Sports Betting News: NFL Team History | NFL Football Betting | College Football Betting | Baseball Betting | Basketball Betting | College Basketball Betting | Hockey Betting | Golf Betting | Tennis Betting | Auto Racing Betting | Horse Racing Betting | Soccer Betting
The U.S. got off to a fast start as a left-wing cross was played into the area and it deflected off of Teal Bunbury and into the path of Zusi, who made no mistake with his finish from seven yards, driving the ball underneath goalkeeper Luis Mejia.
It was one of the few chances that the U.S. was able to create, and Panama enjoyed the better of the play over the remainder of the match as U.S. goalkeeper Nick Rimando needed to make two nice saves before halftime, the first on Luis Renteria and then on Blas Perez.
The challenge earned the defender a straight red card, but Perez missed two good scoring opportunities in the final 15 minutes that allowed the Americans to hold on.
Barcelona, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta will be sidelined three weeks with a left hamstring tear, the European champions announced Thursday. Iniesta was injured just before the half-hour mark in Wednesday's Copa del Rey quarterfinal match against Real Madrid. The 2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or finalist was injured in a challenge with Real's Alvaro Arbeloa and had to leave the match.
The match finished 2-2, but Barca went through on aggregate, 4-3, to eliminate the defending champions.
London, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - QPR acquired defender Nedum Onuoha from Manchester City on Thursday and signed him to a 4 1/2-year contract. Onuoha, 25, made his debut for City in 2004 and played 92 matches for the club, some of those under current QPR manager Mark Hughes. Onuoha was on loan with Sunderland last season and played 31 matches.
"He is a very good addition to the squad. It's important that we are able to attract good players here."
QPR is 16th in the Premier League, just two points above the relegation zone.
"Signing Richard was a very high offseason priority," said Toronto FC manager and technical director Aron Winter.
Eckersley started his youth career with Manchester United and played two games for the Premiership giants. Eckersley signed a four-year deal with Burnley in July 2009 and had loan deals at Plymouth Argyle, Bradford City and Bury before finally landing with Toronto FC.
As per team and league policies, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
<<
Games Acquires Lead For Anderson
<<
Portland Into Lead Contract
<<
Points Leaves Love From Millsap
Toronto Bastians Wrap Salvage On Germany >>
Regular Season Sparks New On Indianapolis >>
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.
Get free 2009 Super Bowl Betting from top rated online sportsbook MySportsbook.com. Mysportsbook.com online Super Bowl betting VISA Mastercard
Sports Betting News: NFL Team History | NFL Football Betting | College Football Betting | Baseball Betting | Basketball Betting | College Basketball Betting | Hockey Betting | Golf Betting | Tennis Betting | Auto Racing Betting | Horse Racing Betting | Soccer Betting