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07/11/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - To say that things haven't exactly gone the Houston Astros' way this season would be quite an understatement.
When the general manager is getting choke-slammed by a player, and your league MVP candidate is sidelined because of pink eye, it's usually a pretty good bet the playoffs aren't at the forefront of everyone's mind. It's simply been one of those seasons for the Astros, and the light at the end of the tunnel is still months away.
Even with Wednesday's 6-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, Houston is just 2-7 in the month of July. Houston kicked off the month with three straight losses at home to the Los Angeles Dodgers. They've followed that up by dropping two of three to both the Atlanta Braves and the Pirates, the latter of which occupied last place in the National League Central for much of the season -- until now. June wasn't much better, either. This time last month, the Astros were in the midst of a stretch in which they lost eight straight, and 12 of 14.
With the team in the nation's capital this weekend taking on the Washington Nationals, it will be a battle between last-place teams. Got your tickets? The real question facing this team is, where exactly are they headed? General manager Ed Wade has his work cut out for him to address that one. After all, the nucleus of the team, with guys like Berkman, Carlos Lee and Roy Oswalt, isn't exactly tomorrow's youth.
Granted, there are a few promising young players on the club, such as outfielder Hunter Pence and pitcher Wandy Rodriguez. But the list more or less stops there. The majority of the roster is filled with guys in their 30s. With the trade deadline nearing, the whispers have gotten louder about Roy Oswalt (7-8, 4.60) being shipped elsewhere. The team, and Oswalt, have downplayed such talks. The team's highest paid player, Miguel Tejada, who is raking in nearly $15 million this year, has been hitting around the Mendoza Line for the better part of the last two months. Not surprisingly, the team has spiraled downward ever since.
Houston has a combined salary of nearly $90 million this season, with Tejada, Oswalt, Berkman and Lee making up the lion's share of that figure. Indeed, Wade will have his hands full in order to get this team headed in the right direction. So far, his only move of significance was sending closer Brad Lidge to Philadelphia for Geoff Geary and some change. Lidge hasn't done much besides put together perhaps his best season as a pro and will be representing the National League at next week's All-Star game.
BACK TO ACTION
After getting through a bullpen session on Tuesday, Oswalt is in line to start tonight's game in Washington. The right-hander was given a numbing shot last Saturday in hopes of relieving the hip pain that has cost him two starts.
"I was a little worried at first," Oswalt said on the team's website. "I was probably throwing 70-80 percent when I first got out there. The last 20 pitches, I threw as hard as I could throw. I didn't feel anything. I wasn't as crisp as my last start, but hopefully it comes back Friday."
Miguel Tejada, who has played in nearly every game this season, was given the day off Wednesday, and with that off day, the hope is he will have his battery re-charged a bit. Second baseman Kaz Matsui came off the disabled list on Wednesday and recorded two hits.
WHO'S HOT
Ty Wigginton has picked it up with eight hits in his last five games.
WHO'S NOT
The aforementioned Tejada is in a 2-for-18 rut. Michael Bourn found himself benched for four straight games after an 0-for-19 slump, although he did respond with two hits on Wednesday.
The team last week designated reliever Oscar Villareal (1-3, 5.02 ERA, 35 appearances) for assignment. On Thursday, Villareal rejected his demotion to the minors and will become a free agent. Houston is on the hook for the remainder of his $2.85 million contract.
A LOOK AHEAD
As indicated, Oswalt will return to action tonight against Tim Redding (6-3, 4.06) and the Nationals. Rodriguez (3-3, 3.23) will take the hill Saturday opposite Collin Balester (1-1, 5.06). And on Sunday, it will be Brandon Backe (5-9, 5.07) against Odalis Perez (2-6, 3.66).
<< Marlins try to reel in another win over Dodgers
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Florida Marlins, despite being within striking distance
of first place in the National League East, are hoping a shuffling of their
rotation can help get them over the top. Chris Volstad makes his first major
league
<< Mets try to keep momentum going against Rox
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Mets and Colorado Rockies have each had first
halves that can be classified as disappointing. However, both teams have been
playing like playoff contenders as of late.
The Mets will attempt to extend their s
<< Gallagher to make A's debut in key series opener with Angels
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Oakland Athletics insisted they weren't giving up on
this season when the team dealt Rich Harden to Chicago earlier this week. Sean
Gallagher faces the tough task of replacing Harden in the rotation tonight in
the At
<< Struggling D'Backs, Phils meet at Citizens Bank Park
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two teams struggling to maintain their division leads
square off tonight when the Philadelphia Phillies welcome the Arizona
Diamondbacks to town for the first of three games at Citizens Bank Park.
Philadelph
Giants add infielder Ochoa >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Francisco Giants have purchased the
contract of infielder Ivan Ochoa from Triple-A Fresno.
The 25-year-old Ochoa, a switch-hitting infielder, was batting .318 with six
home runs, 32 runs batted
Wawrinka reaches semis; Youzhny exits Gstaad >>
Gstaad, Switzerland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Top-seeded Swiss crowd favorite
Stanislas Wawrinka secured a spot in the semifinals, while third-seeded
Russian Mikhail Youzhny came up a quarterfinal loser Friday at the clay-court
Swiss O
Rose expected to undergo MRI for ailing knee >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose has tendinitis
in his right knee and the Chicago Tribune says the rookie will undergo an MRI
exam.
Rose, the first overall pick in last month's draft, missed the Bulls' fina
Crouch seals return to Portsmouth >>
Portsmouth, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - England international Peter Crouch has
returned to Portsmouth for a second spell after completing his transfer from
Liverpool to Fratton Park.
The 27-year-old spent one season with Pompey six years
Will Ohio State continue to run the table in College Football betting odds?
MySportsbook.com favors Buckeyes, Fighting Irish and Golden Bears in this weekend's big games.
NEW YORK, NY, Sept. 21 - My Sportsbook NCAA football fans: things are beginning to get really interesting on college football's national stage. Following last weekend's "Separation Saturday", which included five teams ranked in the top 15 dropping games, the BCS Championship picture is beginning to take shape - with Ohio State leading the charge. And, according to odds makers at MySportsbook.com, the number-one-ranked Buckeyes will continue their winning ways this weekend.
Revenge will be the name of the game in Columbus this Saturday, as Ohio State looks to even the score following last season's loss to Joe Paterno's Nittany Lions. Although Penn State are listed as 16.5 point underdogs, they are 11-10 all-time versus the Buckeyes. Paterno and the Lions, however, will have to shut down Heisman Trophy favorite Troy Smith who has thrown for 769 yards and seven touchdowns this season.
Speaking of revenge, Notre Dame will be out for some against Michigan State, following last year's 44 - 41 overtime loss to the Spartans in South Bend. The thirteenth-ranked Irish, listed as a 3-point favorite, will also be looking to avenge last Saturday's thrashing from the Michigan Wolverines. The Spartans, meanwhile, have won seven of the last nine match-ups against Notre Dame and are coming off an impressive 38-23 victory over Pittsburgh.
Out west, 22nd-ranked Arizona State will be battling for their first victory over 21st-ranked California since 2000. Although the Golden Bears are listed as 7.5-point favorites, the Sun Devils are 3-0, lead the nation in sacks with 18 and possess the Pac-10's leading passer in sophomore quarterback Rudy Carpenter.
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NCAA Football betting lines (home team in CAPS)
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Date Favorite Opponent Point Spread
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Sept 21 GEORGIA TECH Virginia 17
Sept 22 NEVADA Northwestern 6.5
Sept 23 MICHIGAN Wisconsin 14
Sept 23 Minnesota PURDUE 3
Sept 23 SYRACUSE Miami (Ohio) 6.5
Sept 23 MISSOURI Ohio 21.5
Sept 23 Louisville KANSAS STATE 14
Sept 23 TENNESSEE Marshall 22
Sept 23 CLEMSON North Carolina 16.5
Sept 23 FLORIDA Kentucky 24
Sept 23 Iowa ILLINOIS 20.5
Sept 23 FLORIDA STATE Rice 30.5
Sept 23 AUBURN Buffalo 41.5
Sept 23 BOWLING GREEN Kent 7
Sept 23 NAVY Tulsa 4.5
Sept 23 VIRGINIA TECH Cincinnati 27
Sept 23 BYU Utah State 29
Sept 23 OHIO STATE Penn State 16.5
Sept 23 TEXAS Iowa State 25
Sept 23 Washington State STANFORD 10
Sept 23 CALIFORNIA Arizona State 7.5
Sept 23 UCLA WASHINGTON 3
Sept 23 INDIANA Connecticut 1.5
Sept 23 Central Michigan EASTERN MICHIGAN 4
Sept 23 WYOMING Air Force 1
Sept 23 UTEP NEW MEXICO 9.5
Sept 23 West Virginia EAST CAROLINA 21
Sept 23 Boston College NORTH CAROLINA STATE 7
Sept 23 GEORGIA Colorado 27
Sept 23 ARKANSAS Alabama 1.5
Sept 23 BAYLOR Army 11
Sept 23 WESTERN MICHIGAN Temple 28
Sept 23 MISSISSIPPI Wake Forest 2.5
Sept 23 KANSAS South Florida 5.5
Sept 23 TEXAS A&M Louisiana Tech 23.5
Sept 23 UAB Mississippi State 9.5
Sept 23 LSU Tulane 36
Sept 23 Utah SAN DIEGO STATE 6.5
Sept 23 BOISE STATE Hawaii 15
Sept 23 Notre Dame MICHIGAN STATE 3
Sept 23 USC ARIZONA U 22
Sept 23 Oklahoma State HOUSTON 1
Sept 23 OREGON STATE Idaho 23
Sept 23 OKLAHOMA Middle Tennessee State 29
Sept 23 MARYLAND Florida International 18.5
Sept 23 AKRON North Texas 17.5
Sept 23 SOUTH CAROLINA Florida Atlantic 29.5
Sept 23 NEBRASKA Troy 23
Sept 23 SMU Arkansas State 6
For complete NCAA football odds and World Series odds please visit MySportsbook.com
Two playoff teams from 2007 take center stage on the NFL Network Sunday night in a Week 2 NFL betting match-up when the (0-1) New England Patriots betting head south to Florida for a contest with the (1-0) Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
New England HC Bill Belichick couldn’t care less about the way his team plays in the preseason. With a chance to tie last week’s game with the Baltimore Ravens betting, He elected to go for the two-point conversion and outright victory. The conversion failed, and the Pats ended up falling to the Ravens by a 16-15 final count.
New England rolled off twelve unanswered points to give it a chance at securing the victory, but it never threatened to cover the 3.5-point spread. NFL bettors saw this one coming, as they bet the Ravens down from +6 to +3.5 as the week progressed. QB Tom Brady didn’t take part in the Patriots first preseason clash, but could see action this weekend.
His three replacements all put up embarrassing numbers. They went a combined 17 for 33, and threw three interceptions and no touchdowns. The New England defense was encouraging, as they held the Ravens to 2/12 third down conversions and surrendered just ten first downs. That ‘D’ should be bolstered with the addition of former Bucs and Denver Broncos betting safety John Lynch, who could make his Patriots debut on Sunday against his former mates.
HC Jon Gruden had to be impressed with the way his Bucs played on both sides of the ball in their dominating 17-6 victory over the Miami Dolphins in Week 1’s NFL pre-season betting action. Bucs bettors were quite happy with the effort, as they made a mockery of the fact that they were underdogs in the game.
The logjam at the quarterback position didn’t get any easier to separate for Gruden, as all four of his QBs had positive experiences in the first exhibition of 2008. The four combined to complete 28 of their 40 passes for 204 yards and a touchdown, and that was without starting QB Jeff Garcia in the lineup.
RB Michael Bennett had 19 carries and four receptions, totaling 90 yards and a touchdown. Expect to see more of Bennett, Kenneth Darby, and Earnest Graham, as they all compete for playing time with Warrick Dunn in the backfield this season. Defensively, the Bucs recorded four sacks and held the Fins offense in check all day.
First round draft pick Aqib Talib was impressive in the secondary, recording a tackle and two pass defenses in his debut. Don’t be surprised to see Talib in the starting lineup opposite Ronde Barber for the Bucs in ’08.
The betting trends suggest that NFL bettors should be backing the Bucs in this intra-conference exhibition.
These two teams hooked up last year in Tampa Bay, with the Bucs winning that game 13-10. The Buccaneers have only lost one preseason game at home dating back to the beginning of the ’05 preseason. The Patriots have had a mixed bag of results in their recent exhibitions. They have gone 2-2 ATS and SU each of the last three years.
New England currently sits as modest 1-point favorites in this preseason showdown with the ‘total’ now sitting at 34.5.
You can find these lines and all of the NFL betting lines , so be sure to login and get your wagers down before kickoff!
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting lines .
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