Altidore gets first call-up to U.S. national team

Soccer Betting Lines

11/09/2007 - Secaucus, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - U.S. Men's national team coach Bob Bradley announced Friday that New York Red Bulls forward Jozy Altidore is part of the 17-man initial roster that will travel to face South Africa in Johannesburg on Nov. 17. The complete roster will be finalized following this weekend's matches and players will report to camp on Nov. 12 in Johannesburg.

"Playing for the U.S. national team has always been a goal of mine," Altidore said. "I'm thrilled about this opportunity and I hope that I can use this experience to help further my growth as a player."

This is the first time the 18-year-old has been called up to the senior side. In his first full season with the Red Bulls, Altidore followed up an impressive 2006 campaign with nine goals and four assists. His nine goals were good for second on the team and eighth in Major League Soccer. The Boca Raton, Fla., native featured in 22 games (15 starts) and was in the starting 11 for both of the Red Bulls' playoff matches against the New England Revolution.

On the international stage, Altidore has competed at the U.S. U-17 and U-20 levels. Over the summer, Altidore took part in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada, playing a key role in the team's run to the quarterfinals. Altidore scored four goals in five matches, including a pair to defeat Brazil, 2-1, in the group stage.

Wwwimustbingo Soccer Betting News

<< Sutter's Devils struggling to find consistency
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New Jersey Devils head coach Brent Sutter has discarded the club's traditional trap style of play, but his new ideas have yet to result in a great deal of success. Sutter, who is in his first season as an NHL head coach,

<< Falcons Vying to Extend Panthers' Home Woes
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It's been nearly one full year since Carolina Panthers fans have witnessed the home squad emerge victorious at Bank of America Stadium. The team will attempt to end that lengthy winless drought when the last-place Atlanta Fal

<< Bills Look to Stay Hot in Miami
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - OK...who saw this coming? When the Buffalo Bills dropped a season-opener to Denver at the final whistle, then stumbled through successive blowout losses while incurring myriad injuries against Pittsburgh and New England ov

<< Fading Raiders, Bears, Both Desperate for Wins
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - An Oakland Raiders season that began with such promise has given way to an all too familiar sense of despair. The Raiders, who will begin the second half of their 2007 campaign when they host the Chicago Bears on Sunday, h

<< Struggling AFC North Foes Square Off in Ravens-Bengals Clash
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The lights continue to burn bright on Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis and his struggling team this season. The Bengals are mired in a disappointing campaign and will take on one of the two teams they have beaten th

Bruins place Fernandez, Thornton on IR >>
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Bruins placed goaltender Manny Fernandez and forward Shawn Thornton on injured reserve Friday. Fernandez is out of action with a left knee strain, while Thornton is expected to miss 4-to-6 week

Penguins still trying to play up to potential >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Pittsburgh Penguins came into this season with designs on making a run at a Stanley Cup title, but the team hardly seems headed in that direction so far. Obviously, it's very early in the season, but the Pens have bee

DiPietro leading the Isles with steady play >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Islanders have exceeded expectations in the early part of the 2007-08 season, and goaltender Rick DiPietro has been a big reason for their success. The were picked by most hockey experts to finish last in th

Hornish Jr. to drive full-time in Nextel Cup >>
Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Three-time IndyCar Series champion Sam Hornish Jr. will drive a third Penske Dodge for the 2008 Sprint Cup (Nextel Cup) season. Roger Penske will officially make the announcement on Saturday night at the

Bradley names initial roster for South Africa friendly >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - U.S. men's national team coach Bob Bradley has named a 17-man initial roster that will travel to face 2010 FIFA World Cup hosts South Africa on Nov. 17 in Johannesburg. Kickoff for the 2007 Nelson Mandela

Super Bowl 2009 Betting

Super Bowl 2009 Betting propositions

Underdog bettors love the Super Bowl and, history suggests, the underdogs love them back. And the big dogs bite harder.

Even so, there is a warning in store for Super Bowl gamblers who must love dogs: The Arizona Cardinals Super Bowl betting lines might not be enough of a Cinderella to make it worth your while.

Although the Cardinals were widely panned as one of the worst division winners and least playoff-worthy teams in recent memory, their trip to Super Bowl XLIII Jan. 31 in Tampa against the Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl betting lines comes with a little more respect from the oddsmakers than you might imagine. They are a 7-point underdog at most sports books.

If you count yourself among those who covet the big dog in the big game, this isn’t exactly great news. You should have been hoping for more points. This is because the facts show that the bigger the dog, the better the bet in the Super Bowl.

Case in point: Over the past 13 seasons, double-figure underdogs in the Super Bowl are 4-0-1 ATS and have won the past three outright. In fact, the last double-digit chalk to do the deed for bettors was the 1995 San Francisco 49ers, who managed to beat the astounding 19-point spot afforded backers of the San Diego Chargers in the 49-26 romp in Super Bowl XXIX.

By contrast, 7-point favorites are 2-1-1 ATS in the same span, the last such contest resulting a cover grinded out by the Colts in their 29-17 win over the Bears two seasons ago in Super Bowl XLI.

In 2004, the Patriots failed to cover the number in their 32-29 triumph over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl props while the Rams and Titans gave everyone a refund in 2000 after the Rams posted a 23-16 win as a seven-point favorite.

So while Arizona’s run has included impressive upsets as a 10-point road underdog to the Carolina Panthers and Sunday’s 32-25 win in the NFC championship game to the 4-point favored Philadelphia Eagles, their long-shot story lacks a bit of the David vs. Goliath storyline of past Super Bowl underdogs.

While the seven-point spread represents a significant gap in the perception of strength between the two teams, it is far from monumental. For example, last season the Giants were the wild-card afterthought turned road-warrior buzzsaw, with stunning wins over the Buccaneers, Cowboys and Packers to earn their place in the Super Bowl.

There, they played spoiler to New England’s bid to become the first 19-0 team in NFL history and cemented their place in sports betting lore with a 17-14 win as a 12.5-point underdog.

In other words, the Cardinals appear to have their work cut out for them as a mid-range underdog. But in homage to the spread beaters who have come before them, here is a brief look back at recent colossal upsets in the Super Bowl:

SB XLII -- 2008 -- New York Giants 17, New England Patriots 14 (Giants +12.5) – Eli Manning’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress in the final minute clinched the historic upset for the Giants, who used a masterful defensive plan to slow down Tom Brady and the previously undefeated New England Patriots.

XXXVI -- 2002 -- Patriots 20, Rams 17 (Patriots +14) – This was the coming out party for the aforementioned Brady, who went from obscure sixth-round draft pick to Super Bowl hero in one fell swoop. He led the game-winning drive in the final minute – eschewing analyst John Madden’s advice to take a knee and play for overtime – leading to Adam Vinatieri’s memorable 48-yard field goal that split the uprights as time expired.

XXXII 1998 Broncos 31, Packers 24 (Denver +12) – The first of John Elway’s two consecutive Super Bowl titles to put an end to his Hall of Fame career was an upset for the ages. The Broncos used the determination of Elway and a 157-yard, three-touchdown performance from Terrell Davis to turn back Brett Favre and the heavily favored Packers.

Get free 2009 Super Bowl Betting from top rated online sportsbook MySportsbook.com. Mysportsbook.com online Super Bowl betting VISA Mastercard