Thursday Betting Roundup

Week 1 of the National Football League's preseason schedule kicks off Thursday, with the Pats hosting the Ravens at Gillette Stadium. The preseason primer for NFL betting is a must read for fantasy football and football bettors.  Here's your Daily Sports Roundup .

Event of the day . . .

The Patriots were 16-0 during the regular season last year. The Ravens were 5-11. Still, that doesn't mean much in an exhibition contest, which is why New England is a mere 4-point home favorite (with the total sitting at 34) for Thursday night. Don't expect Golden Boy Tom Brady to see much action in this contest, and main weapons Randy Moss and Wes Welker aren't likely to be taxed either.

The Ravens, though, have a quarterback question to answer. Kyle Boller is slated to get the start behind center for Baltimore, with Troy Smith and Joe Flacco both getting an opportunity to impress as well. Local reports suggest that Smith is currently the favorite to win the team's starting quarterback gig, so Boller will want to avoid an off-night even if the game means nothing in the standings.

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Non-event of the day . . .

There are several contending teams in the NL Central. The Astros and the Reds aren't among them. Houston and Cincinnati begin a series on Thursday night, with Astros ace Roy Oswalt (8-8, 4.74 ERA) taking on the Reds' Josh Fogg (2-3, 7.57 ERA). Oswalt has given up four earned runs in each of his last two outings, but Houston manage to win those contests. Fogg is 1-1 with three no-decisions since re-joining the rotation.

Also on the schedule . . .

Cole Hamels (9-7, 3.37 ERA) pitches for the Phillies at home against the Marlins on Thursday. Also on tap in the National League: San Diego at the Mets, the Dodgers at St. Louis, Washington at Colorado, and Atlanta at Arizona. In the AL it's Oakland at Toronto, the Yankees at Texas, Detroit at the White Sox, and Tampa Bay at Seattle.

The Giants will open their Super Bowl defense with a preseason game at Ford Field against the Lions on Thursday; Detroit is a 3-point favorite. Elsewhere, it's the Jets at Cleveland (-3), Kansas City at Chicago (-3), and New Orleans at Arizona (-2.5).

Up in the Canadian Football League the games are for real on Thursday, with Toronto at Hamilton, and Calgary at Saskatchewan. The Argonauts are a 2.5-point road favorite against the Tiger-Cats (with a total of 50), while the Roughriders are listed as 3-point favorites at home against the Stampeders (with a total of 52).

Finally, the 2008 PGA Championship tees off on Thursday, with favored Phil Mickelson looking to take a lead into the tourney's later stages - and then avoid a major meltdown. Lefty is the 8/1 favorite to win the tournament, with Ernie Els at 12/1, and each of Vijay Singh, Padraig Harrington, Sergio Garcia, and Jim Furyk entering the event at 15/1.

News from the wire . . .

The Orioles' offense got a little weaker after outfielder Adam Jones was placed on the disabled list on Tuesday . . . Mets closer Billy Wagner went on the DL as well, while Cubs closer Kerry Wood is back from injury . . . Mariners DH Jose Vidro was designated for assignment . . . Saints WR Marques Colston, TE Jeremy Shockey, and RB Deuce McAllister will all miss Thursday's game. . . Bears QB Kyle Orton will get the start behind center on Thursday night, but Rex Grossman will get equal time.

Peek at the future . . .

Friday's NFL preseason schedule includes the battle of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia at Pittsburgh) and the battle of the Bay Area (San Francisco at Oakland) . . . Jon Lester will take on Mark Buehrle in Friday's Red Sox/White Sox matchup . . . Jeff Gordon is the 5/1 Vegas favorite to win this weekend's Centurion Boats at the Glen.

Presidential odds

Although the polls are getting closer, Barack Obama remains a -240 favorite for the White House. InTrade gives him a 60 percent chance of winning. Both the Vegas betting odds for President and the InTrade markets are on one page