City out to prove itself against Chelsea

Soccer Betting Lines

10/26/2007 - London, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has made quite a splash in his first year as manager at the club, leading the team to seven wins in their first 10 games and a third-place position in the league table.

However, Eriksson has made it known that he doesn't expect City to finish among the top four, which means that a dip in the team's results at some point is inevitable.

While Eriksson has gotten the most out of his team so far, he knows that Chelsea is clearly the more talented team and that many around England are still questioning how good this City team really is.

Manchester City was not expected to turn things around so quickly after finishing in the bottom half of the table last season, but Eriksson has gotten good efforts from players like Blumer Elano and Martin Petrov to carry the team.

While City is not a dazzling side to watch, they are quite effective in what they do. The club is solid defensively and has a way of getting timely goals when they matter most.

Elano especially has risen to the occasion recently, scoring four goals in the team's last three games, including two game-winners.

The 26-year-old midfielder was signed from Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk in August, and he has proven to be one of many good signings by the new Swedish manager.

Chelsea enters the match four points behind City and is looking to build momentum for a run at the top teams. The Blues are currently seventh in the Premiership table, but their talent is top notch.

Eriksson knows all about striker Didier Drogba in particular, who has scored three goals in City's last two trips to London, but Eriksson also knows that Chelsea is not just about Drogba's brilliance.

"We don't have a special approach for Drogba but we have trained on certain things (this week) and talked about it," Eriksson said. "We'll carry on talking about Chelsea up until the game itself. We won't mark Drogba man-for- man, we won't change many things but you have to be aware that he's strong, has great technique and he's quick. If you are in the wrong position against him, it's goodnight."

Drogba has yet to find his top form this season, scoring just twice in six games for a Chelsea team that has struggled to find goals all year.

The team is among the worst in goals scored this year, but with the likes of Drogba, Frank Lampard, Salomon Kalou and Michael Essien, that can all change very quickly.

In other action in England on Saturday, bottom-half clubs Birmingham and Wigan get together at St Andrews Stadium, Manchester United tries for its eighth consecutive EPL win against Middlesbrough, Newcastle has put together two straight wins and will try for a third when the club visits Reading, Fulham and Sunderland look like teams that will struggle to avoid relegation this season and they meet up at the Stadium of Light and West Ham travels to Fratton Park for a contest against Portsmouth.

On Sunday, Liverpool hosts Arsenal in a big clash near the top with both sides unbeaten but Arsenal having won eight of its nine games while Liverpool has claimed just five victories. Bolton sits at the bottom of the table and hosts Aston Villa, Everton has lost its last two games and visits Derby and Tottenham, with just one win in 10 games, entertains Blackburn.

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Super Bowl XLIII Betting - Super Bowl 2009

Super Bowl 2009, the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Let’s take a look at the Super Bowl 2009 betting odds and the betting line and figure out where they’ve been and where they are going to go.

MySportsbook.com put up the Super Bowl 2009 betting odds late on Sunday night with the Pittsburgh Steelers favored by 6.5 points and a total betting line at 47.5 points.

Since then, however, the Super Bowl 2009 betting odds have seen a good deal of movement and you’ll want to be on top of where they are likely to move to make sure you get the best line value for the big game.

Since opening, the Super Bowl 2009 betting lines went to Steelers -7 in the span of roughly 3 hours but were quickly bought back down just minutes later to 6.5 again.

After that is took about 5-6 more hours before the betting line went back to -7 where it has sat for a while now and is likely to remain. The opening betting total of 47.5 was bet down right after the line became available and went to 47 within minutes.

Roughly a day later it has been bet even further down to the 46.5 tally it currently is set at.

Roughly 60% of gamblers seem to be on the Cardinals here so the point spread will be bet down and a 7.5 would not last very long at all with many taking the early 6.5 in hopes of finding a potential middle in the Super Bowl 2009 betting odds.

If you like Arizona and see a 7.5, I’d take it as soon as possible because it’s unlikely to last. For Pittsburgh backers, the -7 might be the best you’ll be able to find but a 6.5 is definitely possible close to game time.

Regarding the Super Bowl 2009 betting odds for the total, most tracked gamblers are already on the over and with those who took the under 47.5 already securing a middle on the over 46.5, the only way I see it moving is back up to 47 so if you like the over, I’d recommend betting now.

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