2009 CFL Western Preview - Edmonton Eskimos
Football Betting Lines
06/23/2009 - Edmonton, AB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - FACTS & FIGURES: Division - West. 2008 Record - 10-8. Playoff Result: Lost, 36-26, to Montreal in division final. Stadium - Commonwealth Stadium. Capacity - 60,081. Colors - Green, gold, black and white
Despite boasting a winning record last season, the Eskimos finished last in the CFL Western Division standings at 10-8. That mark was still good enough for a spot in the playoffs, where they defeated Winnipeg in the division semifinals before losing out to Montreal in the East finals.
This season brings a different look for the Green and Gold, as Richie Hall takes over the head coaching reigns for Danny Maciocia, who moved into the role of General Manager and Director of Football Operations. Hall brings with him a proven defensive scheme that will surely have Edmonton competing for its first Grey Cup since 2005.
At quarterback, Ricky Ray will once again be in charge of running the Eskimos and he brings experience to the table. In 2008, Ray completed nearly 70 percent of his pass attempts with 26 touchdowns and 17 picks. He also added five scores on the ground in what was a highly successful season. Ray, along with backup Jason Maas, will feel the heat from rookies Jared Zabransky (Boise State) and Lester Ricard (Tulane), both of whom had terrific collegiate careers.
Helping to take some of the pressure off Ray this season will be a backfield with intriguing options. Canadian Calvin McCarty proved he belonged in his first full season in 2008, rushing for 490 yards and four touchdowns and catching 70 passes for 583 yards and another score. He will be accompanied by free agent Jesse Lumsden, who logged 1,797 yards and nine touchdowns in four seasons with Hamilton. Newcomers Ciatrick Fason and Arkee Whitlock add more depth to this suddenly talented backfield.
Opening holes for those explosive backs shouldn't be a problem, as the Eskimos return a wealth of experience up front. Patrick Kabongo, a West Division All- Star, highlights the group and he will be accompanied by Gord Hinse, who was the 11th overall pick in the 2009 Draft.
While the rest of the offense is talented, it is the receiving corps that makes the attack so dangerous. Kamau Peterson has emerged as one of the more explosive wideouts in the league, having racked up two straight 1,000-yard campaigns and a 101-catch season in 2008. He was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian in 2008. Veteran Fred Stamps churned out 751 receiving yards and six touchdowns a year ago and he will help fill the void left by the departure of Kelly Campbell (1,223 yards, seven TDs).
On the defensive side, Dario Romero anchors the line and the 300-pound tackle had 30 stops and six sacks in being named a 2008 West Division All-Star. Newcomers Greg Peach and Shaun Richardson have impressed during camp and are a couple of players that could make an immediate impact.
In the middle, Edmonton will need to find a replacement for Shannon Garrett, who retired after a highly successful 14-year career in the CFL. Former Roughrider Maurice Lloyd will help fill the void left by Garrett and he is coming off a 74-tackle, five-sack campaign. Lloyd, though, will be pushed by rookie Mark Restelli, who has caught the coaching staff's attention with his play. Tim St. Pierre, a 2008 CFL Draft pick, has also shown flashes of a breakout sophomore season.
In just his second season with Edmonton, Jason Gross impressed in the secondary and led the Eskimos in fumble recoveries (three) and interceptions (five). Lenny Williams (36 tackles) and Jont Buhl (50 tackles, four INTs) join Gross in what is a sound and experienced secondary.
All-Star kicker Noel Prefontaine, who made 35-of-46 field goals last season, signed a contract extension in the off-season, giving the Eskimos an edge in the kicking game. Chris Ciezki, an Edmonton native, made 24 special team tackles last season, tying for the second most in team history.
The Eskimos are the most successful CFL franchise in the modern era, winning 13 Grey Cup titles, and they have a legitimate shot of adding to that total this season. Edmonton has a good combination of talent and experience, and if the team can avoid injury and get a few breaks, there is no reason to believe it can't get the job done.
Sportsbook Betting Lines Predicted Finish: Second
Calgary, AB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - FACTS & FIGURES: Division - West. 2008 Record - 15-5. Playoff Result: Defeated Montreal, 22-14, in the Grey Cup Championship. Stadium - McMahon Stadium. Capacity - 35,650. Colors - Red, white and black Sixt
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Regina, SK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - FACTS & FIGURES: Division - West. 2008 Record - 12-6. Playoff Result: Lost, 33-12, to British Columbia in the West Division semifinals. Stadium - Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field. Capacity - 30,945. Colors - Gree
Roddick, del Potro reach second round at Big W >>
Wimbledon, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two-time runner-up Andy Roddick and
fifth-seeded Argentine Juan Martin del Potro were a pair of first-round
winners Tuesday at Wimbledon.
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2009 CFL Western Preview - British Columbia Lions >>
Vancouver, BC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - FACTS & FIGURES: Division - West. 2008 Record
- 12-8. Playoff Result: Lost, 22-18, to Calgary in divison finals. Stadium -
B.C. Place. Capacity - 29,706. Colors - Orange, black and silver
Last season, had
2009 CFL Eastern Preview - Hamilton Tigercats >>
Hamilton, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - FACTS & FIGURES: Division - East. 2008 Record:
3-15. Playoff Result: None. Stadium - Ivor Wynne Stadium. Capacity - 29,600.
Colors: Black and Gold
The 2008 season was one to forget for the Hamilton Tigerca
2009 CFL Eastern Preview - Montreal Alouettes >>
Montreal, QC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - FACTS & FIGURES: Division - East. 2008 Record:
11-7. Playoff Result: Lost, 22-14, to Calgary in Grey Cup Championship.
Stadium - Percival Molson Stadium. Capacity - 20,202. Colors: Red, blue,
silver, white, a
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.
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.
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.
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.
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