Suns Top Weekly NBA Power Rankings - NBA Basketball Picks

The Phoenix Suns came to the top of NBA Power Rankings this week by playing strong on road including handling the Celtics their first loss the season on Friday.

Five of Suns' seven games have been on the road in their remarkable 6-1 season opening, who made Boston look like a bad defensive team.

The Celtics were one place down to second with a 7-1 record. Playing eight games in 12 days. Tired legs affected the defense and the three-point shooting.

The Lakers were one place up to third with Kobe Bryant leading the league in scoring again. Lakers are surviving without Pau Gasol, needing overtimes to win in Oklahoma and Houston this week.

The heat also climbed one place up, joining the Nuggets on the list of teams we didn't think could have a better season than they did last year. But they've got a top-five defense and Dwyane Wade hasn't had to carry as big of a load.

With half the league looking pretty good and half the League looking pretty bad here’s your NBA Power Rankings:

1. Los Angeles Lakers (4) - Kobe is giving me flashbacks of 2005-06 but I snap out of it when the 40 point game ends in a victory.

2. Boston Celtics (1) - If you want to stay in the top spot you can't drop your only home game against your only legitimate opponent in the week.

3. Orlando Magic (3) - Blowout in OKC is a head-scratcher, if "the deepest team in the NBA" can't play better a few people short when the Cavs visit on Wednesday they will be sure to drop--win over the Suns is keeping them afloat.

4. Phoenix Suns (12) - 3-1 with one game left on Eastern Conference road trip, team couldn't have asked for anything more and they couldn't be shooting any better from deep.

5. Miami Heat (9) - Quentin Richardson is in the best shape of his life and he is playing great D in addition to outstanding three point shooting—when will be the first game Wade doesn't lead the team in scoring?

6. Denver Nuggets (2) - Back-to-back road losses hurt, this team is very happy to bring J.R. Smith back but they might be having fears about the Friday the 13th meeting with the Lakers.

7. Dallas Mavericks (7) - The team went 2-1 against three quality opponents, Dirk is in the top five for MVP voting at this point in the season.

8. Atlanta Hawks (8) - Small ball works, the Hawks have done a great job of integrating Crawford in the lineup and Josh Smith realized how difficult he can be to guard in the post.

9. Cleveland Cavaliers (6) - After a four day break, the Cavs will face Orlando and Miami back-to-back, right now splitting would be considered a victory.

10. Houston Rockets (13) - Taking the Lakers to OT is very impressive, Houston is the junkyard dog of the NBA and nobody is excited to face them.

11. Portland Trail Blazers (10) - Win over the Spurs was important for moral, Portland is in a great position to run-off four road wins before entering Atlanta.

12. San Antonio Spurs (5) - Will have to beat Houston this week if they want to get back in the top 10, I understand Pop doesn't want to wear his guys out but he's not giving his stars enough PT to win.

13. Toronto Raptors (15) - The Bosh-Bargnani combo is a difficult guard for almost any team in the League, and that's before you have to worry about the size of Turkoglu.

14. Chicago Bulls (16) - A strong week has the Chi at the top of their division, Tyrus Thomas is out for a while but Luol Deng is playing the best basketball of his life.

15. Oklahoma City Thunder (17) - Beating the teams they should is a good start, beating the Magic at home goes a long way, Durant, Westbrook, and Co. can go 3-1 over the next week.

16. Utah Jazz (14) - Sure they beat the Spurs but they lost to Dallas and now Sacramento, have fun on your road trip.

17. Detroit Pistons (21) - Beating Orlando and Philly in the same week earns them some respect, are the injuries to Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince real?

18. Philadelphia 76ers (18) - They haven't beaten a team who's better than them yet, in fact, they almost lost to the Nets.

19. New Orleans Hornets (19) - Beating Dallas was a nice sign of life but their aren't many easy wins on the horizon.

20. Charlotte Bobcats (24) - Raja Bell's return sparked a few needed wins, this team is twice as good at home as they are on the road.

21. Indiana Pacers (22) - After the next two weeks this team should be sitting above .500, they aren't ready for the playoffs but they are better than people think.

22. Los Angeles Clippers (23) - Three-game streak has Chris Kaman looking like an All-Star, but don't be fooled they were playing Minnesota, Golden State, and Memphis.

23. Milwaukee Bucks (20) - Brandon Jennings showed New York the mistake they made when they drafted Jordan Hill over him.

24. Washington Wizards (11) - A four-loss week hurts, Gilbert is scoring but he isn't taking over like he did before the injury.

25. Sacramento Kings (27) - Down goes Kevin Martin (surprise, surprise) and Tyreke Evans is ready to battle Jennings for the ROY, 55 points in two games is a good start.

26. Golden State Warriors (25) - How long till Don Nelson starts going crazy with his roster? If Morrow isn't starting by the end of November I'm starting a petition.

27. Memphis Grizzlies (28) - Saying goodbye to A.I. could be best for the team, now if they could only find a way to chase off Z-RO.

28. New York Knicks (26) - This team is sorry, sad, and ugly. I hope 2010 is worth it because basketball is dying in New York.

29. Minnesota Timberwolves (29) - Is everyone aware that Olesksiy Pecherov is starting in Minnesota? You know, the 7-footer born in Donestsk, USSR? No? Anybody?

30. New Jersey Nets (30) - John Wall would be my pick, especially if Harris is going to get hurt once a month. If not maybe Ed Davis or Derrick Favors would be an attractive post to pair with LeBron.

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Dallas Cowboys vs Philadelphia Eagles - NFL Week 9 Picks

Dallas Cowboys vs Philadelphia Eagles - NFL Week 9 Picks: Divisional bragging rights will be on the line on Sunday night at 8:20 PM ET when the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles meet at Lincoln Financial Field. This matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles isn't nearly as big as the last one. Still, it always seems meaningful when these archrivals play, and the 100th meeting is certainly no different. A few weeks after both teams seemed headed in the wrong direction, the Cowboys and Eagles have gotten back on track but only one will leave Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday night alone atop the NFC East. My NFL week 9 picks say take the Cowboy’s and the points and win! The NFL Week 9 Picks experts at online sportsbook Betrepublic have the Dallas Cowboys +3 point underdogs on the road against the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Cowboys defeated Seattle 38-17 as a 10-point favorite in Week 8. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (46.5). Tony Romo passed for 256 yards with three touchdowns for Dallas and Miles Austin caught five passes for 61 yards with a touchdown in the win. The total has gone OVER in 7 of Philadelphia's last 8 games when playing at home against Dallas. The NFL Week 9 Picks experts at BetRepublic have the Cowboys vs. Eagles Total set at 48 points.

The Eagles defeated the Giants 40-17 as a 2-point underdog in Week 8. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (43.5). Donovan McNabb passed for 240 yard with three touchdowns for Philadelphia, while DeSean Jackson caught three passes for 78 yards with a touchdown in the win.

San Diego Chargers vs New York Giants - NFL Week 9 Predictions: The fans at Giants Stadium will be treated to a game between the San Diego Chargers and the New York Giants when they take their seats on Sunday at 4:15 PM ET. Eli Manning and Philip Rivers will forever be linked by the draft-day trade in 2004 that brought Manning to the New York Giants and Rivers to the San Diego Chargers. This season, they may end up being linked for leading a pair of contenders that underachieved. The quarterbacks meet for the first time Sunday at Giants Stadium, with Manning looking to help New York avoid a fourth straight loss and Rivers trying to lead the Chargers to their first victory over a winning team. Norm is a loser so my NFL week 9 predictions say give the points and take the Giants at home. The NFL Week 9 Predictions experts at online sportsbook BetRepublic have the New York Giants -5 point favorites on the road against the San Diego Chargers.

The Chargers defeated Oakland 24-16 as a 16-point favorite in Week 8. The combined score fell UNDER the posted over/under total (41). LaDainian Tomlinson rushed for 56 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 18 carries for San Diego, while Philip Rivers passed for 249 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The total has gone OVER in 5 of San Diego's last 6 games on the road. The NFL Week 9 Predictions experts at BetRepublic.com have the Giants vs. Chargers Total set at 47.5 points.

The Giants lost to Philadelphia 40-17 as a 2-point favorite in Week 8. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (43.5). Eli Manning passed for 222 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions for the Giants, while Kevin Boss had three receptions for 70 yards and a touchdown.

Before you make your NFL Week 9 Picks and NFL Predictions, get the best football betting odds at Betrepublic

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Monday Night NFL Football Betting Picks: Falcons at Saints

On Monday Night, the Falcons will battle the division rival Saints. The Saints are perfect not only straight up this season, but also come in perfect against the spread at 6-0. The Saints are double digit favorites, with the current line showing a -12 at sports books on the net. The total sits at 55 points, as this game may see some fireworks with two high powered offenses.

BetRepublic is the place to find the Monday night NFL Football Betting picks in the Saints vs Falcons game and our 2008 award winner.

The Saints have scored nearly 40 points per game on average. The Falcons are not nearly at that many points on average as they show a low 24 per game on average compared to the Saints. The differential in points scored and allowed shows the Saints at a +18 and Atlanta +5. The betting line shows the near differential in those numbers(13). As a betting expert, I just can not see Atlanta getting destroyed in a must win division game.

On the road or not means nothing in division games. Atlanta has every capability to win this game and I think after the Saints huge comeback win and after the bye, they are way over-valued in this Monday Night contest.

The Falcons have followed up against the spread losses with wins in their following contest. They have been a very reasonable bounce back team, and should put up more than a fight in New Orleans. The Falcons are 8-1 against the spread in their last 9 games following a S.U. loss. The Falcons are 5-1 against the spread in their last 6 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game. They are also as mentioned solid after an against the spread loss going 8-2 against the spread in their last 10 games following a ATS loss.

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India Vs. Australia 3rd ODI

The battle on 3rd ODI Match for 1st position among the teams India & Australia looks too weighty this time. In this series, it seems Team India is going with blatant than Australia.

Earlier, Australia Vs. England | India Vs. Pakistan were the warriors for snatching the cup, but now it looks like India Vs. Australia is on path.

From the first match in the 7 ODI series both teams are on high spirit to win.

Harbhajan, who was previously knocked by the Australia team set to fire to beat them. Harbhajan's rocking performance on the 1st ODI boosted him & team spirit against Australia. Unfortunately, for the Australia team the players are missing with the wounds.

At Bet Republic, our co experts expected India's win against Australia because of their injuries list. We thought india have great chance as both teams are almost in the race of 1st ODI.

India on their 2nd ODI bounced back with hot fire by winning 99 runs win which 2nd highest margin in between Australia & India.

All Credit goes to Dhoni, Raina, Gambhir, Praveen, Jadeja, Bajju. We can say it is almost team effort to win with the large margin Dhoni, who is really at hard position with his batting & right decisions.

In 3rd ODI, both teams are trying to win & to stay at top for the next match, currently both are in 3rd position. The watch out players for the next match will be Sachin Tendulkar who has not scored much so far in previous two matches.

Yuvaraj Singh, who socred 30 runs in the 2nd ODI really did great job. Sehwag, almost helping india for splendid start with gambhir.

The only negative focus is on bowling, in fact lack of consistency in between Isthan, Nehra & Harbhajan Singh. One of the bowlers has to struck Australia in the early overs in order to restrict them.

On the other hand Ricky is in good touch with his batting, but hussy, watson are not much in the form. bowlers brett lee & siddel, Johnson are making well by picking quick wickets.

Over all, both teams are almost at same point with drawbacks, but Team India is having great confidence & support from fans side.

Hence, if team India bats first scores 100 in the first 15 -20 overs with 2 or less wickets it will be tough time for Australia to win.

NFL Football Picks - NFL week 8 Power Rankings

The New Orleans Saints officially have the bragging rights associated with being atop betrepublic NFL power rankings for three straight weeks, more than any other team. After an unbelievable comeback performance from the Saints, they remain at the pinnacle of the rankings.

Another team that entered Sunday with its undefeated credentials intact got handed its first loss this week. The Vikings lost to the Steelers, but fell just two spots to No. 5. Meanwhile, the Steelers continue to climb and claw their way back towards the top spot, checking in this week at No. 4.

Sorry, Patriots fans, heading into the bye Tom Brady and crew stay at No. 6 following their obliteration of the lowly Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Old Country.

The Arizona Cardinals continue to ascend the rankings, this time leaping seven spots into the top 10 at No. 8. The largest collapse in the rankings takes us to the "Windy City." The Bears plummet nine spots and now sit at No.20 after a dismal performance against the Bengals.

For a league that prides itself on parity, there are a lot of good teams and a lot of awful teams. For that reason, there wasn't much movement at the bottom as many teams are getting comfortable in their lowly spots, where they cannot escape the wafting stench of their first-half performances.

New Orleans Saints1. (Last week, 1) 6-0-0 Thirty-six points in one half is pretty impressive. Great teams in the NFL are never out of games and the Saints proved they can come back from any deficit. This win will definitely be a confidence builder for the Saints. Quick stats to throw out: Saints are scoring 39.7 points per game. They have scored 238 points so far this season; that is the second most in NFL history through six games.

2. (2) 6-0-0 Peyton Manning is playing better than he ever has in his career. Since Manning has been playing so well, the Colts defense has fallen below the radar. Indy's D is giving up just 12.8 points a game. That's the second best in the league.

Denver Broncos3. (4) 6-0-0 Six straight wins deserves five days off according to Josh McDaniels. The rookie head coach gave his team the time off and they will be fresh, well rested and prepared to take on the Ravens in Baltimore on Sunday.

Pittsburgh Steelers 4. (8) 5-2-0 Heading into the bye, the Steelers are finally looking like the defending Super Bowl champs. Let's see how the defensive line responds to the loss of Aaron Smith. The loss of Smith could be just as damaging as if the Steelers had lost Troy Polamalu for the NFL Football Picks season.

Minnesota Vikings5. (3) 6-1-0 The Vikings ran into a very hot Steelers team at Heinz Field and the result was a loss. The Vikings turned the ball over in the red zone and that killed them. Minnesota should be able to fix its mistakes and move on. Exciting matchup next Sunday, when Brett Favre travels back to Green Bay.

New England Patriots 6. (6) 5-2-0 The Patriots head into their bye week at a perfect time as they are a little beat up. Ty Warren and Randy Moss were the latest Patriots players to suffer injuries. This is a good time for the Pats to heal up and prepare for a tough schedule ahead. Miami, @ Indy, Jets, and @ New Orleans will be no easy task.

Cincinnati Bengals7. (9) 5-2-0 After a poor performance last week against the Texans, the Bengals came out firing. Cincinnati demolished the Bears and made a statement to the NFL. If Carson Palmer continues to trend towards being the quarterback that he was a couple seasons ago, the Bengals will be a tough opponent week after week.

Arizona Cardinals8. (15) 4-2-0 Huge win for the Cardinals in New York on Sunday night. Beanie Wells introduced himself as a playmaking running back and he complimented that offense nicely. The Cardinals can build off a great win in New York - their first win at the Meadowlands since 1999.

9. (5) 5-2-0 The Giants beat themselves on Sunday and uncharacteristically turned the ball over four times. The Giants are still one of the best teams in the NFC and will surely fix those mistakes and bounce back with better performances down the road.

Green Bay Packers10. (10) 4-2-0 Aaron Rodgers finally had the luxury of a strong run game on Sunday against the Browns. The Packers QB turned in another great performance but it was against one of the most putrid teams in the National Football League. Rodgers and the Packers face a real test this Sunday against the Vikings. The last time these two teams played, Rodgers was sacked eight times.

Dallas Cowboys11. (20) 4-2-0 The Dallas defense was finally able to rush the quarterback and that resulted in a win against a pretty solid team. Dallas was able to get to Matt Ryan four times and force two interceptions. The NFC East division title is suddenly a reality again for the Cowboys with the Giants suffering their second straight loss.

12. (7) 4-2-0 The Falcons are allowing over 350 yards per game on defense. One of the main reasons is because of the defensive line's inability to put pressure on the quarterback. The Falcons need to improve in that area before they take on Drew Brees and the Saints on Monday night or else they are in for a long evening.

13. (13) 3-3-0 The Ravens are well rested and should be well prepared to give the Broncos their first loss of the season. Let's see if Baltimore will be able to eliminate stupid penalties. If the Ravens can play smart football, they'll need their struggling cornerbacks to find a way to contain Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal; if they can do that, Joe Flacco will do the rest.

New York Jets14. (14) 4-3-0 The Raiders were just what the doctor ordered for Mark Sanchez and the New York Jets. Despite the loss of Leon Washington, the Jets run game stepped up and rushed the ball for over 300 yards. Shonn Green filled in nicely for Washington. The Jets need to rely on their run game and have Mark Sanchez manage games instead of being the main playmaker.

15. (16) 4-2-0 You can't take much from a win against the Redskins. Washington beat themselves more than the Eagles dominated. Philadelphia now will square off against the Giants and Cowboys in back-to-back weeks. These two divisional games will say a lot about what kind of team the Eagles are.

16. (17) 3-3-0 The San Diego Super Chargers dismantled a bad Chiefs team. They still haven't demonstrated that they can make plays on the defensive side of the ball. The Chargers will have a tough time winning a wild card spot with teams like the Ravens, Jets, and Bengals all looking like stronger teams to this point of the season.

Houston Texans17. (19) 3-3-0 After back-to-back wins, the Texans are starting to look like a team that can have a winning record. Matt Schaub and the Texans offense continues to play well. Schuab now leads the league in passing yards and touchdown passes.

Miami Dolphins18. (18) 2-4-0 The Dolphins have a 2-0 record in the AFC East division with the easy part of their schedule ahead of them. However, don't count on this Chad to be able to lead the Dolphins to the a playoff spot. Chad Henne is no Pennington and showed his lack of experience in the second half against the Saints when the Dolphins needed him most.

San Francisco 49ers19. (12) 3-3-0 Despite his good performance, it's tough to believe Alex Smith is the solution at the quarterback position for the 49ers. Smith has the potential but has been unable to prove he can win games. It doesn't get easier for the 49ers next week, when they'll be at Indianapolis.

Chicago Bears20. (11) 3-3-0 Jay Cutler threw three more interceptions on Sunday and now has 10 interceptions on the year.

Buffalo Bills21. (23) 3-4-0 The Bills were able to win their third game of the season but struggled again offensively.

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Eastern Conference NBA Betting Odds Preview 2009-2010

2009-2010 Eastern Conference NBA Betting Odds Preview: The NBA regular season kicks off Tuesday night and looks to be very similar to last season. The Orlando Magic are 8-0 in the preseason and superman Dwight Howard is back leading the way at center.

The Magic look like they are a lock to win the Southeast Division and have a good seeding for this year’s playoffs. A young Atlanta Hawks team that surprised a lot of us last year is playing well early and has thoughts of competing for the division title as well.

Pat Riley’s Miami Heat with All-star guard Dwayne Wade are always in the playoff hunt but could be hurt by Michael Beasley’s offseason drug, alcohol, and depression issues. My Eastern Conference money is on the Magic to remain as the Southeast Division Champ. NBA Betting Odds makers at sportsbook have the Orlando Magic 8-1 betting odds to win the 2010 NBA Championship at.

The Central Division may have the most exciting team in the Cleveland Cavaliers led by All-star LeBron James and the addition of Shaquille O’Neal at center. This inside out combination could be the pieces that the Cavs were missing to make it through as the Eastern Conference Champion and make it to the finals after a disappointing series loss last year to Orlando sent them home earlier than expected. Playing well in the preseason are the Chigago Bulls with Guard Ben Gordon lighting it up and having post season hopes of their own.
Rounding out the Central are the Detriot Pistons who look like they can make another playoff push as well as the Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers that don’t. NBA Betting Odds makers at sportsbook have the Cleveland Cavaliers 10-3 betting odds to win the 2010 NBA Championship.

The Atlantic Division is led by the Boston Celtics and their big three Paul Pierce, Ray Allan, and Kevin Garnett. If those three can stay healthy all year and into the playoffs another NBA Championship could be in New England. Head Coach Mike DiAntone has the New York Knicks playing competitive but I don’t look for them to go far this season as they are in position for next year’s big free agent class that if they land a couple big names could make them a Championship contender again.
Philadelphia 76ers also will make a playoff push while neither the Toronto Raptors nor New Jersey Nets look to be very good. NBA Betting Odds makers at sportsbook have the Boston Celtics 9-2 betting odds to win the 2010 NBA Championship.

Before you make your 2010 NBA basketball picks and Predictions, get the best NBA Basketball Odds at and receive a 10% Deposit Bonus,

NFL Picks Week 1, Sunday’s NFL Schedule, Week One NFL Picks

The sports betting community, bet republic like most sports betting enthusiasts, we were anxiously awaiting the kick-off to the new NFL season. Thursday night gave us a tase of what was to come, as the Titans and Steelers mixed it up in Pittsburgh.

We broke that game down in our Thursday Night sports betting TV show and will go through all the Sunday action in our Sunday NFL Blitz sports betting TV show at the site.

Here are a handful of NFL picks and write-ups from the Bet Republic office focused on Sunday’s NFL schedule.

It’s always tough making football picks in Week 1 since preseason games are the only opportunity we’ve had so far to really gauge the impact of off season player/coaching changes. Looking over the odds online presented a handful of spots that could be a good betting opportunity and we’ve previewed those games here.

Into the 2009 season we go…

Miami Dolphins at Atlanta Falcons
NFL Odds: Falcons -4
Over/Under: 44
Both teams were a surprise last season finishing 11-5 SU and getting into the playoffs. Opponents will be more prepared for each of these squads in `09 and this matchup will give bettors a good opportunity to see which team has made the greatest adjustments. The Falcons have signed TE Tony Gonzalez to their offense, which is a very thoughtful addition.

Atlanta finished 6th in total offense last year and Miami 11th. Defensively, Atlanta ranked 24th and Miami 15th. Miami was 6-2 ATS on the road last year and getting more than a field goal, we like the Fish in the season opener.

BetRepublic’s Pick: Take the underdog Dolphins
Philadelphia Eagles at Carolina Panthers
Line: Eagles -2
Over/Under: 44
This is a matchup between two teams that, in the past decade, have been a mirror image of each other. Both are led by veteran coaches and QBs, both have had solid regular season success and both have fallen victim to the Patriots dynasty in the Super Bowl. The Eagles had a ton of preseason hype and the Panthers are trying to recover from their last playoff debacle. Look for both teams to feature the run and for this contest to finish under the number.
BetRepublic’s Pick: Take the “Under”

New York Jets at Houston
Line: Texans -4
Over/Under: 44
Houston is the only AFC team in the past decade that has failed to make at least one trip to the post-season. For that to change the team needs a strong start and this home opener vs. the Jets could be the break Houston needs. QB Matt Schaub has recovered from his ankle injury and will start. Jets QB Sanchez will find the going tough against Mario Williams and the rest of the Houston D. Jets without two suspended defensive starters who were last season’s sack leaders – Shaun Ellis and Calvin Pace. The Texans are 1-3 ATS in recent home openers but were only favored once (2007), beating KC 20-3.
BetRepublic’s Pick: Take the Texans

Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots
Line: Patriots -11
Over/Under: 47.5
Cover your eyes kids this could get ugly. The Bills are one of a handful teams that appear to be in disarray heading into the season. The Patriots will use this Monday Nighter to put a scare into the rest of the league. Look for Brady to throw for more than 400 yards. We usually steer clear of double-digit favorites, but will throw a unit down on this one.
BetRepublic’s Pick: Take the Patriots

England v Australia 3rd ODI Preview, Ed Hawkins Betting Recommendations

If you want to bet on Wednesday's big match at the Rose Bowl in Hampshire make sure you read the thoughts of sports betting community chief cricket analyst Ed Hawkins.

You can always find Hawkins updated betting previews at the popular sports betting social networking site “bet republic”

Having lost the first two one-day internationals (ODIs) against Australia Bet Republic cricket analyst Ed Hawkins reckons England are the value bet to win the third match (of the seven-match series) on Wednesday.

If you want to read Ed Hawkins' Preview of the game, then you can read it here.

At the moment England are a best-priced 11/8 (available across the board) while Australia are a best-priced 3/5 (with Bwin). But if Hawkins has told members of the sports betting community to back England he also believes he has unearthed a key stat that can also be used to turn a profit on the game, which will be played at Hampshire’s Rose Bowl ground.

Hawkins says: “In the six completed Friends Provident Trophy matches, which are 50-over county contests, the wicket has proved to be excellent to bat on. Six centuries have been scored and there have been no fewer than 12 50s scored.

The average 50-ups make-up is 100, exactly 30 points higher than Sporting Index’s buy price and when we have such a stat in our favour it would be pure folly not to take advantage of it.”

Admittedly, Hawkins says he is relying on England’s batsmen to do their share of the runscoring but he has decided to put his faith in the surface nonetheless. Indeed, even if England’s batsmen have managed only one 50 between them so far the law of averages and a batting paradise are on our side.

So good is the track that Ian Bell – who has a reputation for making hay on flat wickets – scored a century at the Rose Bowl when England last played there, and won, against India in 2007.

Another bet Hawkins likes is Shane Watson to score more than 49 performance runs which makes up at 1-point per run, 10 per catch and 20 per wicket.

The Rose Bowl is a ‘home’ ground for the all-rounder having spent some time with Hampshire and he averages a whopping 188 with the bat.

The best way to get with him is to take the 4/5 Bet365 offer that he scores more than 49 performance points (1-point per run, 10 per catch, 20 per wicket).

The hosts, who are 2-0 down, must hit back. The key could be the toss with five of the six games won by the side batting first. England have won only twice from eight ODIs in the last year when fielding first.

Ed Hawkins Betting Recommendations:

Buy 50-ups

2pts at 70 with Sporting Index

S Watson more than 49 performance points

3pts 4/5 Bet365

Betting Baseball - The Playoff Race

It’s September and that means back to school, NFL betting kicks in and the Major League Baseball pennant races start.

The expansion to include one wild-card playoff contender in each league began in 1995 and provides more excitement to the season for those teams and their fans.

The wild-card race is open to all divisions across the American and National leagues adding to the thrill of the pennant race.

BetRepublic has been paying close attention to the pennant races, giving out their top baseball picks on the Bet Republic online TV sports betting show. This year is serving up its share of excitement, with teams battling down to the finish to determine who gets into the playoffs.

Teams play a whopping 162 games and it usually comes down to one game to either make the playoffs or not. Heading into September, the division leaders in both leagues all have at least a 41/2 game lead on the second place teams.

The closest race is in the American League Central where the Tigers lead the Twins by 41/2 games. Over the past 13 seasons, no team that led a division by more than three games entering September has failed to make the playoffs.

Now a lot can happen between now and the end of the regular season on October 4th but the division front-runners have been playing good ball since the all-star break.

One team that is slipping a bit right now are the L.A. Angels who are 4-6 in their last 10 games, but Texas who are five games behind the Angels have gone 5-5 over the same stretch. The addition this weekend of pitcher Scott Kazmir, acquired from Tampa Bay, will help the Angels keep their lead over Texas.

The Wild Card races are where the real excitement will be this fall. Boston leads the American League by 3 ½ games over Texas and is 5 ½ clear of Tampa Bay. In the National League it’s a dead heat between Colorado and the Giants.

San Francisco swept the weekend series between the two clubs to even their records at 72-59. Atlanta Braves and Florida are both 3 ½ games back with the Cubs just five games back. The Braves begin a four game series in Florida this week that will certainly have an impact on the race.

In the National League the wild-card teams are backing into the playoffs with no team other than the Giants at 6-4 in their last ten winning more than five over the same span. Colorado will try to right their ship against the hapless Mets this week and will meet the Giants for one more three-game set in September.

The Cubbies have Houston for two games this week before a make-up game with the White-Sox on Thursday. Chicago has a big four game series with the Giants at the end of September which could go a long way in deciding the wild-card winner. San Francisco is in tough this week with a three-game tilt at home against the Phillies.

In the American League, the Rangers host the miserable Blue Jays in a three game set to kick off the week. Tampa Bay plays host to Boston for a three game series this week. The same teams meet in Boston the following week for three games.

Boston is the hottest team in the race having gone 7-3 in their last ten but that includes sweeping the Jays this weekend. The Jays appear to have thrown in the towel for the season and the Rangers should take three against them to begin the week to keep them in the race with the Angels for the division.

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NFL Betting: Bets On Preseason Football

NFL Betting: Bets On Preseason Football: With less than two weeks left until the NFL sports betting hits full stride, take advantage of the time to prepare a winning strategy.

At betrepublic, we provide sports bettors with betting strategies they can use all year. Let’s a have a look at a few key sports betting tips that can help you

NFL Gambling - For anyone that bets on preseason football, the final two weeks of August have felt like anything but dog days. NFL games being played on four, even five days per week. Odds for NCAA football games already popping up at your online sportsbook, (courtesy of the good people in Las Vegas), and then there’s baseball. As if keeping up with the demands of a winning bankroll in baseball weren’t tough enough already.

If it’s been starting to bog you down, relax. Take a timeout and consider a couple things before making your next bet.

Fall has always been considered a sports bettors paradise. Baseball will be into the post-season, basketball joins the mix and football games will actually count to the players, not just the people betting them. What you do between now and the hardcore betting season could have a major impact on how your account performs when the action hits its high.

- Adjust your mind-set: Each Major League Baseball team has a little over 30 games left to play in the regular season. A lot of clubs know they don’t have a shot at a pennant and are forced to accept it; even the stubborn ones that you knew were done back in June. It’s going to affect how they play and that means adjusting the way you bet.

Angles and systems that worked throughout the season need to be monitored more closely now. Note call-ups and how much work they’re getting. Basically, think back to the way you bet baseball during the first month of the year. September ball is a different animal and the right approach can make it the most profitable month of the season.

- Pick your spots: It’s easy to get swept up in the hype leading into NFL betting during Week 1 but there’s nothing that will boost your confidence more than a winning record through the preseason. To help try and achieve that goal, resist the urge to make bets ‘just for action.’ Do some research, find a solid angle and bet it. Week 3 is the most important week of the exhibition season. Starters will see ample playing time and it’s a good spot for sharp bettors to look for value.

- Get ready: Waiting until the actual first week of the football season before getting organized is like last minute shopping – it’s easy to overlook something important. Get a book setup for tracking your plays, make sure your online account has a decent balance to start the year off right, watch the preseason games you’re betting and scout the Week 1 card in advance.

The one advantage we have on our side right now is time. De-stress ahead of the regular season and prepare to produce your best records yet.

Check BetRepublic for daily sports betting tips from our experts, such as Sonny Palermo and Greg Dempson. Plus watch our innovative BetRepublic’s online sports betting TV shows that give out winning NFL Picks, baseball picks, handicapping tips and more.

You can find it all at Bet Republic – An Online Sports Betting Community!

Thursday Night NFL Preseason Games, NFL Preseason Games & Picks

Thursday Night NFL Preseason Games: Week three on the preseason schedule kicks off Thursday night with three games. This is the big week in preseason football, as the starters playing for a full half with some players going deep into the third quarter.

BetRepublic looks at the games in their Thursday Night sports betting TV show, as well TV hosts Sonny Palermo and Greg Dempson talked college football and NFL picks in the Wednesday night Betting Show.

The feature game of the night is the Jacksonville Jaguars facing the Eagles in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia: - 7 ½
Over/Under: 37

Michael Vick is the story. He will be seeing action and word is it will be with the first team offense. There is a lot of speculation on just how Head Coach Andy Reid will use Vick throughout the season, as Donovan McNabb is a lock as the starting quarterback. Vick could be either the number two or three quarterback on the roster but is too much of a unique athlete to hold a clipboard all season.

The three-time Pro Bowl quarterback hasn't played in an NFL game since December 31, 2006. Against the Jaguars he will be relieve McNabb who is slated to play deep into the third quarter. Vick will get a few reps with the first team according to Reid but won’t be asked to do much.

The Eagles have yet to win a preseason game losing to both New England and Indianapolis. Running back Brian Westbrook returned to practice this past week from ankle surgery and will not play against the Jags.

The offensive line has been hit hard by injuries. LT Jason Peters has been bothered by a quadriceps injury most of training camp and Left guard Todd Herremans will miss the beginning of the season with a stress reaction in his foot.

Stacy Andrews is recovering from ACL surgery in January hasn't played in either of the first two preseason games. His brother Shawn Andrews reinjured his back on the first day of camp and hasn’t been in practice since.

The loss of defensive standout middle linebacker, Stewart Bradley for the season will hurt the Eagles. It will be difficult to replace his leadership and 151 tackles but look for Joe Mays to make a statement against the Jags.

The Jaguars are also winless in preseason but QB David Garrard has looked very good. He has a new favorite target in former Viking Troy Williamson who has had two very good games. The Jaguars are looking to rebound from last year and this will be a good test to see how competitive they will be. Maurice Jones-Drew will play the entire first half and should be effective against the Eagles.

Linebacker Clint Ingram sustained a blow to the head in the last game and is listed as doubtful as is linebacker Lamar Myles who sustained a hand injury.

St. Louis at Cincinnati

Bengals: - 2 ½
Over/Under: 35

The Rams haven’t looked very good in preseason even though they did get a win in game one against the Jets. The Bengals on the other hand have played well particularly on the defensive side of the ball.

The big news in this game is that Carson Palmer won’t play as he is still recovering from an ankle injury. J.T. O’Sullivan will get the start but no one will confuse him for Palmer. Third string QB Jordan Palmer, brother of Carson, will get a good look against the Rams.

Cedric Benson is looking to have a big game but the loss of tight end Reggie Kelly for the season with an ACL injury will hurt the running and passing game of the Bengals. The defense has been playing well to date and held the Patriots to six points in the second preseason game.

The Rams have been inconsistent and now will probably face the Bengals without starting QB Marc Bulger who is out after injuring his pinkie finger on his throwing hand. Former Raven Kyle Boller will get most of the snaps. Left tackle Alex Barron has a swollen knee and will be replaced in the lineup by rookie first round pick Jason Smith. WR Donnie Avery is still nursing an injury and won’t play.

Check out betrepublic.com for more analysis on these games.

Miami at Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay: - 2 ½
Over/Under: 35

Miami heads to Tampa with a ton of gadget plays and two pretty consistent preseason games under their belt. Chad Pennington looks very good after getting a chance to be in the Dolphin camp for a full off-season. The running game featuring Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams has looked sharp.

Defensive backs Sean Smith and Jason Allen should be back in the lineup after missing the last game with swine flu like symptoms. Jason Taylor has looked good in his return so far.

Tampa Bay is still trying to sort out who will be the starting quarterback. Byron Leftwich should get the bulk of the first half snaps but look for Luke McCown to play with many of the first string in the second half. Both quarterbacks will get lots of support from a very good running game featuring former Giant Derrick Ward, Cadillac Williams and Earnest Graham.

The Bucs took a big hit on the defense this week when they lost linebacker Angelo Crowell for the season to a torn biceps injury. Cornerback Elbert Mack will miss the Dolphins game with an ankle sprain. Safety Will Allen is back practicing and could play against the Fins.

Enjoy all the preseason action and good luck with your picks.

UFC 102 Odds and Picks, UFC Picks and Analysis at Bet Republic

UFC 102 Odds and Picks: A fight in UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira that holds a lot of interest for me is the Brandon Vera vs. Krzysztof Soszynski match-up.

This is a light heavyweight fight that will solidly place one of these fighters on the track towards the title. While Vera looked like he was on his way in the heavyweight division once, he eventually dropped weight to light heavyweight.

He was expected to start chewing up competition. So far, he has yet to dazzle and we are patiently waiting for him to make his break here. He's 10-3. While Vera is definitely talented and skilled, we're just waiting for consistently capable.

Overall, he remains quick, dangerous and threatening. Vera's fan's know he has devastating and somewhat unorthodox muay thai and a solid ground game to round himself out. We recognize his talent and we can see the potential in Vera, we just hope that he can put it all together. Fighting against Soszynski will definitely give him a chance to show us how seriously we should take him.

Check out BetRepublic for more UFC Picks and Analysis.

On the other hand, Soszynski has had great exposure through "The Ultimate Fighter" and hasn't disappointed yet. While Soszynski's been around, but he's a fairly new face in the UFC. His overall record is 18-8-1 and in the UFC he's 3-0.

He's fought under a few different promotions, most notably IFL and had some exposure on Strikeforce. This will be Soszynski's second time on the main card PPV. I believe this is an excellent opportunity for Soszynski. His fans believe in him.

So does Dan Henderson. Soszynski's a humorous, well spoken guy that people are noticing. If he keeps submitting with authority and showing us his knock-out capability - like he did when he KO'd Andre Gusmao at UFC 98 - he'll definitely have the momentum to start challenging for a contender position.

When asked about Vera, Soszynski said, "He's probably the first person in the UFC that I'm fighting that's really well-rounded, from striking to wrestling to his jiu-jitsu. It's going to be a huge test for me, but I'm really excited for the opportunity. I'm looking forward to this fight. I think it's going to be fireworks. We're going to stand and bang and see what happens."

I expect Vera's takedown defense to be sharp Saturday night, as Soszynski is quite comfortable on the ground. I think Soszynski is showing some maturity here in the pre-fight game because I really don't think he would want to stand and trade with Vera. I think he would much rather press for the take him down and use his size and strength to control Vera while looking for the submission.

I expect Vera to look like the early aggressor and gain control of the stand-up, but I think Soszynski will weather it and get him down to control him from the top.

I'm putting another win in the column for Soszynski. Second round submission, I almost said by decision. Either way, money's on Soszynski. I like this underdog bet.

NFL Preseason Betting, Sports Betting TV at Bet Republic

NFL Preseason Betting: Football fans in Chicago are feeling good again about their starting QB Jay Cutler. One week removed from a disappointing performance, Cutler looked very good against the Giants starting defensive unit, going 8-of-13 for 121 yards, a touchdown and a 117.8 passer rating.

In their sports betting TV program, Bet Republic Television host Sonny Palermo and co-host Jarvis Simes discussed this game and gave out several other NFL picks in their weekly Thursday night betting show.

Chicago has been quarterback starved forever and it’s really remarkable that they have been as competitive as they have been over the years without a top pivot. The Bears finally have a legitimate top-tier QB and after week two of the preseason, it looks like Cutler is ready to deliver the goods.

Next week’s game in Denver between the Bears and Broncos has to be one of the most highly anticipated exhibition games in recent memory. We can only guess that Cutler is going to want to make rookie Denver Head Coach Josh McDaniels wish that he could have a do-over. Look for him to slice and dice a weak Denver team.

The NFL betting during their live streaming TV shows.

Running back Matt Forte made his preseason debut against the Giants and picked up where he left off last year rushing for 58 yards on nine carries and racing untouched on a 32-yard scoring run.

Staying in the NFC North, Aaron Rodgers of the Packers has looked very sharp in his first two games after he torched Buffalo going 8 of 9 for 98 yards and two TDs. In two games Rodgers has produced five touchdowns in six drives.

Up the road in Minnesota where Brett Favre stunk the joint up in his debut for the Vikings, embattled quarterback Tarvaris Jackson threw for 202 yards and two touchdowns while completing 12 of 15 passes. Too bad he won’t see the field unless Favre struggles mightily.

Over in the NFC East the Cowboys were led by Tony Romo who went 18 of 24 for 192 yards in a 30-10 victory over the Tennessee Titans. Romo guided the Cowboys to 249 yards and 17 first downs in the first half. It’s a big year for Romo and he looks ready to take up the challenge.

Michael Turner is off to a hot start in both of his preseason games and had 65 yards on seven carries plus a touchdown against the Rams. Turner is going to have a tremendous year and is worthy of the first pick in anyone’s fantasy pool. Matt Ryan continues his steady play and finished two series going 7 for 8 for 81 yards with a touchdown pass to Tony Gonzalez. Look for that combination to light it up all year long.

Over in the AFC, Chad Ochocinco was a one-man wrecking crew in a very low scoring affair with the New England Patriots. A week after the Pats torched the Eagles, New England and Tom Brady didn’t look like the world-beaters everyone anticipates in 2009. Brady was ineffective going 4 for 8 for 57 yards and no scores. He was also knocked down twice.

Ochocinco caught three balls for 69 yards including a 35-yard catch and also stepped in as the place kicker and made the game winning extra point to beat the Pats 7-6. Carson Palmer didn’t play but should be back for the regular season.

The Bengals defense is showing signs of a good young aggressive defense that Marvin Lewis has quietly assembled by limiting the Patriots to two field goals. The Bengals will surprise a few folks if Palmer can stay healthy.

Peyton Manning righted his game after a disappointing first game going 10-14 and 167 yards and two touchdowns in three series of work against Philadelphia. Defensive End Dwight Freeney was everywhere applying lots of pressure up-field and looks great in the early going.

Sticking to the AFC South, David Garrard of the Jacksonville Jaguars had a strong game against the Bucs going 10-16 for 216 yards and one touchdown. Former Viking bust Troy Williamson looked unstoppable catching three balls for 147 yards and a touchdown. Williamson caught four balls for 74 yards in their first game and looks to finally be worthy of the 7th overall pick by the Vikings in the 2005 draft.

It’s still early and the next game is usually when the starters will play the longest, but the cream is starting to rise to the top.

Check out the innovative BetRepublic for their sports betting TV shows, winning picks and the only true social networking site for the sports betting community.

Ben Collins Race In V8 Enduros, Stig coming to drive at Bathurst?

On popular motor sports betting show Top Gear, some say he is the anonymous driver called "The Stig". All we know is he's competing in this year's V8 Super car endurance races.

On Wednesday, Jack Daniel's Racing announced English endurance racing specialist Ben Collins will pair up with veteran Nathan Pretty in the team's No.15 Holden for the annual endurance races at Bathurst and Phillip Island.

Collins, a professional stunt driver, has long been rumoured to be the Stig, with English newspaper The Telegraph claiming he had mistakenly outed himself in January.

The show fiercely guards the identity of the Stig and it's believed Collins could be sacked if he did admit he was the popular character.

The first Stig, stunt driver Perry McCarthy, lost the job after outing himself in his book Flat Out, Flat Broke, published in 2002.

Regardless of his secret identity, Collins will definitely be behind the wheel at this year's Bathurst 1000 and Phillip Island 500 events.

"I'm very excited about the opportunity to race in V8 Supercars with Jack Daniel's Racing," Collins said.

"Phillip Island and Bathurst are two circuits that every driver would love to get the chance to race on, especially Bathurst, which is such a famous race.

"I drove a Holden V8 Supercar earlier this year and these cars are sensational. They're very demanding and the level of talent and professionalism in this category is very high."

Collins, who worked as stunt driver on the latest James Bond movie Quantum of Solace, comes to Australia with extensive racing experience.

Among the 34-year-old's achievements are testing sessions with Formula One team Ascari and the American Red Bull NASCAR team.

Todd Kelly, who will partner brother Rick in the team's other car, said he was delighted to have such an experienced crew in their second vehicle.

"Endurance races like Phillip Island and Bathurst require a combination of pace and consistency, especially when it comes to 161 laps at Mount Panorama," Kelly said.

"Ben has achieved a lot in endurance style racing and he will be a real asset to our team as we tackle our first endurance events.
"It's fitting that he's paired with Nathan because the two of them are both noted endurance specialists.

"It's great to have two guys with such pedigree in our No.15 Jack Daniel's Commodore." The Kelly brothers finished second at both Bathurst and Phillip Island the last time they teamed up in 2006 and two-time Bathurst winner Rick Kelly said the pair are confident of a good result.

"The endurance races have been a major focus for our team and Todd and I can't wait to team up again," he said. "When we ran together in 2006 we finished second at both enduros, so we've definitely got some unfinished business this year."

This year's endurance races begin with the Phillip Island 500 from September 11-13 before the Bathurst 1000 is held from October 8-11.

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Online Cricket Betting Odds: Ponting backs under-fire Johnson

Australia captain, Ricky Ponting says with cricket betting odds, under-fire bowler Mitchell Johnson will not be made a scapegoat after England's 115-run win in the second Ashes Test.

During England's 2nd innings, Johnson took only 3 wickets for 200 runs in the match, including 0-68 in 17 overs.

Ricky Ponting said, "We have to be careful how we manage him over the next bit. At edgbaston, asked about the 3rd Test, Of course I can see him playing. It's not as if he's lost everything he ever had."

Ponting also said, "He's up for the challenge. He's continually trying to make himself better in all aspects of his game; hopefully we will see some improvement from him in Northampton, if he does happen to play that game”.

Ponting is eager to boost the confidence of the 27-year-old paceman and stated: "Bowling coach Troy Cooley is obviously working really closely with him.”

Although he disappointed with the ball at Lord's, Johnson showed his prowess with the bat, making a belligerent 63 off 75 balls after coming in at number eight in Australia's second innings.

"What you don't want to do with youngish blokes - Mitch has only played 20-odd Tests and is still pretty new to the game and pretty new to fast bowling - is to fill their heads full of too much and have him thinking of too many things all the time."

The tourists have a 3 day tour match against Northamptonshire, which starts on Friday, before the third Test gets under way at Edgbaston on 30 July. Watch online cricket betting odds for more details.

Ponting believes that could be the chance Johnson needs and he added, "It would be great to see him get a bit more confidence and a bit more rhythm than he's got at the moment."

With Brett Lee still struggling for fitness, Stuart Clark is the leading candidate to replace Johnson if Australia decides to make a change.

British Golf Open: Cink Won British Open, But Lost With Watson

By the time Tom Watson his legs shot butchered the 3rd playoff hole handing the Claret Jug to Stewart Cink and then sent his tee shot on the final hole sailing into the stands.

Those 4 holes will rank in the annals of sporting cruelty along with leaving Willie Mays in center field when he could no longer shag a fly ball, letting Joe Namath heave interceptions for the Rams or, worst of all, standing by while the great Ali was pummeled by unworthy hacks like Trevor Berbick.

Thomas Sturges Watson was to author a real-life fairytale and the greatest story in golf betting odds, a 59-year-old winning a sixth British Open and his first major since 1983. And in doing so, he was to single-handedly prove to us that the years can not always weary our heroes.

When Watson strode to the 72nd green through the wind and sunshine of a pleasant Sunday on the Scottish coast, standing on the precipice of sporting immortality, by God, he was walking for all of us. He had fought with the heart of a lion to be there, holding a one-stroke lead with a hole to play and needing just a par to make history.

When his 8th iron hit the 72nd green, immortality was to have become a formality. Two putts to win. And then, the angel which had been on Watson's shoulder for four days suddenly deserted him.

Somehow, Watson's ball kept rolling. His playing partner, Australian Matthew Goggin, said later he thought Watson had hit "a perfect shot."

But had he, for once, misjudged the weight? He'd been so good for four days, relying on guile and wisdom and memories, in playing a style of golf which can be so treacherous.

His ball wouldn't stop. It scurried past the hole, then trickled over the bank at the back of the green. It came to rest in a clump of grass. A few inches closer, and he could've comfortably two putted, Goggin guessed. A few inches longer, and Watson could've chipped it close from a better lie.
And that's when Tom Watson lost his nerve. That's when he betrayed his age and the long years it's been since he'd been a golfer capable of winning majors.

Watson chose to putt the ball. Once the greatest of chippers in his heyday, in his moment of truth, he put his trust in the one club which prematurely ended his golden years.

As it was, he hit the putter too firmly. It went eight feet by, to the left of the hole. Everyone gasped. Eight feet to immortality was eight feet too much. "Made a lousy putt," Watson later bemoaned.

The playoff against Cink, who through no fault of his own was the villain of the piece, was a nightmare.

With Stewart Cink, who'd made a remarkable birdie on the last hole to get to 2-under par in the greenside bunker on the first playoff hole, Watson from the middle of the fairway hit a fat five iron into another trap.

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British Golf Open: Jimenez takes 1st Round lead, Golf Betting Odds

At the British Golf Open, this morning to claim the opening-round lead, Miguel Angel Jimenez rolled in a 66-foot birdie putt at the final hole for 6-under 64.

On the leader board, the pony tailed Spaniard known as "The Mechanic" birdied the final two holes in a bogey-free round that knocked Tom Watson and Ben Curtis out of the top spot.

Get Golf News and more about British Golf Open at Golf Betting Tips. At 45, Jimenez beat his previous low score in the British Golf Open by 3 strokes and just missed the major championship record.

At Turnberry to shoot a 65, the Watson 59 year old who is a 5-time winner of the claret jug, held the lead most of the day, taking advantage of calm conditions.

At Royal St. George’s, in 2003, Curtis, the surprise Open winner matched Watson's score in the afternoon.

Tiger Woods struggled to a 71. The world's No. 1 player struggled to a 71 with one wayward shot after another, on a day for going low along the Scottish coast, it was mostly sunny with little breeze off the Irish Sea.

He even dunked his ball in Wilson's Burn, which led to the last of his 4 bogeys at No. 16.
Tiger Woods Said, "I certainly made a few mistakes out there. Realistically, I probably should have shot about 1- or 2-under par."

When the round ended, Tiger Woods headed back to the range to work on his swing, which looked downright ugly with his right hand flying off the club.

His 1st signs of frustration emerged at No. 3, when he took an angry swipe and mumbled something under his breath. By the time the day was done, he had angrily tossed away his clubs several times.

6 years ago, Curtis was virtually unknown except to family and friends when he won the claret jug on his first try.

He missed the cut on his next 3 attempts, but has finished in the top 10 at the British Golf Open the last 2 years. Now, he's confident of making a run at another British Golf Open championship.

Curtis Said, "You don't win it once and not be able to do it again, the last couple of years have been good for me, and this week I got off to a good start."

Curtis overcame a pair of bogeys with an eagle at the par-5 seventh and birdies on four of his last 6 holes.

He finished with a routine two-putt par at No. 18, walking off tied for the top spot. Denmark's Soren Hansen also was contending for the top spot, getting to 5 under with 3 holes left.

Golf's oldest major keeps bringing out the best in the old-timers. Last year, Greg Norman was 53 when he held the 54-hole lead at Birkdale, only to fade on the final day.

Watson still has 3 rounds to go, and the history of major championship British golf open is filled with opening-day leaders who fell out of contention by the weekend.

He would be by the far the oldest British Golf Open champion, a distinction held by Old Tom Morris (now that's an appropriate nickname), who was 46 when he won the claret jug for the final time in 1867.

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2009-10 NHL Schedule, NHL Announces Regular-Season Schedule

On Wednesday with the Penguins' celebration, the NHL 2009-10 Regular-Season Schedule has been announced and the Winter Classic at Fenway Park highlighting the slate.

Check out 2009-10 NHL Schedule at NHL Betting Tips.
In its final season in Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh will welcome the New York Rangers in its home opener. The following day all 30 teams will be in action and marking the first of 2 days when every NHL club will hit the ice.

At the home of baseball's Red Sox, the now traditional New Year's Day Winter Classic will feature the Boston Bruins hosting the Philadelphia Flyers outside.

The Olympics will force the Canucks on an NHL-record, 14-game road trip. Every team will be off from Feb. 14-March 1 for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

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Obama’s 1st pitch a ball or Strike? Obama’s 1st Pitch All-Star Game

At the All-Star game, determined his ceremonial first pitch would reach the plate on the fly Tuesday night, Obama delivered - barely. St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols helped him out in moving up to scoop the low toss inches off the dirt.

Obama said, "We did a little practicing in the Rose Garden. This is as much fun as I've had in quite some time. I did not play organized baseball when I was a kid and so, you know, I think some of these natural moves aren't so natural to me".

However, Television viewers were initially left to wonder whether the presidential pitch skipped. Many people at Busch Stadium were not completely sure. Obama’s pitch to the nation is described in detail at baseball betting lines. Watch out the video as well.

Fox showed a replay from the center-field camera that proved the ball made it home in the air, when Obama later visited the broadcast booth.

Obama was at ease visiting the teams before the game and during his time on the air. Asked whether there were bailout funds to help the National League's losing streak, he cracked, "We're out of money."

Obama with a Chicago White Sox jacket, jeans and sneakers, and cheered by the sellout crowd, Obama walked out of the NL's dugout on the first-base side, shook hands with Cardinals Hall of Famer Stan Musial and trotted to the mound.

Obama went right to rubber, Fresh from warming up a day earlier on the White House grounds, all 60 feet and 6 inches away. The left-hander wound up and bit his lip as he let fly.

Obama grimaced slightly, but gave a fist pump when Pujols - a Gold Glove first baseman - made the neat grab with a specially made black mitt with "Obama #44" and an American flag on it.

Obama became the latest Chicago hoopster to try his hand at baseball. Like Michael Jordan, the president looked more comfortable in his other job.

Read more at Free Baseball Picks

Prince Fielder Won Home Run Derby, 2009 Home Run Derby Results

In St. Louis, Prince Fielder blasts the winning home run in the final round to win the 2009 All-Star Game Home Run Derby.

On Monday, In the Final, Prince Fielder won the Home Run Derby beating Nelson Cruz.

2009 Home Run Derby Results – Baseball Betting Lines

The youngest player ever to reach 50 homers, Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder, added another distinction to his growing carrier when he claimed the 2009 All-Star Home Run Derby crown Monday night.

In the final round, Fielder pounded 6 home runs, the capper a 423-foot clout to center field when he still had three outs left, to beat Texas Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz 6-5.

Fielder, 5-11 and 270 pounds, who have averaged more than 37 homers each of the last 3 seasons, Prince Fielder Said, "Coming up through high school, coaches would tell me not to swing so hard. It's the only way I know. It just happens."

The outcome of this year's 2009 Home Run Derby put into perspective Josh Hamilton's feat in pounding out 28 first-round balls in the old Yankee Stadium last summer. Fielder's total for his 3 rounds was 23.

Final Tribute McNair, NFL Football News, NFL Football Teams – BetRepublic

Get NFL News and choose your nfl football picks. Also, make a not over nfl football schedule, nfl football teams and watch nfl football today online.

Thousands pay final tribute to McNair.

Steve McNair's pastor and close friend cautioned against judging the ex-NFL quarterback Thursday, reminding people who gathered for his memorial not to cast the first stone when talking about his life off the field.

He was married, was shot to death at his condo early Saturday by his 20-year-old girlfriend, Sahel Kazemi, who then turned the gun on herself.

Fans had lined up starting Thursday morning to view McNair's closed silvery-gray casket at a funeral home and later outside the church. A helicopter provided live TV footage as McNair's body was moved by hearse, and three of four local TV stations showed the memorial service live.

McNair's casket was on display at Mount Zion Baptist Church, where he had attended services since moving to Nashville in 1997. It was flanked by a large photo of him posing with his 2003 NFL MVP award on the right and another of him holding a football on the left.

The program included a statement from the McNair family.

"Today in our loss, our hurt, and our pain we recognize our gains in you our friends and loved ones ... They have all been a source of strength and comfort at this time to our family," it read.

Obertan Joins Manchester United, Gabriel Obertan Joins Man Utd

After the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo by signing winger Gabriel Obertan on a 4-year contract from French champion Bordeaux, Manchester United continued to revamp its attacking options.

Alex Ferguson, united manager had been watching the 20 year old french winger's development.

The words of Alex Ferguson:
"We are delighted to get him now as he is an exciting prospect. We like to get young players and develop them, and we will see that in Gabriel over the next two years."

The words of Gabriel Obertan:
"I am very happy to join Manchester United. This is a big opportunity for me to play at such a great club. I am very excited to be here and I look forward to proving what I can do."

Obertan, who has played for France's under-21 team, spent the 2nd part of last season on loan to Lorient as he did not figure in Bordeaux coach Laurent Blanc's plans.

Obertan has scored 3 league goals in 55 games for Bordeaux, and 1 goal in 15 appearances for Lorient, although he is considered more of a provider than a scorer and can play on either flank.

More information on football betting tips and latest picks and odds on football betting are at Bet Republic. For 80 million pounds ($141 million), Ferguson lately sold world player of the year Ronaldo to Real Madrid. Also, as part of his rebuilding, he has signed two wingers namely Obertan and Antonio Valencia from Wigan for 17 million pounds ($30 million).

The most surprising transfer so far this summer is: Alex Ferguson also signed former Liverpool striker Michael Owen from Newcastle United on a free transfer.

Federer better than Sampras, Wimbledon Champion Debate Settled

In Grand Slam history, World No.1 Roger Federer has already won 15 Grand Slam titles making him the most successful tennis player.

Roger Federer and Pete Sampras have won 13 of the last 17 Wimbledon titles between themselves. Get tennis betting tips and much more about roger federer's debate here.

In the 2001 Wimbledon 4th Round Match, the first and the last time they met and produced among the greatest match ever to be played on grass with Federer coming out trumps.

Roger Federer defeated his idol 7-6 (7), 5-7, 6-4, 6-7 (2), 7-5.

But, on July 5th, as Roger Federer moved past Sampras' record and chose his favorite surface to reach the milestone, tennis pundits as well as former players have started debating - who is better?

"Roger's a friend, he's a great player, and he is a good guy. He's got 15 now; he can get 17 or 18 majors. If he just keeps it going and stays healthy, he could go to 18, 19, actually," Sampras said after Federer won his sixth Wimbledon men's singles title.

Though Roger Federer is still one short of Sampras' seven Wimbledon titles, most believe, with age on his side and his passion and fitness still very much there it would just be a matter of time before he makes that stat his own as well.

"It's a thrill for yourself to get out there and play and you know that's the one thing that Roger has that I think is admirable for tennis. It's great that tennis has someone like Roger," Rod Laver had said before Sunday’s final about a 15th Grand Slam for Federer.

So, is Roger Federer the greatest of all time? Is he better than Sampras on grass? It is impossible to judge and to compare eras. Sampras though heaps wholesome praise on his heir to greatness.

Sampras said, "He moves very well, don’t seem to be in any hurry,"

The case for Roger Federer is now almost closed and even Sampras vouches for that.

Bet UK - Weekly Sports Pick’em Jackpot, Sports Jackpot Weekly

Bet UK last week’s Weekly Sports Pick’em Jackpot as Philip S. Enter Bet UK and win weekly Sports Pick’em Jackpot. In weekly Sports Jackpot Can you get all 7 correct and win this amazing cash prize?

‘So near, yet so far’ was the tale of last week’s Weekly Sports Pick’em Jackpot as Philip S. predicted six of the seven fixtures!

Philip was the only player to correctly predict that France would beat New Zealand in their Rugby Union friendly match, as well as correctly predicting all four football matches and that the Lions would triumph over Western Province in a warm-up before they meet South Africa on the 20 June.

This had given him six out of six correct going into the week’s final fixture - USA v England Saxons. He predicted a USA win and for the first 20 minutes the game was close, but the Saxons ran out 56-17 winners.

As a result of this, the jackpot now rolls over to £1,350! Do you think you can do better than six out of seven? Can you get all seven correct and win this amazing cash prize? Enter here and win BIG!!

Bet UK Football Confederations Cup, FIFA Confederations Cup Fixtures

A full list of fixtures and results for the FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa.

GROUP STAGE

Sunday June 14 - Group A

Johannesburg - South Africa 0-0 Iraq

Rustenburg - New Zealand 0-5 Spain

Monday June 15 - Group B

Bloemfontein - Brazil 4-3 Egypt

Pretoria - USA 1-3 Italy

Wednesday June 17 - Group A

Mangaung/Bloemfontein - 17:00 - Spain v Iraq

Rustenburg - 21:30 - South Africa v New Zealand

Thursday June 18 - Group B

Tshwane/Pretoria - 17:00 - USA v Brazil

Johannesburg - 21:30 - Egypt v Italy

Saturday June 20 - Group A

Johannesburg - 21:30 - Iraq v New Zealand

Mangaung/Bloemfontein - 21:30 - Spain v South Africa

Sunday June 21 - Group B

Tshwane/Pretoria - 21:30 - Italy v Brazil

Rustenburg - 21:30 - Egypt v USA

SEMI-FINALS

Wednesday June 24

Mangaung/Bloemfontein - 21:30 - Winner Group A v Runner-up Group B

Thursday June 25

Johannesburg - 21:30 - Winner Group B v Runner-up Group A

THIRD PLACE PLAY-OFF

Sunday June 28

Rustenburg - 16:00

FINAL

Sunday June 28

Johannesburg - 21:30
Eurosport

Watch Football Confederations Cup at sports betting now.

BetUK.com - Horse Racing Betting, Royal Ascot Gold Cup, O’Brien Horse Off Flying

It’s Royal Ascot Gold Cup week and five glorious days of top class racing action begins at the Berkshire course tomorrow.

As usual Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien, who had six winners last year, is sending a large team over from his stables in Ireland.

He is very much the ‘handler’ to follow and there are sure to be more winners among the 15-strong team he is sending over.

You can get the week off to a flying start by backing an O’Brien horse called Mastercraftsman in the St James’s Palace Stakes (3.45pm) on Tuesday.

Aidan O’Brien has won five of the last nine runnings of this Group 1 contest and we can’t see past can’t see past Mastercraftsman, currently priced at 4/5 with BetUK.

Unbeaten as a 2-year-old, where he won twice in Group 1 company, he stepped up considerably on his 5th in the 2000 Guineas by hosing up in the Irish version.

This race has been on the agenda ever since and with quicker conditions no problem, he’s going to be very tough to beat. Delegator, who didn’t handle the ground in Ireland last time, looks the biggest danger but we think the favourite should have his measure.

Stay in touch with sports betting for updates on horse racing betting.

BetUK.com - World Twenty20 “Super Eights” get under way

The World Twenty20 starts here. We are now at the business end of the tournament – or as the ICC like to call it the “Super Eights”.

Now the group stages are out of the way, we have a real hold of how the tournament is shaping up.

The remaining eight sides will be split into two groups – Group E and Group F – with the top two going through to the semi-finals. There is a heavy bias though between the groups.

Group E is difficult to call meaning the value will lie in the other section. Group E consists of South Africa, the new favourites, India, the holders, England, the hosts, and the unpredictable West Indies.

Group F is a far more relaxed affair. New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Ireland – yes, you read that right – will do battle.

In this group we believe Sri Lanka will be the team to follow and we can see them going all the way through to the Final. They play their first Super Eight game tomorrow against Pakistan and at 1.66 we think they are the value to win this match.

Stay back at sports betting for more cricket match updates.

BetUK.com - Nothing but a drubbing will do for CapelloFabio

David meets Goliath tonight when England play host to Andorra (live on ITV1 at 8.15pm) in their World Cup qualifier and nothing short of a drubbing will do for England coach Fabio Capello.

All of Andorra’s last 10 competitive matches against top 20 ranked teams have been lost at full-time with nine of these also being lost at half-time.

They have failed to score in eight away encounters and haven’t kept any clean sheets. Seven of these matches have seen four goals or more which doesn’t bode well for Andorra.

For sports betting purposes we think there might be some value backing the 3-0 and 4-0 scorelines, available at 5/1 and 9/2 respectively with Sports Betting UK.

Cricket Betting: Bet On The Team Chasing The Runs At BetUK.com

New Zealand meet South Africa on Tuesday in the Twenty20 World Cup and already punters have the dilemma of a dead rubber. Neither team needs to win this match as they are both through to the next round, although there will be much talk from the respective leaders about building “momentum”.

South Africa are hot favourites at 1.50 and have been so impressive that they have usurped India as favourites to lift the trophy. Those of a nervous disposition worry that the Proteas have peaked too early, a ridiculous suggestion given they have played one game proper - and they didn’t leave first gear.

New Zealand could have been worth a nibble at 2.50 but alas the doubts surrounding Vettori mean they should not be backed until it is confirmed that he plays.

These sides have met three times before in Twenty20 with South Africa winning twice. Interestingly, all three games have been won by the side chasing so one cricket betting strategy might be to wait until after the toss and bet on whichever of these teams is due to bat second.

Cristiano Ronaldo: Will Stay or Leave, Football Betting Odds - BetUK.com

Manchester United fans will be hanging on every word spoken by star Cristiano Ronaldo as talk of next season begins.

The rumors have been flying around for months, but Ronaldo did nothing to quell them when he admitted that “he doesn’t know” if he will be back with Man U next year.

The statement was made in an interview in which he also criticized Coach Sir Slex Ferguson for his strategy in United’s 2-0 loss to Barcelona in the Champions League final.

Ferguson has yet to neither respond, but suffice to say he will not be pleased and it’s also likely nor will most of Ronaldo’s teammates.

He was quoted as saying, 'This is one of the biggest disappointments of my career. We didn't do well,' said Ronaldo. 'The tactics were not good and everything went wrong for us.

We were only in it for 10 minutes and we never found ourselves again,' he said. 'Everything went wrong. We started very well but after that we didn't do anything. We didn't control the game, we didn't play and they played better than us.

'It was very bad in the dressing room afterwards but that is normal after you lose a game.'
Barcelona was full value for the Champions League win. Bookmakers, like BetUK.com has the game close to even on the betting board, but by kick-off Manchester United were small favorites.

The small underdog Barca side were able to score goals in both the first and second half (Samuel Eto'o and Leo Messi respectively), while the Premiership champs had chances, but never really seriously challenged after the first 15 minutes or so.

Now, the focus will be on Ronaldo's future and what will sure to be a wild epic saga of whether he goes to Real Madrid or not.

You can be sure there will be plenty of betting opportunities offered up by the online sportsbooks on if he goes or not.

Real Madrid has been chasing Ronaldo for some time now. Despite there not being a deal last summer, it appears all parties are moving closer to the decision that this superstar player will be moved to the Spanish side. A bid of around £70million seems most likely.

This will be interesting to watch it play out. There is still some great football left, including the FA Cup final. You can check out all the odds at BetUK.com