The Lions are led on the field by QB Matthew Stafford who has really shown a lot of improvement from where he was at as a rookie last season. Stafford is showing more zip on his passes, and his deep balls are much more accurate. He has one of the best receivers in the NFL to throw to, as well, in Calvin Johnson. Johnson's tremendous combination of height and speed really puts him in a class all his own when it comes to receivers in the NFL. Running back is still a little unsettled, but it appears that rookie Jahvid Best will be getting the majority of the carries this year. Questions about the offensive line still remain, however, which is the reasoning behind the free bet play of the Chicago Bears as the free bet.

The Bears are favored at home by six points, which means that bookmakers are preparing for the Bears to come out and dominate on both sides of the football. On offense, Jay Cutler is once again the man at the quarterback position. Cutler, who was not overly impressive in his first season with the Bears last season, will have to show improvement if he expects to have any type of success close to what he experienced in Denver. Matt Forte was just shy of 1,000 yards rushing last season for the Bears, and his goal is to get back to the level he was at as a rookie when he rushed for over 1,100 yards. This Bears team should be able to make up the six points that they have to give Detroit. It will be Chicago laying the points against the Lions as your free wager selection.

Chicago fans are waiting for a breakout season from their team, but it remains to be seen whether that can come this season or if they are going to have to wait a little longer. If Cutler can get going early, there is no reason why this team can't win 10 or 11 games and make a Playoff appearance this year. Take the advice of bookmakersonlinebetting.com and go with the Chicago Bears against the spread for a free bet.

It's the third year for the Wolverines under Rodriguez, and the excuse of learning a new system simply won't cut it any longer. Michigan has too much talent to be finishing 1-7 in the Big Ten Conference, and they will need improved play from almost every position in order to find themselves reaching their first bowl berth since 2007. The main question is: who is going to be the starting quarterback for the Wolverines? Both Tate Forcier and Denard Robinson are sophomores who have a great deal of experience leading this Wolverines team, and it will be interesting to see who Rodriguez ultimately goes with. The linebackers are where Michigan is really going to have to shore up their play. Both Obi Ezeh and Jonas Mouton played below their potential last year, and Michigan is expecting big seasons from them. With a little bit of quarterback controversy, online betting shops have set a number for the spread that is a little unfavorable, so the UNDER will be the free wager for Saturday afternoon.

It is amazing how the Fighting Irish can go 6-6, fire an NFL offensive coordinator from their head coaching position, bring in a highly regarded college coach, and still be picked by some outlets to be playing in a BCS game. The fact of the matter is that the Notre Dame Fighting Irish haven't been a relevant program in college football since the mid-1980s. With a new scheme needing to be learned, it will be at least a couple of years before they can even think about reaching the lofty goals that the media projects on to them. They should be pretty set on defense, though, with 9 starters returning. However, that does not mean that they will be better than the Michigan Wolverines. Be safe with your free bet here and go with the UNDER for a victory.

Notre Dame is breaking in Jimmy Clausen's replacement in Dayne Crist, so it is going to be difficult right away to gauge just how good this Notre Dame team is. Michigan, on the other hand, is returning a great deal of starters from last year's team, and anything under 7-8 wins is going to be considered a disappointment for Michigan this season. With so many question marks, bookmakersonlinebetting.com is suggesting playing the UNDER for your free wager in order to get a bet down on this highly anticipated matchup.

Usually, bookmakers don't experience a lot of action on Conference USA games, but the advent of online betting has really changed the way most bettors play the games that they do. UTEP and Houston would have never garnered so much attention years ago, but now, they are just another option on the Friday night menu for bettors looking to win some cash. UTEP is coached by former Washington St. head man Mike Price who is 34-38 in his three seasons at the helm for UTEP. Last year, the Miners limped through a season that saw them go 4-8, including a 58-41 loss to the Cougars in an epic offensive battle. QB Trevor Vittatoe and RB Donald Buckram are two of the ten starters that return on offense for UTEP, and they will need all of these returners to play well if they are going to be Houston. Take the Cougars minus the points for a free bet victory.

Case Keenum returns to quarterback the Cougars for another season. The senior is on many Heisman watch lists this summer, and he is one of only two quarterbacks in NCAA history to throw for more than 5.000 yards in two consecutive seasons. Three 1,000 yard receivers from last year's 10-4 squad return, and of the three, James Cleveland looks like he has the best ability to play at the next level. The running back corps is also strong when you consider that the last two Conference USA Freshman of the Year Award winners are back there waiting for their number to be called. Bryce Beall and Charles Sims don't get an overabundance of carries, but they are more than capable of breaking off big runs. Look for Houston to handle UTEP with relative ease while winning you a free wager.

Bookmakers are setting the total number for this game pretty high after last season's shootout in El Paso. It is difficult to gauge whether this game will be as high scoring or not, so it is more prudent to go with the Houston Cougars against the spread for your free bet. While it is important not underestimate the Miners, bookmakersonlinebetting.com feels as though the gap between the two teams' talent levels is too wide for UTEP to make up. Houston will get their first Conference USA victory on September 10th.

Football betting always brings out the closet sports bettors who just wait until September to place their first bets. This year, their first opportunity to do so will be on the Minnesota vs. New Orleans game, which presents quite an intriguing matchup considering that Brett Favre has returned to Minnesota. While all the talk has been about Favre during this past offseason, people are quick to forget that the Vikings have one of the best young running backs in the NFL in Adrian Peterson. Though he has shown a propensity for fumbling the football, Peterson is no doubt on the cusp of superstar status in the NFL. Favre and Peterson form a good one-two combination, but the Vikings just have too many question marks defensively to be able to realistically stop the Saints offense. For this reason, go with the New Orleans Saints minus the points for your free bet.

Bookmakers have set a pretty good online betting line on this game, and when you initially look at the 4.5-point spread, you might be tempted to go with the Vikings. However, let's look at exactly why the Saints are favored in this game in order to get a better understanding of why New Orleans is the suggested free bet selection. It all starts with Brees running the show. He has proven to be an absolutely fantastic leader in and out of the huddle, and the players respond to his style of encouragement. It still is yet to be seen whether Reggie Bush or Pierre Thomas will be the starting running back in New Orleans, but it should be a battle that brings out the best in both players. Let's also not forget about Marques Colston and Jeremy Shockey who are both very good at catching Brees' passes on a regular basis. The New Orleans Saints provide a good opportunity to get your online betting season off to a good start, so take the Saints minus the points for this contest.

With Favre only seeing limited action during the preseason, it will be interesting to see if the Vikings are still in sync offensively. Favre is still considered one of the best quarterbacks in the league, even at his advancing age. He continues to throw some of the hardest passes in the NFL, and his ability to fit any ball through even the slightest opening in the opposing defense is what makes him so great. The Saints will just be too much for the Vikings defense to sustain, however, so bookmakersonlinebetting.com is going with New Orleans against the spread for the very first free wager of the season.

Dallas is led by quarterback Tony Romo who has recently made a name for himself more through his golf game than his ability to play football. However, Romo is a solid NFL quarterback who can pretty much make any throw on the field with enough velocity to sneak it past cheating defenders. While Romo could stand to be a little more vocal in his leadership with the team, he has proven himself to be a worthy NFL quarterback who has plenty of moxie and skill to get the Cowboys victories. Miles Austin and Roy Williams will be Romo's two main receivers this year, and it will be interesting to see just how well the Cowboys are able to get the ball to these receivers. Dallas might struggle in its first game out, which is why the Washington Redskins against the spread is the free wager selection for Sunday night.

Washington was able to pull off a major coup this past spring by getting Donovan McNabb from the Philadelphia Eagles. Now, McNabb has to prove that he is worthy of all the hype and praise that has been showered upon him since he arrived with the Redskins. He will be trying to sling the ball to veterans Chris Cooley and Joey Galloway this season. While both players may be past their prime, they are still able to play the game at a very high level, which makes it difficult for the other team to prepare for. The offense will likely need some time to get acquainted with their new quarterback, but the transition should be quick and painless. Look for Washington to get the free bet win at home versus the Dallas Cowboys.

Head coach Wade Phillips, while not on the hot seat, could definitely benefit from a good season in Dallas. The Cowboys look to be as strong as ever, and there are few obstacles in their way that can stop them. The Washington Redskins, though, are one of those teams that seem to have the Cowboys number. There is little doubt that the game will be exciting, and bookmakersonlinebetting.com is wagering that, in the end, the free wager winner will be the Washington Redskins plus the points.

Rookie head coach Mike MacIntyre was left with a pretty good base of players when head coach Dick Tomey decided to retire. Nine starters return on the offensive side of the football including senior quarterback Jordan La Secla. La Secla completed just under 60% of passes in eight starts last season and will be the go-to guy in this Spartan offense. The team's top returning rusher, Lamon Muldrow, rushed for 592 yards last season and will be pushed by junior Brandon Rutley. Coach MacIntyre also has two strong receivers in Marquis Avery and Jalal Beauchman. What the Spartans need to improve upon is their 118th ranking nationally in scoring offense. If MacIntyre can help turn that number around this year, the season will have to be looked at as a success in the eyes of San Jose St. fans. All of the returning starters, however, will not be enough to get San Jose St. the free wager victory over the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Everyone knows that Alabama is the team to beat this year, as they look for their second consecutive national title under head coach Nick Saban. Returning Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram is looking to become only the second player in the history of the award to win in back-to-back years. Eight returning starters on offense will make it easier for Alabama to have a repeat performance of 2009. It is important to note that Alabama was 12th nationally in rushing offense, and this year should produce more of the same results. Backing up Ingram is a player that could be just as good, if not better, than him in Trent Richardson. Richardson rushed for 750 yards and eight touchdowns last year, and Saban will have to determine how best to utilize each running back. With little being lost on the offensive side of the ball, it is easy to take the Crimson Tide as the free bet favorite for their game against San Jose St.

Don't be fooled by the fact that Alabama returns only two starters on defense. They have some excellent players who are ready to step up and prove that they belong in the same category as the guys who either graduated or left for the Draft a year early. This game will not even be close, and it should end with an Alabama blowout. As your free wager, go with bookmakersonlinebetting.com and take Alabama against the spread in Tuscaloosa.

Everyone knows that it is all about the starting pitching for the San Francisco Giants. If you are looking for a reason why they have been so successful the entire season, it is due to the fact that they simply have better pitching than 95% of the other teams in professional baseball right now. It's difficult to single out just one pitcher that makes a big difference for the Giants, but Matt Cain would probably be at the head of the list of starters that have contributed the most to the Giants' cause. Cain currently has a 3.07 ERA, which is quite low considering his 10-10 record, which leads to the second point. San Francisco lacks any semblance of hitting power. In order for the Giants to be legitimate contenders, they will have to get more production out of their lineup so they don't have to rely solely on their pitching to get the job done. Look for the Giants to not have too much trouble winning your online free bets against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

You have to give credit to guys like Rafael Furcal and Manny Ramirez. Both of these players continue to get the job done season after season, and they have been the catalysts behind the success that the Dodgers have experienced this year. Unfortunately, the rest of the team is not contributing as much as Furcal and Ramirez are, which is why the Dodgers are only a couple of games above .500. If guys like Casey Blake, Russell Martin, and Ronnie Belliard could have gotten going much quicker, this team would be talked about with the best of the National League. Instead, Los Angeles will have to accept the fact that they will not be playing come October thanks to their inconsistencies as a group. It will be the Giants who come out on top in this game as the free wager winners.

If you are into online betting, this game provides the perfect opportunity to get your wagers down on a game that will have a good deal of attention paid to it. Everyone is very interested to see if the Giants can make the final push for the Playoffs while the Dodgers still provide a tough out for San Francisco to get through. It will not be easy, but you can expect the San Francisco Giants to walk away with the free bet victory on Friday night in L.A.

Marshall is led at the quarterback position by senior Brian Anderson. After throwing for over 2,600 yards and 14 touchdowns last year, he steps in as the leader of the Thundering Herd offense. However, look for Clemson transfer Willy Korn to get some of the snaps in the Marshall offense. Korn has two years of eligibility remaining with the Thundering Herd, so it will be interesting to see if Anderson can hold on to his job. Their top defender is linebacker Mario Harvey who checks in at 6-0 tall and 250 pounds. With 117 tackles last season, Harvey led what was a decent Marshall defense that gave many of its opponents problems. Marshall will keep this one close enough to get the free wager victory against the spread versus the Buckeyes.

Bookmakers love the Buckeyes chances of not just winning another Big Ten title, but also competing for another National Championship. Ohio St. returns nine starters from an offense that was pretty solid throughout the entire season last year. They also have seven starters back from a defense that was one of the best in all of college football and the best in the Big Ten. The conversation about Ohio St. begins and ends with the athletically gifted Terrelle Pryor. At 6-6, Pryor is able to see spots open on the field that many other quarterbacks cannot, and he has the athletic ability to get out and run with the ball once the pocket collapses. There is no doubt that Ohio St. will defeat Marshall, but by how many points will that victory come. Online bettors are advised to take the safe free bet, which is Marshall plus the points in Columbus.

The last time these two teams met was 2004 when Ohio St. won by three, and it is important to remember the start Ohio St. had last season in its first two games where they barely beat Navy and lost by a field goal to USC. If they play well, Marshall can take advantage of this propensity for slow starts and challenge the Buckeyes to put up a solid effort. While bookmakersonlinebetting.com does not believe Marshall will come away victorious, they are willing to project that the Thundering Hill will cover the spread to win the free wager against Ohio St.

You have to feel for the Boston Red Sox. They are one of the best teams in baseball, but that will probably still not be good enough for them to win their division and make it to the postseason. Give credit to manager Terry Francona and his players, however, for not mailing in the rest of the season even though it appears as though Boston is all but finished in the American League East. The Red Sox's success has been predicated upon big time hitting from guys like Adrian Beltre and Kevin Youkilis. Also, after a slow start to begin the year, David Ortiz has really turned around his season and become more of a factor in games for Boston. With above average pitching, the Red Sox should have no problem getting the free wager victory over the Baltimore Orioles.

A lack of run support for the pitching has been the Orioles undoing this season. Online betting enthusiasts understand, though, that it is difficult to makeup big run deficits when your pitching staff is allowing anywhere from four-to-eight runs per game. Kevin Millwood has been as guilty as anybody when it comes to not pitching up to his talent level. Millwood currently has a 5.62 ERA in 26 starts to go along with a 2-14 record. Unfortunately for Baltimore, they do not have any body that can replace Millwood in the rotation, so they have to hope for a good outing every time he takes the hill. Bradley Bergesen was thought to be ready to have a breakout season. Instead, Bergesen has struggled as much as Millwood has. The one saving grace for Bergesen is that he has plenty of career left to turn his problems around. It is this type of pitching that has gotten the Orioles to where they are right now, and it will be their undoing when the free bet favorite Boston Red Sox come to town.

Anybody that enjoys online betting can tell you that road favorites in baseball are not likely to win that often. However, this situation lends itself to one believing that the Red Sox will have no problem outlasting the Baltimore Orioles in Baltimore. Expect to see a one-sided contest with the Boston Red Sox coming away with a free wager win on the road.

For as good as the Rockies have been this season overall, they have not played especially well on the road. Currently, they find themselves 15 games under .500 away from Coors Field, which explains why they are not currently in the lead for the N.L. West title. Many of the Rockies' losses can be attributed to poor starting pitching that just has not been able to get the job done on a consistent basis at any point throughout this past season. Besides Ubaldo Jimenez, who has not seen near the success during the second half of the season as he did during the first half, the rest of the Colorado starters have been below average in terms of ability to get batters out. That has resulted in a plethora of losses that Colorado now has to make up in order to get a coveted Playoff spot. It is more than likely that this will not be a possibility especially when you consider that the San Francisco Giants are the free wager favorites for this Wednesday night game in San Fran.

What the Giants didn't see during the first half of the season was much in the way of hitting, both for power and contact. Bookmakers had begun to make the adjustments relating to an overall lack of power on the part of the Giants. However, the All-Star break must have been just what the doctor ordered for their ailment, as the San Francisco bats have been on fire during the second half of the current campaign. Players like Aubrey Huff, Andres Torres, and Juan Uribe have all been hitting the ball much more solidly during the past couple of months, and it has resulted in the Giants gaining some ground on the Padres. That trend should continue on September 1st when they are the free bet victors against Colorado.

Now that the season is beginning to wind down, it is easy to see who the contenders and pretenders have been all along. Though their Playoff dreams will probably not be realized, the Colorado Rockies have played the contenders role the entire season and played it very well. San Francisco has played the same role just a little bit better and now they find themselves in second place in the N.L. West with a chance to overtake first. Online betting shops will no doubt put a strong line out on this game, but it is the San Francisco Giants who will be the free wager winners as selected by bookmakersonlinebetting.com.