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<< Dodgers option Paul, recall Ellis
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday recalled catcher A.J. Ellis from Triple-A Albuquerque and optioned outfielder Xavier Paul to Albuquerque. In 19 games for the Dodgers this season, Ellis is batti

<< Injury-riddled Red Sox get some relief in Ellsbury
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Red Sox welcomed back leadoff hitter Jacoby Ellsbury on Wednesday and hope the outfielder lasts longer in his return than the last time he was activated off the 15-day disabled list. Ellsbury

<< Broncos bring RB White home to Denver
Englewood, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Denver Broncos have signed running back LenDale White. White was traded by the Tennessee Titans on draft day to the Seattle Seahawks but was waived on May 28, a little bit more than a month after

<< Blue Jays' Buck lands on DL
Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Toronto Blue Jays catcher John Buck has landed on the 15-day disabled list after taking a foul ball off his right hand in Wednesday's loss to the Yankees. In the fifth inning, Alex Rodriguez fouled off t

Alouettes extend GM Popp through 2014 >>
Montreal, QC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Montreal Alouettes general manager Jim Popp signed an extension through the 2014 season on Wednesday. Popp has led Montreal to seven Grey Cup appearances and two championships (2002, 2009) since 2

Jackson hurls successful ChiSox debut, downs Tigers >>
Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Edwin Jackson navigated his way through some early trouble to pitch seven-plus innings against his former club, as the Chicago White Sox defeated Detroit, 4-1, in the third installment of a four- game se

Dodgers' Martin lands on DL >>
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Dodgers placed catcher Russell Martin on the 15-day disabled list with a right hip labral tear. Martin hyperextended his leg in the second inning of Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Padre

McCann and Braves use long ball to down Mets >>
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brian McCann homered and drove in three runs and Chipper Jones and Melky Cabrera also left the yard to lead Atlanta to a 8-3 win over New York in the rubber match of a three-game set. McCann finished 3-

Betting Football

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.