Gomez leads United past RSL, into '07 playoffs

Soccer Betting Lines

09/13/2007 - Washington, D.C. (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Christian Gomez, the 2006 Major League Soccer MVP, has not had that type of impact season for D.C. United in 2007.

After scoring 14 goals and 11 assists a year ago, Gomez had just six goals and seven assists through United's first 24 games, but on Wednesday evening at RFK Stadium against Real Salt Lake, he looked like the Gomez of a year ago.

The Argentinean midfielder scored the game-winning goal after setting up the game's first goal to lead D.C. to the 2-1 victory over visiting Real. The league fixture not only distances United from the rest of MLS in the race for the Supporter's Shield as the team with the best regular season record, but it also ensures it of a playoff spot for the ninth time in team history. United, which has won four MLS Cup Championships since the league's inaugural season in 1996, has qualified for the playoffs in all but three years - a three season stretch from 2000-2002.

Real Salt Lake, which has lost two-straight fixtures, is second-to-last in the league with just 18 points after 23 games. It got it's lone goal from midfielder Kyle Beckerman, sandwiched in between the two D.C. tallies.

RSL actually had the better of the play for the first 15 minutes, but D.C. capitalized on its first legitimate chance when Gomez controlled the ball in the offensive penalty area, dribbled to the right side of the six-yard box to the endline, and crossed to the back post. Striker Luciano Emilio snuck behind defender Jean-Martial Kipre - who only started because RSL defender Eddie Pope was under the weather - and headed the chance past RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando for his league-leading 19th goal of the season.

Emilio, in his first season in the league, needs just four more goals in the last five games to tie Rual Diaz Arce for the United record of 23 in goals in a single season. The Brazilian sharpshooter now has 17 goals in his last 16 league matches.

Beckerman got the equalizer for RSL in the 32nd minute when he took control of the ball in the center of the field, in the offensive third, and drove at the D.C. penalty area. Central defender Bobby Boswell was late to close, and when he finally got to Beckerman, the midfielder took a quick touch inside and fired a shot past Troy Perkins from about 25-yards out for his second goal of the season.

United almost took the lead under five minutes after the break when Josh Gros - making his second-consecutive start after missing four games with a head injury - was tripped just inside the area by Kipre. Referee Jorge Gonzalez called a penalty, giving United a golden opportunity to take the advantage eary in the second half.

Gomez took the chance but Rimando, widely considered one of the better goalies on penalties in the league, dove to his left to save the low, hard shot. D.C.'s Jaime Moreno, the league's all-time leader in penalty kick goals and goals, did not play in the game after getting called up by the Bolivian national team for a friendly against Peru, which cost United on this instance.

Gomez made up for the missed PK in the 73rd minute after his team had a free kick from about 40 yards out. Marc Burch took the chance and drove the ball right into the RSL defensive wall, but Boswell found the ball on the right side and back-heeled to Fred, who crossed to Gomez at the far post. Gomez made no mistake, heading the chance past Rimando for the 2-1 lead and his seventh goal of the season.

Real was given a penalty kick about two minutes later after a free kick of their own led to a scrum in the box, but former United striker Alecko Eskandarian blasted the chance right at Perkins, who knocked the hard shot out-of-bounds.

D.C. (15-6-4) will be back in action on Sept. 23 when it travels to Chicago while RSL (4-13-6) heads to Toronto on Sunday afternoon.

Game Notes: Rimando, Eskandarian, Pope and Carey Talley are all former United players now playing for RSL. Pope was honored before the game as one of the key players in United history, this being his last season in MLS. ... D.C. will be without Gomez, Fred and captain Ben Olsen for its next game after all three received yellow cards in Wednesday's contest. All three are suspended one game for yellow card accumulation. ... While Emilio is getting close to the D.C. single season team record for goals, he has some work to do to reach the league's record. Roy Lassiter holds that mark with 27 goals in MLS's inaugural season in 1996.

Online-wagering-casino Soccer Betting News

<< Sheffield and Ordonez blast Detroit past Texas
Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Gary Sheffield belted a two-run home run in the first inning and Magglio Ordonez a three-run shot in the sixth, and the Detroit Tigers held their ground in the AL wild card race with a 5-1 rout of the Tex

<< Arroyo, Reds down slumping Cards
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Bronson Arroyo pitched six solid innings as the Cincinnati Reds downed the St. Louis Cardinals, 5-1, in the second of a three-game set at Great American Ball Park. Arroyo (9-14) gave up just one run on s

<< Phils' Kendrick leaves after taking line drive to knee
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The beleaguered Phillies pitching staff took another hit on Wednesday, when rookie starter Kyle Kendrick left in the fourth inning of Philadelphia's game against the Rockies after being hit on the rig

<< Coughlin encouraged by Manning's progress
East Rutherford, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin was "encouraged" by starting quarterback Eli Manning's progress on Wednesday, according to a story on Giants.com. Manning suffered a contusion to the

<< Buffalo's Lynch can't stomach practice
Orchard Park, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Buffalo Bills rookie running back Marshawn Lynch was ill and missed practice Wednesday. The dynamic running back, who was drafted 12th overall out of California in the 2007 NFL Draft by t

Helton, Rockies blast Phils >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Todd Helton went 3-for-4 with three RBI, and Matt Holliday belted a three-run homer as the Colorado Rockies ripped the Philadelphia Phillies, 12-0, in the third of a four-game set. The game got off to

Moose pitches well as Yanks down Blue Jays >>
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mike Mussina threw five-plus scoreless innings as New York downed Toronto, 4-1, in the middle contest of a three-game set at Rogers Centre. Robinson Cano was 1-for-4 with a two-run single and had 11 assists in

Green lifts Mets over Braves >>
Flushing, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Shawn Green singled home the eventual game- winner in the eighth inning, and the first-place New York Mets held off the Atlanta Braves, 4-3, in the finale of a three-game series at Shea Stadium. Marlon

Angels rout O's >>
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Garret Anderson and Vladimir Guerrero combined to drive in nine runs as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pounded the Baltimore Orioles in the second of a three-game set at Camden Yards, 18-6. Ande

"Big Papi" powers Red Sox past Devil Rays >>
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - David Ortiz provided all the offense for Boston on Wednesday, belting two home runs, a three-run homer in the third inning and a game-ending two-run homer in the ninth, as the Red Sox came back to down the Tampa B

American Idol Betting Odds: Season 6  

The online gambling websites are in the process of deciphering each American Idol contestant and his or her chances of winning Season 6 to come up with the early American Idol betting lines.

Tim Dalton of MySportsbook.com has been locked away in a soundproof room coming up with all the latest tallies, we are told. "American Idol has become one of the most significant betting events of the year," claims Jack Black of MySportsbook.com.  "Last year, millions were bet during the season across the globe, not just in America.

It's tough early on since we really do not have a glimpse as to how well each of these individuals will perform solo on a week-to-week basis.  It's like Week 1 of the NFL.  Pre-season means nada!

We do know the 24 finalists however.

Sanjaya Malakar is the young man whose sister failed to make it into the Top 24.  He's very low key but - unless he totally flubs - will probably win over the young girlie vote for a few weeks anyway.  He's too young to go all the way, according to Payton O'Brien. 

Brandon Rogers - Who?

Phil Stacy is the military guy who missed his daughter's birth because of the Memphis audition.  He should go a good distance.

Chris Sligh - He's got the humor and in many ways he's the Anti-American Idol much like last year's winner Taylor Hicks was.  And this is why he'll probably get pretty far in this competition.  He's chubby, white with a big curly afro....but more importantly, a great voice!  People love "real", not "real cute" to go all the way. 

"Blake Lewis should go far because of his uniqueness and looks.  He's the boy next store with a twist - he beat boxes.  But on top of this, he's a great singer, and I adore him," Payton O'Brien relayed.

A talented beat-boxer Blake Lewis was a hit during the group sing in Hollywood but Simon explained that this is a singing contest just before he told him he was “in.”

Paul Kim has caught our own roving reporter, Jenny Woo's eyes. 

"I love the fact that there is a Korean American on the show and he is bound to get more Asians tuning into the show," Woo said from her Miami Beach estate.  "There has never been a major presence of Asian-Americans on American Idol in the past.  He's a hottie with a nice voice so that should help to take him far.  Expect heavy betting action from the Asian community."

Sundance Head - He's not perfect, but he's got the personality that will take him through a few weeks, plus he's got the lineage (son of Roy Head - whose 1965 single, "Treat Her Right," hit No. 5 in the charts) 

And the others:

Rudy Cardinas
AJ Tabaldo - the 5th time is the charm
Nicolas Pedro
Chris Richardson
Jared Cotter

The girls

"Melinda Doolittle has one of the best voices," says MySportsbook.com Reporter and an acclaimed dancer in her own right, Destiney Lewis.  "It is great to see a back up singer step out like she has.  The girl needs to gain more confidence but that can also be a positive.  I think she will go far."

Alena Alexander - Those tears (she never seems to stop bawling) should get her far.

"Single mom Lakisha Jones I suspect will be a pretty big favorite entering Week 1 of the competition," says Destiny Williams.  Jones is an excellent singer and down to earth.  "She'll have a wide appeal," echoed O'Brien.

Nicole Trellis - Seems to exert confidence.

Amy Krebs - a powerful singer.

Antonella Barba
Gina Glocksen
Hailey Scanardo
Jordan Sparks
Stephanie Edwards
Leslie Hunt
Sabrina Sloan

MySportsbook.com is offering a 20% signup bonus with an initial deposit (i.e. open your American Idol betting account with $300, receive another $60 in which to bet with). 

Last two contestants will be?

1 Male/1 Female +100 (a $10 bet pays $10 plus your initial $10)

2 Males +170 (a $10 bet pays $17 plus your initial $17)

2 Females +130 (a $10 bet pays $13 plus your initial $10)

MySportsbook.com is an online sportsbook accepts Visa Credit Cards and online sportsbook accepts Mastercard Credit Cards for easy American Idol betting lines. 

Elite 8 NCAA Tournament Betting at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com

In what should be an outstanding Saturday of March Madness betting action, the top four teams in the South and West Regions square off in what should be extremely close match-ups. Three of the four teams are coming off extremely close games on Thursday evening, only UCLA won semi comfortably over Pitt 64-55.

Ohio State is coming off their second game in a row where in all reality they should have lost. Of course that doesn’t matter now since the name of the game is “survive and advance” but as the tournament continues, they can’t afford to keep getting down to their opponents early. Kansas also avoided a scare by holding off a scrappy Southern Illinois squad. In the third thrilling game of the evening Memphis pulled off the minor upset (+3.5) despite being the higher seed to Texas A&M.

Although the spreads are fairly small for Saturday’s games, MySportsbook.com continue to bet against the underdogs. Despite OSU’s two scares, 86% of the “betting public” feels the Buckeyes (-1.5) have what it takes to make the Final Four. In fact, so much of the early money is on OSU that the line has already moved from -1 to -1.5. In the second game of the doubleheader, Kansas and their high-powered offense are 2 point favorites as they take on UCLA and their effective defense. About 63% of the early money thus far is once again backing the favorites. If those percentages stay that high, don’t be surprised if this line moves as well. If you like Kansas (-2) you might want to jump on it early.

Memphis vs. Ohio State

Both squads were involved in thrillers on Thursday evening and should come out fired up. OSU can ill afford to get behind early like they did versus their previous two opponents (Xavier, Tennessee). Greg Oden needs to stay out of foul trouble; the Buckeyes are a completely different team when he is on the court. Memphis definitely has the athleticism and length to match-up with OSU. Of Memphis’ five leading minute earners, the shortest of the bunch is 6’5”. Each team has a very effective defense; Memphis surrenders 62.3 PPG whereas the Buckeyes give up only 61 PPG. With those type of numbers, it isn’t surprising that Memphis covered the UNDER almost 69% of the time this season. As a favorite, OSU has covered the UNDER almost 66% of the time over the last three seasons. The major concern for Memphis which is magnifies this time of the year is their brutal foul shooting (62%). This season, OSU is 17-11 ATS versus teams with a winning record and 7-2 ATS in all tournament games. Memphis has been an extremely reliable cover in tournament play in recent years with a 23-8 ATS record over the last three seasons.

UCLA vs. Kansas

In the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader, UCLA will play in a role which they are very unfamiliar with that of the underdog. Only twice this season have they been getting points from the handicappers and both times they covered. Over the last three seasons UCLA is a reliable 23-7 ATS in this unfamiliar role. UCLA has not fared well against Big 12 opponents recently going 1-7 ATS since 1997. Giving up only 59.6 PPG, UCLA will definitely look to do what they do best: keep this game as low scoring as possible. Their defense has been especially tough during the tournament. UCLA opponents have been able to muster up only 48.7 PPG while shooting a combined 34.5% from the field. UCLA definitely has a challenge at hand with a Kansas team that is capable of putting points on the board in bunches. As a team, they average 79 PPG and shoot an impressive 49.6% from the field and 39.4% from beyond the arc. During the tournament Kansas has been “lights out” from the field having shot 56.2%.

With Friday -105 juice on Basketball betting, MySportsbook.com is the place to bet on all of the “March Madness” action.  Don’t forget to monitor who the public is backing at MySportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends”.  By doing so, you have the best chance of predicting a possible line change, thus getting the best value for your wager.

To bet on March Madness games this online sportsbook accepts credit cards