Miamidilphins Golf Betting News

<< Cuddyer, Span help Twins edge Rangers
Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Michael Cuddyer and Denard Span each drove in a pair of runs and Minnesota survived a ninth-inning scare to take a 6-5 decision over Texas in the finale of a three-game series from Target Field. Orlando

<< Nadal advances to fourth round at U.S. Open
Flushing Meadows, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Top seed Rafael Nadal was an easy third-round winner Sunday at the U.S. Open. The Spaniard took the next step in his pursuit of a career Grand Slam, handling Gilles Simon of France 6-4, 6-

<< Texans release veteran LB Clark
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Texans released veteran linebacker Danny Clark on Sunday. He had signed with the team as a free agent in May. Clark spent the 2007 season with the Texans and recorded 51 tackles and one inter

<< Dolphins place CB Allen on injured reserve
DAVIE (AP) - Miami Dolphins cornerback Will Allen was placed on injured reserve Sunday, ending any hope the 10th-year player had of returning from mid-August knee surgery in a move that removes the most seasoned player from a young secondary.Coach T

Riders nip reeling Bombers >>
Regina, SK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Wes Cates scored twice on the ground as the Saskatchewan Roughriders took down the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, 27-23, in a Labour Day contest from Mosaic Stadium. Darian Durant went 22-of-34 with 301 ya

Titans waive Blount, build practice squad >>
Nashville, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tennessee Titans waived running back LeGarrette Blount on Sunday as they made a number of moves. The Titans waived linebacker Stanford Keglar in addition to Blount, who signed with the club as an

Jags make several moves >>
Jacksonville, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Jacksonville Jaguars made several roster moves on Sunday, including being awarded defensive tackle Landon Cohen off waivers from Detroit. Cohen has played 24 games over his two seasons in the N

Padres continue freefall, lose 10th in a row >>
San Diego, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Melvin Mora hit a two-run single to snap a seventh-inning tie, lifting the Colorado Rockies to a 4-2 win and sending National League West-leading San Diego to a 10th straight loss. Troy Tulowitzki cl

Betting Football

Is there such a thing as a trap game in the NFL?

I once asked that question to Pete Korner, who at the time was office manager and a senior linesmaker for Las Vegas Sports Consultants.

Korner almost ripped my head off. There is no such thing as a trap game, he loudly berated me. It’s a myth. The numbers are made using power ratings, he said.

There are trap games, though. They just might not be what you think. The perception is of a good team, say Philadelphia, laying a small number against New Orleans.

Using the highly-respected power ranking from The Gold Sheet, you’d find the Eagles with a power rating of 4 and the Saints at 8. When you factor the game being played in New Orleans, you could see why the line opened so short at less than a field goal.

For some, this makes it enticing to take the Eagles. That’s not a real trap game, though.

A real trap game, says professional gambler Dave Malinsky, is thinking you’re getting value betting a bad team, which brings us to the Oakland Raiders-Denver Broncos matchup.

The Raiders are +15 in this long-standing division rivalry. Denver is on a short week having dispatched Baltimore Monday. However, the Raiders haven’t covered the spread their last 10 games.

Many bettors don’t trust the Raiders to give a full effort. Few think much of Art Shell and his Oakland’s coaching staff.

So oddsmakers have to do something to make Oakland attractive if they hope to get equal action.

Now Malinsky is a value shopper. But he won’t touch the Raiders even getting more than two touchdowns.

“I try to eliminate the undisciplined, unfocused teams because they’re the ones most likely to suffer the bad beats,” he said.

Near the top of Malinsky’s list of stay-away teams is the Miami Dolphins, who have yet to cover a spread this season.

“Whatever you think of Nick Saban, you have to look at the penalties and turnovers,” Malinsky said.

It’s easy to point out the Dolphins failed to get the money this past week against New England because Olindo Mare missed a field goal and had another field goal blocked. But even though the Dolphins outgained the Patriots, 283-213, they committed eight penalties.

Bad teams not only cost themselves victories, but pointspread covers as well. The Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers are two more examples.

The Cardinals couldn’t have been in a better position this past Sunday, up 14-0 at home against a mediocre Kansas City Chiefs squad. But they couldn’t hold it. The Packers got a push against St. Louis, but also could have won losing by three when Brett Favre fumbled at the St. Louis 11-yard line with 44 seconds left.

“The Packers were in a position to beat Philadelphia, too,” Malinsky said. “But they couldn’t even cover double digits.

“These teams just make mistakes and it costs you … they always will look good from a value standpoint. They really will. But that’s the trap.”

Houston and Tennessee rank among the six-worst teams. Malinsky wouldn’t be afraid to take either of these teams, however, if the price were high enough.

The Texans are bad, Malinsky said, but they have some discipline. The Titans showed they could not only come up with an outstanding game plan, but execute it as well, losing by one to the Colts on the road as an 18 ?-point underdog this past Sunday.

“Jeff Fisher is a worker,” Malinsky said of the Titans coach. “I’m not sure how hard Art Shell wants to work when he gets out of bed.”

Fisher, though, could be out as Tennessee coach after this season. Is he still worth backing in the right spot, with the right price, as a lame duck coach?

“It’s in his nature to keep working hard and not worry about any possible lame duck status,” Malinsky said. “He’s coaching for his resume.”

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