11/21/2008 - Carson, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - When the dust settles on the Major League Soccer title game at The Home Depot Center on Sunday, one of the two combatants - the New York Red Bulls or the heavily favored Columbus Crew - will be hoisting their respective franchise's first ever MLS Cup Trophy.
Sunday will mark the first time since the league's inaugural season that two teams who have never before played in the MLS Cup Final will meet for the league championship. Columbus will be looking to be the first Supporters' Shield winner since 2002 to win the MLS Cup while New York will aim to match the 2005 Los Angeles Galaxy as the lowest seed (No. 8) to win the league title game.
The game will feature two of the brightest stars in MLS, with New York striker Juan Pablo Angel and Columbus attacker Guillermo Barros Schelotto.
"Every team has important players in this league," Crew coach Sigi Schmid said. "I mean, one of the things I say to coaches, especially guys if they call me and talk to me, guys who are starting off in this league is, I've always said every team has good players, every team has players you need to be concerned and worried about."
Schelotto was just named the league's Most Valuable Player on Thursday after collecting seven goals and a league-leading 19 assists while Angel is considered by many to be the top striker to ever play in the league after collecting over 30 goals in his two-year MLS career.
"I think they have, in my opinion, one of the premiere strikers in this league, if not the premiere striker in Juan Pablo Angel," Schmid said. "He's a classic center forward. Good in the air, can hold the ball. He's lethal with his finishing. That's certainly an important weapon to have."
The Crew have one of the best center backs in the league - Chad Marshall - to match up with Angel, however.
"I'm very happy for Chad, and I'm pleased at the season he's had and the accolade that he received, because I think he was the best defender in the league this year in terms of central defenders for sure in my opinion," Schmid said of Marshall winning the league's defender of the year award. "... He knows that he's had to be the leader because he's the more experienced player of our two center backs and he stepped into that role. He's been a good passer for us out of the back with the ball. And obviously he's come up with some very timely goals on set pieces and is a very dangerous force for us on those kind of things."
Another key battleground could be the wings, where the Crew feature a solid tandem in Robbie Rogers and Eddie Gaven and the Red Bulls feature the experienced Dave van den Bergh and the speedy Dane Richards. All four have been key contributors for their respective teams in the playoffs.
Regardless of who prevails, however, it should an exciting game because of what is at stake.
"Obviously for me it's been a long time coming," veteran Crew fullback Frankie Hejduk said. "I think being here in Columbus for six years, it's been a lot of ups and downs, a lot of hard work. But with Sigi coming in and taking the reins and pointing this organization in the right direction, you know, a lot's changed. And it's going to be a very exciting game."
<< Jets QB Ainge suspended four games by NFL
Florham Park, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New York Jets rookie quarterback Eric
Ainge has been suspended by the NFL for four game on Thursday for violating
the league's policy on steroids and related substances.
Placed on injured reserve
<< Griffins' Wilson recalled by Dallas
Grand Rapids, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Grand Rapids Griffins left winger Landon
Wilson was recalled by the Dallas Stars on Friday, the American League Hockey
club announced.
Wilson, 33, leads the AHL with seven power-play goals and rank
<< U.S. men to open 2009 schedule against Sweden
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The United States men's national team will kick
off a busy 2009 schedule when they face Sweden on Jan. 24.
The game, at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., follows a training camp
that begins the first
<< Bengals place CB Joseph on IR, sign Castille
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cincinnati Bengals placed cornerback
Johnathan Joseph on the injured reserve list and signed cornerback Simeon
Castille on Friday.
Joseph has been sidelined with a foot injury he suffered
Rampage winger Lisin rejoins Coyotes >>
Glendale, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Phoenix Coyotes recalled right winger
Enver Lisin from their American Hockey League affiliate, the San Antonio
Rampage, to replace Daniel Winnik, who was placed on injured reserve, it was
announc
Around the CFL: Montreal trying to win big one at home >>
Montreal, QC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Montreal Alouettes will definitely have
home-field advantage for the Grey Cup.
The Alouettes will have the support of 60,000-plus rabid supporters on Sunday
when they take on the Calgary Stampeders at
Gibson leads USC past Chattanooga >>
San Juan, PR (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Taj Gibson poured in 17 points and added nine
rebounds as 19th-ranked USC bounced back from its first loss of the season
with a 73-46 win over Chattanooga in the second round of the Puerto Rico Tip-
Off Cla
Around the CFL: Burris feels Stamps must win Grey Cup to get respect >>
Montreal, QC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Henry Burris wasn't a happy camper at the
CFL's awards banquet Thursday night.
After both he and Calgary Stampeders kicker Sandro DeAngelis were snubbed for
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MySportsbook.com Releases World Series Championship Lines
New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox early favorites to win 2008 World Series
The Major League Baseball season starts this weekend and MySportsbook.com, a leading online sportsbook for over 8 years, is the first to offer baseball sports betting lines on who will win the 2007 World Series.
"The World Series is the biggest baseball event in the sports betting world and MySportsbook.com is excited that we are first to market with betting lines on every team," says Tim Dalton, Marketing Director, MySportsbook.com. "We are getting things ready for a great baseball season and our members are looking forward to our Player Payback Bonuses, as well as Dime Lines, all season long."
Going in to this weekend, MySportsbook.com's favorites to win the World Series are the New York Yankees at 7-2 and last year’s winners the Chicago White Sox at 9-2.
"These betting lines are ripe for the picking," Dalton added, "baseball fans know that the season is long and many factors, including players staying healthy, will affect these Future odds as the baseball season progresses. Betting on your favorite team in the beginning of the season could prove quite lucrative. We are seeing examples of this right now in the NCAA College Basketball Tournament with a lucky few that placed pre-season bets on George Mason to win it all. Anything can happen."
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In part two of MySportsbook.com’s draft preview, we’ll take a look at a division that was extremely disappointing last season: the NFC South. Many “experts” predicted the Panthers to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, of course they could not even make the playoffs in an extremely weak NFC. The Saints definitely made up for the disappointing seasons of their NFC South brethren by exploding out of no where en route to the NFC Championship game. For the avid NFL gambler, it is imperative to pay attention to the NFL draft. Although free agency gets a ton of publicity, the successful franchises build their teams around the draft.
1. New Orleans Saints
Who would have thought this time last year that the Saints would be the favorites to win the NFC South for the 2007 campaign? New Orleans is loaded with firepower on the offensive side of the ball but with the exodus of Joe Horn they will most likely look to draft a WR on Day 1. Despite having the NFL’s 3rd ranked pass defense last season, the Saints will most likely upgrade their CB’s with one of their first two picks. Other possibilities for the Saints will be TE and DT. Because of where they will be selecting (27th), the Saints could go the “best available player” route which could net a LB.
Key additions: Eric Johnson TE, Troy Evans LB, David Patten WR
Key loses: Joe Horn WR,
Team needs: CB, WR, TE, LB, DT
Possible draftees: Aaron Ross CB Texas, Darrelle Revis CB Pitt, Ted Ginn Jr. WR OSU, Paul Posluszny LB PSU, Chris Houston CB Arkansas, Greg Olsen TE Miami
2. Carolina Panthers
Carolina was one of the biggest disappointments in the NFL last season. With the signing of David Carr, expect the very first quarterback controversy to come out of Carolina if Jake Delhomme doesn’t rebound quickly from an average 2007 season. With veteran safety Mike Minter getting up there in age, they will look to draft a safety on Day 1 but probably not in the first round. LB is another need with the loss of Chris Draft to go along with Dan Morgan’s concussion problems. If TE Greg Olsen is still on the board, he might be too good to pass up despite their needs on the defensive side of the ball.
Key additions: David Carr QB
Key loses: Chris Draft LB
Team needs: LB, TE, S, OT
Possible draftees: Greg Olsen TE Miami, Patrick Willis LB Ole Miss, Paul Posluszny LB PSU, Levi Brown OT PSU
3. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons were another NFC South team to have a disappointing 2007 season. The Falcons have been plenty busy during the off season with plenty of players coming and going including a new head coach. The Falcons were able to improve their draft position with the trade of coveted backup QB Matt Schaub. High on the list of Day 1 needs will be a defensive end to replace Patrick Kerney and a hard hitting safety since Lawyer Milloy is nearing the end of his career. With an additional 2nd round pick, the Falcons could attempt to trade up to acquire local product WR Calvin Johnson.
Key additions: Joey Harrington QB, Toniu Fonoti OG, Joe Horn WR
Key loses: Justin Griffen RB, Patrick Kerney DE, Matt Lehr OG, Ashley Lelie WR, Matt Schaub QB
Team needs: DE, S, OT, WR, DT
Possible draftees: LaRon Landry S LSU, Amobi Okoye DT Louisville, Levi Brown OT PSU, Jamaal Anderson DE Arkansas, Alan Branch DT Michigan
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Age really caught up to the Bucs last season. The Bucs still have plenty of household names on defense in Ronde Barber, Simeon Rice and Derrick Brooks but the one thing those three have in common is unfortunately age. It is imperative for the Bucs to get much younger, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Despite having bigger needs on the defensive side of the ball, WR Calvin Johnson is the most likely pick if he is still available when the Bucs pick at the four spot. This would suit Bucs’ faithful just fine as Johnson is widely considered the top talent in the draft and it is a position of need for the Bucs.
Key additions: Jeff Garcia QB, Kevin Carter DE, Torrie Cox CB, Cato June LB
Key loses: Dewayne White DE, Sean Mahan OG
Team needs: WR, LB, DE, CB (Youth on defense!)
Possible draftees: Calvin Johnson WR Georgia Tech, Gains Adams DE Clemson, Jamaal Anderson DE Arkansas
It is never too early to start betting on the NFL. Log on to MySportsbook.com to checkout all of the NFL futures for the upcoming season. On the clock: the NFC North
Odds to win the NFC South:
New Orleans Saints 8-5
Carolina Panthers 2-1
Atlanta Falcons 12-5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-2
Odds to win the NFC:
New Orleans Saints 13-2
Carolina Panthers 7-1
Atlanta Falcons 20-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 25-1
Odds to win the Super Bowl:
New Orleans Saints 18-1
Carolina Panthers 20-1
Atlanta Falcons 50-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 75-1
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