64°F
weather icon Clear

Matt Youmans

NFL betting: Houston backers get Schaub-ed

A stand-up comic searching for new material might want to look to the Houston Texans and their clumsy quarterback, Matt Schaub, whose latest football-throwing folly is worth a lot of laughs. “That was a joke,” said Nick Bogdanovich, William Hill sports book director. “That’s unbelievable.”

Falcons clear step up in class for untested New England

Weekly news conferences with Bill Belichick wind up being hilarious simply because he is humorless. It’s all mumbling and terse answers from a football genius wearing a frown and a hooded sweatshirt.

Alabama looking less attractive as BCS lock

Crimson Tide QB A.J. McCarron and his model sidekick, Katherine Webb, have split. Sources confirmed it in a New York Daily News story. I’m not into celebrity relationship gossip, but this is an interesting development and maybe a handicapping angle.

Morning results make books happy, bettors woozy

It was a Sunday of mourning at the sports books, and everyone who bet on Eli Manning and the New York Giants was in a foul mood before noon.

RG3, Redskins can get season back on track against Lions

On second thought, Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III probably wishes he had not rushed his comeback. First, his right knee needed rehabilitation, and now it’s his image.

THE LATEST
NFL bets: Laying 20 to Jags a reckless wager

The Jacksonville Jaguars opened as 20-point road underdogs to the Seattle Seahawks, and the number has dipped to 19½. The point spread is the oddsmakers’ equalizer. In this case, the number is a monster, and it presents a dilemma for a handicapper.

No draw: Verdict for Peyton unanimous

In a mismatch, Peyton Manning led the Denver Broncos to a win by fourth-quarter knockout. It’s never safe to leave it to the judges, because one might come up with a mysterious score.

Quick-strike Eagles draw bettors’ quick overreaction

Not only does Chip Kelly speak as quickly as an auctioneer, the Philadelphia Eagles coach instructs his offense to play at high speed. Kelly probably eats breakfast and reads the newspaper in less than a minute.

Mayweather-Alvarez fight tops big gambling weekend

Too frequently, when Floyd Mayweather Jr. takes center stage, fans overpay to see something resembling a dance competition and a pillow fight.

Frustrating outcomes big part of NFL allure

When it goes bad, it tends to get worse before it gets better. Eli Manning’s first pass was a screen thrown directly to a defensive lineman and intercepted. That’s how the season started for the New York Giants.

Public sides with 49ers, but give me ‘dog Packers

With his passing accuracy and ability to make plays out of the pocket, a strong argument can be made for Aaron Rodgers as the NFL’s most complete quarterback. At 29, he’s going to be at or near the top for a while.

NFL wagering can be risky business

One game into the season, Peyton Manning appears unstoppable and the Denver Broncos are back with a vengeance and about to bring some serious pain to every opponent in their way. Maybe that’s an overreaction.

Hundley, Bruins make great first impression

Preseason hype is often a lot of hot air. But anything that has been said or written to pump up UCLA and its sophomore quarterback, Brett Hundley, was not an error.