The CFL's top two West Division teams will square off in a primetime bout this long weekend when the 6-2 Calgary Stampeders host the 5-3 Edmonton Eskimos on Monday afternoon.

Not only does the match serve as a potential preview of the league's West Division final, it also gives bettors an inside look at two heated story lines that ought to factor into any CFL betting decision.

Though both teams sit towards the top of the Grey Cup futures list, they?re headed in vastly opposite directions.

Having won their last four games, the Stampeders are well on their way to replicating last year?s success when they finished the 2010 campaign with the best record in Canadian football.

The Eskimos, on the other hand, after winning their first five games of the season have been in free fall ever since. With just 5/1 odds of winning the Grey Cup - a low mark considering six of the eight teams in the league make the playoffs - bettor confidence is obviously waning.

In contrast, the Stampeders have 9/4 odds of winning the CFL championship this fall. A mark even more optimistic than the 7-1 Blue Bombers and two-time reigning champion Alouettes.

Will the Stampeders continue their torrid run through the league or will the spotlight be all Edmonton needs to get their wayward season back on track?

Bet CFL Action with Bodog.

Red-Hot Stampeders Top CFL Betting Board, Face West Rival

NFL Season Player Props and Exotics

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NFL Season Player Props and Exotics

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NFL Season Player Props and Exotics

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NFL Season Player Props and Exotics

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Byrd Stadium has a Week 1 contest on tap for Monday as the Miami Hurricanes and the Maryland Terrapins play their season openers.

Oddsmakers currently have the Terrapins listed as 4-point favorites versus the Hurricanes, while the game's total is sitting at 46.

Team records: Miami: 7-6 SU, 4-8 ATS Maryland: 9-4 SU, 8-4 ATS

Miami most recently: When playing in September are 6-4 When playing on grass are 6-4 After outgaining opponent are 4-6 When playing within the conference are 6-4

Maryland most recently: When playing in September are 6-4 When playing on grass are 7-3 After outgaining opponent are 3-7 When playing within the conference are 5-5

A few trends to consider: Miami is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Miami's last 5 games on the road The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Miami's last 8 games Miami is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games Maryland is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home Maryland is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games The total has gone OVER in 5 of Maryland's last 7 games The total has gone OVER in 4 of Maryland's last 6 games at home

Next up: Miami home to Ohio State, Saturday, September 17 Maryland home to West Virginia, Saturday, September 17

ACC Football Preview: Miami Hurricanes vs. Maryland Terrapins

The division rival Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies are set to renew hostilities on Monday when they meet at Citizens Bank Park.

Derek Lowe will be the starting pitcher for the Braves on this day. Righthander Lowe is 9-12 this season with a 4.52 ERA.

It'll be Cliff Lee toeing the rubber for the Phillies in this contest. Lefthander Lee is 15-7 with a 2.59 ERA so far this season.

Oddsmakers currently have the Phillies listed as 210-moneyline favorites versus the Braves, while the game's total is sitting at 7.

In their last action, Atlanta was a 4-3 winner at home against the Dodgers. Bettors on Atlanta at +129 on the moneyline collected their winnings from that game, while the total score (7) sent UNDER bettors home happy as well.

Philadelphia lost its last outing, a 5-4 result against the Marlins on September 4. Bettors who backed the Marlins at +188 on the moneyline won on the day, and the total score (9) sent OVER bettors to the payout window.

Current streak: Philadelphia has lost 2 straight games.

Team records: Atlanta: 82-57 SU Philadelphia: 88-48 SU

Atlanta most recently: When playing on Monday are 6-4 Before playing Philadelphia are 6-4 After playing LA Dodgers are 6-4 After a win are 6-4

Philadelphia most recently: When playing on Monday are 8-2 Before playing Atlanta are 6-4 After playing Florida are 6-4 After a loss are 7-3

A few trends to consider: The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Atlanta's last 5 games on the road Atlanta is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games on the road The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Atlanta's last 7 games when playing on the road against Philadelphia Atlanta is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games The total has gone OVER in 5 of Philadelphia's last 6 games at home The total has gone OVER in 9 of Philadelphia's last 12 games Philadelphia is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Philadelphia's last 7 games when playing at home against Atlanta

Next up: Philadelphia home to Atlanta, Tuesday, September 6

NL East Preview: Atlanta Braves vs. Philadelphia Phillies

MLB Futures Favor Rangers, but Rays No Easy Opponent

The Tampa Bay Rays may be a virtual non-factor when it comes to the AL East playoff picture this fall, but that doesn?t mean they can't play spoilers for some of their American League rivals.

This Monday the Rays will host the AL West-leading Texas Rangers for a three-game set and the MLB betting community will be watching.

According to Bodog's online sportsbook, the Rangers - currently a handful of games up on the second-place Los Angeles Angels - have 11/1 odds of winning the World Series. The Rays, despite a similar record, sit at just 150/1 odds due to the Yankee/Red Sox logjam ahead of them.

Though Tampa Bay's fate is all but decided, the series will go a long way towards Texas? hopes of hanging on to the playoff berth. A Tampa sweep could send the Rangers into a downward spiral.

Since whichever team comes second in the AL East has the wild card berth essentially guaranteed, the AL West crown serves as the only hope for both the Rangers and Angels.

Can Texas hang on to the division lead and allow themselves the opportunity to claw their way back to the World Series as they did last year? The Angels, though down, aren?t out and still have 35/1 odds on the MLB futures board.

You can bet Mike Scioscia and company will be cheering for the Rays this week.

Bodog: HOME OF THE HEAVY HITTERS.

MLB Futures Favor Rangers, but Rays No Easy Opponent

The drivers of the Sprint Cup Series will next head to Atlanta Motor Speedway for the AdvoCare 500 on Sunday night.

Brad Keselowski took the checkered flag last time out in the Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Martin Truex Jr. and Jeff Gordon followed Keselowski across the finish line at Bristol, with Jimmie Johnson and Jamie McMurray rounding out the top five drivers. Matt Kenseth, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Newman, Carl Edwards, and Marcos Ambrose made up the rest of the day's Top 10.

Keselowski is now second only to Kyle Busch with three victories on the season, and he's sitting in one of the Wild Card berths along with Denny Hamlin for the Chase.

Kyle Busch, Johnson, Kenseth, Edwards, Kevin Harvick, Gordon, Newman, Kurt Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Tony Stewart are the current Top 10 in the driver standings.

Stewart won this race last season, and he has three career Cup wins at Atlanta Motor Speedway on his resume. Gordon has won four Cup races at Atlanta, while Johnson, Kurt Busch, and Edwards have three wins apiece there.

Kasey Kahne and Mark Martin have each won two Cup races at Atlanta in their careers, and Kyle Busch, Earnhardt Jr., and Harvick have all won once on the track. Bobby Labonte has won six times at Atlanta, most recently in 2003.

After racing in Atlanta the drivers of the Sprint Cup Series will move on to Richmond International Raceway for the Wonderful Pistachios 400 on September 10. The Chase then begins in the Geico 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on September 18.

NASCAR AdvoCare 500 Preview

The fans at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium will be treated to a game between the Marshall Thundering Herd and the West Virginia Mountaineers when they take their seats on Sunday.

Oddsmakers currently have the Mountaineers listed as 23½-point favorites versus the Thundering Herd, while the game's total is sitting at 55.

Team records: Marshall: 5-7 SU, 4-8 ATS West Virginia: 9-4 SU, 7-4-1 ATS

Marshall most recently: When playing in September are 5-5 When playing on turf are 5-5 After being outgained are 5-5 When playing outside the conference are 4-6

West Virginia most recently: When playing in September are 6-4 When playing on turf are 9-1 After being outgained are 8-2 When playing outside the conference are 6-4

A few trends to consider: The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Marshall's last 6 games Marshall is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Marshall's last 16 games on the road Marshall is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games West Virginia is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Marshall West Virginia is 19-4 SU in its last 23 games at home West Virginia is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games The total has gone UNDER in 4 of West Virginia's last 5 games at home

Next up: Marshall home to Southern Miss, Saturday, September 10 West Virginia home to Norfolk St, Saturday, September 10

NCAA Football Preview: Marshall Thundering Herd vs. West Virginia Mountaineers