Ross' grand slam caps Braves' big inning in win over Mets
Baseball Betting Lines
08/31/2010 - Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - David Ross' first career grand slam capped a seven-run fifth inning as the Atlanta Braves clobbered the New York Mets, 9-2, in the second of a four-game set.
Derrek Lee went 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored while Jason Heyward added a two-run double for the Braves, who have won four straight.
Mike Minor (3-0) lasted five innings in the start and was charged with two runs on seven hits with three walks and four strikeouts for Atlanta, which moved its lead over Philadelphia for first place in the NL East to 3 1/2 games. Philadelphia plays the Dodgers in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
Jeff Francoeur and Henry Blanco each drove in a run for the Mets, who have dropped five of their last seven. Jon Niese (8-7) was tagged for eight runs -- three earned -- on 10 hits with two walks and six strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings.
Lee doubled to lead off the second for Atlanta and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from Matt Diaz, but he was stranded there as Alex Gonzalez grounded out and Melky Cabrera struck out to end the frame.
Ross led off the Atlanta third with a triple, but the team was unable to bring him home as the next three batters were retired.
The Mets had men at first and second with two outs in the fourth, but Niese struck out to end the frame.
The Braves finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth as Martin Prado led off with a double and came home on Lee's single to left for a 1-0 lead.
The Mets, though, responded with two runs in the fifth as sacrifice flys from Francoeur and Blanco gave the team a 2-1 lead.
Atlanta answered with a seven-run fifth inning to surge ahead. With two on and no outs, Heyward chased home both runners with a double. Atlanta then loaded the bases, and a Gonzalez single scored one, with Martin Prado getting thrown out at the plate. After Cabrera walked to again load the bases, Ross hit a line drive shot over the left field fence for a grand slam and an 8-2 lead.
The Braves tacked on another run in the seventh as Cabrera's double scored Diory Hernandez for a 9-2 lead.
After scoring in the fifth, the Mets failed to get another runner on base the rest of the game.
Game Notes
Atlanta has now won seven of the 13 matchups with New York this season...Minor has won his past three starts...Niese fell to 1-1 in four career starts against the Braves...The Mets went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and stranded eight.
Cleveland, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A.J. Pierzynski's three-run blast in the ninth provided the difference, as the White Sox beat the Cleveland Indians, 4-3, in Manny Ramirez's first game in a Chicago uniform. Pierzynski's seventh home
<< Soul name Mike Hohensee head coach
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Soul named Mike Hohensee
as the team's head coach for when they return to the Arena Football League in
2011.
The Soul, who won the ArenaBowl in 2008 before the AFL folded, will return t
<< Arena Football League commissioner Kurz to return in 2011
Tulsa, OK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Arena Football League commissioner Jerry B. Kurz
had his contract extended Tuesday and will return for the 2011 season.
"I couldn't be more pleased to continue to lead the resurgence of the Arena
Football Le
<< Lomg-time Stamps physician Murphy passes away
Calgary, AB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Calgary Stampeders physician Dr. Vince Murphy
has passed away at the age of 87, the team announced Tuesday.
Dr. Murphy was associated with the Stampeders since 1957. A release from the
team said Murphy pass
<< BYU officially announces football independence, will join WCC
Provo, UT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brigham Young University officially announced its
resignation from the Mountain West Conference, effective June 30, 2011, in its
quest to become a football independent next season.
The Cougars will re-join the We
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Luke Scott and Felix Pie each hit solo homers to back Brian Matusz's solid performance on the mound, as the Baltimore Orioles held off the Boston Red Sox, 5-2, in the opener of a three-game series at Camd
Rangers acquire OF Francoeur from Mets >>
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Just prior to the waiver trade deadline,
the Texas Rangers bolstered their outfield depth with the acquisition of Jeff
Francoeur from the New York Mets.
Francoeur confirmed to reporters after Tuesday
Marlins beat Nationals, 1-0, in extras >>
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chad Tracy's game-winning RBI single in the
bottom of the 10th inning produced the only run of the game, as the Florida
Marlins edged the Washington Nationals in the middle installment of a three-
game se
Votto, Reds increase NL Central lead with win over Brewers >>
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Joey Votto doubled twice and drove in three
runs, as the National League Central-leading Cincinnati Reds handled the
Milwaukee Brewers, 8-4, in the second of a three-game set at Great American
Ball Pa
Yanks take over first place with rout of A's >>
Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mark Teixeira hit his 30th home run of the
season -- a three-run shot -- as the Yankees lit up Oakland pitching for three
home runs for the second straight game in a 9-3 victory that netted New York
sole po
Super Bowl 2009 Betting
Super Bowl 2009 Betting propositionsUnderdog bettors love the Super Bowl and, history suggests, the underdogs love them back. And the big dogs bite harder.
Even so, there is a warning in store for Super Bowl gamblers who must love dogs: The Arizona Cardinals Super Bowl betting lines might not be enough of a Cinderella to make it worth your while.
Although the Cardinals were widely panned as one of the worst division winners and least playoff-worthy teams in recent memory, their trip to Super Bowl XLIII Jan. 31 in Tampa against the Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl betting lines comes with a little more respect from the oddsmakers than you might imagine. They are a 7-point underdog at most sports books.
If you count yourself among those who covet the big dog in the big game, this isn’t exactly great news. You should have been hoping for more points. This is because the facts show that the bigger the dog, the better the bet in the Super Bowl.
Case in point: Over the past 13 seasons, double-figure underdogs in the Super Bowl are 4-0-1 ATS and have won the past three outright. In fact, the last double-digit chalk to do the deed for bettors was the 1995 San Francisco 49ers, who managed to beat the astounding 19-point spot afforded backers of the San Diego Chargers in the 49-26 romp in Super Bowl XXIX.
By contrast, 7-point favorites are 2-1-1 ATS in the same span, the last such contest resulting a cover grinded out by the Colts in their 29-17 win over the Bears two seasons ago in Super Bowl XLI.
In 2004, the Patriots failed to cover the number in their 32-29 triumph over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl props while the Rams and Titans gave everyone a refund in 2000 after the Rams posted a 23-16 win as a seven-point favorite.
So while Arizona’s run has included impressive upsets as a 10-point road underdog to the Carolina Panthers and Sunday’s 32-25 win in the NFC championship game to the 4-point favored Philadelphia Eagles, their long-shot story lacks a bit of the David vs. Goliath storyline of past Super Bowl underdogs.
While the seven-point spread represents a significant gap in the perception of strength between the two teams, it is far from monumental. For example, last season the Giants were the wild-card afterthought turned road-warrior buzzsaw, with stunning wins over the Buccaneers, Cowboys and Packers to earn their place in the Super Bowl.
There, they played spoiler to New England’s bid to become the first 19-0 team in NFL history and cemented their place in sports betting lore with a 17-14 win as a 12.5-point underdog.
In other words, the Cardinals appear to have their work cut out for them as a mid-range underdog. But in homage to the spread beaters who have come before them, here is a brief look back at recent colossal upsets in the Super Bowl:
SB XLII -- 2008 -- New York Giants 17, New England Patriots 14 (Giants +12.5) – Eli Manning’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress in the final minute clinched the historic upset for the Giants, who used a masterful defensive plan to slow down Tom Brady and the previously undefeated New England Patriots.
XXXVI -- 2002 -- Patriots 20, Rams 17 (Patriots +14) – This was the coming out party for the aforementioned Brady, who went from obscure sixth-round draft pick to Super Bowl hero in one fell swoop. He led the game-winning drive in the final minute – eschewing analyst John Madden’s advice to take a knee and play for overtime – leading to Adam Vinatieri’s memorable 48-yard field goal that split the uprights as time expired.
XXXII 1998 Broncos 31, Packers 24 (Denver +12) – The first of John Elway’s two consecutive Super Bowl titles to put an end to his Hall of Fame career was an upset for the ages. The Broncos used the determination of Elway and a 157-yard, three-touchdown performance from Terrell Davis to turn back Brett Favre and the heavily favored Packers.
Get free 2009 Super Bowl Betting from top rated online sportsbook MySportsbook.com. Mysportsbook.com online Super Bowl betting VISA Mastercard
SPORTS BETTING
NFL Football Betting OnlineIn 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