07/03/2009 - Columbus, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - D.C. United coach Tom Soehn was excited to have last weekend off in MLS and thinks the Eastern Conference leaders are refreshed for Saturday's trip to the Columbus Crew, even though they continued defense of their U.S. Open Cup title Tuesday.
United lost for just the second time in its last 12 games in its last MLS game, 3-0 at the Colorado Rapids, and used the off week to rest and defeated the PDL Ocean City Barons City 2-0 on Tuesday.
"We need a break right now," Soehn said after the loss to Colorado. "That's the point we're at. We need to get some guys rest, and we're going to use that time to get everybody where they need to be."
Soehn didn't use his top squad for the U.S. Open Cup match, which will be key this weekend with veteran Jaime Moreno out, Luciano Emilio questionable, Fred probable, and Dejan Jakovic (Canada) and Santino Quaranta (U.S.) playing in the Gold Cup.
D.C. (5-3-8) has just one win away from RFK Stadium but is 1-3-4 overall on the road. United will try to maintain its lead in the Eastern Conference at Crew Stadium, where Columbus (5-3-7) is unbeaten in seven matches this season.
The Crew are one of four unbeaten teams at home - United, Houston and Colorado are the others - and can overtake United for the top spot this weekend with a win.
Columbus is also hurt by the Gold Cup, with Chad Marshall - who scored the lone goal in its 1-0 win over Red Bull New York last week - and Robbie Rogers absent to play for the United States.
In addition, Adam Moffat is out through injury, but luckily the Crew welcomed back right back Frankie Hejduk and goalie Will Hesmer last weekend. Midfielder Emmanuel Ekpo was rested last week also, so he should be fresh.
Hejduk was playing for the first time in six games and for just the fourth time all season because of injuries and U.S. national team duty.
"It's tough always getting back into the swing of things," Hejduk said. "You have to pace yourself, I'm still trying to get my fitness back and I think I'm about 90 percent."
Hesmer made his first appearance in 10 games and posted the Crew's second clean sheet in four matches.
Columbus also played mid-week, and was eliminated from the U.S. Open Cup with a penalty-kick loss to the Rochester Rhinos. The Crew are on a roll in MLS though and despite the close scoreline against struggling New York, have just one loss in their last 11 MLS games.
"I think [New York] came to Columbus to get a point. We created a couple of chances especially with our set pieces," Columbus coach Robert Warzycha said. "Basically in the end of the first half we got a goal which was huge for us. In the second half we created a few chances and I have to say in the end of the game I wasn't worried too much."
<< Turkoglu to join Blazers
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St. Louis Cardinals.
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Saturday night at FC Dallas, hoping to snap a nine-game winless skid and a road
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<< Sturridge secures Chelsea switch
London, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Highly-rated Manchester City striker Daniel
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The 19-year-old, who has penned a four-year contract at Stamford Bridge, will
join up the rest
Bases-loaded walk sends Cubs over Brewers in 10 innings >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jake Fox drew a bases loaded walk, scoring
Ryan Theriot in the bottom of the 10th inning, as the Chicago Cubs edged the
Milwaukee Brewers, 2-1, in the second of a four-game set at Wrigley Field.
Theriot
Woods shoots 66 to lead AT&T National >>
Bethesda, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tiger Woods nourished his momentum with a
handful of scrambling par saves, shooting a four-under 66 on Friday to take
the second-round lead at the AT&T National.
Woods finished two trips around Con
Ramirez apologizes on night of return to Dodgers >>
San Diego, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Manny
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Bowyer captures pole for Daytona Nationwide race >>
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MySportsbook.com: NBA Championship Odds
With the playoffs about two months away, the top two teams in the Western Conference are the clear cut leaders to win the NBA Championship. The Dallas Mavericks have the best record in the NBA (44-9) and have been absolutely scorching since the second week of the season. What makes the Mavs’ record more impressive is the fact that they dropped their first four games of the season. Currently they have won 17 out of their last 18 and are MySportsbook.com’s favorite (2-1) to win it all. Right behind the Mavs are the Pacific leading Phoenix Suns (39-13). Last season, the Suns lost in the Conference Finals to non-other then the Mavericks four games to two. Of course the Suns were without center Amare Stoudemire who has is averaging 19.9 PPG and 9.5 RPG since coming back from his knee injury. Unlike the Mavs, the Suns have struggled a bit lately having lost their last three and four out of their last seven. Of course the main reason for their three straight loses is due to the absence of two time MVP Steve Nash, who is out with a shoulder injury. Heads-up, the Mavs have beaten the Suns in both of their meetings this season.
In the Eastern Conference, the Pistons (32-19) are the favorites to win it all at 6-1. The addition of Chris Webber seems to have been a good move for the Pistons. Since coming over from the 76ers, Webber has averaged 13.1 PPG and 7.3 RPG and the Pistons are 11-4. Even though the defending champion Heat are currently on the playoff making cusp, they are the Eastern Conference team that is getting the most action to win it all (9-1). The fact that Shaquille O’Neal is back in the starting lineup after missing 39 games probably has something to do with this. No doubt, Shaq makes a difference when in the lineup as their winning six out of their last seven would indicate.
Just because it is the All-Star break doesn’t mean that you can’t bet on NBA hoops this weekend. Be sure to log onto MySportsbook.com to bet on who you think will cut down the nets this July. Also, be sure to check out all of the lines and props for All-Star weekend. With the highest credit card acceptance rate in the industry, there are plenty of ways to cash in on the NBA this weekend.
MySportsbook.com’s NBA Championship odds:
Atlanta Hawks 1000-1
Boston Celtics 5000-1
Charlotte Bobcats 5000-1
Chicago Bulls 20-1
Cleveland Cavaliers 20-1
Dallas Mavericks 2-1
Denver Nuggets 25-1
Detroit Pistons 6-1
Golden State Warriors 250-1
Houston Rockets 12-1
Indiana Pacers 60-1
Los Angeles Clippers 45-1
Memphis Grizzlies 5000-1
Miami Heat 9-1
Milwaukee Bucks 1000-1
Minnesota T-Wolves 200-1
New Jersey Nets 50-1
New Orleans Hornets 150-1
New York Knicks 150-1
Orlando Magic 75-1
Philadelphia 76ers 1000-1
Phoenix Suns 5-2
Portland TrailBlazers 1000-1
Sacramento Kings 250-1
San Antonio Spurs 9-1
Seattle Sonics 5000-1
Toronto Raptors 35-1
Utah Jazz 20-1
Washington Wizards 25-1
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