07/24/2008 - New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Mitsubishi Motors Drive to Virgin Mobile ArenaBowl XXII New Orleans makes its final stop in the Crescent City as the National Conference Champion Philadelphia Soul (13-3, 2-0) host the American Conference Champion San Jose SaberCats (11-5, 2-0) on Sunday, July 27 at 3 p.m. ET (ESPN on ABC HD, ESPN360.com, SIRIUS Radio - Channel 127).
The defending ArenaBowl XXI Champion SaberCats are making their second consecutive ArenaBowl appearance, and fourth in seven seasons, after defeating the #6 Grand Rapids Rampage (8-11), 81-55, at HP Pavilion in the American Conference Championship game two weeks ago.
After beginning its season 3-4, San Jose has won 10 of its last 11 games, including eight in a row on its way to winning its third consecutive Mitsubishi Motors Western Division title. The second-half of the SaberCats 2008 season resembles that of 2007 when they entered the ArenaBowl on a 12-game winning streak and faced a National Conference Champion making its first-ever ArenaBowl appearance in the Columbus Destroyers.
"We started gelling towards the middle of the season," remarked head coach DARREN ARBET. "We are playing well right now and have had some guys step up and play well for us."
San Jose ranks third all-time in ArenaBowl victories with three and Arbet can become the first head coach in AFL history to win his first four ArenaBowl appearances and second to win four overall (Tim Marcum - 7) with a win on Sunday.
The SaberCats can become the first team to win back-to-back ArenaBowl titles since the Tampa Bay Storm (1995-96) and only the third team to win four ArenaBowls ( Tampa Bay - 5, Detroit - 4) with a victory.
"As a coaching staff, we talk about the chance of repeating as ArenaBowl champions a lot, but you have to treat this game as any other," reveals Arbet.
San Jose QB MARK GRIEB enters his third ArenaBowl as the SaberCats starting quarterback with a 12-5 career postseason record and is in position to climb the postseason records ladder in multiple passing categories.
Grieb, the only quarterback to throw for 100 touchdowns during the 2008 regular season, needs 41 passing yards to pass Orlando Predators head coach and former quarterback JAY GRUDEN and move into second place all-time with 4,779 career. With three passing touchdowns, he would eclipse Chicago Rush QB SHERDRICK BONNER and move into second place all-time in ArenaBowl history with 15 career. Grieb also needs 43 passing yards to pass Colorado Crush QB JOHN DUTTON and move into fifth place all-time in ArenaBowl history with 584 career.
With 12 seasons separating the SaberCats from the Tampa Bay Storm -- the last team to repeat as AFL champions -- and being only the eighth team in AFL history to make consecutive ArenaBowl appearances, Grieb understands the SaberCats have a daunting task.
"Our defense of the ArenaBowl XXI championship has definitely been tough," exclaims Grieb. "People talk about having a championship hangover and I definitely think there was some of that at the beginning of the season. We started off slow, but I don't think we are strangers to that. We lost five games but finished the season strong. We are back at the ArenaBowl and have a chance to play for a championship. What a great thing that is."
The Philadelphia Soul is making its first-ever ArenaBowl appearance after notching a League-best 13-3 record during the regular season and capturing its first Mitsubishi Motors Eastern Division title.
The top-ranked Soul defeated the #4 Cleveland Gladiators (11-8), 70-35, in the National Conference Championship game two weeks ago at the Wachovia Center .
Key offseason additions at the wide receiver and quarterback positions helped Soul head coach BRET MUNSEY and offensive coordinator CONNELL MAYNOR revamp an offense that ranked fifth in scoring in 2007 (56.3 ppg) but led the AFL in 2008 (62.0 ppg).
"We have had a special season here in Philadelphia," said Munsey. "Our core of lineman upfront, protection-wise, has been outstanding all year. Our quarterback play has been great and we feel we have two of the better wide receivers in the League in CHRIS JACKSON and LARRY BRACKINS. We are also playing defense a little bit better and right now we feel like we are at a high point."
Dating back to 2007, Philadelphia began its season on a franchise-best 11-game winning streak - nine in 2008 -- before losing its first game to Cleveland , 67-55, in Week 10.
In Week 7, the Soul overcame a 26-point deficit to defeat the SaberCats, 58-57, on a five-yard touchdown run by QB MATT D'ORAZIO with 10 seconds remaining at HP Pavilion. The win kept Philadelphia perfect at 7-0, while San Jose dropped to 3-4.
"The one thing I remember from that game is the locker room afterwards," remarks Munsey. "When you come back in a game like that on the road, cross country, against a great team and organization, it's a special time in your locker room. Both teams are different personnel-wise, and everything will be different on ArenaBowl Sunday."
Led by QB MATT D'ORAZIO, who took over for an injured TONY GRAZIANI in Week 3, the Soul enter this game with two key players with ArenaBowl experience in D'Orazio and Jackson, against a San Jose roster of seasoned ArenaBowl players
D'Orazio, who signed as a free agent in the offseason from Chicago, led the Chicago Rush to its only ArenaBowl Championship, a 69-61 victory over the Orlando Predators in ArenaBowl XX (2006).
D'Orazio led the Soul to an 8-3 record in 11 starts during the regular season. He led the AFL in passer rating (131.3), completion percentage (72.4) and touchdown-to-interception ratio (18.0), while earning All-Arena First Team honors for the first time in his five-year career and winning the inaugural Champs Sports Quarterback of the Year Award.
Jackson, who signed during the offseason as a free agent from Georgia, led the Soul receiving corps while earning his second AFL Offensive Player of the Year Award.
Jackson, who became the first player to win the award with two separate teams, led the AFL in receiving touchdowns (49) and first downs (111) while ranking second in receptions (140), receiving yards (1,719), scoring (294 points) and yards from scrimmage (1,717).
San Jose leads the all-time regular-season series 2-1, however, Philadelphia won the last meeting.
<< CFL Previews - Week 4 (July 24-27)
Toronto, Ontario (Sportsbook Betting Lines) -
CALGARY STAMPEDERS (3-1) AT WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS (0-4)
DATE & TIME: Thursday, July 24, 8 p.m. (et).
GAME NOTES: The Winnipeg Blue Bombers will have a new quarterback under
center.
Backu
<< Jankovic advances, Mattek stuns Vaidisova in L.A.
Carson, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Top-seeded Jelena Jankovic of Serbia topped
Vania King of the Unites States, while another American, Bethanie Mattek,
stunned 11th-seeded Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Republic in the second round
of the
<< Johnson powers Cubs over D'Backs
Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Reed Johnson hit a grand slam and Ted Lilly
was solid on the mound, as the Chicago Cubs avoided being swept with a 10-6
victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Lilly (10-6) tossed six frames and was al
<< Giants rally in eighth to edge Nats
San Francisco, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Rich Aurilia's two-run double off Luis
Ayala highlighted a three-run eighth inning as San Francisco rallied to down
Washington, 6-4, in the second test of a three-game series at AT&T Park.
Bengie
Giants shoot for rare home sweep in finale with Nats >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Francisco Giants try and complete their first home
sweep of the season when they conclude their three-game set with the
Washington Nationals this afternoon at AT&T Park.
At 19-31, the Giants own the
Halladay hopes to stay hot in Baltimore >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Toronto right-hander Roy Halladay can continue a
remarkable run of success against Baltimore today when the Blue Jays visit the
Orioles for the finale-and-a-half of a four-game series at Camden Yards.
Wednesday's contest
Rays visit Royals for four games >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Rays will attempt to maintain their hold on
first place in the American League East when the up-and-coming club begins a
four-game series with the Kansas City Royals tonight at Kauffman Stadium.
Tampa Bay st
Padres, Pirates start series at PNC >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Right-hander Clay Hensley gets his first post-trade
opportunity in the San Diego starting rotation tonight when the Padres visit
the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first of four weekend games at PNC Park.
Hensley, who's not s
Elite 8 NCAA Tournament Betting at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com
In what should be an outstanding Saturday of March Madness betting action, the top four teams in the South and West Regions square off in what should be extremely close match-ups. Three of the four teams are coming off extremely close games on Thursday evening, only UCLA won semi comfortably over Pitt 64-55.
Ohio State is coming off their second game in a row where in all reality they should have lost. Of course that doesn’t matter now since the name of the game is “survive and advance” but as the tournament continues, they can’t afford to keep getting down to their opponents early. Kansas also avoided a scare by holding off a scrappy Southern Illinois squad. In the third thrilling game of the evening Memphis pulled off the minor upset (+3.5) despite being the higher seed to Texas A&M.
Although the spreads are fairly small for Saturday’s games, MySportsbook.com continue to bet against the underdogs. Despite OSU’s two scares, 86% of the “betting public” feels the Buckeyes (-1.5) have what it takes to make the Final Four. In fact, so much of the early money is on OSU that the line has already moved from -1 to -1.5. In the second game of the doubleheader, Kansas and their high-powered offense are 2 point favorites as they take on UCLA and their effective defense. About 63% of the early money thus far is once again backing the favorites. If those percentages stay that high, don’t be surprised if this line moves as well. If you like Kansas (-2) you might want to jump on it early.
Memphis vs. Ohio State
Both squads were involved in thrillers on Thursday evening and should come out fired up. OSU can ill afford to get behind early like they did versus their previous two opponents (Xavier, Tennessee). Greg Oden needs to stay out of foul trouble; the Buckeyes are a completely different team when he is on the court. Memphis definitely has the athleticism and length to match-up with OSU. Of Memphis’ five leading minute earners, the shortest of the bunch is 6’5”. Each team has a very effective defense; Memphis surrenders 62.3 PPG whereas the Buckeyes give up only 61 PPG. With those type of numbers, it isn’t surprising that Memphis covered the UNDER almost 69% of the time this season. As a favorite, OSU has covered the UNDER almost 66% of the time over the last three seasons. The major concern for Memphis which is magnifies this time of the year is their brutal foul shooting (62%). This season, OSU is 17-11 ATS versus teams with a winning record and 7-2 ATS in all tournament games. Memphis has been an extremely reliable cover in tournament play in recent years with a 23-8 ATS record over the last three seasons.
UCLA vs. Kansas
In the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader, UCLA will play in a role which they are very unfamiliar with that of the underdog. Only twice this season have they been getting points from the handicappers and both times they covered. Over the last three seasons UCLA is a reliable 23-7 ATS in this unfamiliar role. UCLA has not fared well against Big 12 opponents recently going 1-7 ATS since 1997. Giving up only 59.6 PPG, UCLA will definitely look to do what they do best: keep this game as low scoring as possible. Their defense has been especially tough during the tournament. UCLA opponents have been able to muster up only 48.7 PPG while shooting a combined 34.5% from the field. UCLA definitely has a challenge at hand with a Kansas team that is capable of putting points on the board in bunches. As a team, they average 79 PPG and shoot an impressive 49.6% from the field and 39.4% from beyond the arc. During the tournament Kansas has been “lights out” from the field having shot 56.2%.
With Friday -105 juice on Basketball betting, MySportsbook.com is the place to bet on all of the “March Madness” action. Don’t forget to monitor who the public is backing at MySportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends”. By doing so, you have the best chance of predicting a possible line change, thus getting the best value for your wager.
To bet on March Madness games this online sportsbook accepts credit cards
Mayweather picked to beat De La Hoya
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA -- Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya and his rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. arrived at the MGM Grand here Wednesday amid the pomp and pandemonium befitting two of the biggest stars in the sport who are about to duke it out for the WBC super welterweight crown this Saturday (Sunday in Manila).
As of Wednesday, MySportsbook.com closed its book with Mayweather a favorite to defeat De La Hoya at -170 (a $100 bet wins $70), while De La Hoya is a +140 underdog (a $100 bet wins $140).
Mayweather arrived at about 11:30 a.m. on a big truck with his face and a big "World's Best Pound-for-Pound" sign scribbled across the vehicle. He was accompanied by his entourage made up of rappers and his training team.
A crowd of close to 3,000 eager fans packed the MGM Grand lobby, with their cameras in tow, all trying to vie for position to get a good angle at Mayweather, who is acknowledged as the world's best fighter pound-for-pound.
Eric Gomez, Golden Boy Promotions vice-president, described the fan turnout as "amazing" and swore he had never seen anything quite like this event.
"The crowd was fantastic. Everybody was just too eager to see the two fighters," said ALA manager Michael Aldeguer, who was among those who waited at the lobby together with his ward Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista and AJ Banal.
De La Hoya made his own grand entrance at the hotel lobby at around 12:30 p.m. accompanied by GBP chief executive officer Richard Schaefer and trainer Freddie Roach.
The same group of fans who trooped to see Mayweather also lingered around to get a close look at De La Hoya, who has been secretly working out at a Las Vegas gym for days after arriving from his main training camp in Puerto Rico.
The golden boy then took part in a closed-door afternoon workout with Bautista and Banal. The two, along with Aldeguer and wife Christine, as well as an HBO crew were the only ones allowed inside the gym.
De La Hoya and Mayweather take part in today's final press conference before the official weigh-in this Friday.
Ring Magazine, the acknowledged bible of boxing, reported in its June 2007 issue that 12 out of 20 boxing experts it interviewed have favored Mayweather to defeat De la Hoya, with only 8 favoring the latter.
But Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao said in a recent interview with The Freeman's Emmanuel Villaruel that De La Hoya will win by unanimous decision over Mayweather.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on boxing needs.
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