The big football bet handicapper picks are up as well as the NFL gambling previews of Colts-Eagles and the Bengals-Patriots. But it’s always maximum betting spread information here and now we look at tonight’s games from the expert view Bodog Sportsbook.
Time for Peyton Manning to get to work. There is a new left tackle, a bunch of young receivers, and an old guard coming back.
Tonight Week 2 of NFL preseason continues when the 3-point favored Philadelphia Eagles and Indianapolis Colts hook up. Bodog has the total at 36.
The Colts plan to hold out 10 players, including six starters. Safety Antoine Bethea and defensive end Raheem Brock are both out with broken hands, Kelvin Hayden is out with a hamstring injury, and Robert Mathis will not play because of a bruised thigh. Safety Bob Sanders and kicker Adam Vinatieri won’t play either
Besides Michael Vick, Philadelphia plans to leave at least seven regulars home, including four of its projected starters on the offensive line and backup QB Kevin Kolb.
Those changes have prompted the Colts to revise their traditional preseason approach. Instead of simply trying to avoid injuries, Manning wants the starters to get a little more work.
Get your NFL Exhibition Odds in the Bodog Sportsbook.
Now to the Cincinnati Bengals and New England Patriots.
n last week’s high-scoring victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, Tom Brady was very sharp, completing 10-of-15 passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns. Will the New England Patriots use him as much in this game?
The Pats, who are 7-point favorites, have to make a decision on who is going to be the backup quarterback to Brady. That makes me think Andrew Walter and Kevin O’Connell will get more snaps against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Backers must be thrilled with the New England running game so far. Then again, it is ideal for preseason games because it is about guys fighting for position.
The Patriots have failed to cover any of their last five exhibition games. Look for Cincinnati to make a better showing after such a poor effort in their opener, even if they don’t have Carson Palmer. Palmer suffered a high ankle sprain against New Orleans and has been walking around with a boot since.
Previews are courtesy of Bodog. lso tonight it’s the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets in MLB betting.
After their most productive game of the season, the Atlanta Braves face Johan Santana and the -130 favored New York Mets tonight.
Atlanta and New York have split the first two games of this three-game set, becoming the first teams to exchange innings of eight runs or more on consecutive days of the same series since Cleveland and the Yankees did it 2006.
Santana has had little trouble shutting down the Braves offense, posting a 1.96 ERA in seven starts against them. The lefthander, though, is 1-4 over that span, never getting more than two runs to work with.
Atlanta will counter with Kenshin Kawakami. He has not won since July 8 against the Cubs, losing three decisions since then. The righthander gave up three runs and seven hits in Atlanta’s 4-3 victory over Philadelphia on Saturday.
Kawakami will be facing a New York lineup missing most of its regulars due to injuries.
Looking to build some momentum, the Minnesota Twins will try to finish with a series win over the Texas Rangers when the clubs close a four-game set today.
Minnesota is trying to win three of four against Texas. After losing the opener, the Twins have taken the next two, including an 5-4 victory Wednesday.
Texas dropped one game behind Boston for the AL Wild Card lead. The Rangers had won eight of their previous 11 before the recent defeats.
The Twins will hand the ball to struggling Anthony Swarzak. Swarzak has lost his last three starts, allowing 18 runs and 25 hits over a combined eight innings.
Fellow rookie Derek Holland will take the mound for Texas. Holland is 3-1 with a 1.88 ERA in his last four starts.
The lefthander pitched four innings against Minnesota on July 19, allowing three runs in a game the Rangers went on to win 5-3
Get your MLB odds in the Bodog Sportsbook!