Schalke edges Stuttgart to grab first

Soccer Betting Lines

03/12/2010 - Gelsenkirchen, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kevin Kuranyi scored his 14th goal of the season to lead Schalke to a 2-1 win over Stuttgart on Friday and into first place in Germany's Bundesliga.

Schalke moved one point ahead of Bayern Munich, which can reclaim the top spot Saturday when Freiburg visits the Allianz Arena.

Edu and Kuranyi scored in the first 10 minutes of the second half at Veltins- Arena, a span that also included Serdar Tasci's goal for Stuttgart.

Edu replaced Jefferson Farfan to start the second half and scored less than a minute after entering when he slotted past Jens Lehmann to the bottom left.

Tasci headed home a pass from Zdravko Kuzmanovic in the 50th to pull Stuttgart level, but Kuranyi answered with the game-winner in the 55th. Heiko Westermann delivered the pass to Kuranyi deep inside the area and he finished from close range to move into a tie for the Bundesliga scoring lead.

Bayern had its 18-game unbeaten streak in all competitions snapped Tuesday at Fiorentina in a 3-2 loss but still advanced to the last eight in the Champions League on away goals after the aggregate finished 4-4.

Bayern just moved atop the Bundesliga two weeks ago but a 1-1 tie against Koln allowed Schalke to move into the lead after the opening game of the weekend.

The Munich club has matches against Schalke and Bayer Leverkusen over the next two weeks, and can't afford to drop points this week against Freiburg.

"We'd like to pull clear," Thomas Muller told Bayern's website. "What we have to do is win our matches and maybe open up a small gap."

Bayern was forced to use a new defense against Fiorentina, and it did show at times, but 17-year-old David Alaba played extremely well at left back. Diego Contento could return to the lineup Saturday after missing the midweek game in Italy with a knee problem, and one of those two teenagers will start.

Coach Louis Van Gaal will have selection problems this weekend with defenders Martin Demichelis and Christian Lell, striker Mario Gomez, midfielders Franck Ribery, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Hamit Altintop all out.

Captain Mark van Bommel is also doubtful, which would leave central midfield in the hands of Anatoliy Tymoshchuk and Danijel Pranjic.

"It's good we have so many great players in the squad, which means it won't be a problem," Muller said.

Also Saturday, Bochum hosts Borussia Dortmund, Mainz hosts Koln, Hertha Berlin hosts Nurnberg, Monchengladbach hosts Wolfsburg and Hannover hosts Eintracht.

On Sunday, Hoffenheim hosts Werder Bremen and Bayer Leverkusen hosts Hamburg.

Vegaas Soccer Betting News

<< Chiefs sign veteran center Wiegmann
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Kansas City Chiefs have signed veteran center Casey Wiegmann. The 14-year pro spent the last two seasons with Denver and started in all 32 regular season games. He has gone the last eight

<< Blake advances at BNP Paribas Open
Indian Wells, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former top-five American James Blake was an easy first-round winner Friday at the $4.5 million BNP Paribas Open, an ATP World Tour Masters event. Blake cruised past Spaniard Daniel Gimeno-Traver 6-3, 6-2

<< Redskins bring in RB Johnson
Ashburn, VA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Washington Redskins signed running back Larry Johnson on Friday. Terms of the deal were not announced, but a report in the Washington Post says the contract is for three years and a total of $12 million

<< Bucs ink LB Alston
Tampa, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced the signing of linebacker Jon Alston on Friday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Alston spent the last three seasons with Oakland. He recorded 23 tackles in

<< Corliss Williamson takes over at Central Arkansas
Conway, AR (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The University of Central Arkansas has named former college and NBA standout Corliss Williamson as its next men's head basketball coach. Williamson, who enjoyed a fruitful 12-year NBA career, played his

Weather woes remain at Puerto Rico Open >>
Rio Grande, Puerto Rico (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A new day brought only more weather problems for the PGA Tour's Puerto Rico Open, which still wasn't halfway through the first round when play was suspended Friday because of darkness. Rain c

Oregon QB Masoli suspended for entire 2010 season >>
Eugene, OR (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Oregon Ducks quarterback Jeremiah Masoli was suspended for the entire 2010 season after pleading guilty to charges of second-degree burglary on Friday. Ducks head coach Chip Kelly made the announce

LeBron returns against Sixers >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - LeBron James was in the Cavaliers' starting lineup on Friday against the Philadelphia 76ers, returning from a two-game absence. James missed a loss to the Bucks last Saturday and a win over the Spurs o

Stanford women drop Arizona, gain Pac-10 semis >>
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Nnemkadi Ogwumike tallied a game-high 25 points with 10 rebounds as No. 2 Stanford downed Arizona, 72-52, in the quarterfinals of the Pac-10 Tournament. Jeanette Pohlen scored 15 points and Kay

Packers sign Pro Bowl S Collins through 2013 >>
Green Bay, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Green Bay Packers announced Friday that the team has signed safety Nick Collins to a multi-year extension through the 2013 season. Collins had been a restricted free agent, and the team previously

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.


With all the style and sex appeal of Las Vegas, MySportsbook.com is without a doubt the coolest online sportsbook on the Internet.

At MySportsbook.com, players get to enjoy the luxury of a five star sportsbook, a racebook that's second to none, a casino with all the bells and whistles, and a swanky new poker room!

MySportsbook also has a unique games room where players can go head-to-head for cash playing such things as sports trivia and fantasy games, popular arcade games, word and memory games, and more.

Throughout MySportsbook, visitors and members are treated to informative sports news and sports betting stats Sports matchup reports and sports betting trends as well as entertaining columns written by colorful personalities.

The management at MySportsbook has been in the online gaming business since 1997. As a result of this success, management has earned a coveted spot on eGaming Review's "Power 50" list, which recognizes leaders in online gaming.

With MySportsbook.com , management's goal is to provide players with an exciting place to experience the thrill of gaming in a safe and trustworthy environment.

Thus, players at MySportsbook are assured of getting top notch customer service while having a wickedly good time.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts Visa needs.