Suspended Steelers' QB Roethlisberger To Play In Preseason Action

By Ross Everett

The Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback rotation is in fairly good shape, but their preseason preparation has become a mess due to the suspension facing starter Ben Roethlisberger. 'Big Ben' will miss up to six games of the regular season, though he's allowed to practice with the team and play in preseason action. Roethlisberger didn't see any playing time in Pittsburgh's 23-7 win over Detroit this past weekend but is expected to see action in the Steelers' next game on Saturday against the New York Giants.

For now, Dennis Dixon and Byron Leftwich are battling for the backup quarterback job, which means they'll be the starter for a good chunk of the season while Roethlisberger does his time. Dixon has performed well, but Pittsburgh's offensive coordinator Bruce Arians isn't pleased with his tendency to run when he has open receivers to pass to:

"If he's your starter, you're not going to expose him to running the football, because they're going to break him up. That stuff, you can forget about that if he's the starter. He wouldn't last two ballgames."

Despite this admonishment, Arians says that he's designed an offensive package specifically for Dixon that leverages his superior speed and athleticism:

"And it's not necessarily with the twos [second unit] or the threes [third unit], it's a special package. When you play without Ben, you're going to utilize all the players you have. He'll have a package, and how he plays within that package will determine how much he plays."

At this point, however, the more experienced though less mobile Leftwich is #2 on the depth chart. Wide receiver Hines Ward said that the competition is good for the team:

"We have a healthy competition at quarterback. And competition brings out the best in everyone. Dennis, he brings an added dimension to the game than Byron doesn't. Byron's a pure pocket guy. Dennis, the one knock on him is he doesn't have the experience. The two are different but it's hard to compare two guys when their games are so different."

Although every indication is that Roethlisberger will see action in the Steelers' game against the Giants this weekend, neither OC Arians or head coach Mike Tomlin were willing to give any specifics of when or how long they'd have their starter in the game. For the time being, however, NFL betting enthusiasts don't have to worry about Pittsburgh's quarterback rotation-the game is currently off the board due to the Giants' game on Monday night and the 'questionable' status of New York starting quarterback Eli Manning.

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a widely published freelance writer and a noted authority on sports betting and horse racing. He contributes NFL football betting free picks for a number of websites. He lives in Southern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and a pot bellied pig.

Miami Wins NFL Preseason Opener Over Jacksonville

By Ross Everett

In a NFL preseason game characterized by rainy weather, sloppy field conditions and a quick exit for both teams starters, the Miami Dolphins outlasted their in-state rivals the Jacksonville Jaguars by a 12-9 score. Only one touchdown was scored in the game, which was a battle of field goal kickers until the third quarter. Miamis game winning score came on a 33 yard touchdown strike from Chad Henne to tight end Ernest Wilford.

Miami's Ernest Wilford recently converted to tight end from wide receiver, and gave the football an emphatic spike after his game winning touchdown reception:

"There's a sense of urgency for me. I want to play well this year. It's a good start. That was a lot of frustration right there. I didn't play that much last year, so I had to let it out."

Dolphins QB Henne, who is being groomed as the heir apparent to starter Chad Pennington, was happy with his performance in his first action of the preseason:

"Overall I thought I played pretty well. I got some points on the board and had us moving."

Jacksonville QB David Garrard gave a fairly standard assessment of his teams opening game performance:

"We have to get better at some of the protection issues. I have to make sure I get everybody lined up in the right spots."

Free agent acquisition Tory Holt was happy with his first reception in a Jacksonville uniform:

"I had been anticipating this day for a long time. I enjoyed it and it was a lot of fun. I am looking forward to many more."

Despite ending up on the wrong side of a losing score, Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio was generally upbeat about his teams effort:

"We are going to be physical up front. I liked what we did up front."

Not surprisingly given the tempo of the game, the most heated battle for a starting spot was between the Dolphins placekickers. Both incumbent Dan Carpenter and challenger Connor Barth were perfect on their kicking attempts.

Jacksonville will host their other NFL rival from the state of Florida on Saturday as they welcome the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to town. Miami will remain at home as they take on the Carolina Panthers.

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a widely published widely published freelance sports writer and respected authority on NFL football betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.

Nuggets Outlast Blazers In NBA Basketball Action

By Ross Everett

Carmello Anthony scored 41 points and the Denver Nuggets used a second half comeback to give the Portland Trailblazers a rare 97-94 loss at their Rose Garden Arena home venue on Thursday night. The Blazers held a 67-62 lead heading into the final quarter but for the second time in as many games had trouble putting their opponent away. Brandon Roy led Portland with 30 points, and Greg Oden was the high rebounder for the home team with 9 boards. Portland is now 1-1 on the young NBA season, while Denver improved to 2-0.

NBA pointspread players who took Denver as +8 road underdogs enjoyed their outright victory and the ensuing payday. The Nuggets have covered the number in both of their victories this season, while Portland evened their ATS mark at 1-1.

After the game, Anthony was happier about the victory than his personal offensive outburst:

"We came out here and stole the win. It wasn't just an important win. It was a battle."

Anthony made 7 of 9 shots from the floor and 9 of 10 free throws in the decisive fourth quarter run:

"My shots were going in. I was trying to attack. I got to the rim and the foul line."

Portland's Greg Oden was taking the loss hard, as he missed a couple of late game free throws that could have given the Blazers a lead:

"This is a tough one. I definitely stepped up there with confidence thinking I was going to hit both and it didn't go that way. I put this loss on me. I need to step up and make those."

Team leader Brandon Roy said that he'd give the Blazers' big man a pep talk, underscoring the fact that missed shots are just part of the game:

"The biggest thing is to let go. We all miss shots, you've got to forget about it."

Roy also added that the choppy pace of the game with a lot of fouls called benefitted Denver playing in back-to-back games:

"I think it benefited them a bit more coming off a back-to-back. They were tired but anytime you slow the game down that much, it gives them a chance to recover."

The Blazers will head to Texas for a rematch against the Houston Rockets, whom they beat to open the NBA season. They'll play at Oklahoma City on Sunday before returning home for a game at The Rose Garden against the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday. Denver will head back to 'The Mile High City' for a game against Memphis on Sunday before an east coast road trip with stops in Indiana and New Jersey early next week.

About the Author:

Ross Everett is an extensively published freelance writer and a noted authority on sports betting and harness racing. He contributes NFL football betting free picks for a number of media outlets. He lives in Southern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and a pot bellied pig.

Steelers Send Vikings To First Defeat Of Season

By Ross Everett

Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings are undefeated no more. The Pittsburgh Steelers' used a couple of big plays from their defense in the fourth quarter to break open a close game and defeat the Vikings by a final score of 27-17. Favre put up decent yardage in the loss, throwing for 334 yards but had no touchdowns and an interception.

NFL pointspread players who backed the Steelers as -6 home favorites were rewarded with the cover. Pittsburgh had only covered one of their first six games heading into the contest, and the win improved their record against the number to 2-5. Minnesota dropped to 4-3 against the spread with the setback. The 44 points scored went UNDER the posted total of 46'. It was only the Vikings' second UNDER of the season against five OVERS, while the Steelers have gone OVER in four of their seven games.

The Steelers largely shut down Minnesota's rushing game, holding Adrian Peterson to 69 yards. Pittsburgh safety Ryan Clark underscored his team's dominance against the run:

"That's the biggest point of the game. You have the best running back in the world and you don't give it to him. They're saying they can't beat us running, and that's a major statement when you have the guy they have back there."

Favre gave a mealy mouthed justification for the loss in his postgame interview:

"There were a lot of what ifs, a lot of reasons we didn't win. The red zone was one of them. They're physical, and they were as good as we thought they'd be. ... When I came here and looked at our schedule and saw the Steelers game, I went, 'Oh-h-h.' "

Favre has only thrown three interceptions in a Vikings' uniform, but #3 was a costly one as it was returned by Steelers' Keyaron Fox for a touchdown to put the game out of reach as Minnesota was driving for a potential game tying field goal. Afterwards, Fox recalled the play:

"Brett tried to force it in there and the running back bobbled it and slipped out of his hands and it fell into my lap. I had just run across the field after Peterson and I was winded, so it felt like it was 100-plus yards."

The Vikings now face another big game next week as they head to Favre's old stomping grounds in Green Bay for a battle with the Packers. It'll be Favre's first appearance at his old home in an enemy uniform. The Vikings are a +3 road underdog with the total set at 48. The Vikings will then have a bye weekend before hosting the lowly Detroit Lions on November 15. Pittsburgh will enjoy a bye week this week before returning to action on Monday, November 9th facing the Denver Broncos on the road.

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a freelance writer and respected authority on baseball betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Northern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.

Chiefs Top Swooning Redskins For First Win Of Season

By Ross Everett

The offensively struggling Kansas City Chiefs have finally found a way to win-play a team with a more stagnant offense than their own. The Chiefs gave Todd Haley his first win as a NFL head coach on Sunday with a---6 win over the Washington Redskins. Kansas City won despite not scoring a touchdown, compiling their-- points via 4 Ryan Succop field goals and a game ending safety.

To successfully bet on NFL football you occasionally have to put aside W/L records and look at the underlying statistics. Those who did that found reason to take Kansas City as +6' road underdogs and were rewarded with the outright victory. Kansas City is now 2-4 against the NFL pointspread and has covered two straight while Washington is a dismal 1-5 versus the money. The 20 combined points went well UNDER the posted total of 36'.

After the contest, Haley sounded more relieved than excited about finally putting a "W" on the board:

"We made it pretty difficult, right down to the end. We've pushed through a very difficult period. We needed to get some positive reinforcement with a win."

Kansas City QB Matt Cassel also won for the first time since coming over from New England in the off season. His postgame comments were more upbeat:

"There's been a lot of change, but this has definitely been special. We rose to the occasion. We made some big plays. We put ourselves in a position to score points."

Embattled Redskins' coach Jim Zorn was stripped of his offensive play calling duties by team management after the contest. In one of his last decisions in that role, he pulled starter Jason Campbell at halftime and went with Todd Collins. He explained his move as follows:

"I felt the need to create a spark on our football team offensively and went with Todd. I think the guys responded well. We kept our spark, at times, and then we refizzled."

The Redskins have managed to win only two of their first six games despite being the only team in NFL history to play their first six games of the season against winless opponents. They'll get another chance to silence their doubters next Monday night as they host the Philadelphia Eagles. The Skins are +6' home underdogs with the total set at 38'. They'll have a bye the next week and return to action on November 8th against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome. Kansas City will try to string together back to back wins as they host the San Diego Chargers on Sunday.

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a widely published freelance sports writer and noted authority on baseball betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Northern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.

Cleveland Manages To Beat Buffalo Despite Offensive Struggles

By Ross Everett

In a matchup between two of the worst offenses in the NFL, someone had to win. Despite producing only 9 first downs and'3 yards of total offense, the Cleveland Browns got a late game field goal from Billy Cundiff to defeat the Buffalo Bills 6-3 and win their first game of the season. The Bills had the more productive afternoon statistically, with- first downs and 288 yards of offense but were undone by three costly turnovers. Both teams are now 1-4 on the 2009 NFL season.

To successfully bet on the NFL, one needs to find opportunities to play underdogs"this is particularly true in games where neither team is expected to put many points on the board. Such was the case here, as Cleveland easily covered the pointspread as +6 road underdogs. Both teams are now 2-3 against the number on the season. The Browns have now won and covered the last three head to head matchups between the teams. The 9 points scored came nowhere near the total of 41 for an easy UNDER.

It was a game without many highlights. The Browns got on the board first with a 24 yard Cundiff field goal in the second quarter, and took that 3-0 lead into the locker room at halftime. Buffalo would tie the score in third on a Rian Lindell 36 yard field goal. That would set the stage for Cundiff to nail the game winner from' yards out with: 23 left to play. Despite todays victory, Cleveland is averaging a woeful 11 points per game this season.

The real loser in Sundays contest may have been Buffalo head coach Dick Jauron. Many were surprised that he was retained after the Bills third straight 7-9 season last year and things have gone from bad to worse so far in the 2009 NFL season. Buffalo has lost to winless teams in back to back weeks, part of a three game losing streak. Overall, the Bills have wound up losers in 12 of their last 15 games. Not that Cleveland has done much better--the win today ended a 10 game losing streak, one short of the all time franchise record. There are at least a few signs of hope in Cleveland, the same can't be said for Buffalo.

Cleveland will have a tough road assignment next Sunday, heading to Pittsburgh to face the World Champion Steelers. Theyll return home for a game against the Green Bay Packers on October 25th before playing the Chicago Bears in The Windy City the following week. Buffalo will play the next two on the road, heading to the Meadowlands next Sunday for a game against the New York Jets followed by a trip to Charlotte, NC to take on the Carolina Panthers. Theyll return home on November 1st to face the Houston Texans.

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and respected authority on baseball betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.

Saints Use Backup Bell To Blitz Texans In NFL Preseason Game

By Ross Everett

Backup Mike Bell made the most of his opportunity, starting in place of Reggie Bush and helping the New Orleans Saints romp to a 38-14 road victory over the Houston Texans. New Orleans improved to 2-0 on the NFL preseason, while Houston evened their record at 1-1.

Bell is a former Denver Broncos starter who has produced only 45 yards rushing in the past two seasons. After the game, he talked about his big afternoon:

"I just wanted to show the team that I could come here and be a consistent running back. This kind of game was great because it reminds me that I can still play running back. Just to get the carries, and to make the most of this opportunity, that was a real confidence builder."

Saints coach John Payton commended the effort, but said that it wasn't a surprise:

"He really has done a really good job. I was encouraged again to see him playing so well."

Texans starting QB Matt Schaub moved the ball fairly well in limited playing time. Houston head coach Gary Kubiak put the loss into perspective:

"It's a humbling game. You can walk out of the stadium one week and feel good about yourself, and then walk out the next week and wonder what the heck is going on. We got pushed around. We have to play better than that up front in order to be successful."

Linebacker DeMeco Ryan concurred:

"We take too much pride in what we do to go out and perform the way we did today. That's not who we are."

For the Saints, Drew Brees split time at QB with Mark Brunell.. Brees was 9 of 14 for 87 yards and a touchdown, while Brunell was 5 of 6 for 96 yards. Brees had missed three days of practice last week to attend his mother's funeral. P.J. Hill also got some reps at running back for the Saints, carrying the ball 8 times for 26 yards. Clearly the Saints have a deep and versatile offense, but need to execute more soundly than they did last year. Talent isn't the problem for the Saints; mistakes, however, are.

New Orleans will continue their NFL preseason run next Saturday against the Raiders at Oakland. Houston will host the Minnesota Vikings next Monday night. The Saints will get the NFL regular season underway on Sunday, September 13th as they host the Detroit Lions. Houston will start their schedule at home on the same day, hosting the New York Jets.

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and noted authority on baseball betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.

Patriots Beat Eagles With Tom Brady Back In The Lineup

By Ross Everett

Tom Brady returned to NFL action and looked good in limited playing time as the New England Patriots opened their preseason schedule with a 27-25 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. Brady played into the second quarter, moving well and showing no lingering effects of his knee surgery.

The Patriots also rewarded their NFL preseason financial backers by winning outright as a +2 road underdog. The combined 52 points scored shattered the posted total of 32 for an easy OVER. With the Pats and Eagles putting 27 points on the board in the first half, the total had almost been surpassed by the halftime break.

Bradys solid play was no doubt a heartening sight to Patriots fans, though he had little to say after the game on the specifics on his performance:

"I need the work, we all need the work. You can't duplicate this on the practice field."

Instead, Brady talked about the good feeling of being back with his teammates:

"There's no place I'd rather be. This is the place where I probably have the most fun and enjoy it the most. Preseason game doesn't have quite the feel of a regular-season game, but to be out there on the field with my teammates and celebrate after a win, and the bus ride home ... those are the things you probably enjoy the most."

Tight end Chris Baker was more effusive in discussing Bradys comeback effort:

"I thought he was sharp. He went out there and moved us up and down the field and put some points on the board.

New England took a 21-6 lead into the locker room at halftime, but would have to hold on for the victory after Philadelphia responded with a 16 point third quarter. The Eagles had a shot to win the game late, but David Akers missed a 43 yard field goal with just under a minute remaining.

Brady, the two time Superbowl MVP, sat out the entire 2008 preseason with an undisclosed foot ailment. Hes expected to get a significant amount of playing time in exhibition games this year, however, as he tries to regain his regular season form after missing the entire 2008 regular season due to a knee injury.

The Patriots will open the regular season on Monday, September 14 as they host the Buffalo Bills. Philadelphia will begin their regular season campaign on the road in Charlotte, NC against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, September 13.

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and respected authority on football betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.

Sooners' QB Bradford To Have Season Ending Surgery

By Ross Everett

Oklahoma's junior quarterback Sam Bradford will likely opt for season ending shoulder surgery. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner was to announce his plans at a Wednesday night press conference, but that has been canceled with no official word from Bradford expected before Saturday. Despite the delay, unnamed sources close to the situation indicate that there is "a very good chance" that Bradford will go under the knife in hopes of insuring a better opportunity with a NFL team in the future. There's always a chance that he could decide to return for his senior season at OU and having surgery now would hopefully have him back to 100% by the time the 2010 college football season begins.

Despite every indication that the decision to undergo surgery to repair an injured AC joint in his throwing shoulder is to eliminate the potential perception that he is 'damaged goods' in advance of the NFL draft, University officials stressed that there has been no official decision in this regard.

On Wednesday, Sooners' coach Bob Stoops addressed the media about Bradford:

"He just wasn't ready to fully answer everything that'll want to be asked and for sure what he wants to do just yet, until he has a few more people to visit with. That's it. I won't say another word about it."

"Sam's whole situation, he'll have something to say when he knows what his path will be, and that isn't right now. I'm not the one to answer it. He will. And I will once he feels he's ready to and knows for sure what he wants to do."

Bradford had hoped to contend for a national title this season, but that is no longer a realistic scenario with Oklahoma's record. OU quarterbacks' coach Josh Heupel talked about the conflicting issues that Bradford is currently dealing with as he tries to decide what the best course of action to take is:

"I think it's extremely difficult for him, coming back for all the right reasons, wanting to have an opportunity to go compete on the football field, compete for championships and then having all those things taken away from you. There's a lot of hard work that goes into it and when you invest that much, it's going to be extremely disappointing. It's not an easy situation for him, certainly."

Despite their 3-3 record, Oklahoma has played well this year. The losses came to top level opponents BYU, Miami and Texas by a total of five points. Still, barring a cataclysmic collapse by higher ranked teams of historic proportions there's no real hope for a return to national championship contention.

Had Bradford opted to go to the NFL last season, he could have been one of the highest players selected in the draft. He had a monumental season last year, throwing for 4,720 yards and 50 touchdowns. With his struggles this season and his injury, his future at the next level has grown somewhat more problematic. He could elect for surgery and opt for the draft this season, realizing that he'd be viewed as something of a 'risky choice'.

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and respected authority on football betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.

Seattle Slew's Legacy Of Horse Racing Greatness

By Ross Everett

Seattle Slew died on May 7, 2002 at the age of 28. One of only 11 winners of horse racing's prestigious 'Triple Crown' he is by default considered among the all time greats in thoroughbred racing. Of the eleven horses to win the Triple Crown, he is the only one to do so with an undefeated record. He was also notable due to his humble beginnings, and is the only Triple Crown winner to have been purchased at public auction. He retired to stud in'78 and sired over 100 stakes race winners including'84 Kentucky Derby champion, Swale. Slew's offspring have earned a combined $76 million dollars at the race track. Slew wasn't the most majestic looking creature by the lofty standards of race horses, but was possessed with the heart, toughness and courage of a professional prizefighter.

The Seattle Slew story began very modestly at a public auction in Lexington, Kentucky. The Keeneland Summer Yearling sale wasn't supposed to be the marketplace of champions, and the idea that this particular horse would ever amount to anything other than a farmhand was downright laughable. He was somewhat clumsy looking due to a front right forefoot splay and had a shuffling gait at trot. Slew wasn't a beautifully majestic creature like his Triple Crown winning predecessor, Secretariat. Slew was borderline ugly. So ungainly a creature was he that he was given the less than inspiring nickname "Baby Huey" by the Keeneland staff. He was purchased by two couples (Karen and Mickey Taylor and Jim and Sally Hill) for $17,500. What wasn't apparent at the yearling sale was the intangibles that make up a championship thoroughbred--poise under pressure, love of competition, toughness, heart and desire. His owners had unwittingly stumbled onto an equine Muhammad Ali, and his competitive fire quickly became apparent to his trainers and jockeys. His first race came at Belmont Park in'76, and he entered--and won--three races as a two year old giving a glimpse as to what like ahead.

Slew became the Kentucky Derby favorite by winning his three prep races as a three year old, including prestigious Wood Memorial. In the Derby, Slew got off to a terrible start as he stumbled from the gate much like War Emblem did in the 2002 Belmont. Unlike 2002's Triple Crown contender, however, Slew was able to recover from that miscue and basically force his way through a pack of other horses to position himself at the front of the field at the quarter mile pole. Slew would win the Derby by a length and 3 quarters. He took another tough victory at the Preakness before clinching the Triple Crown with a 4 length victory in the Belmont Stakes.

Slew ran in a few races as a 4 year old but in the pre-Breeders' Cup days there wasn't as many opportunities for an older horse. He retired to stud in'78. We've already discussed his prowess in the breeding shed, siring a number of first rate horses such as the aforementioned Swale, and the'92 Belmont champ AP Indy. Slew stood at Three Chimneys Farm in Midway, Kentucky from'85 until early 2002 when he was moved to Hill 'n' Dale Farm in Lexington, KY following a spinal operation.

In some ways, Slew had much in common with the heavyweight championship reign of Larry Holmes. He came so quickly on the heels of such incredible excellence--Slew was forever in the shadow of'73 Triple Crown winner Secretariat, Holmes on the heels of Muhammad Ali--that he never gained the appreciation he deserved during his prime. In hindsight, however, it has finally been noted what an exceptional horse he really was. Jockey Angel Cordero, who rode Slew during the twilight of his career noted "If I had a chance to take any horse in the world, if someone said your life is depending on riding one horse to win, I would take (Slew). I rode 44,000 horses, but he was special, he was different. He was muscled, like a wrestler. He ran different than any other horse. It was like he came from another planet."

Slew was laid to rest at Hill 'n' Dale Farm in Lexington, under a statue.

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and respected authority on sports betting odds comparison. He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.

Brian Bowles Shocks Miguel Angel Torres At WEC 42

By Ross Everett

Brian Bowles used a counter right hook late in the first round to defeat Miguel Angel Torres by TKO and win the WEC Bantamweight title in the main event of another exciting fight card from Zuffas MMA promotion showcasing the lighter weight classes. Though Bowles entered as a highly respected, undefeated challenger his stoppage victory over Torres"a fighter who ranked high atop most pound for pound best lists"has to be considered one of the major MMA upsets of the year.

The event will be remembered for the main event and the shocking upset of Torres, whom commentator Frank Mir had been championing as the pound for pound best fighter in the sport of late. Torres certainly had the credentials"a fighter equally as dangerous on his feet as on the ground, hed compiled a 37-1 record entering the fight against Bowles.

Bowles entered the cage accompanied by the music of Johnny Cash. This prompted WEC commentator Todd Harris to quip "It takes a special man to walk in to Johnny Cash". He wasnt kidding, and Bowles quickly announced his presence with authority rocking Torres with an overhand right and scoring a takedown within the first minute. After a groundfighting sequence, the two fighters exchanged punches again and initially it looked like Torres was getting the best of things as he landed a multiple punch combination that sent Bowles backing up. Almost out of nowhere, however, Bowles countered with a perfectly placed short right hook that sent the champion to the canvas. He followed up with some nasty ground and pound punches including a big left hand that knocked his opponent unconscious and forced the referee to wave off the fight.

In his postfight interview, Bowles was clearly pleased but not exactly surprised by the result. His comments indicated that hed been very well prepared for Torres considerable skills and though he conceded that hed been stung by the punching barrage waited for the opening to throw the right hook that ended the fight. Bowles displayed considerable class in victory, and Torres conducted himself in a matter befitting a champion as he accepted the defeat.

A rematch between Bowles and Torres is almost inevitable, but theres plenty of talent in the WEC bantamweight division. The semifinal bout on the card pitted two of these competitors in what may have been an elimination match for #1 contender status as Dominick Cruz handed feisty Joseph Benavidez his first professional loss via unanimous decision. The unorthodox and insanely athletic Benevidez had a good deal of trouble with the superior height and reach of Cruz. Benavidez managed to give a good account of himself, but in the end the physical disparity along with Cruzs repeated takedowns and sharp striking skills spelled the difference in this matchup.

Further muddling the picture in the bantamweight division was an earlier fight on the card, in which Takeya Mizugaki outlasted Jeff Curran to win a split decision victory. Mizugaki had trouble with the active guard of Curran, but scored takedowns in all three rounds. He did enough from the top position while fending off submission attempts to earn the verdict and to make his claim for #1 contender status.

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and respected authority on sports betting odds comparison. He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Southern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.

Green Bay Beats Struggling Cleveland

By Ross Everett

The Green Bay Packers used 21 second quarter points and three Aaron Rodgers touchdown passes to easily dispatch the punchless Cleveland Browns 31-3 on Sunday. Rodgers threw two of his three touchdowns during the second quarter onslaught, adding a fourth quarter tally for good measure. Ryan Grant added--8 yards of rushing and a touchdown in the victory, in which the Packers dominated the statistical battle. Green Bay improved their 2009 NFL record to 4-2, while Cleveland slumped to 1-6.

NFL football betting enthusiasts who laid the -8' with Green Bay as road favorites cashed their tickets with the lopsided victory. Green Bay improved to 4-2 against the NFL pointspread while the Browns dropped to 3-4 against the number.

The Packers upped their intensity early in the game, after quarterback Aaron Rodgers was punched in the face during a scrum. He recounts what happened next:

"One of the linemen came over and said, 'Who was it? We got your back. That means a lot to me and that means a lot to our team."

David Bowens was the perpetrator, though he insisted he was simply playing hard:

"I was just trying to grab anything I had. It wasn't malicious, I was just trying to get a stop. I apologized to him for it. He can call it what he wants to call it, but the refs didn't call it. I'd treat him different if he was passing the ball, that's different. But if he's running the ball, he's a running back. It's called football."

Browns' quarterback Derek Anderson lamented his team's struggles in postgame comments:

"We aren't good right now. That's it. Period. We haven't executed. We haven't done the right things to win ballgames. We haven't run the ball effectively, thrown it where we needed to. We haven't protected up front like we need to and caught it when we need to."

Head coach Eric Mangini sounded a similar tone:

"It's a very disappointing performance across the board. I don't think we played very well. I don't think we coached very well. I thought we were making progress in a lot of areas. I don't think we showed that today -- at all."

The Packers now face a big game next Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings which will feature Brett Favre's first return to Green Bay in a visiting uniform. The Packers are a -3 home favorite with the total set at 48. They'll face the struggling Tampa Bay Buccaneers the following week before hosting the Dallas Cowboys on November 15. Cleveland will travel to Chicago for a game against the Bears next week, with the Browns installed as a +13' road underdog and the total set at 40' Cleveland will have a bye the following week before returning to action at home against Baltimore on Monday, November 16.

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a freelance writer and respected authority on football betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.

Gamecocks Stun Ole Miss In SEC Opener

By Ross Everett

The South Carolina Gamecocks used a nasty defensive effort, combined with an efficient and mistake free performance from quarterback Steven Garcia to upset #4 Mississippi 16-10 at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, SC. The Gamecocks ended a 22 game losing streak against top 5 ranked teams, while Ole Miss saw their eight game winning streak come to an end. The Rebels dropped their sixth straight SEC opener.

College football betting enthusiasts who took the Gamecocks as +4 home underdogs were financially rewarded with South Carolina's outright victory. After falling behind 3-0 after the first quarter, South Carolina led 6-3 at halftime and never trailed again. The 26 combined points went UNDER the posted total of 51.

The last time South Carolina had defeated a top five opponent was back in 1981, when they upended North Carolina. After the game, Gamecocks QB Garcia said that it wasn't the prettiest game but the victory negated that:

"It was a pretty ugly win, but a win and we'll take it every time."

South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier agreed:

"It was good to get a win when everybody watches. It was good for all Gamecocks. We thought we could beat them. Thought it was a toss-up game. But the way it turned out, the way our defense played, 16 points was enough."

In particular, the defense completely shut down highly touted Ole Miss QB Jevan Snead. Snead finished with a mere 107 yards, though he did manage a late game touchdown pass. He made no excuses after the game:

"We really hurt ourselves and we continued to do it all throughout the game, into the last series. It's tough.

Ole Miss entered the game with their highest national ranking since 1970, when Archie Manning prowled the Rebel backfield. Despite that, head coach Houston Nutt didnt sense any undue pressure on his team before the game:

"I never did sense that we were feeling a lot of pressure. Now it is what it is. You've lost your first conference game. You've got to work hard and win the next conference game."

Rebel offensive lineman Bradley Sowell, meanwhile, contradicted his coachs observation with his clearly relieved postgame comment:

"I'm glad it's over with so everyone can just stop talking about it.

The Gamecocks improved their 2009 college football record to 3-1 (1-0 SEC). Theyll host FCS opponent South Carolina State in Columbia next weekend before resuming their SEC schedule the following week against the University of Kentucky. Ole Miss is right back into SEC play next week, facing Vanderbilt on the road in Nashville, Tennessee. Theyll then return home for their next two games beginning with Alabama on October 10th. Theyll play the University of Alabama-Birmingham the following weekend.

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and respected authority on baseball betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Northern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.

NFL Free Agent Jeff Garcia Slams Oakland Raiders

By Ross Everett

Veteran quarterback Jeff Garcia was released earlier this week by the Philadelphia Eagles, a victim of too many quarterbacks on the roster. Now that hes no longer under contract to a NFL team, hes letting his feelings be known about another one of his recent employers--the Oakland Raiders. There may be no team in the NFL more desperate for a quarterback than the Raiders, but Garcia quickly let it be known that he has no interest in returning to Oakland in an interview with Fox Sports Radio in which he slammed the teams management and suggested that current quarterback Jamarcus Russell was in over his head.

Garcia started his comments with an observation that the team is putting too much pressure on their young quarterback. He suggested that the team is putting their hopes on Russell's shoulders, and that hes simply not ready for that pressure mentally or emotionally:

"I have no problem going into a situation and helping a young guy out and really trying to help the team out overall more so than anything. I just feel like it's an unfortunate situation when the entire work ethic and the entire goal of the team is really put upon one guy's shoulder."

Garcia emphasized that Russell's talent wasn't the problem:

"When you put him on the field in a one-on-one workout session he'll make every throw for you. But when it comes down to making things happen in the heat of the battle and rallying the troops around you and making a case for the team, that's where maybe things aren't where they need to be."

Russell is currently suffering with a 39.8 pass rating--the worst in the NFL--and hasn't shown much progress from game to game. Garcia went on to assert that the Raiders problems go much deeper than the inexperience of their quarterback:

"It was to a point where I felt like guys who walked through those doors that just were there to collect a check and not really interested in putting everything that they had within themselves on to the football field. And that was the frustrating thing for me to see.

"There were a lot of good young guys in that locker room who really want to do whatever it takes to win, but unfortunately it's not everybody. In order to compete at this level in this game, everybody needs to be on board."

"Maybe it's because how things have been for a number of years now out there and they just don't see the hope"

After his release from the Raiders, coach Tom Cable insinuated that Garcia had an issue with playing backup to Russell:

"There was some talk about how he would fit but the best way for me to approach it is the other two played so well and we are committed to JaMarcus as our starter. Whether or not Garcia was comfortable in a role as a backup, it is what it is."

Ultimately, Garcia suggested that despite his best effort it got to the point where he simply wanted out:

"To see the reality of the situation and realize what I may be up against staying here for the entire year, it hurt me, it broke my heart to do that to step up. But I just felt like it was something I really didn't want to put myself through anymore."

The 39 year old Garcia has started 110 games in the NFL in ten seasons after a standout career in the Canadian Football League. There's a good chance you'll see him back in action before the end of the year--though the Raiders are clearly not a team that he'd be interested in.

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and highly respected authority on baseball betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.

Houston Slips Past San Francisco

By Ross Everett

The Houston Texans have won consecutive games for the first time this season by virtue of a hard fought 24-21 victory over the visiting San Francisco 49ers. The Texans led 21-0 at halftime but fought themselves in a ball game after the Niners scored the first 14 points of the second half. The rally fell short, however, and Houston improved to 4-3 on the NFL season. The 49ers evened their record at 3-3.

Players that bet on NFL football found the game completely irrelevant, however, as it landed right on the pointspread for a disappointing push. After covering their first four of the season against the NFL pointspread, the Niners have a loss and a push in their last two games to leave their record at 4-1-1 versus the number. Houston is now 3-3-1 ATS on the season.

Despite losing a big lead, Houston coach Gary Kubiak was pleased with the outcome:

"We get down, they get up and they all of a sudden grabbed the momentum of the game. But we made some big plays late and defensively Eugene made a big play so it was a big, big win."

Niners' coach Mike Singletary benched quarterback Shaun Hill after a terrible first half and replaced him with Alex Smith. Smith responded by throwing three touchdown passes and getting San Francisco back in the game. After the contest, Singletary explained his move:

"I just thought it was time to make the switch. It was as simple as that. No long, drawn-out thought process. But let's make the change."

Smith explained that he caught the Texans' defense playing passive football in the second half:

"Starting the second half, down three scores, you're seeing some stagnant looks from the defense, they're not throwing as much at you."

Top draft choice Michael Crabtree finally made his San Francisco debut after a lengthy holdout and described what the experience was like:

"I was kind of calm. I practiced on getting calm and coming into the game, knowing what I was supposed to do and executing my plays. I think I did a good job, but I've got some more work to do."

San Francisco will travel east to face the Indianapolis Colts next Sunday. They'll return home for their next two games, hosting the Tennessee Titans the following Sunday and facing the Chicago Bears off a short week the next Thursday, November 12. Houston will play their next two on the road, beginning with a game at Buffalo on Sunday. That game is currently off the board. They'll play at Indianapolis the following week before a bye week.

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and respected authority on sports betting odds comparison. He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and betting odds portal sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.

Pittsburgh Blanks Buffalo In NFL Preseason Contest

By Ross Everett

Ben Roethlisberger looked sharp in his return to the Pittsburgh Steelers lineup from injury, while the Buffalo Bills offense continued to sputter as the Steelers topped the visiting Bills 17-0 in NFL preseason action. Roethlisberger finished with 168 yards on 15 for 19 passing as Pittsburgh put 17 points on the board for the shutout. The victory improved Pittsburgh's NFL preseason record to 2-1, while Buffalo dropped to 1-3 and hardly looked like a team that has had the benefit of an extra preseason contest.

NFL football betting enthusiasts who backed the Steelers cashed their tickets as Pittsburgh covered the -6 price as home favorites. The Steelers are now 2-1 against the number in the NFL preseason, while Buffalo dropped to 1-2-1 ATS. The 17 points went UNDER the total of 36 and represented the Steelers third UNDER in three games.

Roethlisberger was happy with his performance, and gave the following observations:

"I was really proud of the way the guys were able to move the ball and ... change some plays at the line of scrimmage. We made some mistakes early, but then we drove down the field."

Bills coach Dick Jauron was less pleased with the showing of his troops:

"We've got a lot of issues that we've got to solve. We've got to solve them very quickly."

Buffalo QB Trent Edwards credited the stout Pittsburgh defense:

"That's a great defense. They're very talented. On our side, we didn't get the job done. We left our defense on the field too long. ... It is frustrating, but the thing is we have a lot to learn. We're still fighting and it's still early."

The Bills were without their star free agent wide receiver Terrell Owens who missed his third straight game with a sprained toe. The team has already announced that TO wont play in their final preseason contest. One of the receivers who did play, Josh Reed, shared much of his QBs frustration:

"Frustrating. I feel like we're a much better offense than we showed tonight. It's still the preseason, but we still want to come out and give a better effort than it felt like we gave tonight."

Reed wasnt about to panic:

"I'll say we have more of a sense of urgency than panic. We've got to make sure everyone's still on the same page and nobody's down. We've got to keep everybody up and keep pushing."

The Bills will open the NFL regular season on Monday night, September 14th in Foxboro, Massachusetts against the New England Patriots. The Steelers will get their 2009 NFL regular season underway several days earlier, hosting the Tennessee Titans on Thursday, September 10th.

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a experienced freelance writer who covers travel, poker and NFL football handicapping. He is a consulting handicapper for Anatta Sports where he is responsible for providing daily sports picks. In his spare time he enjoys fine dining, fencing and scuba diving. He lives in Southern Nevada with four dogs and a pet coyote.

Tampa Bay Fends Off Jacksonville Comeback Bid In NFL Preseason Action

By Ross Everett

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers managed to escape with a win at Jacksonville on Saturday night, but by the narrowest of margins. The Jags gave up the opportunity to tie the game after a last minute touchdown, and decided to go for a 2 point conversion and the win. The attempt failed, and the Bucs survived to win by a 24-23 final score. The victory evened Tampa's NFL preseason mark at 1-1, while Jacksonville slumped to 0-2.

A quarterback battle may be brewing in Tampa, as starter Byron Leftwich was outplayed by backup Luke McCown. Leftwich moved the team into Jacksonville territory on three occasions, but came away with only a field goal. He finished with 63 yards on 6 of 12 passing and gave his thoughts on his performance after the game:

"We did some good things. I didn't play great, but I played OK. We wanted to look better. We wanted to understand situations better."

McCown was 6 of 9 for 51 yards, but cashed in two touchdown passes. Tampa Bay coach Raheem Morris indicated that he'd look to name a starter later this week:

"Everything plays a big part of this decision -- OTAs, mini-camp, the games. These games count for a little bit more. We'll evaluate the leadership and everything about the QB play. I can't ask for a better competition and can't ask for a better group and can't ask for better results. Got to make the decision now."

A bright spot for the Jaguars was the play of wide receiver Troy Williamson. Williamson caught two deep passes from QB David Gararrd and finished with 147 yards. He caught four passes for 74 yards in Jacksonville's opening game of the preseason. After the game, he said that hes just trying to work hard:

"I am just out there working I'm doing more and more stuff to get my confidence back up. I feel good and comfortable with the offense."

Tampa Bay will host Miami next Thursday night, while Jacksonville will look to get their first win of the NFL preseason as they travel to Philadelphia. The Jaguars will kick off the NFL regular season on Sunday, September 13th as they play the Colts in Indianapolis. The Bucs will start off their campaign hosting the Dallas Cowboys.

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a widely published widely published freelance sports writer and respected authority on baseball betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.

Montreal Maintains CFL Dominance With Win Over Winnipeg

By Ross Everett

The Montreal Alouettes demonstrated the form that has made them the CFLs top team in a Saturday visit to Winnipeg. Anthony Calvillo threw four touchdown passes as the Alouettes prevailed easily over the Blue Bombers by a 39-12 score.

CFL bettors who backed Montreal cashed their tickets as the Als easily covered as -8 road favorites. Montreal improved to 5-2 against the number while the Blue Bombers slipped to 4-3 against the spread. Interestingly, this was the first time all season that Winnipeg failed to cover as an underdog, having earned the money in four such roles this season before tonights setback. The combined 51 points scored exceeded the posted total of 47, leaving each team with a 4-3 edge to the OVER this season.

Calvillo not only through four TD passes, he through three consecutive passes for touchdowns which is a feat that he cant recall accomplishing previously in his lengthy professional career:

"Somebody mentioned that to me out there. I didn't realize that and they asked me if it's ever been done or if I'd done it before and I can't recall."

Montreals defense held Winnipeg to four FGs and recovered four Blue Bomber turnovers that led to Alouette scores. After the game, Calvillo gave all of the credit for the victory to the defense and insisted that his team had a lot of work to do:

"Our defence put us on the short field throughout the night and we capitalized on the turnovers. We have a lot of work to do. We had a few dropped passes, a few misreads by myself and two turnovers. We're always looking to improve and we definitely have to improve on offence."

Kerry Watkins caught one of Calvillos touchdowns and spoke of playing with the CFL legend in his postgame interview:

"It's a great accomplishment, but something we don't keep track of. It's an honour. That's a living legend. I've been so fortunate to play my whole (six-year) career with him."

Bombers head coach Mike Kelly, who also serves as the teams offensive coordinator, insisted there was nothing wrong with the offensive scheme:

"There's nothing wrong with this scheme. I've seen this scheme work 1,000 times .If you want to get right down to it, we have to block when we need to block and catch when we need to catch and throw to the right people. And right now we're not doing those things so we'll continue to look at it."

Winnipeg defensive tackle Doug Brown agreed with his coachs assessment:

"Let's put it this way, we were in a good enough dogfight without as many critical errors as we made ourselves. You play a team of this calibre, the last thing you need to do is dig yourself your own hole with penalties and turnovers and missed tackles and not executing our assignments and so on and so forth."

Montreal will host Saskatchewan on Friday, while Winnipeg will head west for a game against British Columbia.

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and highly respected authority on football betting. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.