Clippera Golf Betting News

<< Cavani makes move to Napoli
Naples, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Edinson Cavani has completed his protracted move from Palermo to Serie A rivals Napoli. The $23 million deal to sign the Uruguay striker was reported to have hit a snag following late interest from Inter

<< Yankees' Pettitte suffers groin strain
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New York Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte was removed from his start Sunday against the Tampa Bay Rays with a strained left groin. He was taken to New York Presbyterian Hospital and underwent an MRI. Resul

<< Angels place Kazmir on DL
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Angels placed pitcher Scott Kazmir on the 15-day disabled list following Sunday's 2-1, 10-inning loss to the Mariners. Kazmir lands on the DL with left shoulder fatigue. The left-hander is 7-9 with a 6.92 E

<< Denorfia powers Padres past Diamondbacks
San Diego, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chris Denorfia matched a career-high with four hits, homering twice and scoring three times to power San Diego past Arizona, 6-4, and help the Padres complete a three-game sweep at Petco Park. Denorf

Galaxy downs D.C. to extend Western Conference lead >>
Washington, D.C. (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Landon Donovan helped the Los Angeles Galaxy secure a 2-1 win at RFK Stadium on Sunday over D.C. United as he converted a penalty kick in the 58th minute. Edson Buddle had the Galaxy ahead a

Cubs batter Halladay, Phillies bullpen >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Alfonso Soriano and Geovany Soto each hit a two-run homer off Roy Halladay, as the Chicago Cubs routed the Philadelphia Phillies, 11-6, in the finale of a four-game series. Derrek Lee added a three-run

Johnson adds Mitchell, Krystkowiak to Nets' staff >>
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -Avery Johnson has named his new coaching staff with the New Jersey Nets.The staff announced by the Nets on Monday includes two former NBA head coaches - Toronto's Sam Mitchell and Milwaukee Larry Krystkowiak.Also named to

Pitt's Sheard charged with assault, suspended >>
PITTSBURGH (AP) -Pitt defensive end Jabaal Sheard has been suspended indefinitely after being accused of throwing another man through the glass door of an art gallery.Police say Sheard was in a fight early Sunday and had to be pepper sprayed after h

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.