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06/30/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sporting a massive 10 1/2 game-lead in the American League East with the All-Star Break just over a week away, the Boston Red Sox try to pile on more wins against the Texas Rangers as the two clubs meet at Fenway Park this evening for the second in a four-game set in Beantown.
After losing three in a row against Seattle on the road to begin the week the Red Sox, 20 games over .500 and 24-12 at home, got RBIs from Manny Ramirez and Willy Mo Pena to capture the narrow 2-1 win on Friday.
J.D. Drew and Mike Lowell both contributed a pair of hits as well for the Red Sox, who were paced on the hill by the ageless knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, who evened his season mark at 8-8. Wakefield allowed just a single run on seven hits and four walks, while fanning four over 6 2/3 innings. Jonathan Papelbon struck out a pair in the ninth inning to capture his 19th save.
Kenny Lofton registered half of the eight hits for the Rangers and also walked once, while Marlon Byrd contributed a couple of doubles in the setback. Jamey Wright made it through five innings for the visitors, permitting two runs on six hits and three walks to go along with three strikeouts.
Tonight Josh Beckett bids to become the first 12-game winner in the American League as he takes the hill for the Red Sox at home.
The righthander, who is 1-0 with a 2.92 ERA in his career versus Texas, suffered his first loss of 2007 versus Colorado in the middle of June, but since then he has allowed just two earned runs over 14 innings and picked up victories against both Atlanta and San Diego on the road.
Versus the Padres on Sunday, the 27-year old gave up six hits and a single walk, while striking out eight to match a season high.
Showing much more control this season, Beckett has a nearly 4-to-1 strikeout to walk ratio and has permitted just five home runs in 91 innings, after being touched for 36 long balls all of 2006 with his new club.
While Beckett seems to be locked in for the Sox, Texas plans to hand the ball to righthander Robinson Tejeda. The third-year man began the 2007 campaign well enough with three wins in his first four decisions, but since then he has just two victories to his credit and the team has won only twice in his last 10 appearances.
On Sunday Tejeda lasted a mere 3 2/3 innings versus Houston, giving up seven runs, five earned, on five hits, two of which were home runs. He also issued four walks, giving him nine straight games in which he has allowed at least three bases-on-balls.
The righthander, who earned a win against the Red Sox earlier this season in his only previous appearance versus the club, has pitched a total of 76 2/3 innings in 2007 and already has given up 15 home runs and has 40 walks, against 55 strikeouts.
Kevin Youkilis continues to swing a hot bat for the Sox with his .325 average and 41 RBI, with Lowell checking in with 12 home runs and a team-best 54 knocked in, although he also has a team-worst 12 errors at the hot corner.
As a team the Rangers are first in the league in home runs with 99 over 79 games, but near the bottom in terms of batting average at .259. Sammy Sosa, who fanned three times yesterday, is tops with 13 home runs and now sixth in the league with 62 RBI.
Against Texas, which is last in the AL West and already a distant 17 1/2 games out of contention, the Red Sox are 11-5 at home since the start of the 2004 campaign. The Rangers are a miserable 14-27 on the road this far in 2007.
<< Jays, Mariners continue series in Emerald City
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A couple of second-place teams in their respective
divisions hit the diamond at Safeco Field tonight as the Seattle Mariners host
the Toronto Blue Jays in the second of a three-game set.
Currently sporting the l
<< Streaking Cubs try to maul Brewers at Wrigley
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Cubs will shoot for their eighth straight win
today, when they resume a three-game series versus the NL Central-leading
Milwaukee Brewers at historic Wrigley Field.
Chicago notched its seventh straight
<< Mets aim to continue success at Philly
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Mets are fresh off a sweep of a doubleheader
against the NL East-rival Philadelphia Phillies and will try for more success
this afternoon in the third test of a four-game series at Citizens Bank Park.
The
<< Braves send Hudson to mound in South Beach
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Atlanta right-hander Tim Hudson tries for a sixth win in
seven career decisions against Florida tonight, when the Braves visit the
Marlins in the middle contest of a three-game series at Dolphin Stadium.
Hudson, a
A's try for a win over Yankees in the Bronx >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - As one of four teams in the American League East already
more than 10 games out of contention in the standings, the New York Yankees
once again try to defend their home turf this afternoon as they host the
Oakland
Tigers to do battle with Twins again in Motown >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Pushed back into second place in the American League
Central by a half game, the Detroit Tigers try to keep their eyes on the prize
as they host the Minnesota Twins in the second of a three-game set from
Comeric
Angels' Colon toes rubber in Baltimore >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The team with the most wins in the American League goes for
two in a row as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim take on the Baltimore
Orioles in the second of a three-game set at Camden Yards tonight.
After dropping
Harvick wins Busch pole at NHIS >>
Loudon, NH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kevin Harvick earned the pole for Saturday
afternoon's Camping World 200 Busch Series race at the New Hampshire
International Speedway. The No.21 Chevrolet circled the flat 1.058-mile oval
in 29.4
After all the trouble that’s ensued since Braylon Edwards allegedly punched one of LeBron James’ homeboys in the face at a club, the Cleveland Browns have sent away their last remaining player of worth to the New York Jets. This is a great move for Dirty Sanchez and all, but it’s even better for the Knicks. Now Donnie Walsh can say, “You get to haunt Braylon Edwards with your posse if you sign here!” next summer.
Putting that aside for a moment, the move is a clear indication that the new-look Jets are gunning for the Super Bowl this year. I don’t think that New York thought that Dirty Sanchez was going to be such a rock star. With a 75.2 passer rating that was killed against the Jets, Sanchez is doing an admirable job of managing games and putting the Jets in a position to win. The defense has been the major story in New York thus far, but the acquisition of Braylon Edwards makes this offense loaded with talent that can dent any defense…as long as Dirty Sanchez continues his meteoric rise.
Thus far, Edwards has been a non-factor in the NFL piling up just 139 receiving yards on 10 catches. He has yet to find the endzone, and with the Browns mired in the most unsexy quarterback controversy of all time (Anderson vs. Quinn...yawn), there going nowhere fast. Edwards is two seasons removed from a career year which saw him catch 80 passes for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns when the Browns were the spread killing monsters of 2007. In 2008, injuries slowed the receiver down to just 873 yards and three touchdowns though he played in all 16 games.
So that being said, we really don’t know if Braylon Edwards is just a flash in the pan, or a legit threat. At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, he is a prototypical receiver. But he’s also shown a strange, and unwarranted, talent for dropping passes. Lining up opposite Jericho Cotchery, a speed demon with 23 catches, 356 yards and a single touchdown, may give Braylon the open looks he needs. A change of scenery may also rejuvenate the star receiver.
In return, the Browns will receive Chansi Stuckey, online football betting a special teams player you’ve never heard of and a pair of draft picks. That’s a tall order for a guy whose only real value right now is in his name, and it shows no promise to the Browns that they can rebuild around those acquisitions. Braylon was the only reason to hope for the Browns to go 3-14 SU this year. Without him, they don’t have a single guy on offense that can scare any team.
For the Jets, it’s a response to the pounding that they took at the hand of the Saints. Thomas Jones and Leon Washington have averaged around 4.0 yards per carry each on the ground, but striking a fair balance between the passing and rushing attacks in New York has been a struggle. You have to believe that the trio of Dustin Keller, Jericho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards will give Sanchez the weapons he needs to unleash through the air. Theoretically, that would open up holes for the rushing game. But the proposed public option health care plan works in theory too. We need to see the proof in the pudding before we start loading up mega bucks on the New York Jets to take the AFC.
The one wrinkle in this whole thing is that Braylon could very well be suspended by the league for disciplinary action due to his “brawl” with LeBron’s friend. If that’s the case, the Jets may have to bench him for a few games leaving them with a somewhat depleted receiving corps for a few games. Also, this is a guy who gets in fights with people at clubs. New York may not be the best place for him. Just sayin’.
The Jets have a long week before they meet the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football Betting in a virtual pick ‘em game. Braylon’s excess baggage may be a distraction, and his curiously low production may be what we should be expecting of him overall, but for the Jets, taking a chance to strike gold is well worth it. At the end of the year, they can simply just blame it on their rookie quarterback.
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Underdog bettors love the Super Bowl and, history suggests, the underdogs love them back. And the big dogs bite harder.
Even so, there is a warning in store for Super Bowl gamblers who must love dogs: The Arizona Cardinals Super Bowl betting lines might not be enough of a Cinderella to make it worth your while.
Although the Cardinals were widely panned as one of the worst division winners and least playoff-worthy teams in recent memory, their trip to Super Bowl XLIII Jan. 31 in Tampa against the Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl betting lines comes with a little more respect from the oddsmakers than you might imagine. They are a 7-point underdog at most sports books.
If you count yourself among those who covet the big dog in the big game, this isn’t exactly great news. You should have been hoping for more points. This is because the facts show that the bigger the dog, the better the bet in the Super Bowl.
Case in point: Over the past 13 seasons, double-figure underdogs in the Super Bowl are 4-0-1 ATS and have won the past three outright. In fact, the last double-digit chalk to do the deed for bettors was the 1995 San Francisco 49ers, who managed to beat the astounding 19-point spot afforded backers of the San Diego Chargers in the 49-26 romp in Super Bowl XXIX.
By contrast, 7-point favorites are 2-1-1 ATS in the same span, the last such contest resulting a cover grinded out by the Colts in their 29-17 win over the Bears two seasons ago in Super Bowl XLI.
In 2004, the Patriots failed to cover the number in their 32-29 triumph over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl props while the Rams and Titans gave everyone a refund in 2000 after the Rams posted a 23-16 win as a seven-point favorite.
So while Arizona’s run has included impressive upsets as a 10-point road underdog to the Carolina Panthers and Sunday’s 32-25 win in the NFC championship game to the 4-point favored Philadelphia Eagles, their long-shot story lacks a bit of the David vs. Goliath storyline of past Super Bowl underdogs.
While the seven-point spread represents a significant gap in the perception of strength between the two teams, it is far from monumental. For example, last season the Giants were the wild-card afterthought turned road-warrior buzzsaw, with stunning wins over the Buccaneers, Cowboys and Packers to earn their place in the Super Bowl.
There, they played spoiler to New England’s bid to become the first 19-0 team in NFL history and cemented their place in sports betting lore with a 17-14 win as a 12.5-point underdog.
In other words, the Cardinals appear to have their work cut out for them as a mid-range underdog. But in homage to the spread beaters who have come before them, here is a brief look back at recent colossal upsets in the Super Bowl:
SB XLII -- 2008 -- New York Giants 17, New England Patriots 14 (Giants +12.5) – Eli Manning’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress in the final minute clinched the historic upset for the Giants, who used a masterful defensive plan to slow down Tom Brady and the previously undefeated New England Patriots.
XXXVI -- 2002 -- Patriots 20, Rams 17 (Patriots +14) – This was the coming out party for the aforementioned Brady, who went from obscure sixth-round draft pick to Super Bowl hero in one fell swoop. He led the game-winning drive in the final minute – eschewing analyst John Madden’s advice to take a knee and play for overtime – leading to Adam Vinatieri’s memorable 48-yard field goal that split the uprights as time expired.
XXXII 1998 Broncos 31, Packers 24 (Denver +12) – The first of John Elway’s two consecutive Super Bowl titles to put an end to his Hall of Fame career was an upset for the ages. The Broncos used the determination of Elway and a 157-yard, three-touchdown performance from Terrell Davis to turn back Brett Favre and the heavily favored Packers.
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