Rock vs. Jock series highlights week 4 in AFL

Football Betting Lines

03/22/2007 - New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Soul (2-0), co-owned by JON BON JOVI, host the fifth version in the "Rock vs. Jock" series as they welcome the Colorado Crush (2-1), co-owned by JOHN ELWAY, to the Wachovia Center on Thursday, March 22 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2, ESPN 360 and SIRIUS RADIO- Channel 119. The Crush boasts a 4-0 all-time record against the Soul and have won the last three meetings by an average of more than 16 points.

This is the first time the two teams face each other in a home opener, and with one team undefeated. The Soul, who have the Leagues top-ranked scoring offense (66.0 PPG), are led by QB TONY GRAZIANI (424 YDS, 10 TDs), who ranks third in the AFL in passer rating (129.2) and averages 244 yards and four touchdowns in five career meetings against Colorado. The Crushs fourth-ranked scoring defense (46.0 PPG) is anchored by DB RASHAD FLOYD, who leads the AFL in tackles (32.5) and is second in passes defensed with five.

The games key matchup showcases reigning two-time AFL Offensive Player of the Year, Crush WR DAMIAN HARRELL (21 REC., 267 YDS, 9 TDs) against Soul DB EDDIE MOTEN, who was named ADT Defensive Player of the Week in Week 2 and led the League with 13 interceptions in 2006.

ESPNs second installment of Russell Athletic ESPN Arena Football Monday features the undefeated Dallas Desperados (3-0) as they travel to Orlando to face the Predators on Monday, March 26 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2 & ESPN 360. The Desperados, who rank No. 1 in this weeks Schutt Sports Poll, are going for their first 4-0 start in franchise history, and hold a 9-1 record in their last 10 road contests. Orlando, up three spots to No. 5, leads the all-time series 3-2, but have not beaten the Desperados since their 64-49, victory in Week 11 of the 2004 season in Orlando. The Predators are 2-1 all-time against the Desperados at home and Orlando has never lost three consecutive home games in their franchises 16-year history.

The Desperados will showcase their "triplets" of QB CLINT DOLEZEL (755 YDS, 18 TDs), RB JOSH WHITE (28 ATT, 98 YDS, 6 TDs) and WR MARCUS NASH (27 REC, 385 YDS, 5 TDs). Dolezel leads the AFL in passer rating (134.3), while White leads the League in rushing yards (98). Nash leads the AFL in yards from scrimmage (388) and is tied for second in receptions (27) and receiving yards (385). The Predators are led by QB SHANE STAFFORD (800 YDS, 12 TDs) and WR DEANDREW RUBIN (24 REC, 295 YDS, 7 TDs).

Chicago Rush QB MATT DORAZIO (603 YDS, 16 TDs) returns home (played for Destroyers in 2005) as the Rush (2-1) travel to Columbus (1-1) to face the Destroyers in their home opener at Nationwide Arena on Saturday, March 24, at 7 p.m. ET on (CSN- Live, CSN Chicago- Delay, Sunday, 3/25 at 1 p.m. ET, and AFL NET). The Rush, No. 4 in this weeks poll, are also led by WR BOBBY SIPPIO (21 REC, 298 YDS, 13 TDs), who is averaging four TDs per game and leads the AFL in scoring (78 points) and third-down receiving yards (80).

Destroyers QB MATT NAGY (519 YDS, 12 TDs) leads the AFL in third-down passing (146.8) and WR DAMIEN GROCE (18 REC, 252 YDS, 7 TDs) leads the League in combined return yards average (27.3). The overall series is tied 1-1 with both games being played in Columbus.

The game will also serve as the first-ever telecast for new RSN, The Columbus Sportsbook Betting Lines (CSN). CSN will broadcast six more Destroyer games and a weekly magazine show, Destroyers Digest, providing in-depth coverage and analysis of the team and the AFL.

This weeks games also include: New York at Tampa Bay (Bright House TV- Live, SNY- Delay, Sunday, 3/25 at 1 p.m. ET, and SIRIUS RADIO Channel- 119) on Friday; Grand Rapids at Utah (KJAZZ- Live) on Friday; Las Vegas at Arizona (AFL NET) on Friday; Los Angeles at New Orleans (CST- Live) on Saturday; Nashville at Austin (FSN Southwest- Live, FSN South, SDD at 12:30 p.m. ET) on Saturday; and San Jose at Georgia (NBC San Jose- Live) on Saturday. Kansas City has a bye.

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Betting Football

NFL Football Betting Online

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.