Sports News with Free Picks, Previews and Reviews

Are you a betting Expert? Then Cash-in!

2011-02-19T05:39:00.000-08:00

Whatever U.S sport you’re into – whether it’s NBA, MLB, NHL or NFL – you’ll get to watch it LIVE. You could watch the legendary New York Giants on a Saturday afternoon then grab a hot dog at the world famous Yankee stadium the very next night!

This is truly a unique, one-off opportunity to enjoy the full USA sports experience…

To get your hands on that amazing trip make sure you sign up for Be the Expert. Betsson is giving away TWO luxury New York trips – the first trip will go to the betting expert who tops thw leaderboard, the 2nd trip will go to a ‘lucky runner up’ picked at random from places 2-40…

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Free NFL Football Winner

2010-09-26T05:21:00.000-07:00

FREE NFL Football Winner on 26 September 2010

NFL PICK at Eagles @ Jaguars, Time: 4:05 PM EST

Prediction: OVER 44.5

Play Line at Betsson (50% Bonus), Betway (£25 Free Bet), NordicBet (100% Bonus), or BetUS (100% Bonus upto $1000)

Big money on this one NFL pick

2010-09-26T03:26:00.000-07:00

Our strongest pick on the NFL board this weekend is the Jets at the Dolphins. This game will be won by at least 10 points. If you are looking for one, strong pick this Sunday, this is it. Buy it for $20! Don't be foolish and bet on 10 different games today. Just move big money on this one NFL pick.

Miami Dolphins -1.5 Vs New York Jets Sunday September 26, 2010 8:20 p.m. ET

Need another game to fill up your weekend. The Colts at the Broncos is another bad line. Our experts believe it is off by a touchdown.

Have fun. Good luck!

Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City

2010-08-14T00:20:00.000-07:00

The new Premier League season kicks off at White Hart Lane on Saturday afternoon as Champions League debutants Spurs take on a Man City side whose minimum requirement this term must be a top four finish.

At the time of writing, Harry Redknapp has so far defied his ‘wheeler-dealer’ reputation with no significant signings coming into the club over the close season, and it remains to be seen whether he strengthens his squad in time for this one.

A fairly indifferent set of pre-season results could tempt ‘Arry into splashing out, with Craig Bellamy and Scott Parker two of the players strongly linked with the north London club. A 1-4 hammering by Villareal at the Lane a couple of weeks go will certainly have had Tottenham fans perusing the gossip columns with a certain desperation.

Nevertheless, there should be a fine atmosphere at one of the few remaining top-flight grounds capable of providing such a thing, and with a settled side playing at home after a superb campaign last time out, it’s easy to make a case for backing Spurs at 11/8 here.

By contrast, City have again spent wildly this summer with David Silva, Yaya Toure, Aleksandar Kolarov and Jerome Boateng costing £79m between them, and while they should certainly be up there come May, they’re bound to take time to get it right and don’t appeal at 15/8 to win this one. For those who really want to get with Mancini’s boys here, the 11/10 available for them on the Draw No Bet market looks like the way to go.

Much like Spurs, it’s not been a great summer for City results-wise, and heavy defeats at Sporting, Inter Milan and Dortmund suggest that Mancini and his staff still have plenty of work to do on a defence that conceded more than any other top 7 side last term.

They do of course have a frightening amount of firepower at the other end, with last season’s leading scorer Carlos Tevez a 6/1 chance for the first goal and 13/8 to hit the net at any time, while Emmanuel Adebayor is exactly the same price on both markets.

James Milner’s move may not have officially gone through yet, but the Blue Square traders have wasted no time in pricing him up for this one – he’s 10/1 for the first goal on his debut and a 3/1 shot to score at any time.

For Spurs, it’s the prolific Jermain Defoe who heads the first goalscorer market at 5/1, while the 11/8 about him to score at any time looks very good after his 24 goals last term. Roman Pavlyuchenko is another player who could be worth backing after a fine second half to last season saw him revive his Spurs career – the Russian is 13/8 to find the net in this one.

This game should certainly provide goals given the amount of attacking talent on the pitch, allied with the fact that neither defence is exactly water-tight. Over 2.5 goals looks like a superb punt at 10/11, while Goal Crazy – both teams to score – also looks like a very good thing at 3/4.

For a Correct Score bet, the 25/1 about Tottenham to win 3-1 looks very attractive, while 2-1 also appeals at 9/1, For those who are looking for the big win to start the season in style, Tevez to score first and Spurs to win 3-1 pays an almighty 250/1 and might just be worth a quid or two. Visit Betsson Sportsbook to learn more.

Chelsea v West Bromwich Albion

2010-08-14T00:15:00.000-07:00

Double winners Chelsea kick off their Premier League title defence against newly-promoted West Brom on Saturday evening in what many people will have down as their banker of the weekend. It’s no surprise to see the Blues as short as 1/6 to win this one, with West Brom 14/1 outsiders and the draw 11/2.

While we’ve grown used to seeing Chelsea throwing eye-watering amounts of cash around during the close season, its been very different this year with Ricardo Carvalho’s move to Madrid making him the 5th big name to leave the club after Joe Cole, Michael Ballack, Juliano Belletti and Deco.

With only Yossi Benayoun’s arrival and the pending transfer of Ramires to balance those losses, the Blues are putting plenty of faith in the players who did so well last year on their way to breaking the Premier League goals record with a staggering 103 for the season.

Last season’s Golden Boot winner Didier Drogba will once again spearhead his side’s attack, and understandably he is as short as 4/7 to hit the target against the Baggies, 11/4 to score first, and 9/4 for 2 or more goals. It would be hard to argue with any of those bets really.

Florent Malouda’s wonderful form in the second half of last season saw him pick up the Player of the Month award for March, and he can put France’s shambolic World Cup behind him straight away in this one – the 13/8 about him to be on target looks very backable.

Frank Lampard is another player who had a summer to forget, though last season produced his best ever goal scoring return as he hit 27 in all competitions. If you fancy him to carry on where he left off here, the Blue Square traders bravely offer the best price in the industry about him to score – a very tidy-looking 5/4.

Roberto Di Matteo led West Brom back to the top-flight at the first time of asking following their relegation in 2009, but as even-money second favourites for relegation behind only Blackpool in the betting, it’s obvious how difficult this campaign is likely to be.

Of course, these aren’t the sort of games that decide whether sides go down or not, and in a lot of ways, starting with a match where there is absolutely nothing to lose is ideal for the Baggies, and there’ll certainly be no pressure on them against Di Matteo’s old club.

They have always been admirably realistic, refusing to risk the club’s future by spending silly money in an all-out effort just to survive, and it’s been a frugal summer once again at the Hawthorns with Nicky Shorey and Boaz Myhill the main arrivals for a combined fee of just £3m.

Luke Moore, Ishmael Miller and Roman Bednar will be vying for spots up front and all 3 are available at 16/1 to score the first goal in this one. Former Arsenal man Jerome Thomas is another who will provide a real threat from wide positions and at 20/1, he could just be worth a pound or two for the first goal.

Ultimately, it’s difficult to see this being anything other than one-way traffic, and Chelsea -1 on the handicap market looks like a fantastic bet at 8/15, as does Chelsea to win both halves at 11/10. For a correct score bet, I’d go for Chelsea to win 4-0 at 10/1. Visit Betsson Sportsbook to learn more.

Buy Cool Fred Perry World Cup Polo Shirt (Get it Free!)

2010-05-15T16:37:00.000-07:00

Support you team in style! 11 June is the kick of date for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Now Fred Perry presents a refined way of showing your team loyalty and celebrating the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

With a pack of classic Fred Perry polos each with embroidered laurel and team name underneath it, you're sure to look your best supporting your team at the finals! Plus The polo pack is available for purchase now at Bagga, one of the UK's best Menswear Retailers since 1994! All of these Limited Edition Polos are cool and you actually have a huge chance of getting yours FOR FREE! Sounds interesting, right??

Well, Bagga will be getting into the world cup spirit too, with this new range of Fred Perry Polo's. Just pick your team and match your polo, if your choice of team wins the world cup 2010, you will be fully refunded!! So for me, at least one of these awesome limited edition Fred Perry World Cup Polos is a must for my wardrobe this Summer, but I will propably buy at least one more of these collector's item - also to get a better chance of getting one of them for free.

For the time being Bagga has the Spain, Brazil, Italy, Holland, England and Japan and more teams will be added soon. But don't forget these editions are limited!

Terms and conditions of this great campaign:

- Pick your team and match your polo, if your choice of team wins the World Cup 2010, you will be fully refunded.

- OFFER ENDS: 11/06 16:00 (Kick off, first game).
- Just send the original invoice back to Bagga by the end of July 2010 - and they'll refund you in full (excluding postage)!

Everyone likes a wager on the World Cup, so visit Bagga for you Fred Perry World Cup Polo(s) now! Please comment below to let us all know which team you support or think will win the WC2010.

About Bagga Designer Menswear:

Bagga is an authorised stockist of some of the most sought after and exclusive Menswear Brands in the UK and internationally. Only the current season's products are stocked, and they are often the first in the UK to have new products live on the web. From massive International Brands such as G Star and Armani to very niche, exclusive products like Edwin Jeans and PRPS - Bagga has it all, with next-day delivery in the UK, and free UK delivery for all orders over £200. Bagga ships worldwide!

Bagga has been one of the UK's best Menswear Retailers since 1994, when they opened their first High Street Shop. In 2002 Bagga was awarded the industry's highest accolade - the FHM award for Best Small Retailer in the UK. Bagga was in competition with hundreds of the UK's best, and was judged on criteria including Customer Service, Product Mix, Presentation and Communication. The proudest moment in our fifteen-year history.

Shop with Bagga for total peace of mind. An award-winning retailer with 15 years experience.

New Year's Resolution

2010-01-13T08:40:00.000-08:00

So far, 2010 has been an incredible year. In the last 12 days we have dominated the sportsbooks showing insane profits, going on an unprecedented 14-6 run in our last 20 plays. Folks, this is a 70% winning percentage, which if you are realistic in the sports betting world, you'll know is absolutely incredible. Do yourself a favor in 2010 - make it your New Year's Resolution to give yourself the opportunity that you deserve. You can make a significant second income from sports if you follow the trends and follow winners. Think about it - if you could win money 70% of the time wouldn't you do it? I sure would.

Tonight's free play is in the NBA with the Under 193 in the LA Clippers vs. New Orleans Hornets game at 8PM eastern.

Army vs Navy Winner + BCS Blowout Package!

2009-12-12T08:37:00.000-08:00

Today's Army vs. Navy war game winner has been posted as a guaranteed play of the day. This game will not lose! Last night we proved again why our customers keep coming back day after day, week after week. Sure Call makes them money! It's that simple. Let's look at the math:

NHL Panthers at Devils - WINNER

NBA Warriors at Bulls - WINNER

NCAA Basketball Old Dominion at Dayton - WINNER

Easy money, folks! Right now on the board we have 2 NBA plays, 1 NHL play, and of course the winner of the Army Navy football game.

The Big One: Florida vs. Alabama Free Play

2009-12-06T22:56:00.000-08:00

This game is all about seperating the men from the boys. This is absolutely THE biggest game being played today. And it couldn't be an easier game to win money on, either. With the nerves today with everything at stake for both teams, I don't see a lot of points being scored today. I just don't. We've got a matchup of the #1 and #2 teams - which not coincidentally have the #1 and #2 defenses in all of college football. If you are a statistics guy, look at this one. Both teams combined give up an average of just a little over 20 points per game. And the line total today is 41 1/2. You do the math. I don't want to take anything away from the offenses on the field today because they are both great offenses as well but to be quite honest with you, neither one is absolutely stellar at the moment. Not stellar enough to beat the defenses. Tebow is a great quarterback, but he's not been playing lately like the Tebow we all know and remember. For some easy money today take the UNDER 41 1/2 today in this game.

Tuesday Free Plays

2009-11-30T22:35:00.000-08:00

Hopefully you all cashed in BIG on yesterday's free play winner with the Magic -6 over the Knicks! What a way to end Thanksgiving weekend! Football winners, NBA winners, NHL winners, free play winners! We are on FIRE!! Right now we have the Monday Night Football winner posted and shortly we'll have NBA winners and a few other surprises posted as well! Today's free play is: Indiana Pacers +2 vs. Golden State Warriors at 10:35PM Eastern. Take the Pacers here. With Dunleavy back the Pacers are going to get back on track with a win here tonight.

Good luck to all!

Happy Thanksgiving from us

2009-11-26T08:38:00.000-08:00

TODAY`S PLAYS

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Start stretching your bellies because it's going to be a long day and you NEED to stay awake tonight for some exciting football! Right now we've got guaranteed winners on our site for today in both NFL and college football. DO NOT miss out on winning money today everyone! If there is one day of the year where you want to win money on sports it's Thanksgiving!! Today's free play: Green Bay at Detroit (12:30PM EST) - PLAY OVER 47 1/2

Good luck today everyone and eat up!

TODAY`S PLAYS - 25/26 NOV 2009

2009-11-25T15:42:00.000-08:00

Last night yielded us a big winner on our guaranteed play and NCAA football package play with Ball State +11 who won the game outright. I love when a dog wins when they shoud win. Too many people always pick the favorites even when the team technically should not be a favorite - let alone an 11 point favorite. We picked up a nice addition to the bank roll last night and will continue to do so tonight with some great games loaded up onto the site for today's plays.

Today's Free Play: NCAA Basketball - LSU vs. UCONN - TAKE LSU. UCONN has not covered a spread all season and I don't expect them to start now vs. LSU. Both teams are undefeated but UCONN will fall this evening at Madison Square Garden. They do not deserve to be an undefeated team and will not be after tonight's game.

Best of luck to all tonight!

TODAY`S PLAYS - 24 NOV 2009

2009-11-24T09:51:00.000-08:00

All I can say is....wow. Last night's Monday Night Football game was a nailbiter just as we expected it would be and came down to the final few seconds of the game. That's exactly why when we posted our free play for the game we chose the total rather than the side. And those of you who followed us last night made some cash. We were dead on the money with the UNDER as the defenses were working overtime last night and held the game well under the posted total. I trust all of you picked up some easy money on that play. Now, on to bigger and better things.. today's free play is going to be in the NBA where we've found some good value on another total play.

Free Play: Golden State Warriors at Dallas Mavericks -- Play OVER 217

Neither team here is great at defense and they both give up a high number of points per game. Put them both together and you've got a recipe for a total that goes high. GSW Coach Don Nelson is also not coaching tonight due to pneumonia, so they've got Keith Smart coaching tonight. He's a good assistant coach, but not ready to be calling plays against a team like the Mavericks. Go with the over here tonight.

Good luck to all and see you on the boards to make some easy money tonight!

Free Play - Monday Night Football

2009-11-22T23:01:00.000-08:00

TODAY`S PLAYS

Wow, what a weekend in sports! Saturday was a roller coaster and Sunday was as well, but in the end everything turned out A-OK and we all still made the duckets. Any weekend where you turn a profit is still a good weekend! Now it's time for Monday Night Football. Let's hope this game is a bit more exciting than last week's MNF game which was about as exciting as watching mold grow on a piece of bread in your kitchen. The guaranteed play of the day on Monday will be the side play between the Titans and the Texans.

Free Play: Tennessee Titans at Houstan Texans -- Play UNDER 48 1/2

Looking forward to another week with those of you who won with us this week and for those of you who haven't tried out our guaranteed plays step up to the plate and get on board, you are missing out on the cash! Good luck to all this week, whether you use our services or not - we're all in this for the same reason, and that's to hammer the books!!

Champions League Reload Freebet Offer

2008-11-25T13:47:00.000-08:00

100% Freebet Offer up to 30 EUR

Deposit and bet on any Champions League games held on November 25/26 (or any other football odds before midnight Sunday 30) and get a fantastic 100% Freebet from Bookie Betway.

For example, place a bet of 30 EUR or above and get a 30 EUR Freebet upon settlement, to use on any other football game. Note that this offer is only valid on your ‘first’ football bet after you’ve made a deposit during the period (00:01 CET) Tues Nov 25 and (23:59 CET) Sun Nov 30.

Signup now and receive an exclusive bonus of 66 Casino FREE Spins from Bookie Betway. This bonus is only available if you signup from the links here and only until 30 November 2008.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How to get your Freebet
- Make a deposit (doesn’t have to be your first ever deposit at Bookie Betway)
- Place a bet on any football odds at Bookie Betway. This includes any Champions Legaue games held on 25/26 Nov
- Offer valid between (00:01 CET) Tues Nov 25 and (23:59 CET) Sun Nov 30
- Get a 100% Freebet (max value 30 EUR). So if you bet 30 EUR (or above) you get a 30 EUR Freebet. Or if you bet 10 EUR, you get a 10 EUR Freebet etc.
- Freebet valid for 7 days on any odds at Bookie Betway
- Freebet awarded when initial bet has been settled

Champions League Freebet Offer Rules
- You must first make a deposit to qualify (doesn’t have to be your first ever deposit at Bookie Betway)
- Offer only valid on your first football bet between (00:01 CET) Tues Nov 25 and (23:59 CET) Sun Nov 30
- Freebet tokens will only be valid on any odds at Bookie Betway over 1.7
- Maximum Freebet value is 30 EUR
- Freebet tokens will be valid for 7 days
- You cannot use your Freebet on the same match as your first bet
- If you win on your Freebet, you only get the winnings, not the initial stake of the Freebet
- Only one Freebet can be awarded per person, household
- Abuse or use of this offer in a way not intended by Bookie Betway will lead to exclusion from the offer
- Only valid if you’re 18 or above
- Freebet Terms & Conditions apply

(c) FREE BETS FORUM

Risk free bet on Champions League!

2008-11-04T23:19:00.000-08:00

This week we are looking forward to another exciting Champions League week, and to celebrate this Betsafe offers a risk free bet up to 5€ for all their customers. It is very simple to participate, make a bet with at least 3 matches/objects or more on the valid games, and they will repay your bet up to 5€ if you don’t win. Please note that it is your first bet in this weeks’ Champions League matches that will count, and it has to be placed on 3 matches or more in order for it to count towards this promotion

Please follow these steps:
1. Put a bet on at least 3 of the Champions League matches this week. If you win, you will of course keep your winnings, and if you lose on your first triple Betsafe will refund your money up to 5€. You can bet for more than 5 Euro, but they will only credit you with 5 Euro.

2. Send an email to freebet at betsafe.com, if you didn’t win. Write your Betsafe customer ID and the slip ID in the Subject area “-Name-, slip ID 23456788”. Your will find this under “My account-player history”.

3. The support will deposit maximum 5 Euro into your account as soon as they can. They expect a lot of players to use this offer, so please be patient if it takes a while.(Please allow up to 48 hours for the bonus to be credited).

Rules for this campaign:
- Only a bet on a minimum of three Champions League matches this week is valid for this campaign
- Only the first bet is valid for this promotion.
- This offer can only be used once per customer
- Only one account per household is allowed
- This offer is valid for both new and existing customers
- The request for payback must be sent to freebet at betsafe.com no later than Friday, November 7 at 23.59 CET. After that, no money will be refunded.

Visit Betsafe for more info.

Find more bonuses at The Pay-fair.com Gambling Guide.

Sparks to fly at American Idol?

2007-05-23T20:55:00.000-07:00

They're down to the final two on American Idol, as Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis are the last two singers vying for the Idol crown.

WagerWeb.com, one of the Internet's top gambling sites, is well-known for providing its customers with the best odds on everything from sports to entertainment to politics. And they've bolstered their offerings once again with the release of their American Idol final odds.

WagerWeb.com has listed young Jordin Sparks as the favorite to win American Idol at -400 odds. The 17-year-old from Glendale, Arizona has been at the top of our list for quite a while and her performances have continued to improve.Stepping in to the role of underdog at WagerWeb.com is Blake Lewis at +250 odds. Lewis has survived the Idol cut a few times now by blaring out his original takes on classic songs, often infusing them with his beat-box stylings.
Lewis was an underdog to even make the final two, but somehow squeezed through. A runner-up finish would be disappointing for many of his fans, although it hasn't been detrimental to the careers of Clay Aiken and Katharine McPhee.

In a somewhat surprising result, Melinda Doolittle was dropped last week despite many observers considering her to be the best singer left in the competition. As past Idol seasons have shown the best singer doesn't always wear the crown, but Doolittle's career is likely only beginning.

The American Idol performances air Tuesday night on Fox, followed by the season finale results show on Wednesday night, when the next American Idol will be named.

About WagerWeb
WagerWeb.com founded in 1997, is a privately held, offshore online gaming company, fully licensed and located in San Jose, Costa Rica. With almost 10 years of experience, innovation and gaming technology, Wagerweb.com features a sportsbook, a racebook and casino and has accepted more than 50,000,000 wagers since the company's launch.

ATP Masters Series - 2007 Hamburg Masters

2007-05-20T10:48:00.000-07:00

Rafael Nadal will attempt to keep adding his name to the tennis record books this weekend at the 2007 Hamburg Masters tennis championship in Germany.

The clay-court wizard advanced to the quarterfinals of the ATP Masters Series event on Thursday with an easy 6-4, 6-1 victory over Russian Igor Andreev. The win extended Nadal's clay-court winning streak to 79 matches and gave him a little revenge on Andreev, who just happened to he the last tennis player to defeat Nadal on clay.

If Rafael Nadal can claim the title in Hamburg he will become the first player ever to win all three clay-court Masters Series events in the same season, having already won titles in Monte Carlo and Rome earlier this year. To do that Nadal will have to get through Fernando Gonzalez in the semis. Nadal defeated Gonzalez in the Masters Series Rome final earlier this month 6-2, 6-2, but has also lost to the Chilean three times in his career. One of those losses could be important because it took place on clay, but it was awhile ago back in 2003.

The other semifinal tennis match everyone will be keeping their eye on in the Hamburg Masters is between No. 1 seed Roger Federer and David Ferrer. Federer has been struggling with his tennis game lately, but he looked in control in his second-round match versus Juan Carlos Ferrero, which Federer won 6-2, 6-3. Federer has won this tournament three times in his career, including back-to-back titles in 2004 and 2005. A win on clay would help rebuild his confidence heading into the French Open after some uncharacteristically bad play from the Swiss Master recently.

Roger Federer lost to Filippo Volandri in the third round in Rome last week and is looking for his first tournament win in his last five events. That is his longest title drought since taking over the No. 1 ranking more than three years ago. A match versus Ferrer may be just what Federer needs to get back on track. In six career matches versus Ferrer, Federer is 6-0 and he hasn't lost a single set in any of them.

The other two quarterfinal matches include Novak Djokovic vs. Carlos Moya and Nicolas Almagro vs. Lleyton Hewitt. Nadal is expected to play the winner of Djokovic/Moya, while Federer would face the winner of Almagro/Hewitt. Of course that all hinges on them winning their own quarterfinal matches, but when it comes to those two tennis superstars that's almost a given.

Betting Odds on the Hamburg Masters available at WagerWeb

2007 UEFA Champions League Final-Liverpool vs. AC Milan

2007-05-17T00:21:00.000-07:00

The last time Liverpool and A.C. Milan squared off, the soccer world was blessed with one of the best matches ever played. Soccer fans will be hoping for an encore of that match when the two teams clash again on May 23 in the 2007 UEFA Champions League Final at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece.

This game is a rematch of the 2005 Champions League final, which Liverpool won on penalty kicks. That UEFA game is remembered by anyone who saw it because Liverpool staged an amazing comeback in the second half after falling behind 3-0. Liverpool scored three dramatic goals in a six-minute span and topped A.C. Milan 3-2 on penalties, with Smicer netting the game-winner.

A.C. Milan enters the rematch as a slight favorite after a mediocre season in the Italian Serie A. They finished in fourth place, 32 points back of first-place Inter Milan, due in part to a point deduction instituted because of match fixing. The player to watch for A.C. Milan is Kaka. The Brazilian striker scored 18 goals in 45 games this season and is the leading goal scorer in the UEFA Champions League with 10. Other dangerous players on A.C. Milan include striker Alberto Gilardino and Gennaro Gattuso, who is the leader of the team both on and off the field. Milan last won the Champions League back in 2003, when they defeated Juventus on penalty kicks after going scoreless in regulation and extra time.

Liverpool pulled off a big upset over Chelsea in the Champions League semis, which is exactly what they did two years ago when they won it all. Liverpool had a somewhat disappointing season in the English Premiership where they finished the season in third place, 21 points back of Manchester United. Liverpool?s top player this season has been the towering 6-foot-7 striker Peter Crouch, who scored 19 goals during the season including a team-high six in the Champions League. Steven Gerrard is also a scoring threat whenever he has the ball, while A.C. Milan will also be looking to stop Dirk Kuiyt and Xabi Alonso.

With no World Cup or Euro tournament this year, many soccer fans are calling this game the match of the season. If Liverpool and A.C. Milan can deliver even half the drama that the 2005 final presented, soccer fans and bettors alike should not be disappointed.

Bet on Soccer at WagerWeb.com.

0% Commission from April

2006-04-01T01:02:00.000-08:00

As of Saturday 1st April 2006 at 08:00 GMT Mansion will be allowing all members to buy completely for FREE at the Sports Exchange:

∙ Buyers pay 0% fees
∙ Sellers pay a small fee of only 1% of the gross win amount per bet

We're sure that you will enjoy betting for FREE, and that you make the most of our great odds across a wide range of sports.

Remember, the start of the Baseball season is just around the corner, plus we have an action packed weekend of Soccer; so now is a great time to get betting.

Visit Mansion.

THROW OUT DUKE AND SPORTINGBETUSA.COM WILL PAY YOU HUGE BUCKS IF YOU CORRECTLY PICK THIS YEAR’S CHAMPION!

2005-11-23T13:26:00.000-08:00

Optimism reigns supreme these days in this Midwest city as the Colts look to extend their record to a 11-0 with a victory tonight over the rugged Steelers of Pittsburgh. What many folks may not know is this is also the home to the 2006 NCAA Final Four Hoops Championship and SportingbetUSA is right now offering up odds on a plethora of NCAA schools chances to grab the big prize!

College Basketball handicapper Bob Acton of ultimatecapper.com is a huge fan of future’s bets, as he correctly picked the White Sox this past season when they were offered at 13-1. “While I acknowledge that Mike Kryzewski’s Blue Devils are talented with All Americans Redick, Williams and much more depth then last year, but by no means are they a lock”!

If not Duke then who should we turn to? Gonzaga made a huge statement this past week in the Maui Invitational when they beat Michigan State in triple overtime and made their last 27 free throws from the charity stripe. With four starters returning and quality depth on hand, this could be the year Gonzaga makes a significant tournament run. They have been the sentimental choice of many the past few years, but could never win the big one. “At 20-1 how can you ignore them asks Acton, with Morrison, Raivio, Batista and Knight, they can go toe to toe with Duke if they hook up”!

Kentucky is being offered at 15-1 and has a potent backcourt with Patrick Sparks and Rajon Rando. They also have three centers over seven feet tall with 7-2 freshman Jared Carter gives Kentucky three seven-footers (7-3 Shagari Alleyne and 7-0 Lukasz Obrzut).

Don’t you owe it to yourself to voice your opinion at the nation’s number one wagering site SportingbetUSA?

TCU IF FLYING UNDER THE RADAR!

2005-11-23T13:24:00.000-08:00

At 10-1 the Texas Christian Horn Frogs have accepted an invitation to play in the Houston Bowl and this team gets such little respect that USA Today did not even headline the news today. Today’s bowl announcements headlined Brigham Young whose record was 6-5 headed to the Las Vegas Bowl and I shake my head in disbelief that media is not giving TCU its props.

The one blemish in their record was an embarrassing loss in September to SMU but like all good teams they righted the ship and won 8 straight conference games. The Mountain West Conference is no slouch as teams like BYU, Utah, Colorado State and Air Force have all played major schools very tough over the years.

The Horned Frogs have a strong running game that is led by junior Robert Merrill and true freshman speedster Aaron Brown. TCU leads the MWC in scoring (33.7 ppg).

Their defense has forced 36 turnovers this season, including 24 pass interceptions. The Horned Frogs have a strong pass rush and are tied with New Mexico for the league lead with 36 quarterback sacks. Opposing teams have converted just 31.9 percent of their third-down opportunities against the Frogs.

WR/KR/PR Cory Rodgers — it will be interesting to see where the explosive 6-foot-1 junior ends up when the all-Mountain West squad is released on Dec. 5. Rodgers is arguably an MVP candidate after leading the league in kickoff returns (31.7 average, 2 TDs) and punt returns (13.4 average) while also catching 48 passes for 639 yards and four touchdowns.

QB Jeff Ballard stepped in for the injured Tye Gunn at quarterback was a perfect 7-0 as a starter.

Word has it that TCU will play either Missouri or Nebraska from the Big 12 and I am letting you know right here and right now that TCU is money in the bank on New Years Eve!

SOUTH FLORIDA HAD BETTER NOT FORGET ABOUT CONNECTICUT!

2005-11-22T11:05:00.000-08:00

I can guarantee you that I am one of just a few people in North America who is talking about a football game this weekend between South Florida and Connecticut that will take place up in the eastern part of the country.

South Florida for those of you who do not follow the Big East much these days has been a huge surprise and they were the ones who shocked the nation when they routed then undefeated Louisville early in the season. Just two weeks ago they travel to New Jersey to face a bowl eligible Rutgers team and scored 45 points!

If all goes according to plan this coming holiday weekend, West Virginia will knock off Pittsburgh in the Backyard Brawl and South Florida will knock off the Huskies. This scenario will then set up a December 3rd showdown in Tampa between the Mountaineers and the Bulls for the Big East title.

If you recall last year there was a lot of complaining going on in reference to the depleted Big East getting a BCS berth. This deal which guarantees a Big East team of playing in one of the four big bowl games, that nets the league in excess of $10 million, was signed when Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston College were still a part of the coalition.

The Pittsburgh Panthers were so bad last year that their coach Walt Harris was not offered his job back, but they were the best of the lot in a mediocre conference and thus got to spend Christmas in Arizona where they got crushed by Utah.

Now the cronies who make up the BCS committee are dreading the possibility of the South Florida Bulls playing in one of the big games, as the title sponsor will not be impressed with the television ratings this game will attract. They are praying that West Virginia gets in as their fans travel well and the Mountaineers are well known across the US.

The problem for South Florida you betting fans is that I can tell from newspaper reports I am reading that they are having a hard time focusing on their game this weekend. Teams that are not use to being in the role of a favorite have a hard time handling the feeling that comes with being expected to win. On the plus side though is that the Bulls have traveled east to both Syracuse and Rutgers and won easily, but the weather was cooperating. At Rutgers they had balmy November weather and at Syracuse they were indoors at the dome.

This weekend the conditions are stacked against South Florida as the weather while not freezing will be chilly. The Huskies seniors will be playing their final game in front of their home fans and with a win Connecticut has a shot at a bowl game. The Bulls also are talking too much about their possible title game against West Virginia in two weekends and that is also dangerous.

Not much is working at the moment for the UConn offense that is averaging only 13.5 points over its last four games. A healthy Matt Bonislawski will help, but the Huskies also need more production out of their running game if they're going to be able to compete with South Florida and Louisville. Connecticut's rushing attack ranks fourth in the Big East with 186.2 yards per game.

Injuries have eroded a unit that ranks second in the Big East and seventh in the nation in total defense. The Huskies, who were dominant against mediocre opposition earlier in the season, have struggled as the games have gotten tougher, giving up 28, 26, 45, and 24 points in their last four games.

Look for South Florida to sneak out of East Hartford with a victory, but grab the 8 ½ points being offered at SportingbetUSA!

KANSAS STATE WILL RISE AGAIN WITH LEAVITT!

2005-11-22T10:56:00.000-08:00

Schools like Texas, Oklahoma, Texas Tech and Colorado who have been top teams in the Big 12 the past few years, had better brace themselves for the return to prominence of the Kansas State Wildcats. With the recent announcement of the retirement of long time architect of the football program Bill Snyder, this will pave the way for a former assistant of Snyder’s to take over and that would mean South Florida coach Jim Leavitt.

Leavitt was at Kansas State for six seasons before heading to South Florida to build a football program in 1997. When Leavitt began the Bulls program he and his coaches had to work out of trailers, as there were no fancy facilities that are prevalent at top schools around the country.

Leavitt has done an amazing job at South Florida and could very well play in a BCS Bowl game as the Big East representative. According to reports, Leavitt (61-36 at the school) is the fourth-lowest paid coach at a BCS-conference school ($542,000). His buyout is only $50,000. The current deal expires after the 2009 season. Snyder will have direct input in selecting the new coach and is said to want a replacement with ties to Kansas State.

Leavitt qualifies. The former Missouri defensive back coached under Snyder from 1990-95, rising to co-defensive coordinator before leaving for South Florida. He has taken South Florida from its infancy in the late 1990s to the Big East this year.
The Bulls (6-3) need to beat UConn to possibly a set up and all-or-nothing game against West Virginia on Dec. 3. If the Mountaineers defeat Pittsburgh on Thursday, South Florida and West Virginia would meet in Tampa with the winner going to a BCS bowl, most likely the Sugar.

Leavitt has said in the past Kansas State would be one of the few jobs he would consider taking. He has much invested in South Florida where, until a couple of years ago, the football staff was working in trailers. The school now has a new $14 million athletic complex.

Some folks may have forgotten that Leavitt was wooed by Alabama before they hired Mike Price, who was then fired before coaching a game and the job was given to Mike Shula. South Florida fans should not be upset as Leavitt has done an unbelievable job in a state that is dominated by Miami, Florida State and Florida and he will rebuild the Wildcat program.

As for the fans in Manhattan, Kansas they should rejoice as they have already seen how quickly a program can turn around as when Snyder arrived this school had the worst football program in Division 1.

MICHIGAN STATE WILL BURST PATERNO’S BUBBLE!

2005-11-18T11:55:00.000-08:00

Isn't it ironic that I will wake up in Pennsylvania on Saturday morning take a breath of the cold cool air and then put on my Michigan State hat? Meanwhile over in East Lansing, Michigan the Penn State Nittany Lions of Pennsylvania will be heading to the stadium seeking a victory and a BCS bowl berth. In a year when there have been several twists and turns in college football, this weekend should provide a few more.

The No. 5 Lions (9-1, 6-1 Big Ten) travel to East Lansing looking to sew up the conference title when they take on the Spartans in the schools' regular season finale. A victory Saturday would be the latest step in Penn State's remarkable resurgence this season. After posting losing records four of the previous five years, the Lions are on the verge of their first conference crown since 1994.
Penn State finished 4-7 and 3-9 the last two years, but the turnaround has occurred in every facet of the Lions' game. They are one of three teams in the country that ranks in the top 25 in total offense and defense.

The Nittany Lions are allowing 297.1 yards per game defensively, second-best in the conference and 11th in the nation. In the win over Wisconsin, Tamba Hali had four of Penn State's nine sacks, and the Lions held Brian Calhoun to 38 yards rushing. Calhoun came in averaging 135.3 yards per game.

Hali leads the Big Ten with 11 sacks. Penn State quarterback Michael Robinson rushed for a career-high 125 yards against Wisconsin, while Tony Hunt rushed for a career-high 151 yards. A Penn State loss Saturday would cost the Lions the conference title.

If Penn State falls, Ohio State can clinch the title with a victory at Michigan, which would give the Buckeyes a better conference record than the Lions. A Wolverines win would create a three way tie atop the Big Ten, and Michigan would hold the tiebreaker with wins over Ohio State and Penn State.

Michigan State (5-5, 2-5) is just hoping for a positive end to a disappointing season after a 4-0 start had it ranked as high as 11th in the Top 25. The Spartans averaged 49 points in the first four games, but close losses to Michigan and then-No. 15 Ohio State began a stretch of five defeats in six games.

The Spartans are 9-1 against top 10 teams since 1997, including a 44-41 overtime win over then-No. 10 Notre Dame on Sept. 17. The Nittany Lions are 12-4 the week after byes since 1994. Michigan State leads the series 11-10-1, including 7-3 at East Lansing, but Penn State has won four of the last five meetings overall.

Michigan State wins 20-17!

THE NUMBERS DON’T LIE!

2005-11-18T11:52:00.000-08:00

The sixth-ranked Virginia Tech Hokies (8-1, 5-1) saw their unbeaten season come to a resounding end with a 27-7 home loss to No. 3 Miami on Nov. 5. Quarterback Marcus Vick had the worst game of his career, going 8-for-22 for 90 yards. Vick was also intercepted twice and lost four fumbles, including one late in the third quarter that was recovered in the end zone by the Hurricanes and effectively ended any chance the Hokies had for a win. Virginia Tech is tied with Miami for first place in the Coastal Division, but will need to win its final two games and have the Hurricanes lose one of their remaining two contests to reach the ACC championship game.

Virginia (6-3, 3-3) is bowl eligible for the fourth straight year following its 27-17 victory over then 24th ranked Georgia Tech last Saturday. The Cavaliers, playing without two suspended defensive starters and four players overall, squandered a 17-0 lead but had consecutive scoring drives in the third and fourth quarters to come away with the win. The Hokies have won five of the last six games between these teams to open a 44-37-5 lead in the series that dates to 1895. They took back the Commonwealth Cup last year with a 24-10 victory as Vick's predecessor, Bryan Randall, threw two second-half touchdown passes.

Texas Tech fell into third place in the South after a surprising 24-17 loss Saturday to Oklahoma State. The vaunted offense of the Red Raiders was ineffective, scoring just 10 points. They failed to convert any of their 10 third-down attempts, and tailback Taurean Henderson had minus-6 yards rushing. Adrian Peterson rushed for 135 yards and two touchdowns to help the Sooners to a 36-30 win Saturday over Texas A&M and extend their winning streak to four. Peterson had seven carries for 47 yards on the game-clinching touchdown drive, part of a 509-yard effort by Oklahoma's offense. Peterson, who finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting as a freshman last year but struggled with injuries this season, has rushed for 281 yards and four TDs his last two games. Oklahoma has averaged 30.8 points and 406.5 yards during its winning streak.

The Red Raiders have been held to their two lowest point totals on the road. At Lubbock, they are 6-0 and averaging 57.3 points. Texas Tech, which needs wins in this game and its bowl game for the first the team's first 10-win season since 1976, has finished undefeated at home nine times in school history, most recently in 1995. Oklahoma has won the last five games between the teams and leads the all-time series 10-2. Peterson rushed for 146 yards and a TD in his first collegiate start last year in a 28-13 Sooners victory.

Auburn celebrated a stunning victory over Georgia last week and a win against archrival Alabama at home Saturday can clinch a share of the SEC West title for the Tigers.

Unfortunately, beating the hated Crimson Tide won't be enough to guarantee Auburn a return trip to the conference title game. The No. 11 Tigers (8-2, 6-1) face an eighth-ranked Tide squad (9-1, 6-1) struggling to score points in the 70th edition of the Iron Bowl at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Auburn's late-season surge continued last week, as the Tigers upset then-No. 9 Georgia 31-30 at Athens. The wild game came down to another crazy play, as Devin Aromashodu went 62 yards with a fourth-down pass to set up John Vaughn's 20-yard field goal with 6 seconds left.

The victory in the 109th chapter of the SEC's oldest rivalry was Auburn's third straight win overall. The Tigers' dreams of a berth in the SEC title game, though, took a major blow before the kickoff -- courtesy of Alabama. Despite losing star quarterback Jason Campbell and tailbacks Carnell Williams and Ronnie Brown, who powered the team to a 13-0 mark last season, to the NFL, the Tigers rank first in scoring and total offense in the SEC. They're second in rushing and fourth in passing, likely a product of a veteran offensive line that includes three juniors and two seniors starting.

Auburn is looking for its fourth straight win against Alabama and leads the series 38-30-1, including 5-2 at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

WEEKEND PREVIEW!

2005-11-18T11:51:00.000-08:00

Rivalry weekend in college football will be just part of a fantastic weekend of college football, as we get set for Thanksgiving week. The battle for supremacy in Alabama, widely considered the greatest battle in NCAA has Auburn and Alabama hooking up. Meanwhile there are a slew of other big tilts. Michigan will host Ohio State in a Big Ten classic and the Civil War takes place in Eugene, Oregon when the Ducks and Beavers clash.

NCAA hoops action is with us as well as there has already been one upset as 19th ranked Wake Forest was dumped Thursday night by Florida. The top ranked Blue Devils of Duke host Davidson this weekend, while number four Michigan State visits Hawaii.

All kinds of teams are streaking in the NBA including the Philadelphia 76ers who have ripped off six victories in a row. The Pistons are even hotter as they have rolled to seven straight, while King James has the Cavaliers right on their heels with 5 straight wins. Out west Dallas has won four and Memphis three but they still are looking up at division leader and NBA defending champion San Antonio, who is 7-2!

We predicted long ago that Super Bowl losing teams always fall the next season and Philadelphia is right on cue with their rapid decent. Word now is doctors have informed McNabb to have season ending surgery, but he is stubborn so look for him to try a ill fated comeback. Not this weekend however as the Eagles will start third string pivot Mike McMahon.

Chad Johnson is shooting his mouth off and suggesting the Colts will not stop him! Good luck as Indy will roll.

It started nine months ago in Daytona and this weekend the Chase will end in South Florida at Homestead when Tony Stewart grabs the Nextel Cup. He would basically have to crash to lose the title. Remember his owner is Redskins coach Joe Gibbs. Is that a good omen Washington fans?

COSTLY TO AND WE DON’T MEAN OWENS BURIES EAGLES!

2005-11-16T12:14:00.000-08:00

I wrote yesterday how four quarterbacks on Sunday all had super statistics, including passing yardage over three hundred yards, yet their teams still lost the game. At the same time I added that being a great quarterback in the NFL is not about these gaudy numbers, but rather about managing the clock and avoiding the costly turnover.

Last night in the City of Brotherly Love the Eagles had an opportunity to get themselves right back in the NFC East race and what was needed was one first down with three minutes to go to seal the deal. The Eagles have struggled all year with the lack of a running game, but last night they did a good job on the ground with Westbrook gaining 86 yards.

I have been saying for weeks that McNabb more so then the Owens is the problem with Philly and I would suggest he is being selfish by playing with a bad groin, instead of getting it repaired. Well this morning there are thousands of Eagles fans crying in their Fruit Loops as Donnavan forgot how to manage a game. There is no excuse and I don’t want to hear the BS about how he is a warrior and all that other verbiage.

On the flip side while I was watching the game last night I noticed that Cowboys coach Bill Parcells was far less vocal and animated then normal and he had the look of a father, who realizes their child is at that age where he will not listen and is going to have to learn the hard way.

What I and the rest of the audience found out was that Parcells had to drive 90 miles down the highway to New Jersey at 7:00 am to bury his brother Don who died of brain cancer last week at the age of 62. Maybe Parcells was doing what we all do when faced with a death in the family and that is we reflect and prioritize the things in our life.

I have been ranting and raving on the this web site about peaks and valleys, ebbs and flow the past few years and last nights game was a perfect example of what I have been talking about. Parcells on one hand deals with the lows of the passing of his brother and the pain he had to endure. Then while he is coaching he feels just a little more beat up as his team is about to lose a pivotal game to the Eagles. Not the end of the world, but still a loss and then everything changes in the blink of an eye.

An ill fated pass into the flat by McNabb is gobbled up by safety Roy Williams and returned for the winning score and for a moment Parcells anguish is turned into euphoria, while the Eagles go from the penthouse to the outhouse.

Sorry about that Eagle bettors!

GIVE ME A MILLER LITE AND A SHOT OF CROWN ROYAL AND THEN I’LL DRIVE HOME!

2005-11-16T12:11:00.000-08:00

You know every time I watch a NASCAR race and see these cars flying around the track with Miller Lite and Crown Royal emblazoned on them, I think of the words oxy moron! I mean what is the message here and what are these multi million dollar companies hoping to achieve?

NASCAR is such a fascinating business but is it part sport or part WWE as I have alluded to in the past? This past weekend, defending Nextel Cup champion Kurt Busch was pulled over or shall we say forced off the road by an Arizona police officer. Apparently the deputy observed Busch's Ford cross a double-yellow no-passing line while also speeding at 60 mph in a 45-mph zone. The deputy lit up his emergency lights and wailed his siren in an attempt to pull Busch over.

But Busch didn't pull over initially even running a stop sign along the way. What followed according to the police report was Busch telling the officer that he was Kurt Busch and what’s the problem. The officer obviously wasn’t a NASCAR fan and after smelling alcohol and dealing with an uncooperative Busch, called for assistance.

Busch reportedly refused field sobriety tests but did relent when asked to submit to a portable breath test of which the results are not admissible in court, according to Lt. Paul Chagolla. The result of that test "confirmed a presence of alcohol" on Busch's breath, Chagolla said.

"With his driving behavior and the deputy's observations, including the smell of alcohol, Mr. Busch was taken into custody on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol," Chagolla said.

Then Busch received arguably the biggest break of the season – and again, it didn't happen on the racing surface. After being brought back to a portable DUI command post located at PIR, the Breathalyzer machine inexplicably failed.

Because Arizona law gives an arresting officer a limited amount of time to obtain an official result, and it would have taken too long to transport him to another testing facility, a very lucky Busch skirted a potentially very serious DUI charge – that is, if his blood alcohol level exceeded the state's legal limit.

As a result, the officer cited Busch with reckless driving, in essence a catch-all for all the infractions the deputy observed and Busch has a Dec. 22 court appearance in nearby Tolleson, Ariz.

Here is where I have a problem! When an athlete like Kobe Bryant runs afoul of the law, he may loose his endorsement contracts, but he still has his $10-$20 million annual salary to fall back on. NASCAR drivers make their money through the sponsorship deals and the logos that are plastered all over their racing suit and car. If you have no sponsors you cannot play in the game.

I am surprised that the powers to be who decide where the advertising dollars for Miller Lite and Crown Royal are spent, would risk having their image tarnished by this volatile driver. The guy is a stick of dynamite ready to explode and the last thing these companies want is the perception that it is okay to drink and drive.
The writing has been on the road for a while regarding Busch’s inappropriate behavior and instead of giving Busch millions of dollars, why don’t these companies offer the consumers cheaper booze prices if they want to develop brand loyalty?
The defending Nextel Cup champion ran afoul of NASCAR officials at Darlington in May, first by cussing at race officials over his team's radio, then by throwing a water bottle at them while on pit road. Busch was repentant and apologetic afterward, but only after being chastised in a post race meeting with sanctioning body president Mike Helton.

Busch was spun out by Jeff Gordon during the spring race at Martinsville. After repairs to his car, Busch came back on the track and promptly retaliated by intentionally banging into Gordon – but the No. 24 was no worse for the wear as Gordon went on to win the race.

The sport of NASCAR is big time business, but suspending Busch for the final two races of the year, is certainly not determent!

VERY IMPORTANT NEWS & NOTES FROM COLLEGE BASKETBALL!

2005-11-16T12:08:00.000-08:00

Fasten your seatbelts folks as the wild and wonderful ride known as college basketball is just getting revved up. There will be highs and lows as we sort out the numerous conferences and finally get things whittled down to the Final 64 teams. March Madness will be a wacky as ever and then we will wrap thing s up at the RCA dome on the first weekend in April.

Villanova was to return four starters to Jay Wright’s team but forward Curtis Sumpter had surgery Tuesday to repair a ligament in his left knee that he tore last month in practice.

Sumpter, a second-team All-Big East selection last season, tore his ACL on Oct. 19 and will be sidelined indefinitely. It was the second time in seven months Sumpter had surgery to repair the same torn ACL.

His injury is a serious blow to the fifth-ranked Wildcats, who have serious Final Four aspirations. Sumpter finished third on the team in scoring with a 15.3 average. Besides being Villanova's only legitimate presence in the post, Sumpter's versatile enough to swing out and play well from the perimeter, shooting 43 percent from 3-point range (39-for-90) last season.

High-scoring Purdue guard David Teague will miss the season with a torn ligament in his left knee. The 6-foot-5 player, who averaged 14 points and 5.5 rebounds last season for the Boilermakers, will be eligible to return as a fifth-year senior in 2006-07, the team said Wednesday.

Teague was hurt at practice Monday and the extent of the injury was determined by a specialist in Indianapolis on Tuesday, coach Matt Painter said. The Boilermakers open the season Saturday night at home against Wofford.

Ohio State point guard Jamar Butler and backup center Matt Terwilliger were suspended for the Nov. 20 opener against Chicago State for playing in a charity three-on-three tournament last spring near their hometowns.

They took part at an event at a YMCA in Kenton, violating an NCAA rule limiting organized competitions in which players can compete outside their college season.
Butler started the final 12 games last season. Terwilliger will back up center Terence Dials for the second straight year.

Butler and Terwilliger will be eligible to return Nov. 22 against Butler.

Be careful playing the Hoosiers early in the season as injuries to A.J. Ratliff and D.J. White will leave a very thin bench for coach Mike Davis.

Miami point guard Anthony Harris will miss three to six weeks with a hairline fracture of his right foot. He'll be sidelined for at least five games, but could be back in time for the Hurricanes to open their Atlantic Coast Conference season at North Carolina State on Dec. 19.

Harris started 28 of Miami's 29 games last season, averaging 12.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and a team-best 4.6 assists. He ranked fifth in the ACC in assists, and was eighth in assist-to-turnover ratio.

THE JETS WILL BE GROUNDED IN DENVER!

2005-11-16T12:04:00.000-08:00

Needless to say my predicting that the Denver Broncos will triumph over the hapless New York Jets is not going to go down in the annals of football handicapping as one of the greatest prognostications in the last decade.

No I think most of America will be on the Broncos this weekend even if they are laying a hefty 13-14 points to Herm Edwards’s troops. On the flip side the only reason for backing the Jets would be that Denver is coming off an emotional division road game against the hated Raiders and will be looking ahead to a Thanksgiving Day tilt with Dallas.

My reasons for writing off the Jets are not like the majority of handicappers who will point to their woeful quarterback problems, but rather the crippled offensive line. The Jets had arguably the best center in the business in Kevin Mawae but he went down with a torn triceps muscle and he was their undisputable leader. In their loss at Carolina this past weekend, the news went from bad to worse as another all pro lineman Jason Fabini went down with a torn pectoral muscle.

Two of their other linemen Pete Kendall and Brandon Moore are hobbled and they have other ailments at running back and wide receiver. I would look for the Broncos to sizzle in the first half and then call off the dogs and rest up for their Thanksgiving Day feast in Texas.

Another team who is going to go in the tank in the second half of the season is the Patriots. New England may have all kinds of injuries in the defensive backfield, but they have been able to outscore teams with their passing attack. This is all going to come to a sudden halt in the next few weeks however! Injuries on the offensive line are beginning to happen at a rapid pace and the latest one this past Sunday is a critical one.

The injury to Koppen is a major blow for the offensive line, which has been missing starting left tackle Matt Light since a September 25 win at Pittsburgh due to a broken leg. Koppen broke his left arm late in the third quarter of last Sunday's 23-16 win at Miami. He had started the last 46 games, including playoffs, the longest streak on the team other than quarterback Tom Brady (79).

The Patriots signed Gene Mruczkowski, who can play guard or center, to replace Koppen on the roster. Russ Hochstein, the top backup guard, will slide over to center. This is Mruczkowski's third tour of duty with the Patriots. He spent the 2003 season rehabbing a knee injury with the team, then played in 13 games last season as a reserve. Mruczkowski was released in training camp, re-signed after Light was injured and released again on October 8.

You can talk all you want about the importance of a great quarterback to a team, but the offense begins with the snap of the ball and unless the QB can remain consistently in a vertical position, a team will have trouble scoring.
Look for Tom Brady to struggle in the second half of the season and let’s hope for his sake, that he does not get beaten up!

Take the Broncos and the Saints this week to cover!

NBA NEWS AND NOTES!

2005-11-14T10:28:00.000-08:00

Denver Nuggets finally showed the signs that made me suggest that they will be a sleeper team in the West this year. I look for them to be much better on the road at Dallas this week, as they seek their first road win. Coach Karl shuffled the lineup on Sunday putting DerMarr Johnson in the starting lineup in place of Voshon Lenard, hoping to restore some movement in an offense that had become stagnant during the team's 2-4 start and maybe improve on Denver's league-worst, 16-percent accuracy from 3-point range. All that worked. Johnson made two of Denver's seven 3-pointers to bring the team total to 19 this season. And with Anthony's outside shot working, the Nuggets moved the ball well and shot 48 percent.
It took six games for Larry Brown to notch his first win as a Knicks coach and they did so on the road at Sacramental. Brown has a reputation for playing older players but it was rookie Channing Frye who led the charge. Frye had 13 points in the first half, and Jamal Crawford and Eddy Curry later added 16 points apiece as New York never trailed while snapping an eight-game losing streak in Sacramento. Brown's club won by making 54 percent of its shots -- and finding an opponent with even worse late-game execution. The Knicks wasted second-half leads in both of their last two games, and blew most of a 19-point lead in Sacramento, but hung on when the Kings couldn't capitalize on several chances to rally. New York hadn't won in Sacramento since Feb. 20, 1997!
If you’re raising young kids these days and are a basketball fan, I wouldn’t expect your kids to know much about Michael Jordan, as LeBron James is the new sheriff in town. James became the youngest player in NBA history to reach 4,000 career points and finished with 26 to help the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Orlando Magic 108-100 in overtime on Sunday night. James (20 years, 318 days) entered the game needing 10 points to pass Kobe Bryant (21 years, 216 days). After scoring on a jumper, two driving layups and a dunk, James reached the milestone on a 21-footer with 58.7 seconds left in the first quarter.
Raef LaFrentz is a former first round draft pick of Denver out of Kansas, who has needless to say not set the NBA on fire with his play the past seven years. Maybe he is turning the corner with Boston as he was 7-for-7 from 3-point range in the first half and scored 27 of his 32 points in the opening 24 minutes to lead the Boston Celtics to a 102-82 win over the Houston Rockets on Sunday night.
LaFrentz, who had his 2003-04 season cut short following right knee surgery in December 2003, matched his career high for points, added eight rebounds and finished 7-for-9 on 3-point attempts. LaFrentz, averaging just 9.2 points per game, connected on four 3-pointers in the opening 9:16 that helped Boston open a 24-12 lead. He hit three 3-pointers in the final 3:35 of the second quarter that gave the Celtics a 55-44 lead at the half.
Allen Iverson had 28 points and 10 assists, and Nailon added 21 points to help the 76ers win their fourth straight game, 113-108 over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night. Nailon was a pleasant surprise off the bench for the Sixers. He hadn't scored more than eight points in a game this season and failed to provide the offensive punch that was expected. He took a nice mix of shots from mid-range to under the basket -- including a strong dunk off an Iverson miss -- and made up for an ineffective Chris Webber (13 points, 4-for-17 shooting).
San Antonio got waxed in Washington and Tim Duncan was brutal and nothing was going in for him on a 3-for-18 night, right down to putbacks with the ball near the rim. Everything was going in for Gilbert Arenas on a 43-point night, right down to a 30-foot heave off the glass at the third-quarter. Arenas made 11 of his first 12 shots and finished 15-for-20, ending up one point shy of his career high buzzer.
The Wizards entered the game leading the NBA in opponent's field-goal percentage, at 39 percent. The Spurs made 41 percent from the field. ... Spurs G Michael Finley missed his third straight game with a groin injury. Finley and Brent Barry (low back sprain) could return Tuesday against Atlanta.
The Raptors and Hawks remain the only winless teams as they are both 0-6!

CAN YOU SAY DOG DAY AFTERNOON?

2005-11-14T10:23:00.000-08:00

Needless to say John Q Public took a beating yesterday as a whack of over priced NFL teams soaked up a lot of cash with their failure to cover some significant point spreads.
In Atlanta the Packers stunned the 6-3 Falcons behind a fifth string Nigerian born back in Samkon Gado. The Nigerian-born Gado started only two games in college at Division I-AA Liberty, where he was a premed major and planned to become a doctor. His medical career is on hold while he plays for the Packers, who promoted him from the practice squad two weeks ago as the losses piled up for the storied franchise.
For one week at least, Gado helped Green Bay (2-7) look like the Pack of old. He rushed for 103 yards on 25 carries, and even a pair of fumbles didn't hurt -- teammates fell on the ball both times. Needless to say the cheeesehead fans who love backing Brett Farve at +9 points, are counting their cabbage this morning.
Over in Indianapolis the Colts sleptwalked through a 14-point win, but failed to cover a spread that hit -20 in some quarters. The Colts took advantage of two huge special teams blunders by the home squad and then watched Peyton Manning take the knee deep in the Houston end of the field, to pass up an easy cover.
The dysfunctional Vikings won for the first time on the road this season against a Giants team that was beginning to fall in love with themselves. After Peyton Manning beat the Patriots soundly last Monday, the talk began about the possibility of a all Manning Super Bowl in Detroit. The Vikings became the first team in NFL history to return a punt, kickoff and interception for touchdowns, then their offense came to life long enough to set up kicker Paul Edinger's 48-yard field goal with 10 seconds left in a 24-21 win over the New York Giants.
Safety Darren Sharper had three interceptions for the Vikings, including one he returned for a 92-yard touchdown in the second quarter. On special teams, Koren Robinson returned the second-half kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown and teammate Mewelde Moore ran a punt back 71 yards for a score later in the quarter.
The Vikings also confused Giants quarterback Eli Manning all afternoon with shifting coverage’s, and the second-year quarterback finished 23-of-48 for 291 yards and four interceptions.
Almost all the gambling house bosses in Vegas are ecstatic this morning with the cover by the forty niners in Chicago. It was impossible for bettors to play San Francisco, so if you had to play the game you had to back the Bears. Chicago’s offense would have trouble hanging up 20 points against USC let alone a professional defense.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers ruined the day for backers of the Redskins with a come from behind one point victory at Tampa. Most bettors got caught up in this sudden love affair with average quarterback Mark Brunell and watched the Bucs steal a win.
Remember what looks like a sure thing on paper, never pans out!

CALDER RACE COURSE (WALKING AWAY FROM RACING IS ON JERRY BAILEY’S MIND!)

2005-11-12T10:43:00.000-08:00

Many observers of the horse racing game are convinced that Jerry Bailey’s win aboard Breeders Cup Classic winner Saint Liam will be his last Breeders Cup appearance of his career. At the ripe old age of 48 and with a ton of cash in his pocket Mr. Bailey wants to make sure that he leaves the game on his terms and that would be walking away, rather then get carried away in an ambulance.

While some folks have the gull to question whether jockeys are athletes, I consider them pound for pound the strongest and most courageous athletes in all of sport. Most of these guys weigh in the range of a buck twenty and they must maneuver a 2,000 pound animal around and between several other horses, in the tightest of quarters.

The win aboard Saint Liam makes 15 Breeders' Cup wins for Bailey, most ever. That makes five Classic wins for Bailey, and that ties Chris McCarron for most wins in the richest race in North America. Yet he has been talking very seriously about retiring, possibly within a few weeks.

Bailey values the fact that, at least so far, he has come through this very dangerous business in one piece. He's made a ton of money, has won everything there is to win at least twice, is in the Hall of Fame and is widely recognized as the greatest jockey of his era. Maybe it's time to get out while he's still in one piece.
"This is a little different situation than athletes in other sports," Bailey said earlier this week. "Roger Clemens has every reason to believe he will walk home at the end of every game. I don't have that same chance of walking away from the racetrack every day. You have to factor in the possibility of the horrific happening. I have to weigh that versus my desire to ride and compete. I still love to compete, but I have to factor in the risk and injury factor. I also have to factor in that I have a son (Justin) who is rapidly running through his time with me."

While we await word on his decision, Bailey still has some competing to do and he is named to ride in seven of the eight stakes, including 4-year-old Summer Book in the $200,000 Carl Rose Classic, which attracted a field of 10 3-year-olds and up set to go 1 1/8 miles.

A roan/gray colt by Notebook, Summer Book makes his stakes race debut for trainer Niall O’Callaghan after a stunning 8 ¼ lengths score in a ‘three other than’ allowance at Keeneland last out on Oct. 7.

Palladio is a 3-year-old colt by Lycius trained by Roger Attfield with regular rider Richard Dos Ramos coming along for the ride from Woodbine. Palladio has won four of eight starts this season, including the Ohio Derby (G2) at Thistledown in early July and the Ontario Derby last out at Woodbine on Oct. 9.

The two invaders face a formidable home team of runners in the Carl Rose, led by Bea Oxenberg and Laurie Plesa’s 3-year-old B.B. Best and Rodney Lundock’s 5-year-old Supervisor. The latter posted an 11-to-1 upset over B.B. Best, winning the Spend a Buck Handicap (G3) here on Oct. 15, Festival of the Sun day, by a neck.

There will be a total of eight stakes races this Saturday at Calder in what is billed as the Florida Million with $1.2 million in purse money up from grabs.

Afleet Alex is done running on the track in 2005. But his connections say they believe he remains in the running for Horse of the Year honors.

Trainer Tim Ritchey said Saturday that Afleet Alex's fractured left ankle still has not healed sufficiently to make the Grade 1 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct on Nov. 26, thus he and the owners, the Cash Is King Stable, have decided not to run the Preakness and Belmont Stakes winner again this year. Afleet Alex will get 30 days off and will shortly be shipped to Gulfstream Park to prepare for a 4-year-old campaign.

"The last set of X-rays were better than the set before, but still not 100 percent and he would have to be 100 percent to get to the Cigar Mile," said Ritchey, who vanned Afleet Alex from Belmont Park to Delaware Park last Thursday. "As late as it is in the year we decided to stop on him and we will look forward to a 4-year-old season.''

Ritchey said he would try to get Afleet Alex ready for the $1 million Sunshine Millions Classic, scheduled for Jan. 28 at Santa Anita. If Afleet Alex needs more time, there is the $500,000 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream on Feb. 4.

Afleet Alex was injured while training at Belmont Park in late July and underwent surgery on July 27 to have a screw inserted into his left ankle. Afleet Alex resumed training in September and had two strong workouts on Sept. 30 and Oct. 7 in hopes of making it to the Breeders' Cup. That plan was scrapped when a set of X-rays taken after the second work revealed the fracture had not totally healed.

Ritchey said he would like to have a six or seven-race campaign with Afleet Alex next year that culminates in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Ritchey also said he would like to run Afleet Alex on the turf.

By virtue of his wins in the Preakness -- in which he collided with Scrappy T at the head of the stretch -- Belmont Stakes, and Arkansas Derby, Afleet Alex is a virtual certainty to be voted champion 3-year-old. But Ritchey said he feels Afleet Alex deserves strong consideration for Horse of the Year as well. One of his points is that Afleet Alex twice whipped Flower Alley while Saint Liam -- the leading contender for Horse of the Year -- beat Flower Alley by only one length in the Breeders' Cup Classic."To me, Horse of the Year should be the most dominant performance by a horse in a year," Ritchey said. "[Afleet Alex] equaled a stakes record first time out going three-quarters, came back and won the Arkansas Derby by a record nine lengths, came back with his circus act in the Preakness, which was probably the race of the year, and then won the Belmont finishing [the last quarter] faster than any horse since Arts and Letters in 1969."

THE CHASE IN PHOENIX HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEKEND!

2005-11-12T10:38:00.000-08:00

This is nitty-gritty time in NASCAR as the boys have arrived in the Valley of the Sun. The Chase for all intents and purposes is down to three drivers Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson and Carl Edwards, but a host of other drivers, would like nothing more then to muddle the picture even further.

Several times this year I have compared NASCAR to Vince McMann’s WWE operation, as the antics of the drivers and pit crew members, almost look theatrical at times. Taking this all into account, there are several drivers who carry grudges on the track and with no hope at a championship, they may be in the mood for some shenanigans.

Is Phoenix the payback track for a lot of drivers? With Kurt Busch, Rusty Wallace, Ricky Rudd, Jamie McMurray, Bobby Labonte, Ken Schrader and Michael Waltrip among those who will be making their swan song starts with their respective teams in the next two races, could Phoenix be a race that boils down to getting even rather than worrying about getting points?

The NFL turns the corner at the halfway mark and there are an incredible amount of dogs on the road this week. Indy is favored by almost three touchdowns at home to Houston, Chicago who has a hard time scoring points is favored by almost two touchdowns in the Windy City over San Francisco.

The huge lines don’t stop there as Atlanta -9.5 welcomes struggling Brett Farve and the Pack, and the Giants, Pittsburgh and Seattle are a touchdown or more at home as well. It will be interesting to see how the Eagles respond to the banishing of TO as they welcome the Cowboys who thrashed Philly in their only meeting this year.

What most fans and bettors don’t realize because the Owens affair has overshadowed everything else is the Eagles crushing loss of all pro center Hank Fraley. For the past seven seasons he and McNabb would get together every Thursday and go over the protection packages. Now the important center spot is in the hands of second year man Trey Darilek and he will get schooled by Cowboys veteran lineman Leroy Glover.

THE AFC EAST IS A CRAPSHOOT!

2005-11-12T10:34:00.000-08:00

Don’t look know but the sudden demise of the New England Patriots has opened up things considerably when pertaining to the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference. Thing could get really wacky after the results of Sunday’s games become official as the Patriots travel to South Florida, while the Bills host the Kansas City Chiefs.

New England as predicted by yours truly was exposed this past Monday by a vastly superior Colts team and now must tangle with an east rival in Miami. The Dolphins have been better as expected under disciplinarian Nick Saban and own impressive wins over Denver and Carolina at home and the combined record of teams played is 30-27 so it has been a reasonably tough schedule.

If you’re the type of better who likes to play good game and bad game theory, then New England is the play this week as their 4-4 record, reveals a pattern of win,loss,win,loss,win,loss,win,loss. I am not going to be hooked into that rationale and there’s a good case to be made for betting the Dolphins. The Patriots are beyond the point of bad defensively and while I like the guy, Teddy Bruschi looks like a high school player out there.

Say all you want about Bill Bellichick’s surly personality, but there is no way that he will bench the popular player who has fought back from a stroke and been instrumental in the three Patriot’s championships. Don’t kid yourself in thinking Mr. Bill hasn’t thought about it, but he isn’t going there.

I had a chance to notice Tom Brady’s reaction to adversity on the sidelines during the Colt’s game and it was not pretty. He looked like a spoiled kid who wasn’t getting what he wanted. Face the facts Tom, banged up offensive line, limping running backs and no defense. What do you expect?

As for Kansas City they head east for a visit to windy Buffalo and a date with the Bills, minus Priest Holmes. The valuable running back is gone for the year and this gives the clamoring Larry Johnson his chance at stardom. KC has a huge offensive line that can push the Bills all over the field, but this stadium is a graveyard for quarterbacks visiting for the first time. Kansas City has not visited Buffalo since 1997 and Trent Green is in for a rude awakening.

I have to take the Dolphins at home getting points and the Bills/Chiefs under 42!

WEEKEND IN REVIEW!

2005-11-07T10:34:00.000-08:00

Larry Brown’s act in New York has been anything but a smashing success as the Knicks are off to am 0-3 start, while the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angles Clippers and Washington Wizards are flying with 3-0 marks. The injury bug has reared its ugly head just days into the beginning of the season as two superstars are on the shelf.
The Shaq has ankle issues and this will lead to weight gain and possibly ineffective play for the Heat, while McGrady is dealing with back spasms, which never completely go away.
With two races remaining in the "Chase for the Nextel Cup," the field of legitimate contenders has become much narrower. Tony Stewart, whose sixth-place finish in Sunday's Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway marked his 18th top-10 in the last 20 events, has been the standings front-runner virtually throughout the "Chase." He has a 38-point lead over Jimmie Johnson, who gained five points on the 2002 series champion by running fifth here.
By winning his second straight race, Carl Edwards improved a spot to third and enters the final two races at Phoenix International Raceway and Homestead-Miami Speedway just 77 points off the pace. Following multiple spins by Greg Biffle, who entered third in the standings but finished 20th to fall to 122 points back in fourth, Stewart, Johnson and Edwards are the only drivers with realistic title hopes.
My oh my has the landscape ever changed on the college front as a Hurricane as in the Miami Hurricanes, has unleashed its ferocious attack. Heading into Saturdays tilt with the over hyped Hokies of Virginia Tech, Miami was lightly regarded and in most circles a 7-point dog. They dispatched Marcus Vick and company with ease and now have leapfrogged undefeated Alabama and are ranked third behind USC and Texas. Counterfeit is the word best used to describe previously unbeaten UCLA who were waxed at Arizona.
The Eagle has been shot down in Philly and the “Pack is definitely no Back” in Green Bay. While the Eagles scratched and clawed in their fight Sunday Night in the nation’s capital in Washington, their execution in the final two minutes was embarrassing. Meanwhile Green Bay was losing again this time to Pittsburgh and Brett Farve must be contemplating retirement. Barring a trade, he will not be winning many games, anytime soon.
What’s up with Tampa Bay?
After years of bouncing between Q-school and mini-tours, after rotator cuff surgery and operations on both elbows, after being told by one doctor that it was time to find another line of work, the 42-year-old Bart Bryant is experiencing a life he never dreamed possible. During a Sunday afternoon stroll at East Lake, he finished off a six-stroke victory over the world's greatest golfer and left the rest of the elite field even further behind.
Not bad for a player who once set the goal of being a consistent top-100 finisher on the PGA Tour, who still goes with an old-fashioned mustache in this era of goatees and soul patches, whose Joe Average physique and Everyman demeanor seems as suited to hold a wrench as a golf club.
The $1.17 million check was more money than Bryant earned his first 18 years on the PGA and Nationwide tours. After never finishing higher than 80th on the money list, he won more than $3.2 million this year to place ninth.

THANK THE LORD FOR OREGON AND TCU, AS ARKANSAS BURNS CASH!

2005-11-07T10:33:00.000-08:00

The Wild and wacky world of college football reared it’s ugly head for numerous football bettors I assume yesterday, so I feel fortunate that I survived the day with my shirt intact. One of my strongest plays in many years was the 2-5 Arkansas Razorbacks hosting the surprising Gamecocks of South Carolina and their always lovable coach Steve Spurrier.

SC was coming off an emotional road win at Tennessee last weekend and has Spurrier’s former school the Florida Gators on the docket next week. This was the proverbial sandwich game and I planned on taking full advantage of it. There were two freshmen quarterbacks starting at home yesterday in Casey Dick in Arkansas and Willie Tuitama and I was banking on both to have solid games.

This morning I am asking myself if I committed the cardinal sin and that is asking a bad football team to win for me. Arkansas had a ton of chances to blow the game open, but like most crappy teams they shot themselves in the foot time and time again. Remember you must always have a backup plan in place and as your mother once said, don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

The satisfying part of the day though was watching three teams that I wrote about prior to the season all play solid games and make my day while small a profitable one. TCU continues to play awesome football as they blew the Rams of Colorado State out of the water, while Oregon got by California in a key PAC 10 game.

I guess if you hang around at the party long enough you finally get the girl and this is in reference to Arizona who cost me some dollars early in the year, but have been money in the bank lately. The Wildcats just annihilated the previously unbeaten UCLA Bruins in Tucson yesterday and ruined any hopes of a big bowl game for UCLA.

Hats off to the Miami Hurricanes who blew away an overrated Virginia Tech team that was relying on an inexperienced Marcus Vick to lead the way! The Hurricane are right back in the BCS picture, while their rivals the Florida State Seminoles were shocked at home by NC State.

USC continued its march to the title game with a rout of Stanford!

WEEKEND PREVIEW!

2005-11-05T08:58:00.000-08:00

This is the time of the year to be a sports bettor as the leaves are falling and variety is the spice of life with the NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAA, PGA, and NASCAR in full swing. The much anticipated Colts and Patriots game will conclude the weekend on Monday Night Football, but there will be fireworks at several locations.

I notice that the whole world seems to be backing Virginia Tech and Michael Vick’s younger brother, but Miami has won their last six road games as an underdog. Ditto for Notre Dame, but I warn you bettors that the media is very good at swinging your vote a certain way and this can spell disaster.

The Shaq is already on the injury shelf just two games into the season and I look for the Bucks to dispose of the Heat on Saturday in Wisconsin. Now that we are officially on the Denver Nuggets watch, we will see if they can notch their first win tonight against rebuilding Portland.

The Eagle has landed or shall we say been shot down as the City of Brotherly Love is in disarray. Terrell is at it again and McNabb is a wounded bird, who is not going to get much better. If you thought Denver’s defense gave him fits, wait to you see Greg Williams ornery Redskins bunch.

Pittsburgh heads to Lambeau Field and has decided to dust off Charlie Batch to handle the game behind center for the Steelers. Green Bay has injuries everywhere, but will be tough at home!

The NHL season has been awesome so far with scoring way up and the OVER being the popular play. Ottawa has been downright scary and Detroit is nipping at their heels, for best record.

The Chase continues in Texas this weekend as Jimmie Johnson tries to corral point’s leader Tony Stewart, but watch out for Greg Biffle who has won in the Lone Star state this year.

The PGA wraps up a long season with the Tour’s Championship in Atlanta and I have been touting Retief Goosen all year and I suggest here that he will nip Tiger in a thrilling finish come Sunday!

Don’t forget that NCAA hoops action begins Wednesday with the Coaches against Cancer Classic at Syracuse!

COULD SOMEBODY EXPLAIN THIS LINE TO ME?

2005-11-05T08:57:00.000-08:00

Cal had lost seven straight in this series before pulling off a 28-27 home win last season. The Bears, however, have lost their last six trips to Autzen Stadium, dating to 1987.
Now if you were placing a wager on this game, would you be confident in a team that has not won in Oregon in 18 years and is currently ranked 23rd playing on the road at #15? This is the scenario for the Cal-Oregon matchup and obviously the injury to starting Oregon QB Clemens has swung the tide.
I have to stick with one of my preseason picks (check archives) as I talked about their new offensive coordinator Gary Crowton and his ability to game plan. The replacement QB Dennis Dixon is not exactly chopped liver and Crowton has had two weeks to prepare him.
One trend that has been constant in both the NFL and College this year is the diddiculty that 2nd string quarterbacks have winning on the road, yet are successful at home. In the pros Testaverde triumphed in New York, yet was a loser on the road, as was Holcomb for Buffalo.
Playing in front of your home crowd for a youngster is a huge advantage, as the crowd is supportive and it allows you to audible at the line, if the situation presents itself. As far as the rest of the Duck team is concerned, they have been awesome the last month with wins on the road at Arizona St, Stanford and Arizona.
The question for Cal is what Joe Ayoob will show up, the guy who played lights out against either Washington teams or the guy who stumbled against Oregon State?
It is fall in Eugene, Oregon and that means cold, damp and windy conditions, so turnovers may decide this one.
For those bettors who are looking at Notre Dame walking all over Tennessee please beware, as the Volunteers are a wounded team that will play well Saturday. They have been butting heads with some top SEC teams and Notre Dame’s defense is awful. If they can control the clock, they have a shot!

THE NUMBERS DON’T LIE! (DETROIT AT MINNESOTA)

2005-11-05T08:54:00.000-08:00

Somebody smack me in the head please as we have a multitude of games to choose from this Sunday and here I sit about to spew out figures on the woeful Lions and Vikings tilt. Actually I have a soft spot for sentimental stories and with the Vikings starting quarterback Brad Johnson that old adage what goes around, comes around is in play here.

Let’s set up the two teams first! Detroit is 3-4 and comes off an emotional loss at home against the Bears in overtime. Quarterback Jeff Garcia led the Lions all the way back from an early 13-3 deficit, but then was intercepted by Charles Tillman who ran it in for the winning score. Garcia is so banged up from that match, that he cannot go this weekend, so Joey Harrington returns to the fold.

Harrington started the first five games of the season, completing only 53 percent of his passes for 798 yards with four touchdowns and eight interceptions. Detroit gets former first round pick Charles Rogers back from a four game drug suspension, but word has it his practice habits left a lot to be desired this week.

Any recollection of the Detroit Lions' last win in Minnesota would likely require a trip to the archives.
Detroit, which will travel to play the Vikings at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on Sunday, has lost seven straight in Minnesota since last winning there on Dec. 14, 1997, by a 14-13 count.
How long ago was 1997?
Well, for starters, Detroit was in the first year of the Bobby Ross era. Ross, Gary Moeller, and Marty Morhninweg have all come and gone from the Motor City since that win, and neither of the latter two nor current coach Steve Mariucci has ever led the Lions to a win in the land of 10,000 lakes.
Barry Sanders, still a year away from retirement, was doing the running for the Lions in December of '97. Scott Mitchell was the quarterback that day and Herman Moore was in the midst of a 104-catch campaign.
On the Minnesota side, the principles were Robert Smith, Cris Carter, and Randall Cunningham. Cunningham was subbing for the injured Brad Johnson, who was out with a neck injury that day.
Eight years later, it will be Johnson making the start when the Lions invade the Metrodome on Sunday. Johnson relieves the injured Daunte Culpepper, who tore the ACL, MCL, and PCL in his right knee early in last week's 38-13 loss to the Carolina Panthers! The defeat dropped the Vikes two games back of division-leading Chicago in the NFC North.
The Vikings hold a 56-29-2 lead in the all-time series with the Lions, which dates back to the 1961 season. Minnesota has won 10 of the last 11 meetings overall, including three straight home-and-home sweeps since 2002. The Lions' only win over that stretch was a 27-24 home triumph in 2001. Detroit is 0-7 at the Metrodome since last winning there in 1997.
Minnesota's Mike Tice is 7-1 against the Lions as a head coach, including a 4-0 mark in Minnesota. Detroit's Mariucci is 2-5 against the Vikings in his career, and has not defeated Minnesota since his San Francisco team took down the Vikings in a 1997 NFC Divisional Playoff. Mariucci is 0-4 head-to-head versus Tice.
Both Tice and Mariucci will be changing their home addresses next year, as neither one has delivered and there is to little discipline in both camps.
I remember years ago watching a Vikings game and suggesting to someone that Bead Johnson was the worst quarterback I had seen in the NFL and his career would be a short one. As usual I was wrong and this guy has a large Super Bowl ring on his finger to prove it!
You make the call, as I already have put dons my cabbage!