It may be preseason, but sports betting fans are celebrating the return of the National Football League this week, as the Buffalo Bills battle the Tennessee Titans in the 2009 NFL Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio on Sunday, officially kicking off the NFL preseason schedule. In MLB action, the Boston Red Sox visit the New York Yankees for the second tilt of a four-game series between the AL East rivals on Friday. Also Friday, the Atlanta Braves are on the West Coast to battle the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second game of a four-game series. And on Saturday, UFC 101: Declaration features a lightweight championship bout.
TRIVIA:
Who was the first player from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?
1. Ricky Bell
2. Reggie Cobb
3. Jimmie Giles
4. Lee Roy Selmon
ANSWER AT BOTTOM
MLB:
Friday
BOSTON RED SOX @ NEW YORK YANKEES
7:05 pm ET, MLB, YES
One of the greatest rivalries in pro sports is in the spotlight Friday as the Boston Red Sox visit the New York Yankees for the second tilt of a four-game series.
The Red Sox will start righthander Josh Beckett (13-4, 3.27 ERA). In his last start, Beckett had seven shutout innings in a win over the Baltimore Orioles.
Opponents are hitting just .234 against Beckett this season. He has 132 strikeouts in 143 innings.
Beckett has faced the Yankees three times this season, going 2-0 with a 5.82 ERA. In 11 road starts this season, Beckett is 6-4 with a 3.93 ERA.
The Yankees will counter with A.J. Burnett (10-5, 3.89 ERA). Burnett was not as successful in his last start, as he had two bases-loaded walks and was pulled in the fifth inning of New York's 14-4 loss to the Chicago White Sox.
Burnett has faced the Red Sox twice this season and lost both times, suffering a 16-11 decision on April 25 at Fenway Park and the 7-0 beating on June 9. Burnett is 5-1 with a 3.80 ERA in 10 career starts against Boston.
betED Line: MLB Betting Odds
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Friday
ATLANTA BRAVES @ LOS ANGELES DODGERS
10:10 pm ET, FOX
The Atlanta Braves are on the West Coast to battle the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second game of a four-game series Friday.
The Braves will start righthander Jair Jurrjens (9-8, 2.85 ERA). Jurrjens last game was against the Dodgers last Sunday in Atlanta, when he lasted just five innings while surrendering four earned runs in the fifth inning of a 9-1 loss.
The Dodgers will counter with righthander Chad Billingsley (11-6, 3.82 ERA).
Chad Billingsley faced Jurrjens in last Sunday?s 9-1 win for the Dodgers.
He felt a slight hamstring cramp and was pulled by manager Joe Torre before the sixth inning. Billingsley struck out nine batters.
betED Line: MLB Betting Odds
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NFL PRESEASON:
Sunday
HALL OF FAME GAME
BUFFALO BILLS @ TENNESSEE TITANS
8 pm ET, NBC
The Buffalo Bills battle the Tennessee Titans in the 2009 National Football League Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio on Sunday, officially kicking off the NFL preseason schedule.
Buffalo and Tennessee haven?t met since Christmas Eve, 2006, when the Titans edged the Bills 30-29 as 5-point road underdogs.
Over the past six meetings, Tennessee is 5-1 SU and 4-2 ATS, and four of the matchups have gone over the total.
Last season, Buffalo went 7-9 SU and ATS while Tennessee was 13-3 SU and 12-3-1 ATS.
The biggest off season move for the Titans was the loss of defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, who signed a free-agent contract with the Washington Redskins. Tennessee will be pinning their hopes on former Tampa Bay Buccaneers? DT Jovan Haye to fill that hole.
The Bills? biggest offseason move came when they signed infamous wide receiver Terrell Owens to a one-year deal. Owens played with the Dallas Cowboys last season.
In last year?s Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, the Washington Redskins beat the Indianapolis Colts 30-16.
betED Line: Titans (-3) Total: 31
Bet this game!
Hot Props:
UFC 101: Declaration takes place Saturday at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, with the two best 155-pound fighters in the world clashing in the main event.
Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight champion B.J. Penn will defend his title against number one contender Kenny Florian in the biggest bout of the 10-fight card.
Who will win the main event?
1. Penn -240
2. Florian +190
Bet UFC 101
TRIVIA ANSWER:
4. Lee Roy Selmon.
The Defensive End became a HOF member in 1995.
TRIVIA:
Who was the first player from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?
1. Ricky Bell
2. Reggie Cobb
3. Jimmie Giles
4. Lee Roy Selmon
ANSWER AT BOTTOM
MLB:
Friday
BOSTON RED SOX @ NEW YORK YANKEES
7:05 pm ET, MLB, YES
One of the greatest rivalries in pro sports is in the spotlight Friday as the Boston Red Sox visit the New York Yankees for the second tilt of a four-game series.
The Red Sox will start righthander Josh Beckett (13-4, 3.27 ERA). In his last start, Beckett had seven shutout innings in a win over the Baltimore Orioles.
Opponents are hitting just .234 against Beckett this season. He has 132 strikeouts in 143 innings.
Beckett has faced the Yankees three times this season, going 2-0 with a 5.82 ERA. In 11 road starts this season, Beckett is 6-4 with a 3.93 ERA.
The Yankees will counter with A.J. Burnett (10-5, 3.89 ERA). Burnett was not as successful in his last start, as he had two bases-loaded walks and was pulled in the fifth inning of New York's 14-4 loss to the Chicago White Sox.
Burnett has faced the Red Sox twice this season and lost both times, suffering a 16-11 decision on April 25 at Fenway Park and the 7-0 beating on June 9. Burnett is 5-1 with a 3.80 ERA in 10 career starts against Boston.
betED Line: MLB Betting Odds
Bet this Game!
Friday
ATLANTA BRAVES @ LOS ANGELES DODGERS
10:10 pm ET, FOX
The Atlanta Braves are on the West Coast to battle the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second game of a four-game series Friday.
The Braves will start righthander Jair Jurrjens (9-8, 2.85 ERA). Jurrjens last game was against the Dodgers last Sunday in Atlanta, when he lasted just five innings while surrendering four earned runs in the fifth inning of a 9-1 loss.
The Dodgers will counter with righthander Chad Billingsley (11-6, 3.82 ERA).
Chad Billingsley faced Jurrjens in last Sunday?s 9-1 win for the Dodgers.
He felt a slight hamstring cramp and was pulled by manager Joe Torre before the sixth inning. Billingsley struck out nine batters.
betED Line: MLB Betting Odds
Bet this Game!
NFL PRESEASON:
Sunday
HALL OF FAME GAME
BUFFALO BILLS @ TENNESSEE TITANS
8 pm ET, NBC
The Buffalo Bills battle the Tennessee Titans in the 2009 National Football League Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio on Sunday, officially kicking off the NFL preseason schedule.
Buffalo and Tennessee haven?t met since Christmas Eve, 2006, when the Titans edged the Bills 30-29 as 5-point road underdogs.
Over the past six meetings, Tennessee is 5-1 SU and 4-2 ATS, and four of the matchups have gone over the total.
Last season, Buffalo went 7-9 SU and ATS while Tennessee was 13-3 SU and 12-3-1 ATS.
The biggest off season move for the Titans was the loss of defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, who signed a free-agent contract with the Washington Redskins. Tennessee will be pinning their hopes on former Tampa Bay Buccaneers? DT Jovan Haye to fill that hole.
The Bills? biggest offseason move came when they signed infamous wide receiver Terrell Owens to a one-year deal. Owens played with the Dallas Cowboys last season.
In last year?s Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, the Washington Redskins beat the Indianapolis Colts 30-16.
betED Line: Titans (-3) Total: 31
Bet this game!
Hot Props:
UFC 101: Declaration takes place Saturday at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, with the two best 155-pound fighters in the world clashing in the main event.
Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight champion B.J. Penn will defend his title against number one contender Kenny Florian in the biggest bout of the 10-fight card.
Who will win the main event?
1. Penn -240
2. Florian +190
Bet UFC 101
TRIVIA ANSWER:
4. Lee Roy Selmon.
The Defensive End became a HOF member in 1995.
