Pittsburgh was the BetPhoenix preseason favorites to win the AFC North (+110), and considering they share the same conference as ''The Big Three'' of New England, San Diego and Indianapolis, they received its fair share of oddsmakers respect to win the AFC (+1200) and Super Bowl XLIII (+2200). So it was far from a shocker around the online NFL betting community when Pittsburgh booked its flight to Tampa.

It was no surprise when Arizona won the NFC West with a record of 9-7, which was the weakest division in the NFL, but for those who bought and cashed BetPhoenix future tickets for the Cardinals to do so priced at +250, congrats! Once Arizona punched its postseason ticket, even the most loyalists NFL wagering fans in the desert figured it to be a playoff of - one and done. And considering their postseason odds and history, who's to blame them?

On Sunday, the New York Giants (12-4 SU, 12-4 ATS) host Philadelphia Eagles (10-6-1 SU, 11-6 ATS) at 1:00pm EST to start the online NFL wagering action. The BetPhoenix NFL odds 4½-point underdog Eagles (Game 'total' 39) are 1-4 ATS in their last five meetings versus the Giants, however, the dog is 8-0 ATS in their last eight matchups..

New York opens the playoffs with a divisional-round game against the red-hot Eagles, who despite being the last seed in the conference, should pose a formidable challenge for their NFC East rivals. And, if you bet on NFL play, expect a hard fought game that should be close from start to finish.

New York stumbled somewhat at the end of the season, dropping three of its last four, although it managed to clinch the top seed in the NFC with an overtime win over Carolina on Dec. 21. That earned a much-needed first-round bye for the Giants, who opened the season 11-1 and weathered a brutal schedule while playing 13 straight games after their bye week.

When No. 3 Texas (11-1 SU, 9-3 ATS) plays No. 10 Ohio State (10-2 SU, 5-6 ATS) in the Fiesta Bowl and many online sports bettingfanatics believe the Longhorns will be playing with a chip on its shoulder after being snubbed from the BCS national championship game.

No. 3 Texas vs. No. 10 Ohio St.

Buckeyes' Terrell Pryor will make some good plays on the ground and in the passing game, and we all know Texas' gunslinger Colt McCoy will be firing bullets, making for what could be the most exciting BCS bowl game of them all.

Texas has something to prove in the teams' third meeting in four seasons. College football betting enthusiasts watched the Longhorns win in Columbus 25-22, on their way to winning the 2005 national championship. The Buckeyes won in Austin 24-7, on their way to the championship game a season later.

Ohio State lost each of their toughest games this season when they were defeated by USC and Penn State, but freshman quarterback Pryor brings an added dimension to the field and seems to be getting better each game. Of course, it helps having a running back in Chris “Beanie” Wells in the same backfield.

The National Championship game is always the most anticipated BCS contest of them all, as No. 1 clashes with No. 2 for the title.

No. 1 Oklahoma vs. No. 2 Florida.

This year, online sports betting fans will watch No. 1 Oklahoma (12-1 SU, 10-2 ATS) take on No. 2 Florida (12-1 SU, 10-2 ATS) for the first time on Jan. 8, as the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow faces 2008 winner Sam Bradford.

—Sooners are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 bowl games.
—Sooners are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games in January.

Bradford led the nation with 48 touchdown passes while throwing just six interceptions. He topped the country with a 186.3 efficiency rating and was second with 4,464 passing yards. The reigning Heisman winner had a lot of help from multiple skilled receivers. Six Oklahoma receivers had at least 395 yards, and four totaled more than 600. Bradford’s favorite targets were Juaquin Iglesias (1,092 yards, 10 touchdowns), Jermaine Gresham (888, 12), Manuel Johnson (685, 9, 18.0-yard per-catch average) and Ryan Broyles (661, 6 TDs).

Week 12's rendition of Monday Night Football features two 5-5 teams with two sharp quarterbacks, looking for two straight wins as the two meet at the Superdome for the first time in over six years. If you bet on NFL, it's two for the price of one! In what should be a good show when the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints strap it up to finish another stellar week of online NFL betting action.

—Packers are 14-6-1 ATS in their last 21 Monday games.

—Packers are 6-2-1 ATS in their last 9 games in Week 12.

—Saints are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 Monday games.

—Saints are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games in Week 12.

Green Bay and New Orleans both enter with .500 records, but are in vastly different positions within their divisions. Last Week, NFL wagering cheese heads watched Aaron Rogers moved the Packers into a three-way tie for the NFC North lead with a 37-3 cover rout at home over rival Chicago, meanwhile, the Saints posted their first road win of the season with a 30-20 cashing victory over lowly Kansas City but are last in the NFC South.

—Packers are 14-5 ATS in their last 19 games following a SU win.

—Packers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a ATS win.

—Saints are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games following a SU win.

—Saints are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS win.

Green Bay's dominant defensive held Chicago to 234 total yards and a season low in points while scoring its franchise-record seventh defensive touchdown. The Packers allow an average of 333.9 yards, but have been particularly stingy against the pass as they've yielded 176.3 per contest while totaling 16 interceptions.

Week 11's rendition of Monday Night Football features two young quarterbacks under center for struggling teams in the likes of the hosting Buffalo Bills (5-4 SU, 4-5 ATS) and Cleveland Browns (3-6 SU, 5-4 ATS). The Browns are 6-1-1 ATS in their last 8 games in Week 11.

Trent Edwards will look to get stop the bleeding of the Bills, who's early AFC East contending play and division title hopes are rapidly disintegrating due to a three-game losing streak. And, Brady Quinn will make his second pro start trying to earn his club a decent 2008-09 record, while collecting valuable experience.

Buffalo is a dismal 1-4 SU and ATS since winning their first four games of the season, as they now find themselves in a division last-place tie with Minnesota and two games behind the new sole front running Jets following its Thursday 34-31 overtime victory at New England.

- Bills are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.

- Bills are 12-5 ATS in their last 17 home games.

- Bills are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games in November.

- Bills are 14-5 ATS in their last 19 games on turf.

The Bills were last victimized by the Pats 20-10 in Week 10, posting only 168 yards of offense in the loss at Gillette Stadium, making them 0-3 against AFC foes which isn't good considering they have two division meetings remaining—at the Jets in Week 15 and at home versus the Pats in the regular-season finale. Buffalo is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games after accumulating less than 150 yards passing in their previous game.

We Want to Give Players Thanks This Thanksgiving. Lets Break Bread
together with some free $bread for you!

Get a free $25 3 team (free-play) Parlay from www.betphoenix.com. You get a Free three team parlay (sides or totals) on the three NFL Games this Thanksgiving Day.

Thursday Schedule, Nov. 27

Game 1: Tennessee at Detroit
Time: 12:30 pm
TV: CBS - HD National

Game 2: Seattle at Dallas
Time: 4:15 pm
TV: Fox Sports

Game 3: Arizona at Philadelphia
Time: 8:15 pm
TV: NFL Network

The Cardinals have lived up to expectations, with their best record with half the season complete since going 5-3 in 1984. They have a three-game lead in the NFC West, and seem to be on its way of claiming their first division title since the St. Louis Cardinals won the NFC East in 1975.

Countdown to Election Tuesday, Last Call
With Election Day upon us, the race for the White House has slightly tightened, but the political wagering fact is momentum's still with Democrat Sen. Barack Obama, who BetPhoenix political odds gurus retain Obama's spot as heavy favorite priced at -900.
But at +500 there's great online political betting value on Republican Sen. John McCain, who isn't ready to throw in the towel. In fact, McCain stole a little of Obama's mo' after a poll released on Friday that showed the hard fighting Republican to own a three point advantage in Indiana, a pivotal state giving the underdog a boost.

In the meantime, ABC's Gary Langer is following early voting. Seventeen percent now say they've already voted, favoring Obama over McCain by 59-40 percent. An additional 18 percent say they'll do so before Tuesday, for a possible total of 35 percent voting early or by absentee ballot. That would be a record by far, well above its levels in 2004 and 2000 alike, 22 and 15 percent, respectively.
Obama's wide margin among early voters reflects his campaign's push; likely voters who plan instead to hold off until Election Day divide much more closely, 50-45 percent. And those voters are likely to be the game changers and the same group holding out as they still try to decide which Obama the country would get if he does win the presidency. The Democrat with "an ultraliberal in moderate garb" or "a pragmatic reformer." Would he be content with the moderately redistributive, Clintonesque increase in taxes on high-earning Americans that he proposes now? Or would he end up pushing for confiscatory taxes that could stifle entrepreneurship and job creation?"

All three presidential debates are in the books, though, they weren't exactly political bloodbaths, each were hard fought with the White House as the prize. Democratic Sen. Barack Obama and Republican Sen. John McCain put on the gloves and went the distance in three 90 minute rounds, and with the bout having ended with both men still standing, the scoring cards are now placed in the hands of American voters and political betting gurus around the country and beyond. But before you visit the BetPhoenix.com political odds and cast your wagering vote, let's look back at each debate.

Round 1 - Friday, Sept. 26 - University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS

The opening-round was a feeling out process in what included many jabs with no bombs thrown in a debate with foreign policy the primary focus. It was a 90 minute "spirited debate" and when the bell sounded to end Round 1, expert analysis said Obama appeared more intelligent, likable and in touch with peoples' problems, and by modest margins was seen as the stronger leader and more sincere. Most said it was McCain who spent more time attacking his opponent as a defensive tactic. But others said McCain's professionalism and precise answers, despite being interrupted on several occasions by Obama, earned him points.

Throughout the first debate, McCain responded with no nonsense and straight forward answers when questioned, which many felt made him come across as being impulsive and temperamental. Obama labored over pros and cons and so studious that he at times appeared detached and indecisive.

Many political online betting experts claimed McCain was too ''hot headed'', and Obama laid back and too cool. Which raises the million dollar question that could be the deciding factor: Does a nation facing both domestic crisis and international conflict need McCain's aggressive passion or Obama's calm?
This round could of easily been scored a draw.

In a poll conducted by CBS following the debate among undecided voters, 39 percent said Obama won the debate, 24 percent said McCain and 37 percent called it a tie. Twice as many said Obama understands their needs than said so about McCain. About six in 10 said each did a better job than expected. Seven in 10 said each seemed capable of being president.

The 2008-09 NBA betting schedule indicates this could be one of the best hoop's season online sports betting fans have ever seen. The regular season tips off on Tuesday, Oct. 28 with a doubleheader that can be seen on TNT, beginning at 8:00pm EST. Speaking of TNT, wonder if Charles Barkley has racked up any more gambling debts? Maybe he'll tell us on this fine opening night, or even better, maybe he'll share his picks which makes for great fading material.

Ok, enough of Sir Charles' degenerate wagering genes, let's get back to the start of the regular-season's opening night action. First, the defending champion Boston Celtics, who finished last season with an NBA-best SU (straight up) record of 66-16, will hoist their 17th championship banner prior to taking the floor at the TD Banknorth Garden against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Big Three of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen contributed to an ATS (against the spread) record of 52-28-2, which was also an NBA-best last season. The Celtics second-strongest defense of last year will have the daunting task of shutting down James who was the 2007-08 scoring king. His 30 points per game was key to the Cavs' 45-37 SU and 37-45 ATS record.

Boston last defeated the Cavs in a seven-game quarter-final series in last year's postseason, but Cleveland covered the spread in six of those contests. During the regular season the two split four games SU with Cleveland taking the cash in three.

The second game at 10:30pm EST features the visiting Portland Trail Blazers and reigning MVP Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. This will mark the regular-season debut of Portland center Greg Oden, who was the top overall selection in the 2007 NBA Draft but missed his entire rookie year after
undergoing knee surgery last September.

Oden's return should help the Blazers improve on last season's 41-41 SU and 43-39 ATS mark. The Blazers, who are on the road for 16 of their first 24 games, play 10 of their 14 Western Conference opponents four times each in 2008-09 and would love to start off the season with a victory against the Lakers, who went 57-25 SU and 47-33-1 ATS last regular season.

On Monday Night Football, the Tennessee Titans look to remain unbeaten SU and ATS as they match up against the visiting Indianapolis Colts, winners of five straight division titles. The Titans are off to its best start in franchise history at 6-0, having covered the spread in every game to be the online NFL betting communities richest team.

Tennessee cruised to a 34-10 victory at Kansas City last Sunday, stretching its NFL-best winning streak to nine games dating to 2007-08. It is the Titans' longest winning streak since posting a franchise-record 11 straight from Oct. 17, 1993-Jan. 2, 1994, when the team was the Houston Oilers.

The Titans have played a relatively soft schedule, with three of their six wins coming against opponents with losing records. They'll now host a Colts team that's off to their worst start since opening 3-3 in 2001, when they finished 6-10 and missed the playoffs.

- Titans are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games in Week 8.

- Titans are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 vs. AFC.

- Titans are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 vs. AFC South.

- Titans are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games on grass.