Atlanta Falcons 2010 Training Camp Preview

Football Betting Lines

07/22/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) -

REPORT DATE: July 29th

SITE: Atlanta Falcons Training Facility, Flowery Branch, GA

CAMP OBJECTIVES: The Falcons don't have a lot of high-profile position battles as they enter camp, but the look of the team in the trenches heading into September could have much to say about their chances. Along the offensive line, the team needs either Justin Blalock or rookie Mike Johnson (Alabama) to emerge as someone who can help Michael Turner and the running game. On the defensive line, a battle is brewing at one end between the overachieving Kroy Biermann and disappointing former first-rounder Jamaal Anderson. On the interior, Peria Jerry is a question mark coming off a knee injury, and could lose some of his reps to promising third-rounder Corey Peters (Kentucky). First-round rookie Sean Weatherspoon (Missouri) must develop quickly at one of the outside linebacker positions, and big-money cornerback Dunta Robinson (ex-Texans) needs to make an immediate impact for a secondary that struggled during key stretches of the 2009 season. Opposite Robinson, coordinator Brian VanGorder needs to see continued maturation from the slight but athletic Brent Grimes, and strong safety Erik Coleman will have to hold off William Moore.

PRESEASON SCHEDULE:

Aug 13 - vs. Kansas City, 8:00 PM Aug 19 - vs. New England, 8:00 PM Aug 27 - at Miami, 7:00 PM Sep 2 - at Jacksonville, 7:30 PM

Punteruk Football Betting News


<< New York Giants 2010 Training Camp Preview
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - REPORT DATE: Aug. 1st SITE: University at Albany, Albany, NY CAMP OBJECTIVES: Though it's offense that sells tickets, the side of the ball that everyone wants to talk about with respect to the Giants is defense. The

<< Detroit Lions 2010 Training Camp Preview
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - REPORT DATE: July 30th SITE: Detroit Lions Training Facility, Allen Park, MI CAMP OBJECTIVES: Jim Schwartz knows that if the Lions are to take a step forward after going 2-30 over the past two seasons, the effort will

<< Green Bay Packers 2010 Training Camp Preview
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - REPORT DATE: July 30th SITE: St. Norbert College, De Pere, WI CAMP OBJECTIVES: The Packers should have the luxury of dealing with a relatively drama-free camp, as the team had very few personnel changes in the offsea

<< Carolina Panthers 2010 Training Camp Preview
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - REPORT DATE: July 28th SITE: Wofford College, Spartanburg, SC CAMP OBJECTIVES: For the first time since Rodney Peete and Jake Delhomme duked it out for starting duties in 2003 (Peete actually won the job, before being

<< St. Louis Rams 2010 Training Camp Preview
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - REPORT DATE: July 28th (Rookies), July 30th (Veterans) SITE: Russell Training Center, Earth City, MO CAMP OBJECTIVES: Though the work of quarterbacks A.J. Feeley and Sam Bradford (once he signs) will be the highest-pr

Philadelphia Eagles 2010 Training Camp Preview >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - REPORT DATES: July 26th (Rookies), July 29th (Veterans) SITE: Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA CAMP OBJECTIVES: Kevin Kolb might play two series in the Eagles' preseason opener against the Jaguars on Aug. 13th. If he

Dallas Cowboys 2010 Training Camp Preview >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - REPORT DATE: July 24th SITE: Alamodome, San Antonio, TX/Marriott Residence Inn Oxnard River Bridge, Oxnard, CA CAMP OBJECTIVES: The Cowboys are certain to have some drama at training camp because, well, they're the C

Chicago Bears 2010 Training Camp Preview >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - REPORT DATE: July 30th SITE: Olivet Nazarene University, Bourbonnais, IL CAMP OBJECTIVES: Every minute the Bears offense spends on the practice field in advance of their Week 1 date against the Lions is critical. New

Defending champ Petkovic ousted in Austria >>
Bad Gastein, Austria (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Defending champion Andrea Petkovic of Germany was eliminated in the second round of the Gastein Ladies tennis tournament. France's Alize Cornet took out the top seed, 6-2, 7-5, on Thursday and

Arizona Cardinals 2010 Training Camp Preview >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - REPORT DATE: July 30th SITE: Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ CAMP OBJECTIVES: With Kurt Warner having joined an already substantial group of Arizona retirees, much of the training camp focus will be on whet

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.