McNabb: Ankle not 100 percent, will start Sunday

Football Betting Lines

09/07/2010 -

WASHINGTON (AP) - Donovan McNabb says his sprained ankle won't keep him from starting for the Washington Redskins on Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys.

McNabb told ESPN980 that his left ankle still isn't 100 percent after hurting it 2 1/2 weeks ago in a preseason game. McNabb said the injury isn't a high ankle sprain, but ``it's very close to it.'' A high ankle sprain is more severe and requires a longer recovery time than a common ankle sprain.

McNabb returned to practice Monday and said he's looking forward to his Redskins debut after 11 years with the Philadelphia Eagles.

McNabb also talked about the ongoing Albert Haynesworth saga, saying the Redskins ``can't win without'' the disgruntled defensive tackle.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

Betonine Football Betting News

<< Boise State gains ground in AP Top 25
Boise State has gained seven first-place votes to close in on No. 1 Alabama and No. 2 Ohio State as the top three in the first regular season Associated Press football poll.The Broncos remained third after a thrilling 33-30 victory against Virginia

<< White undergoes surgery on torn right Achilles
DENVER (AP) - Broncos tailback LenDale White has undergone surgery to repair a ruptured right Achilles' tendon that will sideline him for the season.His uncle, Herman White, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the operation ``went as expected'

<< Toronto FC postseason hopes rest with defense
Toronto, Canada (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It's a story that Toronto FC fans have grown accustomed to. A strong start to the season that looks to be leading to the eventual reward of making the MLS playoffs for the first time, only for the team to have

<< NHL: Five burning Northwest Division questions
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Vancouver Canucks plowed through the Northwest Division with a 15-7-2 mark en route to the third best record in the Western Conference last season. However, their regular season success did not trans

<< Report: Patriots, Brady close to contract extension
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New England Patriots and quarterback Tom Brady are reportedly on the verge of a three-year contract extension worth close to $58 million. The Boston Herald reports the deal is on the table for Brady,

6 on the coaching hot seat >>
It might not be a wise choice for several NFL coaches to sit down this season. Their seats are going to be awfully hot.Winning records are advised for John Fox, Jack Del Rio, Eric Mangini, Tom Cable, Raheem Morris and Lovie Smith, or else their tenu

Dolphins try to escape LeBron's shadow >>
MIAMI (AP) - Miami is the home of the Dolphin Expressway, the Dolphin Mall, the Dolphin Bar & Lounge, Dolphin Termite Services, Dolphin Used Auto Parts and Dolphin Bail Bonds.That's the way it has been in Miami for decades: Dolphins, Dolphins, D

CB Revis returns to practice with Jets >>
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) - Darrelle Revis is on the practice field for the New York Jets, a day after the All-Pro cornerback signed a four-year deal that ended his 36-day holdout.Coach Rex Ryan says Revis is expected to be ready to play in the Jets'

Veteran Vikings defense ready for Saints offense >>
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) - Even with only three healthy cornerbacks to throw at the Saints' wide-open, pass-first offense, the Minnesota Vikings defense says it's more than ready for the highly anticipated rematch Thursday night.Perhaps the proud ve

Bonus program announced for Black-Eyed Susan Stakes >>
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Following on the heels of the establishment of 'Preakness 5.5', MI Developments (MID) announced Tuesday the creation of a similar program for the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico Race Course. The 1 1/8 mi

Betting the NFL preseason

Rule No. 1 in the gamblers' handbook states, "Avoid sports betting on meaningless games."

When you're drowning in a sea of baseball monotony, however, things change. Even a hint of pro football betting can persuade the most disciplined bettor to break a few rules. 

The NFL preseason is around the corner, with a tempting Hall of Fame match kicking off on Sunday. But bettors must stay vigilant. Wagering on NFL exhibition games is an entirely different beast than the regular season. Most fans don't recognize the players on the field because starters get as much action in August as Warcraft fans get on Prom night.

The only certainty about the NFL this time of year is uncertainty – and yet there are some who say betting in August can be a gold mine.

“I actually feel the NFL preseason presents solid profit opportunities for sharp bettors and handicappers,” Sports Expert Steve Merril explains. “My experience has been that the sportsbooks fear the preseason, which is evident by lower limits and massive moves.”

The line moves are attributed to the limited knowledge available regarding playing-time distribution. One team’s top unit out on the field for one more series has an impact on the pointspread. Setting lines in the preseason often is a shot in the dark.

“We base the betting lines mostly on public perception,” Pete Korner, founder of the Sports Club in Las Vegas, says. “It’s very tough to predict, almost a guessing game.”

The preseason is all about figuring out who’s in and for how long.

“It becomes a race between bettors and oddsmakers to find out how long the quarterbacks are going to stay in,” Korner admits. “If a sharp gets the information first, he could exploit an early line. I’m a full believer in moving the line in the preseason if the books find out something late in the week.”

Determining what each team’s motive is can help bettors handicap. To do this you must pay close attention to the philosophies head coaches employ in exhibition play.

“You need to know what a coach is trying to accomplish,” says Covers Expert Bryan Leonard. “Sometimes a new coach will want to instill a winning attitude. Others just want to make sure their starters don’t get hurt."

So how do you distinguish who’s playing scared and who’s playing for keeps?

“Head coaches on the hot seat or new coaches trying to implement a winning attitude usually try harder to win in the preseason,” Merril says.

Cleveland Browns head coach Romeo Crennel fits this criteria. He’s entering his third season as the sideline boss and has yet to lead the Browns to more than six wins.

Cleveland is an enticing bet as well because of the unresolved quarterback situation. General manager Phil Savage sacrificed the Browns’ first-round pick in next year’s draft for Brady Quinn, but the former Notre Dame quarterback hasn’t signed or reported to training camp yet.

Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson split time at QB last season and it looks like either player (or even Quinn) could be the opening-day starter.

“If a team has quarterback depth and the pecking order hasn’t been decided, it’s a big advantage,” Leonard says.

Even in the third week of the preseason when starters generally play the most, the final outcome of the game is in the hands of fringe players. A team's talent, all the way down to the last man on the roster, is something to consider.

The New England Patriots have long been considered one of the deeper teams in the NFL and coach Bill Belichick has said in the past he’s unafraid of stars getting hurt in games with nothing on the line. He shocked his colleagues in 2003 by playing some of his starters on special teams in the preseason.

“We want to have the team ready to play a tough, physical game and preparation has to go into that and I imagine a certain amount of injuries go with it,” Belichick told the Providence Journal in August 2003.

Bettors can only hope to find more teams that share the Pats' business-like approach to the preseason (New England is 17-9-3 against the spread since 2000) and take advantage of teams who detest the exhibition schedule.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on football needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.