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<< Knicks shoot the lights out against Grizzlies
Memphis, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Wilson Chandler poured in a career-high 27 points and hauled in seven rebounds as the Knicks made a franchise-record 19 three-pointers in a 132-103 shellacking of the Grizzlies at FedEx Forum. Jamal Cra

<< The Truth hurts: Celtics hand Hawks first loss of season
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Paul Pierce hit a fade-away jumper with 0.5 seconds to play and scored 34 points, including 23 in the second half, leading the Boston Celtics to a 103-102 victory over the Hawks, handing Atlanta its first l

<< Anderson, Panthers shut down Lightning
Sunrise, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Gregory Campbell tallied twice and Craig Anderson turned aside 24 shots for his first shutout of the season as Florida silenced Tampa Bay, 4-0, at BankAtlantic Center. Bryan McCabe and Nathan Horton al

<< Ford drives Pacers past Nets
East Rutherford, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - T.J. Ford scored 18 points, doled out nine assists and hauled in seven rebounds to lead the Indiana Pacers in a 98-87 victory over the New Jersey Nets from the IZOD Center. Marquis Daniels and

The Butler did it! Wizards silence Jazz >>
Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Caron Butler had a game-high 27 points and grabbed nine rebounds as the Washington Wizards won for the first time this season with a 95-87 triumph over the Utah Jazz. Antawn Jamison tallied 21 points

Fernandez, Blazers beat Heat in Oden's return >>
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Rudy Fernandez logged 14 of his team-high 25 points in the fourth quarter, as the Portland Trail Blazers welcomed back Greg Oden with a resounding 104-96 victory at Miami. Oden made his return after miss

Lakers stay perfect with win in New Orleans >>
New Orleans, LA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kobe Bryant scored 11 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter and hit the big shot from beyond the arc with 1:08 remaining, to stop a big New Orleans run and keep the Lakers unbeaten with a 93-86 v

Axelsson gives Bruins shootout win in Chicago >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - P.J. Axelsson netted the game-winner in the shootout as Boston clipped Chicago, 2-1, at the United Center. Axelsson made several stick moves towards the net on his chance, switching to the backhand just

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.