07/02/2009 - Sandy, UT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Jose Earthquakes travel to take on Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer action on Friday night as the two Western Conference rivals battle for position.
Both team are in the bottom half of the conference and will be aiming to earn the full points and move up.
San Jose (3-8-3) is currently in last place in the West, although it is coming off a 2-1 win over California rival the Los Angeles Galaxy in their last MLS fixture on June 20.
Pablo Campos had a goal and an assist in the L.A. game to lead San Jose to just its third win of the season, and first since the club beat RSL on May 30.
"I thought Pablo played very well against Los Angeles on April 18 [in a 1-1 tie], he had a great goal as well," S.J. coach Frank Yallop said. "We've been working on parts of [Campos'] game that are maybe a little unnatural. But he's trying to do the right things. [Vs. L.A.] Pablo came in with a stronger and renewed aggression and played very well."
RSL (5-6-4) is currently in fifth in the West, but is rounding into form after a 3-0 win over Toronto on Saturday extended the team's unbeaten run to four games.
Yura Movsisyan is the current hot hand on the RSL front line, scoring four goals this season, including three in the last four games. He tallied the game winner against Toronto this past weekend.
"I don't think I was forcing things earlier, I just wasn't getting lucky with some of the bounces," Movsisyan said. "I think I'm doing the same thing, but now I've got a lot more confidence. It's a game, sometimes things go your way and sometimes they don't."
The Toronto FC game started a stretch where RSL has five home games in its next seven, and coach Jason Kreis hopes his team can take advantage and jump back into the top half of the Western table.
"We put ourselves a little bit of a bad spot and now we got to take full advantage," Kreis said. "Every home game has to be three points from here on out."
RSL will have to earn the points without a number of key players. Forward Will Johnson, and midfielders Jean Alexandre and Kyle Beckerman will be absent on international duty. Also, midfielder Javier Morales is doubtful with an injury while forward Robbie Findley is questionable and forward Fabian Espndola is probable, all with injuries.
San Jose's lone absence will be defender Ryan Cochrane, who is out with an injury.
<< Chelsea secures Turnbull signing
London, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chelsea has completed the signing of goalie
Ross Turnbull on a four-year contract from relegated Middlesbrough.
The 24-year-old former England Under-21 international was out of contract with
the Teessider
<< Ribery will only leave Bayern for Real
Munich, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chelsea and Manchester United appear to have
missed out on signing Franck Ribery after the France star revealed he will only
leave Bayern Munich for Real Madrid.
The two Premier League heavyweights were
<< Arsenal's Wenger hails Wilshere deal
London, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Arsenal's teenage midfielder Jack Wilshere
has joined Aaron Ramsey in signing a new long-term contract with the Gunners.
The 17-year-old broke into the first-team picture at the Emirates Stadium last
sea
<< Napoli's Donadoni: Lavezzi will return
Naples, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Napoli coach Roberto Donadoni is confident
that Argentina forward Ezequiel Lavezzi will return to the club for the start
of pre-season training.
The 24-year-old has been heavily linked with a move
Bees delay Astros/Padres game >>
San Diego, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In the top of the ninth inning of a game
between the Houston Astros and San Diego Padres, a swarm of bees took over
part of left field and caused the game to go into a delay.
With Miguel Tejada at the plate w
Hurricanes retain LaRose for two years >>
Raleigh, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Carolina Hurricanes agreed to terms with
forward Chad LaRose on a two-year contract worth $3.4 million on Thursday.
LaRose is set to earn $1.5 million next season and $1.9 million in 2010-11.
The 27-y
Pressel among Jamie Farr leaders >>
Sylvania, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Morgan Pressel, Laura Diaz and Song-Hee Kim
each fired rounds of seven-under 64 on Thursday to share the opening-round
lead of the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic.
Suzann Pettersen and Michelle Wie ar
CFL's Bruce fined for Michael Jackson celebration >>
Mississauga, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Toronto Argonauts All-Star wide receiver
Arland Bruce III was fined an undisclosed amount for a celebration tribute to
Michael Jackson in the team's victory over Hamilton on Wednesday.
After scoring a
The Indianapolis Colts know that winning the Super Bowl last season put a huge target on their backs, and they expect opponents to go all-out to knock them from the top of the mountain.
They’ll get their first test from the New Orleans Saints this Thursday night. The defending champs had nothing but good things to say about the New Orleans defense this past week, praising their opponents’ pass rush and run-stopping abilities.
"They play very aggressively," head coach Tony Dungy told the New Orleans Times-Picayune. "They play a lot of man-to-man coverage, and they come after you. They have good pass rushers, and they're going to try to pressure us, I'm sure."
Both center Jeff Saturday and quarterback Peyton Manning gave New Orleans’ front four props, admitting keeping guys like Will Smithand Charles Grant contained would be a tall task for the offensive line.
New Orleans ranked second in total defense during the preseason at a sportsbook, allowing just under 233 yards per game. Last season, the defense finished 11th in the league after giving up 307.3 yards and 20.1 points per contest.
Not so sound on the ground
If Indianapolis' efficient offense has a weakness it has to be its running attack. The Colts one-two-punch of Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai is no longer, leaving the bulk of the carries to Addai, the second-year back out of LSU.
Former Saskatchewan Roughrider Kenton Keith was named Addai’s backup this week after beating out DeDe Dorsey for the second-string position. Indy has only three backs on the roster right now, including fullback Luke Lawton, and coach Dungy is aware of the thinness of his ground game. Sports Betting lines on the game can be found at BettingExpress.com
“We’ll continue to look. Luke Lawton’s done a good job for us too. So probably getting a third true tailback is something that we’d like to do,” Dungy told the Indiana Tribune-Star.
Last season, Addai rushed for over 1,000 yards in his rookie campaign and scored seven touchdowns on the ground.
Brees says bring it on
Opening the season on the road against the defending Super Bowl champions is not the way most teams would like to kick off their year – unless you’re the New Orleans Saints or their quarterback Drew Brees. This internet Sportsbooks had the Saints as the favorites.
Brees told the New Orleans Times-Picayune that he is excited to get the regular season started and the Colts are a great challenge for him and his teammates. The 28-year-old QB, entering his second season with the Saints, is expecting a wild environment in the RCA Dome this Thursday when the franchise celebrates its 2007-2007 championship.
Brees said he sees the opening game scheduling as an honor and a testament to how well New Orleans did last season. The Saints missed facing the Colts in the Super Bowl by one game, losing to the Chicago Bearsin the NFC Championship game.
"I mean, people think we can hang with these guys," Brees told reporters. "Even if they didn't, it wouldn't matter what they thought because as a team we're very confident. We know what we can do. We're not satisfied where we finished the season last year. And we've been looking forward to this opportunity for a long time."
SportsBooks ready for a shootout
Oddsmakers are preparing for some fireworks this Thursday when the NFL season kicks off. online Sportsbooks have Thursday’s total set at a whopping 52 points, accounting for two of the league’s most explosive offenses.
“This is like must-see TV,” Saints cornerback and former Colt Jason David told the Baton Rouge Advocate. “It’s two exciting offenses with great players. You’ve got a lot of star power on offense. At any given time a big play can happen. If I was a fan, I wouldn’t miss a snap.”
New Orleans, who ranked No.1 in total offense last season, can go blow-for-blow with the Colts’ attack. Head coach Sean Payton’s offensive schemes will get even better production out of Drew Brees, Reggie Bush and receiver Marques Colston now that they’ve each had a season of playing together under their belts.
The Saints and Colts were the top two passing teams in the NFL last year, but while Indianapolis managed to put up almost 27 points per game, New Orleans struggled to capitalize on their efforts. The Saints ranked fifth in points per game.
“Yards are great,” running backDeuce McAllister told reporters, “but to be able to score more touchdowns would be important for us.”
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