Rapids aim to continue Independence Day dominance

Soccer Betting Lines

07/03/2009 - Commerce City, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Fire returns to Major League Soccer action for the first time in three weeks on Saturday when the club travels to Dick's Sporting Goods Park to meet the Colorado Rapids.

Chicago has been busy with its participation in the SuperLiga for the past few weeks, and although they were successful in advancing to the semifinals of the competition, not a lot has gone right for the club in league play recently.

The Fire has lost its last three games in MLS, dropping the club to fourth in the Eastern Conference, although they are still only two points back of East leaders D.C. United.

Head coach Denis Hamlett's side was also bounced from the U.S. Open Cup this past Tuesday, losing 1-0 to a USL2 side, the Wilmington Hammerheads.

The loss is the fifth in seven games in all competitions for the Fire, but things don't figure to get much easier on Saturday against the Rapids.

Colorado will be hosting a game on Independence Day for the 14th time, and judging by their 11-1-1 all-time record on the nation's birthday, Chicago had better be in top form.

The Rapids had their eight-game unbeaten streak snapped last time out in a 3-0 defeat at Seattle, but head coach Gary Smith believes that his team simply did not make the most of its chances.

"Seattle had seven shots and hit the target four times. We had six shots and hit the target twice," Smith said. "We missed a penalty at a very, very important time and we come in at 1-1 and are in the game. It still gives a nice foothold into the game. We never really took advantage of our possessions and opportunities."

Colorado enters Saturday's match in fourth place in the Western Conference, seven points back of leaders Houston, but the club will be missing a pair of key players due to international duty.

The CONCACAF Gold Cup will rob a number of teams of important contributors, and the Rapids are no exception.

The club will be missing midfielder Colin Clark and striker Omar Cummings, who have combined for nine goals and 11 assists so far this season, while leading scorer Conor Casey, who missed the team's past few games because of the Confederations Cup, could also be in action for the United States at some point during the tournament.

Chicago is without two players of their own due to international duty as defender Gonzalo Segares and midfielder Logan Pause will miss Saturday's match.

Cybersportbook Soccer Betting News


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NCAA Football Betting

Many fans thought it was the best side in the nation by the end of last season. This year, the polls have built on Georgia's momentum and granted it the No. 1 preseason ranking, followed by Ohio State and USC. (The Associated Press has the Buckeyes at No. 2; USA Today took the Trojans.)

"To have people believing we have one of the best teams in the nation going into this thing, it's exciting for us," Bulldogs coach Mark Richt told the AP. "I don't think anything is guaranteed, but we certainly have put ourselves in position where at least the college football world thinks we're pretty good."

Georgia Bulldogs - 9.5 wins

There's no question they're good, but the Bulldogs have one of the toughest 12-game schedules in the nation, mostly because they play in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference. Away games at No. 15 Arizona State, No. 7 LSU and No. 10 Auburn loom large, with contests between the hedges versus No. 24 Alabama and No. 18 Tennessee as well as the World's Largest Cocktail Party in Jacksonville versus No.5 Florida.

Ohio State Buckeyes - 10 wins

Like the Bulldogs, the Buckeyes also have a number of tough road contests in 2008. After two scrimmages dressed up as real games versus Youngstown State and Ohio, it's off to face USC. Other tough away games include No.13 Wisconsin in October and No. 20 Illinois in November. Granted, it should be pretty easy sledding at the Horseshoe. In fact, the only ranked team that travels to Columbus is No. 22 Penn State, in October.

USC Trojans - 10.5 wins

A similarly light schedule awaits the Trojans of Southern California, which is why the oddsmakers' total is one win more and the over is currently commanding -150 odds. Pete Carroll's troops only play three ranked teams in 2008, and all of those games are at home. After what should be an easy trip to Virginia to start things off on Aug. 30, the Trojans get two weeks to prepare for Ohio State in Los Angeles. Their two other ranked opponents, No. 21 Oregon and No. 15 Arizona State, visit in consecutive weeks to start the month of October. After that, the competition eases up. Of course, this is the same highly-touted school that lost to Stanford in 2007 and Oregon State in 2006. And don't discount the fact that USC plays its biggest rivals, Notre Dame and UCLA, back-to-back to close out the regular season. On paper, the Trojans are far superior, but motivation will be high for the Irish and Bruins, especially if their historic foes are in national-title contention.

Odds to Win the Heisman Trophy

Tim Tebow, Florida - 7/2
He won it last year, so it's no surprise he's the favorite to do it again, making him just the second player to go back-to-back. Ohio State's Archie Griffin turned the trick in 1974 and 1975, and Tebow's coach, Urban Meyer, is pretty sure his star quarterback can match the Buckeyes legend.

"There has never been anyone quite like him," Meyer told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I am very lucky to be his coach."

Chris Wells, Ohio State - 5/1

The man they call "Beanie" was a star recruit out of high school, so it's not like nobody knew who the star tailback was before he rushed for 576 yards as a freshman in 2006 and 1,609 as a sophomore. But perhaps his finest moment came last year versus Michigan when he rumbled for 222 yards and two touchdowns in the Buckeyes' 14-3 victory over the hated Wolverines.

Knowshon Moreno, Georgia - 8/1

If the Bulldogs are to live up to expectations, they'll need a huge effort from their sophomore running back. This might be the last year of college ball for Moreno, who rushed for 1,334 yards and for 14 touchdowns as a freshman, while adding 253 receiving yards on 20 receptions, so expect big things for the man from Belford, N.J.

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