Red Bulls, Sounders FC to open 2009 MLS season

Soccer Betting Lines

12/02/2008 - New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Major League Soccer announced the schedule for the first few weeks of the 2009 season, which kicks off on Thursday, March 19 in Seattle. The expansion Seattle Sounders FC, the league's 15th team, host MLS Cup 2008 finalists the New York Red Bulls in a nationally televised game to kick off the season.

"By being selected for the first match of the 2009 MLS season, this presents an opportunity to show a national audience what all the excitement is about in Seattle," Sounders FC majority owner Joe Roth said. "Our supporters will be in full voice and, along with our players, wearing green. It promises to be quite a spectacle."

The schedule for the first three weeks of the 2009 season, as well as the home opener for each of the league's 15 teams, are listed below, with more games likely to be added at a later date. The league's complete 2009 schedule should be released by early February 2009.

WEEK ONE: Thursday, March 19: New York Red Bulls at Seattle Sounders FC.

Saturday, March 21: Columbus Crew at Houston Dynamo, Chicago Fire at FC Dallas, Toronto FC at Kansas City Wizards, Colorado Rapids at Chivas USA, New England Revolution at San Jose Earthquakes.

Sunday, March 22: D.C. United at Los Angeles Galaxy.

WEEK TWO: Saturday, March 28: Toronto FC at Columbus Crew, San Jose Earthquakes at D.C. United, New England Revolution at New York Red Bulls, Kansas City Wizards at Colorado Rapids.

WEEK THREE: Thursday, April 2: Columbus Crew at Real Salt Lake.

Saturday, April 4: Seattle Sounders FC at Toronto FC, FC Dallas at New England Revolution.

Sunday, April 5: New York Red Bulls at Chicago Fire.

Wwwwincity Soccer Betting News

<< Kilmarnock hopes to add experienced striker
Kilmarnock, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kilmarnock boss Jim Jefferies has his sights set on an experienced striker to help his squad out in the January transfer window. A 1-0 loss at Hamilton Academical was enough to persuade Je

<< Espanyol's Tamudo set for short absence
Barcelona, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Espanyol striker Raul Tamudo has been ruled out of action for the next month after picking up an injury in the weekend defeat to Sporting Gijon. The 31-year-old pulled a muscle in his left leg and i

<< Blue Bombers name Kelly new coach
Winnipeg, MB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have named Mike Kelly their new head coach. Kelly was the offensive coordinator for the Blue Bombers from 1992 through 1996 and was part of teams that captured three regular

<< Madrid's Pepe faces spell on sidelines
Madrid, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Real Madrid's injury crisis shows no sign of easing after it was revealed that Pepe faces up to four weeks on the sidelines. The Portugal international picked up a thigh injury in Saturday's defeat to G

<< It's a wrap for Mumme at New Mexico State
Las Cruces, NM (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hal Mumme's tenure at New Mexico State came to an end Tuesday when athletic director Dr. McKinley Boston announced the school would buy out the remaining year of the football coach's contract. Mumme pos

Schelotto to remain with Crew as designated player >>
Columbus, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 2008 Major League Soccer Cup Champion Columbus Crew announced on Tuesday that they have exercised the option year on the contract of reigning league and MLS Cup MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto. The mov

City trio doubtful for UEFA Cup match >>
Manchester, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Manchester City has fitness concerns over key trio Robinho, Micah Richards and Shaun Wright-Phillips ahead of Wednesday's UEFA Cup visit of Paris St Germain. The trio all started Sunday's

Quinn to undergo surgery >>
Berea, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Cleveland Browns quarterback Brady Quinn has decided to undergo surgery to repair his broken right index finger, an injury he sustained in a November 17 game against Buffalo. Quinn broke the tip of

Report: UConn RB Dixon suspended indefinitely >>
Hartford, CT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - University of Connecticut running back Andre Dixon has reportedly been suspended from the team following a drunken driving arrest. The Hartford Courant reported that head coach Randy Edsall decided to susp

Fiorentina's Gobbi fractures cheekbone >>
Florence, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Fiorentina will be without Massimo Gobbi for the next month after scans confirmed the midfielder has suffered a fractured cheekbone. The 28-year-old has missed La Viola's last two games - defeats to A


Numerous College Basketball teams take final big step to March Madness betting

So, what turned on the lock spigot? Well, after what felt like weeks of teams treading water and slipping back into the bubble muck, a bunch of them finally decided to say "to heck with parity" and won games that should put them into the Big Dance.

Disagree with some of these? Then here's the challenge. Take all of the "should be ins" and make a legit case that each should be ahead of the team that's a lock. Then find 10 more teams that also should be placed in the bracket ahead of that lock team. Not so easy, is it?

If you want more evidence that these locks should be good to go, check out what our research department dug up. Since the NCAA Tournament went to 64 teams in 1985, only six teams from a "big six" conference have had a record of 10-6 or better in conference play and not been selected: Colorado (2004) and Nebraska (1999) from the Big 12, Boston College and Seton Hall (both 2003) from the Big East, Indiana (2005) from the Big Ten and UCLA, which somehow went 12-6 in the Pac-10 in 1988 and still missed out. (Note: Five teams went 11-7 and didn't get in, the latest being last season's Stanford team, which had a brutal nonconference run.)

Yes, 10 conference wins doesn't always mean what it used to because of unbalanced schedules, but this season, it should be plenty good in all but the extreme cases (see: Iowa).

In a way, this is a welcome development, because this is a bubble watch, not a lock watch. We can finally be done with teams like Maryland and Virginia Tech and start really bearing down on at-large battles such as Syracuse-West Virginia and Appalachian State-Georgia Tech.

Interestingly, all the shifting of teams into lock status appears to be more administrative than impactful. The number of remaining available at-larges didn't change one iota. The only difference is that teams on the bubble now have a clearer idea of which team(s) they are competing with for those precious bids.

The Bubble Breakdown
CONFERENCE LOCKS SHOULD BE INS AT-LARGES TAKEN
(assuming no auto bid outlier)
ACC Betting Odds 6 0 5
Big East Betting Odds 5 0 4
Big Ten Betting Odds 2 2 3
Big 12 Betting Odds 3 0 2
Pac-10 Betting Odds 5 1 5
SEC Betting Odds 4 0 3
MVC Betting Odds 1 1 1
MWC Betting Odds 2 1 2
TOTAL 28 5 25

As always, I've tried to be as inclusive as possible while only including teams that would have a reasonable chance of at least being discussed if this were Selection Sunday. If your team's not on here, there's probably a good reason (or three) -- start with the RPI and SOS numbers and work your way down.

(Please remember, per selection committee criteria, that records displayed are Division I only. Next update: Feb. 28)

If you have a legitimate grievance, or just like talking bubble, send an e-mail. Polite ones with fact-based arguments have a much better chance of receiving a response. I apologize in advance if I can't get back to all of you.

Atlantic Coast Conference

Work left to do: Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech

The ACC moves to six locks as BC, Va Tech and Virginia all got their 10th ACC wins, which should be more than enough this season, and Maryland rallied past North Carolina to get the final piece the Terps needed. After that? It could end there unless FSU, Ga Tech or Clemson picks things up in a hurry.

 

Work left to do:

Clemson [19-9 (5-9), RPI: 41, SOS: 42] The Tigers are closer to locking up the collapse of the year award (in a good battle with OK State) than they are to grabbing an at-large. Clemson's been very competitive, but there's no really positive way you can spin nine losses in 11 games. They now cannot get to .500 in ACC play and still must head to Virginia Tech in the season finale (after hosting Miami). Unless the Tigers win both and/or do some serious work in the ACC tourney, they very well could be left out. There are no great nonconference wins, but ODU, App State, Miss. State, South Carolina and Georgia are all respectable W's.

Florida State [18-11 (6-9), RPI: 48, SOS: 14] The Noles got thrashed at Maryland to run their losing streak to five, but then pounded NC State at home to set the table for what likely is an elimination game at Miami. You can at least make a case for the Seminoles at 7-9 in ACC play (and some work in the ACC tourney), but 6-10 is not going to cut it. Wins at Duke and over Florida will resonate, but the computer numbers remain questionable. Beyond Florida, FSU thrashed bubble buddy Providence, but there's not a ton beyond those two games that will help. They didn't show well in big-time opportunities against Pitt and Wisconsin (before the Florida win).

Georgia Tech [18-10 (6-8), RPI: 51, SOS: 46] The Jackets beat Wake on Wednesday but couldn't get it done at UVa on Saturday, which could be a crucial loss with UNC and BC (both at home) remaining and 8-8 almost a certain need for at-large consideration. A nonconference win over Memphis helps, but the RPI and SOS are not at-large quality right now; if you combine those with a sub-.500 ACC mark, that could spell NIT for GT.

For more College Basketball betting lines go to MySportsbook.com

Additional basketball lines can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.









Marlins could start season without No. 2 starter Johnson

JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.

Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.

MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .

''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''

Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.

He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.

''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''

Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.

Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.

With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.

Additional basbeall odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.