locker room full of players older than him. All of these factors should lead to purpose in preseason. 

Don’t forget: before playing like a team that belonged in NFL Europe, Oakland went 4-1 (both SU and ATS) in exhibition games.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football wagering needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.

FOOTBALL BETTING : Cassel Signs Contract

Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.

NFL Betting
After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
Patriots made him their franchise player, meaning his salary for this season will be about $15 million.
New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
"I go out there each and every day with that focus that I'm the starter," Cassel said during a June minicamp. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
In his only sustained action since his teens, he hit 349 of 555 passes for 3,949 yards at New England. He had 23 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as the Patriots, who had gone unbeaten through the regular season the year before, finished 11-5 and out of the playoffs.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."

NFL Betting Lines

To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your college football betting needs.