Blog about US sportsbooks and betting for players in the USA. http://opensportsbookusa.com/blog Sat, 19 Jul 2008 02:09:23 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://opensportsbookusa.com/blog http://opensportsbookusa.com/blog/index.php?entryid=125 Current Line/Odds: Dodgers - 115 , Total 8.5 Under -115

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First place in the National League West is on the line this weekend as the Arizona Diamondbacks host the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers begin the series just a game back. Los Angeles has not played well at Arizona recently, as they were swept there back in April. "The way they started, they manhandled us in the first series," Los Angeles manager Joe Torre said, "They were a very solid team. They pitched, they hit, they had speed and power; everything seemed to be firing. Considering how they started and how we struggled and look where we are. I'm happy to see we were able to stay in the race. We have to make sure our win streaks are longer than our losing streaks. You can't help but watch the scoreboard, but I don't really pay attention to them.

The Dodgers send Hiroki Kuroda to the mound on Friday. He is 5-6 with a 3.43 this season. He has been excellent of late going 2-0 with a 1.19 ERA in his three starts. He went 5 2/3 innings in April against Arizona, allowing four runs, two earned and nine hits in a 4-3 loss.

Arizona has not played well since April, going 27-40. "I think some of the first half has been less than what we expected," said Diamondbacks left fielder Eric Byrnes, “But I also think we've shown what we're capable of. It's a matter of going out and playing up to the standard that we expect." Arizona goes with Doug Davis on Friday. He is 3-4 with a 3.80 ERA this season. He held Los Angeles to two runs and six hits in six innings back in April.

The Diamondbacks are 6-14 in their last 20 games vs. a right-handed starter. The Diamondbacks are 1-4 in their last 5 home games vs. a right-handed starter. The Diamondbacks are 1-5 in their last 6 vs. the National League West. The Diamondbacks are 19-6 in Davis' last 25 home starts.

The Under is 5-2 in the Dodgers last 7 road games vs. a left-handed starter. The Under is 7-1 in Kuroda’s last 8 road starts. The Under is 7-2 in Kuroda’s last 9 starts overall.

The Under is 4-0 in the Diamondbacks last 4 vs. the National League West.
The Over is 4-0 in the Diamondbacks last 4 overall. The Under is 4-1 in the Diamondbacks last 5 home games. The Under is 10-4-1 in the Diamondbacks last 15 games vs. a right-handed starter. The Under is 4-0 in Davis' last 4 home starts. The Under is 4-1-1 in Davis' last 6 starts overall.
The Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings between the two teams.]]> brad@shieldmarketing.com Baseball http://opensportsbookusa.com/blog/index.php?entryid=125 Sat, 19 Jul 2008 06:06:44 +0100 http://opensportsbookusa.com/blog/index.php?entryid=123 Line/Odds: American - 145 , Total 10 Under -120

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The 79th Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be played at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night and should be a classic on and off the field. A total of 47 Hall of Fame players are expected to participate in pre-game ceremonies. It should be quite an event in New York.

The defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox had seven players selected to the game although David Ortiz will not play due to a wrist injury. The surprising selection was Boston catcher Jason Varitek but the players’ have a say in who makes the All-Star team and Varitek is a lot more popular than White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski who is more deserving.

With the All-Star game being played in New York, American League manager Terry Francona may choose to start Mariano Rivera. The Yankee closer would be a great choice since the starting pitchers in the All-Star game only go 2-3 innings anyway. Rivera has 23 saves this season and would be a very popular choice as the American League starting pitcher. He has not started a game since his rookie year.

On the other side of the field, National League manager Clint Hurdle is leaning toward starting Carlos Zambrano of the Cubs. Zambrano has the league’s third best ERA and is set up perfectly to start the game since he last pitched on Wednesday. "If he wants to start me for the All-Star Game, I would do it," Zambrano said. "It would be an honor for me." Zambrano pitched one inning in 2004 and was selected to the 2006 team but did not appear.

Francona and Hurdle are the two managers for the game because their teams won their respective leagues last season and met in the World Series. A late change to the National League lineup has Rockies outfielder Matt Holliday replacing injured Alfonso Soriano of the Cubs. Holliday was already on the roster but was not a starter. The two players added from the fan’s vote for the All-Star game were Corey Hart of the Brewers and Evan Longoria of the Rays.

MLB betting stats show that the American League has dominated the All-Star game recently. They are unbeaten in the last 10 games at 9-0-1 with the ridiculous tie in the 2002 game thrown in there. Four of the last six All-Star games have gone over the total as the teams combined to score 14 runs in 2002, 13 in 2003, 13 in 2004 and 12 in 2005. The 2006 game was a low-scoring 3-2 game while last season the American League won 5-4.]]> brad@shieldmarketing.com Baseball http://opensportsbookusa.com/blog/index.php?entryid=123 Wed, 16 Jul 2008 04:19:44 +0100 http://opensportsbookusa.com/blog/index.php?entryid=122 Major League Baseball July 11th - July 15th.

It’s the last weekend before the All-Star break and the action will be intense as teams try to go out on a high note.

The Oakland A’s have been one of the most overachieving and profitable teams in baseball this year. They sit in second place in the AL West and they host the first place L.A. Angels this weekend. In the NL, two division leaders square off when the Arizona Diamondbacks visit the Philadelphia Phillies.

Don’t forget that Sportsbook.com is your All-Star betting headquarters. For starters, we’ll have odds for Monday’s Home Run Derby from Yankee Stadium. There could be a considerable advantage for left-handed hitters with the short porch from right field.

Tuesday’s All-Star Game is always a ratings bonanza and the National League will be looking for their first win since way back in 1996.

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]]> radek@shieldmarketing.com Baseball http://opensportsbookusa.com/blog/index.php?entryid=122 Fri, 11 Jul 2008 10:09:04 +0100 http://opensportsbookusa.com/blog/index.php?entryid=121
The big news out of Chicago on Tuesday was the Cubs getting Rich Harden from the Oakland Athletics. He is expected to form a powerful one-two combination at the top of the Cubs pitching staff with Wednesday’s starter Carlos Zambrano. The Cubs sent pitcher Sean Gallagher, catcher Josh Donaldson, infielder Eric Patterson and outfielder Matt Murton to the A’s for Harden and pitcher Chad Gaudin.

Zambrano is still the ace of the Cubs staff and he gets the start on Wednesday against the Reds. Zambrano is 9-3 on the season with a 2.96 ERA. He threw six shutout innings in his last start against St. Louis. He is already 2-0 against the Red this year.

Cincinnati goes with Johnny Cueto on Wednesday. Cueto is 7-8 with a 4.63 ERA. He gave up three runs in seven innings against the Nationals in his last start. He has pitched well of late, giving up only six runs in his last four starts. He has pitched once in his career against the Cubs going six innings, allowing three runs and six hits.

The Reds are 7-16 in their last 23 games as a road underdog. The Reds are 2-5 in their last 7 vs. the National League Central. The Reds are 2-5 in Cueto’s last 7 starts as an underdog. The Reds are 2-6 in Cueto’s last 8 road starts. The Reds are 2-5 in the last 7 meetings in Chicago.

The Cubs are 41-12 in their last 53 games as a home favorite. The Cubs are 9-4 in their last 13 Wednesday games. The Cubs are 43-21 in their last 64 home games vs. a right-handed starter. The Cubs are 6-2 in Zambrano’s last 8 starts as a home favorite. The Cubs are 2-5 in Zambrano’s last 7 home starts vs. the Reds.

The Under is 11-5-1 in the Reds last 17 road games vs. a right-handed starter. The Under is 4-0 in Cueto’s last 4 starts overall.

The Over is 4-1 in the Cubs last 5 games as a home favorite. The Over is 12-4 in the Cubs last 16 games vs. a right-handed starter. The Under is 8-3 in Zambrano’s last 11 starts as a home favorite. The Over is 4-1 in Zambrano’s last 5 home starts vs. the Reds. The Over is 7-2 in the last 9 meetings in Chicago between the two teams.

Place Your MLB Bet Today!]]> brad@shieldmarketing.com Baseball http://opensportsbookusa.com/blog/index.php?entryid=121 Thu, 10 Jul 2008 04:33:14 +0100 http://opensportsbookusa.com/blog/index.php?entryid=120
A very short, but important series for the New York Yankees begins on Tuesday when they host the first place Tampa Bay Rays. The Yankees are in danger of being out of the race before the All-Star break and anything less than a sweep against the Rays won’t be acceptable. New York sends Sidney Ponson on Tuesday while the Rays counter with Scott Kazmir.

Kazmir is 7-3 on the season with a 2.63 ERA but has struggled in recent outings. He is facing the Yankees for the second time this season. In mid-May he threw six shutout innings in a 5-1 Tampa Bay win.

New York goes with Ponson on Tuesday. He is 5-1 on the season with a 4.19 ERA. He did not pitch well in his last outing against Texas, giving up seven runs and nine hits in just over 5 innings of work.

The Rays are 4-1 in their last 5 games as a road favorite. The Rays are 10-4 in their last 14 vs. the American League East. The Rays are 38-16 in their last 54 overall. The Rays are 35-16 in their last 51 games vs. a right-handed starter. The Rays are 4-0 in Kazmir’s last 4 starts as a road favorite. The Rays are 9-2 in Kazmir’s last 11 starts overall.

The Yankees are 2-8 in their last 10 Tuesday games. New York is 49-20 in the last 69 home meetings against the Rays.

The Under is 5-2 in the Rays last 7 games as a road underdog. The Under is 5-2 in the Rays last 7 road games vs. a right-handed starter. The Under is 5-2-1 in Kazmir’s last 8 starts as a road underdog.

The Under is 8-2-1 in the Yankees last 11 games as a home favorite. The Over is 4-1-1 in the Yankees last 6 games a home underdog. The Under is 7-2-1 in the Yankees last 10 overall. The Under is 14-5-1 in the Yankees last 20 vs. the American League East. The Under is 8-3-1 in the Yankees last 12 home games. The Under is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings between the two teams and the Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in New York. ]]> brad@shieldmarketing.com Baseball http://opensportsbookusa.com/blog/index.php?entryid=120 Wed, 09 Jul 2008 04:11:16 +0100 http://opensportsbookusa.com/blog/index.php?entryid=119 Line / Odds: Yankees - 126 , Total 9 Over -115

The best rivalry in sports gets underway again on Thursday as the Red Sox and Yankees begin an important four-game series in New York. Unlike previous occasions though, this will not be a battle for first place since the Tampa Bay Rays hold that position in the American League East.

The pitching matchup on Thursday should be a good one. Jon Lester goes for the Sox while Andy Pettitte gets the start for New York. Lester is 6-3 this season with a 3.48 ERA this season while Pettitte is 9-5 with a 3.98 ERA. Lester has pitched well nearly every time out this season but has little to show for it. He has nine no-decisions on the season. He has only pitched once in his career against New York and that was two years ago when he gave up seven runs. Pettitte is coming off a 3-1 win over the Mets when he allowed only two earned runs and five hits. He is 4-0 in his past four starts overall.

The Red Sox are 12-3 in their last 15 road games vs. a left-handed starter. The Red Sox are 36-17 in their last 53 Thursday games. The Red Sox are 3-9 in their last 12 games as a road underdog. The Red Sox are 11-2 in Lester’s last 13 starts vs. the American League East. The Red Sox are 5-1 in Lester’s last 6 starts overall. The Red Sox are 8-3 in Lester’s last 11 starts as a road underdog. The Red Sox are 1-5 in the last 6 meetings in New York.]]> brad@shieldmarketing.com Baseball http://opensportsbookusa.com/blog/index.php?entryid=119 Fri, 04 Jul 2008 05:12:15 +0100 http://opensportsbookusa.com/blog/index.php?entryid=118
If the Cleveland Indians are to get back into the American League Central race they will need pitcher C.C. Sabathia to continue his hot streak. He is only 6-8 on the season but he does have a 3.78 ERA and is coming off an 11 strikeout effort against the Reds in his last start. He is 14-4 in 25 career starts against the White Sox with a 3.61 ERA.

Jose Contreras gets the start for Chicago on Wednesday. He is 7-6 with a 3.99 ERA this season. He has not pitched well of late even though he got the win against the Cubs in his last start. He has seen his ERA rise from 2.76 to almost 4 in the last month. He faced the Indians earlier this season and gave up one run in six innings.

The Indians are 6-13 in their last 19 vs. the American League Central. The Indians are 7-18 in their last 25 road games. The Indians are 1-4 in their last 5 road games vs. a right-handed starter. The Indians are 1-5 in their last 6 Wednesday games. The Indians are 4-0 in Sabathia’s last 4 starts. The Indians are 6-2 in Sabathia’s last 8 Wednesday starts. The Indians are 2-5 in Sabathia’s last 7 road starts. The Indians are 5-2 in Sabathias last 7 starts vs. the White Sox. The Indians are 1-7 in the last 8 meetings between the two teams.

Bet on Major League Baseball >>]]> brad@shieldmarketing.com Baseball http://opensportsbookusa.com/blog/index.php?entryid=118 Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:20:54 +0100 http://opensportsbookusa.com/blog/index.php?entryid=117 Diamondbacks at Marlins
Friday, 7:05 pm Eastern

SBG Global Opening Line: Marlins - 113, Total 9 Under -115 click here to BET

Two teams that have struggled of late will look to turn things around on Friday when the Florida Marlins host the Arizona Diamondbacks. Arizona will look for revenge from last month when they were swept by the Marlins, scoring only three runs in the series. Somehow the Diamondbacks are still in first place in the National League West despite their poor play of late.

The Diamondbacks have lost five of their last six games and scored only 12 runs in those games. "It's miserable," manager Bob Melvin said, "Especially after the way we started, expectations are high, guys expect to do well, and to go through prolonged periods of it is very frustrating." Micah Owings gets the start on Friday. He is 6-6 with a 5.11 ERA this season. He is 0-4 in his last five starts with an 8.53 ERA. SBG Global reports that early MLB betting has the public taking Marlins at Home.

The Marlins go with Ricky Nolasco on Friday. He is 7-4 with a 4.31 ERA and has won his last six decisions. He's 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA in his last three starts. The Marlins are not playing well of late having been swept by Tampa Bay. They were 5-10 in Interleague play and are happy it is over for them. The Marlins have dropped six of their last eight games and nine of their last 13 overall.

SBG Global Current Line: Marlins - 113, Total 9 Under -115 click here to BET

Here are the MLB betting stats for Friday’s game. The Diamondbacks are 4-1 in their last 5 vs. the National League East. The Diamondbacks are 7-19 in their last 26 road games. The Diamondbacks are 1-4 in their last 5 games as a road underdog. The Diamondbacks are 1-5 in their last 6 games vs. a right-handed starter. The Diamondbacks are 1-4 in Owings' last 5 starts. The Diamondbacks are 5-14 in the last 19 meetings in Florida.

The Marlins are 6-1 in their last 7 vs. the National League West. The Marlins are 1-4 in their last 5 overall. The Marlins are 0-4 in their last 4 games vs. a right-handed starter. The Marlins are 6-1 in Nolasco’s last 7 starts.

The Under is 4-0-1 in the Diamondbacks last 5 games vs. a right-handed starter. The Under is 4-0-1 in the Diamondbacks last 5 road games. The Over is 5-2-1 in the Diamondbacks last 8 vs. the National League East. The
Over is 5-1 in Owings' last 6 starts overall. The Over is 5-2 in Owings' last 7 road starts.

The Over is 7-1 in the Marlins last 8 home games vs. a right-handed starter. The Over is 13-4 in the Marlins last 17 vs. the National League West. The Over is 20-7-2 in the Marlins last 29 games as a home favorite. The Over is 5-1 in Nolasco’s last 6 starts overall. The Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings between the two teams. Check out SBG Global for more future bets.

]]> radek@shieldmarketing.com Baseball http://opensportsbookusa.com/blog/index.php?entryid=117 Sat, 28 Jun 2008 03:18:04 +0100 http://opensportsbookusa.com/blog/index.php?entryid=116 Cardinals at Royals
Friday, 8:10 pm Eastern

SBG Global Opening Line: Royals - 120, Total 8.5 Over -120 Click here to BET

The St. Louis Cardinals will look for revenge this weekend as they play the Kansas City Royals. Last week the Royals swept the Cardinals in St. Louis and now the Royals are red-hot, having won 10 of their last 11 games overall. They are 12-3 in Interleague play this season. "That's a step, no doubt," Royals manager Trey Hillman said. "Sometimes, you'd like to take large giant steps, but we dug ourselves such a big hole that we're going to have to get back in it with baby steps." SBG Global reports that early MLB betting has the public taking Royals at Home.

The Royals go with Gil Meche in the opening game of the series on Friday. He is 5-8 with a 4.91 ERA. He has pitched well of late with a 2.37 ERA in his last three starts. He has only faced the Cardinals once in his career and gave up four runs in an extra inning loss last year.

The Cardinals got Albert Pujols back into the lineup yesterday after he missed 13 games with a calf injury. He went 4-4 in his first game back. He has owned the Royals at Kauffman Stadium, hitting .398 with 8 home runs and 24 RBIs. The Cardinals lost in extra innings on Thursday and have lost three of their last four. Joel Pineiro goes on Friday. Pineiro has pitched well of late, giving up only three runs in his last 14 innings. He is 4-1 in his career against the Royals with a 3.12 ERA.

SBG Global Current Line: Royals - 120, Total 8.5 Over -120 Click here to BET

Here are the MLB betting stats for Friday’s game. The Cardinals are 5-2 in their last 7 road games vs. a right-handed starter. The Cardinals are 7-3 in their last 10 road games. The Cardinals are 1-4 in their last 5 vs. the American League Central. The Cardinals are 0-5 in Pineiro’s last 5 starts. The Cardinals are 11-3 in the last 14 meetings in Kansas City.

The Royals are 5-0 in their last 5 home games. The Royals are 4-0 in their last 4 vs. the National League Central. The Royals are 10-1 in their last 11 overall. The Royals are 9-1 in their last 10 Interleague games vs. a right-handed starter. The Royals are 13-3 in their last 16 Interleague games.

The Royals are 2-6 in Meche’s last 8 home starts.

The Over is 12-3-4 in the Cardinals last 19 Interleague games as an underdog. The Over is 15-6-3 in the Cardinals last 24 Interleague games vs. a right-handed starter.

The Under is 4-0 in Pineiro’s last 4 starts overall. The Under is 4-1-1 in Pineiro’s last 6 road starts.

The Under is 5-0 in the Royals last 5 vs. the National League Central. The Over is 5-1 in the Royals last 6 games as a home favorite. The Under is 5-2 in the Royals last 7 games vs. a right-handed starter. The Over is 4-1 in Meche’s last 5 home starts. The Over is 7-1-2 in the last 10 meetings in Kansas City between the two teams. Click here to BET
]]> radek@shieldmarketing.com Baseball http://opensportsbookusa.com/blog/index.php?entryid=116 Sat, 28 Jun 2008 03:04:13 +0100 http://opensportsbookusa.com/blog/index.php?entryid=115
Germany is -1.5 goals (+115) with a total of 2.5 under at SBG Global.
Three-way line: Germany -300, Turkey +750, Draw +325

If Turkey is able to win against Germany in the semifinals of Euro 2008 it will be considered a monumental accomplishment. Turkey will be without six players and possibly more in Wednesday’s match. “Of course having lots of injured players is hard but the players who fill their places will give their utmost,” Turkey forward Semih Senturk said. Turkey will be without goalkeeper Volkan Demirel, who was given a red card at the end of Turkey’s win over the Czech Republic and is serving the second game of his two-game suspension. Defender Emre Asik is out and midfielders Tuncay Sanli and Arda Turan are also suspended after picking up two yellow cards each. In addition to the suspensions, Turkey will be without forward Nihat Kahveci who is out with a thigh injury. He scored twice in the win over the Czechs. Emre Gungor is also out with an injury and Servet Cetin and Tumer Metin are doubtful. The only positive is that captain Emre Belozoglu might have a chance to play but that decision won’t be made until just before the match begins.

Germany is in great shape on the other side. Coach Joachim Loew has everyone at his disposal for Wednesday’s match. Loew’s only decision will be which formation to use. “I've always considered 4-4-2 my favorite formation but we did well with 4-5-1 against Portugal,” Loew said, “We just have to find the right way to unlock the Turkish defense. No matter what formation we play, it's important we get our running patterns and movement off the ball right. If we do that, the question of the formation is secondary.”

Germany has reached either the semifinals or the final of the European Championships a total of seven times. Since Germany unified, the teams have met a total of four times. Turkey won the first two matches by identical 1-0 scores. The third match was a scoreless draw while the fourth match saw Turkey defeat Germany by a score of 2-1 in Istanbul in a friendly. Before unification West Germany dominated Turkey, winning 10 times, losing once and drawing twice.

The key player on Wednesday could be Germany’s Michael Ballack. He has looked like the best player in Euro 2008 at times and could be the difference against Turkey.

Make Your Euro 2008 Soccer Bet Now!]]> brad@shieldmarketing.com Soccer http://opensportsbookusa.com/blog/index.php?entryid=115 Thu, 26 Jun 2008 03:34:29 +0100 http://opensportsbookusa.com/blog/index.php?entryid=113
The Chicago White Sox open a three-game series on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers looking to break a nine-game road losing streak.
Suddenly the White Sox look vulnerable, having lost eight of their last 12 games while the Minnesota Twins have won eight of their last 9 to cut the Sox lead to just a game and a half in the American League Central. The White Sox were swept by the Cubs over the weekend. "The last three teams we've played on the road, we've been swept or just won one game," manager Ozzie Guillen said, "I don't think it's a good sign for a team that has to win, or wants to win. Like I said, this is not a basketball team. To win and get in the division, you have to win some games on the road, and we're not doing a good job out there yet."

Mark Buehrle gets the ball on Tuesday for the White Sox. He is 4-6 on the season with a 4.28 ERA. He has been pitching well of late going 3-1 with a 2.77 ERA in his last seven starts. He is 1-1 with a 1.20 ERA in two career starts against the Dodgers.

Los Angeles goes with Derek Lowe on Tuesday. He is 5-6 with a 3.90 this season. He has won three of his last four starts overall. He is 1-1 with a 3.89 ERA as a starter against the White Sox in his career. The Dodgers lost two of three to Cleveland over the weekend and they are only 2-7 in Interleague play. "We haven't put anything together," manager Joe Torre said, "That's why I'm saying you win five games in a row, all of a sudden you have a whole different personality and a different status in the division."

Here are the MLB betting stats for Tuesday’s game. The White Sox have won the last five matchups between the two teams. The White Sox are 8-2 in their last 10 vs. the National League West. The White Sox are 16-35 in their last 51 games as a road underdog. The White Sox are 1-4 in their last 5 games vs. a right-handed starter. The White Sox are 0-9 in their last 9 road games. The White Sox are 1-6 in Buehrle’s last 7 road starts.

The Dodgers are 2-5 in their last 7 games as a home favorite. The Dodgers are 14-37 in their last 51 Interleague games. The Dodgers are 5-16 in their last 21 vs. the American League Central. The Dodgers are 0-7 in their last 7 games vs. a left-handed starter. The Dodgers are 10-4 in Lowe’s last 14 starts as a favorite. The Dodgers are 0-4 in Lowe’s last 4 starts vs. the American League Central.

The Under is 7-1-1 in the White Sox last 9 vs. the National League West.
The Under is 5-1 in the White Sox last 6 road games vs. a right-handed starter. The Under is 8-2 in the White Sox last 10 road games.

The Under is 4-1 in Buehrle’s last 5 starts vs. the National League West. The Under is 5-2 in Buehrle’s last 7 road starts.

The Under is 12-3 in the Dodgers last 15 games as a favorite. The Under is 5-2 in the Dodgers last 7 games vs. a left-handed starter. The Over is 4-1 in Lowe’s last 5 starts vs. the American League Central. The Under is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings between the two teams.

Bet on Major League Baseball Games]]> brad@shieldmarketing.com Baseball http://opensportsbookusa.com/blog/index.php?entryid=113 Wed, 25 Jun 2008 03:50:45 +0100 http://opensportsbookusa.com/blog/index.php?entryid=112 ESPN

Spain is -.5 goal (+140) with a total of 2 over (-120)
Three-way line / odds – Spain +140, Italy +200, Draw +200

Two high profile soccer teams meet in the Euro 2008 quarterfinals on Sunday as Italy takes on Spain. The Italians will not be at full strength on Sunday as Andrea Barzagli is out with a knee injury while midfielders Andrea Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso are suspended due to accumulated cards.
"That neither of them are there is the best news for Spain," Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas said. Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro is also out of the tournament due to an ankle injury.

"We're going to do it. We're going to win," Spain’s Fabregas said, "We have to do it however we can. If we have to play ugly, we'll do so." The Italian injuries could be a problem considering Spain has scored eight goals in its three games. Forward David Villa leads the tournament with four goals. Italy may have to score some goals on Sunday to keep up. Forward Luca Toni has not scored yet in Euro 2008 and the Italians will need his offense on Sunday. "I'm sure Toni will break out soon," Italy’s Massimo Ambrosini said. "He's had his chances.”

Spain coach Luis Aragones has said his team is fully healthy for Sunday’s match. Carles Puyol and David Silva have returned from injuries. "I hope that the best team wins. And that the best will be Spain," Aragones said.

Spain has won nine straight games overall in all competitions and has not lost in their last 18 matches. Spain defeated Italy 1-0 in a friendly in March but they have never defeated the Italians in a tournament that mattered. Sunday's match is the first meeting between the two in a major tournament since the 1994 World Cup, when Italy won 2-1.

Spain will have to break a big jinx if they are to win on Sunday. They have had all kinds of trouble on June 22nd in history. They have lost three penalty shootouts on this date in history. They lost to Belgium in the Mexico World Cup in 1986; they lost to England in Euro 1996 and lost to South Korea in the 2002 World Cup quarterfinals. Italy has not had much success on June 22nd either. They were eliminated on this date in Euro 2004 and lost in Euro 1988 as well on June 22nd.

Make a Euro 2008 Soccer Bet and get in on the Action!]]> brad@shieldmarketing.com Soccer http://opensportsbookusa.com/blog/index.php?entryid=112 Sun, 22 Jun 2008 00:02:08 +0100 http://opensportsbookusa.com/blog/index.php?entryid=111 ABC

Netherlands is a -.5 goal favorite (-140) with a total of 2.5.
Three-way line/odds – Netherlands -140, Russia +375, Draw +265

The Netherlands have become the favorite in the Soccer Betting Euro 2008 as they were one of only three unbeaten teams in group play. They are heavily favored to continue their run as they face Russia in the quarterfinals on Saturday.
The Netherlands have scored a total of 9 goals in their 3 group matches and that equals the record set by France in 1984. France went on to win the title that year.

"We've sent out a message," the Netherlands Robin Van Persie said, "But this is just part of the dream, not the end. We have to win three more times to lift the trophy. With this squad I really have the feeling that we are unbeatable, though we have to take it step by step. That is why I want to be part of the team as it feels like something beautiful is happening." Netherlands head coach Marco van Basten has used every player except his third string goalkeeper in the tournament. All the players will be well rested for Saturday.

This is the first time that Russia has ever made it to the quarterfinals but coach Guus Hiddink has a lot of experience. He has now taken four different teams to the knockout stage of a major tournament. He led the Netherlands to the semifinals of the 1998 World Cup, South Korea to the semifinals of the 2002 World Cup and Austria to the second round of the 2006 World Cup. Hiddink has become a hero in Russia and he should not be underestimated against the Netherlands. Russia has one of the most exciting young players in striker Andrei Arshavin and he could be a major force on Saturday.

The two teams have faced each other only once before. The Netherlands defeated Russia 4-1 last year in a friendly. Overall, the Netherlands has won six of their last seven matches with one draw. Russia has won five of their last seven matches overall.
]]> brad@shieldmarketing.com Soccer http://opensportsbookusa.com/blog/index.php?entryid=111 Sat, 21 Jun 2008 15:02:53 +0100 http://opensportsbookusa.com/blog/index.php?entryid=110
Croatia is -.5 (-120) with a total of 2 over (-140).
Three-way line / odds – Croatia -120, Turkey +335, Draw +235

Place Your Euro 2008 Soccer Bets Today!

The two darkhorses in the Euro 2008 quarterfinals will battle on Friday as Croatia faces Turkey. Croatia was one of only three teams that came through the group stage with a perfect 3-0 record. “We are the better team," said coach Slaven Bilic. Croatia will have some lineup changes as Ivan Rakitic and Dario Srna are ready to go for Friday but defender Dario Knezevic and striker Igor Budan are out. "I do not have sleepless nights over them. I have plenty of options and have a good choice." Bilic said. "We will do everything to beat Turkey. We have the strength and the quality to do it," Billic added.

The last time Croatia reached the quarterfinals of a major tournament was in the 1998 World Cup when they beat Germany and ended up finishing third.
They seem very confident for Friday’s matchup against Turkey. "The euphoria amongst fans and players is huge, but we have to concentrate on the game against Turkey," said Mladen Petric.

Turkey has some definite problems heading into Friday’s game. They will be without suspended goalkeeper Volkan Demirel and Mehmet Aurelio. Demirel was suspended for two matches after getting a red card in injury time of Turkey’s win against the Czechs. Aurelio got his second card in that game as well and will miss Friday’s game. Turkey will also be without defender Emre Gungor who has a calf injury. Other key players like captain Emre Belozoglu, Tumer Metin and Servet Cetin are doubtful. Former number one goalkeeper Rustu Recber will be in goal and he will have to play very well if Turkey is to have a chance. "Our biggest advantage is that we never give up." said coach Fatih Terim.

The two teams have met three times in history with Croatia winning one while the other two ended in draws. Croatia beat Turkey in 1996 by a score of 1-0 while the teams played to a 1-1 draw in 1997 and a 2-2 draw in 2004.]]> brad@shieldmarketing.com Soccer http://opensportsbookusa.com/blog/index.php?entryid=110 Sat, 21 Jun 2008 03:40:16 +0100 http://opensportsbookusa.com/blog/index.php?entryid=108
Portugal is a -155 odds favorite with a total of 2
Three-way line – Portugal +130, Germany +185, Draw +210

Place Your Euro 2008 Bets for Today's Game!

The Germans will not have coach Joachim Loew on the bench because he was suspended by the UEFA for his actions in Germany’s win over Austria.
"It really hurts him, because it's a special game, the biggest game so far in his career," team manager Oliver Bierhoff said, "He won't be able to use his intuition on the bench." The problem for Germany will be containing Ronaldo. "We have a special plan to stop him, but I won't tell you," Bierhoff said. "He is the best player in the world; you can't stop him for 90 minutes. And he is not alone. We have to stay solid as a group, confronting them one-on-one won't be enough."

Germany will be relying upon Michael Ballack who scored their only goal against Austria. "I am looking forward to this game," Ballack said. "I know a few players; they have very strong individuals, not only Ronaldo. It promises to be a good match." Germany's leading scorer in Euro 2008 is Lukas Podolski but he has a left calf injury and is questionable. Midfielder Torsten Frings has a fractured rib and is also questionable. The good news for Germany is that Bastian Schweinsteiger is likely to return from his one match suspension.

Ronaldo definitely has respect for Germany. "It's going to be a very good game," Ronaldo said. "Both teams are good, Portugal has more technique and Germany (plays) more physically, they have strong players. We have to respect Germany; it is a dangerous team, with very good players. But we are too, so let's see."

The teams have met twice at the European Championship. They played to a scoreless draw in 1984 while Portugal routed Germany 3-0 in 2000. Portugal had already secured a spot in 2000 and was resting players in that match. Germany defeated Portugal 3-1 to take third place in the 2006 World Cup.

U.S Players Click Here to Place Euro 2008 Bets Now!]]> brad@shieldmarketing.com Soccer http://opensportsbookusa.com/blog/index.php?entryid=108 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 05:28:55 +0100 http://opensportsbookusa.com/blog/index.php?entryid=107
Click Here to View Odds and Betting Matchups.

A spot in the Euro 2008 quarterfinals will be on the line when Russia faces Sweden on Wednesday. Spain has already advanced from Group D while Greece has been eliminated. Russia needs a win to advance to the quarterfinals while Sweden can advance with a win or a draw.

Russia will be getting Andrei Arshavin back on Wednesday as he returns from suspension. He is considered the best player for Russia and has missed the first two matches in Euro 2008. He has not played since early this month and could start the game on the bench and enter as a second half substitute. He led Russia in qualifying with three goals. Arshavin is hoping to be in the starting lineup on Wednesday. "Choosing a lineup is the exclusive right of the coach," he said. "Everything is possible, but to be honest I am preparing for the match and I hope to play from the start." Russia is the youngest team in the Euro 2008 while Sweden is the oldest. The online sportsbooks experience factor could come into play on Wednesday. "It won't be an easy game against Sweden. They are tough and experienced," said Russia coach Guus Hiddink. "But knowing both teams, it will be a good clash. If you see the rankings we are still outsiders. We have less experience but outsiders can do a good job."

Sweden is led by striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic who has scored two of Sweden's goals but he is still dealing with a knee injury and probably won’t play the full 90 minutes but is expected to start. Sweden is hoping their experience is enough to get at least a draw on Wednesday. "The fact many of our players have experienced these situations before has a certain importance," said coach Lars Lagerback. "You have to be able to handle it mentally. Our players have proved they are very strong in that department. Not least the way we have come back in the late stages of matches."

Russia and Sweden last met in 2002 for a friendly that ended in a 1-1 draw. They met in the 1994 World Cup as Sweden won 3-1. The Swedes went on to take third place in the ’94 World Cup.

Make your Euro 2008 Bet Today!]]> brad@shieldmarketing.com Soccer http://opensportsbookusa.com/blog/index.php?entryid=107 Thu, 19 Jun 2008 05:29:04 +0100 http://opensportsbookusa.com/blog/index.php?entryid=106
Group B

Thursday saw Group B take the world stage for the second cycle of group soccer betting action. In the duel for first place in Group B, Germany the favourites collapsed against a talented Croatian side, losing by a final score of 2:1. The loss allowed Croatia to ascend to the top of Group B, their berth in the quarterfinal assured. However, the remainder of the group is in a bit of a quagmire as Germany, sitting precariously in second place with 3 points is left to duel for a final eight spot against home side Austria on Monday. Austria and Poland who drew 1:1 in their second group match, both have a glimmer of hope in the finals, a second spot is well within their reach should two things occur: Germany loses against Austria on Monday and Poland beats Croatia. Sounds far-fetched, but anything can happen!

Weekend Euro Cup Soccer Betting:

Group C and D:

The outcome of second cycle soccer betting in Group C and D will be determined on Friday and Saturday, June 13 and 14, 2008 respectively. If you have not already risked a bet, there is still time. Check out the BetUS odds currently available. Sunday will see the final stage of the group soccer betting action start with Group A.

Group:

A POR - 6 | CZE - 3 | TUR - 3 | SUI - 0
B CRO - 6 | GER - 3 | AUT - 1 | POL - 1

C NED - 3 | FRA - 1 | ROU - 1 | ITA - 0
D ESP - 3 | SWE - 3 | GRE - 0 | RUS - 0

Place Your Euro 2008 Soccer Bet Now!]]> brad@shieldmarketing.com Soccer http://opensportsbookusa.com/blog/index.php?entryid=106 Thu, 19 Jun 2008 04:49:48 +0100 http://opensportsbookusa.com/blog/index.php?entryid=105 Current Line / Odds: Celtics - 4 , Total 191.5

Place Your NBA 2008 Finals Bet Now!

The Boston Celtics will attempt to close out the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Six of the NBA Finals on Tuesday. It would be the first NBA title for the Celtics since 1986. It may not be easy considering the Celtics are banged up and tired. They blew a chance to close out the series on Sunday, losing 103-98 in Los Angeles. Even though they lost Game Five, the Celtics like their chances at home in Game Six. "We're one up, with two games to go at home," said Boston’s Paul Pierce, “It still feels like we have the advantage, and I do feel like we're the better team."

History is very much on Boston’s side. No team in NBA history has ever overcome a 3-1 deficit to win the title. Boston head coach Doc Rivers knows it will not be easy though. "It's a terrible turnaround," he said. "It's as tough as you can have. I think going West to East is tougher. Sleep patterns are messed up. It's a tough one. There's no way around it. But both teams have the same issue, so it could come down to a game of mental toughness, who fights the fatigue mentally better than the other group." Boston is expected to be without center Kendrick Perkins while guard Ray Allen left following Sunday’s game to be with one of his three children who had a "health issue." The Celtics are 12-1 at home in the postseason though and are favored on Tuesday night.]]> brad@shieldmarketing.com Basketball http://opensportsbookusa.com/blog/index.php?entryid=105 Wed, 18 Jun 2008 11:22:26 +0100 http://opensportsbookusa.com/blog/index.php?entryid=104
Greece and Russia meet on Saturday in the Soccer Betting Euro 2008 action in what is really an elimination game in Group D. The loser would almost assuredly have no chance to advance to the quarterfinals. Greece is the defending European Champion but they did not start well in their first match, losing 2-0 to Sweden. "Our aim is to get four or six points from these next two matches.” Greece’s Dimitris Salpingidis said, “Our game against Russia is extremely important – if we lose, we are out – that says it all." Greece knows that they must play much better against Russia if they expect to advance from this group. “We promise you that we will be a different team. We can’t tell you if we will win or lose, but we won’t be the same team as against Sweden,” captain Angelos Basinas said.

Russia is -.5 (+110) with a total of 2 under (-125) odds at SBG Global.
Three-way line – Russia +110, Greece +230, Draw +220

Greece will be looking to Angelos Haristeas to score on Saturday. He has scored more times than any other active Greek player. He has 18 goals in 66 caps.

Russia did not play well in their opener either as they were routed by Spain 4-1. The team will need to play much better against Greece if they are to have a chance to advance. Russia could be without striker Roman Pavlyuchenko who has a thigh injury. Andrei Arshavin will also miss the game on Saturday due to suspension. They will need Yuri Zhirkov to score on Saturday. He will be their main threat with Pavlyuchenko and Arshavin out of the lineup. Russia seems confident they will do well on Saturday. Head coach Guus Hiddink does not look to make many changes. "No, not really. Mainly because we have a young team and we're not one of those national sides where one of the 23 players can replace another and play just as well." he said.

The two teams last met at Euro 2004 as Russia won 2-1 in group play although Greece had already advanced at that point. In 1993 Greece drew 1-1 in Moscow and won 1-0 in Athens. Russia won in 1995 by scores of 3-0 and 2-1.]]> brad@shieldmarketing.com Soccer http://opensportsbookusa.com/blog/index.php?entryid=104 Sat, 14 Jun 2008 16:43:56 +0100 http://opensportsbookusa.com/blog/index.php?entryid=103 NBA Finals Game 4 in Los Angeles.

Current Line: Lakers - 7.5 , Total O/U 191

Bet on NBA Finals

The Los Angeles Lakers will try and keep their perfect NBA home playoff record intact and even the best of seven NBA Finals on Thursday as they host the Boston Celtics in Game Four. The Lakers are 9-0 at home in the playoffs and they know they must win the next two games at home if they are to have any chance to win the series. Neither team played very well in Tuesday’s game but the Lakers were happy they got the 87-81 win. "I think most of the players out there struggled physically," Lakers center Pau Gasol said. "You could tell the travel and Game 2 and 3 being so tight together, going across the country pretty much is an overseas trip. It was like going back to Spain. I think that was a factor."

The Celtics seemed to have jet lag as well. "This was the first game that I had four or five different players during the game signal to pull them out," Boston head coach Doc Rivers said. "I had to blow a timeout, one that I didn't want to use late. I thought it was a very tough turnaround and I think rest is very important." One player that was not affected to any great extent was Kobe Bryant. He had 36 points to lead the Lakers. But it could have been the production of Sasha Vujacic that was the most important part of Game Three for Los Angeles. Vujacic scored a career-high 20 points off the bench to save the Lakers. Gasol and Lamar Odom have been terrible in this series and played poorly again on Tuesday. The Celtics also have problems. Kevin Garnett has not played well in the series and Paul Pierce looked like he was invisible on Tuesday. "We've got to get Kevin going, clearly," Rivers said. "He's shooting below 40 in the series, and that's something he doesn't do. Paul, I honestly never worry about a lot offensively. He's a great offensive player. He had a tough night, and he'll get it going."]]> brad@shieldmarketing.com Basketball http://opensportsbookusa.com/blog/index.php?entryid=103 Fri, 13 Jun 2008 08:45:45 +0100