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Bayern in a groove for start of key run at Bayer
Soccer Betting Lines
11/28/2008 - Leverkusen, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Striker Miroslav Klose said this week Bayern Munich was "really getting into the groove," and it couldn't have come at a more crucial time.
Bayern secured a berth in the knockout stage of the Champions League on Tuesday with a 3-0 win over Steaua Bucharest and extended its unbeaten streak to 12 matches - eight in the Bundesliga and four in the Champions league.
The defending league champions sit fourth entering the weekend with four weeks left in the first half of the campaign, but play four of the top teams in the league - including the two teams ahead of them in the standings in the next two weeks.
The stretch, which Bayern striker Luca Toni described as "vital, decisive games," starts Saturday against Bayer Leverkusen at the BayArena.
Bayer is third in the league - leading Bayern on goal differential - and both teams are three points behind first-place Hoffenheim. Bayern hosts Hoffenheim on Dec. 5, then visits Stuttgart and Hamburg in its last two league matches before the winter break.
Bayern also wraps up the group stage of the Champions League at France's Lyon on Dec. 10, needing at least a 1-1 draw to secure the top spot. Bayern and Lyon are level on points, but the French club has the tiebreaker based on goals scored on the road.
But the 21-time German champions have to forget about the pursuit of their fifth Champions League title - for two weeks at least - and focus on the league to cross off the only item on first-year boss Jurgen Klinsmann's Christmas wish list.
"We want to end up where we belong, top of the league," Klinsmann said. "We're keeping up the pressure on the top two, and we're still aiming to be top at Christmas."
Bayern's "groove" will be tested in its next five matches, especially since four of the games are on the road. Bayern has been the best team on the road in the Bundesliga this season, posing a 4-1-2 record away from Allianz Arena in league matches.
The Munich club's defense - which set a league record last year for fewest goals allowed in a season - has been a key factor on the road with just six goals allowed in seven matches. In the Champions League, Bayern has allowed just two goals - one an own goal - on the road in three matches.
So although the defense has struggled more this season, it has stepped up when necessary. The attack, guided by German international Klose, Italian World Cup winner Toni and French midfielder Franck Ribery, has also been on fire recently.
"We've improved in attack just as much as we've improved in defense," Bayern and German defender Philipp Lahm said.
Bayer, which is coming off a 2-1 loss at Arminia Bielefeld last weekend, will be without midfielder Sascha Dum this week. He was given a one-game suspension for a red card in last week's match. Renato Augusto (tonsillitis) and Stefan Kiessling (gastroenteritis) are doubtful for the Bayern match.
"We've taken precautionary measures and are trying to avoid physical contact wherever possible at the moment. That may sound trivial but thats part and parcel of being a professional," Bayer coach Bruno Labbadia said.
Even with the possible absences, Labbadia was confident his side would learn from the Arminia loss.
"Its fine if we can do the same as in recent weeks and learn quickly. But now its time to match one of, if not even the, strongest sides in Germany and collect all three points," said Labbadia, who has led Bayer to a 5-2-0 mark at home.
Hoffenheim gets Arminia Bielefeld on Saturday, but hosts the match. Hoffenheim has the chance to create a six-point gap on Bayern or Bayer, and could have a five-point overall lead if its rivals draw.
"It'll be interesting to see how it all looks come mid-December," Klinsmann said.
On Friday, Gojko Kacar and Marko Pantelic scored to lead Hertha Berlin to a 2-1 win over Koln and into second place before the weekend fixtures.
Also Saturday, Werder Bremen hosts Eintracht, Hannover hosts Karlsruhe and Monchengladbach hosts Energie.
On Sunday, New Stuttgart coach Markus Babbel makes his league debut when his club hosts Schalke, Bochum hosts Hamburg and Borussia Dortmund hosts Wolfsburg.
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Sportsbook betting odds favor Europe in Ryder Cup
September 19, – Despite holding a decided edge in the all-time series, with 24 wins, 2 ties and 10 losses, Team USA is the underdog again heading into the Ryder Cup in Kidare, Ireland this weekend, according to MySportsbook.com. The Europeans have captured four of the past five editions, including their largest victory ever, an 18 ½ to 9 ½ thumping in Michigan in 2004. Current Ryder Cup betting odds favor the Europeans to continue their winning ways; they are a 4-5 bet to take the title, compared to 6-5 for the Americans.
Despite being knocked out in the first round of World Match play by Shaun Micheel, Tiger Woods is predicted to lead the US charge and be their highest point scorer for the week, with odds listed at 9-4 that he outpoints all other American players, including Jim Furyk, Phil Mickelson and Chris DiMarco to name a few. Team USA has four relatively unknown players on the roster but all four are 2007 tournament winners and have posted some of season’s best performances, each earning over $1.5 million on the PGA TOUR. They include Zach Johnson, Vaughan Taylor, JJ Henry and Brett Wetterich.
The experienced European squad includes the likes of Luke Donald, Sergio Garcia, Padraig Harrington, Jose Maria Olazabal and Darren Clarke, who’s emotions will be tested after the passing of his wife to a battle with cancer. Donald and Garcia are in particularly good form and each is a 5-1 bet to lead the European squad in the points race. Donald has proven he can go head to head with Woods at a major event after a run for the $1.2 million purse at the PGA Championship. Garcia’s Ryder Cup credentials prove he’s ready for battle too.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your golf sportsbook needs.
Ryder Cup Odds| Europe Tie USA |
4-5 10-1 6-5 |
Ryder Cup Top US point scorer
| Tiger Woods Jim Furyk Phil Mickelson Chris DiMarco David Toms Stewart Cink Chad Campbell Scott Verplank Zach Johnson Vaughan Taylor JJ Henry Brett Wetterich |
9-4 4-1 5-1 7-1 8-1 12-1 15-1 15-1 25-1 30-1 30-1 50-1 |
Ryder Cup Top European scorer
| Sergio Garcia Luke Donald Padraig Harrington Colin Montgomerie Darren Clarke David Howell Lee Westwood Paul Casey Henrik Stenson Jose Maria Olazabal Paul McGinley Robert Karlsson |
5-1 5-1 6-1 13-2 8-1 9-1 9-1 11-1 12-1 12-1 20-1 25-1 |
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com
Work left to do: Villanova, Syracuse, DePaul, West Virginia, Providence
Notre Dame and Louisville appear to have done enough to make the move, so we'll make them locks. The Cardinals, despite a modest RPI, are trending way up and have clinched at least a tie for third in the Big East, which should be more than enough with their pair of big road wins. Villanova got back to .500 and gets back to more solid footing. Syracuse got a very important road win and crippled a fellow contender in the process. West Virginia's fate could be in its hands Tuesday at Pitt.
Work left to do:
Villanova [18-9 (7-7), RPI: 21, SOS: 5] Pounded Rutgers to get back to .500. If Cats can get their last two (at UConn, vs. Syracuse), that should be enough with strong computer numbers and a host of wins away from The Pavilion. The Cats have beaten Texas and swept the Big 5 (never easy in Philly), but have a couple of losses to bubble teams (Xavier, Drexel), too. I still think they'll be OK, possibly even at 8-8.
Syracuse [20-8 (9-5), RPI: 53, SOS: 62] History says 10 wins will be plenty, but it might be hard for the Orange to get that last one with a final two vs. G'town, which is trying to win the league title, and at Villanova, which will be desperate for a W. The relative lack of nonconference heft and the weak computer numbers are still concerns, but the Orange have won four in a row and got a very, very big win at Providence on Saturday.
DePaul [16-12 (8-7), RPI: 54, SOS: 18] Beat Cincy and should get past South Florida to get to 9-7, but then what? They have beaten Kansas and Cal (right after the DeVon Hardin injury) earlier this season, but also have lost to Bradley and Purdue, among others. They'll likely need a couple of BE tourney wins, too, but we'll see ...
West Virginia [19-7 (8-6), RPI: 58, SOS: 125] The game at Pitt on Tuesday night could decide the Mountaineers' fate (barring a deep tournament run). They can still get to 9-7 in the Big East without it by beating Cincinnati, but the nine wins would be against UConn, Villanova, St. John's, South Florida, DePaul, Rutgers, Seton Hall twice and the Bearcats. Beating bubble foes is fine, but where's the beef? Outside of beating PG-less UCLA in nonconference play (still a top quality win), there's not a lot to fall back on (besides maybe NC State). WVU vs. Syracuse would be an interesting debate, as the teams don't play in the Big East regular season. WVU has the best win, but Cuse has played the much better schedule.
Providence [17-10 (7-7), RPI: 70, SOS: 33] The Friars likely saw their at-large hopes die at home in the four-point loss to Syracuse, barring an unexpected run to the Big East semis or more. The RPI, bad already, won't be helped by playing St. John's and South Florida in the final two league games.
For more March Madness odds go to MySportsbook.com
For more College Basketball betting lines go to BettingExpress.com
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