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09/05/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - North Korea is ranked fifth in the world, but it nearly cost itself a chance at a World Cup title.
After having a last-minute goal denied in a 1-0 loss to China in qualifying last year, North Korea's Hye Yong Han kicked the official and teammates Son Kyong Sun and Song Jung Sun threw bottles at other officials and fans.
All three players were banned from the Asian Championship third-place match, which decided the region's final automatic World Cup qualifier. North Korea overcame the losses to defeat Japan, 3-2, and make its third straight Cup.
With the controversy in the past, North Korea now has to figure out a way to get through Group B - easily the tournament's hardest with the United States, Sweden and Nigeria.
The team was upset about being placed in Group B by FIFA, which exempted North Korea from a random draw that normally selects the groups. Accusations were the decision was made to keep North Korea and China from meeting prior to the semifinals.
Although that mission may have been accomplished, it also landed North Korea in a very tough situation in group play. North Korea opens the tournament on Sept. 11 against the United States, which is ranked No. 1 in the world.
North Korea's second game is against the "weakest" team in the group, Nigeria, on Sept. 14. But then North Korea plays on Sept. 18 against Sweden, which is ranked third in the world.
While a third straight first-round exit is possible, North Korea is also so talented it could win the group and make a run at the title.
"North Korea is ... an extremely technical, athletic, fast, well-coached team who prides on counterattacks and putting high pressure on anyone who has the ball," U.S. defender Kate Markgraf said.
North Korea is 2-4-0 in its previous six World Cup matches in 1999 and 2003, which includes a pair of 3-0 losses to the United States. In its only meeting with Sweden, in the 2003 Cup when the same four teams were in the same group, North Korea lost 1-0.
Like most teams in this year's tournament, North Korea has changed a lot since the last World Cup under the guidance of coach Kim Kwang-Min.
North Korea won the Under-20 World Cup last year and has a number of players, including Ho Sun Hui and Kim Kyon Hwa, who are expected to make an impact for the senior team.
North Korea's high-energy team has one of the best striker's in the world in captain Ri Kum Suk. She was nominated for FIFA Women's Player of the Year in 2006, when she scored five goals in four games in the Asian Championships.
Midfielder Kim Yong Ae and forward Ri Un Gyong each scored three goals in the qualifying tournament, and Kim Than Sil scored two. They'll add to the offense while Sonu Kyong Sun, Song Jong Sun and Ho Sun Hui anchor the defense in front of Om Jong Ran, who will likely be the starting goalie.
But Suk is the key for North Korea. She had an amazing 15 goals in 2003 when North Korea won the Asian Championship. If she can display that form in the World Cup, the 28-year-old could erase the team's disappointing history.
Suk played on North Korea's World Cup teams in 1999 and 2003, but has yet to experience the elimination stage - something that won't be easy to accomplish this year either.
"We will work harder and try to step forward to be one of the top sides in the world," Suk told FIFA's Web site.
PAST ACHIEVEMENTS:
-- FIFA World Cup qualifier: 1999, 2003, 2007.
-- Asian Championship first: 2001, 2003.
-- Asian Championship second: 1993, 1997.
-- Asian Championship third: 1999, 2006.
-- Asian Games first: 2002, 2006.
-- Asian Games second: 1998.
<< 2007 Women's World Cup Preview - Japan
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Japan did not expect to have such a tough time in
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The Japanese had a disappoint
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(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Germany enters the 2007 Women's World Cup as defending
champions and is considered to be one of the favorites to capture the crown
again this time.
Although head coach Silvia Neid's side has a few different faces f
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game against the Chicago White Sox.
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Boise State was
Golden Bears try to claw way past Rams >>
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Bruins host Cougars in non-league affair >>
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - For the second time in as many games, the
BYU Cougars get another crack at a member of the Pac-10 Conference when the
team drops in on 13th-ranked UCLA in Pasadena this weekend.
The Cougars, who
Aggies and Bulldogs meet for first time >>
College Station, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Playing the second of three straight at
home in College Station to open the 2007 campaign, the 23rd-ranked Texas A&M
Aggies put their national ranking on the line this weekend against the visiting
Fres
BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
NFL betting action is back! At MySportsbook, all of the pro football odds are posted for the NFC North. Check out how we see the four teams in this cloudy division stacking up this year in the chase for the playoffs! Green Bay Packers (+125) - With QB Aaron Rodgers leading the offense and DC Dom Capers working his magic on defense, the Packers are a real force to be reckoned with.
Virtually nothing changed on this offense for Green Bay from last year to this year, save for the addition of rookie OT Brian Bulaga to the bunch. Expect more huge numbers from the Pack, and a relatively favorable schedule should get them over the hump and into the playoffs once again this season. My NFL Betting Predictions: 11-5, 1st place in NFC North Minnesota Vikings (+130) - There are still too many unknowns about the Vikes this year. There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not.
There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.
Chicago Bears (+350) - The Bears are probably a bit of an overhyped team once again this year.No, we don't think it is plausible for QB Jay Cutler to have as bad of a season as he did last year, and we do think the additions of RB Chester Taylor and DE Julius Peppers are going to help immensely, but there's still something in the water in the Windy City that we aren't so sure about. Maybe Chicago finds its way to .500... but then again, maybe it doesn't. If Favre comes back, Cutler might be the worst quarterback in this division this year.
Detroit Lions (+1500) - The Lions are probably once again going to be the whipping boys for the rest of the teams in the NFC North, but they aren't just going to roll over and die once again. There is some real talent amassing on this team offensively, as the combination of QB Matt Stafford, RB Jahvid Best, WR Calvin Johnson, and TE Brandon Pettigrew should put a bunch of points on the board if the offensive line can even remotely hold up. The questions really lie on defense, where it feels like DT Ndamukong Suh is going to be trying to stop opposing teams all by himself. This year should show some marked improvement in the Motor City.
The Patriots will make NFL betting fans a lot of money this season, get in early and enjoy the cash.
To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.
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