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01/02/2010 - Birmingham, AL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Making just their fourth bowl appearance ever, the Connecticut Huskies will take on the South Carolina Gamecocks this Saturday afternoon in the PapaJohns.com bowl in Birmingham, Alabama.
The Gamecocks stormed out of the gates this season with five wins in their first six games, including four in a row. However, the team eventually hit the tough part of its SEC schedule and suffered losses in four of its next five matchups, before closing out the regular season with a 34-17 victory over Clemson. Two of those setbacks were hard fought losses to SEC powerhouses Alabama (20-6) and Florida (24-14). This will be the second straight bowl game for South Carolina and the 15th overall in school history. Unfortunately the Gamecocks have not enjoyed much success, posting a mere 4-10 mark in those contests.
The Huskies are not as seasoned when its comes to playing in the postseason, participating in just three bowls prior to this year's contest. UConn is however, 2-1 in those games, and that includes a 38-20 victory over Buffalo in last year's International Bowl. This year the Huskies had to overcome tragedy along with a grueling Big East schedule. The Huskies began the season with four wins in their first six games, and that includes a 38-25 victory over Louisville on October 17th. However, after that win the Huskies endured a tremendous loss when cornerback Jasper Howard was killed on campus. UConn could not overcome the loss of one of their own initially and stumbled through three straight losses. Fortunately UConn was able to right the ship, winning its last three contests, including a thrilling, 33-30 overtime decision at Notre Dame.
This will be the first-ever meeting between South Carolina and Connecticut on the gridiron.
Steve Spurrier coached some prolific offensive attacks when he was at Florida but at South Carolina coach Spurrier's team has rarely been considered a juggernaut with the football. That remains true for this year's squad., as South Carolina averaged just 21.8 ppg and did not do much on the ground or through the air. The Gamecocks are only churning out 125.0 ypg on the ground on 3.7 yards per attempt. Leading the ground attack is Kenny Miles, but he has rushed for just 602 yards and one score, while Brian Maddox has contributed 305 yards and a team-best five rushing touchdowns. South Carolina has enjoyed a little more success with its passing attack, but still the Gamecocks are not a threat to beat a team through the air. Stephen Garcia has led the team under center, completing 56.6 percent of his throws, with 2,733 yards and 17 scores against nine interceptions. Garcia does not have a go-to receiver at his disposal, as Alshon Jeffery has been the top option for Garcia, but he has hauled in just 43 receptions for 735 yards and six touchdowns.
The reason South Carolina was so competitive this season is mainly due to the play of the defense, which held the opposition to just 20.4 ppg. The Gamecocks allowed just 137.0 ypg on the ground on a mere 3.8 yards per carry, and against the pass the team was even better, limiting opponents to just 167.7 ypg through the air. The Gamecocks only collected 16 takeaways during the regular season, but the team did put adequate pressure on opposing quarterbacks, racking up 27 sacks on the season. The defense also stepped up when it mattered most, as the team held opponents to just 37 percent on third down chances, and allowed just 19 touchdowns in 36 red zone chances for opposing teams. Eric Norwood and Cliff Matthews collected seven sacks apiece during the regular season, while Shaq Wilson led the squad with 78 tackles.
The Huskies rumble into this contest averaging a stout 32.1 ppg, and the success is largely due to the team's performance on the ground, as UConn is churning out 172.8 ypg. Out of the 44 touchdowns scored by this unit, 29 have come via the run. Jordan Todman and Andre Dixon formed a dangerous duo for the Huskies, as Todman amassed 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns, while Dixon rumbled for 967 yards and 13 scores. The ground game overshadowed the team's lack of success through the air, as UConn struggled to find consistency with its passing attack. Zach Frazer played in seven games this season and was nothing more than mediocre, completing just 54.3 percent of his throws for 1,354 yards. Frazer threw nine touchdowns on the season, but also tossed nine interceptions. Marcus Easley was clearly the top target on the roster, finishing with 44 receptions, for 853 yards and eight TDs.
The play of the offense lightened the load for UConn's defense that was inconsistent at times this year. The Huskies are allowing 25.0 ppg, and while that is not terrible, it is nothing to write home about either. The defense is surrendering 137.6 ypg on the ground, but is holding teams to just 3.8 yards per tote. What really hurt this unit was its inability to stop the pass, as opponents torched UConn for 244.8 ypg through the air and also threw 17 touchdowns against this secondary. Fortunately this defense was able to rely on its big play ability, as the team collected 23 turnovers, while also putting solid pressure on the quarterback, with 30 sacks. Lawrence Wilson was one of the top performers for this defense throughout the season, and comes into this game with 136 tackles and 10 TFLs. However, he was not the lone bright spot, as Lindsey Witten also had a solid campaign, grabbing 13 TFLs and 11.5 sacks, both of which were team-highs.
<< International Bowl sends Bulls and Huskies north of the border
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - For the fifth straight season the South Florida
Bulls will participate in a bowl game when they take on the Northern Illinois
Huskies in the International Bowl at the Rogers Centre.
The Bulls have been a part o
<< Cowboys take on Rebels in Cotton Bowl
Arlington, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Oklahoma State Cowboys of the Big 12
Conference and the Ole Miss Rebels of the SEC will square off in the 2010
Cotton Bowl from Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Oklahoma State is set to play in a scho
<< Magic aim to make Bulls disappear
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Bulls have been playing much better recently
but they will be facing a much sterner test tonight when the Orlando Magic
invade the Windy City.
The Bulls won their third straight over pedestrian competition on N
<< Capitals try to get on track versus Kings
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Washington Capitals will try to get back on the right
track today when they visit the Los Angeles Kings for an afternoon battle at
Staples Center.
The Capitals, who currently have a comfortable 13-point lead atop the
Thunder visit reeling Bucks >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two teams heading in opposite directions meet in Brew City
Saturday when the Milwaukee Bucks host the Oklahoma City Thunder at the
Bradley Center.
The Bucks dropped their fourth straight contest in Orlando on Wednesday whe
Suns welcome Grizz to the desert >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Phoenix Suns will close out a three-game homestand
Saturday versus the Memphis Grizzlies at US Airways Center.
Phoenix has beaten the mighty Lakers and Celtics to kick off the desert stand,
and most recently handed Bos
James, Cavs visit woeful Nets >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Central Division-leading Cleveland Cavaliers should
have no trouble capturing their seventh straight win when they pay a visit to
the lowly New Jersey Nets this afternoon at the IZOD Center.
Cavs superstar LeBron James
Heat, Bobcats meet in Southeast clash >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Southeast Division rivals meet in the shadow of South Beach
Saturday when the Miami Heat play host to the Charlotte Bobcats.
The Heat, who are opening a three-game homestand this afternoon, are coming
off a winless two-gam
American Idol Betting Season 6 Strategies
It's that time of year folks. Betting on American Idol Season 9. And we have plenty of American Idol Season 6 strategies appearing below. With the Top 24 finalists revealed, online gambling sites will be offering betting odds on each of them, including MySportsbook.com.
No other “event” has been growing as fast as wagering on American Idol. It has turned into a huge betting event with reasonably high limits and all sorts of profit-making potential for sharp bettors. Last year, MySportsbook.com experienced unprecedented traffic as a result of the American Idol betting craze.
Every week there will be odds to win American Idol, various elimination props and contestant versus contestant match-ups at the MySportsbook.com website.
Whether a fan of America’s top-rated show or watching only because of a wife or girlfriend, here are some of basic strategies to use when betting American Idol.
Odds to Win
There are a few things to consider when looking for the right win bet. First off, remember that this bet is for the long haul. Many people make the mistake of picking the performer who sang the best the previous week. This strategy leads to an underlay situation – betting a price, which is less than what it should be.
All Idol contestants struggle at some point in the competition, so you should always look for value. In last year’s competition alone, two performers who had some of the best performances early in the series were subsequently bet down to low prices - Lisa Tucker and Ace Young. After just a few weeks, Tucker had already been eliminated, while Young quickly became a huge long shot to win America’s largest talent search.
A better strategy is to look for performers who don’t necessarily get the praise from the judges, but show flashes of the talent necessary to go the distance.
Another important thing to remember when betting any contestant to win is the demographic breakdown of the voters, the viewing public and potential future CD purchasers. Unlike sporting events, American Idol is not decided on the field of play – it’s decided by the American public under the guiding influence of the shows producers.
Understand that the great state of Alabama has a mighty edge when it comes to American Idol.
Therefore, to be successful betting on American Idol, put any personal opinions or prejudices aside and think like the majority of the voting public. Remember that the typical voter is young, female and quite often, Southern.
If a contestant cannot appeal to this demographic, no matter how much talent he or she possesses, they’ll struggle for votes. Looks, demeanor and charisma are extremely important. And it’s no coincidence that every Idol winner so far has hailed from a Southern state.
Elimination Props
Every week MySportsbook.com anticipates offering a prop on who’ll be eliminated from the show each Wednesday night. A suggestion to handicap this is to gauge an overall feel for who’s the least popular contestant left in the competition. Generally the least popular performers have recently appeared in the bottom three and will have been the target of repeated criticism from the judges.
Last year, resources included dialidol.com and votefortheworst.com. Dialidol.com measures the volume of each contestant’s voting line. While by no means a perfect science, it does give a good indication of who is generating votes and who isn’t. Meanwhile, votefortheworst.com is a site that attempts to build support for the worst competitor to keep them in the competition for ‘entertainment’ value. The site has a proven track record of keeping performers around who most feel should have been voted off a long time ago.
Contestant vs. Contestant Match-ups
The best strategy for doing well on match-ups is to assess how close either of the contestants is to being eliminated. If neither is expected to be voted off of the show in the coming weeks, the value is almost always on the underdog. If both are expecting an imminent exit in the near future, the favorite in the match-up might offer value.
Watch for American Idol betting odds on each of the contestants shortly and good luck with these American Idol betting strategies.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.
2007 Academy Award Betting : Oscars odds
The 79th Annual Academy Awards odds , which will air February 25th, is sparking an interest throughout the nation with the announcement of its nominees. As the public chooses their favorites, sportsbooks are creating odds for one of the biggest entertainment betting nights of the year.
Whether its at a “Oscar Party” or in an on line sportsbook, entertainment gambling on award shows represent a huge increase in betting. As the public speculation mounts, MySportsbook.com, the largest and most respected sportsbook on the web, posted odds on who is going home with a “Golden Best Friend.”
“ We see a majority of our entertainment wagers come from the Academy Awards,” said MySportsbook.com spokesperson, Tim Dalton. “This is a competition that applies to everyone. These are the people that entertain us on a daily basis and you want to see them win.”
MySportsbook.com posted the following odds for Academy Awards:
Odds to win the Achievement in Directing:
Alejandro González Iñárritu "Babel": 8/1
Martin Scorsese "The Departed": 2/17
Clint Eastwood "Letters From Iwo Jima: 4/1
Stephen Frears "The Queen": 12/1
Paul Greengrass "United 93": 15/1
Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role:
Leonardo DiCaprio in "Blood Diamond": 11/1
Ryan Gosling in "Half Nelson": 20/1
Peter O’Toole in "Venus": 16/5
Will Smith in "The Pursuit of Happyness": 16/1
Forest Whitaker in "The Last King of Scotland": 1/11
Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role:
Penélope Cruz in "Volver": 18/1
Judi Dench in "Notes on a Scandal": 15/1
Helen Mirren in "The Queen": 1/50
Meryl Streep in "The Devil Wears Prada": 10/1
Kate Winslet in "Little Children": 20/1
Best Animated Feature Film:
"Cars": 1/3
"Happy Feet": 2/1
"Monster House": 20/1
Best Foreign-Language Film of the Year:
"Water" – Canada: 22/1
"The Lives of Others" – Germany: 7/2
"After the Wedding" - Denmark: 24/1
"Days of Glory (Indigenes)" – Algeria: 23/1
"Pan's Labyrinth" - Mexico: 1/10
Odds to win the Best Live-Action Short Film:
"Binta and the Great Idea (Binta Y La Gran Idea)": 6/5
"Eramos Pocos (One Too Many)": 7/2
"Helmer & Son": 5/2
"The Saviour": 6/1
"West Bank Story": 7/2
Odds to win the Best Original Screenplay:
"Babel": 7/4
"Letters From Iwo Jima": 3/1
"Little Miss Sunshine": 21/20
"Pan's Labyrinth": 11/4
"The Queen": 5/4
Best Motion Picture of the Year:
"Babel": 11/4
"The Departed": 1/2
"Letters from Iwo Jima": 15/2
"Little Miss Sunshine": 17/10
"The Queen": 20/1
Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role:
Alan Arkin in "Little Miss Sunshine": 11/10
Jackie Earle Haley in "Little Children": 10/1
Djimon Hounsou in "Blood Diamond": 9/1
Eddie Murphy in "Dreamgirls": 2/5
Mark Wahlberg in "The Departed": 5/1
Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role:
Adriana Barraza in "Babel": 14/1
Cate Blanchett in "Notes on a Scandal": 11/1
Abigail Breslin in "Little Miss Sunshine": 2/1
Jennifer Hudson in "Dreamgirls": 1/8
Rinko Kikuchi in "Babel": 11/1
Film To Win Most Oscars:
Dreamgirls: 2/3
Pans Labyrinth: 6/5
The Departed: 6/1
The Queen: 11/1
Babel: 15/1
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest: 11/1
Little Miss Sunshine: 15/1
Additional sports and entertainment odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.
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