Ravens ink FB Neal to bolster backfield

Football Betting Lines

08/12/2008 - Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Baltimore Ravens signed Pro Bowl fullback Lorenzo Neal on Tuesday.

After five seasons as the lead blocker for perennial Pro Bowl selection LaDainian Tomlinson in San Diego, Neal was released in February after his 15th NFL season.

Neal, 37, has rushed for 782 yards and six touchdowns while hauling in 192 balls for 1,051 yards and 12 receiving touchdowns in 223 career games with the Chargers, Bengals, Titans, Buccaneers, Jets, and Saints. He joined the Ravens in training camp on Tuesday, where he could split time with Baltimore's incumbent starter, Le'Ron McClain. McClain could also work in as a tailback for the Ravens.

A fourth-round pick in the 1993 draft by the New Orleans Saints, Neal has been the lead blocker for 1,000-yard running backs for 11 consecutive seasons, a streak that spans five teams.

Lasveags Football Betting News

<< Colts CB Coe done for season
Terre Haute, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Indianapolis Colts cornerback Michael Coe will miss the 2008 season, the club announced Tuesday. Coe underwent surgery on his left knee last week, and won't be ready for football action for at le

<< Padres place Corey on DL
San Diego, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Diego Padres placed pitcher Bryan Corey on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday with a strained left hamstring. The move is retroactive to August 10. The 34-year-old Corey is 1-3 this season with a

<< MLB suspends three minor leaguers
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A minor league pitcher in the Kansas City organization and two minor league players in the Arizona organization were each suspended 50 games by MLB on Tuesday after violating the minor league drug pr

<< Cubs and Braves are rained out; doubleheader on tap for Wednesday
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tuesday's game between the Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs has been postponed due to rain. The game will be made up as part of a day-night doubleheader Wednesday. The Braves will start Charlie Morton in th

<< Wakefield goes to DL
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Red Sox officially put pitcher Tim Wakefield on the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday, retroactive to August 7, with tightness in the back of his right shoulder. Wakefield was scheduled to star

White Sox OF Quentin scratched >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chicago White Sox outfielder Carlos Quentin was scratched from Tuesday's game against Kansas City after being hit by a pitch in Monday's loss to the Boston Red Sox. Quentin has been hit by a pitch in each of t

Garciaparra returns, Dodgers place Andruw Jones on DL >>
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Nomar Garciaparra is back, and the slumping Andruw Jones is headed for the disabled list as the Los Angeles Dodgers made moves revolving around two big names on Tuesday. Jones was placed on

Islanders name Gordon head coach >>
Uniondale, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Islanders have named reigning AHL coach of the year Scott Gordon head coach, making him the 14th head coach in franchise history. He has agreed to a multi-year contract with the team. Gordon

Rays OF Crawford will undergo surgery >>
Oakland, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Carl Crawford will undergo surgery on Thursday to repair the subluxation of his right middle finger tendon. Crawford, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Sunday, is e

Giants P Lincecum leaves game with injury >>
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum left Tuesday's game against the Houston Astros after being struck by a line drive in the fifth inning. Lincecum, who is a viable Cy Young candidate this season, w

SPORTS BETTING

NFL Football Betting Online

In terms of sports wagering, the NFL is "the most popular game in town." The explanation behind that is easy.

It is called the "pointspread."

Many years ago, NFL games, as well as the more popular college games, used straight odds as a vehicle for betting. For example, if the Bears were playing the Giants, and it shaped up as a competitive contest, the Bears might be, say, a 7/5 favorite. If they were playing an also-ran, it might be 10/1. Well, there is a point where a line becomes prohibitive, as far as betting the favorite. And who would waste money betting an underdog that has virtually no chance? Such a setup did not contribute to promoting betting action.

But in modern sports betting, a "pointspread" is used.

A NFL pointspreads are exactly that, a pre-established point difference between the two sides that will, for all intents and purposes, create a handicap that evens things out, and in doing so, produces comparable wagering activity on both sides of that proposition. So in lieu of a odds figure in which to bet the team to win outright, the Bears might be a three-point favorite over the New York Giants, and a 17-point favorite over the also-ran. Now that the team that is the underdog can "get" points, there can be equal action on both sides.

In sportsbooks, this is usually done with efficiency by charging the losing bettors 10% extra - in effect, bettors are laying 11/10 on those games. So they are actually betting $110 to win $100. If they lose, they pay the "vig." If they win, they simply collect.

The establishment of the pointspread as the corner stone around which team sports like football can be wagered upon was truly what brought gridiron betting into the stratosphere.

Don't believe it? Just take a look at what happens around the Super Bowl.

Stay with us here as we take you through the best in NFL action on a consistent basis, with advice columns as well as handicapping selections. If you're looking for college football betting, that's in our NCAA section, which you can reach by clicking here. And if you're looking for a different kind of football, such as the Canadian Football League, which we'll deal with occasionally, or the Arena Football League, which we really like, you can find it in our Miscellaneous section by clicking

Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting odds .
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook betting credit cards








Big East Conference odds

Work left to do: Villanova, Syracuse, DePaul, West Virginia, Providence

Notre Dame and Louisville appear to have done enough to make the move, so we'll make them locks. The Cardinals, despite a modest RPI, are trending way up and have clinched at least a tie for third in the Big East, which should be more than enough with their pair of big road wins. Villanova got back to .500 and gets back to more solid footing. Syracuse got a very important road win and crippled a fellow contender in the process. West Virginia's fate could be in its hands Tuesday at Pitt.

Work left to do:

Villanova [18-9 (7-7), RPI: 21, SOS: 5] Pounded Rutgers to get back to .500. If Cats can get their last two (at UConn, vs. Syracuse), that should be enough with strong computer numbers and a host of wins away from The Pavilion. The Cats have beaten Texas and swept the Big 5 (never easy in Philly), but have a couple of losses to bubble teams (Xavier, Drexel), too. I still think they'll be OK, possibly even at 8-8.

Syracuse [20-8 (9-5), RPI: 53, SOS: 62] History says 10 wins will be plenty, but it might be hard for the Orange to get that last one with a final two vs. G'town, which is trying to win the league title, and at Villanova, which will be desperate for a W. The relative lack of nonconference heft and the weak computer numbers are still concerns, but the Orange have won four in a row and got a very, very big win at Providence on Saturday.

DePaul [16-12 (8-7), RPI: 54, SOS: 18] Beat Cincy and should get past South Florida to get to 9-7, but then what? They have beaten Kansas and Cal (right after the DeVon Hardin injury) earlier this season, but also have lost to Bradley and Purdue, among others. They'll likely need a couple of BE tourney wins, too, but we'll see ...

West Virginia [19-7 (8-6), RPI: 58, SOS: 125] The game at Pitt on Tuesday night could decide the Mountaineers' fate (barring a deep tournament run). They can still get to 9-7 in the Big East without it by beating Cincinnati, but the nine wins would be against UConn, Villanova, St. John's, South Florida, DePaul, Rutgers, Seton Hall twice and the Bearcats. Beating bubble foes is fine, but where's the beef? Outside of beating PG-less UCLA in nonconference play (still a top quality win), there's not a lot to fall back on (besides maybe NC State). WVU vs. Syracuse would be an interesting debate, as the teams don't play in the Big East regular season. WVU has the best win, but Cuse has played the much better schedule.

Providence [17-10 (7-7), RPI: 70, SOS: 33] The Friars likely saw their at-large hopes die at home in the four-point loss to Syracuse, barring an unexpected run to the Big East semis or more. The RPI, bad already, won't be helped by playing St. John's and South Florida in the final two league games.

For more March Madness odds go to MySportsbook.com

For more College Basketball betting lines go to BettingExpress.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.