| One thing that stood out from Sunday's NFL | | | | competitive, winning 9 in a row. Teams that are hot |
| preseason opener was that the new coach won and | | | | often have different reasons to be motivated. |
| covered again. After a dominating opening drive by the | | | | For instance, late last season the Oakland Athletics |
| Eagles' first stringers, the Raiders controlled the tempo | | | | went on an incredible tear the last two months. Novice |
| much of the rest of the way, getting the win as a +3 | | | | bettors can think, "Well, the A's can't keep winning. I'm |
| dog. Philly is coached by Andy Reid, a successful | | | | going to start betting against them." This would have |
| coach who has taken the Eagles to four NFC | | | | been a big mistake, too, as the A's just keep right on |
| Championship games and one Super Bowl. Reid has | | | | rolling. When teams are hot there is a combination of |
| nothing to prove in preseason (in fact, he is now 10-18 | | | | confidence and a lack of pressure on the players. This |
| in preseason games). Oakland is coached by Art Shell, | | | | helps them to hit, field and play their best ball. A team |
| who was coaching his first game since 1994. | | | | can easily shake off an error in the middle of a game, |
| Teams can often come out and play hard for a new | | | | for example, and not let it both them. Players do feel |
| coach, even though it is exhibition season. Last year, | | | | pressure. |
| the Browns hired Romeo Crennel and he went 3-1 | | | | I recall last season when I bet the Baltimore Orioles in |
| straight up and 4-0 against the spread in August. The | | | | consecutive games. I did it for several reasons, the |
| Rams go into action Thursday against the Colts. St. | | | | biggest being that the Orioles fired their manager. |
| Louis has a first-year head coach in Scott Linehan, | | | | Historically, teams that make managerial changes in |
| something to keep in mind. The Lions also open play | | | | mid-season usually respond right away and play better. |
| this weekend for new coach Rod Marinelli, as do the | | | | Baltimore rewarded me, as well, with a pair of wins. |
| Bills (Dick Jauron), Chiefs (Herm Edwards), Texans | | | | After one of the games, the new O's manager said, "I |
| (Gary Kubiak), Saints (Sean Payton), Packers (Mike | | | | saw some real signs of life that I hadn't seen in quite a |
| McCarthy) and Vikings (Brad Childress). New coaches | | | | while. We ran the bases real aggressively, and that's |
| are already 1-0 SU/ATS in 2006! | | | | one of the things I like to see." The same thing had |
| The baseball pennant races are in full swing, and | | | | happened earlier that season, too, when the Royals let |
| there's an old Las Vegas slogan, "Never bet against a | | | | Tony Pena go, and they responded for the new |
| hot roller." It can apply to sports betting, as well. Teams | | | | manager with an impressive win streak, which included |
| that are hot often stay hot, while teams that are cold | | | | a sweep of the Yankees as big dogs each time. |
| are better to look at as a go-against than as a play-on. | | | | Conversely, teams on losing streaks can bring all kinds |
| The Twins and Yankees are two AL teams that have | | | | of pressure on themselves, even to winning teams. It |
| been on a roll the last month. | | | | has happened this season twice with the Cardinals, a |
| The old betting adage is even more important when | | | | FIRST place team! Pitchers and hitters were trying too |
| hot baseball teams are fighting for their playoff lives or | | | | hard to stop the streak, and playing worse as a result. |
| for division titles. The Twins are certainly making an | | | | Barring a major shake up, such as a manager being |
| impressive move to overtake the White Sox for the | | | | fired, it's better to bet against slumping teams and play |
| Wild Card spot, while the Dodgers have gotten hot | | | | on hot teams than to try and outsmart yourself and |
| and have made the wacky NL West even more | | | | try and anticipate when the streaks might end. |