Tulsa Football

When analyzing which player you believe is going to win the Golden Boot, you have to account for several factors, including who the striker is, what team he plays for, and what his draw looks like. Conventional wisdom suggests that no one is going to win the distinction without reaching at least the quarterfinals of the tournament. Check out our World Cup odds breakdown for the Golden Boot!
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Kaka, Brazil (+3000) – Kaka is an interesting creature on this Brazilian team because he is going to be asked to join the attack quite a bit, particularly with both Adriano and Ronaldinho not being chosen for the squad. He tallied twice against Egypt in the ‘09 Confederations Cup and had five goals in World Cup qualifying. Kaka only has one World Cup strike to his credit from 2006, but he is going to be called upon to do significantly more here in South Africa.

Wayne Rooney, England (+1000) – If you watch the way that Rooney played in World Cup qualifying, this is a man that is clearly on a mission. He and his teammates were blasted in the British media for not qualifying for Euro 2008, but the Manchester United star roared back with nine goals in as many matches in qualifying for the World Cup. England went 9-0-0 in its first nine matches before resting its regulars for the final, meaningless affair. The Brits should have absolutely no trouble until at least the quarterfinals, and if that’s the case, Rooney should be near setting the standard for goal scorers in this tournament at that point.

Lionel Messi, Argentina (+1500) – The top goal scorer in Spanish Primera this past year, Messi is about as much of an attacking midfielder as you’ll see in the World Cup. He has scored 88 times in 144 CAPS for Barcelona since 2004 and has tallied 13 times for his country since ‘05, including four times in qualifying for the World Cup. In 2005, Messi was the top goal scorer in the 2005 U-20 World Cup, and he was also named the player of that tournament. Much like England, the Argentines had a very easy draw that should carry them into at least the quarterfinals, and if that happens, Messi is probably going to have his name on the stat sheet quite a bit.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal (+1400) – Ronaldo came up just short of Messi in the race for the most goals in Spain’s top flight of soccer this year. He is the heart and soul of Portuguese soccer, and unlike these other players that we have listed that have teams that can score a ton of goals around them, there isn’t anyone else on this side that we expect to be able to score multiple goals in this tournament. Portugal’s biggest problem is that it has a miserably hard draw to reach the semifinals, as dates with Brazil and Ivory Coast await in the first round, while a potential matchup with Spain could await in the Round of 16.
Source: BetUS Locker Room Featured on: Handicapperspicks.com

Related posts:

1. 2010 World Cup Betting Lines To Win Group C – World Cup Predictions
2. 2010 World Cup Betting Lines To Win Group F – World Cup Predictions
3. 2010 World Cup Betting Lines To Win Group A – World Cup Predictions

Belmont Stakes betting action goes to post on Saturday night in Elmont, New York for the 142nd running of the Belmont Stakes. Here are the five questions for Belmont Stakes betting fans to ask themselves before betting this race.
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1: Are any of these horses capable of running 1 1/2 miles? This is always the biggest question about any horse that enters the Belmont Stakes. There is no reason to believe that certain horses in this field, such as Spangled Star, Uptowncharlybrown, and Dave In Dixie are going to be expected to do well at this type of a distance. The only horses that we are absolutely confident can run the mile and a half are Ice Box and First Dude. Both horses finished as runners up in their previous Triple Crown races and both looked like there was plenty of gas left in the tank for each.

2: Will running in the Dwyer prove rewarding for Drosselmeyer and Fly Down? Last year, Summer Bird elected to run the New York circuit during the Triple Crown. He ultimately won the last prep race at Belmont before heading to the Belmont Stakes, and ended up trumping a field that included several high profile three year olds at a very nice price. Fly Down won the Dwyer, while Drosselmeyer finished second. Both colts are going to have a great chance at getting in the money against the relatively weak field.

3: Were Todd Pletcher and Bob Baffert smart to enter their horses into this field? Probably not. Pletcher was all set to start running Interactif on turf after yanking him from the Kentucky Derby at the last possible moment, while Game On Dude is clearly one of Baffert’s bottom of the barrel three year olds. Both Pletcher and Baffert are clearly only entering these horses to say that they have a stake in the third leg of the Triple Crown, as both Super Saver (Pletcher) and Lookin At Lucky (Baffert) are back in their respective home stables.

4: Is there a Da’Tara in this year’s field? Absolutely not. Da’Tara went off in the ‘08 Belmont Stakes at well over 70-1, making him one of the biggest longshot horses to ever cash in a Triple Crown race. None of the favorites are going to have dominant prices, so the higher priced horses are going to be probably in the 30s or possibly the 40s to 1. Even so, the bottom colts in this field don’t appear to be legit contenders regardless.

5: Bottom Line: Who will win the Belmont Stakes? We feel as though we can safely limit the field down to about seven horses or so, and the one that we are keying in on is Drosselmeyer. He was an odds on favorite at the Dwyer last month, and if not for an awful run that included slips and bumps, he might have been able to overtake Fly Down. If that was the case, we would see this horse at probably a 3-1 favorite in the Belmont Stakes. Regardless, at 12-1 on the morning line odds, we are getting fantastic value on the Belmont Stakes betting lines.
Source: BetUS Locker Room Featured on: Handicapperspicks.com

Related posts:

1. 2010 Belmont Stakes Odds: Betting on Odd or Even: June 5th 2010
2. 2010 Belmont Stakes Betting: Interactif vs. Stately Victor Prediction: June 5th 2010
3. MLB Betting: Worst Pitchers To Put Your Money On: June 5th 2010

Group E may not be the “Group of Death” per se in the World Cup, but it is certainly a pool of four teams that can all make a lot of noise in this tournament. Check out our World Cup predictions for this crowded group.
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Holland – The Dutch are fairly certain that they have what it takes to win the World Cup, and they have made no bones about their intentions to do just that.

However, the best years for La Oranje may be behind them, as neither F Ruud Van Nistelrooy nor GK Edwin Van Der Sar are going to be suiting up any longer, as they have ended their international careers.

Still, any offense that is led by illustrious offensive mastermind Arjen Robben is going to have a chance to put a lot of goals on the board, especially against a group that is going to be wide open in terms of offensive opportunities.

World Cup Betting Lines – To Win Group E
•Holland -150 •Cameroon +350 •Denmark +400 •Japan +1000

Cameroon – As the top rated African side in the world per the FIFA rankings, the Cameroonians are going to have a lot of pressure on them to advance far in this World Cup.

After all, this is also one of just two teams from this continent that have ever won a knockout round match in the World Cup (in 1990… Ghana was the other in 2002).

Reaching the quarterfinals has to be the goal for Cameroon, but unless F Samuel Eto’o can put the entire team on his shoulders, that is going to be a tough task.

Denmark – The Danish Dynamite are littered with some second tier players from the top sides in the world. The Danes had an easy time qualifying for the World Cup, and many think that they could be a team full of upsets in South Africa.

Getting a point in that opening match against the Dutch is going to be imperative, and even if Denmark falls behind early, don’t count out its ability to snare three points from any match. This is a team that has proven that it can score and do so in bunches, and with the right mix of timely goal scoring and efficient defense, it can beat anyone in the world.

Japan – In a less crowded group, perhaps we would give the Samurai Blue a bit more respect. However, the bottom line is that this is a team that just can’t afford to try to play a ridiculously quick style of offense against far more offensive minded teams. Instead, the matches are going to have to be ugly, and that’s not a style that the Japanese are familiar with.

As a result, any points are going to be welcome for a team that has high expectations but will most likely have very little in terms of results.

Don’t be overly shocked if Holland, Denmark, and Cameroon all end up with five points through three matches of play. All three have the potential to win this group. Though we think that the Dutch probably will ultimately have the upper hand, we’re not going to risk it laying those types of betting odds.

Instead, we’ll go with the team with the quasi-home field advantage. Eto’o is the best player in this group, and especially since he is a striker, he can single handedly bring his nation into the Sweet 16 of the World Cup.

My World Cup Prediction: Cameroon +350
Source: BetUS Locker Room Featured on: Handicapperspicks.com

Related posts:

1. 2010 World Cup Betting Lines To Win Group D – World Cup Predictions
2. 2010 World Cup Betting Lines To Win Group C – World Cup Predictions
3. 2010 World Cup Betting Lines To Win Group A – World Cup Predictions

Group D may be one of the most dynamic groups in this field that will kick off next month in South Africa. Not only are the Germans considered to be legitimate contenders to win the whole event, but upstarts like Ghana and Serbia also exist. Check out how we feel Group D is going to shake out in World Cup betting action.
CLICK HERE TO OPEN A BETTING ACCOUNT AT BETUS

World Cup Betting Lines – To Win Group D
Germany -140: Ghana +300: Serbia +350: Australia +750

Germany – Missing out of M Michael Ballack is going to be crippling to the Germans chances of winning the World Cup this year. All things considered though, this is a relatively easy draw for Germany, even though there are real potential landmine games set up against Ghana and Serbia. Still, F Miroslav Klose, D Philip Lahm, and the veterans in this bunch know what it takes to win at this level, and it’s going to be difficult to see how Germany, a seven time finalist and three time champion of this even, won’t at least be around for the Round of 16.

Ghana – Could Ghana become the first African nation ever to even make it to the semifinals of the World Cup? It doesn’t seem like a probable case, but it’s certainly a possibility. Arguably the top African side is full of goal scoring potential, and with home field advantage on its side, an upset in Group D could be in the cards. Remember that this was a team in the last World Cup that, when paired in a group with the United States, won two matches in qualifying and advanced to the Round of 16 in 2006.

Serbia – Serbian soccer hasn’t exactly been picturesque of late, as the squad has struggled mightily over the L/10 years or so. As Serbia and Montenegro, the club failed to record a point in three matches, finishing with a 32nd ranking of the 32 teams in the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Prior to that as Yugoslavia, the team failed to even qualify for the ‘02 World Cup. Now, as an independent nation, Serbia will fly into this World Cup in hopes of proving that it belongs. Still, in a group with Germany and Ghana, those prospects seem grim.

Australia – The Aussies were tabbed as potential dark horses in this field until they got their draw for the World Cup. Being placed with three teams that could all legitimately walk away as championship didn’t do Australia any favors. There could be three points in a game against Serbia or Ghana, but figuring out how to get to at least four may be tricky.

This is Germany’s group to lose. The German side really should be in charge of this group, but without Ballack, that match against Ghana could be a devastating one. Don’t be shocked to see the African team make its way through to the second round in a tremendous upset. Ghana could steal the show in World Cup betting action in Group D.

My World Cup Prediction: Ghana +300
Source: BetUS Locker Room Featured on: Handicapperspicks.com

Related posts:

1. 2010 World Cup Betting Lines To Win Group B – World Cup Predictions
2. 2010 World Cup Betting Lines To Win Group A – World Cup Predictions
3. 2010 World Cup Betting Lines To Win Group C – World Cup Predictions

The AFL betting season enters its ninth week of play this week with a full slate of games. Check out how we’re ranking the clubs through the first eight weeks of the season!

1: Jacksonville Sharks (6-1 SU, 4-3 ATS) (LW: 1) – The Sharks weren’t good enough to beat the number against a red hot Cleveland team, but there is no doubting the fact that they have the best team in the league at this point. In what will amount to be the longest trip that any AFL team takes this year, Jacksonville will travel up to Spokane next week.
Up Next: Away @ Spokane

2: Spokane Shock (5-2 SU, 3-4 ATS) (LW: 3) – It’s hard to deny just how good the Shock were this week against Utah, as they posted the biggest win of the year at 49 points. However, the fact that they recovered so many balls off of the net does taint the final score a bit. HC Rob Keefe would probably feel a lot better saving some of that AFL luck for next week.
Up Next: Home vs. Jacksonville

3: Milwaukee Iron (5-2 SU, 4-3 ATS) (LW: 2) – It took an amazing catch at the end of the game to beat the Iron, but the truth of the matter is that they didn’t deserve to beat the Predators in Friday night’s premier AFL betting duel. WR Damian Harrell broke the all-time record for receptions in a career in the victory, but his 13 catches weren’t enough for a ‘W’.
Up Next: Home vs. Dallas

4: Chicago Rush (5-2 SU, 3-3-1 ATS) (LW: 4) – The Rush got back on track with a great offensive effort against the Vigilantes in “Big D” on Saturday night. They also got a bit of a gift from Orlando by beating Milwaukee the night before. These next two tests are going to be significantly harder against both the Glads and the Sharks.
Up Next: Away @ Cleveland

5: Tulsa Talons (4-3 SU, 6-1 ATS) (LW: 6) – Tulsa was absolutely dominant against an Oklahoma City team with absolutely no pulse right now. The Talons posted their first easy win since an 11 point win over Tampa Bay to start the season. They could be in for another easy one if the Battle Wings don’t have a healthy quarterback on their roster.
Up Next: Away @ Bossier City

6: Tampa Bay Storm (3-3 SU, 1-5 ATS) (LW: 5) – Tampa Bay enjoyed its second and final bye week of the year. HC Tim Marcum is going to be warning his men this week that Orlando is ready to play and is on a three game winning streak. The Storm can’t take this test lightly.
Up Next: Away @ Orlando

And the rest…
7: Alabama Vipers (4-3 SU, 4-3 ATS) (LW: 8) 
8: Arizona Rattlers (3-3 SU, 3-3 ATS) (LW: 9)
9: Cleveland Gladiators (3-4 SU, 5-2 ATS) (LW: 7)
10: Orlando Predators (3-3 SU, 3-3 ATS) (LW: 12)
11: Iowa Barnstormers (3-4 SU, 3-4 ATS) (LW: 10)
12: Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz (2-5 SU, 3-4 ATS) (LW: 11)
13: Bossier City Battle Wings (2-5 SU, 4-3 ATS) (LW: 13)
14: Dallas Vigilantes (1-5 SU, 1-5 ATS) (LW: 14)
15: Utah Blaze (1-5 SU, 2-4 ATS) (LW: 15)

Related posts:

1. Week 8 Arena Football League Power Poll – May 18th 2010
2. Week 7 Arena Football League Power Poll – May 11th 2010
3. Week 6 Arena Football League Power Poll – May 4th 2010

*Please visit FiveKnuckles.com for more mixed martial arts media*

The legends will finally meet at UFC 115. Former light-heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell will take on former middleweight champion Rich Franklin in a fight that points towards fireworks.

On June 12, the two legends will battle it out in the 205-pound division. Fans are torn: some support Liddell because of his ferocity and strength, while others support Franklin for his technique and advantage on the ground. Both men are coming off of losses (Liddell to Mauricio Rua; Franklin to Vitor Belfort) and will be looking to earn a win.

This fight was officially announced in mid-April, after weeks of speculation that the fight between The Ultimate fighter 11 coaches Liddell and Tito Ortiz would not be taking place. Last month, it was announced that Ortiz did not finish the taping of TUF, and will not fight Liddell at the conclusion of the show.

Also on the UFC 115 card, Pat Barry will look to take one step closer to heavyweight title contention when he takes on Mirko Filipovic.

9: Arizona Rattlers (2-3 SU, 2-3 ATS) (LW:

The 2010 AFL betting season enters its eighth week of play with a full slate of games. Check out how we’re ranking the clubs through the first seven weeks of the season!
1: Jacksonville Sharks (5-1 SU, 4-2 ATS) (LW: 3) – Many think that Jacksonville has the best team in the AFL right now, as it is playing solid ball having not been beaten since April 9th. The schedule gets a lot tougher from here though, as some hot teams are on deck in AFL betting action.
Up Next: Home vs. Cleveland
2: Milwaukee Iron (5-1 SU, 4-2 ATS) (LW: 1) – This one was easy to see coming. Coming off of the emotional win over Chicago, the Iron really should’ve fallen flat on their faces if not for some miserable coaching by the Blaze down the stretch. As it is, an overtime victory propelled Milwaukee to 5-1 on the season before what is now looking like it could be a dangerous trip to the Sunshine State.
Up Next: Away @ Milwaukee
3: Spokane Shock (4-2 SU, 2-4 ATS) (LW: 6) – The big mover of the week is Spokane, which snuck out of Oklahoma City with a 68-63 win to stay above .500 for the year. QB Kyle Rowley isn’t playing the best arena ball of his career, as he was frequently off and had three interceptions called back via penalty in the win against the Yard Dawgz, but his team has still won four out of five since the opening day loss to Milwaukee.
Up Next: Home vs. Utah
4: Chicago Rush (4-2 SU, 2-3-1 ATS) (LW: 3) – Only 30 points against Iowa’s defense? The Barnstormers were allowing well over double that on the average game before avenging a Week 1 loss to the Rush with a 48-30 victory on Saturday night. Chicago has a lot of soul searching to do with two straight losses under its belt.
Up Next: Away @ Dallas
5: Tampa Bay Storm (3-3 SU, 1-5 ATS) (LW: 7) – Tampa Bay may have the worst ATS record in the AFL, but it is a team that just as arguably could be 5-1 right now as it is 3-3. The bye week is on tap for HC Tim Marcum and the crew as the Storm prepare for their first of two annual games against their rivals from up the road on I-4.
Up Next: Bye
6: Tulsa Talons (3-3 SU, 5-1 ATS) (LW: 5) – The undefeated ATS season of the Talons came to a crashing halt when they got a case of the turnover bug against Cleveland in a 68-55 loss on Saturday night. There’s no shame in losing to one of the hottest teams in the league, but the ship must be righted in a hurry for Tulsa to continue on the path towards the playoffs.
Up Next: Away @ Bossier City

And the rest…

7: Cleveland Gladiators (3-3 SU, 4-2 ATS) (LW: 9)

8: Alabama Vipers (3-3 SU, 3-3 ATS) (LW: 5)

9: Arizona Rattlers (2-3 SU, 2-3 ATS) (LW:

10: Iowa Barnstormers (3-3 SU, 3-3 ATS) (LW: 12)

11: Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz (2-4 SU, 3-3 ATS) (LW: 10)

12: Orlando Predators (2-3 SU, 2-3 ATS) (LW: 15)

13: Bossier City Battle Wings (2-4 SU, 4-2 ATS) (LW: 13)

14: Dallas Vigilantes (1-4 SU, 1-4 ATS) (LW: 11)

15: Utah Blaze (1-4 SU, 2-3 ATS) (LW: 14)

Related posts:

1. Week 7 Arena Football League Power Poll – May 11th 2010
2. Week 6 Arena Football League Power Poll – May 4th 2010
3. Week 5 Arena Football League Power Poll – April 27th 2010

USC Head Coach Lane Kiffin will be on HBO’s Real Sports on Tuesday, May 18 (10:00 p.m. ET/PT & 9:00 p.m. CT), exclusively on HBO.

Here’s a preview:

Just 35 years old, Lane Kiffin has already held more high-profile coaching jobs in football than most successful coaches do in a lifetime.  Since 2005, he has worked as USC Trojans offensive coordinator under Pete Carroll, head coach of the Oakland Raiders, head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers and, as of January 2010, head coach of the USC Trojans.  Though renowned for his uncanny ability to recruit talent and invigorate a football program, Kiffin has yet to deliver on expectations.  After controversial tenures and messy divorces in Oakland and Knoxville, Kiffin discusses his roller-coaster ride through coaching, including the reaction of Tennessee players and fans to his stunning departure, with correspondent Andrea Kremer in this REAL SPORTS/Sports Illustrated profile.   Interviews include Lane Kiffin, his wife Layla and his father and defensive coordinator Monte.

Producer:  Nick Dolin.

The AFL betting season enters its seventh week of play this week with a full slate of games. Check out how we’re ranking the clubs through the first six weeks of the season!

1: Milwaukee Iron (4-1 SU, 4-1 ATS) (LW: 2) – The Iron solidified themselves as the top team in the game this week when they absolutely pummeled Chicago 71-48. The schedule sets up quite nicely for Milwaukee going forward, as it may not be playing a playoff team until June 19th when it takes on Chicago again.
Up Next: Home vs. Utah

2: Chicago Rush (4-1 SU, 2-2-1 ATS) (LW: 1) – QB Russ Michna and the special teams self-destructed for Chicago in an awful stretch of just over two quarters worth of play that saw the Rush get outscored 64-35 against Milwaukee. Expect some vengeance to be had when the Barnstormers come a calling to the Windy City this week.
Up Next: Home vs. Iowa

3: Jacksonville Sharks (4-1 SU, 3-2 ATS) (LW: 4) – The Sharks could be the best team in the AFL that no one is talking about right now. It took some controversial calls and some timely mistakes by Tampa Bay, but Jacksonville successfully escaped the St. Pete Times Forum with a ‘W’ on Friday night for the biggest win in the franchise’s brief history. J’Ville is now a full game clear of the field in its division.
Up Next: Home vs. Dallas

4: Tulsa Talons (3-2 SU, 5-0 ATS) (LW: 5) – It was yet another game that came down to the wire, but Tulsa made it through their battle with the Vipers to move to a perfect 3-0 SU and ATS at home. The Talons have to hit the road again next week in what could be a very hostile Quicken Loans Arena.
Up Next: Away @ Cleveland

5: Alabama Vipers (3-2 SU, 3-2 ATS) (LW: 3) – Alabama has proven that it can play with anyone in the AFL, but eventually, games like this most recent one in Tulsa have to start going the Vipers’ way. There’s no excuse for a loss next week, as a lousy Orlando team coming off of its first win of the year comes to town.
Up Next: Home vs. Orlando

6: Spokane Shock (3-2 SU, 2-3 ATS) (LW: 8 ) – The Shock pulled the upset in Arizona last week by hanging on by the skin of their teeth. Spokane held two last second touchdown attempts out of the end zone, leading it to a big victory in conference to get over .500 once again. This Sunday’s duel in the Sooner State should be very interesting.
Up Next: Away @ Oklahoma City

And the rest…
7: Tampa Bay Storm (2-3 SU, 1-4 ATS) (LW: 6)
8: Arizona Rattlers (2-3 SU, 2-3 ATS) (LW: 7)
9: Cleveland Gladiators (2-3 SU, 3-2 ATS) (LW: 12)
10: Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz (2-3 SU, 2-3 ATS) (LW: 13)
11: Dallas Vigilantes (1-3 SU, 1-3 ATS) (LW: 9)
12: Iowa Barnstormers (2-3 SU, 2-3 ATS) (LW: 10)
13: Bossier City Battle Wings (2-3 SU, 3-2 ATS) (LW: 11)
14: Utah Blaze (1-2 SU, 1-2 ATS) (LW: 14)
15: Orlando Predators (1-3 SU, 1-3 ATS) (LW: 15)

Related posts:

1. Week 6 Arena Football League Power Poll – May 4th 2010
2. Week 5 Arena Football League Power Poll – April 27th 2010
3. Week 4 Arena Football League Power Poll – April 21st 2010

*Please visit FiveKnuckles.com for more mixed martial arts media*

In Dana White's second UFC 113 video blog, he announces the coaches of The Ultimate Fighter 12. Georges St. Pierre was on hand in Montreal to be welcomed into coaching territory, while the other coach will be the winner of Josh Koscheck vs. Paul Daley.

Not only will Koscheck or Daley be granted a spot on TUF 12, but he will also pick up a title shot in the process. At the end of season 12, the two coaches will battle it out in, ultimately, a title fight. This fight will most likely take place in the fall of 2010, although no official announcement has been made as of yet.

This vlog gives fans a view of the weigh-ins from the stage, slightly behind White. Three things will be remembered from this weigh in:

1) The hostile Kimbo Slice vs. Matt Mitrione stare down,
2) White wearing a "Korean Zombie" shirt, and
3) Tom Lawlor's entrance as Dan Severn.