Injury-riddled England faces must win against Israel
Soccer Betting Lines
03/23/2007 - Jerusalem, Israel (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Saturday's Group E qualifier at Ramat Gan Stadium on Saturday will go a long way in determining the EURO 2008 fate of both England and Israel.
The two club's are level on points with seven after four games, three points back of group-leaders Croatia and one point adrift of second-placed Russia. Embattled England manager Steve McClaren brings his patchwork squad into the match on a four-game winless streak that includes two losses and two draws.
The Three Lions have not found the back of the net with great frequency in qualifying, scoring six goals in their four matches. Wayne Rooney will be counted on heavily once again to shoulder the scoring load, with untested Andrew Johnson joining him up top.
The England defense has yielded just two goals in qualifying thus far, but is facing a rash of injuries that will force McClaren to shake things up in the back. The club will be sound in the middle with regulars John Terry and Rio Ferdinand, but will have to push Jamie Carragher out wide. The other spot will be filled most likely by Phil Neville, whose bother Gary is not available because of injury.
McClaren will get a boost in the midfield as Owen Hargreaves returns from a broken leg, and the boss will look to young winger Aaron Lennon to provide pace out wide in his first start. With a trip to last-placed Andorra on Wednesday coming up, taking six points from this week's matches is vital to England's chances of qualifying.
Israel will be led by England-based midfielder Yossi Benayoun, and fellow Premiership player Tal Ben Haim, who will be expected to help anchor a back line that has struggled at times this campaign. Although a win would be ideal, a draw is a more realistic result for the home side, who would still be in contention with that result.
The top two sides in Group E are also in action on Saturday with leaders Croatia hosting Macedonia and Russia visiting an Estonia side that has yet to record a point.
There is a close race shaping up in Group A, with the top five teams separated by just four points. Serbia has a chance to move to the top of the group with a win at Kazakhstan, but Poland, Portugal and Belgium are there just behind them if they slip up. Poland will host Azerbaijan on Saturday in an attempt to slide into the top two, while a key matchup between Portugal and Belgium highlights the Group A slate. Portugal reached the finals of the EURO 2004 competition and advanced to the semifinals of the 2006 World Cup. However, success in qualifying has not come easily to the club, as they have won two games in their first four. A showdown with Serbia looms on Wednesday, and a pair of wins would get Portugal back to where they belong, near the top of the table.
Scotland has been the big surprise in Group B, where they currently hold a slight edge on heavyweights France and Italy. Scotland can maintain that cushion with a winnable match against Georgia on Saturday, while France, who is level on points with the Scots, visits Lithuania. The other contest in the group features World Cup participants Ukraine traveling to the Faroe Islands.
Group C is one of the softest groups in qualification and has been dominated so far by Turkey and Greece. Those two clubs get together for a top-of-the- table clash at Karaiskakis Stadium on Saturday. Both teams have won their first three games without conceding a goal, and the winner of Saturday's game will walk away with control of the group. Norway is sitting just three points behind the top two and will meet Bosnia-Herzegovina, while Moldova and Malta continue to try to collect points at the bottom.
Germany and the Czech Republic are the clear favorites to come out of Group D and both clubs have backed up that claim. They are currently level on points atop the group and meet on Saturday to decide who will take control. Ireland is still holding out hope for a qualifying spot and must pick up three points against Wales to keep in contention. Cyprus hosts Slovakia in the group's other contest.
Group F features two games on Saturday with the biggest contest being Spain's must-win game against Denmark. The Spaniards have secured just three points through three games and must win to give themselves a chance at qualifying. Denmark, meanwhile has gotten off to a good start with seven points through three games. The Danes are just five points behind group leaders Sweden, and have a game in hand. A win on Saturday against Spain would put Denmark in great position. The other fixture pits last-placed Liechtenstein, who is without a point, against Northern Ireland.
A large clash between Group G leaders the Netherlands and third-placed Belgium takes top billing in that group. The Dutch have taken 10 points from four games and hold a three-point edge on their opponents, who have played one less game. Slovenia and Albania have struggled so far and meet at Qemal Stafa Stadium, while last-placed Luxembourg hosts a Belarus team that is still hoping to grab a spot.
Irving, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Dallas Cowboys on Friday signed free agent safety Ken Hamlin. No further details of the signing have been released. Hamlin, who will be entering his fifth season, spent his first four years in the NFL i
<< Sacramento Monarchs (WNBA)
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Super Bowl XLIV Odds
Super Bowl XLIII isn't even a week old yet and oddsmakers have already released Super Bowl XLIV odds.
Despite the Pittsburgh Steelers winning Super Bowl 43, the New England Patriots are 8/1 favorites to win Super Bowl 44.
Bet Super Bowl XLIV Future Odds
With their 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, the Steelers became the latest NFL champion. But believe it or not, oddsmakers from online sports book MySportsbook.com don't have the Steelers the favorites to win Super Bowl XLIV next season.
That honor belongs to the New England Patriots, who are 8/1 favorites to win despite not even qualify for the postseason in 2008. The Pats also have a major decision to make regarding what to do with Matt Cassel, who played well in Tom Brady's (knee surgery) absence last year but is also a free agent this offseason.
Ironically, the Steelers aren't even oddsmakers second choice to win Super Bowl 44, as the Dallas Cowboys are listed right behind the Patriots at 9/1 despite not making the playoffs themselves. Clearly oddsmakers think the public will hop back on the Cowboys' bandwagon considering the immense talent they have and the opening of a brand new stadium.
After Dallas, then comes Pittsburgh at 10/1, but they share those odds with the New York Giants, who won Super Bowl XLII. The Indianapolis Colts and San Diego Chargers round out the top six teams at 12/1, while the Baltimore Ravens (14/1), Tennessee Titans (16/1), Carolina Panthers (18/1) and Philadelphia Eagles (18/1) complete the top 10.
The NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals got no love from oddsmakers as they were established as a 30/1 long shot to win next year's Super Bowl. They share those same odds with the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers – two teams that didn't even qualify for the postseason. Other long shots are the Kansas City Chiefs (100/1), Detroit Lions (100/1), St. Louis Rams (75/1) and Oakland Raiders (75/1).
To see a complete list of all the team's odds to win Super Bowl XLIV, check below.
NFL TEAM FUTURE ODDS TO WIN SUPER BOWL XLIV
New England Patriots 8/1
Dallas Cowboys 9/1
New York Giants 10/1
Pittsburgh Steelers 10/1
Indianapolis Colts 12/1
San Diego Chargers 12/1
Baltimore Ravens 14/1
Tennessee Titans 16/1
Carolina Panthers 18/1
Philadelphia Eagles 18/1
New Orleans Saints 20/1
Atlanta Falcons 25/1
Denver Broncos 25/1
Green Bay Packers 25/1
Jacksonville Jaguars 25/1
Minnesota Vikings 25/1
New York Jets 25/1
Arizona Cardinals 30/1
Chicago BearS 30/1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30/1
Buffalo Bills 35/1
Houston TexaNS 35/1
Miami Dolphins 35/1
Washington Redskins 35/1
Seattle SeahawkS 50/1
Cleveland Browns 55/1
Cincinnati Bengals 60/1
San Francisco 49ers 60/1
Oakland Raiders 75/1
St. Louis Rams 75/1
Detroit Lions 100/1
Kansas City Chiefs 100/1
Odds as of: 2/2/09
Bet Super Bowl XLIV Future Odds
To visit this online sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.
Super Bowl XLIII Betting Odds
Super Bowl XLIII, the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers.Super Bowl XLIII is now set, the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers will meet each other on February 1st in Tampa's Raymond James Stadium to battle it out for the coveted Lombardi Trophy. The game kicks off at 6:00pm ET on NBC with announcers Al Michaels and John Madden covering the on-field action. Super Bowl XLIII betting odds at online bookmaker MySportsbook.com have the Steelers listed as an early -6.5 against the spread favorite.Super Bowl XLIII Betting Odds
Pittsburgh earned their passage to the big game by beating their division rival, the Baltimore Ravens, 23-14 in yesterday's AFC Championship Game. The Steelers jumped on Baltimore early, building a 13-0 first half lead, and never let up on their way to a fairly easy win. Although the Ravens did close to within two points in the fourth quarter, it never appeared as if they had enough offense to pull off the upset.
The Steelers dominating defense held Baltimore to a total of 198 yards while allowing them to convert just three third downs in 13 attempts. Pittsburgh also forced quarterback Joe Flacco into three interceptions, one of which safety Troy Polamalu returned fourty yards for a touchdown.
The Cardinals, by far the playoff team with the longest odds to reach Super Bowl XLIII, did so yesterday with a 32-25 upset of the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship. Arizona charged out of the gates and built a 24-6 halftime lead that had the Eagles venerable defense reeling. Quarterback Kurt Warner and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald did most of the damage, connecting on three first half touchdowns.
Arizona, however, could not sustain their momentum and the Eagles took a 25-24 with 10:45 left to play in the fourth. The Cardinals, with the franchise's first Super Bowl appearance hanging in the balance, mounted a fourteen play, 72 yard touchdown drive that consumed 7:52 off the clock. Warner hit running back Tim Hightower on a short screen for the go-ahead, game clinching score that will forever live in Cardinal infamy.
MySportsbook.com's Super Bowl XLIII Betting Odds:
Pittsburgh Steelers -6.5 (-110), Over 46.5 (-110), -260 (Money line)
Arizona Cardinals +6.5 (-110), Under 46.5 (-110), +220 (Money line)
Matt Foust won both of his conference championship plays yesterday and he is ready to serve up plenty of Super Bowl action. Each individual play costs $15.00, however, MySportsbook.com recommends purchasing Matt's NFL Playoff Package which includes all of Matt's Super Bowl props and picks from just $45.00.
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