The 2009 MLB season is here and the best baseball handicappers are at the premier betting site OffshoreInsiders.com

The founder of forensic sports handicapping, Stevie Vincent is without any debate the king of the over/under in all sports, MLB betting included. Professional gamblers the world over consider his baseball totals bets must-reads.

Long time gamblers remember Joe Duffy as “JD of the ACC” when he became the top scorephone handicapper to ever live. When the telephone scoreboards became a dinosaur, Duffy made the transition and teamed with established Internet gambling pioneer Mike Godsey to form GodTips.

GodsTips is the king of the underdog and the small favorite in mastering the MLB odds, exactly as sharp bettors remember from the scorephone days. Duffy is also founder of the top sports betting blog.

All the top MLB sports service plays are part of the power of 620 sports services behind every selection at MasterLockLine. This consensus sports service has all the top sports service plays from all the top handicappers in their highest rated sports. They monitor every single top sports service pick so you don’t have to. Best of all you get these same highly anticipated plays for pennies on the dollar.

Of course ScoresOddsPicks.com has baseball scores and odds and the best free betting databases.

The combination of OffshoreInsiders.com baseball handicappers and reliable sportsbooks will mean gamblers no longer have to wait on the NFL betting odds to rake in the money.

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OffshoreInsiders.com is proud to debut the 2008 edition of the Tailgate Party. “Sports bettors made significant profits from the free information in our NFL preseason version,” explains OffshoreInsiders.com CEO Joe Duffy.

However, the NFL preseason is very much a modified version compared to the regular season NCAA football and the NFL versions.

Get the college football version of the Tailgate Party which features college football live odds, plus scores and betting trends (who the public is betting), more NCAA football against the spread angles, free picks, game previews written for bettors, weather, injuries, motivational factors, CFB Halftime Lines, the StatFox matchups, and the Chalk Gaming version.

Yes, this is the same feature sports bettors have enjoyed for years on the scorephones. However, the platform of the Internet gives sports bettors more flexibility than the popular version heard on the scorephones.

The Tailgate Party will be available every day there is NFL or college football action through the bowls and the Super Bowl.

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THE SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE HAS PARENTS CRAZED AND BETTORS DAZED!  ANALYSTS POST PREDICTIONS ON EVERY POSSIBLE SCENARIO     

     BetUs Sportsbook Posts Odds on All Things Scripps National Spelling Bee

NEW YORK May 20, 2008 - Young students from across the US and Canada will have to out-spell 287 other middle school students beginning May 29 if they’re going to take home a trophy, $35,000 in cash and recognition as the best speller in the country at the 2008 Scripps Spelling Bee in Washington.

The buzz surrounding the “Bee” as it’s known in intellectual and crazed parental circles has grown exponentially in recent years, and in 2008, the hype is ready to explode.  People are completely mesmerized by the spectacle of nerdy stardom and nowhere else is this more evident than in the huge up-tick in site traffic at the largest, most successful sportsbook on the web BetUsby site users looking to wager on every possible scenario regarding the world’s largest educational challenge.

BetUs Sportsbook posted odds on every possible Bee scenario – including whether the winner will be wearing the stereotypical studious costume of spectacular spectacles!  Whoa, try spelling that three times fast!!!!!!

Oddsmakers at BetUs Sportsbook posted the following odds on all things Scripps National Spelling Bee:

Gender of winner
Male 5/7
Female 1/1

Winner to wear glasses
Yes 1/1
No 5/7

Length of winning word
Over 8.5 2/3
Under 8.5 11/10

For more sports and entertainment odds, visit BetUs Sportsbook


                    ####

A new generation of recreational gamers is emerging across North America.  BetUsis a leading online sports betting and sports wagering entertainment website, providing a safe and secure place for online gambling for over a decade. BetUs Sportsbook is recognized as one of the oldest and most respected online entertainment companies, offering the level of experience and industry expertise unmatched by any other sportsbook.  With more than 15 years as respected industry leaders, you can bet on all of your favorite sports, play in our Vegas-style casino or enjoy entertainment-based wagers surrounding mainstream pop culture. BetUs Sportsbook employs over 500 people and offers service to more than 100,000 clients.   For more information visit BetUs Sportsbook

Posted by Mike Godsey at 07:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

BetUs Sportsbook Posts Odds on Outcome of NFL Owner’s Opt-Out

NEW YORK May 6, 2008 -   The NFL officially notified its players union on Tuesday that it will opt out of the current collective bargaining agreement, which could lead to a season without a salary cap in 2010 and a possible lockout in 2011.

With fans on edge, wondering about the state of their beloved league and what the possible consequences of Tuesday’s decision might be, the largest most successful sportsbook on the web, BetUs has once again beaten everyone to the punch and come to their aid with odds and predictions of possible outcomes.

”With all of the traffic we’ve had since the announcement on Tuesday, one thing is very, very clear,” stated BetUs Sportsbook spokesman Reed Richards.  “Fans are sick and tired of being put through the ringer.  It’s simply not fair to ask them to wait with bated breath for three seasons wondering if there’ll be a lockout at the start of each.  As such, we’re putting all of our predictive and analytical prowess on the line in order to give them some semblance of what might happen.”

Oddsmakers at BetUs posted the following odds in reaction to the NFL owner’s announcement on Tuesday:

NFLPA Strike before start of 2011 season
Yes 6/1
 
NFL ‘09’10’11 seasons delayed (odds on each)
 
2009 NFL Season Delayed
Yes 15/1
 
2010 NFL Season Delayed
Yes 10/1
 
2011 NFL Season Delayed
Yes 4/1
 
Roger Goodell Resigns Before 2011 Season
Yes 6/1
 
Roger Goodell Fired before 2011 season
Yes 3/1
 
NFLPA Locked out by 2011 season
Yes 2/1
 
Odds on cancellation of ‘09, ‘10, ‘11 Super Bowl
 
2009 Super Bowl Canceled
Yes 50/1
 
2010 Super Bowl Canceled
Yes  35/1
 
2011 Super Bowl Canceled
Yes 10/1


For more sports and entertainment odds, visit www.BetUS.com


                    ####

A new generation of recreational gamers is emerging across North America.  BetUs Sportsbook is a leading online sports betting and sports wagering entertainment website, providing a safe and secure place for online gambling for over a decade. BetUs Sportsbook is recognized as one of the oldest and most respected online entertainment companies, offering the level of experience and industry expertise unmatched by any other sportsbook.  With more than 15 years as respected industry leaders, you can bet on all of your favorite sports, play in our Vegas-style casino or enjoy entertainment-based wagers surrounding mainstream pop culture. BetUs employs over 500 people and offers service to more than 100,000 clients.   For more information visit BetUs Sportsbook

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Beware The Hoyas

By Jordan Walters
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Hoya Paranoia apparently has returned to college basketball.

With a John Thompson coaching the team and a dominant big man in the middle, the Georgetown Hoyas looked much like their power teams of the 1980s in an easy 65-42 victory over Pittsburgh in Saturday night's Big East Tournament final. It's Georgetown's record seventh Big East tourney title but first since 1989. What made it more impressive was that it was No. 11 Pitt's worst loss of the season and the Panthers scored the fewest points ever in a Big East final.

Thompson III, the son of legendary Georgetown coach John Thompson Jr., has rebuilt this club back into a national power (when he took over GU was coming off a second-to-last-place finish in the Big East), with the Hoyas having won 16 of 17 games heading into Selection Sunday and up for discussion for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament (at worst they will get a No. 2). Georgetown (26-6) hasn't earned a top seed in the NCAAs since 1989.

"Now I can sit back and look and see where we stand," Thompson III said. "Where we're seeded, I have confidence in the selection committee and where they put us. ... We’re playing well right now, and hopefully we can enjoy this. This is special. The opportunity to win the Big East regular season and championship is extremely special.”

This will be a team no one wants to play in March Madness, mainly due to that man in the middle, senior Roy Hibbert, and junior forward Jeff Green, the Big East Player of the Year.

Hibbert struggled in the Hoyas' semifinal victory over Notre Dame on Friday, but he showed up big on Saturday against Pitt 7-footer Aaron Gray. Hibbert, showing signs of former Hoyas star big man Patrick Ewing, scored 18 points, shooting 8-for-10, and had 11 rebounds. Gray? He didn't even score until 11 minutes remained and finished with only 3 points on 1-for-13 shooting.

Meanwhile, Green was terrific in the final two games, scoring 30 points and pulling down 12 rebounds against Notre Dame and then adding 21 points and five rebounds against Pitt. Green was named tournament MVP.

“This is the time of the year when good players and good teams play well,” Thompson III said. “There’s no doubt Jeff Green is special in what he can do on the basketball court.”

The fact that Thompson Jr. and Ewing were in the stands watching the Hoyas' domination seemed to bring this team's link to the 1980s squads full circle.

“I’ve seen everyone this year, and they’re as good as anyone out there,” Notre Dame coach Mike Brey said after his team's loss on Friday night.

With Hibbert dominating the post, a rare back-to-the-basket big man in college basketball these days, and Green scoring the big points, the Hoyas will certainly be a tough out. Add in the fact that the team is NCAA Tournament tested (Georgetown lost to eventual NCAA champion Florida in last year's second round), and this is a club that should contend for the school's first national title since 1984 and, at worst, a fourth visit to the Final Four.

"We still have some more work to do," Green said. "We‘re not on top yet. By the end of April, we can see if we‘re on top."

Go to WagerWeb.com for NCAA Tournament odds and to play the bracket challenge. Information from other news sources was used in this report.

Posted by Mike Godsey at 08:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

South Region Early Rounds

By Jordan Walters
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

The South Region sees the No. 1 team in the polls, Ohio State, as the No. 1 seed. However, even though the Buckeyes are the polls' top team, they were sent to the South instead of staying in the Midwest. NCAA March Madness Tournament No. 1 overall seed Florida was, for some reason, tabbed as the No. 1 seed in the Midwest. More on the Midwest tomorrow, but here is a breakdown of the South Region's first-round games and projected second-rounders (with WagerWeb.com odds in parentheses):

1 OHIO STATE (-22) vs. 16 CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE: The Buckeyes, champs of the Big Ten regular season and tournament, are streaking, having won 18 games in a row. Freshman star center Greg Oden is playing his best of the year, averaging 17 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks in winning the Big Ten Tournament MVP award. Ohio State will have no problem with these Blue Devils, who won the Northeast Tournament. CCSU has won 17 of 18 ... but who are we kidding? Pick: Ohio State.

8 BYU vs. 9 XAVIER (-1.5): Brigham Young, an at-large from the Mountain West, is back in the NCAAs for the first time since 2004. The Cougars are great at home, winners of 31 straight home games, which leads the NCAA Basketball. Obviously, this game won't be at home, however. Keena Young, the MWC Player of the Year, is the key player for BYU. Xavier, meanwhile, an at-large pick from the Atlantic 10, has won eight of nine, but is heavily dependent on the 3-point shot. The Musketeers usually win a game or two in the NCAAs. Pick: Xavier.

5 TENNESSEE (-7) vs. 12 LONG BEACH STATE: The Vols, an at-large from the SEC, are a pressing, fast-paced team. Bruce Pearl's club won its final four regular-season games, including beating ranked Alabama and then-No. 1 Florida, before being upset in the SEC Tournament by LSU. This is another club that lives behind the 3-point line. Long Beach State, the winner of the Big West Tournament, is back in the tournament for the first time since 1995. The 49ers also like to put up points, so look for the over in this game but the deeper Vols to advance. Pick: Tennessee.

4 VIRGINIA (-7.5) vs. 13 ALBANY: The Cavaliers, an at-large pick from the ACC, are back in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2001. This team is totally backcourt dependent, with guards Sean Singletary and J.R. Reynolds the only players averaging in double figures in points. The Great Danes of Albany, who won the America East Tournament, are in the NCAAs for the second straight year. Jamar Wilson is the star of this club, which almost upset top-seeded UConn last year. Pick: Need to pick at least one big upset ... but I just can't do it here, although it is very, very tempting. Pick: UVA.

6 LOUISVILLE (-5.5) vs. 11 STANFORD: A battle of Cardinals vs. Cardinal. Louisville, an at-large from the Big East, are back in the tournament after a year's absence. Rick Pitino's balanced squad is playing well, having won seven of eight, including wins over ranked Pittsburgh and Marquette. Stanford, an at-large from the Pac-10, was likely one of the last four at-large teams given a bid. The Cardinal struggle on offense at times but do have twin 7-footers Brook and Robin Lopez to clog the paint. Pick: OK, here's the upset -- Stanford.

3 TEXAS A&M (-13.5) vs. 14 PENN: The Aggies, an at-large from the Big 12, are in back-to-back NCAA Tournaments for the first time and are a chic Final Four pick Senior guard Acie Law IV is a star for Texas A&M and lives for the big shot, something that is lacking on most college basketball teams. Penn, the Ivy League champ, is in its third straight NCAA Tournament. This is a typical Penn/Ivy League squad: plays safe, smart basketball and doesn't beat itself. However, the pressure and talent of A&M is too much. Pick: Texas A&M.

7 NEVADA (-1) vs. 10 CREIGHTON: This is arguably the best matchup of mid-majors in the first round. Nevada, an at-large from the WAC, is in its sixth straight NCAA Tournament. The Wolf Pack have a superstar in All-American forward Nick Fazekas, but the key may be whether senior guard Kyle Shiloh plays. He missed the Wolf Pack's loss to Utah State in the WAC Tournament with a hamstring strain. Creighton, the winner of the deep Missouri Valley Tournament, is coming off its best win of the season, upsetting Southern Illinois in the MVC Tournament. This is a solid, blue-collar team that won't wow you. Pick: Nevada.

2 MEMPHIS (-18) vs. 15 NORTH TEXAS: Memphis, the winner of Conference USA's regular season and tournament, is the hottest team in the country. The Tigers have won an NCAA-best and school-record 22 games in a row. But, everyone seems to question how good they are due to the lack of competition in C-USA (no other team made the tournament). Memphis is athletic and will get after you, which isn't good news for the Mean Green, who won the Sun Belt Tournament. North Texas, in its first NCAA Tournament since 1988, likes the fast pace as well but won't have the athletes to matchup. Pick: Memphis.

Projected Second-Round Matchups

1 OHIO STATE vs. 9 XAVIER: This would pit Buckeyes coach Thad Matta against his former club in the Musketeers. This could be a grind-it-out game, with Xavier trying to pull the upset from the 3-point line. However, its tallest player is 6-foot-9 forward Justin Doellman, which means he will be completely mismatched against Oden. Pick: Ohio State rolls on.

4 VIRGINIA vs. 5 TENNESSEE: Up-tempo, up-tempo, up-tempo. That's what this game likely would be. The guards will decide this one, so who do we like better: Tennessee's Chris Lofton and JaJuan Smith or Virginia's Sean Singletary and J.R. Reynolds? Lofton outduels Singletary, so we like the Vols. Pick: Tennessee.

3 TEXAS A&M vs. 11 STANFORD: A&M's recent struggles and over-reliance on Law IV are worrisome. But then so is Stanford's youth and struggles to score points at times. Difference will be the Aggies' pressure defense, forcing Stanford into too many turnovers. Pick: Texas A&M.

7 NEVADA vs. 2 MEMPHIS: The Wolf Pack are another team that is very reliant on one player: Faezkas. Nevada does have plenty of experience (and motivation after last year's first-round loss to Montana). As much as I want to pick this upset, I go with Memphis. Expect John Calipari to have his team very motivated with all of the talk of this club being overrated and having played no one. Pick: Memphis.

So, I'm looking for the Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 5 seeds to move on.

Look for the West and Midwest Region early-round previews on Wednesday, with a few more upsets likely sprinkled in.

Go to WagerWeb.com to check the 2007 NCAA Tournament odds and to play the 2007 March Madness Bracket Buster challenge.

Posted by Mike Godsey at 08:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Depleted Jazz

By Marty Gitlin
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

The Utah Jazz haven’t exactly been tearing up NBA hardwoods since the final page was turned on 2006.

And now they’ve added injury to insult.

The Jazz, who are 6-7 since Jan. 5, will be without their starting forwards Monday night against visiting New Jersey. Leading scorer and rebounder Carlos Boozer will miss his first game this season with an injured knee while Andrei Kirilenko is out with a sprained right ankle.

The extent of Boozer’s injury will be known after more tests are conducted. He has enjoyed his finest season at 22 points and 12 rebounds a game, which is fourth in the NBA. Boozer hurt the knee Saturday night when he collided with New Orleans center Tyson Chandler.

Kirilenko, who missed five games earlier in the year with an injury to the same ankle, is expected to return later this week.

The injuries have played a role in the odds for Monday night’s game, but WagerWeb.com still lists the Jazz as 2-point favorites against the Nets, who broke a three-game losing streak Saturday night in Denver.

SIGH OF RELIEF IN WINDY CITY: Chicago Bulls fans must have seen the season go up in smoke when center Ben Wallace crumpled to the floor after a collision with Miami’s Udonis Haslem Saturday night.

They held their collective breath, but didn’t need to fret. An MRI on Wallace’s left knee showed no structural damage. Wallace is listed as day-to-day and could return as early as Wednesday night, when the Bulls start a seven-game road trip against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Wallace is averaging 6.5 points and 10.1 rebounds in his first season with Chicago since signing a free-agent contract during the offseason. He is eighth in the league at 2.12 blocked shots a game.

DRIBBLES: Talk about a glorious return. Milwaukee guard Mo Williams had missed the previous nine games with a sprained shoulder, but he scored a game-high 30 points, including a game-winning running jumper with 3.l seconds remaining, in a 107-105 victory Sunday over New York. … Cleveland threw a brief scare into visiting Phoenix on Sunday, but the Suns pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 115-100 road victory. The Suns will shoot for their 18th consecutive win Monday night in Minnesota. They are a 5-point favorites, according to WagerWeb.com. … The battered Boston Celtics welcomed the return of swingman Wally Szczerbiak, but still lost Sunday to visiting Washington, 105-91. Their 11-game losing streak is their longest in 10 years. They also set a franchise mark by dropping nine in a row at home and have fallen behind Philadelphia into last place in the Atlantic Division. … Wizards forward Antawn Jamison has certainly given high-scoring point guard Gilbert Arenas plenty of offensive help recently. Jamison has scored 69 points on 26-of-45 (58 percent) shooting in the last two games.

Posted by Mike Godsey at 03:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

NBA Props

By Chris Goudey
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

As your resident Fantasy Sensei, it’s my job to provide you with tips and tricks you can use to dominate your fantasy leagues. Winning a fantasy league is great and a real good way to trash talk your friends, but at the end of the day all that smack doesn’t pay the bills. You might win $100-$200 in your league, but there is a way to use that skill to make some real money.

Most of the online sportsbooks offer what are called proposition bets for all the major sports. These are bets that are different from your standard point-spread or over/under bet in that you are usually betting on a single player to do something in a game. The skills you use to do well in fantasy (knowing playing time, hot/cold players, defensive matchups, etc.) can be applied in proposition betting as well.

There are some books (WagerWeb.com included) that offer prop bets for individual NBA players. If you are a winning fantasy player, you can use the same stats you use to set your daily or weekly lineups to win money betting on NBA props. As an example, if you have done research and discovered that Lamar Odom has scored much better at home than he does on the road, you could possibly find a “Lamar Odom over/under x amount of points” bet on the day he has a home game and take advantage of that knowledge. In this case you’d bet Odom over whatever the amount of points is. If he was on the road for that particular game, you would bet under.

There are not many books out there that offer props that are unique to their site (many books copy other books’ lines), so it pays to research as many books as you can and have money in as many of these books with unique lines as possible. The reason to do this is you have access to as many “soft” or beatable lines as you can. When you bet NBA props, it is very important to be able to bet them right as they get posted on the site. If you don’t get them right as they post, sharp bettors will force the book to change the original line, and it will make a less advantageous situation for you.

There are people who are very successful in prop betting, and they use the exact same skill set that any successful fantasy player would use. Defensive matchups in the NBA are extremely important and knowing which teams are stronger or weaker on that end of the court is crucial. You can study the stats for scoring defense, rebound margin, assist differential, and home/road splits and gain a huge advantage over most prop oddsmakers.

There are many soft lines posted, and the reason for that is simply because the oddsmakers don’t have the time to do that in-depth research that a bettor might have. When there are 13 NBA games in a night, you’re talking about bets on up to 60-70 players, and when you see that many players posted, there are bound to be a few exploitable lines in there. The key to being a successful prop bettor is knowing which trends to look at (I use home/road splits, recent performance, and playing-time evaluation in addition to the defensive matchup) and taking advantage.

Before the bets get posted every day, I will set a line in my head for each player that I think will be put up. Let’s say for example, I think Dwyane Wade is going to have a total of 28 points. If I see a line like 25 put up, I’m going to jump on the over as soon as I see it. Being prepared ahead of time is critical because as I said, those lines move very quickly and you have to be ready. If I saw a 31 for Wade, I’d pound the under.

Prop betting is becoming more and more popular as people get more involved in fantasy sports, and I think you’ll see a lot more props for all sports as we go forward. If you are prepared, know which numbers to study, and have access to the bets right as they post, you can become a big winner!

Posted by Mike Godsey at 03:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Colts Take Their Time

By Tim Sullivan
WagerWeb.com contributing writer

If we're such a good story, if we're such a hot item, then you can wait a day for us.

In essence, that's what Colts coach Tony Dungy and his AFC champions were saying to the grumpy media types who have been up in arms over the fact that Indianapolis waited until today to arrive in Miami. The Bears? They cooperated and, like most Super Bowl teams, showed up on site, on Sunday afternoon, a full week before the big game.

The Colts? They stayed in Indiana and jumped on a charter Monday morning.

"We understand the Super Bowl is not going to be normal. We just felt that that was the way to go," Dungy said of the delayed strategy. "We’ll get a chance to get down there, and let the guys enjoy the city."

Perhaps that's the biggest reason he slowed things down. Miami isn't the greatest place in the world to practice and prepare for the biggest game of the season, the tilt that Indianapolis is a 6.5-point favorite for on WagerWeb.com. There are distractions aplenty. Maybe one less day of those distractions will prove beneficial.

"Miami is a great place to visit and there are all kinds of things you can get into," said Bears rookie return man Devin Hester, who played at the University of Miami. "We do want to have a little fun, but be careful of your surroundings. We’re here to play a football game."

So are the Colts, who will have many a question to answer on Tuesday, when Media Day commences and all those grouchy sportswriters can finally press record on their handhelds.

"We put our schedule together for what we thought was going to be the best for us to win," Dungy said. "My thought was to take a couple of days away from it physically and emotionally."

And it's hard to argue with him. After all, the Colts, unlike the Bears, had to win three games to get to Miami. They've been facing critical games, week after week, for more than a month. Chicago, on the other hand, was on cruise control leading up to the postseason, then had the benefit of the bye week, and didn't have to travel a mile to play either of its two playoff games.

"I just want them to relax," Dungy said.

Mission, apparently, accomplished. Now, it's time to get to work.

HELP FOR ELI: Or so they think. The Giants, late on Sunday, named Chris Palmer their new quarterbacks coach. The former head coach of the Cleveland Browns will now be the primary tutor for struggling starter Eli Manning. Palmer has also worked on the staffs of New England, Jacksonville, Houston and Dallas.

Palmer is a decent hire, but you can look at his past results either way. On one hand, he truly helped Drew Bledsoe while with the Cowboys, and Mark Brunell when he was with the Jaguars. Palmer worked under his current boss, Tom Coughlin, in Jacksonville, by the way.

But the jury is still out on David Carr, whom Palmer mentored in Houston. And Tim Couch, whom the new Browns staked their franchise to, was a complete bust.

Where Eli falls in that mix is anyone's guess.

EXTRA POINTS: Maybe this is the reason we didn't hear much from Richard Seymour this postseason. The Patriots defensive lineman will undergo arthroscopic knee surgery this offseason, but shouldn't miss any of Coach Bill Belichick's organized team activities. ... Former Giants running back Maurice Carthon, who was fired as offensive coordinator in Cleveland halfway through this season, could land in Arizona as a running backs coach this week.

Posted by Mike Godsey at 03:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

NBA First-Half Fantasy All-Stars

By Chris Goudey
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

The final results have just come in on this season’s NBA All-Star voting, and while you see the typical names on the list of starters (Wade, LeBron, Garnett, Kobe, Duncan, etc…) for the East and West, in fantasy basketball all of these guys are pretty much doing what was expected of them. Those aren’t the guys that are going to win you a fantasy title because they give you the same great numbers year after year and you select them with your 1st and 2nd round picks. No, the players that win you fantasy titles are the ones you draft in the late rounds or acquire off free agency early in the year that become solid to outstanding NBA starters, so while you see the big names on the real All-Star squad, my All-Star team is going to look a lot different.

I’ll break these down by position because in fantasy, your lineup usually consists of point guards and shooting guards, not just “guards” like they do in the real All-Star game. Here are the All-Stars from a fantasy perspective:

Point Guard:
Maurice Williams, Milwaukee – Mo was most likely a last-round or next-to-last round selection in most drafts, but has played like a 3rd-4th rounder. Williams was a backup last year to T.J. Ford, but became a starter this year when Ford was traded to Toronto in the off-season. Mo has been very solid across the board, averaging 17 ppg, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, and just over 1 3-pointer and 1 steal per game. Unfortunately he got hurt a couple of weeks ago and it’s now looking like he won’t be back for at least another couple of weeks, so hopefully his owners can wait it out until he returns. Williams might not make the end-of-year team because the Bucks acquired Earl Boykins to fill in for him and Boykins has played just as well as Williams did. It remains to be seen what will happen because the team now has 5 guys for 3 spots (Mo, Boykins, Michael Redd, Charlie Bell, and Ruben Patterson), but as far as the 1st half is concerned, Mo is definitely an all-star.

Deron Williams, Utah – After a rookie season where he lagged in comparison to Chris Paul, the other PG taken early in the 2006 draft, Williams has shown why he was so highly regarded coming into it. D.Will was probably taken a few rounds before Mo so he gets the second spot instead of the first on my team, but his numbers are very close to his namesake. The one area where Deron is unquestionably better than Mo is in assists, where he averages 9.1 per game, tied for 2nd in the league with Jason Kidd. The rest of his numbers are almost identical to Mo, with Mo being a slightly better rebounder. There is no reason why Deron can’t continue this play and could take over the top spot by the end of the season.

Honorable Mention: Leandro Barbosa, Phoenix; Earl Boykins, Denver-Milwaukee; Jarrett Jack, Portland

Shooting Guard:
Kevin Martin, Sacramento – Martin is another guy like Mo Williams, who was probably drafted very late if at all, but has put up almost “real” All-Star numbers. Martin has been an outstanding shooter, making almost 50% of his shots from the field and 88% from the line. In leagues that count those two categories he has made a world of difference because he’s taking a lot of shots, enough to average over 20 points per game. Add in 1.6 3-pointers per game and 1.2 steals and you’re looking at some great fantasy numbers. Martin’s not much of a rebounder or passer but you can get those stats from your PG and your big guys.

Mike Miller, Memphis – Miller has just become a fantasy stud this season, combining deadly long-range shooting with a new-found love for rebounding and passing. The new uptempo game they are playing in Memphis is perfect for Miller, who was probably taken in the mid-late rounds in most drafts. Previously he had been known as just a 3-point shooter but this year he has really stepped up his game, going from 1.9 per game to 2.8 this year, which is 4th in the league behind Gilbert Arenas, Ray Allen, and J.R. Smith. The thing that’s making Miller a much better player this year are his assists (4.4 per game) and rebounds (5.9), which are very strong in comparison to most of the other players at the position. Miller is a true swing player, playing both shooting guard and small forward, but I put him here because there are two small forwards that I couldn’t keep off the team.

Honorable Mention: Monta Ellis, Golden State; J.R. Smith, Denver; Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia

Small Forward:
Josh Howard, Dallas – Howard is one guy on this list that might make the “real” team, but that’s more because of his defense and his team’s record. For the fantasy team he makes it because he was probably a mid-round selection who is putting up 2nd round numbers. There is only one out of eight categories where Howard isn’t putting up at least good numbers, and that’s assists, which is no big deal for a small forward. You’d like a guy to have at least 4 assists per game but when he averages 20 points, 7.2 rebounds (outstanding for a SF), 1.5 3’s made, 1.3 steals, and even gets 1 block per game, you’re not going to complain when he’s only getting you 2 assists. Howard is a nice percentage shooter also, making 46% from the field and 83% from the line, so when you add all that up, you have your starter at SF.

Caron Butler, Washington – It’s hard to believe the Wizards got this guy for Kwame Brown, isn’t it? Butler has a shot at making the East All-Stars because of his outstanding improvement and the fact the Wiz currently have the best record in the conference. This guy is probably the biggest reason for the team’s improvement, despite the heroics of Mr. Hibachi Arenas. Caron is having a dream season, averaging 21 points, 8 rebounds (the best rebounding SF in the game if you don’t count Shawn Marion), 4 assists, and 2 steals. He’s also shooting 48% from the field and 88% from the line. Those are just excellent all-around numbers. Butler is not a big shooter of the 3-ball, so hopefully if he’s on your team you’ve got some others who can do that, but with those other fantastic numbers he’s giving you, you’re probably sitting in a very nice position in your league.

Honorable Mention: Luol Deng, Chicago; Kyle Korver, Philadelphia; Matt Barnes, Golden State

Power Forward:
Al Jefferson, Boston – It took a month or so for Jefferson to get into the starting lineup thanks to the brilliant coaching of Doc Rivers, but now that he’s there, he might not come out for 10-12 years. Jefferson has just been a beast down low, averaging 15 points, 11 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game since December. For a guy who was probably acquired off the waiver wire, he’s really helping your team right now and is probably the best player that didn’t get drafted in most drafts this year.

David Lee, NY Knicks – If that honor doesn’t go to Jefferson, it might go to Lee, who has come out of nowhere to average almost 11 rebounds per game, and that’s in only 30 minutes per contest. If Isiah Thomas was smart he’d be playing Lee 40 minutes per game and then he’d probably be the leading rebounder in the league. Lee’s not a big scorer yet, only averaging 11 points per game, but he averages a fantastic 61% from the field and 79% from the line, which make him a valuable member of a fantasy team. By having a guy like Lee on your team you can afford to have a couple of low-percentage scorers (i.e. Allen Iverson or Gilbert Arenas) to balance it out.

Honorable Mention: Zach Randolph, Portland and Carlos Boozer, Utah. Both guys are obviously having great years and are very nice values compared to where they were drafted, but remember this team is about guys who are going to win fantasy titles for you, and while I’m sure teams who own Zach and Booz are doing well, there are more 1st place teams who have Jefferson and/or Lee.

Center:
Andris Biedrins, Golden State: Anytime you can draft a guy who will get you 10 rebounds and 2 blocks per game in the last round, you’ve done very well for yourself. Biedrins is the guy who fits that description this year, and while he’s fallen off a bit recently, owners who have had him since the beginning of the year are sitting pretty. It remains to be seen how the recent trade the Warriors made where they acquired Stephen Jackson and Al Harrington will affect Biedrins, but as long as he gets the minutes, he’ll keep producing the rebounds and blocks. He also shoots a lovely 62% from the field, so he’s like David Lee with the added bonus of 2 blocks per game.

Eddy Curry, NY Knicks: I didn’t think I’d ever see this guy on anyone’s all-star team because of his supposed attitude problems, but apparently Isiah has made one good coaching move this year. Curry’s having a career-best season, averaging 19.5 points on 59% shooting. Eddy was probably a late-round selection and while he doesn’t rebound as well as most big guys (7 per game) and doesn’t really give you any other numbers except good shooting and scoring, for his price tag he’s been a very nice value. If he could ever use that body to get some boards and block some shots he could be a real All-Star, but fantasy owners are still happy with him this year.

Honorable Mention: Mehmet Okur, Utah; Nick Collison, Seattle; Mark Blount, Minnesota; Alonzo Mourning, Miami

If you have a few of my All-Stars you are probably sitting pretty in your league and could be dominating if your stud players (the “real” All-Stars) have been healthy. The key for the 2nd half of the year is to pay attention the box scores every night and see who’s getting more playing time than they used to. That’s the way you can acquire guys ahead of your competition and stake your claim to your fantasy championship!

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Formula One Changes

By Brit Fryer
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

The deck was shuffled again in Formula One. So, if you haven’t been following which driver is driving what in 2007, here’s a brief overview.

At The Front
Ferrari: Finn Kimi Raikkonen (+125 to win the F1 championship on WagerWeb.com), formerly of McLaren, inherits Michael Schumacher’s car, one that won’t lose a wing or suffer mechanical failure every other race. And Brazilian Felipe Massa, who broke through in 2006, vows not to play second fiddle to his new teammate.

Vodafone McLaren Mercedes: Ron Dennis’ team lured Fernando Alonso (+200, WagerWeb.com), the two-time defending world champion, away from Renault. He’ll pair up with Lewis Hamilton, last year’s GP2 winner.

Renault: Clearly fielding the dominant car the past two seasons with Alonso, boss Flavio Briatore will rely on veteran Giancarlo Fisichella. Heikki Kovalainen was promoted from a testing role to a race seat.

In The Middle
BMW Sauber: The team terminated Jacques Villeneuve last year and replaced him with Polish upstart Robert Kubica, who performed admirably. Kubica and teammate Nick Heidfeld should do fairly well in the team’s second season under BMW control.

Honda: Formerly British American Racing, Honda closed the gap in 2006. Englishman Jenson Button posted his first grand prix victory in thrilling fashion at the Hungaroring and outperformed teammate Rubens Barrichello.

Red Bull Racing: Red Bull regressed in 2006, scoring 18 less points than in 2005. David Coulthard, who earned the team’s lone podium finish last season, welcomes Australian Mark Webber, who’s trying to rebound from a disastrous
stint at Williams.

Toyota: The team with the ultimate financial backing posted one podium in all of 2006, but Ralf Schumacher and Jarno Trulli enter their second season on Bridgestone rubber.

Williams: Frank Williams’ once-powerful team has been rubbish lately. Nico Rosberg limped through his first season in F1 as Williams totaled 20 DNFs. Austrian Alexander Wurz gets his first chance at a full-time drive.

At The Back
Spyker: In September, the former Jordan and Midland team was sold to Dutch sports car manufacturer Spyker. The drivers? Christjian Albers has never scored a point in his two F1 seasons, and Adrian Sutil has never made a grand prix start.

Super Aguri: Short on speed and just about everything else, the Japanese team retained Takuma Sato and handed the second seat to England’s Anthony Davidson, once an impressive test driver for Honda.

Toro Rosso: The Red Bull-backed team, at times, outran its big brother. Though no official announcement has been made, Italian Vitantonio Luizzi and American Scott Speed are expected to return in 2007. Remember, Toro Rosso
was lowly Minardi not long ago.

NEW DRIVES: January is the month Formula One teams show their hand.Renault and Honda unveiled their 2007 machines Wednesday — Renault the R27 and Honda the RA107. Red Bull followed with its RB3. This all came after BMW Sauber, Ferrari, McLaren and Toyota showed off their stuff.McLaren is particularly proud of its new MP4-22.

“Once we get the MP4-22 on track, the progress we can make from now until the first race will be really big,” Alonso said, “and I have no doubt that we will fight for the championship.”

The season begins with the March 18 Australian Grand Prix.

WORKAHOLIC: Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher just can’t stay away. After announcing his retirement from Formula One last season, Schumacher is remaining at Ferrari as a consultant. He has unlimited access to Ferrari’s F1 program.

“He’ll come over whenever he wants to, and he will attend some GPs. He knows everything about racing and F-1. He will help us with our decisions,” Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo told Italy’s Gazzetta dello Sport.

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Underdog Bears

By Tim Sullivan
WagerWeb.com contributing writer

The line has dipped since Sunday night on WagerWeb.com, which means the Super Bowl public, at least early on, is leaning towards the Bears. Sure, they don't have the sentimental angle. That belongs to Tony Dungy. Sure, the Bears don't have the explosive offense. That belongs to Peyton Manning.

Maybe it's the fact that the Bears were the No. 1 seed in the NFC, with the most dominant defense for two-thirds of the season. Who knows, perhaps it's just the 6.5 points they're getting. Either way, there are quite a few out there who believe in the Bears.

Now that doesn't mean Chicago coach Lovie Smith isn't going to play up the "nobody believes in us" theory. Even if many do believe in them, Smith doesn't want to hear it. Not yet.

"As far as us being underdogs, if you look at what all the Colts bring to the table I could see why they would make us underdogs," Smith said. "But we've been in that role before, and our guys like the underdog role. I wouldn't bet against the Bears if I were a betting man."

Which, of course, he's not. But it's worth remembering when it comes time to head to the betting window. Keep in mind, the Bears used that same motivational ploy last week, when, despite Chicago being a small favorite, most of the country loved the Saints in the NFC title game.

Nevermind that New Orleans was playing the in cold, had never won two straight playoff games and was appearing in its first championship contest. But we digress. Either way, the Bears played up that angle and that worked OK, didn't it?

So, now it's onto Miami, where again the Bears will be the second story. And perhaps, that's warranted. After all, Smith is not Dungy. Rex Grossman is not Manning. Rashied Davis is not Marvin Harrison. Heck, Robbie Gould isn't Adam Vinatieri.

"It's a special time," Smith said, "and I think just having the two weeks helps you enjoy it more."

Smith is -- and will continue -- to say the right things, the politically correct things. But clearly, the Bears will throw out the "disrespect" card behind closed doors. And we'll see just how far that card will take them next Sunday.

CROWDED BACKFIELD: Jacksonville running back Greg Jones, who missed the entire season with a torn ACL, is back at work and expects to be full-go at training camp in August. Jones is a bruiser from Florida State, a definite jewel on the goal line and quite capable of breaking a few as well.

Problem is, Maurice Jones-Drew had quite the rookie season, and don't forget the franchise's all-time leading rusher, Fred Taylor. But Greg Jones, when healthy, is a quality back. So much so, that Coach Jack Del Rio and Co. may have to consider dealing Taylor, the oldest and most worn down of the group. He's also the one most likely to attract outside interest.

Clearly, it's something to monitor during the offseason.

LATE-NIGHT PLEA: Just in case you didn't think Eagles backup quarterback Jeff Garcia wasn't going to shop his services around during the free-agency period, he made sure of everyone knew his plans when he announced them on The Late Show with Jay Leno.

"I'll definitely be testing the waters," he said. "I've got to see what's out there."

He's sure to find something.

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Chase Changes

By Brit Fryer
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer


CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It’s hard for Kasey Kahne to argue with NASCAR’s changes to the points system and Chase for the Nextel Cup.

Kahne won a series-high five races for Evernham Motorsports before the 2006 Chase ever began, but he entered the postseason in 10th. Had Monday’s announcement been in place five months ago, Kahne’s No. 9 Dodge would have started the Chase first with 10 points to spare.

“Winning is what the sport is all about,” NASCAR CEO Brian France said on the annual media tour. “Nobody likes to see drivers content to finish just in the top 10. We want our sport — especially the Chase — to be more about
winning.”

Starting with the Feb. 18 Daytona 500, race winners throughout the 36-race season will receive 185 points — a five-point increase. Counting the five-point bonuses available for leading at least one lap and leading the most laps, a winner now can earn a maximum of 195 points, creating a potential maximum of 25 points between the first- and second-place finishers.

Then comes the Chase, which now will consist of the top 12 drivers rather than 10. After race No. 26, all 12 drivers will have their point totals reset to 5,000, and they’ll then be seeded based on the number of victories amassed that season, each of which carries a 10-point bonus.

Bobby Labonte, the series champion in 2000, is slowly coming around to the whole Chase thing.

“I can honestly say I didn’t like the deal three years ago when they started doing it,” Labonte said, “but I think it’s like anything else. You grow accustomed to it and it’s OK now. If you win more during the season that puts you in different places for the final 10. I think it’s all good.”
OUCH: Kevin Harvick (+1,200 to win the Nextel Cup on WagerWeb.com) let Teresa Earnhardt have it Tuesday.

Earnhardt operates Dale Earnhardt Inc., the Nextel Cup team founded by her late husband Dale Earnhardt, who died in the 2001 Daytona 500. As usual, Harvick pulled no punches, calling Teresa Earnhardt an absentee owner.

“It’s hard when you have what I call a deadbeat owner that doesn’t come to the race track,” Harvick said during a stop at Richard Childress Racing.

“You always see Richard Childress. You always see Chip Ganassi. All these owners, they all come to the race track. It’s not just a money pit that somebody says, ‘Well, I can make money off of Dale Jr. I can make money off of Dale Earnhardt.’ ”

Dale Earnhardt Jr., Teresa’s stepson, drives for DEI and is involved in a tense contract negotiation.
MORE CHANGES: The Nextel All-Star Challenge underwent a bit of a facelift. Four 20-lap segments, with no inverted restarts and various requirements scattered about, will decide this May’s $1 million race at Lowe’s Motor
Speedway. And two drivers — not one — will transfer from the Nextel Open.
NUTS AND BOLTS: Petty Enterprises, based in the Level Cross, N.C., since 1949, will move to Salisbury in the next year or so. … Toyota plans to purchase 89 acres in North Carolina’s Rowan County for a NASCAR support facility. … After an interview during preseason testing, Jeff Gordon found himself locked inside the Daytona garage area and climbed a fence to get out.

Posted by Mike Godsey at 01:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

P.J. Steps Up

By Marty Gitlin
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

A trade for Pau Gasol hasn’t developed beyond the discussion stage, but apparently Chicago power forward P.J. Brown has been inspired.

After all, he would be the odd man out of the starting lineup if the Bulls did acquire Gasol.

Brown put in his two cents and then some Thursday night against the torrid Dallas Mavericks. He scored six points down the stretch and held Most Valuable Player candidate Dirk Nowitzki to just 7 of 22 shooting in a 96-85 victory in Chicago.

The Mavericks had entered on an eight-game winning streak and having won 21 of their last 22.

“Things were rolling and the ball felt good,” Brown told the Associated Press. “Sometimes you have to want to take the shot. I got in a nice rhythm and after that I just kept shooting. It was just one of those nights.

“I didn’t think we needed much from me on the offensive end. Most important was for me to stay with Dirk and not let him have a monster night.”

The Bulls, who are second in the NBA at defensive field goal percentage, also held Josh Howard in check. Nowitzki’s frontcourt mate connected on just 4 of 20 shots. The Mavericks hit a season-worst 31.2 percent from the field.

Dallas (35-9) no longer boasts the best record in the league. That distinction belongs to Phoenix (34-8), which will shoot for its 16th consecutive win Friday night at battered Milwaukee. WagerWeb.com lists the Suns as rare (11 points) double-figure road favorites.

UNFAIR FOR TELFAIR? Boston guard and former highly coveted high school standout Sebastian Telfair has taken another step back in his NBA career.

Telfair lost his starting job after Christmas and is now a third-string point guard with one of the worst teams in the league. He has averaged four minutes of playing time in the last three games and has dropped behind emerging Delonte West and Rajon Rondo in the rotation.

West is averaging 21.7 points and 6.3 assists in those three games while Rondo is contributing 6.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists off the bench.

The Telfair saga continues Friday night in Toronto, where the Celtics are 9-point underdogs, according to WagerWeb.com.

DRIBBLES: Is it more frustrating to be blown out or to lose at the buzzer? The New Jersey Nets are finding out these days. They suffered their third consecutive one-point defeat, 102-101, at the Los Angeles Clippers on a 3-point bomb by Cuttino Mobley with 0.6 seconds remaining. The Nets have fallen behind first-place Toronto in the Atlantic Division. … The top seven teams in the Eastern Conference sit within three games of each other. Current top seed Detroit hosts second-seeded Washington Friday night. WagerWeb.com lists the Pistons as 5.5-point favorites.

Posted by Mike Godsey at 01:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Hey, Brother

By Tim Sullivan
WagerWeb.com contributing writer

Eli Manning is a world away from where his brother, Peyton, is. Sure, they both made the playoffs, but Peyton won three games and advanced to Super Bowl XLI. Eli? He was gone, it seemed, before the tournament even started.

But in New York, a story's a story. And this week -- with not much going on except the dysfunctional Knicks losing games left and right in the Big Apple -- Eli's thoughts on his brother's run became one of those stories.

So the Giants cooperated, and he graciously spoke with the media.

"I was excited for Peyton. I know everything he’s been through, being another player who is going through the same things and has been to the playoffs and been disappointed," Eli said. "I’ve only been twice, and he’s been a number of times and has been through it. It’s tough. The road they took to get to the Super Bowl, having to beat Kansas City, Baltimore, who was playing about as good as anybody, and New England, who is as good in the playoffs as anybody. To win those three games and to get to this position, it’s a tough deal, and I’m just excited for him. I know how hard he’s worked."

Eli works just as hard, or so we think. It would help, of course, if his receivers -- Jeremy Shockey and Plaxico Burress -- went through the same offseason program with him. Perhaps a better chemistry would evolve. But those two combustible parts choose to train at the University of Miami, while Manning, for the most part, works with backups in New Jersey.

"I still have a lot of time to try to get my opportunity to get down there," Eli said of making the big game. "I want to be on the other side and not have to be down in Miami going to events and things like that. I want to be in the hotel studying film and getting ready to play for a championship."

He may get his chance. It may not be with Tom Coughlin at the helm, but he may get there nonetheless. But he won't do it alone. The Giants need a clear-cut workhorse running back to replace Tiki Barber. They have Brandon Jacobs, but he's more unproven than Eli is. They need a more reliable secondary. And they need a healthy group of linebackers.

Right now, they have none of that.

"That’s what you play for," Eli said. "That’s the only thing that’s on players’ minds as they play through the season, is to try to win games, to try to get into the playoffs and then, from there, you try to get to the Super Bowl and win a championship."

Peyton has his opportunity against the Bears and he's a 6.5-point favorite on WagerWeb.com to cash it in.

Eli, well, he has to wait.

MIKE'S MESSY MIX IN JACKSONVILLE: Mike Shula didn't get the Dolphins' head coaching job, but he made it to the NFL nonetheless. Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio brought Shula in to be the quarterbacks coach this week, and immediately, he has his work cut out for him.

Shula, of course, is no stranger to messy situations considering the probation-laden program he assumed at Alabama. But what he'll do with David Garrard, who started 10 games last season, and Byron Leftwich, who started six? Who knows.

EXTRA POINTS: Safety Rodney Harrison may not fit in the Patriots' plans next season. He is oft-injured, he is 34, and he stands to make $2.7 million next season. That's a recipe for a release when Bill Belichick is your head coach. ... Despite rumors to the contrary, disgruntled Raiders wide receiver Jerry Porter appears to be in the mix for next season as Coach Lane Kiffin reworks the offense. Porter demanded a trade during the brief Art Shell Era, Part 2.

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FA Cup Fourth Round

By Tim Robertson
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Birmingham City will take aim at another Premiership scalp in this weekend’s FA Cup fourth round.

Having humiliated Newcastle in a 5-1 win at St James’ Park, the Blues host Reading on Saturday, and despite what the league table says Royals manager Steve Coppell believes his team should not travel to the midlands with the idea that they are facing a Championship side.

Birmingham, hit hard by injury, went down last season but look like coming straight back up as they sit second in the Championship with two games in hand on leaders Derby.

"If you look at the season they had last year injuries determined their season,” Coppell said. “If they had had all their personnel available they would still be a Premiership club.

"I would see them as a Premiership club even though, at the moment, they are outside it. And given their position in the league, they are rehearsing for the Premiership now.

"Just look at the money they have spent since last summer. They have spent significant amounts of money mainly on strikers and they have serious intent. They want to play in the top flight and they have invested to do that."

Indeed, Steve Bruce demonstrated his determination to push for the Premiership on Friday when he insisted that West Ham target Matthew Upson is not for sale.

Bruce has already rejected bids of £4 million and £6 million for the want-away defender, and told West Ham not to bother bidding again.

“He is not going, full stop,” Bruce said. “Whether it is £8million, £9million, £10million, it wouldn't matter.”

With the new TV deals kicking in next season, Bruce knows that a return to the Premiership would be worth far more to Birmingham than any fee they could get for Upson now.

Birmingham won this fixture in the Cup after a replay last season, but are well-fancied to do the job in one go this time at home.

Bruce will field the same team that embarrassed Newcastle, while Reading are without defender Ibrahima Sonko and striker Kevin Doyle.

WagerWeb cannot split them, offering both at +150, but it is tempting to back Birmingham to do the job at St Andrews.

Another Premiership club that has Championship opposition is Blackburn, who must travel south to face Luton Town, managed by former player Mike Newell.

Newell was a member for the Rovers team that won the Premiership title in 1995, but he does not intend to do his old employers any favours on Saturday afternoon.

“We had a great few years there and we had great spirit," Newell said of his time in Lancashire. "A lot of the players were at the top of their game and a lot of them went on to be even better than they were at Blackburn.

"That time is something to look back on when you finish playing, which I have done, but it won't give us any advantage at all on Saturday."
Luton are at the wrong end of the Championship, and unlike Birmingham, do not have the sort of winning form that might worry Blackburn.

But Newell’s teams are nothing if not battle-hardened, and with Blackburn now minus skipper Robbie Savage through injury, the +300 odds being offered in favour of Luton do seem a little generous.

Middlesbrough face a potential banana skin as they head to high-flying League One side Bristol City.

Gareth Southgate’s team are nothing if not unpredictable. Quite where last week’s 5-1 win over Bolton came from, no one quite knows, nor would anyone have been too surprised if that scoreline had been reversed.

Whichever version of Boro turns up at Ashton Gate on Saturday afternoon will face a man in form as City striker Enoch Showumni has scored in each of his last five games.

The 24-year-old came into the game late but is blossoming after three years as a professional.

"He is not the finished article yet but he has been performing very well recently," manager Gary Johnson said. "He is on a good run of form and hopefully that will continue against Middlesbrough.”

City will have a sell-out crowd cheering them on in hope of a win that would be surely the biggest upset of the fourth round if they pull it off, but they must overcome a confident Boro team and odds of -110 in favour of the Premiership club.

In London, Tottenham will look to rebound from the disappointment of Wednesday’s 2-2 Carling Cup draw with Arsenal when they face Southend at White Hart Lane.

Spurs had led 2-0 against what was effectively an Arsenal youth team, but they were lucky to hold on for a draw by the end.

Southend were one of their victims early in the Carling Cup, and the Shrimpers will return to London intent on revenge having only lost that last game to a late and distinctly offside Jermaine Defoe goal in extra time.

Southend are battling relegation from the Championship, but far from seeing this game as a distraction, manager Steve Tilson is happy to have a game where the pressure is all on the opposition.

"You can't ask for anymore than to test yourself against Premiership opposition and we will travel down in high spirits looking to cause an upset,” he said.
"We played ever so well in our last meeting but I'm sure it will be even tougher for us on Saturday.”

Spurs are offered at -450 on WagerWeb.com with Southend at +900, but the last meeting suggested things might not be so straightforward.

There are also two all-Premiership meetings to consider as Portsmouth travel to Manchester United and West Ham host Watford.

It’s difficult to dispute United’s status as overwhelming favourites (they are offered at -350) to beat Pompey given their home form this season, but the other game is harder to call.

WagerWeb.com has West Ham as favourites at -125, but Watford will be buoyed by Tuesday’s win over Blackburn and – like Southend – will seek to enjoy a day away from the relegation scrap.

Posted by Mike Godsey at 01:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Mr. Hibachi

By Marty Gitlin
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Often when Washington Wizards scoring machine Gilbert Arenas hoists up a shot, he screams out, “Hibachi!”

Well, Mr. Hibachi is hoping to grill the Magic Friday night.

First place in the Southeast Division is at stake in Orlando. The Wizards (22-16) sit a half-game ahead, but healing Miami should prove a major threat the rest of the way.

WagerWeb.com lists Washington as a 4-point underdog, but much will depend on Arenas, who has been a bit schizophrenic recently. He erupted for 51 points Monday in a 114-111 defeat of Utah, then scored just 16 on 4-of-14 shooting in a 99-98 victory Wednesday against New York.

Winning despite an off-night by Arenas, who is averaging 29.9 points a game, should prove heartening. It marked the first time in six games that Washington won when Arenas failed to score 20 points.

Meanwhile, the return of Miami center Shaquille O’Neal from knee surgery has been delayed. He will not travel for a game Friday night in Philadelphia. His earliest comeback would be at home Sunday against Dallas in a rematch of the 2006 NBA Finals.

The Heat are still 2.5-point favorites against the 76ers, according to WagerWeb.com.

“Shaq is working out, feeling good, getting better day to day,” Heat interim coach Ron Rothstein told the Associated Press on Thursday. “That’s it. Case closed.”

NO MATCH IN DALLAS: The Los Angeles Lakers have played well despite injuries to center Kwame Brown and forward Lamar Odom.

But defeating Dallas again? In Dallas?

Forget it.

The Lakers were outscored, 69-44, in the middle quarters Thursday night in a 114-95 loss that avenged the Mavericks' defeat in Los Angeles. The Mavericks are 33-4 since opening the season 0-4 for the first time in franchise history.

The Lakers were buried at the starting forward spots, where starters Luke Walton and Brian Cook were outscored, 56-17, outrebounded, 21-3, and outassisted, 8-3, by the combination of Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard. The Mavericks enjoyed a 53-28 rebounding advantage for the game.

And for the second game in a row, Kobe Bryant was the lone double-figure scorer among Laker starters with 26 points.

DRIBBLES: Suspended Denver superstar guard Carmelo Anthony has only two games left to serve on his 15-game suspension. He will miss both games this weekend before returning Monday night against visiting Memphis. WagerWeb.com lists the host Nuggets as 1.5-point favorites Friday night against suddenly struggling Cleveland. … How was Portland rewarded for its home victory Wednesday night over the Cavaliers, arguably its best performance of the season? With a game Friday night at Phoenix, winners of 11 in a row. The Blazers are 14.5-point underdogs, according to WagerWeb.com. … Chris Webber is expected to receive more extended minutes for Detroit Friday night in Minnesota. He played just 17 minutes in his Pistons debut. WagerWeb.com lists Webber’s team as a 1.5-point favorite against the Timberwolves.

Posted by Mike Godsey at 03:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Slumping Kirilenko

By Marty Gitlin
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Is Andrei Kirilenko lost in Utah or have his skills suddenly and inexplicably deteriorated?

That is the question being asked both inside and outside the organization. In fact, it’s a question he’s asking himself.

The heretofore productive forward is no longer, partly because he is not utilized extensively in the offense. He’s scoring just 9.1 points a game compared to an average of about 16 over the past three years.

Yet he’s shooting a respectable 45 percent from the field, indicating he’s either become gun-shy or the emergence of Carlos Boozer, Deron Williams and Mehmet Okur as significant offensive threats has decreased his role in the offense.

Kirilenko, who missed five games with a sprained ankle early in the season, is pulling down just 5.2 rebounds a game compared to 8.1 a year ago. His blocked shots and assists have also markedly decreased.

Jazz owner Larry Miller told radio station 1280 AM that Kirilenko is “putting himself on thin ice” with his inconsistency and complaints about his role on the team.

“I’d almost like to call his bluff, say ‘OK, automatically we’re going to leave you out there. You’re going to take 20 shots a night five games in a row. And then we’ll see,’ ” Miller said. “That would resolve the issue. He’s either going to make them or he’s not.”

Kirilenko, who took just six shots in a 102-94 win Friday night at Toronto, expressed his frustrations on the court after meeting with coaches this week.

“I just go back and forth, back and forth, back and forth and I go to sleep,” he said.

The saga will continue for Kirilenko and the Jazz Saturday night in Chicago, where they are 6.5-point underdogs, according to WagerWeb.com.

MAGIC MAGIC GONE: Remember when Orlando was 13-4? That has become a more distant memory by the day.

The Magic are 9-14 since despite a five-game winning streak during that stretch. They have dropped their last four, including an alarmingly lopsided 114-93 home defeat Friday night to Washington that shoved them 1 ½-games behind the first-place Wizards in the Southeast Division.

Orlando is fine in the backcourt with Jameer Nelson and Grant Hill, and Dwight Howard is established as one of the finest centers in the NBA. But one major reason for Orlando’s struggles is starting forwards Tony Battie and Hedo Turkoglu. The pair combine to average just 16.6 points and 8.8 rebounds a game. They were outscored, 52-14, and outrebounded, 23-9, by Washington starting forwards Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison Friday night.

WagerWeb.com lists the Magic as 3.5-point underdogs Saturday night in New Jersey, which will attempt to become the first Atlantic Division team to reach .500 since it was 5-5 on Nov. 20.

DRIBBLES: Charlotte forward Gerald Wallace played his first game in nearly a month and erupted for 18 points and 15 rebounds in a 96-75 win Friday night in Atlanta. The surging Bobcats, who have won six of 10, are 2-point favorites at home Saturday night against the Hawks, whose three-game winning streak was snapped. … Chris Webber made his first start Friday night for Detroit, registering 18 points and seven rebounds in a 104-98 overtime victory at Minnesota. The Pistons could take over first place in the Central Division with a home victory Saturday night against Sacramento and a Cleveland loss in Golden State. WagerWeb.com lists Detroit as a 6-point favorite and the slumping Cavaliers as 3-point underdogs. Chicago can also forge a first-place tie by defeating the Jazz. … Boston forward Paul Pierce hopes to return from a left foot injury by the first week of February. The Celtics have collapsed without the all-star. They have lost six in a row and are likely to make it seven Saturday night in Washington, where they are 11-point underdogs, according to WagerWeb.com.

Posted by Mike Godsey at 03:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

SEC Basketball Notebook

By Randy Rosetta
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

South Carolina’s hopes of a third consecutive postseason bid of any kind are quickly unraveling, and things don’t get any easier as the Gamecocks hit the road for four of the next six games.

The Gamecocks (10-6, 0-3 SEC) have dropped by consecutive games to then-No. 2 Florida and Kentucky by a combined 82 points. In fact, over the last four games, USC has been outscored by 112 points. The losses to the Gators and Wildcats are the Gamecocks’ worst since 1915.

Tennessee is also struggling with three straight losses after stubbing a toe at Auburn Wednesday. The No. 22 Volunteers seemed to have the game with the Tigers in control before AU hit an 18-0 surge to turn the tide.

UT coach Bruce Pearl picked up a costly technical foul in the closing minute, in part due to a timeout granted Auburn. But Peal was also miffed by the fact that the Tigers shot 23 second-half free throws (making 18) to three for the Vols.

South Carolina’s struggles are across the board. The Gamecocks rank 12th in the SEC in scoring offense (62.6 points a game), field-goal shooting (41.7 percent), 3-point shooting (31.1 percent), rebounding margin (-1.7), assists (11.1 per game) and steals (4.4 per game).

Tennessee is in much better shape, topping the SEC in scoring offense at 84.2 points a game. Junior sharpshooter Chris Lofton leads the SEC with 22.5 points and 3.4 3-pointers a game with freshman JaJuan Smith also providing a boost with 14.2 points and 35.5 percent shooting (44 of 124) from outside the arc.

Tre’ Kelley has been the only consistent scoring threat for South Carolina, despite an ongoing battle with a knee injury. Kelley is the Gamecocks’ leader in scoring with 16.5 points a game (third in the SEC) and 4.5 assists a contest.

The Volunteers swept the season series with USC last year, but the Gamecocks knocked off UT in the SEC tournament quarterfinals. UT is a 15-point favorite tonight.

GEORGIA at No. 10 ALABAMA (1:30 p.m. EST): The Crimson Tide get back home where they should be safe from another blowout. Alabama has lost seven of its last eight SEC road games dating back to last season, including blowouts at Arkansas and Vanderbilt this year. At Coleman Coliseum, though, the Tide (14-3, 1-2) is 9-0 this season and has rattled off 16 wins in a row. Alabama coach will celebrate his 42nd birthday against the Bulldogs, who stunned Arkansas 67-64 on Wednesday. Georgia (11-5, 3-1) trailed the Razorbacks 62-55 and 64-58 in the closing moments but scored nine unanswered points on 3-pointers – the last on Steve Newman’s 26-footer as time expired. The Bulldogs knocked off ’Bama 88-79 last season despite Tide guard Ronald Steele’s career-high 26 points, but haven’t won in Tuscaloosa since 2003. Alabama’s frontcourt of Jermareo Davidson (14.2 points, 9.3 rebounds per game) and Richard Hendrix (14.9, 8.8) should be too much for Georgia. The Tide are 5-point favorites on WagerWeb.com.

AUBURN at MISSISSIPPI STATE (3 p.m. EST): The Tigers broke through for an 83-80 triumph against 22nd-ranked Tennessee Wednesday, Auburn’s first victory against a ranked foe since 2004. Junior Frank Tolbert led AU (12-7, 2-2) with a career-best 24 points and provided the exclamation point with a fast-break slam dunk. Quan Prowell added 21 points for the Tigers, 21 in the second half when Auburn uncorked an 18-0 blitz to stagger the Volunteers. The Tigers are off to their best SEC start since 2003. Mississippi State (10-6, 1-2) is back in action after a week off following a tough-to-swallow 64-60 loss at Kentucky last weekend. The Bulldogs have been one of the tougher defenses to shoot against, limiting opponents to 37.3 percent overall shooting (second in SEC) and 27 percent from 3-point range (first in SEC). Freshman guard Barry Stewart is coming on for State with 21 points in the last two games and is shooting 40.4 percent (36 of 89) from 3-point land.

No. 16 LSU at ARKANSAS (3:45 p.m. EST): The Tigers struggled to get past Auburn and Ole Miss at home, but stand in first place in the SEC West as they enter the first of their two annual grudge matches with the Razorbacks. LSU (13-4, 2-1) is averaging only 62.7 points a game in league play, but has offset that by beating foes on the backboards by an average of 7 rebounds a game. Sophomore swingmen Tasmin Mitchell and Terry Martin have emerged as the Tigers’ secondary scoring options behind Glen Davis (18.7 ppg). Mitchell is producing 16.7 points a game in SEC play (14.6 overall), while Martin overcame a goose egg in his SEC debut vs. Alabama with a career-best 23 points against Auburn and 15 against Ole Miss. Martin has hit 9-of-18 3-pointers in SEC play. Arkansas is reeling with three losses in a row by a total of 12 points. The Hogs (12-6, 1-3) have led in the final 35 seconds in three their losses by four points or less. Junior center Steven Hill notched a career-high 15 points against Georgia and has connected on his last 12 field goals. LSU swept the Razorbacks last season and has won seven of the last eight games with Arkansas. The last four games of the series have been settled by a total of 12 points. The Hogs are 2.5-point favorites on WagerWeb.com.

Posted by Mike Godsey at 03:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

No-Name Pats D

By Tim Sullivan
WagerWeb.com contributing writer

Every year, right around this time, stories start popping up about the anonymity of the New England Patriots.

The annual rite is easy to figure. First of all, the Patriots are usually still alive in late January. And, because of that, media types worldwide struggle to find story angles. Typically, they all come to this simple conclusion: There just aren't any.

That's the way New England likes it. Take away Tom Brady and this is a team without stars. They are a team in every sense of the word, mind you. And the Pats protect that identity better than any other team in NFL history. But, in the eyes of the media, for the most part, they are boring, nameless and faceless. And no unit personifies that more than this year's defense.

"Sunday's game is going to be about who executes the best, who plays the hardest and who makes the most plays."

That was a generic quote from defensive back Artrell Hawkins, regarding the AFC title game against the Colts Sunday. Quick, how many of you know who Hawkins is? That's the point.

This unit is filled with Hawkins-types. On the other side of the defensive backfield, there's Asante Samuel. At linebacker, there's Mike Vrabel. In the middle of the line, there's Vince Wilfork.

Sure, there are die-hards out there who know who these guys are. But as the postseason wears on, and more and more casual fans start tuning in, these guys become more and more anonymous.

"We have to be clicking on all cylinders to have a chance."

Another canned quote, this one from linebacker Tully Banta-Cain. Most people can't even pronounce his name, much less know who he is.

"We're not going in with the mentality that we can stop every play. However, when we do get our opportunities we need to make them worthwhile."

That offering was from Ellis Hobbs. He plays cornerback, as well, by the way.

So you get the idea. The "Who Are These Guys" idea.

But the funny thing, is they don't care. That's the Bill Belichick way. Prepare the right way, work harder than anyone else and win at all costs. Style points mean nothing. Headlines mean nothing. Names mean nothing.

And you have to admit, it works. The Chargers and Jets sure were befuddled by the Patriots' defensive schemes. And surely, Belichick will have another airtight plan for Peyton Manning and Co.

"Throwing the ball before they are even in their break, getting the ball out of his hands fast, changing and adapting to the routes, and knowing where the receivers are going if he has to scramble," Hobbs said of the way Manning handles his offense. "All those little things are what makes them so good."

We'll find out just how good on Sunday. Indianapolis is -3 on WagerWeb.com.

FIRST-YEAR HONORS: The NFL 101, a national media committee which features 101 sportswriters and broadcasters, honored two rookie coaches this week. The group named the Jets' Eric Mangini and the Saints' Sean Payton the AFC and NFC Coach of the Year, respectively.

The Jets, under Mangini, went 10-6 and lost to the Patriots, 37-16, in the wild-card round. The Saints, under Payton, won the NFC South, defeated the Eagles, 27-24, in the divisional round, and will meet the Bears in the conference championship game Sunday. Chicago is -2.5 on WagerWeb.com.

EXTRA POINTS: The Giants officially promoted Kevin Gilbride to the offensive coordinator position vacated by John Hufnagel this week. ... Patriots wide receiver Troy Brown has been battling the flu, but has returned to practice and will play against the Colts Sunday.

Posted by Mike Godsey at 03:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Man U-Arsenal

By Tim Robertson
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

They are no longer head-to-head battles for the title, but there is still something special about meetings between Arsenal and Manchester United.

The Premiership’s relatively short history is dominated by these two clubs, and so many times in the past has this fixture determined whether the trophy went north or south.

Given Arsenal’s position, fourth in the table 15 points adrift of United, that will not be the case on Sunday, but there is no less anticipation.

This could be a decisive weekend in the Premiership. Twenty-seven hours before Arsenal and United kick off at the Emirates Stadium, Chelsea face a tough task at Liverpool .

Conceivably by Sunday evening, Chelsea could be nine points adrift of United in the title race. Just as likely, the gap could be down to three.

Like Chelsea’s opponents Liverpool, Arsenal knocked themselves out of the title race with poor results early in the season, but the points difference to the top hides the fact that they have closed the quality gap in recent weeks.

They are surely out of the title race, but Manager Arsene Wenger, never one to give up until the fat lady has sung, isn’t so sure.

"I can understand that even if we win people still think we have no chance, but we see things differently,” he said.
"I believe that for a team which is young like my team, it is important that they get the belief that they can win the big games -- game after game. They win one, they win two, they win three and suddenly that can transform a team.

"Then you say: 'nobody can stop us' and they can strengthen that belief.

"They have done it already -- but they can strengthen that belief by beating Manchester United on Sunday.

"We want to reduce the gap on Manchester United as quickly as possible and we want to continue our run because we are in good form.

"We are involved in nearly every competition, even the championship, and you never know."

Arsenal inflicted United’s only home defeat of the season so far, winning 1-0 at Old Trafford in September through Emmanuel Adebayor’s late goal.

The Gunners remain unbeaten in the league at home in their new stadium, but have dropped too many points in drawing five of 11 at the Emirates while they settle in.

"It is a big frustration because we dropped points at the beginning of the season through lack of experience and lack of form,” Wenger added.

"When you play a young player at the start of the season you know you will pay for his education with points. That is what happened to us a little bit."

There is every chance it will happen again this weekend. Although Thierry Henry is back, the loss of the suspended Gilberto Silva in midfield leaves Arsenal looking weak as a defensive unit, and United surely have too many weapons not to expose such a weakness.

That is despite the fact that United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted they are not firing on all cylinders.

The form of Wayne Rooney is a concern, with the 20-year-old star having scored just once in the last 13 games as his teammates have run riot around him.

"Wayne just needs a break," said Ferguson. "I am not concerned at all.

"It will come. What he needs to do is get into that one goal a game rhythm that strikers can do for you.

"If he does that it will make a big difference to our run-in.

"He is a big-game player.

"Wayne is a great example of a great player. He is prepared to work as hard as anyone.

"He is working his socks off and has a terrific attitude."

Ferguson’s other strikers -- Louis Saha, Ole Gunnar Solksjaer and Henrik Larsson -- have more than covered for Rooney’s shortcomings of late, and with them in form, United pose Arsenal’s toughest test at the Emirates yet.
WagerWeb.com does not split the two teams, offering both at +150 with a draw at +200.

Given Arsenal’s problems at the back, it’s tough not to see yet another United win as they attempt to wrest the Premiership crown back from Chelsea .

But United-Arsenal games are never as straightforward as that.

Posted by Mike Godsey at 03:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

NFC Championship Preview

By Chris Cluff
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Saints (11-6) at Bears (14-3), 3 p.m. ET Sunday (Fox)

WagerWeb.com line: Bears -2.5 (43)

The NFC is about to have a different Super Bowl representative for the seventh straight year.

Thanks to the Bears’ overtime win over the Seattle Seahawks last Sunday and the Saints’ well-grounded win over the Philadelphia Eagles, the NFC held to regular-season form, and the top two seeds will play for the right to represent the conference in the Super Bowl in Miami on Feb. 4. The Bears will be trying to get back for the first time since winning the title in January 1986, while the Saints are seeking their first trip to the championship game.

One of those teams will become the latest champ in a revolving-door NFC that has seen six different teams go to the Super Bowl in the past six seasons: Seattle, Philadelphia, Carolina, Tampa Bay, St. Louis and the New York Giants.

This NFC title game pits two rising powers -- Lovie Smith’s defense-driven Bears, who are 24-8 in Smith’s two seasons, and first-year coach Sean Payton’s upstart Saints, who have made it this far for the first time in the team’s 40 seasons of existence.

The Saints have become the feel-good fairy tale of the 2006 season, representing the rebirth of New Orleans a year after the city was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Led by Drew Brees, Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush, Payton’s team won 10 games and then beat the Philadelphia Eagles 27-24 last weekend, making New Orleans the first team in NFL history to reach a conference championship game after losing 13 games the previous season.

The Saints had the league’s No. 1 offense this season, and McAllister showed against the Eagles that he is completely back from a torn ACL that cost him 10 games last season. He ran all over the Eagles, gaining 143 yards and scoring two touchdowns.

“Our No. 1 concern is stopping Deuce McAllister,” Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher said. “We want to stop the run every week. So he is our main concern right now, especially after what he did last week. When they throw the ball, we’ll rally to it and hopefully make the tackles. We have got to stop the run. Reggie is an explosive guy. He catches the ball well, and he’s pretty good in the open field. So we’ve just got to try and get 11 guys to the football and make some plays.

“It’s a big challenge for us, the things they do on offense,” Urlacher said. “They move the ball around a lot. They have a great quarterback, pretty good running backs, good receivers and a good offensive line. It’s a huge challenge for us.”

The Bears survived their first challenge against the Seahawks, escaping with a 27-24 win when Robbie Gould nailed a 49-yard field goal in overtime. The win was Chicago’s first in its past three home playoff games, including a 29-21 loss to Carolina last postseason.

Embattled quarterback Rex Grossman played well enough against Seattle, hitting Bernard Berrian with a 68-yard touchdown pass and throwing for 282 yards on 21-of-38 passing.

Many Chicago fans had been concerned about his uneven performance during the season and were worried he might hurt the Bears in the postseason. He did turn the ball over twice against Seattle, throwing an interception and fumbling, but he made big throws when he had to, like the third-down, 31-yard strike to Rashied Davis in overtime that set up Gould’s field goal.

Smith has defended Grossman and stuck by him all season, and Urlacher did the same this week.

“Rex was 14-3 at the start of this year. I don’t know how many guys in the NFL can say that this season,” the All-Pro linebacker said. “I don’t care what his numbers are, what people write about him. He’s 14-3. That’s enough said for me. I’m just tired of people talking about him, especially our media around here. The dude has won 14 games at the start of this year. That’s pretty good if you ask me.”

So is Grossman’s supporting cast, which includes a strong running game. Thomas Jones ran for two touchdowns against the Seahawks, and he and Cedric Benson will need to play well against the Saints to take pressure off Grossman.

The Saints have played well on the road, going 6-2, but their defense has been prone to surrendering big plays; the Eagles struck with a 75-yard touchdown pass from Jeff Garcia to Donte' Stallworth and a 62-yard scoring run by Brian Westbrook. With that in mind, this shapes up as a similarly offensive game.

“This is the matchup we wanted,” Chicago cornerback Nathan Vasher said. “It’s great for us, great for TV, everything. We wanted to see the highest-seeded team and beat the best.”

SAINTS AT A GLANCE
Offense: 391.5 yards per game (first in NFL). Passing: 281.4 (first). Rushing: 110.1 (19th).
Defense: 307.3 (11th). Passing: 178.4 (third). Rushing: 128.9 (23rd).
Individual leaders
QB Drew Brees: 64.3 percent, 4,418 yards, 26 touchdowns, 11 interceptions.
RB Deuce McAllister: 1,057 yards, 4.3 average, 10 touchdowns.
RB Reggie Bush: 565 yards, 3.6 average, six TDs; 88 receptions, 742 yards, two TDs.
WR Marques Colston: 70 receptions, 1,038 yards, eight TDs.
WR Devery Henderson: 32 receptions, 745 yards, five TDs.
K John Carney: 115 points, 23 of 25 field goals.
KR Michael Lewis: 24.7 average.
PR Reggie Bush: 7.7 average, one touchdown.
LB Scott Shanle: 98 tackles, four sacks.
LB Scott Fujita: 96 tackles, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions, seven passes defensed.
DE Will Smith: 10.5 sacks.
DE Charles Grant: Six sacks.
CB Mike McKenzie: Two interceptions, 10 passes defensed.
Injury report: TE Mark Campbell (knee), WR Joe Horn (groin) and SS Omar Stoutmire (hip) are questionable.

BEARS AT A GLANCE
Offense: 325.0 (15th). Passing: 205.1 (14th). Rushing: 119.1 (15th).
Defense: 294.1 (fifth). Passing: 194.8 (11th). Rushing: 99.4 (sixth).
Individual leaders
QB Rex Grossman: 54.6 percent, 3,193 yards, 23 touchdowns, 20 interceptions.
RB Thomas Jones: 1,210 yards, 4.1 average, six TDs.
RB Cedric Benson: 647 yards, 4.1 average, six TDs.
WR Muhsin Muhammad: 60 receptions, 863 yards, five TDs.
WR Bernard Berrian: 51 receptions, 775 yards, six TDs.
TE Desmond Clark: 45 receptions, 626 yards, six TDs.
K Robbie Gould: 143 points, 32 of 36 field goals.
RS Devin Hester: 26.4 on kickoffs with two TDs, 12.8 on punts with three TDs.
LB Brian Urlacher: 142 tackles, three interceptions.
LB Lance Briggs: 134 tackles, four forced fumbles, two interceptions.
CB Charles Tillman: 81 tackles, five interceptions, 14 passes defensed.
CB Ricky Manning Jr.: 53 tackles, two sacks, five interceptions, 10 passes defensed.
DE Alex Brown: Seven sacks, two interceptions.
DE Mark Anderson: 12 sacks.
Injury report: WR Mark Bradley (ankle) is questionable and DE Adewale Ogunleye (quadricep) is probable.

Best bet: The Seahawks gashed the Bears on the ground, and the Saints will follow suit while also forcing Grossman into key errors. New Orleans, 31-24.

Posted by Mike Godsey at 08:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Up-And-Down Newcastle

By Tim Robertson
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

On Tuesday, everything was looking up for Newcastle.

They were over the worst of a savage injury list which robbed them of virtually the entire first team for several months.

They were riding high after coming from behind to beat Tottenham away over the weekend, thanks in part to a stunning goal from Obafemi Martins.

And they were looking forward to an FA Cup third-round replay at home to Birmingham -- a game they were overwhelming favourites for.

Fast forward to Wednesday evening, and it all came crashing down as Newcastle were torn to shreds in a 5-1 defeat to their Championship opponents.

Birmingham was ahead in the opening five minutes, and Newcastle never offered a hint that they were going to turn it around.

Magpies boss Glenn Roeder, so glowing in his praise of his squad in the days leading up to the game, was as stunned as anyone after the game.

"I apologize to the fans," he said. "I think apologies are due after such a lack of performance from everybody. I certainly had no indication there was going to be a performance like that -- this was the same 11 players who beat Tottenham on Sunday.

"We never got going all night and in the end we have been badly punished. It was just a rank bad performance and a humiliating defeat at home."

The rapid change in fortunes summarizes Newcastle’s inconsistent season so far.

Whenever things have seemed at their worst -- such as their grim run of results in October -- something has come along like the impressive 1-0 UEFA Cup win at Palermo to lift the gloom.

Whenever things are going well -- see the rapid rise up the table in December -- the balloon has been just as quickly burst, as happened in the 3-0 loss to Everton.

Roeder, an unlikely man to fill the Newcastle hot seat -- few chairmen are as trigger happy as Freddy Shepherd -- has done well to keep on an even keel through the chaos, and he won’t panic after this defeat -- which may even help his small squad in the long run by reducing the fixture congestion.

But he knows there is much work still to be done.

Inept defending cost Newcastle dear on Wednesday, as has so often been the case in the league. It is the area where the injury problems still run the deepest and where the squad is too short on quality even when fully fit.
Roeder said after the Spurs game that he would not swap goalkeeper Shay Given for any other custodian in the Premiership, but that sentiment is of no use to anyone if the Irish international is not afforded some basic protection.

Given would probably swap his defense for anyone but equally inept West Ham right now.

Good news then that it is the hapless Hammers who are due at St. James¢ Park on Saturday.

Even coming off the humiliating loss, Newcastle should be backed to beat Alan Curbishley’s side.

The manager will demand a response from his team and should get it against his former team.

West Ham remains one of three teams -- the bottom three, in fact -- yet to win away, which is the quickest explanation as to why WagerWeb.com offers them as outsiders at +333.

It will be all doom and gloom in Newcastle on Thursday morning on the back of a stunning defeat, but Saturday is a whole new day. What a difference one of those can make.

Posted by Mike Godsey at 08:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Watford's Woes

By Tim Robertson
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

It’s tough trying to sign new players when you appear to be on a one-way street to relegation, but Watford are having problems persuading their best player to go.

The Hornets are 10 points adrift of safety, with just 12 from 21 games this season, and while Aidy Boothroyd’s side has shown plenty of spirit and endeavour, there has been none of the quality needed to survive in the Premiership.

That, you would think, would give star striker Ashley Young every excuse he needed to leave Vicarage Road.
Yet the 21-year-old has rejected the chance to even talk to West Ham after Watford accepted a £9.65 million offer for the youth international on Monday.

The fact that West Ham are themselves embroiled in a relegation battle perhaps made Young’s decision a little easier, but the Hammers’ resources mean they have every chance of pulling clear. Watford do not.

It may be that Young is waiting for the likes of Tottenham or Aston Villa to make good on their reported interest, but as welcome as it might appear at first, his decision to snub West Ham does Watford no favours.

Boothroyd has repeatedly said he would not sell Young until the player told him he wanted to go.

Only last week he said: "There are players out there who have gone for £8m-plus who do not have what he has.
shley is the trump card in the Premiership. There are not many players outside the top four clubs who are better than him.”

Yet the young manager would gladly have swapped Young for a fat cheque from Upton Park.

Young has scored only four goals in 23 appearances this season. For a club which has lost Marlon King to a season-ending injury, that is not enough.

Young’s value is all in his potential, and that is a luxury a club like Watford cannot afford to invest in right now.

The nearly £10 million West Ham were offering would be of far more use spent on three or four players who could strengthen their squad and help them build, if not for a survival battle, then for another promotion campaign next season.

Whether Watford get another offer to match West Ham’s is in doubt.

Tottenham are believed to have made an approach, but offered only a fraction of the sum West Ham were ready to spend, instead including defender Calum Davenport and winger Wayne Routledge – who is on loan at Fulham – as part-exchange.

But that deal was a non-starter as neither Davenport nor Routledge were willing to climb aboard Watford’s sinking ship.

Aston Villa has Randy Lerner’s millions to spend, but Manager Martin O’Neill has insisted he will not be duped into paying over the odds just because selling clubs know of the financial backing he has.

O’Neill can get another look at Young on Saturday when Watford visit Villa Park. Young will no doubt be in the starting 11, but he will struggle to make much impact with quality support, and that is why WagerWeb.com has Watford as +450 outsiders to grab all three points.

The odds on Watford having added any of that much-needed quality by Saturday also lengthened on Monday when it was confirmed that Fulham striker Collins John has joined the list of players to reject a move to the Hertfordshire club.

The Cottagers accepted a £3.25 million bid for the striker, but the Dutchman promptly rejected the move even though he has been told he has no future at Craven Cottage.

Boothroyd said: "I've spoken to his representatives, and he said at this point in time it's a no.

"I think there is still some hope but I'm looking at other options."

Life isn’t easy at the wrong end of the table.

Posted by Mike Godsey at 08:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Horses To Watch

Horses worth watching compiled by handicapper/racing writer Greg Melikov won three races and finished second four times since Dec. 17.

AQUEDUCT

Ghost Mountain: Tracked pace in third more than two lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied inside for the drive, steadied in upper stretch, altered course to outside, finished gamely to make up more than 2 ½ lengths and lost by a half-length at six furlongs on Jan. 12.

FAIR GROUNDS

Thunder Mission: Lunged at break, spotted field five lengths early, trailed by 10 lengths after a half-mile, advanced on turn, steered out from fifth in stretch, closed fast to make up seven lengths and lost by 1 ½ lengths at six furlongs on Jan. 13; ran final quarter in 24.

GULFSTREAM PARK

Wild Holly: Broke last from Post 10, raced seventh early, steadied on first turn, dropped to eighth more than three lengths behind after a half-mile, angled out for drive losing ground from fifth to sixth, closed well to make up more than 3 ¾ lengths in stretch and lost by three-quarters of a length and a nose at 1 1/16 miles on the turf Jan. 14; ran final 2 ½ furlongs in 29 4/5.

LAUREL

Cole’s Player: Raced fifth early, shuffled back nearing three-eighths pole, dropped to sixth more than sixth lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied in two path in stretch, steadied when blocked late, made up five lengths and finished fourth, beaten less than 1 ¼ lengths at seven furlongs on Jan. 14.

SANTA ANITA

Firebird Sweet: Broke last, trailed by more than 11 ½ lengths after six furlongs, rallied five wide from 12th to seventh into stretch, closed gamely to make up more than 4 ½ lengths and lost by a head at 1 ¼ miles on the turf Jan. 13.

TURFWAY PARK

Hum That Tune: Raced more than 10 ½ lengths behind in seventh after a half-mile, rallied four wide on far turn to fifth entering stretch, finished fast late to make up nearly four lengths and lost by a neck at a mile on Jan. 12.

Posted by Mike Godsey at 08:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Stout Colts Defense

By Tim Sullivan
WagerWeb.com contributing writer


Larry Johnson came and went. Jamal Lewis, too. Two pretty good running backs. Two pretty good rush offenses. Two pretty good teams -- Kansas City and Baltimore -- headed home early.

But on Sunday, the suddenly stout Indianapolis Colts defense will face a dynamic duo at running back. New England's Corey Dillon and Laurence Maroney figure to test Indianapolis in every way imaginable. Inside, outside, running, receiving, you name it.

Still, the Colts are -3 on WagerWeb.com.

"We're playing better,” Colts coach Tony Dungy said. “We're tackling a little bit better. We've always had a pretty good rush in the long-yardage situations, but in the third-and-5, third-and-6, we've tackled the underneath throws a little bit better.”

As evidenced by the fact that Indianapolis' opponents are just 3-of-22 on third-down conversions this postseason. Not bad for a defense that was simply getting gashed by non-playoff teams like Jacksonville last month.

"It's not the people, it's not the scheme,” Dungy said. “It's doing your job on every play.”

But, surely, it helps that safety Bob Sanders is back on the field. After surgery on his right knee, Sanders has lit a fire under this unit. Everything he seems to do lately, he's been doing well. When he blitzes, he gets to the quarterback. When he roams the middle, he stops the run. When he drops in coverage, he breaks up passes.

"Since I've been back, it seems like the guys have a lot more energy," Sanders said. "But we're in the playoffs, so that may be it, too.”

Ah, but the latter part of that theory hasn't held much weight in Indianapolis, Bob. The Colts didn't have much energy in the divisional round loss to the Steelers last season, did they?

Either way, something's going right these days. Whether it's Sanders, whether it's an intense playoff focus, whether it's simply the fact that the Colts are tired of getting kicked around this time of year, Indianapolis is to reckoned with, no matter how lethal Tom Brady and Co. can be in January.

"We're having fun," Colts linebacker Cato June said.

How much longer that lasts remains to be seen.

FATHER AND SON: The Dolphins can do a lot worse than Mike Shula as the replacement for Nick Saban. Shula -- who had to assume suspended scholarships and an overall messy situation yet still won the Cotton Bowl two seasons ago and put the Crimson Tide in the Liberty Bowl this season -- got a raw deal at Alabama and may need an NFL gig to show the world he can recover.

Now, taking a job that his father, Don, made famous won't be easy. But if he can survive a position that Bear Bryant held, he can do anything. Shula interviewed in Miami on Tuesday.

"He's got a lot of his dad in him," Dolphins chief executive officer Joe Bailey said, "very, very smart, very assertive, very firm."

Very available, too.

EXTRA POINTS: New Giants general manager Jerry Reese said running back Tiki Barber would be welcomed back should he decide to unretire. Reese would be better served finding someone in the free-agent market to compete with backup Brandon Jacobs, who doesn't seem ready to handle the full-time role just yet. Barber isn't coming back anytime soon. ... Chicago defensive end Adewale Ogunleye (quadriceps) is practicing with the team and should start in the NFC title game against New Orleans on Sunday. The Bears are -2.5 on WagerWeb.com.

Posted by Mike Godsey at 08:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Suns Lose Thomas

By Marty Gitlin
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

It seemed as if nothing could go wrong with the Phoenix Suns this season. They have, after all, won 10 consecutive games, mostly by double-digits.

But they have taken a bit of a hit. Backup center Kurt Thomas will be out for 4-6 weeks with an elbow injury. He hyperextended the elbow in the first quarter of Monday’s win at Memphis.

Thomas is averaging 5.7 points and 5.7 rebounds a game this season.

The Suns must get along without him Wednesday night in Houston. WagerWeb.com lists Phoenix as a 5-point favorite. The Rockets will be playing the second of the toughest back-to-back games one can imagine in the NBA these days. They lost to Dallas, 109-96, Tuesday night, despite a 45-point effort by guard Tracy McGrady.

WELCOME, C-WEBB: Can Chris Webber rejuvenate the Detroit Pistons?

We won’t find out much Wednesday night.

The man who returned home will emerge from the bench and is expected to play only a few minutes at home against slumping Utah, which is a 2.5-point underdog, according to WagerWeb.com.

Webber made it official Tuesday when he signed a free agent contract with Detroit. He will play center for the Pistons after spending the vast majority of his career at power forward.

“I made the decision to come here based on (Pistons president) Joe Dumars, on coach (Flip Saunders) and the team,” Webber told the Detroit News. “I just feel renewed. I haven’t felt this good about the game in a long time. You know, I’m excited to be coming home, but I am more excited to be on this team. It would have been no fun to come home and play on a bad team.”

The 34-year-old Webber averaged 20 points and nearly 10 rebounds a game in Philadelphia last season, but reduced playing time and nagging injuries have cut those numbers in half this year.

“Any time you get a guy who has something to prove, you are getting him at his best,” Dumars told the assembled media at a press conference Tuesday. “He is coming back to Detroit with a lot to prove, basketball-wise and otherwise. You know, watching him play last year, he’s not the high-flying guy he once was, but he is still so much better than most of the guys at his position.”

The Pistons, who lost to Miami in the Eastern Conference finals last season, have slipped into second place in the Central Division, 1 ½ games behind Cleveland.

DRIBBLES: The return of guard Quentin Richardson from injury has allowed New York coach Isiah Thomas to play the starting lineup he envisioned before the season began. Richardson, however, will take a seat down the stretch while highly productive Jamal Crawford plays. WagerWeb.com lists New York as an 8-point underdog Wednesday night in Washington. … Oft-injured Cleveland off-guard Larry Hughes has been shooting miserably. He has 8 of 38 (21 percent) from the field in the last three games. He hopes to break out Wednesday night in Portland, where the Cavaliers are 3-point favorites, according to WagerWeb.com. … The Phoenix-Houston game isn’t the only featured attraction Wednesday night in the NBA. WagerWeb.com lists the Los Angeles Lakers as 8.5-point favorites at San Antonio.

Posted by Mike Godsey at 08:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Lost Season For Liverpool?

By Tim Robertson
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Liverpool have had the sort of week that can define a season, and it did not go well.

In the space of four days, the Reds twice lost at home to Arsenal -- first exiting the FA Cup at the first hurdle in a 3-1 loss, then suffering a dramatic 6-3 defeat to a young Gunners side in the Carling Cup quarterfinals.

Barring an incredulous repeat of their Champions League victory two years ago -- they must beat reigning Cup holders Barcelona to progress -- Liverpool’s hopes of silverware are over for another season -- but worse, injuries suffered this week will put a big dent in their bid to hold on to a top-four place in the Premiership.

Both Mark Gonzalez and Luis Garcia were carried off on Tuesday night. Gonzalez will be out for at least three weeks with a damaged shin, but Garcia’s injury was far more serious and he will not play again this season.

That will deny him the opportunity to play against former club Barcelona next month.

Losing the versatile Spanish international is a big blow for Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez, who has asked his players to rebound with a big victory away at Watford on Saturday.

"I hope the result will galvanise everyone at the club, we must concentrate on the Premiership and be firmly focused on what is ahead,” he said. "We can analyse what has happened in these last two games and use that to our benefit in the future.

"The players now understand how important the Premiership is, and we will be ready to face Watford."

With confidence heavily dented and an away record that hardly boosts confidence -- Liverpool have won three and drawn two of 11 contests on the road -- the Reds face the very real prospect of an upset at Vicarage Road.

WagerWeb.com still heavily favours Liverpool at -200 compared to +500 for the Hornets, but Watford played well in a 2-0 defeat at Anfield earlier in the season, and the relegation-battlers are likely to come at Liverpool -- a recipe for success against a side on edge.

That defeat at Watford could even be contemplated shows how far Liverpool have fallen since preseason predictions that they would challenge for the title.

In the wake of Tuesday’s loss, Benitez admitted the club were still miles behind their rivals in building a competitive team.

“We are also looking for young players, but Arsene Wenger has been working on this for 10 years, we have been doing it for just a couple,” the Spanish coach said. "But we need to keep trying our best in the market and work quickly if you have the money.

"And if you have money, then you must work at bringing in the best young players. ... If you want top-class players you must spend money, not only at senior level but at youth level too.”

Benitez has been busy trying to put that into practice this week, sealing an 18-month loan deal for Argentinian defender Emiliano Insua, a six-month loan for young Italian goalkeeper Sebastian Padelli, as well as pursuing the signing of 20-year-old midfielder Sebastian Leto from Lanus in Argentina.

But they are players for the future.

This season is already looking like another lost campaign for Liverpool.

Posted by Mike Godsey at 06:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Women's Aussie Open Preview

By Marty Gitlin
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

If the Russians were this superior to the Americans at something more important during the Cold War, every backyard would have had a bomb shelter.

While eight of the top 13 seeds in the Australian are from Russia or former Soviet Union territories, the United States was shut out of the seedings completely. In fact, nobody is even close.

Venus Williams has withdrawn from the event, but she no longer rates. And sister Serena is now ranked 95th in the world. She seems to have lost interest in tennis completely.

What really weakened the field was the withdrawal of top-seeded Justin Henin-Hardenne, who is skipping the event for family reasons. That leaves Russian Maria Sharapova as the No. 1 seed. WagerWeb.com lists Sharapova at +225 (2.25-1) to snag the title.

The cream of the women’s crop has been bunched by bettors. Frenchwoman and defending Australian Open champ Amelie Mauresmo, who has slid up to the second seed, is at +350 (3.5-1) with fourth-seeded Belgian Kim Clijsters next at +500 (5-1).

A strong bet might be third-seeded Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova, who has yet to be recognized for her talents. WagerWeb.com lists her only at +2000 (20-1) despite a higher positioning than fifth-seeded Nadia Petrova (+1400, 14-1), sixth-seeded Martina Hingis (+1800, 18-1) and even 10th-seeded Nicole Vaidisova (+1600, 16-1).

One relative long shot who has also not earned the respect of bettors is eight-seeded Swiss Patty Schnyder (+8000, 80-1). If Schnyder upsets Sharapova in an expected quarterfinal showdown, she’s capable of winning the championship.

Hingis faces a tough draw. She meets 2005 Melbourne Open semifinalist Nathalie Dechy of France in the first round and will likely face Clijsters in the semifinals.

The withdrawal of Venus Williams with a lingering wrist injury might still leave her sister as the top American hope based on talent along, though several Americans are now ranked ahead of her, including Meghan Shaughnessy (No. 37), Shenay Perry (44), Jamea Jackson (45), Venus (46), Vania King (60) and Laura Granville (68).

Perry, in fact, is scheduled to be Mauresmo’s first-round opponent (victim?). Serena Williams, meanwhile, is on a collision course with Petrova in the third round.

Russians everywhere. But at least they're only armed with tennis rackets.

Posted by Mike Godsey at 06:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Men's Aussie Open Preview

By Marty Gitlin
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

One might ask why they bother playing out the men’s draw of the Australian Open.

Well, it gives a bunch of guys some exercise. And, hey, second place is nice.

The champion is all but a foregone conclusion. Sensational Swiss Roger Federer will be shooting for his 10th Grand Slam title. WagerWeb.com lists him at -300 (1-3) to achieve that goal – and for good reason. The only time he seems to lose, particularly in Grand Slam events, is to clay court specialist Rafael Nadal in the French Open.

Federer is arguably the most dominant player in history for two reasons. One is his undeniable talent. The other is that compared to other eras, such as the 1970s and '80s, when Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors and Ivan Lendl graced the courts, there is little premier competition these days.

Federer should breeze through early play, though U.S. Open semifinalist Mikhail Youshny might await in the third round. Federer might also struggle against likely quarterfinal opponent, Marcos Baghdatis, a surprise finalist a year ago.

WagerWeb.com posts the second-seeded Nadal at +600 (6-1). He is not nearly as dominant off clay and is on a collision course with Britain’s tough Andy Murray in the fourth round. James Blake, the top American hope along with Andy Roddick, and two-time Grand Slam winner Lleyton Hewitt also loom in the bottom quarter of the draw.

The inconsistent Roddick might be overrated a bit at +1200 (12-1), especially considering he is seeded sixth. Third-seeded Russian Nikolay Davydenko could prove a stronger bet at +2000 (20-1). The same holds true for fourth-seeded Croatian Ivan Ljubicic (+2800, 28-1) and the fifth-seeded Blake (+2000, 20-1). Eighth-seeded David Nalbandian (+2000, 20-1) has risen quickly through the ranks.

Last year, Nadal and Murray were the lone players to defeat Federer, who compiled a 92-5 record and appeared in all four Grand Slam finals and won three. He was the first player since Aussie great Rod Laver in 1969 to accomplish that feat.

The toughest first-round matchup among the contenders belongs to Blake, who is slated to meet former top-ranked Carlos Moya. Roddick would be severely tested against likely third-round foe and 26th-seeded Russian Marat Safin, who won the 2005 Australian Open.

Safin, however, must overcome young German sensation Benjamin Becker in the first round. Becker rose a whopping 419 places to No. 58 in the world in 2006.

Federer? Is he more likely to lose to injury or an opponent? Probably an opponent, but it's close.

Posted by Mike Godsey at 06:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Beckham To MLS

By Tim Robertson
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Eleven years after it was launched, Major League Soccer has come of age.

The announcement that David Beckham is to sign for the Los Angeles Galaxy has instantly put the league on the international map. While the 2007 season may kick off in April, it will come to life in July, when the world’s most recognizable footballer lands on the West Coast.

Beckham has agreed a five-year deal that could earn him around $250 million – almost $1 million per week – but this is good business for everyone, from the Galaxy to Beckham to the Melrose Avenue boutiques that can look forward to accepting Posh Spice's credit cards.

Galaxy jerseys are likely to become one of the biggest sellers in the world as Beckham’s army of fans – particularly in Asia – rush to buy his latest colours, while Galaxy games will be broadcast around the world, opening up the league and its players to new markets.

Beckham becomes the first player to take advantage of the new MLS rules allowing clubs to break the salary cap – Beckham’s deal obliterates it – to sign one “designated player,” and there can be no better standard-bearer if the league wants to attract a new influx of international talent.

Indeed, in the hours after Beckham signed, FC Dallas manager Steve Morrow confirmed he was working on a deal to bring former Holland midfielder Edgar Davids from Tottenham to Texas.

According to reports, the structure of Beckham’s deal is complex – his salary of around $10 million per year is only a fifth of the total value, which also takes into account image rights, sponsorship deals and a stake in the Galaxy franchise itself.

But unlike when Pele, Franz Beckenbauer et al signed for the New York Cosmos in the 1970s, this deal will pay for itself through the hype Beckham will attract.

In making the move, Beckham has fulfilled a long-standing pledge to finish his career in the U.S., but crucially for the league, he has done it at the age of 31 – meaning he still has 2-3 seasons in him before age really begins to catch up.

It is easy to think that Beckham is washed up already. Dropped from the England team after resigning the captaincy in the wake of a poor World Cup, Beckham has spent much of the Spanish season so far on the bench.

But he was still wanted by the club, and left the offer of a new two-year deal on the table to make this move. Beckham showed he can still be effective at the World Cup, and there were also a queue of suitors in the Premiership and elsewhere in Europe who would have gladly signed him up.

Instead, Beckham has embarked on what he believes is a long-term project.

"I don't want to go out to America at 34 and people saying 'He's only there to get the money',” said Beckham, who already owns a training centre for young soccer players in Los Angeles. "Soccer in America is the biggest played sport up to a certain age. That's where I want to take (the game) to another level.

"I think potentially it can go higher in America than anyone can believe.
"There are so many great sports in the USA. There are so many kids playing American football and basketball. Soccer is huge all around the world except in America, and that's where I want to make a difference with the kids.”

The vision Beckham and the Galaxy share is to make Los Angeles the first MLS “Super Club”. Right now, the only place the club sits alongside the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester United is on Beckham’s CV, but the ambition to be recognised on the world stage is there.

That is for the long term. In the short term, it is MLS itself that benefits the most.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber gushed over Beckham’s decision to join the league.
“David Beckham is a global sports icon who will transcend the sport of soccer in America," he said. "His decision to continue his storied career in Major League Soccer is testament to the fact that America is rapidly becoming a true 'soccer nation' with Major League Soccer at the core.”
Beckham’s arrival in Los Angeles – even though it comes midway through the season in July – will make the Galaxy preseason favourites to win back the MLS Cup crown they lost this season.
Whether or not the arrival of one player – no matter how big a name – is enough to decide the destination of the title remains to be seen, but make no mistake – this is a pivotal moment in MLS history.

Posted by Mike Godsey at 06:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Shaq Is Close

By Marty Gitlin
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

A comforting sight at practice Thursday in the massive form of Shaquille O’Neal has bolstered the hopes of the Miami Heat.

O’Neal won’t play Friday night at Golden State or the following night in Utah. He said he would need at least four or five practices to return, which could also count him out against his former Los Angeles Lakers team Monday night.

The Heat should benefit against the Warriors from the return of forward Antoine Walker and James Posey, who had been placed on the inactive list Jan. 3 for failing to meet team conditioning standards. Neither will start, however.

WagerWeb.com lists Miami as a 5-point underdog at Golden State.

WORSE THAN EXPECTED: Among the lone bright spots for Boston this season has been the continued development of guard Tony Allen.

Not anymore.

Allen, who had been averaging 20 points a game over the last two weeks, will miss the rest of the season with two torn ligaments in his left knee. His injury occurred when he landed awkwardly following a meaningless dunk late in a 97-84 defeat to Indiana on Wednesday.

The battered Celtics, who have lost eight of their last 10 games, are already missing leading scorer Paul Pierce with a stress fracture in his left foot. Forward Wally Szczerbiak will miss a week due to ankle injuries and starting guard Delonte West is out with a sore back.

The Toronto Raptors aren’t complaining. They are a 5.5-point favorites Friday night in Boston, according to WagerWeb.com.

BOYKINS BACKCOURT BOOST FOR BUCKS: The Denver Nuggets claimed they wanted to see diminutive guards Earl Boykins and Allen Iverson on the court at the same time.

They apparently didn’t like what they saw. Though the pair scored plenty of points, they presented matchup disadvantages. And with Carmelo Anthony returning after serving four more games of his suspension, they believed Boykins was expendable.

That’s why they traded the explosive 5-foot-5 bundle of energy to the decimated Milwaukee Bucks, along with guard Julius Hodge and cash for reserve guard Steve Blake.

Boykins, who has scored 20 or more points in eight of 10 games since the arrival of Iverson, should provide much-needed punch. The Bucks will be without starting point guard Mo Williams (shoulder) for 2-3 weeks, as well as backcourt mate and NBA fifth-leading scorer Michael Redd (knee) for at least a month. Starting forward Charlie Villanueva (shoulder) is also out indefinitely.

Boykins will help Milwaukee fans forget fellow waterbug point guard T.J. Ford, who was traded to Toronto during the offseason.

WagerWeb.com lists Milwaukee as a 6.5-point underdog Friday night in Philadelphia and Denver as a 2.5-point underdog against visiting Houston.

DRIBBLES: The Detroit Pistons had to be happy Thursday night. Only two games were played, but both of their top Central Division rivals lost. Chicago dropped its fifth in six, 86-83, to visiting New Jersey. It marked the second time in a week the Nets erased an 18-point deficit to defeat the Bulls, who fell behind Indiana into fourth place in the Central. Meanwhile, surging Cleveland was stopped dead in its tracks in a 109-90 loss at sizzling Phoenix. Suns point guard Steve Nash tied a personal best with 14 first-half assists and finished with 21 in just 31 minutes. The Pistons, who remain a half-game behind Cleveland, are 7.5-point favorites Friday night in Atlanta. … A home win against weak Charlotte on Friday night would vault New York to within a half-game of first place in the Atlantic Division. The Knicks are 6-point favorites, according to WagerWeb.com.

Posted by Mike Godsey at 06:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Eagles Soaring Behind Garcia

By Tim Sullivan
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

As it turns out, Jeff Garcia isn't quite finished just yet. He just needs a supporting cast around him, that's all.

He had one in San Francisco, and became a Pro Bowler. He didn't have one in Cleveland and Detroit, and became expendable.

But he has one in Philadelphia -- a running back, a tight end, a quality line and a host of young, hungry receivers. And as a result, he is 3-1 as a starter and has the Eagles (8-6) in the No. 1 wild-card slot in the NFC, should the season end today.

"It has been a lot of fun," Garcia said. "A year ago, I really was not thinking that this could happen for me."

But to steal an overused cliche, what a difference a year makes. When Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb went down last month, it appeared the season would go with him.

After all, that's what happened last season when Mike McMahon took over for McNabb.

But the thing is, Garcia isn't McMahon. He is a mobile, accurate, sturdy, ad-libbing quarterback who has made the most of his opportunity. Leading the Eagles to a 36-22 victory over the Giants on Sunday, Garcia marched the Eagles 80 yards with relative ease for the winning score in the fourth quarter.

Now, the Giants' defense completely collapsed around him. But, either way, he did make plays, he did silence the crowd, and who knows, he may have buried the Giants once and for all.

"It was about togetherness as a team. It was about having fun as a team and winning as a team," Garcia said. "That was really what it was about. There were times when the defense had to step up and come up with a big play. There were times when the offense had to do their thing. There were times when special teams had to do their thing. When you talk about an all-out effort, that was really what we got."

They'll need another one on Christmas Day. That's when they play the Cowboys (9-5) in Dallas in a game that could -- and probably will -- decide the NFC East. Monitor the line all week on WagerWeb.com. By the way, something tells us that Garcia will have a huge hand in the game, win or lose.

"He is a competitive little son of a gun. Thirty-six years old; I'm glad he has that amount of energy at thirty-six, but that can be trouble at times," Eagles coach Andy Reid said. "He's bounced back and played well."

And of course, let the storylines begin as Terrell Owens and Garcia face each other as opponents this week. The former 49ers tandem had a few too many rifts during the years in the Bay Area, and this seems like a perfect week to dig them all up.

But the Eagles, quite frankly, don't care.

"Jeff has done a great job. I've said it pretty much for three weeks now that he's been in there," running back Brian Westbrook said. "He comes in, he doesn't make many mistakes, he runs this offense, he leads the team, and with him back there we have a chance of winning and that's what we need."

We'll see if he can keep it up.

BREAK UP THE BILLS: As long as we're digging up old sports cliches, how about the standard: "This is a team you do not want to play down the stretch." If you've heard this one lately, chances are it was in connection with the Bills (7-7), who have won four of five and just posted their first shutout of the season, a 21-0 whitewash of the Dolphins.

It's too bad Buffalo isn't in the NFC, or else it would be alive and well. As it is, the Bills have been reduced basically to spoilers. But, let's face it, they've been pretty good at it. And the biggest reason might just be quarterback J.P. Losman, who has thrown for seven touchdowns in the past three weeks.

"When you have your quarterback in control of everything," receiver Lee Evans said, "it helps your offense out a lot."

Buffalo plays host to Tennessee (7-7) Sunday. Monitor the line all week on WagerWeb.com.

EXTRA POINTS: Don't buy into the Jake Delhomme Era coming to an end in Charlotte, a rumor that made the rounds over the weekend. Even if John Fox drafts a quarterback, it probably won't be until late in the draft. And let's face it, Delhomme has taken an expansion franchise to two NFC title games in a three-year span. ... Backup QB Tarvaris Jackson could get the call for Minnesota on Thursday night against Green Bay, in place of Brad Johnson.

Posted by Mike Godsey at 10:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Brawl Suspensions

By Marty Gitlin
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Madison Square Garden has long been known as a fight site.

Ali-Frazier. Louis-Marciano. Hagler-Robinson.

These famed brawls were inside a ring and the combatants wore gloves.

Not so Saturday night. The Nuggets had landed a haymaker on the Knicks in a game of basketball, then a boxing match broke out. No bell sounded before New York reserve Mardy Collins grabbed a driving J.R. Smith by the neck and yanked him down to the floor.

That's when all hell broke loose. By the time order was restored, all 10 players on the court had been ejected, including Denver scoring machine Carmelo Anthony, who landed a punch on Collins, and New York guard Nate Robinson, who battled Smith in the stands.

The result, announced Monday, is that Anthony has been suspended for 15 games, while Smith and Robinson will be gone for 10 games each. The two Nuggets have combined to average nearly 50 points a game this season.

Other suspended are Collins (six games), Jeffries (four games), Denver forward Nene and New York center Jerome James (one game each for leaving the bench). All the suspensions start tonight, when Denver hosts Washington and New York hosts Utah.

In addition, both organizations have been fined $500,000.

NBA Commissioner David Stern cited several factors in determining the severity of the fines and suspensions.

“Teams will be held accountable for the actions of their employees – management and players alike,” he said. “Players must take advantage of a break or pause in a heated situation to stop and restore order, instead of escalating the situation. Players must heed directions from referees and others who are trying to maintain order and not continue to put fans, referees and peacemakers in harm’s way.”

The uncertainty surrounding both games had prevented WagerWeb.com from posting odds by early Monday afternoon, but expect the Nuggets-Wizards line to be much different than it would have been because of the suspensions and ...

ARENAS BURNING UP ARENAS: Wherever Gilbert Arenas plays these days, explosions follow.

But Sunday night was ridiculous.

The Washington guard scored a franchise- and personal-high 60 points in a 147-141 overtime victory in Los Angeles against the Lakers. It marked Washington's third road win of the season. Arenas scored 14 consecutive points during one sizzling stretch.

Arenas has pulled the Wizards out of an early-season slump. He is averaging 38.7 points in his last seven games while shooing 49 percent from the field.

The performance against the Lakers marked the highest point total by a Washington player since guard Earl (The Pearl) Monroe scored 56 in a 1968 game, coincidentally, against Los Angeles.

DRIBBLES: New Orleans is losing games on the court and players off it. Guard Peja Stojakovic has already missed nine games with what was believed to be back spasms, but has now opted for back surgery. He's averaging 17.1 points a game and shooting 41 percent from 3-point range. Forward David West will undergo surgery on his right elbow. Top reserve Bobby Jackson has also been out with a cracked rib. The decimated Hornets play at Miami on Monday night and are 7.5-point underdogs, according to WagerWeb.com. ... It could have been worse for Toronto point guard Jose Calderon, who was removed from Sunday's win at Golden State on a stretcher after hurting his lower back going for a rebound. His neck was immobilized, but he had movement in all his limbs and is now listed as day-to-day. The Raptors have won three straight games despite the loss of Chris Bosh (left knee injury). ... Orlando rookie guard J.J. Redick has finally received a bit of playing time due to injuries. He has played 50 total minutes in four games and is averaging 2.8 points a game. He has hit just 4 of 15 shots from the field.

Posted by Mike Godsey at 10:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

NBA Dunks New Ball

By Marty Gitlin
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Even David Stern can commit a turnover.

Stern displayed a rare ability for a league commissioner to reverse course at the risk of ego gratification by scrapping the unpopular microfiber composite ball for the standard leather one.

When they ring in the new year, they will bring back the old ball.

Despite a slight increase in scoring and decrease in turnovers with the new ball, the reaction of the players to it had been overwhelmingly negative. Stars such as Shaquille O'Neal and LeBron James criticized the preseason switch, adding that the players should have been consulted first.

Stern admitted as much after the players union filed an unfair labor practice charge against the league on Dec. 1. He also heard players and coaches complain that the new ball cut their hands.

The team likely most affected by the change will be Boston. The Celtics are the only NBA team scheduled to play on both Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.

"One day we're going to play with one ball, and the next day we're going to play with another one," said Coach Doc Rivers. "It's just like the park. That's what it's going to feel like. Whoever brings the ball on Jan. 1, that's the one we're going to play with."

Speaking of the Celtics, they are playing some strange basketball these days, but they're not complaining. They fell behind by more than 20 points against New Jersey on Saturday before rallying to victory.

And Monday night, they nearly blew a 30-point lead early in the third quarter. The Knicks closed to within three points with 1:28 remaining before the Celtics closed out the 97-90 victory.

PAUL STANDS TALL: There's been no sign of a sophomore slump for New Orleans/Oklahoma City point guard Chris Paul.

The reigning NBA Rookie of the Year performed brilliantly in nearly single-handedly defeating the Cavaliers on Monday night in Oklahoma City. He outplayed James in a surprising 95-89 victory despite the absence of teammates Peja Stojakovic, David West and Bobby Jackson due to injury. Paul finished with 30 points on 11-of-16 shooting, 11 assists and five rebounds. James was held to a season-low 15 points.

Paul, who broke down the Cleveland defense consistently on penetration, is averaging a team-high 18.8 points a game. He is fourth in the NBA at 9.0 assists and third with 2.1 steals per game.

DRIBBLES: Two torrid teams meet Tuesday night when the Los Angeles Lakers play at Houston. According to WagerWeb.com, the Lakers are 2.5-point underdogs. They will play eight of their next 10 games on the road after opening the season with 15 of 20 at home. ... The Pacers suspended guard Stephen Jackson for Tuesday night's game in Chicago due to a heated exchange with Coach Rick Carlisle just before halftime during Saturday's blowout loss in Cleveland. Key starters Al Harrington and Jermaine O'Neal were also sidelined with injuries Monday. It all added up to a 106-91 loss to the host Bulls. ... Philadelphia 76ers team president Billy King said he won't comment on trade talks for Allen Iverson until they are completed. Iverson is still with the team in name only. His locker has been cleared out. Meanwhile, the 76ers lost their eighth consecutive game Monday night, 81-79, to Portland. Andre Igoudala (27 points) was the lone Philadelphia starter who scored in double figures.

Posted by Mike Godsey at 07:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Super Blackjack Tips

By Jordan Walters
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Blackjack -- for many it's not just a game, it's a way of life. Blackjack was the casino game that really got the information products' ball rolling. It started many years ago, and no other game has spawned so many books, videos, classes and seminars.

I don't know anyone who has been in a casino at least a few times who hasn't played a hand or more of Blackjack. With that in mind, let's talk Blackjack tips. Here are seven super Blackjack tips to absorb.

Blackjack Tip One: Sit at Third Base

If you are playing in the real world, make it a point to sit at third base, which is the seat immediately to the right of the dealer.

Blackjack Tip Two: Counting Cards Online

If you are playing online, don't worry about counting cards. The computer uses a fresh deck for each hand. Therefore, counting doesn't help you. Many people don't realize this, so I thought it was wise to point it out.

Blackjack Tip Three: Single or Double Deck Only

Make it a point to never play Blackjack dealt from a shoe. Single deck games in the real world are the best. Double deck is second, and everything else is trash. If you are playing online, check to see how many decks are used. Most good online casinos will offer single deck.

Blackjack Tip Four: Bet Size

Before you sit down to play, figure out what your typical betting unit will be. If you aren’t sure, try dividing your bankroll by 20. For instance, if you are willing to lose $100 maximum, bet $5 units or less.

Blackjack Tip Five: Don't Always Double Down

Yes, I know what lots of Blackjack drones say about doubling down -- always do it, they say. However, if you become a Blackjack pro, you'll understand that there are times when doubling down isn't in your favor. For instance, if the dealer has a 10 or face card up, think twice.

Blackjack Tip Six: Split 8s

If the dealer has a 7 or less showing, split your 8s. The general idea is that you'll have a decent shot at pulling 18 or better on one hand and pushing -- by winning one hand and losing the other. The alternative is to keep your 16, which is a lousy hand. Now, if the dealer has a 6 showing, you might want to stand pat.

Blackjack Tip Seven: Don't Split 10s or Faces

This is a tip for the new players. No matter how tempting it might be, don't split 10s or faces. Why would you? Your hand is 20, which is one point under the best possible total. Yes, I've seen this done plenty of times by new and greedy players. It usually results in disaster.

There you have it. Seven super Blackjack tips to put in your back pocket. Take a moment and scan through them again. These seven tips are something that every winning Blackjack player must know -- and does.

Posted by Mike Godsey at 07:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Bengals Hit Their Stride

By Tim Sullivan
WagerWeb.com contributing writer

They started in September with plans on defending their AFC North Division title, gaining home-field advantage and making it to the Super Bowl.

They now sit in December as the wild-card leaders, and they probably won't get much better than that.

But that's just fine by the Cincinnati Bengals (8-5). Especially considering that just four short weeks ago, they were one game below the .500 mark.

"If we want to be the team that we believe we are," Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis said, "we've got to go play and win football games."

They've done a good job of that, obviously, on the four-game winning streak they're riding. The Bengals have defeated the Saints, Browns, Ravens and Raiders in that span and scored 27 or more points in three of those.

But if you listen to this bunch, you get the idea that they're just warming up. Forget the three-game losing streak that bridged October and November. Forget the fact that they're still two games behind Baltimore (10-3) in the North.

As far as they're concerned, everything's just fine, thank you.

"Hopefully," quarterback Carson Palmer said, "we're playing our best football these next three weeks."

That won't be easy, no matter how lethal the offense has been of late. The Bengals travel to Indianapolis (10-3) on Monday to face the suddenly desperate Colts. Cincinnati is +3 on WagerWeb.com.

Then, the Bengals close with the Broncos (7-6) and Steelers (6-7).

"I know I'm a little ahead of myself, but once we get past Indy," wide receiver Chad Johnson said, "I think we're kind of home free."

Of course, Johnson probably had the same feeling when the Bengals opened 3-0, only to lose five of their next six.

But, either way, it's abundantly clear that in today's NFL, all you need to do is make the postseason. After that, anything is truly possible. The Super Bowl champion Steelers, after all, were a wild-card team out of this same division last year.

So stay tuned.

JETS JUMPED: The Jets (7-6) spent a good part of last week pronouncing themselves as legitimate contenders in the AFC wild-card race, only to be humbled by Buffalo, 31-13, at home on Sunday.

All is not lost in New York, though. The schedule -- as it has been most of the season for first-year Coach Eric Mangini -- is favorable down the stretch. The Jets face Minnesota (6-7), Miami (6-7) and Oakland (2-11) to close it out.

So, despite the fact that they'll need to win out and get some help along the way, the attitude remains positive on Long Island.

"You're always fighting human nature," Mangini said at the team's headquarters in Hempstead, N.Y. "You come off a big win, you fight the human nature of, 'Everything's OK, things are good.' If you come off a big loss, you fight the human nature of, 'The sky is falling, things are so bad.' It's never the case in either of those scenarios."

He makes a good point, especially considering how much this club has achieved opposed by what it was supposed to achieve.

But the moral-victory stuff needs to wait until the offseason. Whether or not they belong there or were expected to be there, the Jets are still alive and need to be focused solely on that fact.

"We're," safety Kerry Rhodes said, "going to keep playing."

The Jets are 3-point underdogs for their Sunday date at Minnesota on WagerWeb.com.

EXTRA POINTS: Former 49ers and Seahawks coach Dennis Erickson moved one step closer to a return to the NFL, when he left Idaho for Arizona State yesterday. Hey, if he can get a Pac-10 job after leading the Vandals to a 4-8 record, anything can happen right? ... Seattle wide receiver Darrell Jackson (turf toe) is unlikely to play Thursday night in the NFL Network game against the 49ers (5-8). The Seahawks (8-5) are -9.5 on WagerWeb.com ... The news is worse for Lions running back Kevin Jones, who has a foot fracture that will require surgery and at least six months of recovery time.

Posted by Mike Godsey at 07:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Jags Pound The Rock

By Tim Sullivan
WagerWeb.com contributing writer

You can doubt their quarterback. You can doubt their head coach and his sideline attire. You can doubt the efficiency of their defense.

But you can't doubt 375 rushing yards in an NFL game.

"It's hard for words to describe it. I felt like we had some things that we'd be good at, and we executed well."

Those understated words are of one Jack Del Rio, who coaches one of the more puzzling teams you'll find the in the NFL. Enter the Jacksonville Jaguars, a team that whacked Indianapolis, 44-17, and handled Dallas, 24-17. Yet it's the same club that lost to Buffalo and, oh yeah, Houston-- twice.

Either way, at 8-5, the Jaguars are alive and well in the AFC postseason race. And by virtue of that rushing fiesta against the Colts at Alltel Stadium on Sunday, they are just two games behind Indianapolis for first place in the AFC South.

"We're not even concerned about the playoffs right now," running back Maurice Jones-Drew said. "The only thing we're concerned with is beating the Titans."

Who is their next opponent, Sunday in Nashville (monitor the line all week on WagerWeb.com). And chances are, with the way Coach Jeff Fisher has his Titans (6-7) playing, they'll be ready for these rival, runnin' Jags.

But will it matter?

"We are heating up right now," running back Fred Taylor said. "The formula for success late in the season is to be able to run the ball and stop the run, and we are doing that pretty well right now."

And, as a result, they are able to mask some off those bad losses. Because, when it comes down to it, opponents and critics can talk all they want about the mediocrity of backup quarterback David Garrard. Or the fact that the Jaguars defense seems to take a game off here and there. Or that Del Rio, who has donned a Reebok dress suit twice this season, is a little unorthodox.

The reality of the situation is that Taylor and Jones-Drew form one of the most lethal 1-2 backfield punches in the league. And if you can't stop the run at this point of the season, you're not beating the Jaguars.

"We wanted to get to 400 (yards)," Drew said.

Don't worry Maurice. There's still three games left.

FEELIN' IT IN PHILLY: Jeff Garcia has now won back-to-back starts and has kept the Eagles in a three-way tie with the Giants and Falcons for the No. 1 NFC wild-card spot. Left for dead in the NFC East, Philadelphia (7-6) is also now tied with the Giants (7-6) for second place.

And as fate would have it, the Eagles play those Giants at the Meadowlands on Sunday. Monitor the line all week on WagerWeb.com.

"We have to keep working," Coach Andy Reid said. "That's the reality of it."

The other reality is that Garcia, booed at Lincoln Financial Field a week ago, still has something left in the tank. The Eagles' 21-19 win over Washington was Garcia's third consecutive victory over the Redskins, in various uniforms, of course.

And, don't forget, Garcia's biggest moment in the NFL – San Francisco's miraculous 39-38 comeback win in the NFC wild-card round in 2003 - came against this week's opponent.

"We can win in any situation," Eagles safety and unofficial spokesman Brian Dawkins said. "(But) we definitely need to get better at keeping our foot on people's throats when we get them down."

EXTRA POINTS: Bills RB Willis McGahee left Buffalo's 31-13 win over the Jets on Sunday in the first half with an upset stomach, but in the end, it was the Jets who were sick. McGahee returned and finished with 125 yards and a touchdown. ... Bengals QB Carson Palmer now has 12 touchdown passes in his last five games. Four of them, by the way, were wins. .... Comfortably at 10-3, keep an eye out for a Ravens letdown at some point in the final three games. Baltimore closes with three teams not headed for the playoffs: Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Buffalo.

Posted by Mike Godsey at 07:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Roller-coaster 24 Hours For Dodgers

By Jordan Walters
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Baseball's winter meetings in Orlando this week got off to a bad start for the reigning National League West champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

In the span of a few hours on Tuesday, 2006 Dodgers J.D. Drew, Julio Lugo and Greg Maddux signed with other teams (Drew and Lugo with Boston, Maddux with the Padres). So things weren't looking too good in Chavez Ravine.

However, L.A. rallied nicely on Wednesday, signing potential No. 1 starter Jason Schmidt away from the archrival Giants for 3 years and $47 million. Schmidt was 11-9 with a 3.59 ERA in 213 1/3 innings last season for San Francisco. He will turn 34 before spring training, however. The Dodgers won a bidding war that included the Seattle Mariners, Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals.

The 2007 Dodger rotation now likely will look like this: Schmidt, Derek Lowe, Brad Penny, Randy Wolf and a fifth starter from among Hong-Chih Kuo, Mark Hendrickson or Brett Tomko.

Los Angeles may not be done, as free agent outfielder Luis Gonzalez is likely to be signed, with a trade for Red Sox outfielder Manny Ramirez a distant possibility. L.A. is expected to be bidding against St. Louis and Baltimore for Gonzalez, but it is thought the former Diamondback wants to remain in the NL West.

By adding Schmidt, as well as earlier signing outfielder Juan Pierre and Wolf, Los Angeles figures to be the early favorite on WagerWeb.com to again win the NL West, but unless Los Angeles adds a big bat, the Dodgers could go one series and out in the playoffs again.

Posted by Joe Duffy at 09:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

SEC Basketball Notebook

By Randy Rosetta
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl is a media favorite most of the time, a walking quote sheet in a nice suit who never shies away from a microphone or camera.

So when he bristled at a television reporter earlier this fall, you knew something was up.

The source of Pearl’s angst was a question that implied the Memphis basketball program was the state’s best. Pearl deftly avoided an answer, but he won’t have to tonight when the 16th-ranked Tigers invade Thompson-Boling Arena.

Memphis topped the Vols last season, 88-79, in the first game of a 17-game series after a four-year hiatus. By season’s end, both teams were among the nation’s best with the Tigers gaining a No. 1 NCAA Tournament seed and Tennessee a No. 2.

Both teams look much different this year, though. This is a perfect chance for the revamped Vols to make a statement with three straight non-conference games looming in the next few weeks: Western Kentucky in Knoxville, vs. Oklahoma State in Nashville and then back home against Texas.

Junior guard Chris Lofton is Tennessee’s leader with 18.6 points a game (second in the SEC) and 3.8 3-pointers made per contest. Lofton is lapping the field in 3-pointers made (30) and attempted (62), and has teamed with senior Dane Bradshaw (7.4 points, 4.6 assists per game) to give the Volunteers a steady backcourt presence.

The tempo should be revved up tonight, as UT is forcing 23.8 turnovers a game (most in the SEC) and has pestered seven opponents into 20 giveaways or more. Memphis foes have coughed the ball up just over 20 times a game, and the Tigers aren’t shy about launching from 3-point range, with nearly 40 percent of their field-goal attempts coming from outside the arc.

Memphis is a 1-point favorite on WagerWeb.com, and that seems about right since 13 of the previous 17 games between the Tigers and Vols have been decided by 10 points or less.

MISSISSIPPI STATE: It turns out the younger half of the Hansbrough brother basketball tandem isn’t bad, either. Bulldog freshman Ben Hansbrough, the younger brother of North Carolina star Tyler Hansbrough, was named the SEC Freshman of the Week after hanging up 23 points, 8 assists and 3 steals in his first start against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Hansbrough torched the Islanders by hitting 6-of-7 field goals, 5-of-6 from 3-point land and 6-for-6 at the foul stripe. He also had 15 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists against Charlotte as Mississippi State bounced back from consecutive losses to Winthrop and at Clemson. Hansbrough and sophomore Jamont Gordon (16.7 ppg, 4.8 apg) have helped stabilize the Bulldogs’ ball handling, as MSU has 44 assists and 40 turnovers in the last three games after struggling with 36 assists and 60 TOs in the first three games of the year.

LSU: The Tigers got a big week off to a good start by downing No. 6 Texas A&M 64-62 Tuesday in ninth-ranked LSU’s first victory in a top-10 matchup since a 66-65 win over Tennessee in 1981. The Tigers also ended the SEC’s 10-game drought against ranked foes this season as junior center Glen Davis notched his 43rd career double-double with 24 points and 10 caroms. Davis leads the SEC in scoring with 19.7 points a game and ranks second in rebounding with 9.8.

OLE MISS: At 7-1, the Rebels are off to their best start since 2000-01 under first-year coach Andy Kennedy. Ole Miss junior guard Jermey Parnell was a sparkplug in an 85-77 come-from-behind triumph against New Orleans last week with a career-high 16 points on a red-hot shooting night (5-for-5 FG, 6-for-7 FT). The Rebs have forced 119 turnovers and rank third in the SEC in turnover margin (+4.8). The Rebels own the league’s best assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.35. Ole Miss ends a 10-day break for finals when it travels to face Memphis on Saturday.

AUBURN: The Tigers put up a good fight against No. 2 Pittsburgh Sunday but fell just short (74-66) despite Josh Dollard’s first career double-double (14 points, 12 rebounds). AU wraps up a stretch of nine games in 20 days when it tangles with instate foe South Alabama tonight. The coaching matchup pits two pretty decent college point guards – Auburn coach Jeff Lebo from North Carolina and USA’s John Pelphrey, one of “The Unforgettables” of Kentucky basketball lore. The series with the Jaguars is tied, but the teams haven’t met since 2001. The Tigers are 6.5-point favorites on WagerWeb.com.

Posted by Joe Duffy at 09:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Consistently Contending Spurs

By Marty Gitlin
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

The lifespan of greatness in professional sports is about the same as your average car battery. Dominance generally lasts three or four years.

Then there are the San Antonio Spurs.

Bill Clinton had just begun his second term in the White House the last time the Spurs were lousy. San Antonio has won at least 53 games in each of the past eight full seasons.

It would appear 2006-07 will prove no different. San Antonio is now tied with Dallas atop the Midwest Division at 13-5. The most fundamentally sound team in the NBA simply outclasses the competition.

The Spurs have outscored their opponents this season by a league-best 7.5 points a game. Their .398 3-point shooting percentage ranks atop the NBA. They have surrendered just 92.4 points a game, second to Houston. They are among the leaders in most statistical categories.

Individual consistency translates into team consistency every season. Tim Duncan is again scoring 21.9 points with 11 rebounds a game. Guard Tony Parker is averaging 19.5 points and 5.2 assists. Bruce Bowen is playing his usual lockdown defense. Manu Ginobili and reserve guard Michael Finley have yet to find their shooting accuracy, yet the Spurs continue to win.

If revenge is a motivator, they should win Wednesday night as well. According to WagerWeb.com, they are 8-point favorites in Charlotte, which stunned the Spurs in San Antonio earlier in the year.

ONE BOUNCES BACK, ANOTHER DOESN’T: Two sizzling teams finally lost earlier this week. Dallas had its 12-game winning streak ended Monday in Washington. Detroit had its eight-game streak snapped in Charlotte.

Both teams had a chance to redeem themselves Tuesday night. Only the Mavericks did.

They did it in style, knocking off disappointing New Jersey on the road, 92-75. With enemies such as the Nets, they required no friends. The New Jersey bench contributed just 10 points. Its three reserve guards missed all nine of their shots and combined for one assist.

The Pistons lost their second consecutive game to considerably weaker competition, falling at home to Portland, 88-85. Detroit jacked up 24 3-pointers and hit just seven.

DRIBBLES: The Golden State Warriors have lost their past two games by a combined 68 points, both to Midwest Division powers. They fell to San Antonio, 129-89, and to Houston, 118-90. Guard Jason Richardson missed both games due to soreness in his surgically repaired left knee. … Cavaliers guard Larry Hughes is close to returning from his high ankle sprain injury, but likely won’t play against visiting Toronto on Wednesday night. Cleveland is an 8.5-point favorite, according to WagerWeb.com. … The Chicago Bulls can even their record at 9-9 and win their sixth straight Wednesday night at home against struggling Philadelphia. WagerWeb.com lists them as 9-point favorites. … Phoenix guard and two-time reigning Most Valuable Player Steve Nash dished out an NBA season-high 20 assists in a 127-102 victory over Sacramento on Tuesday night.

Posted by Joe Duffy at 09:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Waiver Wire Week 14

By Chris Goudey
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

This is a critical week in fantasy football circles, as in most leagues this is either the last week of the regular season or the first week of the fantasy playoffs. Having the right players in your lineup this week could make the difference between making the playoffs and crying in your beer. These players could be available on your waiver wire and would be decent starting players for you if you need some help:

Quarterbacks
There are a lot of QBs available on the waiver wire who have nice matchups this week. If you are a Donovan McNabb owner, these guys could be inserted in your lineup and should do just fine for you. I have them ranked in order of preference:

Vince Young, Tennessee vs Houston
Brad Johnson, Minnesota vs Detroit
Jeff Garcia, Philadelphia vs Washington
Alex Smith, San Francisco vs Green Bay
Matt Leinart, Arizona vs Seattle

Running Backs
There probably aren’t many RBs left out there who could help you this week, but if you own Ronnie Brown (who is probably out again this week) and need some help, here’s who should be out there:

Cedric Houston, NY Jets – Houston broke out in a big way last week, with over 100+ yards and 2 rushing TDs. Look for more of the same this week against a soft Buffalo rush defense.
Sammy Morris, Miami – Morris should get the bulk of the carries with Brown out again, but he has a tough matchup against New England.
Justin Fargas/ReShard Lee, Oakland – Fargas gets most of the carries now, but Lee is the goal-line guy. The Cincy defense can be run against, so either or both guys could have nice games.
Mewelde Moore/Ciatrick Fason, Minnesota: Regular starter Chester Taylor was banged up against the Bears last week and both Moore and Fason saw action in his place. Taylor’s status is currently up in the air for this week, but if he sits, there is an opportunity, as the Vikes have a real nice matchup against the Lions. Moore would be my first choice between the two.

Wide Receivers
Marcus Robinson, Minnesota/Antonio Bryant, San Francisco: Minnesota and San Fran have the two best schedules against the pass in the next three weeks, and these are the No. 1 guys for those offenses.

Marty Booker, Miami – Booker has taken over as the No. 1 guy in Miami, as he has built a nice connection with Joey Harrington. Miami should have to throw this week against New England, so look for Booker to put up some good yardage and have a shot at a TD.
Matt Jones, Jacksonville – Jones finally had the game his owners were waiting for last week, with 128 yards and a TD. Hopefully he continues this trend, as he has extreme physical gifts and just needs to stay on the field to produce.

Tight End
Vernon Davis, San Francisco: I had Davis on this list a couple of weeks ago, but he hasn’t done anything since. That should change this week, as the 49ers' other TE, Eric Johnson, is out with an injury. Between that and the great matchup against Green Bay, Davis should finally put some numbers up this week.
Ben Utecht, Indianapolis: Starting TE Dallas Clark is out, and even with Clark in the lineup Utecht is getting a few looks per game. He should see his pass targets increase this week and he could be a top-10 TE as long as Clark is out.

Kickers/Defenses
As you know I’m of the mindset that kickers are pretty much dime a dozen and you can do just fine playing matchups each week. For defenses, the best thing to do is check the schedule each week and try and get teams that are playing against teams with bad records, i.e. Houston, Oakland, etc.

Best of luck as you make your last stab for the playoffs or are in your first-round matchup!

Posted by Joe Duffy at 09:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Indispensable Westbrook

By Tim Sullivan
WagerWeb.com contributing writer

Journeyman Jeff Garcia has been given a lot of credit for keeping the Eagles afloat since they lost Pro Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb last month. And perhaps, rightfully so. With little preparation time, Garcia has started two tough games -- against the Colts and Panthers -- and came out a modest 1-1.

But make no mistake. The 6-6 Eagles would be nowhere without running back Brian Westbrook.

"We're not out of it. I've said it in weeks past, that we're fighters and we're going to continue to fight until the end and you know we're going to go out and take every game one at a time," Westbrook said. "Let the chips fall where they may at the end. You know we're not going to let up. We have four games left, and we're going to keep fighting and keep shooting and hopefully at the end, we'll be in the playoffs."

If they make it, it'll be on his shoulders. Westbrook, in his fifth season out of Villanova, has 906 rushing yards, 586 receiving yards and nine total touchdowns. He has done so with a nagging knee injury, and in Monday's 27-24 win over Carolina, he suffered a toe injury.

The Eagles travel to meet the Redskins on Sunday. Philadelphia is -1.5 on WagerWeb.com

"I should," Westbrook said, "be ready to go."

Eagles Nation can only hope so. In a 27-3 victory over the Redskins Nov. 12, Westbrook, who continues to be listed each week on the injury report as questionable, had 150 total yards.

"He still has a little bit of tenderness in there. It comes and it goes," Coach Andy Reid said. "Some days are better than other days. But we have been able to push through."

With an added emphasis on victories the rest of the way – Philadelphia probably needs to win out to make the postseason -- a little insurance for Westbrook couldn't hurt. With that in mind, keep an eye on Duce Staley, a former Eagle and fan favorite in Philadelphia who was released by the Steelers this week.

"I probably need to talk to (General Manager) Tom (Heckert)," Reid said, "before I go in that direction."

SHORT-HANDED STEELERS: At 5-7, Pittsburgh shouldn't be all that concerned about its playoff future. And with just three days to prepare for this week's game, the Steelers don't have much time to, anyway.

"We might as well," quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said after the Steelers' 20-3 win over Tampa Bay last Sunday, "leave our uniforms on."

That won't be the case for two key cogs, however. For the second consecutive week, wide receiver Hines Ward and safety Troy Polamalu will each miss Thursday's NFL Network game against the Browns at Heinz Field with knee injuries.

Coach Bill Cowher, in typical fashion, is concerned more about the players he does have at his disposal -- rather than those he doesn't have -- for a rivalry, prime-time game that he still deems critical no matter how far behind the playoff pack Pittsburgh is.

"We're just going to approach it like it's another game," he said. "We're going to come out firing, and we know they're going to come out firing, and it should be a classic game."

The Steelers are -7.5 on WagerWeb.com.

EXTRA POINTS: The puzzling career of Tampa Bay WR Michael Clayton continues. A 2004 first-round pick, or bust, out of LSU, Clayton is lost for the season with a knee injury. He had 1,193 receiving yards in his rookie season, but has just 728 since. ... Give credit to Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy for keeping his chin up in a tough town. At 4-8, with only Detroit keeping the Packers out of the NFC North basement, he remains as optimistic as ever. "We have to stay the course, trust the structure, prepare them," he said. "And I have to get them to do better job to perform on Su ndays." Good luck . ... With the playoff races heating up in both conferences and crucial kicks becoming more and more evident, look for someone to sign Mike Vanderjagt, cut by the Cowboys last week, sooner rather than later. Unfortunately, he'd have to bring all of his baggage with him, wherever he goes.

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NFL Team Preview: Giants

By Mike Brody
WagerWeb Contributing Writer

After finishing 11-5 and winning the NFC East last season, expectations are very high in New York for the Giants. New York addressed its 26th-ranked defense from a year ago by overhauling its secondary in the offseason and adding depth at linebacker. QB Eli Manning has another year under his belt and plenty of weapons on offense. If they can survive the competition from the toughest division in the NFL, the Giants just might fulfill those lofty expectations.

Key Additions: DBs Quentin Harris, Jason Bell, Will Demps, R.W. McQuarters and Sam Madison, LBs Brandon Short and LaVar Arrington, QB Rob Johnson, DE Mathias Kiwanuka, WR Sinorice Moss.

Key Subtractions: DTs Kendrick Clancy and Kenderick Allen, DBs Shaun Williams and Will Allen, LB Nick Greisen.

Player to Watch: As Manning enters his third season -- second as a full-time starter -- he should continue to improve and make better decisions. But the key player for the young QB and the Giants will again be RB Tiki Barber. The All-Pro is coming off his best NFL season, rushing for 1,860 yards and 9 TDs and another 540 yards and 2 TDs receiving. Barber should have another huge year and knows that his window to reach his ultimate goal is closing quickly. "There is probably more sense of urgency for me now, as I approach the season, because I know there isn't a lot of time left for me to be ultimately successful, and win a Super Bowl," said Barber, who, despite getting better with age, has withstood 10 seasons of pounding. "It's not a big window, ever, for a player or a team in this league. For me, I'd say two years, and that's probably it. I'll be 33 then and … well, you know."

Outlook: The Giants improved their biggest weakness by adding Madison, McQuarters and Demps to the secondary. Kiwanuka has looked like a young Michael Strahan in the preseason, and Arrington will only help a solid linebacking corps. If the defense improves to at least middle of the pack, the offense should again be one of the better ones in the NFL, making the Giants a team to reckon with. Manning will need to take a little bit of the load off of Barber by stretching the field. The team is hoping Moss will fit that bill as TE Jeremy Shockey and WRs Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer move the chains. The Giants could be a very dangerous team and will have a say in the NFC playoff picture.

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