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
09/04/2010 - Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jim Thome hit two homers to pass Mark McGwire for ninth place on the all-time home run list, and the Minnesota Twins pummeled the Texas Rangers, 12-4, at Target Field.
Thome now has 584 career home runs, which is one more than the former Athletics and Cardinals slugger. The powerful lefty drove in four runs and reached 20 homers for the 16th time in the last 17 seasons.
Next up for Thome is Frank Robinson, who is eighth all-time with 586 homers.
Matt Tolbert added two triples and a career-high five RBI, while J.J. Hardy hit a two-run double for the Twins, winners in four of five. Carl Pavano (16-10) helped the Twins maintain their four-game lead over the White Sox in the AL Central after allowing three runs on eight hits in eight strong innings.
Chicago captured the first game against Boston in a doubleheader that continues later Saturday.
Ian Kinsler homered, while Julio Borbon hit a two-run double for the Rangers, who have lost 10 of 14 on the road but still hold a sizeable lead in the AL West. Colby Lewis (9-12) continued his struggles, allowing nine runs, eight hits and two walks in 3 2/3 frames. Lewis is now 0-7 in his last nine starts, not having won since July 16 at Boston.
Minnesota wasted no time jumping out to a big lead, scoring five times -- all with two outs -- in the opening inning. Denard Span worked a leadoff walk, and Orlando Hudson followed with a base hit to left. Two batters later, Thome worked a walk to load the bases with one out.
Delmon Young popped out, but the Twins' two-out attack took over. Hardy doubled in a pair of runs, and Jason Repko was hit by a pitch to re-load the bases. Tolbert plated all three runners with a triple to right for a 5-0 advantage.
Thome gave the Twins a 6-0 lead with his homer leading off the third.
In the fourth, Span and Michael Cuddyer both singled ahead of Thome, who sent another blast to left-center for his 20th of the season, which gave Minnesota a commanding nine-run lead.
Mitch Moreland's RBI single in the fifth put Texas on the board, and Borbon's two-run double in the sixth got the Rangers to within 9-3.
Tolbert continued his career day with a two-run triple in the seventh and came around to score on a wild pitch for a 12-3 advantage.
Kinsler's leadoff homer in the ninth accounted for the final margin.
Game Notes
Thome recorded his 46th multi-homer game and the second this season...The Rangers still lead the season series, 5-4...Pavano snapped a three-start losing streak...Josh Hamilton (back) played for Texas after leaving Friday's game and went 0-for-2 before being replaced by Borbon...The Twins have won six straight at home over Texas...Securing at least a series victory, Minnesota improved to 16-4-2 in series at home this season, including wins in eight of its last nine.
<< 25th-ranked West Virginia opens by blanking Coastal Carolina
Morgantown, WV (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Geno Smith completed 20-of-27 passes for a
career-high 216 yards and two touchdowns in his first collegiate start and
Noel Devine ran for 111 yards and a score to lead West Virginia to a 31-0
drubbin
<< Ducks dominate in opener against New Mexico
Eugene, OR (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kenjon Barner rushed for 146 yards and four
touchdowns on 17 carries as 11th-ranked Oregon used a powerful first
half to dismantle New Mexico, 72-0, in the first-ever meeting between the
schools
<< Hamlin edges Newman for Atlanta pole
Hampton, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Denny Hamlin earned his first pole of the
season by topping Ryan Newman in Saturday's qualifying for the Emory
Healthcare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Hamlin turned in a lap of 187.380 m.p.
<< Texans release 21; officially sign RB Ward
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Texans released 21 players, sent
three others to various reserve lists, and officially signed running back
Derrick Ward as part of their roster maneuvers on Saturday.
The Texans released quarterback
Longhorns begin post-McCoy era with win over Rice >>
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sophomore running back Tre' Newton rushed for a
career-high three touchdowns, as the fifth-ranked Texas Longhorns bounced back
from a slow start to defeat the Rice Owls, 34-17, in the season opener for
both sc
Wood, Reds handle Cardinals >>
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Travis Wood turned in seven solid innings and
hit his first career home run to lead Cincinnati in a 6-1 victory over rival
St. Louis in the middle test of a crucial three-game set at Busch Stadium.
Jonny Go
Eagles send Andrews to Seattle >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Eagles reportedly sent
offensive lineman Stacy Andrews to Seattle on Saturday for an undisclosed
draft pick in 2011.
The move was reported on the team's website, although there
Siavii, Octavien among Cowboys' 20 cuts >>
Irving, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Defensive lineman Junior Siavii and linebacker
Steve Octavien were among the most recognizable names released by the Dallas
Cowboys on Saturday, as the team pared its roster to the 53-player maximum.
Siavii, a f
In terms of sports wagering, the NFL is "the most popular game in town." The explanation behind that is easy.
It is called the "pointspread."
Many years ago, NFL games, as well as the more popular college games, used straight odds as a vehicle for betting. For example, if the Bears were playing the Giants, and it shaped up as a competitive contest, the Bears might be, say, a 7/5 favorite. If they were playing an also-ran, it might be 10/1. Well, there is a point where a line becomes prohibitive, as far as betting the favorite. And who would waste money betting an underdog that has virtually no chance? Such a setup did not contribute to promoting betting action.
But in modern sports betting, a "pointspread" is used.
A NFL pointspreads are exactly that, a pre-established point difference between the two sides that will, for all intents and purposes, create a handicap that evens things out, and in doing so, produces comparable wagering activity on both sides of that proposition. So in lieu of a odds figure in which to bet the team to win outright, the Bears might be a three-point favorite over the New York Giants, and a 17-point favorite over the also-ran. Now that the team that is the underdog can "get" points, there can be equal action on both sides.
In sportsbooks, this is usually done with efficiency by charging the losing bettors 10% extra - in effect, bettors are laying 11/10 on those games. So they are actually betting $110 to win $100. If they lose, they pay the "vig." If they win, they simply collect.
The establishment of the pointspread as the corner stone around which team sports like football can be wagered upon was truly what brought gridiron betting into the stratosphere for online football betting .
Don't believe it? Just take a look at what happens around the Super Bowl.
Stay with us here as we take you through the best in NFL action on a consistent basis, with advice columns as well as handicapping selections. If you're looking for college football betting, that's in our NCAA section, which you can reach by clicking here. And if you're looking for a different kind of football, such as the Canadian Football League, which we'll deal with occasionally, or the Arena Football League, which we really like, you can find it in our Miscellaneous section by clicking
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting odds .
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook betting credit cards
Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.
"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."
Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.
Mysportsbook.com online online sportsbook accepts 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