Monthly Archives: January 2007

Press Releases

Horses

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Horses To Watch

Horses worth watching compiled by handicapper/racing writer Greg Melikov won three races and finished second four times since Dec. 17.

AQUEDUCT

Ghost Mountain: Tracked pace in third more than two lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied inside for the drive, steadied in upper stretch, altered course to outside, finished gamely to make up more than 2 ½ lengths and lost by a half-length at six furlongs on Jan. 12.

FAIR GROUNDS

Thunder Mission: Lunged at break, spotted field five lengths early, trailed by 10 lengths after a half-mile, advanced on turn, steered out from fifth in stretch, closed fast to make up seven lengths and lost by 1 ½ lengths at six furlongs on Jan. 13; ran final quarter in 24.

GULFSTREAM PARK

Wild Holly: Broke last from Post 10, raced seventh early, steadied on first turn, dropped to eighth more than three lengths behind after a half-mile, angled out for drive losing ground from fifth to sixth, closed well to make up more than 3 ¾ lengths in stretch and lost by three-quarters of a length and a nose at 1 1/16 miles on the turf Jan. 14; ran final 2 ½ furlongs in 29 4/5.

LAUREL

Cole’s Player: Raced fifth early, shuffled back nearing three-eighths pole, dropped to sixth more than sixth lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied in two path in stretch, steadied when blocked late, made up five lengths and finished fourth, beaten less than 1 ¼ lengths at seven furlongs on Jan. 14.

SANTA ANITA

Firebird Sweet: Broke last, trailed by more than 11 ½ lengths after six furlongs, rallied five wide from 12th to seventh into stretch, closed gamely to make up more than 4 ½ lengths and lost by a head at 1 ¼ miles on the turf Jan. 13.

TURFWAY PARK

Hum That Tune: Raced more than 10 ½ lengths behind in seventh after a half-mile, rallied four wide on far turn to fifth entering stretch, finished fast late to make up nearly four lengths and lost by a neck at a mile on Jan. 12.

Press Releases

Stout Colts Defense

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Stout Colts Defense

By Tim Sullivan
WagerWeb.com contributing writer

Larry Johnson came and went. Jamal Lewis, too. Two pretty good running backs. Two pretty good rush offenses. Two pretty good teams — Kansas City and Baltimore — headed home early.

But on Sunday, the suddenly stout Indianapolis Colts defense will face a dynamic duo at running back. New England’s Corey Dillon and Laurence Maroney figure to test Indianapolis in every way imaginable. Inside, outside, running, receiving, you name it.

Still, the Colts are -3 on WagerWeb.com.

“We’re playing better,” Colts coach Tony Dungy said. “We’re tackling a little bit better. We’ve always had a pretty good rush in the long-yardage situations, but in the third-and-5, third-and-6, we’ve tackled the underneath throws a little bit better.”

As evidenced by the fact that Indianapolis’ opponents are just 3-of-22 on third-down conversions this postseason. Not bad for a defense that was simply getting gashed by non-playoff teams like Jacksonville last month.

“It’s not the people, it’s not the scheme,” Dungy said. “It’s doing your job on every play.”

But, surely, it helps that safety Bob Sanders is back on the field. After surgery on his right knee, Sanders has lit a fire under this unit. Everything he seems to do lately, he’s been doing well. When he blitzes, he gets to the quarterback. When he roams the middle, he stops the run. When he drops in coverage, he breaks up passes.

“Since I’ve been back, it seems like the guys have a lot more energy,” Sanders said. “But we’re in the playoffs, so that may be it, too.”

Ah, but the latter part of that theory hasn’t held much weight in Indianapolis, Bob. The Colts didn’t have much energy in the divisional round loss to the Steelers last season, did they?

Either way, something’s going right these days. Whether it’s Sanders, whether it’s an intense playoff focus, whether it’s simply the fact that the Colts are tired of getting kicked around this time of year, Indianapolis is to reckoned with, no matter how lethal Tom Brady and Co. can be in January.

“We’re having fun,” Colts linebacker Cato June said.

How much longer that lasts remains to be seen.

FATHER AND SON: The Dolphins can do a lot worse than Mike Shula as the replacement for Nick Saban. Shula — who had to assume suspended scholarships and an overall messy situation yet still won the Cotton Bowl two seasons ago and put the Crimson Tide in the Liberty Bowl this season — got a raw deal at Alabama and may need an NFL gig to show the world he can recover.

Now, taking a job that his father, Don, made famous won’t be easy. But if he can survive a position that Bear Bryant held, he can do anything. Shula interviewed in Miami on Tuesday.

“He’s got a lot of his dad in him,” Dolphins chief executive officer Joe Bailey said, “very, very smart, very assertive, very firm.”

Very available, too.

EXTRA POINTS: New Giants general manager Jerry Reese said running back Tiki Barber would be welcomed back should he decide to unretire. Reese would be better served finding someone in the free-agent market to compete with backup Brandon Jacobs, who doesn’t seem ready to handle the full-time role just yet. Barber isn’t coming back anytime soon. … Chicago defensive end Adewale Ogunleye (quadriceps) is practicing with the team and should start in the NFC title game against New Orleans on Sunday. The Bears are -2.5 on WagerWeb.com.

Press Releases

Suns Lose Thomas

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Suns Lose Thomas

By Marty Gitlin
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

It seemed as if nothing could go wrong with the Phoenix Suns this season. They have, after all, won 10 consecutive games, mostly by double-digits.

But they have taken a bit of a hit. Backup center Kurt Thomas will be out for 4-6 weeks with an elbow injury. He hyperextended the elbow in the first quarter of Monday’s win at Memphis.

Thomas is averaging 5.7 points and 5.7 rebounds a game this season.

The Suns must get along without him Wednesday night in Houston. WagerWeb.com lists Phoenix as a 5-point favorite. The Rockets will be playing the second of the toughest back-to-back games one can imagine in the NBA these days. They lost to Dallas, 109-96, Tuesday night, despite a 45-point effort by guard Tracy McGrady.

WELCOME, C-WEBB: Can Chris Webber rejuvenate the Detroit Pistons?

We won’t find out much Wednesday night.

The man who returned home will emerge from the bench and is expected to play only a few minutes at home against slumping Utah, which is a 2.5-point underdog, according to WagerWeb.com.

Webber made it official Tuesday when he signed a free agent contract with Detroit. He will play center for the Pistons after spending the vast majority of his career at power forward.

“I made the decision to come here based on (Pistons president) Joe Dumars, on coach (Flip Saunders) and the team,” Webber told the Detroit News. “I just feel renewed. I haven’t felt this good about the game in a long time. You know, I’m excited to be coming home, but I am more excited to be on this team. It would have been no fun to come home and play on a bad team.”

The 34-year-old Webber averaged 20 points and nearly 10 rebounds a game in Philadelphia last season, but reduced playing time and nagging injuries have cut those numbers in half this year.

“Any time you get a guy who has something to prove, you are getting him at his best,” Dumars told the assembled media at a press conference Tuesday. “He is coming back to Detroit with a lot to prove, basketball-wise and otherwise. You know, watching him play last year, he’s not the high-flying guy he once was, but he is still so much better than most of the guys at his position.”

The Pistons, who lost to Miami in the Eastern Conference finals last season, have slipped into second place in the Central Division, 1 ½ games behind Cleveland.

DRIBBLES: The return of guard Quentin Richardson from injury has allowed New York coach Isiah Thomas to play the starting lineup he envisioned before the season began. Richardson, however, will take a seat down the stretch while highly productive Jamal Crawford plays. WagerWeb.com lists New York as an 8-point underdog Wednesday night in Washington. … Oft-injured Cleveland off-guard Larry Hughes has been shooting miserably. He has 8 of 38 (21 percent) from the field in the last three games. He hopes to break out Wednesday night in Portland, where the Cavaliers are 3-point favorites, according to WagerWeb.com. … The Phoenix-Houston game isn’t the only featured attraction Wednesday night in the NBA. WagerWeb.com lists the Los Angeles Lakers as 8.5-point favorites at San Antonio.

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Why I Have Hight Blood Pressure

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I went to the doctor today and was told I had high blood pressure. I don’t want to look up the exact details or confirm these were our last three Dandy Dogs, but let there be no doubt why I have high blood pressure.
In the bowls, we had Minnesota as the huge moneyline dog to Texas Tech. I don’t want to look up how big of a moneyline dog, because I don’t want to remember. All they did was blow the biggest lead in postseason history, then lose in OT. Last week we have Louisiana Lafayette as a +550 dog. They have a 9-3 run at the end of regulation against them to send into OT. Then up by two, they have a three pointer against them with two seconds left in OT.
Last night we have 210 underdog Texas. They lose on a last second forced shot in TRIPLE OT. We told you before—our Dandy Dogs either win, or they will lose in the most excruciating fashion. Lately, it’s been the latter.
Oh and blown call by the officials, a four-point turnaround, when Earl Calloway is fouled going to the basket, yet none was called. Indiana blows a 23 point second half lead, to only win by seven.
That’s why I have high blood pressure Doc.

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Thursday Advanced Trends

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Thursday, January 17,
2007

 

Approved sportsbooks are at www.linetrackers.com
Please be aware of all laws pertaining to online gambling in the
country in which you live.

The bowls are here.  I have used a lot of sportsbooks
and so do most of my clients. In this day and age, a solvent and reliable
sportsbook is more important than ever.  There is none better than BetUs. They
pay on time, have more proposition plays, great customer service and more.

BetUS has a reputation for
being one of the most solid sportsbooks on the internet. It has been in
business for over 10 years and is fully legal, licensed and bonded. Bettors
also receive up to 60% in bonuses. BetUS.com offers top quality sports betting,
casino games, and poker.

To get the endorsement of JoeDuffy.net or OffshoreInsiders.com
 a sportsbook must have passed with flying colors ALL of the
following criterion: our own positive first-hand experience, affirmative
feedback from our valued clients, high marks from the respected watchdog
groups. BetUs
is hitting 100 percent.

 

Arizona-USC

Press Notes

The USC men’s basketball team (13-5, 3-2) will take on No.
11 Arizona (13-3, 4-2) on Jan. 18 at 7:30 p.m.
at the Galen Center.
USC is 8-3 in its last 11 games, but has lost its last two home games by a
total of four points. USC split with Arizona
last season, with each team winning its home game, and has won six of the last
10 home games with Arizona. Arizona
enters the week hitting 51.2 percent of their shots, sixth best in the country.
The Trojans lost at home to ASU last season, but won
the game at ASU. USC has won nine of its last 12
games played against the Sun Devils. USC has held 16 of 18 opponents to 40.4
percent or less from the floor and 14 of 18 under 40 percent shooting. USC has
held eight teams (SMC, MVSU, LMU,
Kansas, GW,
B-CC, LU and WSU) to their season-low shooting
percentage to that date. USC is holding the opposition to a .352 percentage for
the season, tied with Connecticut
for the second lowest field goal defense. Tonight’s game will be USC’s fifth in the last seven against a ranked opponent and
sixth overall. USC is 3-2 vs. ranked opponents this season. Arizona
will be the fourth ranked opponent USC is facing this season that is coming off
a loss in its previous game.

Fresno-Nevada

Press Notes

Fresno State
ends its three-game road swing when it faces No. 13/15 Nevada.
Fresno State
enters the game with a 13-4 overall record and a 2-2 WAC
mark. Nevada comes in ranked No.
13/15 in the nation and is 16-1 on the year. The Wolf Pack also sit atop the WAC Standings with a
4-0 record. Fresno State
isn’t the only team in the WAC struggling on the
road. As a conference, the road team is 4-14, with Nevada
and New Mexico State
winning two road games each. Fresno State
is 0-2 this season, with road losses at Hawaii
and at San Jose State.
Nevada swept the San
Jose State and Hawaii
road trip, while New Mexico State
beat Idaho and Boise
State on the road last week. Nevada
comes into Thursday’s game with a 16-1 overall record and a No. 13 national
ranking by ESPN/USA Today and a No. 15 ranking by the Associated Press. The
Wolf Pack are 4-0 in WAC
play and they are riding a 14-game WAC winning
streak.

Wake Forest-Duke

Press Notes

Wake Forest,
coming off a pair of disappointing home losses last week, look
for better fortunes on the road. The Demon Deacons, 9-7 overall and 1-3 in the
ACC, lost at home to NC State Saturday, 88-74. Wake
Forest out-rebounded the Wolfpack,
forced 19 turnovers and shot 53.8 percent in the loss. Duke, 14-3 and 1-2,
broke into the ACC win column Sunday with a 86-63
victory at Miami. The Blue Devils
shot an amazing 68.3 percent, including 81.0 percent in the first half. Duke,
however, has beaten Wake Forest
at Cameron Indoor in each of the previous nine seasons. The last time the
Deacons won in Durham came in Tim
Duncan’s senior year of 1997.During the nine-game losing streak at Cameron
Indoor, Wake’s smallest margin of defeat was 10 points (102-92 in 2005).

 


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Haltime Bettors

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Interesting tidbit from the Akron Beacon Journal:
Based on a defensive system that tends to wear down opponents with lots of movement, the Cavs have outscored their last 11 opponents by a total of 63 points after halftime. On the road, where they had been a poor team for the
season’s first six weeks as they searched for consistency, the Cavs have won five of their last seven by outscoring opponents by a total of 59 points in the second halves.
Also
After missing Saturday’s game with tendinitis in his left quadriceps, Larry Hughes said several days of treatment and rest have helped. He was able to take part in Cavs practice Monday at the University of Washington, and he’s hoping the leg will allow him to play against the Sonics tonight.

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Advanced Basketball News and Notes

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Tuesday, January 16,
2007

 

Approved sportsbooks are at www.linetrackers.com
Please be aware of all laws pertaining to online gambling in the
country in which you live.

The bowls are here.  I have used a lot of sportsbooks
and so do most of my clients. In this day and age, a solvent and reliable
sportsbook is more important than ever.  There is none better than BetUs. They
pay on time, have more proposition plays, great customer service and more.

BetUS has a reputation for
being one of the most solid sportsbooks on the internet. It has been in
business for over 10 years and is fully legal, licensed and bonded. Bettors
also receive up to 60% in bonuses. BetUS.com offers top quality sports betting,
casino games, and poker.

To get the endorsement of JoeDuffy.net or OffshoreInsiders.com
 a sportsbook must have passed with flying colors ALL of the
following criterion: our own positive first-hand experience, affirmative
feedback from our valued clients, high marks from the respected watchdog
groups. BetUs
is hitting 100 percent.

CBB

UAB-Memphis

Press Notes

UAB Battles Rival Memphis On National Television The UAB men’s
basketball team will be playing its third road Conference USA
game in four games this season when it travels to Memphis.
The Blazers will be looking for their first win at Memphis
since a 91-83 victory on Jan. 2, 1999,
a span of seven games. The game marks the 33rd meeting between the
two teams, with the Tigers holding a 22-10 advantage in the series. However, UAB has won three of the last five overall between the two
teams. Memphis enters Monday night’s
contest sporting a 13-3 overall record on the season, and are 3-0 in C-USA
play. The Tigers are coming off a hard-fought 75-62 win at Southern Miss last
Saturday. The victory marked Memphis’
fifth consecutive win, and seventh win over its last
eight contests. UAB will enter its contest at Memphis
with an overall record of 10-7, and a 2-1 mark in league play. The Blazers are
coming off their first road league victory of the season, a 67-60 win at Tulane
last Saturday.

Maryland-Virginia

Press Notes

The Terps carry a mark of 15-3 into the contest, while Virginia
is 9-6. The Terrapins posted a 92-87 victory over Clemson in their last game. Virginia
suffered a 78-73 defeat at Boston College.
The Terrapins have won each of the last six meetings and have claimed nine of
the last 11 against Virginia. Maryland
has displayed a balanced offensive attack this season. The Terps boast the
third-highest scoring average in the league (81.1 ppg), and have four players
averaging double figures. Maryland
has outscored its opponents by an average of 17.2 points per game this season.
That is the second best scoring margin in the ACC behind North
Carolina (22.1). Maryland
knocked off the nation’s last remaining unbeaten team as the Terrapins defeated
Clemson, 92-87, on Saturday (Jan. 13). The Terps shot a season-high 63-percent
from the field on 32-of-51 shooting. The Terps have made a renewed commitment
to defense in 2006-07. Maryland
has forced its opponents into an average of 18.2 turnovers per game this
season. The Terps are yielding just 29.3 points in the first half and limiting
the opposition to 36 percent shooting from the field. Maryland’s
opponents are shooting just 29 percent (106-of-366) from three-point range.

Iowa-Indiana

Press Notes

Iowa (10-7
2-1) plays the first of two straight road games when the Hawkeyes travel to Indiana
(12-4, 3-1) Tuesday. The Hoosiers have won nine of the last 12 meetings against
Iowa in Assembly Hall. Four of
the last five games in Bloomington
have been decided by three points or less, with the Hoosiers winning in one
overtime in 2003 and Iowa winning
in double overtime in 2004. Iowa, with wins there in 2004 and 2006. Four of Iowa’s
last seven meetings with Indiana
have come down to a final shot, with two of the four going into overtime.

Air Force-Utah

Press Notes

The Runnin’ Utes (5-12, 0-4 MWC) open a two-game home stand against the Air Force
Falcons (16-1, 3-0 MWC. Utah
has dropped seven of its last eight games, including six in a row. The Runnin’ Utes lost a pair of road games last week, falling
to Colorado State, 73-57, on Tuesday and New Mexico,
86-82 in overtime, on Saturday. Utah
is 4-4 at home this season. In the latest NCAA statistical rankings released on
Jan. 12, Utah ranked third in 3-point percentage (44.4), 18th in
field goal percentage (49.4), 58th in 3-pointers made per game
(7.9), 43rd in free throw percentage (73.0), 63rd in
turnovers per game (13.8), 60th in rebound margin (+4.7 rpg) and 95th
in personal fouls per game (17.6). Seven of the 13 Utes who have seen action
this season are first-year players. Six of those players are freshmen. The nine
freshmen and sophomores who have played have accounted for 70.1 percent of Utah’s
points, 84.5 percent of its rebounds, 61.9 percent of its assists and 66.9
percent of its minutes. Eight of Utah’s
12 losses have come by a combined 19 points. The Utes have lost three games by
one point, four by three points and one by four points.
Three of Utah’s losses have been
in overtime.

Toledo-Eastern Michigan

Press Notes

Following an 80-68 triumph over Western
Michigan in its Mid-American Conference home opener, Toledo
(7-8, 3-0 MAC) heads back out on the road to face Eastern Michigan
(7-9, 2-1 MAC). The Rockets have taken an early lead in the MAC’s
West Division and are the only team in the MAC that is unbeaten in league play.
UT holds a one-game lead over the Eagles and Central Michigan
(7-8, 2-1 MAC) in the West Division. Keying the Rockets’ unblemished start in
conference play has been a strong defense. UT is leading the MAC in field-goal
percentage defense (39.4) in conference games only, is second in 3PTFG% defense
(25.0) and tied for third in scoring defense (62.7 ppg). Eastern
Michigan has won its last two games after dropping a 74-68
decision to CMU at home in its MAC opener. Since beginning the season with a 1-7 ledger, the Eagles have won six of their last
eight games. Toledo has won its
last three matchups vs. Eastern Michigan
and holds a 6-2 all-time record in EMU’s Convocation
Center.

Wyoming-BYU

Press Notes

Tuesday’s Wyoming
vs. Brigham Young game will feature a matchup of two teams tied for second
place in the Mountain West Conference. Both Wyoming
and BYU will enter Tuesday’s game with 2-1 records in
Mountain West Conference play. Wyoming has defeated defending MWC Champion and preseason favorite San Diego State on the
road (66-65), won an overtime game over UNLV (86-76)
in Laramie and lost by two points (56-58) on a last-second shot to league
leader Air Force, marking Wyoming’s first home loss of the 2006-07 season. BYU defeated SDSU in Provo
(80-58), also won a home game against TCU (89-65) and
lost in their first conference road game at UNLV
(75-83) last Saturday. After winning their 2007 Mountain West Conference opener
on the road at defending MWC
Champion San Diego
State by a score of 66-65, the
Wyoming Cowboys return to the road this Tuesday to take on the Brigham Young
Cougars. Wyoming is 2-2 (.500) on
the road this season. BYU is 11-0 (1.000) at home for
the 2006-07 season. When the Wyoming Cowboys take the court at the Marriott
Center in Provo, Utah, on Tuesday night they will not only be hoping to record
their second conference road win of the 2006-07 season, but they will be
looking for their second road win at BYU in the past
three seasons.



 

 

Wednesday, January
17, 2006

 

New Mexico-San Diego State

Press Notes

New Mexico
seeks its first true road win of the season when it visits San
Diego State. The
Lobos (12-7, 1-3 MWC), 7-7 following a 5-0 start,
snapped a four-game losing streak last Saturday with an 86-82 overtime win over
Utah. UNM is 1-6 away from Albuquerque
this season, but 0-5 in true road games. New Mexico’s
last win on an opponent’s home floor was a year ago at TCU.
The Lobos have lost six straight in other team’s arenas. The defending
conference champs and preseason favorites to win the MWC
again this year, San Diego State is 12-5 overall and 1-2 in conference after
taking down Colorado State 81-76 last Saturday at Cox Arena. The Aztecs’ MWC losses were to Wyoming
(66-65) and at BYU (80-58). SDSU
is 8-2 at home this season. Wednesday’s game could be a high-scoring affair.
The Lobos continue to lead the MWC in scoring offense
at 78.1 points a game, however, they are next to last in the league in scoring
defense at 71.9 ppg and four MWC foes have shot 51%
against them. UNM has allowed an average of 81.7
points over the past 14 games. San Diego
State averages 75.9 points. but yields 70.7 points. New Mexico
is among the nation’s leaders in 3-point baskets at 9.6 a game.

St. Louis-Temple

Press Notes

Saint Louis
(12-5, 2-2 A-10) begins a stretch of four road games in its next five outings.
The Billikens lead the series 1-0 after a 56-51
victory on Feb. 18, 2006 at
Scottrade Center.
Temple is 6-9 overall and 0-3 in
A-10 play, and the Owls have dropped six of their last seven outings. As a
team, Temple is scoring 69.7 ppg on
44.1 percent shooting, including 34.7 from 3-point range, and 69.4 percent from
the free-throw line. Defensively, the Owls have yielded 70.9 ppg on 41.3
percent shooting and 32.3 percent from 3-point range. Opponents are
out-rebounding the Owls by 7.1 boards per game.

Houston-Rice

Press Notes

UH holding a 49 to 12
lead in the series, but the Owls have won four of the last five games vs. Houston.
Last season, the two teams each won on its home court. Rice prevailed at Autry
Court 71-62, while UH squeaked by Rice 74-71 at Hofheinz Pavilion. The Owls are 2-0 in league play for the
fourth-straight season.

Tennessee-Auburn

Press Notes

The Vols have dropped their last
two games by a combined three points. Vanderbilt scored on a tip-in as time
expired to take an 82-81 win in Nashville
Jan. 10 and then Ohio State
needed a 3-pointer with 11.2 seconds left for a 68-66 in Columbus,
Ohio, Jan. 13. Before hitting the losing
streak, Tennessee had won nine
consecutive games. The streak, which began in November, was UT’s longest since
the 2000-01 season. Tennessee is
playing its third consecutive road game and is in the middle of a stretch where
the Vols play five of six games on the road. Tennessee
is leading the SEC and ranks sixth in the nation with 84.5 points per game.

 


Sports Gambling Strategy Articles

Gamblers Choose the Road Most Traveled

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Robert Frost wrote a classic poem about the “Road Not Taken” in which he chooses “the one less taken by.” This may be a great lesson in life, but not so much in sports handicapping and beating the sportsbooks.

Sharp players are like scientists.  We are always cultivating and purifying our theories.  Working on a tip from one of SportsLine360.com’s Board of Directors and pro bettor Jerry McCarn, a supposition has been tested and added to ratifying such process.

It applies in every sport.  When one team has played a disproportionate percentage of their games on the road, they generally are undervalued and not surprisingly, when a squad has played a disproportionately home heavy schedule, they are typically overrated.

This hypothesis essentially further supports or in some cases, counters the home/road dichotomy or “splits” used by many bettors, present company included. It also fills in a missing piece in even some of the more accurate strength of schedule ratings, in that it greatly helps isolate important angles in that line of thinking. This is so true in beating the NBA odds.

A meeting of teams that have each fitting into the extremes of such category is not all that uncommon. Unbalanced schedules are par for the course over a season.  When one team has played approximately 60 percent of the games at home, the other the same ratio on the road, we do at least put a red checkmark in the column of the team that has done the more traveling.

The reason for this is simple.  As we have said, the most overused statistic in sports gambling is the respective teams straight up won-loss records. Oddsmakers know teams with superior straight up records always get the public betting affection.

Not only does the sharp player know better, but the sharpest of them all can spot a disingenuous winning percentage. A simple review of a team’s schedule to date is a supreme starting point. We will add a follow-up to Mr. Frost’s writing that taking the road less traveled does have its remuneration, but only if paved the way by excursions on the road most traveled.

Press Releases

Lost Season For Liverpool

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Lost Season For Liverpool?

By Tim Robertson
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Liverpool have had the sort of week that can define a season, and it did not go well.

In the space of four days, the Reds twice lost at home to Arsenal — first exiting the FA Cup at the first hurdle in a 3-1 loss, then suffering a dramatic 6-3 defeat to a young Gunners side in the Carling Cup quarterfinals.

Barring an incredulous repeat of their Champions League victory two years ago — they must beat reigning Cup holders Barcelona to progress — Liverpool’s hopes of silverware are over for another season — but worse, injuries suffered this week will put a big dent in their bid to hold on to a top-four place in the Premiership.

Both Mark Gonzalez and Luis Garcia were carried off on Tuesday night. Gonzalez will be out for at least three weeks with a damaged shin, but Garcia’s injury was far more serious and he will not play again this season.

That will deny him the opportunity to play against former club Barcelona next month.

Losing the versatile Spanish international is a big blow for Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez, who has asked his players to rebound with a big victory away at Watford on Saturday.

“I hope the result will galvanise everyone at the club, we must concentrate on the Premiership and be firmly focused on what is ahead,” he said. “We can analyse what has happened in these last two games and use that to our benefit in the future.

“The players now understand how important the Premiership is, and we will be ready to face Watford.”

With confidence heavily dented and an away record that hardly boosts confidence — Liverpool have won three and drawn two of 11 contests on the road — the Reds face the very real prospect of an upset at Vicarage Road.

WagerWeb.com still heavily favours Liverpool at -200 compared to +500 for the Hornets, but Watford played well in a 2-0 defeat at Anfield earlier in the season, and the relegation-battlers are likely to come at Liverpool — a recipe for success against a side on edge.

That defeat at Watford could even be contemplated shows how far Liverpool have fallen since preseason predictions that they would challenge for the title.

In the wake of Tuesday’s loss, Benitez admitted the club were still miles behind their rivals in building a competitive team.

“We are also looking for young players, but Arsene Wenger has been working on this for 10 years, we have been doing it for just a couple,” the Spanish coach said. “But we need to keep trying our best in the market and work quickly if you have the money.

“And if you have money, then you must work at bringing in the best young players. … If you want top-class players you must spend money, not only at senior level but at youth level too.”

Benitez has been busy trying to put that into practice this week, sealing an 18-month loan deal for Argentinian defender Emiliano Insua, a six-month loan for young Italian goalkeeper Sebastian Padelli, as well as pursuing the signing of 20-year-old midfielder Sebastian Leto from Lanus in Argentina.

But they are players for the future.

This season is already looking like another lost campaign for Liverpool.

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Women’s Aussie Open Preview

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Women’s Aussie Open Preview

By Marty Gitlin
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

If the Russians were this superior to the Americans at something more important during the Cold War, every backyard would have had a bomb shelter.

While eight of the top 13 seeds in the Australian are from Russia or former Soviet Union territories, the United States was shut out of the seedings completely. In fact, nobody is even close.

Venus Williams has withdrawn from the event, but she no longer rates. And sister Serena is now ranked 95th in the world. She seems to have lost interest in tennis completely.

What really weakened the field was the withdrawal of top-seeded Justin Henin-Hardenne, who is skipping the event for family reasons. That leaves Russian Maria Sharapova as the No. 1 seed. WagerWeb.com lists Sharapova at +225 (2.25-1) to snag the title.

The cream of the women’s crop has been bunched by bettors. Frenchwoman and defending Australian Open champ Amelie Mauresmo, who has slid up to the second seed, is at +350 (3.5-1) with fourth-seeded Belgian Kim Clijsters next at +500 (5-1).

A strong bet might be third-seeded Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova, who has yet to be recognized for her talents. WagerWeb.com lists her only at +2000 (20-1) despite a higher positioning than fifth-seeded Nadia Petrova (+1400, 14-1), sixth-seeded Martina Hingis (+1800, 18-1) and even 10th-seeded Nicole Vaidisova (+1600, 16-1).

One relative long shot who has also not earned the respect of bettors is eight-seeded Swiss Patty Schnyder (+8000, 80-1). If Schnyder upsets Sharapova in an expected quarterfinal showdown, she’s capable of winning the championship.

Hingis faces a tough draw. She meets 2005 Melbourne Open semifinalist Nathalie Dechy of France in the first round and will likely face Clijsters in the semifinals.

The withdrawal of Venus Williams with a lingering wrist injury might still leave her sister as the top American hope based on talent along, though several Americans are now ranked ahead of her, including Meghan Shaughnessy (No. 37), Shenay Perry (44), Jamea Jackson (45), Venus (46), Vania King (60) and Laura Granville (68).

Perry, in fact, is scheduled to be Mauresmo’s first-round opponent (victim?). Serena Williams, meanwhile, is on a collision course with Petrova in the third round.

Russians everywhere. But at least they’re only armed with tennis rackets.