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04/22/2009 - Barcelona, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Barcelona regained its six-point lead atop the La Liga table on Wednesday as the club recorded a resounding 4-0 win over Sevilla at the Nou Camp.
Just one day after Real Madrid scored a dramatic 3-2 win over Getafe to close the gap to three points, Barca put together an impressive response with Andres Iniesta and Samuel Eto'o scoring goals inside of 18 minutes to send the hosts on their way.
Xavi made it 3-0 shortly after halftime and Thierry Henry added another goal five minutes later to cap the impressive offensive display.
Iniesta had Barca on the scoreboard after three minutes when he collected a loose ball in midfield and was given room.
He carried the ball towards goal and curled a perfect shot into the upper right corner, giving Sevilla goalkeeper Javi Varas no chance.
The Barca pressure continued minutes later when Daniel Alves struck a free kick that took a slight deflection and sailed just over the crossbar, while Eto'o fired over the net from 10 yards with only the keeper to beat.
Sevilla got a rare look at goal in the 12th minute when Diego Capel crossed to the back post for Jesus Navas, but he volleyed wide from six yards and Barca struck again five minutes later.
A nice build up saw Xavi and Iniesta work a nice one-two with Iniesta taking the return pass inside the box and sliding a first-time pass to the penalty spot for Eto'o, whose shot was tipped by the keeper but settled inside the left post.
Xavi almost made it 3-0 before the break when he chipped the ball inches wide of the far post, but the Spain international didn't have to wait long to put his name on the scoresheet.
Eto'o took a pass inside the box from Iniesta, and he dropped the ball back to Xavi to curl inside the upper right corner.
Iniesta was again involved in the build up five minutes later when he laid the ball off to Henry inside the box on the left. The former Arsenal man dribbled towards goal and calmly rolled the ball inside the far post, surprising the keeper and capping the win.
Valencia continues to chase a Champions League spot and they improved their position with a 2-1 win over Real Betis as David Villa scored twice, Deportivo downed Almeria 2-0, and Malaga overcame a 2-1 halftime deficit to beat Osasuna, 3-2.
<< L.A.'s Wagner earns WPS Player of the Week
Carson, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Los Angeles Sol midfielder Aly Wagner was voted
the Women's Professional Soccer Player of the Week for Week 4.
The U.S. international lead the Sol to a 1-0 victory on Sunday over visiting
FC Gold Pride at
<< L.A.'s Wagner earn's WPS Player of the Week
Carson, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Los Angeles Sol midfielder Aly Wagner was voted
the Women's Professional Soccer Player of the Week for Week 4.
The U.S. international lead the Sol to a 1-0 victory on Sunday over visiting
FC Gold Pride at
<< United doubles up on Pompey, extends lead to three points
Manchester, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Manchester United opened up a three-
point lead on second-placed Liverpool on Wednesday as the Red Devils recorded
a 2-0 win against Portsmouth at Old Trafford.
Liverpool was held to a 4-4 draw
<< Rangers' Benson heads to DL
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Texas Rangers placed right-handed
pitcher Kris Benson on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 16,
with right elbow tendinitis.
On Monday, the club announced that Benson's scheduled
Roberts, Haren help D-Backs shut down Rockies >>
Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ryan Roberts' pinch-hit RBI single in the
seventh inning broke a scoreless tie, as Dan Haren was credited with his much-
deserved first win of the season in Arizona's 2-0 decision over Colorado.
Haren (1
Molina lifts Giants over Padres in 10th >>
San Francisco, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Pinch-hitter Bengie Molina knocked in the
winning run with a ground-rule double in the bottom of the 10th inning, as the
San Francisco Giants outlasted the San Diego Padres, 1-0, to sweep a two-game
series
Phillies announce rescheduled rainouts >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Phillies announced
Wednesday the rescheduled dates for a pair of games that were postponed due to
inclement weather earlier this month.
The April 20 home date against San Diego h
Giants bolster O-line with T Carnahan >>
East Rutherford, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Giants acquired tackle
Andrew Carnahan off waivers from the Kansas City Chiefs on Wednesday.
Carnahan, 25, was originally a seventh-round selection out of Arizona State by
the Jaguars
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.
JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.
Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.
MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .
''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''
Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.
He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.
''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''
Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.
Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.
With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.
Additional basbeall odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.
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