Archive for June 8th, 2010

June 8th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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Every four years, the eyes of the entire world turn to soccer's grandest stage, as 32 nations get together for a spectacle known as the World Cup! Today, we're going to look at the World Cup betting lines at BetUS Sportsbook for each of the eight groups and pick out your winner of each.

Group A
France +125
Mexico +275
Uruguay +300
South Africa +700

It's fairly clear that the South Africans are going to have a home field advantage at this level, but we aren't so certain that they are going to make it through to the second round of the World Cup as every other past host of this event has. Uruguay is the team that really stands out here, as it is clear that neither Mexico nor France is the team that they once were. Look out for F Diego Forlan, as he is probably the best pure goal scorer in this group.

Group B
Argentina -250
Nigeria +450
Greece +650
South Korea +1000

Argentina is going to be the clear cut choice to take down Group B, but if F Theofanis Gekas can put on a show like he did in qualifying when he led all European players with ten goals, the Greeks could be a real dark horse to watch. Greece is a team that has a ton of defensive prowess, as was demonstrated when it won Euro 2004, and we are going to back the blue and white once again to pull off the major upset in Group B in South Africa.

Group C
England -300
United States +450
Slovenia +1000
Algeria +1600

Though Algeria could put up a fight thanks to the fact that it has a bit of a home field advantage and Slovenia was one of the most impressive defensive teams in qualifying, this group will come down to the opening match between the USA and England. We'd love to find the Stars and Stripes capable of pulling the upset, but in all reality, England is the clear cut choice, even at -300.

Group D
Germany -125
Serbia +275
Ghana +500
Australia +800

This group is a heck of a lot more open than perhaps it originally looked. Germany did have a great World Cup in 2006, but that came on its home soil. Now, M Michael Ballack is out of action as well, which takes both a great goal scorer and a team captain off of the pitch. We're not much for Ghana's chances, as injuries are really going to hold this club down. The Socceroos pulled off the upset and made the second round in 2006, but realistically speaking, a second place finish in Group D is about all that the Aussies can expect. By default, this leaves Serbia, who we are getting a fantastic price on at +275 in what should be a fun group to watch.

Group E
Holland -225
Denmark +450
Cameroon +500
Japan +1200

This is Holland's group to lose. We fully expect to see Denmark, Cameroon, and Japan beat each other up in Group E, which should open the door for the Dutch to simply come in and sweep up the crumbs. Even with F Arjen Robben potentially missing some or all of the group stage matches, La Oranje are just too strong to be toppled in a relatively weak group. Seven points should be the bare minimum that this team walks away from Group E with.

Group F
Italy -200
Paraguay +250
Slovakia +550
New Zealand +6000

Barring something very unforeseen happening, Italy is going to walk away with this group. Paraguay has a history of being a thorn in the side of some of the biggest clubs in the world, but the bottom line here is that Italy's defense may not be cracked. Remember that the defending champs of this event only gave up two goals during the entire tournament in 2006, and a good chunk of that defense is back for another go around in 2010.

Group G
Brazil -175
Portugal +325
Ivory Coast +400
North Korea +8000

The "Group of Death" probably became a lot more cut and dry when Ivory Coast suffered a catastrophic injury to F Didier Drogba. If the Portugal/Ivory Coast match ends in a draw, don't be shocked to see Brazil and Portugal have a "wink, wink" type of match on the final day of the group stage in South Africa, as a point would almost certainly get both teams through if everything else holds serve. This is Brazil's group to lose for certain, and -175 is a relatively cheap price.

Group H
Spain -400
Chile +500
Switzerland +1000
Honduras +3500

There really isn't much hope here for anyone else aside from the Spanish. They just continue to rip team after team, whether it be in qualifying or in friendly matches leading up to the World Cup. There's no reason to believe that a relatively weak group that includes a Honduras team that has no business being amongst the 32 teams in this field has a chance of stopping Spain. The Spaniards have won seven straight group matches in the World Cup. Don't be shocked if that number raises to ten.

 
June 8th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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NBA Finals betting action continues on Tuesday night, as the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics get ready to have at it in Game 3 of this best of seven set.

Los Angeles Lakers (+3) @ Boston Celtics
Tuesday, June 8th, 2010
9:00 ET, TD Banknorth Garden

Los Angeles Notes: It was most certainly a tale of two different games for the Lakers in Tinseltown last week. The NBA Finals odds were stacked in LA's favor in Game 1, as the hosts dominated the glass and watched G Kobe Bryant notch his fifth straight 30+ point game in the postseason in an easy victory to take a 1-0 series lead. That series lead became critical, as HC Phil Jackson has never lost a series in which he has opened with a victory. Game 2 looked totally different, though. Though F Pau Gasol had his second straight dominating game, Boston simply shot the Lakers out of their own building and evened this series at a game apiece. Gasol is averaging 24.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 4.5 blocks, and 3.0 assists per game in the NBA Finals, which is by far the most impressive performance from a player in purple and gold. If there was one encouraging sign in Game 2 for Lakers fans, it was that C Andrew Bynum scored 21 points in what easily amounted to be his best game of the L/2 rounds of the playoffs. Bryant only scored 21 points in Game 2 and must improve upon that for Los Angeles to get back in front in this series.

Boston Notes: G Ray Allen took it upon himself to make sure that the Celtics were getting back to Beantown all square in the NBA Finals. Just three days after only scoring 12 points and not logging a single other statistic, Allen was all over the court, nailing an NBA Finals record eight three pointers and outdueling every single sharpshooter that the Lakers have to offer. The former Connecticut Huskies star finished the night with 32 points to lead all scorers. G Rajon Rondo had his say as well. He had a triple-double through just three quarters of play and ultimately ended up with 19 points, 12 rebounds, and ten assists in the best game of his NBA Finals career in Game 2. Fs Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett have really yet to truly get into this series, as the two only combined to shoot 4/16 and score 16 points in Game 2. HC Doc Rivers can't be thrilled about the fact that his team has yet to top 43.3 percent shooting from the field in this series. However, he can rest easily that the C's outrebounded the Lakers 44-39 in Game 2, just three days after getting their clocks cleaned 42-31 in that department.

NBA Finals Betting Odds: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics Game 2

Sportsbook
Total
JustBet Sportsbook
+3
-3
192.5
Diamond Sportsbook
+3
-3
192.5
BetUS Sportsbook
+3
-3
192.5

Trends of Note: Including the Game 1 dud, the Celtics have now covered seven out of eight NBA Finals betting affairs against Los Angeles dating back to the '08 season. The Lakers are just 3-10-1 ATS in their L/14 against Boston overall. The C's are 6-2 ATS in their L/8 against the NBA playoff odds as favorites and are 8-3 ATS in their L/11 games overall. Los Angeles is only 5-14 ATS in its L/19 games playing on one day of rest, but Boston just snapped a five game ATS losing streak against the Western Conference in Game 2 of the NBA Finals.

The Final Word: Does anyone else feel like it is now Kobe Time? Bryant and the Lakers know that they played perhaps their worst game possible, particularly on the outside on Sunday night. Playing well in the post once again will eventually yield a 'W' in Boston at some point, and we tend to believe that that victory is coming on Tuesday night. Look for Bryant to have another 30+ point showing as he carries the Lakers to victory.

Prediction: Los Angeles 100 – Boston 94