07/04/2007 - Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Dynamo will try to keep its shutout streak alive on Thursday when the club hosts offensive-minded Red Bull New York at Robertson Stadium.
The Houston defense has recorded three-straight clean sheets and has yielded just three goals during its six-game unbeaten run. New York, meanwhile, has had trouble keeping the ball out of its net, conceding eight goals in its last three games, during which the club posted a 0-2-1 mark.
Houston had its five-game win streak halted last time out when they were held to a 0-0 draw by West-leading FC Dallas. However, defender Craig Waibel does not think that the result was such a bad thing.
"I think it's a great result," Waibel told the league's website. "They're in first place and we're in second and we're at their home field. I'd like to think they're disappointed with that result because it's their job to win at home. To get a shutout on the road is fantastic for this team and also to stay within three points with two games in hand is great. This is obviously two points short of what we wanted but a great result for the club and for the guys in the locker room."
The Dynamo will have both Dwayne De Rosario and Brian Ching in their lineup for the second-straight game after both missed time because of international duty. Despite the absence of its top duo for over a month, Houston put together its best run of play during that stretch, but will be without one of its best performers during that time on Thursday as midfielder Brad Davis will miss the contest because of a knee sprain. Houston may also be without striker Paul Dalglish because he is battling an ankle sprain.
With Dalglish out, the newest member of the Dynamo may be called into action. The team acquired striker Nate Jaqua from Los Angeles in exchange for Kelly Gray on Tuesday, and now Jaqua may have an opportunity to contribute to his new club immediately. Jaqua struggled to find his stride with the Galaxy in the early part of the season as he scored just one goal in his first 10 games with the club. He will be looking for a new start with Houston, but the club is sure to miss the steady presence of Gray in the defensive half of the field.
New York comes into the contest looking to get its high-powered offense back on track after it suffered its worst output of the season. Red Bull managed to put just one shot on goal in its last outing against Columbus, while New York's superstar Juan Pablo Angel was held in check for the first time all season. Angel has scored nine goals in eight games but clearly had an off night against the Crew.
"He lost a lot of balls; the service to him wasn't good," said New York head coach Bruce Arena. "He didn't do a good job. I think their center backs, give them credit, did a good job on Angel. At the other end of the field, [Alejandro] Moreno was a little better at his role than Angel was for us."
New York is relatively healthy with only midfielder Dema Kovalenko as an injury concern. Kovalenko is battling a groin strain and will be a game-time decision.
<< Wilson, Pirates down Brewers
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jack Wilson went 3-for-3 with an RBI and a
run scored as the Pittsburgh Pirates knocked off the Milwaukee Brewers, 6-2,
in the second portion of a four-game set at PNC Park.
Ronny Paulino, despite havi
<< Bonds hits 751st homer
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - San Francisco slugger Barry Bonds moved
within four homers of Hank Aaron's home run record, belting the 751st of his
career, a two-run blast in the first inning off Cincinnati's Aaron Harang on
Tuesday.
Bon
<< Brazilian midfielder signs with Atletico
Madrid, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brazilian Cleber Santana signed a three-year
deal with Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.
Santana, 26, an attacking midfielder, previously played with Santos in Brazil.
He is the sixth signing this offseason
<< Atletico adds Brazilian Santana
Madrid, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brazilian Cleber Santana signed a three-year
deal with Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.
Santana, 26, an attacking midfielder, previously played with Santos in Brazil.
He is the sixth signing this offseason
Report: Sonics to hire Carlesimo as head coach >>
San Antonio, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Seattle SuperSonics have reportedly
hired P.J. Carlesimo as their new head coach on Tuesday.
The San Antonio Express-News, citing an NBA source, says the Sonics are
expected to announce Carle
Zambrano paces surging Cubs over Nats >>
Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Carlos Zambrano struck out eight over 6 2/3
innings and Alfonso Soriano went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, lifting the
Cubs over the Nationals, 3-1, at RFK Stadium.
Zambrano (10-6) won his third strai
Wang, Yankees blank Twins >>
Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chien-Ming Wang threw seven strong innings to win
his fifth consecutive decision and Robinson Cano belted a two-run homer, as
the New York Yankees pounded Minnesota, 8-0, in the second contest of a four-
game se
Bonds climbs within four HR of Aaron; Phillips' slam boosts Reds >>
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Barry Bonds belted home run No. 751 to
move within four of Hank Aaron's record, but Brandon Phillips' grand slam
helped Pete Mackanin win his first game as Cincinnati's manager as the Reds
downed
The San Francisco 49ers (5-11 SU, 5-10-1 ATS in 2007; 1-1 SU & ATS in pre-season) found some offensive life last week, and they will try to build some momentum on Thursday night as they travel to the Windy City to take on the Chicago Bears (7-9 SU & ATS in 2007; 0-2 SU, 0-1-1 ATS in pre-season) in an NFL matchup that is set to get underway at 8 PM ET at Soldier Field (natural turf) in Chicago.
Thursday, August 21
NFL betting odds: CHICAGO -3 (-120), Total 37
NOTABLE STAT: San Francisco was last in points, last in total offense in 2007
KEY NFL BETTING TREND: SF has lost its last seven SU on pre-season road
In the BetUS NFL pre-season football betting odds, the Bears are listed as a three-point favorite (laying -120), with the total posted at 37 points.
Here are some NFL football betting trends as they relate to this matchup (reflecting numbers going into the 2008 season):
* SF has lost 11 of its last 14 games SU
* SF has covered three of its last 11 games
* SF has lost six of its last seven road games SU
* SF has covered one of its last seven road games
* CHI has covered five of its last eight games
* CHI has played five of its last seven games OVER the total
* CHI has covered four of its last 13 home games
* SF has lost its last seven pre-season road games SU
* CHI has covered two of its last seven home pre-season games
Well, I guess we should congratulate the Bears on making their quarterback choice for the season's opening game, as they have designated Kyle Orton the starter against Indianapolis. The Bears obviously have lost patience with Rex Grossman, and what they do with him at this point is anybody's guess. But suffice it to say that there isn't a quarterback competition anymore, at least in training camp.
Meanwhile, the quarterback competition may also be settled in San Francisco, where the Niners bounced back from a lackluster 18-6 loss to the Raiders, in which they turned the ball over four times, to execute a 34-6 rout of the Packers last Saturday. However, coach Mike Nolan has stopped short of saying that, insisting that the job is still open. But J.T. O'Sullivan, the longshot of the trio of Niner signal-callers who opened camp, will start his third straight pre-season game here. Against Green Bay, O'Sullivan was only 8-for-17, and was intercepted, but he also threw for 9.1 yards an attempt, which included a 59-yard TD pass to Josh Morgan. The others struggled.
Some offensive cohesion is badly needed, in light of the Niners' dismal 2007 campaign, in which they were dead last in the NFL in scoring, with just 13.7 points a game. And O'Sullivan is the guy who is most familiar with offensive coordinator Mike Martz's exacting system, because he learned it last year in Detroit. O'Sullivan will go at least the entire first half and may even last longer. He'll be relieved by Alex Smith, with Shawn Hill doing the mop-up work. Three receivers who were out last week - Bryant Johnson, Ashley Lelie and Arnaz Battle - will miss this game too.
That may hurt a little here, especially since the Bears will be using a lot of their defensive starters. And it's the defense that has been keeping the Bears in games thus far. In fact, the defense and special teams were responsible for the first 19 points Chicago scored against Seattle last time out, as the offense really struggled with Grossman at the controls. But maybe the first-team offense has a chance to settle a little bit as it works more with Orton at the helm.
Certainly we have concerns about the Bears' offensive line, but we like the scenario for them here, especially if O'Sullivan doesn't make some bis plays. The Niners may have nowhere else to turn right now, and they have lost seven straight road games in the pre-season. Let's take Chicago, the three-point favorite in the NFL football betting odds.
CHICAGO -3 (-120) **
(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)
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MySportsbook.com refunds all bets on Oakland, Green Bay and Tampa Bay from NFL week one.
(September 14) – Week one of NFL action saw three teams go scoreless for the first time since 1977. Another four were unable to get a touchdown and almost half of the underdogs covered the spread. Those three teams saved bettors at MySportsbook.com from losing out completely, thanks to the company’s unique NFL Shutout Rule -- which ensures that if the team you backed goes scoreless, your wager is refunded.
Sportsbook refunded tens of thousands of dollars to customers who bet on Oakland, Green Bay and Tampa Bay, the three teams that stunk up the field so badly that their fans and backers never had a chance to get up from their couches and cheer. In the spirit of the low scoring start to the season, odds makers at the world’s largest online sportsbook and casino have set odds on how many total shutouts there will be this season.
MySportsbook.com has posted updated sports betting lines for week two of the season. Ben Roethlisberger’s health status is still questionable, so Willie Parker will try to lead Pittsburgh again as they travel to Jacksonville as a one point favorite. After beating up on his little brother last week, Peyton Manning will look to lead the Colts to victory against Houston. Indianapolis is a whopping 13.5 favorite in the match-up.
Seattle, last year’s highest scoring team, showed the power of their defense with their gritty 9-6 win in Motown over the ravenous Lions. They take their act back home to the comforts of Qwest Field where they will face the resurgent Arizona Cardinals. The Seahawks are favored by a touchdown.
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