Texas Rangers

The Rangers ended Tampa Bay’s dream season with a 4-3 victory in Game 4 of the ALDS on the road, powered by a trio of homers from Adrian Beltre. The Texas offense wasn’t that great throughout the series, hitting .211, but the best Sportsbook.com review will tell you that you need pitching at this time of year, and the Rangers’ hurlers stepped up. Rookie All-Star Alexi Ogando shrugged off his second-half slide to move to the bullpen and be an excellent bridge between the starters and closer Neftali Feliz. Now, the Rangers will wait for the winner of Detroit-New York Yankees, who will have their Game 5 on Thursday night.

Dallas Cowboys

The bye week probably couldn’t come quick enough for Tony Romo, although the entire team should take the blame for allowing Detroit to come back from a 24-point deficit to stun the Cowboys 34-30 in Dallas. Romo was 34-of-47 for 331 yards and three touchdowns, but he also threw three picks, two of which were run back for scores and that is a quick way to drop your stock among price per head services. The Cowboys are going to have this week off to lick their wounds and prepare for a massive trip to New England in Week 6, because the Patriots will be coming off their own showdown with the New York Jets and will be ready to go.

Dallas Stars

Per head players aren’t giving the Stars much of a chance this season, especially after star center Brad Richards signed with the New York Rangers in free agency. But Dallas has some experience and enough discipline to give some of the top teams a headache. They’ll open the season on Friday at home against Chicago, their old rivals from the Norris Division when the Stars were “north” in Minnesota, and then they’ll head to Chicago the next night for the second half of a back-to-back doubleheader. This will be a matchup of age (Dallas is the fourth-oldest team in the NHL) against youth (Chicago is the 11^th-youngest team in the league), and the Blackhawks are looking to get off to a good start after a disappointing follow-up to their Stanley Cup run of two years ago. This will be one of many exciting hockey options in your online betting book this week.

Texas Rangers

The Rangers ended the week poorly after winning two of three at home against Toronto last weekend, but all is not lost; they can still earn a split of their four-game set at the Ballpark against Minnesota with a win on Thursday night against the Twins. Texas exploded for 20 runs on 27 hits in the first game of the series, but MLB betting players watched Neftali Feliz continue to have a strange campaign as he blew his fifth save of the year in a 9-8 loss, and then the Rangers were thumped 7-2 on Wednesday night. The Rangers will head to Toronto and Detroit next week, and it’ll be interesting to see what the team looks like by the time they arrive in the Motor City, as Texas is in the running to acquire closer Heath Bell from San Diego, but they missed out on slugger Carlos Beltran, who was dealt by the New York Mets to the San Francisco Giants.

Dallas Cowboys

Whatever attention the CFL was getting will now be taken over by the NFL as the lockout ended on Monday, and the Cowboys have been hot on the heels of free-agent cornerback Nmandi Asomugha, who would really provide a spark in a secondary that was often burned last season. A number of players have been or are on their way to being released, such as running back Marion Barber, receiver Roy Williams, tackle Marc Colombo and kicker Kris Brown, among others. One signing that the Cowboys did make was tackle Doug Free, who received a four-year deal worth $32 million, and Dallas knows that they have keep quarterback Tony Romo on the field after last season’s broken clavicle. Guard Kyle Kosier was also re-signed to a three-year deal worth $9 million, and they will be joined up front by rookie tackle Tyron Smith and center Andre Gurode, but they have to find a replacement for guard Leonard Davis, who is on his way out of Dallas. Now, look for the Cowboys to focus their efforts on Asomugha, the jewel of the free-agent market and one of the top three cornerbacks in the game. If the Cowboys can lure him to “Jerry’s World”, look for their sports betting odds to make a move.

Dallas Mavericks

The Mavericks managed to book their ticket to the postseason by blowing out Golden State on Sunday, which followed a loss to San Antonio on Friday. But more importantly for the Mavericks, they’re getting healthy just in time. Peja Stojakovic played a big role in that Golden State rout, and Shawn Marion is getting closer to returning to the lineup. Dallas will tip off the week with a home game against Minnesota on Thursday, before beginning a six-game road trip in Utah on Saturday, Phoenix on Sunday, then a back-to-back at the Staples Center against the Clippers on Wednesday and the Lakers on Thursday.

Dallas Stars

The Stars are hanging in there in the NHL’s Western Conference, and as of Thursday they were a point behind eighth-place Anaheim in the postseason race. They closed out a seven-game homestand with a shootout loss against Philadelphia on Saturday, and then a painful overtime loss to the Ducks on Wednesday. Now they head out on the road for five games, starting in Nashville on Saturday before heading into Phoenix on Tuesday and San Jose on Thursday. Dallas has a massive week ahead of them in the NHL.

Texas Rangers

MLB betting players are watching the Rangers’ pitching staff in order to evaluate their odds for the season, because their two major concerns come in that area. First, what to do with Neftali Feliz, the closer who won the Rookie of the Year award, but has come out and said he wants to be a starter. He is scheduled to start on Thursday against Cincinnati and we’ll know more about his status after that outing. One thing that the Rangers know for sure, is that they don’t want him bouncing back and forth. Their hand may be forced by a setback for Brandon Webb, who missed a batting-practice session because he couldn’t get loose. That’s not a good sign for a pitcher that has thrown four innings in two years because of arm problems.

Dallas Cowboys

Receiver Dez Bryant made headlines as he was kicked out of a mall for causing a commotion because apparently, his pants (or his friends’ pants) were too low. Now, there may have been some character issues for Bryant coming into the league, but this is really a non-issue and people are trying to make a story because we don’t know how long there will be a lockout. He’s still a young man, and if he has a gun in his sagging pants, he should be in trouble. But this shouldn’t even be a story, and those betting online shouldn’t be worried about Bryant.

Dallas Mavericks

The Mavericks began their week with a shootout win over New York, followed up by a defensive struggle which ended in a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, before they headed out west for a loss in Portland and another high-scoring win at Golden State. The Mavericks move into the next week tied with the Lakers at 6.5 games behind San Antonio in the Western Conference, and they will try to dig into the Spurs’ lead when they host San Antonio on Friday night. On Sunday, the Mavericks will welcome the Warriors back to town, and then Minnesota visits on Thursday. This is a good week for the Mavericks to get back into the swing of things in the NBA.

Dallas Stars

The Stars continue to be tough to nail down for NHL betting players, as they began with a shutout win at home against Minnesota, followed by losses to Los Angeles and San Jose, both at home as well. Dallas in the midst of a seven-game homestand that was a great chance to make up some ground in the West, but they lost three of the first four heading into this week. It gets really tough now as the Stars will get visits from Chicago on Thursday, Philadelphia on Saturday and Anaheim on Wednesday, and they may have to do it without forwards Loui Eriksson and Steve Ott, who were injured with hits to the head against the Sharks.

Texas Rangers

The Rangers are still trying to figure out what to do with Neftali Feliz, who said he wanted to return to the bullpen, where he had 40 saves as the American League Rookie of the Year last season. Now, reports have surfaced that Feliz does want to move to the starting rotation, which would be a huge blow to the bullpen and specifically Feliz’s closer role. The Rangers have to be careful with how they handle this, as they can look at how New York handled Joba Chamberlain as how not to do this. The Rangers also have to figure out what to do with Chris Davis, who was drafted in 2006 by the Rangers but hasn’t been able to crack the big-league team. Davis says he thinks it would be fair if the Rangers traded him to a team where he has a chance, and Texas could be in the market for a reliever to boost their sports betting odds.

Dallas Mavericks

The Mavericks have dropped two of their last three games, falling by a point at Memphis and at New Orleans, along with a three-point win at Minnesota. Dallas is still second in the West, but the Los Angeles Lakers are surging and could overtake them on Thursday night as both teams are involved in the NBA doubleheader on TNT. The Mavericks will host another hot team as New York comes to town on Thursday, then the Lakers will visit Dallas on Saturday night, while the Mavericks then head to Portland and Golden State on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.

Dallas Stars

The Stars had a busy week, splitting their four games with three of them going to overtime or the shootout as they fell in Anaheim (overtime), won at San Jose and Los Angeles (overtime), and finally a home loss to Calgary (shootout). The Stars got Brad Richards back from a concussion for the Calgary game, and it’s not a moment too soon as the NHL gets ready for the stretch run. A seven-game homestand continues on Friday as Minnesota comes to Dallas, followed by Los Angeles on Sunday, San Jose on Tuesday and Chicago on Thursday.

Texas Rangers

The Rangers’ big question this season comes in their rotation, where they have to find a way to make up for the loss of Cliff Lee, who returned to Philadelphia. Brandon Webb threw to live batters for the first time on Wednesday, and the Rangers will be keeping a close eye on him after pitching four innings in the last two seasons because of an elbow injury. The Rangers have also been tinkering with the idea of moving Neftali Feliz to the rotation, but then you’re toying with a guy who had 40 saves and was the AL Rookie of the Year. That will be the main question for MLB betting players looking at the Rangers’ odds.

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys will pick ninth in the draft on April 28^th, and while many say they’ll move up to try and get Auburn quarterback Cam Newton, Dallas’ major need is in the secondary, where they got lit up last season. LSU’s Patrick Peterson will likely go in the top five, but Nebraska’s Prince Amukamara should be available when the Cowboys are ready to pick. Amukamara may not be as athletically gifted as Peterson, but he’s not far behind, and he may be more sound technically. Either way, the Cowboys have to improve their secondary to boost next year’s sports betting odds.

Dallas Cowboys
NFL betting players were wondering how long it would take Jerry Jones to put Wade Phillips out of his misery, and the writing was on the wall after a 45-7 humiliation at Green Bay. Phillips was out the next day, making offensive coordinator Jason Garrett the interim head coach. Garrett’s first order of business was to institute a dress code and have the players practice in pads. The extra intensity must have worked as the Cowboys came out on fire in a 33-20 win on the road against the New York Giants in a game that wasn’t even that close. Dez Bryant had his first 100-yard game, and the defense forced three turnovers in their best performance in weeks. The talent has always been there, but the Cowboys actually cared this week, and that’s all it takes. They’ll have to bring that same attitude into Week 11, when they welcome an improved Detroit team to Dallas early on Sunday afternoon.

Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks have won seven of their first nine games ahead of Wednesday’s meeting with the Hornets in New Orleans, and the Hornets will have their stingers out after the Mavericks became the first team to beat them. Dallas ended the Hornets’ unbeaten run at eight games with a 98-95 win on Monday night at home, getting 26 points from Jason Terry. That was the third straight game in which Dirk Nowitzki wasn’t the leading scorer, and that bodes well for the Mavericks’ NBA betting odds because we all know Nowitzki can score at will. If this keeps him fresher for the playoffs, the season will be a success. The Mavericks have won four straight going into their Wednesday showdown with New Orleans, then they’ll host Chicago on Friday, head to Atlanta on Saturday, followed by another back-to-back when they welcome Detroit on Tuesday, then travel to Oklahoma City on Wednesday.

Texas Rangers
Texas closer Neftali Feliz was named the American League Rookie of the Year after a phenomenal 40-save performance, and the Rangers are officially in offseason mode. The first order of business is to re-sign ace Cliff Lee, who has no shortage of suitors, including the deep-pocketed New York Yankees, who could barely hit Lee in the ALCS. They also are trying to re-sign slugger Vladdy Guerrero, and word is the Rangers are after catcher Victor Martinez to upgrade that position. If they can pull off this trio of signings, look for the Rangers near the top of next year’s betting odds.

But from the bottom of the 8th on, the game fell apart like a house of cards. Darren O’Day did look good in his appearance, but C.J. Wilson blew the save and the Rangers lost 3-2. It’s tough to lose games like that, but I guess it doesn’t hurt as much as a 9-7 loss would. Which is weird, considering that every other year in Rangers history the opposite has been true. One loss does not kill the season, but it sure would be nice to see Derek Holland give the Rangers six or seven strong innings tonight.

The season is far from over, with 58 games to go. The Rangers are 3 games behind Boston for the Wild Card and 4.5 games behind the Angels, with both teams matched up in tough series this week. It’s not inconceivable the Rangers could win the last three games in this series against Oakland, but all they need to do is have a winning road trip. Win six of the remaining nine games on the road trip and it will be successful. It’s not time to worry about the Angels and Red Sox just yet.

So with that optimism in mind, here are a couple of positives to come out of last night’s loss:

• Josh Hamilton. Apparently he read the post I wrote yesterday, as he went 2 for 3 with two singles and a walk. Fifth straight game with no strikeouts. Both hits came against the stellar Brett Anderson, a very solid left-handed starter. With Nelson Cruz injured for at least the next couple of days, Josh is going to have to step up in order to carry this team.
• Dustin Nippert. It would have been nice to see him go longer in the game, but Dustin put the team in a position to win. Can’t ask much more from your starter.
• Neftali Feliz. Holy crap this guy looks good. Combine that performance with what Derek Holland did to the Mariners the other night? I’m tingly all over. Stretch Neftali out over the winter and throw him in the rotation next year. The best-case scenario would be if there’s a new owner and Sheets could be signed, giving the Rangers a rotation of Sheets-Millwood-Feldman-Holland-Feliz. Or go Millwood-Feldman-Holland-Hunter-Feliz. Either way, the next few years should be awesome.

Those A’s are pesky. If they find some offense in their system the next few years, they are going to be really tough to deal with. The Mariners look like they know what they’re doing, and the Angels are always going to compete. The AL West was one of the worst divisions in baseball last year besides the Angels (who probably weren’t as good as their record indicated). Within the next couple of years, it could be one of the best.

Good luck tonight Derek. We need it.