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09/07/2007 - Milan, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The top two teams in Group B get together at the San Siro on Saturday as France visits Italy in a rematch of the 2006 World Cup final.
Zinedine Zidane, the most famous figure from last summer's encounter, will not be there to bury his head into the chest of an Italian defender because he is enjoying his retirement from international soccer. The person on the receiving end of that blow, Italy's Marco Materazzi, will also be a spectator while he is battling an injury.
The two teams are separated by just two points through seven games, but with Scotland and Ukraine not far behind, a loss for either team would put hopes of qualifying for Austria and Switzerland in doubt.
The French hold a two-point edge and also took the first meeting between the two sides in this competition, 3-1. A loss for Italy would likely drop them below Scotland and leave the defending World Cup champs in third.
If France drops the contest they will still be a position to qualify, but will have missed a chance to cushion their lead.
Italy brings experienced players like Gianluigi Buffon, Alessandro Del Piero, Filippo Inzaghi, Fabio Cannavaro and Gennaro Gattuso. Those five are all expected to start and played big roles in the club's World Cup title last summer.
Bayern Munich striker Luca Toni's inclusion into the lineup is still a question after Toni missed his club's last Bundesliga contest and continues to battle an injury.
France manager Raymond Domenech also has a big injury issue of his own with midfielder Patrick Vieira. The Inter Milan man has not yet played a game for his club since injuring a thigh muscle while playing for France last month.
Two players that will be included in the French side are midfielder Franck Ribery and striker David Trezeguet. Both players have gotten off to flying starts for their clubs, with Ribery making quite an impression with his new Bayern teammates because of his playmaking ability in the midfield, and Trezeguet leading Serie A with four goals through two games for Juventus.
If both players can continue their brilliant form, France may be able to steal a point in Italy, but the Italians are the more desperate side and will accept nothing short of a win.
In Group B's other contests on Saturday, Ukraine and Scotland both have a great chance to pick up three points and stay in contention at the top. Ukraine visits Georgia while the Scots play fifth-place side Lithuania.
The other big game of the day takes place in Group E, with England facing a crucial contest at home against Israel.
England is currently fourth in the group, three points behind both Croatia and Israel and a point back of Russia. The Israelis have played one more game, so three points on Saturday would shift things quite a bit in the group. The Three Lions have an equally big match against Russia on Wednesday, so this week will go a long way in determining whether or not Steve McClaren's side makes the trip to Austria and Switzerland next summer.
England is facing a number of injury issues with David Beckham, Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney and most likely Owen Hargreaves out with injury.
Midfielder Steven Gerrard is expected to play despite a broken toe, and McClaren also has to deal with an uncertain situation in goal given the recent struggles of first-team keeper Paul Robinson. It would not be a shock to see McClaren turn to David James, who has not made a start for England since May 2005.
These two teams played to a 0-0 draw in Tel Aviv in March, and a similar result would suit Israel just fine.
Expect Israel to once again play a defensive formation and look to counter attack, while England will have to press for goals with a win being so important.
This should be a low scoring affair with Israel playing defense first soccer, and England often struggling to find the net. The pressure is squarely on McClaren to deliver a big win, but with so many injury problems, he will have to hope for other players to emerge.
The other two games in the group on Saturday feature leaders Croatia hosting Estonia, and Russia entertaining Macedonia. Both Croatia and Russia figure to come away with three points, making the England and Israel game even that much more important.
Group A is set for a shake-up at the top with the top four teams in the group playing each other. Leaders Poland travel to Portugal, where they will look to extend their lead on the home side. Portugal is four points back after a poor 1-1 draw at Armenia last time out. Poland has played one more game, however, so a Portugal win would put them right back in position to grab a spot. Finland is just two points behind Poland and also faces a stiff road test against Serbia. The Serbs are in fourth place but once again have played on less game and could change things around with a win. Armenia and Azerbaijan make up the third game in the group.
Group C leaders Greece do not play on Saturday, but the three team in second place, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Turkey and Norway are all in action. The Greeks hold a five-point edge on the other three teams, but that lead should shrink after Saturday, with the other three expecting to bring home wins. The trio will all be on the road, but Bosnia-Herzegovina will meet Hungary, Norway plays Moldova and Turkey takes on Malta.
Germany has taken hold of Group D and will try to keep that advantage on Saturday with a trip to Wales. The Czech Republic and Ireland are in a battle for second place, with the Czechs holding a one-point lead. The Czechs play last-place San Marino and should get an easy win, while Ireland travels to Slovakia for a much more difficult match. These two will play on Wednesday, but it is important for both to take care of business on Saturday.
Group F features a big contest between Sweden and Denmark on Saturday. The Swedes currently hold the top spot ahead of Northern Ireland and Spain, and could put themselves in great shape with a win over the Danes. Denmark is six points behind second-place Northern Ireland but has played one less game. A win is critical for Denmark against Sweden but it will not come easy away from home. Northern Ireland will be expecting three points against Latvia, and Spain visits Iceland with a win in mind as well.
It has become a three-team race in Group G with Romania, Bulgaria and the Netherlands separated by only three points. Romania holds a two-point lead over Bulgaria, and is hoping to extend that advantage with a trip to Belarus. Bulgaria and the Netherlands square off in Holland, meanwhile in an important contest for both sides. The Dutch have played one less game than Bulgaria, and trail by only one point. A win would put the Netherlands in a position to leave Bulgaria behind, so a win is huge for the visitors. Slovenia and Luxembourg round out Saturday's contests in the group.
<< NL West-leading D'backs host upstart Cardinals
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Arizona Diamondbacks have reclaimed the top spot in the
National League West. Now they will try to stay there, as the club begins a
three-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals tonight at Chase Field.
The Diamond
<< Reds welcome Brewers to town for three
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<< Padres, Rockies to get wild at Coors
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the San Diego Padres at Coors Field.
The Rockies had a three-game winning strea
<< Braves try to carry momentum into series vs. Nats
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After rallying for a big win two days ago, the Atlanta
Braves will hope for an easier time tonight when they begin a three-game
series with the Washington Nationals at Turner Field.
The Braves trailed 8-2 on W
Vikings, Williams agree to contract extension >>
St. Paul, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Minnesota Vikings signed Pro Bowl
nose tackle Pat Williams to a three-year contract extension on Friday.
According to the St. Paul Pioneer Press, the space-eater's deal is
worth up
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Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia 76ers announced on
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Garrard, Jags, Test Mettle Against Titans >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio has invested a
lot in David Garrard, and he will get a chance to see what his new starting
quarterback can do under the new title this Sunday against the Tennessee
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Garcia to Make Bucs' Debut in Seattle >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The well-traveled Jeff Garcia will take yet another wayward
journey on Sunday, when the new starting quarterback of the Tampa Bay
Buccaneers and his team complete a cross-country trek to meet the Seattle
Seahawks in the regul
Terrell Owens will address the media at a 3:15 p.m. ET news conference outside the Cowboys' practice facility after an internal police report indicated he tried to kill himself by overdosing on prescription pain medication, even putting two more pills into his mouth after a friend intervened.
The Dallas police report said Owens was asked by rescue workers "if he was attempting to harm himself, at which time [he] stated, 'Yes.'"
Owens left the hospital late Wednesday morning, giving reporters a "thumbs up" but making no comment as he was driven away in an SUV.
Michael Irvin said that Owens denied he attempted suicide and said he was rushed to the hospital as a result of an adverse reaction to medication. And a source close to Owens told Michael A. Smith that Owens wasn't attempting suicide.
NFL Network analyst Deion Sanders said he spoke with Owens shortly before his release from the hospital and that Owens was in good spirits.
"The fact that it has been reported a suicide attempt, he's laughed at that notion. It was a case that medication that was taken wasn't accepted well in his system with the other vitamins he's on," Sanders said.
The series of events began a little before 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Owens' publicist, Kim Etheredge, said she was at Owens' home when he took pain medicine for his broken right hand. Concerned by how he began acting, Etheredge said in various interviews Wednesday with Dallas-area media that she called 911. Owens was taken to a hospital, with Etheredge saying it was an allergic reaction to the medicine.
But early Wednesday, several media outlets received a police report -- that had yet to be released by the authorities -- saying Owens had attempted suicide by overdosing on the painkillers, even putting two more pills into his mouth after an unidentified friend intervened.
The police document, first reported by WFAA-TV, said Owens was asked by rescue workers "if he was attempting to harm himself, at which time [he] stated, 'Yes.'"
When officially released by police, about half the document was blacked out, including the phrases "attempting suicide by prescription pain medication" and "a drug overdose," as well as the details of Owens having two pills pried from his mouth and Owens saying "Yes" when asked if he intended to harm himself.
Etheredge, who said she was the friend cited in the police document, told Dallas-area media Wednesday that the police got the story wrong.
The tape of the 911 call could help clear things up. The Associated Press filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act to get its contents, but fire department officials said it would not be available before late Wednesday.
The police report said the 32-year-old Owens told his friend "that he was depressed." Details of the police report were first reported by WFAA-TV.
The friend, who is not identified in the report, "noticed that [his] prescription pain medication was empty and observed [Owens] putting two pills in his mouth," the police report said.
Using her fingers, the friend attempted to pry them out of Owens' mouth. Owens told police he had taken only five of the 40 pain pills in the bottle he'd emptied before the incident.
Etheredge told the Star-Telegram that Owens was "fine."
Etheredge said she called 911 because Owens was groggy and lethargic. After taking some supplements "it kicked in a reaction" with the painkillers, she told the Star-Telegram.
"Here's a person whose body is so clean, it really had a negative reaction to the medication and supplements he was taking," Etheridge told The Morning News. "Thank goodness someone was there to call an ambulance."
Police Lt. Rick Watson said he could only confirm that paramedics called police to say they were taking Owens to the hospital. He said no more details would come from the police because no laws were broken.
It is not a crime in Texas for a person to attempt suicide.
"This is a high-profile person. We looked into it and we determined it is not a criminal offense," Watson said. "This a medical type of situation that occurred."
Watson and fire department spokesman Joel Lavender cited privacy laws for the lack of information they could provide. Lavender said more details could come from the 911 call. The Associated Press filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act to get the contents of the call.
"Let's just look at the tape, review the tape," Lavender said. "I'll give you an honest answer once I know something."
At the police news conference, Watson released a version of the police narrative with certain sections blacked out. The full report was obtained by several news outlets and reported first by WFAA. The AP received the full version from WFAA.
According to the police report, Dallas Fire and Rescue was called regarding someone "attempting suicide by prescription pain medication." Officers arrived to find Owens being stabilized by ambulance workers, who then took him to Baylor University Medical Center.
Owens was hospitalized late Tuesday because of what his publicist said was an allergic reaction to pain medicine he was taking for a broken hand. Doctors reportedly tried to induce vomiting.
Owens, one of the league's top receivers during his 11-year NFL career, is best known for wild stunts on the field and other publicity-seeking antics off it.
When the Cowboys signed him to a $25 million, three-year deal in March, they said their background checks indicated no red flags. In fact, team consultant Calvin Hill -- who mostly deals with troubled players -- said during training camp that his department was not involved with Owens because he didn't have a history of those kinds of problems.
He missed most of training camp, and three of four preseason games, because of a hamstring injury. He was late for work during his recovery and was fined for it, but Owens laughed it off, saying he overslept. He said it had happened before, though not with Dallas, and would probably happen again.
Owens broke the bone leading to his right ring finger during a game a week ago Sunday. The next day, doctors screwed in a plate so the bone could heal without fear of further damage. Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said last week that the pain medicine made Owens ill.
Owens had not practiced since the injury, but because Dallas had a bye this past weekend he did not miss a game. He was expected to practice Wednesday, and Parcells had said there was a chance Owens could play Sunday against Tennessee.
Owens had been especially looking forward to the Cowboys' game after that -- Oct. 8, in Philadelphia, against the team that dumped him midway through last season only months after he helped them nearly win the Super Bowl.
Owens was seen laughing and joking on the practice field Tuesday morning. He chatted briefly with reporters in the locker room in the afternoon and seemed fine. A 2-inch scar on the top of his hand was puffy but not wrapped, and he said the swelling was doing down.
While in the locker room, he took a pill from a white paper bag and looked at another medicine bottle that was in the bag. He also called a business partner about a towel-wrap venture they're starting and joked to TV cameras that he wasn't talking until Wednesday and it was only Tuesday.
"My little boy knows better than that," he said, laughing, as he plopped onto a sofa in the middle of the locker room.
Also Tuesday, Owens was involved in launching a national campaign for the National Alliance to End Abuse, an organization aimed at helping at-risk youngsters. He appeared at a high school Tuesday morning and was scheduled to visit others but had to cancel because of changes in the team's practice schedule.
Owens has played two games for the Cowboys, catching nine passes for 99 yards and a touchdown. For updated football betting lines and Dallas Cowboy Superbowl odds visit online sportsbook MySportsbook.com
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MySportsbook.com Posts Heisman Trophy Odds
With 3,919 passing yards, 32 touchdowns and a mere seven interceptions last season, combined with a powerful South Bend Heisman legacy, odds makers at MySportsbook.com have given Notre Dame senior quarterback Brady Quinn the best Heisman Trophy odds at 5-2.
Quinn isn’t the only big man on campus this season. Oklahoma junior running back and 2004 Heisman runner-up Adrian Peterson, listed at 7-2, rushed for a combined 3,033 yards in his first two years as a college player and will give Quinn a run for his money.
This online sportsbook has also listed Troy Smith, Ohio State senior quarterback, as another strong favorite to win the 72nd Heisman Trophy. A 7-1 bet, Smith threw for 2,282 yards last season and also led the Buckeyes to a convincing 34-20 victory over Quinn and the Fighting Irish in last season’s Fiesta Bowl.
Current betting odds Heisman trophy are:
| Brady Quinn (QB, Notre Dame) Adrian Peterson (RB, Oklahoma) Troy Smith (QB, Ohio State) Michael Bush (RB, Louisville) Steve Slaton (RB, West Virginia) Brian Brohm (QB, Louisville) Chris Leak (QB, Florida) Mike Hart (RB, Michigan) Ted Ginn (WR, Ohio State) Darius Walker (RB, Notre Dame) Drew Tate (QB, Iowa) Marshawn Lynch (RB, Cal) Kenny Irons (RB, Auburn) Chad Henne (QB, Michigan) Kyle Wright (QB, Miami) Drew Stanton (QB, Michigan State) Kenneth Darby (RB, Alabama) JaMarcus Russell (QB, LSU) Drew Weatherford (QB, Florida State) Blake Mitchell (QB, South Carolina) Reggie Ball (QB, Georgia Tech) |
5-2 7-2 7-1 10-1 10-1 12-1 12-1 18-1 18-1 20-1 30-1 35-1 35-1 40-1 50-1 50-1 60-1 60-1 60-1 60-1 60-1 |
For complete NCAA Football odds visit MySportsbook.com.
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