RSL, S.J. to battle in Friday fixture

Soccer Betting Lines

07/02/2009 - Sandy, UT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Jose Earthquakes travel to take on Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer action on Friday night as the two Western Conference rivals battle for position.

Both team are in the bottom half of the conference and will be aiming to earn the full points and move up.

San Jose (3-8-3) is currently in last place in the West, although it is coming off a 2-1 win over California rival the Los Angeles Galaxy in their last MLS fixture on June 20.

Pablo Campos had a goal and an assist in the L.A. game to lead San Jose to just its third win of the season, and first since the club beat RSL on May 30.

"I thought Pablo played very well against Los Angeles on April 18 [in a 1-1 tie], he had a great goal as well," S.J. coach Frank Yallop said. "We've been working on parts of [Campos'] game that are maybe a little unnatural. But he's trying to do the right things. [Vs. L.A.] Pablo came in with a stronger and renewed aggression and played very well."

RSL (5-6-4) is currently in fifth in the West, but is rounding into form after a 3-0 win over Toronto on Saturday extended the team's unbeaten run to four games.

Yura Movsisyan is the current hot hand on the RSL front line, scoring four goals this season, including three in the last four games. He tallied the game winner against Toronto this past weekend.

"I don't think I was forcing things earlier, I just wasn't getting lucky with some of the bounces," Movsisyan said. "I think I'm doing the same thing, but now I've got a lot more confidence. It's a game, sometimes things go your way and sometimes they don't."

The Toronto FC game started a stretch where RSL has five home games in its next seven, and coach Jason Kreis hopes his team can take advantage and jump back into the top half of the Western table.

"We put ourselves a little bit of a bad spot and now we got to take full advantage," Kreis said. "Every home game has to be three points from here on out."

RSL will have to earn the points without a number of key players. Forward Will Johnson, and midfielders Jean Alexandre and Kyle Beckerman will be absent on international duty. Also, midfielder Javier Morales is doubtful with an injury while forward Robbie Findley is questionable and forward Fabian Espndola is probable, all with injuries.

San Jose's lone absence will be defender Ryan Cochrane, who is out with an injury.

Wwwgo2hk Soccer Betting News

<< Kim's record 62 leads AT&T National
Bethesda, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Defending champion Anthony Kim set the course record with an eight-under 62 at Congressional, taking the first-round lead Thursday at the AT&T National. Tiger Woods, the tournament host, shot a six-

<< Chelsea secures Turnbull signing
London, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chelsea has completed the signing of goalie Ross Turnbull on a four-year contract from relegated Middlesbrough. The 24-year-old former England Under-21 international was out of contract with the Teessider

<< Ribery will only leave Bayern for Real
Munich, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chelsea and Manchester United appear to have missed out on signing Franck Ribery after the France star revealed he will only leave Bayern Munich for Real Madrid. The two Premier League heavyweights were

<< Arsenal's Wenger hails Wilshere deal
London, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Arsenal's teenage midfielder Jack Wilshere has joined Aaron Ramsey in signing a new long-term contract with the Gunners. The 17-year-old broke into the first-team picture at the Emirates Stadium last sea

<< Napoli's Donadoni: Lavezzi will return
Naples, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Napoli coach Roberto Donadoni is confident that Argentina forward Ezequiel Lavezzi will return to the club for the start of pre-season training. The 24-year-old has been heavily linked with a move

Panthers sign Leopold, Wilson >>
Sunrise, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Florida Panthers bolstered their defensive corps Thursday by signing both Jordan Leopold and Clay Wilson. Leopold, who signed a one-year contract, was acquired on the NHL Draft's second day from Calg

Bees delay Astros/Padres game >>
San Diego, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In the top of the ninth inning of a game between the Houston Astros and San Diego Padres, a swarm of bees took over part of left field and caused the game to go into a delay. With Miguel Tejada at the plate w

Hurricanes retain LaRose for two years >>
Raleigh, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Carolina Hurricanes agreed to terms with forward Chad LaRose on a two-year contract worth $3.4 million on Thursday. LaRose is set to earn $1.5 million next season and $1.9 million in 2010-11. The 27-y

Pressel among Jamie Farr leaders >>
Sylvania, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Morgan Pressel, Laura Diaz and Song-Hee Kim each fired rounds of seven-under 64 on Thursday to share the opening-round lead of the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic. Suzann Pettersen and Michelle Wie ar

CFL's Bruce fined for Michael Jackson celebration >>
Mississauga, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Toronto Argonauts All-Star wide receiver Arland Bruce III was fined an undisclosed amount for a celebration tribute to Michael Jackson in the team's victory over Hamilton on Wednesday. After scoring a

Super Bowl 2009 Betting

Super Bowl 2009 Betting propositions

Underdog bettors love the Super Bowl and, history suggests, the underdogs love them back. And the big dogs bite harder.

Even so, there is a warning in store for Super Bowl gamblers who must love dogs: The Arizona Cardinals Super Bowl betting lines might not be enough of a Cinderella to make it worth your while.

Although the Cardinals were widely panned as one of the worst division winners and least playoff-worthy teams in recent memory, their trip to Super Bowl XLIII Jan. 31 in Tampa against the Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl betting lines comes with a little more respect from the oddsmakers than you might imagine. They are a 7-point underdog at most sports books.

If you count yourself among those who covet the big dog in the big game, this isn’t exactly great news. You should have been hoping for more points. This is because the facts show that the bigger the dog, the better the bet in the Super Bowl.

Case in point: Over the past 13 seasons, double-figure underdogs in the Super Bowl are 4-0-1 ATS and have won the past three outright. In fact, the last double-digit chalk to do the deed for bettors was the 1995 San Francisco 49ers, who managed to beat the astounding 19-point spot afforded backers of the San Diego Chargers in the 49-26 romp in Super Bowl XXIX.

By contrast, 7-point favorites are 2-1-1 ATS in the same span, the last such contest resulting a cover grinded out by the Colts in their 29-17 win over the Bears two seasons ago in Super Bowl XLI.

In 2004, the Patriots failed to cover the number in their 32-29 triumph over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl props while the Rams and Titans gave everyone a refund in 2000 after the Rams posted a 23-16 win as a seven-point favorite.

So while Arizona’s run has included impressive upsets as a 10-point road underdog to the Carolina Panthers and Sunday’s 32-25 win in the NFC championship game to the 4-point favored Philadelphia Eagles, their long-shot story lacks a bit of the David vs. Goliath storyline of past Super Bowl underdogs.

While the seven-point spread represents a significant gap in the perception of strength between the two teams, it is far from monumental. For example, last season the Giants were the wild-card afterthought turned road-warrior buzzsaw, with stunning wins over the Buccaneers, Cowboys and Packers to earn their place in the Super Bowl.

There, they played spoiler to New England’s bid to become the first 19-0 team in NFL history and cemented their place in sports betting lore with a 17-14 win as a 12.5-point underdog.

In other words, the Cardinals appear to have their work cut out for them as a mid-range underdog. But in homage to the spread beaters who have come before them, here is a brief look back at recent colossal upsets in the Super Bowl:

SB XLII -- 2008 -- New York Giants 17, New England Patriots 14 (Giants +12.5) – Eli Manning’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress in the final minute clinched the historic upset for the Giants, who used a masterful defensive plan to slow down Tom Brady and the previously undefeated New England Patriots.

XXXVI -- 2002 -- Patriots 20, Rams 17 (Patriots +14) – This was the coming out party for the aforementioned Brady, who went from obscure sixth-round draft pick to Super Bowl hero in one fell swoop. He led the game-winning drive in the final minute – eschewing analyst John Madden’s advice to take a knee and play for overtime – leading to Adam Vinatieri’s memorable 48-yard field goal that split the uprights as time expired.

XXXII 1998 Broncos 31, Packers 24 (Denver +12) – The first of John Elway’s two consecutive Super Bowl titles to put an end to his Hall of Fame career was an upset for the ages. The Broncos used the determination of Elway and a 157-yard, three-touchdown performance from Terrell Davis to turn back Brett Favre and the heavily favored Packers.

Get free 2009 Super Bowl Betting from top rated online sportsbook MySportsbook.com. Mysportsbook.com online Super Bowl betting VISA Mastercard