nfl and sports betting and odds

Bulgarian champions Litex Lovech have appointed Luboslav Penev as their new head coach, the club said on Friday.

By CHRIS ALTRUDA STATS Editor=

Gerald Laird hit a solo home run in the 13th inning to lift the Detroit Tigers to a 10-9 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Thursday night. Ryan Raburn added three hits and two RBIs after entering the game in the sixth inning for the injured Miguel Cabrera and Jose Valverde (2-3) pitched a career-high three innings of relief to help the Tigers avoid a three-game sweep.

Shin-Soo Choo drove in five runs with a bases-loaded double and a two-run home run to give the Cleveland Indians a 6-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Thursday night. Choo, traded to the Indians by Seattle in 2006, hit a 3-1 fastball from Doug Fister (4-11) against the right-center-field wall in the Indians' four-run sixth to score all three runners without a throw.

Australia's Lauren Jackson had 23 points and 17 rebounds to lead the Seattle Storm to an 82-74 victory over the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals. Jackson, who won her third WNBA most valuable player award before the game, set a team playoff record for rebounds.

Brazil prodigy Neymar volleyed a fine goal from the edge of the box after 52 seconds to inspire Santos to a 2-1 win over Avai that put them third in the Brazilian championship on Thursday.

Novak Djokovic reached the third round at the U.S. Open with a 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (6) victory over 52nd-ranked Philipp Petzschner of Germany on Thursday. Play was delayed in the eighth game while police escorted away three fans after a fight in the upper deck in Arthur Ashe Stadium. The No. 3-seeded Djokovic has made it at least this far all six times he's played at Flushing Meadows.

Chase Utley drove in six runs and hit a grand slam to cap a nine-run seventh inning Thursday night as the Philadelphia Phillies overcame a four-run deficit to beat the Colorado Rockies 12-11. Utley's six RBIs tied a career high and came after Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth also went deep during the big inning in which the Phillies collected nine hits and all but buried the Rockies' playoff...

Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera left Thursday night's game against Minnesota in the sixth inning with left biceps tendinitis. Cabrera went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts in the game. After coming in from the field after the fifth inning, the first baseman walked with a team trainer from the dugout back into the clubhouse.

Adrian Beltre homered to spark a five-run second inning, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-4 on Thursday night to salvage a .500 road trip. David Ortiz drove in two runs and J.D. Drew had three hits for the Red Sox, who moved within 6 1/2 games of idle Tampa Bay in the AL wild-card race.

David Wright homered, Johan Santana won for the first time in four starts and the New York Mets snapped the Atlanta Braves' five-game winning streak with a 4-2 victory Thursday night. The Mets, who had dropped three straight, broke a 13-game stretch in which they scored three runs or less against the NL East-leading Braves.

Big soccer rivals Argentina and England could play a friendly on Feb. 9, 2011, the man charged with organising the South American team's international calendar said on Thursday.

European heavyweights France, England and Italy get the chance to put their disappointing World Cups behind them on Friday as they kick off their Euro 2012 qualifying campaigns on a night for fresh starts.

The TCU Horned Frogs have taken the next step on the road to national respectability and prominence. They’ve put together a perfect regular season and made a BCS bowl. Now, can they do it again in 2010? Oregon State Beavers vs.

There is no team that’ll have more eyes on them in Week 1 than USC, which travels to Hawaii to try and secure their first win of the season against the NCAAF spread.

Colorado Rockies manager Jim Tracy has drawn his second ejection of the season. Tracy was tossed by home plate umpire Paul Emmel in the sixth inning of Thursday night's game against Philadelphia. Tracy argued vehemently after Emmel ruled that a pitch had struck Mike Sweeney on his right hand with the bases loaded, driving in a run.

Minnesota Twins starter Scott Baker left Thursday night's game against Detroit after two innings because of pain in his right elbow. Baker allowed two runs and three hits, including a homer by Don Kelly. He has had trouble keeping his arm loose in some starts this season, and there was no immediate word on the severity of the injury.

Seattle Storm forward Lauren Jackson of Australia was selected the WNBA's most valuable player for the third time in her career on Thursday. Jackson was honored before Game 1 of Seattle's best-of-3 Western Conference final against defending champion Phoenix. Also, the Storm's Brian Agler was named the league's coach of the year.

The Cleveland Indians will be looking to snap out of their losing ways and cover the MLB betting lines by picking up a much-needed victory when they square off against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field tonight at 10:10 PM ET. Thursday, September 2, 10:10 PM ET TV: STO, FSN [Off topic: by the way, do you want to get a 60% bonus on your first deposit here at BetUS? So go on JOIN NOW.] MLB...

Surprisingly, I love the line on the Cardinals in this preseason football betting matchup and it is one of my favorite football picks in the final week of the NFL preseason.

The preseason’s most surprising team will try to go 4-0 in the NFL spread betting Thursday. Can the 49ers finish the preseason 4-0 when they host the Chargers Thursday? San Diego Chargers (1-2 Preseason, 1-2 ATS) at San Francisco 49ers (3-0 Preseason, 3-0 ATS) Thursday, September 2: 10:00 p.m. Live from Candlestick Park, San Francisco, CA NFL Betting Lines: San Diego: +3 ½...

Maria Sharapova has advanced to the third round of the U.S. Open with a stress-free 6-1, 6-2 victory over Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic. The 14th-seeded Sharapova had as much trouble with the wind at Arthur Ashe Stadium as with her 68th-ranked opponent Thursday night. Sharapova is looking for her second U.S.

The Seattle Seahawks will be looking to snap their modest two-game preseason losing streak while covering the NFL Odds in the BetUS Football Sportsbook when they take on the Oakland Raiders at Oakland Coliseum tonight at 10:00 PM ET in the final tune-up game for each team. Seattle Seahawks at Oakland Raiders Live from Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, CA at 10:00 PM ET TV: KING 5, KICU Radio:...

A year ago at the U.S. Open, American teenager Melanie Oudin told the world to "BELIEVE," with her sneakers and her play. Among those she motivated: Beatrice Capra, an 18-year-old from Ellicott City, Md., and a wild-card entry who is following in Oudin's footsteps at Flushing Meadows, albeit without any mottos on her shoes.

The Atlanta Braves activated Troy Glaus from the 15-day disabled list Thursday after the infielder missed 14 games with left knee inflammation. Glaus spent his rehab stint at Triple-A Gwinnett playing exclusively at third base, the position he played most of his first 11 years before the Braves signed him as their first baseman last winter.

Boxing bettors from across the pond have gotten used to the sight of Felix Sturm wearing a championship belt, and on Saturday the WBA middleweight champion will make the tenth defense in his current reign against Giovanni Lorenzo in a scheduled 12-round bout at the Lanxess-Arena in Cologne, Germany.

Two 2-1 preseason teams will try to finish on a high note tonight in Arizona as the Cardinals host the Redskins in the final warm-up game of the year. The Cardinals might not need this one as much as the Redskins, who are trying to create a winning culture in the nation's capital, but expect a spirited effort as plenty of roster spots are up for grabs in this NFL betting game. Who has the...

This isn’t just a very attractive opening-weekend matchup. It’s a game with national championship implications. Buckle up in the Beltway, football betting fans, as Boise State and Virginia Tech collide.   Boise State Broncos vs.

England coach Fabio Capello is confused by his sudden transformation from a "god" to a "monster" since his team faltered at the World Cup. Preparing for European Championship qualifying, a combative Capello fought back against claims by pundits and columnists in England that he is a clueless coach lacking the tactical ability to turn the team into title winners.

This NFL Betting preview features the Dallas Cowboys and the Miami Dolphins in the final tune up game for both ball clubs before the NFL regular season kicks off a week from today. Both clubs have some kinks to work out as the Cowboys will try and polish up an offense that hasn’t looked all that sharp this preseason, while the Dolphins are coming off a lacklustre 16-6 loss to the Falcons...

The Chicago Bears will be slightly desperate to pick up their first preseason victory when they visit the rebuilding Cleveland Browns in each team’s preseason finale – and pro football gamblers everywhere could be that much better of in their efforts to cash in against the NFL Line thanks to Chicago’s desperation. Chicago Bears at Cleveland Browns Live from Cleveland Browns...

The Vikings are continuing to search for a glimpse of last year’s magic, as they play their preseason football spread finale at home against the Denver Broncos. Minnesota Vikings vs. Denver Broncos Live from Hubert H.

The 2010 college football season gets under way tonight, and with the NCAAF Spread set, it’s time to get into it. The 15 th Ranked Pittsburgh Panthers travel to Utah to take on the Utes in what is shaping up to be the game of the night. The Big East is the stronger conference, but Utah has proven over the past few years that the Mountain West conference is no joke.

Pittsburgh, the 15th ranked team in the nation, will travel to Salt Lake City in their 2010-11 college football spread betting season opener to play against the unranked Utah Utes, a team that hasn’t lost at home since 2007. Pittsburgh Panthers vs.

The Colorado Rockies returned home Thursday to play a makeup game with the Philadelphia Phillies and pick up their newest teammate, Manny Delcarmen. The hard-throwing right-handed reliever met up with his bleary-eyed teammates at Coors Field two days after the Rockies acquired him from the Boston Red Sox for minor league pitcher Chris Balcom-Miller.

The NFL football spread in the sportsbook says that the Chicago Bears should blast the Cleveland Browns on Thursday, September 2nd. Okay, maybe the word “blast” is a bit harsh. The Bears are only favored by 3 points and the Browns are at +3 -120, instead of +3 -110, meaning that the odds makers obviously feel that the Browns could upset the Bears against the spread in this game....

The NFL betting season is upon us, and with it is an exciting Thursday night game from Tennessee. That’s where the defending Super Bowl champs will get their final tune-up, against Vince Young and the Titans. New Orleans Saints (2-1 Preseason, 2-1 ATS) at Tennessee Titans (1-2 Preseason, 1-2 ATS) Thursday, September 2: 8:00 p.m. LP Field, Nashville, TN NFL Betting Lines: New Orleans: +7...

The Houston Texans are football betting favorites to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday, Sept. 2nd. Both teams will be playing in their final NFL Preseason game of the year. Houston is definitely going to rest their starters.

Those who challenge themselves against the NFL line know that the San Diego Chargers are not as bad as they showed last week in New Orleans, and this week they hope to rebound in the pre-season finale as they visit the Bay Area to take on the San Francisco 49ers, who are unbeaten so far.

It’s a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll, just ask Houston Texans’ head coach Gary Kubiak, who finally guided his team over the .500 hump to a nine-win season a year ago.

When it comes to this week’s NFL football picks, it’s going to be hard to find a better wager against the spread than the Kansas City Chiefs over the Green Bay Packers. There are a number of reasons why the Chiefs are a big 5 ½ point favorite ATS against the Packers on Thursday night.

As the San Francisco Giants battle for the lead in the National League West, they face their old rival, Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles for a three-game series. The Giants currently sit three games back of the San Diego Padres and need to take this series to keep pace and stay in the post-season hunt.

Baseball bettors who like to get a little masochistic pleasure are completely immersed in a fight to the finish on the part of the Seattle Mariners and Cleveland Indians to see who can be the lesser of two evils. The M's in particular didn't expect to be in this position, yet they are the last-place club in the American League West, while Cleveland brings up the rear in the AL Central.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are football betting favorites to beat the visiting Atlanta Falcons this Thursday in each team’s final game of the NFL Preseason The Jags have been installed as favorites for the simple fact that neither team has been good or bad during the preseason.

The Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins are two franchises that have a sort of unspoken rivalry with each other, and they will meet tonight in an interesting preseason matchup as it relates to the NFL odds. The Cowboys have opened as -3 favorites in this one but the line has been moving toward the Dolphins.

Colombian police are searching for a Mexican fugitive wanted for the shooting in January of Paraguay soccer player Salvador Cabanas, a senior officer said on Thursday.

Pro football gamblers will have a good chance to cash in against the NFL lines in the BetUS Football Sportsbook when the Kansas City Chiefs desperately try to beat the Green Bay Packers and record their first preseason win under second-year head coach Todd Haley. The Chiefs will welcome the Packers to Arrowhead Stadium in the final preseason tilt for each team tonight at 8:00 PM ET. Green Bay...

All it took was an inkling, just a tiny inkling of him regaining his swing, for Tiger Woods’ golf odds to drop 50% from last week’s PGA Tournament to this week’s PGA Tournament. 50%, my friends.  50%.  Last week El Tigre was at +1000 to win The Barclays, a co-choice with Phil Mickelson and Rory McIlroy.  This week, he’s +500, a solid choice all by his...

Sportsbook customers who bet against the NFL line are watching with a lot of interest as the New York Jets have become reality stars, and the team closes out its pre-season as an underdog as it visits Philadelphia to play the Eagles. The game takes place on Thursday night, slated for 7:30 PM ET at Lincoln Financial Field (natural turf).

Florida Marlins catcher John Baker will undergo Tommy John surgery to repair an injury to his throwing elbow that sidelined him for most of this season, meaning he might not play again until 2012. Dr. James Andrews will perform the reconstructive surgery Friday, the Marlins said. Baker has been sidelined since May 12 and had hoped to return this year, but he endured repeated setbacks in...