NFL Capsule: Minnesota at New Orleans

Football Betting Lines

09/08/2010 -

MINNESOTA (13-5) At NEW ORLEANS (16-3)

8:30 p.m. ET, NBC

OPENING LINE - Saints by 4 1/2

RECORD VS. SPREAD - Minnesota 11-6-1; New Orleans 10-9

SERIES RECORD - Vikings lead 20-8

LAST MEETING - Saints beat Vikings 31-28, Jan. 24, 2010

VIKINGS OFFENSE - OVERALL (5), RUSH (13), PASS (8)

VIKINGS DEFENSE - OVERALL (6), RUSH (2), PASS (19)

SAINTS OFFENSE - OVERALL (1), RUSH (6), PASS (4)

SAINTS DEFENSE - OVERALL (25), RUSH (21), PASS (26)

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES - Game is rematch of the 2009 NFC championship. ... Vikings beginning their 50th NFL season; Saints beginning their 44th. ... Vikings QB Brett Favre returns for his 20th season. ... Favre needs 3 TD passes to become first ever to reach 500. ... Favre had career-high 107.2 passer rating in 2009. ... RB Adrian Peterson rushed for 1,383 yards, 18 TDs last season. ... Peterson had 122 yards rushing and 3 TDs but fumbled twice vs. Saints in NFC title game. ... Vikings TE Visanthe Shiancoe's 11 TD catches ranked second among TEs in 2009. ... Vikings DE Jarred Allen had 14 1/2 sacks in 2009. ... Saints won first Super Bowl in franchise history last season. ... Saints led NFL with 510 points, ninth most in single season history, and led NFL in total offense with 403.8 yards per game. ... Saints QB Drew Brees set NFL record with 70.62 completion percentage in 2009 and led NFL with career-high and franchise-high 109.6 passer rating. Was voted Super Bowl MVP. ... RB Pierre Thomas led Saints with career-high 793 yards rushing in 2009. ... RB Reggie Bush is only player in Saints history to score TDs rushing, receiving and on punt returns. ... WR Marques Colston led Saints with 70 catches for 1,074 yards in 2009, his third 1,000-yard season since joining NFL in 2006. ... Saints had 39 takeaways last season (26 INT, 13 fumble recoveries), second in NFL. ... S Roman Harper had career-high 127 tackles in 2009, second highest on Saints behind Jon Vilma's 130. ... All-Pro S Darren Sharper out six weeks after left knee surgery.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 The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

Sportsbook-internet-sportsbook Football Betting News

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Nashville, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Nashville Predators signed defenseman Cody Franson to a two-year contract worth $1.6 million on Wednesday. The 23-year-old compiled six goals and 21 points in 61 games during his

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Terrell Owens could return for Cowboys next game
A bye week will allow Terrell Owens broken hand to recover just in time for the next game the Dallas Cowboys are slated to play, according to reports. MySportsbook.com, an football sportsbook, has posted football betting lines on TO playing.

Owens broke the bone leading to his right ring finger Sunday night and had a plate surgically attached to it Monday. Although Owens' hand was swollen and aching Wednesday, Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said he's optimistic the receiver will be back at work next week and catching passes a week from Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

MySportsbook.com online sportsbook listed Terrell Owens with odds of 7-2 (or $7 paid out for every $2 bet) to return back for the game against Tennessee.

"I certainly wouldn't rule it out now," Parcells said, referring to Terrell Owens immediate return. "Maybe five days from now I might, but I wouldn't rule it out now. ... I know we're looking to try to get him moving around pretty good in the next day or so. So we'll see where we are."

Owens did not speak with reporters Wednesday, but said Sunday he'd be out two to four weeks. A return against the Titans would be 13 days after the surgery. The Cowboys were listed as an early -7 1/2 favorite vs. the Tennessee Titans for Week 4 at MySportsbook.com

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Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value

If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture.  Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).

For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot.  The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win.

TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the  drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.

"While 'Babel' lost several guild awards to 'Sunshine' and 'Departed,'  it still enjoys loyal support, and historically Oscar voters favor dramas with social messages over comedies like 'Sunshine' and violent crime movies like 'Departed'."

"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.

Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash.  Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win. 

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