Federal customs agents pick up Leaf
Football Betting Lines
06/17/2009 - San Diego, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ryan Leaf was arrested along the U.S.- Canada border on Wednesday on a warrant that had been out for his arrest since May 20, according to a report in the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Leaf, per the paper, was on his way to turn himself in for drug and burglary charges out of Texas. He had just completed a drug rehab program in British Columbia.
The 33-year-old was scheduled for an extradition hearing on Wednesday in Bellingham, Washington.
Leaf was coaching at West Texas A&M prior to the charges and has since resigned. He is best known for not living up to his second overall selection in the 1998 NFL Draft. In his first season with the Chargers, Leaf went 3-6 in nine starts, while throwing 15 interceptions compared to two touchdowns.
The Washington State product started just 12 games following his tumultuous rookie campaign.
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - UCLA forward Drew Gordon suffered a partially torn patellar tendon in his right knee on Tuesday. The injury occurred at the 2009 USA Basketball U19 World Championship team trials in Colorado S
<< Rivera leads Angels past Giants
San Francisco, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Juan Rivera knocked in a pair of runs
as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim scored three times in the eighth inning
and held on to edge the San Francisco Giants, 4-3, sweeping a three-game
interle
<< Rangers P Harrison activated from DL
Arlington, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Texas Rangers pitcher Matt Harrison was
activated from the 15-day disabled list to start Wednesday's game against
Houston.
Harrison was placed on the DL on May 29, retroactive to May 26, with left
shoulder i
<< Jeter held out of lineup for Yankees-Nationals game
Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter was
held out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Washington Nationals
due to a nagging left ankle injury.
Although an MRI on the ankle came back showing
<< Toronto P Halladay headed to DL with strained groin
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Toronto Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay will
be placed on the 15-day disabled list on Thursday.
Halladay still experienced discomfort in his strained right groin during a
Wednesday bullpen session. The
Akron, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The University of Akron on Wednesday agreed to contract extensions with men's basketball coach Keith Dambrot and women's basketball coach Jodi Kest, while softball coach Julie Jones received a three- year co
Congress to review testimony from Sosa >>
Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Responding to a Tuesday report that Sammy
Sosa tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug in 2003, a
representative from the Oversight and Government Reform Committee said a
review
Alabama to appeal NCAA sanctions >>
Tuscaloosa, AL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The University of Alabama announced
Wednesday it will appeal the sanctions imposed last week by the NCAA Committee
on Infractions.
The NCAA placed the athletic program on probation for three years
TFC terminates Ricketts' contract >>
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Toronto FC came to an agreement to terminate
the contract of midfielder Rohan Ricketts, the Major league Soccer club
announced on Wednesday.
The 26-year-old Ricketts signed with the club in April
WPS Atlanta names McGee its GM >>
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Atlanta Women's Professional Soccer
franchise named sports executive Shawn McGee as General Manager on Wednesday,
one day before the expected announcement of the team name and colors at a
downtow
NFL Football Betting
BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.