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02/10/2012 - Navarra, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Barcelona, by its high standards, is sailing in chartered La Liga territory this season.
The Catalans have exhibited a certain level of dominance in Spain's top flight over the past few seasons, claiming three-straight La Liga titles.
But this season, Barcelona finds itself seven points adrift of leaders Real Madrid, sitting in second place with 48 points.
With Barcelona set to face Osasuna on Saturday at the Reyno de Navarra, it hopes to cut down Real Madrid's lead down to four points ahead of its Sunday fixture at the Bernabeu.
The deficit does not seem to worry defender Gerard Pique, who said that the reigning European champions are strong enough to still win the title.
"At the beginning of the season I would have happily signed up for this situation," Pique said. "Sometimes we win, others we don't, but we always want it. We feel strong enough to move ahead. Count on us being there in the fight at the end of the season."
Pique also offered a prediction for the remainder of the season.
"The struggle for the [La Liga] title is going to be a long one for whoever ends up winning it."
Barcelona has suffered just one loss this season, but its six draws have set the club off of the blistering pace set by Real Madrid.
The Catalans are unbeaten in their last eight league games, taking 22 points over that stretch.
Osasuna, tied with Malaga for eighth place on 28 points, has not picked up three points in a match since Dec. 18 when it defeated Villarreal, 2-1. Since then, Los Rojillos have drawn three and lost two.
Real Madrid, on a six-game winning run in La Liga play, will need a win to maintain the gap over Barcelona should the Catalans take maximum points Saturday. The Galacticos will have need to try and accomplish that feat against a difficult opponent Sunday as it welcomes fourth-place Levante to the Bernabeu.
Third-place Valencia appears to be out of the title race as it trails Real Madrid by 18 points, but the club now has their sights set on solidifying their place in the top three. Without a win in its last five matches, Valencia will look to pick up three points against second-from-bottom Sporting Gijon.
Elsewhere on Sunday, Espanyol welcomes Real Zaragoza to the Estadi Cornella-El Prat, Malaga hosts Mallorca at the Estadio La Rosaleda, Villarreal and Granada square off at El Madrigal, and Rayo Vallecano faces Getafe at the Teresa Rivero.
Racing hosts Atletico Madrid and Real Betis hosts Athletic Bilbao on Saturday, while La Liga play concludes on Monday with Sevilla looking to snap a seven- game winless run with three points at Real Sociedad.
<< Orioles ink veteran P Ayala
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Baltimore Orioles signed veteran
reliever Luis Ayala to a one-year contract on Friday.
The right-hander's deal includes a club option for 2013.
Ayala, 34, is familiar with the American Leagu
<< 49ers extend GM Baalke
Santa Clara, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Francisco 49ers have extended the
contract of general manager Trent Baalke through 2016.
49ers president and CEO Jed York announced the move via his Twitter account on
Friday.
Baalke, who was
<< Royals sign 12 players to one-year deals
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sean O'Sullivan and Blake Wood have agreed
to terms on one-year contracts with the Kansas City Royals.
The pitchers were just two of 12 players to sign a contract with the Royals
for the upcoming season
<< Everton's double proves too much for Twente
Enschede, Netherlands (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Everton scored a goal in each half as
Heracles claimed a surprising 3-2 win at Twente on Friday, preventing the home
side from joining PSV Eindhoven and AZ Alkmaar at the top of the league.
Everton s
Berdych, Stepanek give Czechs 2-0 lead >>
Ostrava, Czech Republic (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - World No. 7 Tomas Berdych and
countryman Radek Stepanek gave the Czech Republic a 2-0 lead in Friday's
opening singles rubbers against visiting Italy.
Bolstered by a 90 percent first-
Jackets place Lebda, Methot on IR >>
Columbus, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Columbus Blue Jackets placed
defensemen Brett Lebda and Marc Methot on injured reserve Friday.
Lebda was signed by Columbus on January 19, and has picked up one goal in five
games since.
M
Wi leads by 3 at Pebble Beach; Tiger falls six back >>
Pebble Beach, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Charlie Wi carded a three-under 69 on
Friday at Pebble Beach to take a three-stroke lead after two rounds of the
Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.
Wi, who was one of three first-round leaders, finis
NHL fines Lightning F Moore >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The National Hockey League fined Tampa Bay
Lightning forward Dominic Moore $2,500 on Friday.
The fine stems from an interference play to New Your Rangers forward Ruslan
Fedotenko on Thursday.
The in
Many fans thought it was the best side in the nation by the end of last season. This year, the polls have built on Georgia's momentum and granted it the No. 1 preseason ranking, followed by Ohio State and USC. (The Associated Press has the Buckeyes at No. 2; USA Today took the Trojans.)
"To have people believing we have one of the best teams in the nation going into this thing, it's exciting for us," Bulldogs coach Mark Richt told the AP. "I don't think anything is guaranteed, but we certainly have put ourselves in position where at least the college football world thinks we're pretty good."
Georgia Bulldogs - 9.5 wins
There's no question they're good, but the Bulldogs have one of the toughest 12-game schedules in the nation, mostly because they play in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference. Away games at No. 15 Arizona State, No. 7 LSU and No. 10 Auburn loom large, with contests between the hedges versus No. 24 Alabama and No. 18 Tennessee as well as the World's Largest Cocktail Party in Jacksonville versus No.5 Florida.
Ohio State Buckeyes - 10 wins
Like the Bulldogs, the Buckeyes also have a number of tough road contests in 2008. After two scrimmages dressed up as real games versus Youngstown State and Ohio, it's off to face USC. Other tough away games include No.13 Wisconsin in October and No. 20 Illinois in November. Granted, it should be pretty easy sledding at the Horseshoe. In fact, the only ranked team that travels to Columbus is No. 22 Penn State, in October.
USC Trojans - 10.5 wins
A similarly light schedule awaits the Trojans of Southern California, which is why the oddsmakers' total is one win more and the over is currently commanding -150 odds. Pete Carroll's troops only play three ranked teams in 2008, and all of those games are at home. After what should be an easy trip to Virginia to start things off on Aug. 30, the Trojans get two weeks to prepare for Ohio State in Los Angeles. Their two other ranked opponents, No. 21 Oregon and No. 15 Arizona State, visit in consecutive weeks to start the month of October. After that, the competition eases up. Of course, this is the same highly-touted school that lost to Stanford in 2007 and Oregon State in 2006. And don't discount the fact that USC plays its biggest rivals, Notre Dame and UCLA, back-to-back to close out the regular season. On paper, the Trojans are far superior, but motivation will be high for the Irish and Bruins, especially if their historic foes are in national-title contention.
Odds to Win the Heisman Trophy
Tim Tebow, Florida - 7/2
He won it last year, so it's no surprise he's the favorite to do it again, making him just the second player to go back-to-back. Ohio State's Archie Griffin turned the trick in 1974 and 1975, and Tebow's coach, Urban Meyer, is pretty sure his star quarterback can match the Buckeyes legend.
"There has never been anyone quite like him," Meyer told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I am very lucky to be his coach."
Chris Wells, Ohio State - 5/1
The man they call "Beanie" was a star recruit out of high school, so it's not like nobody knew who the star tailback was before he rushed for 576 yards as a freshman in 2006 and 1,609 as a sophomore. But perhaps his finest moment came last year versus Michigan when he rumbled for 222 yards and two touchdowns in the Buckeyes' 14-3 victory over the hated Wolverines.
Knowshon Moreno, Georgia - 8/1
If the Bulldogs are to live up to expectations, they'll need a huge effort from their sophomore running back. This might be the last year of college ball for Moreno, who rushed for 1,334 yards and for 14 touchdowns as a freshman, while adding 253 receiving yards on 20 receptions, so expect big things for the man from Belford, N.J.
Stay with us here as we take you through the best in NFL action on a consistent basis, with advice columns as well as handicapping selections. If you're looking for college football betting, that's in our NCAA section, which you can reach by clicking here. And if you're looking for a different kind of football, such as the Canadian Football League, which we'll deal with occasionally, or the Arena Football League, which we really like, you can find it in our Miscellaneous section by clicking
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting lines .
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Many fans thought it was the best side in the nation by the end of last season. This year, the polls have built on Georgia's momentum and granted it the No. 1 preseason ranking, followed by Ohio State and USC. (The Associated Press has the Buckeyes at No. 2; USA Today took the Trojans.)
"To have people believing we have one of the best teams in the nation going into this thing, it's exciting for us," Bulldogs coach Mark Richt told the AP. "I don't think anything is guaranteed, but we certainly have put ourselves in position where at least the college football world thinks we're pretty good."
Georgia Bulldogs - 9.5 wins
There's no question they're good, but the Bulldogs have one of the toughest 12-game schedules in the nation, mostly because they play in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference. Away games at No. 15 Arizona State, No. 7 LSU and No. 10 Auburn loom large, with contests between the hedges versus No. 24 Alabama and No. 18 Tennessee as well as the World's Largest Cocktail Party in Jacksonville versus No.5 Florida.
Ohio State Buckeyes - 10 wins
Like the Bulldogs, the Buckeyes also have a number of tough road contests in 2008. After two scrimmages dressed up as real games versus Youngstown State and Ohio, it's off to face USC. Other tough away games include No.13 Wisconsin in October and No. 20 Illinois in November. Granted, it should be pretty easy sledding at the Horseshoe. In fact, the only ranked team that travels to Columbus is No. 22 Penn State, in October.
USC Trojans - 10.5 wins
A similarly light schedule awaits the Trojans of Southern California, which is why the oddsmakers' total is one win more and the over is currently commanding -150 odds. Pete Carroll's troops only play three ranked teams in 2008, and all of those games are at home. After what should be an easy trip to Virginia to start things off on Aug. 30, the Trojans get two weeks to prepare for Ohio State in Los Angeles. Their two other ranked opponents, No. 21 Oregon and No. 15 Arizona State, visit in consecutive weeks to start the month of October. After that, the competition eases up. Of course, this is the same highly-touted school that lost to Stanford in 2007 and Oregon State in 2006. And don't discount the fact that USC plays its biggest rivals, Notre Dame and UCLA, back-to-back to close out the regular season. On paper, the Trojans are far superior, but motivation will be high for the Irish and Bruins, especially if their historic foes are in national-title contention.
Odds to Win the Heisman Trophy
Tim Tebow, Florida - 7/2
He won it last year, so it's no surprise he's the favorite to do it again, making him just the second player to go back-to-back. Ohio State's Archie Griffin turned the trick in 1974 and 1975, and Tebow's coach, Urban Meyer, is pretty sure his star quarterback can match the Buckeyes legend.
"There has never been anyone quite like him," Meyer told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I am very lucky to be his coach."
Chris Wells, Ohio State - 5/1
The man they call "Beanie" was a star recruit out of high school, so it's not like nobody knew who the star tailback was before he rushed for 576 yards as a freshman in 2006 and 1,609 as a sophomore. But perhaps his finest moment came last year versus Michigan when he rumbled for 222 yards and two touchdowns in the Buckeyes' 14-3 victory over the hated Wolverines.
Knowshon Moreno, Georgia - 8/1
If the Bulldogs are to live up to expectations, they'll need a huge effort from their sophomore running back. This might be the last year of college ball for Moreno, who rushed for 1,334 yards and for 14 touchdowns as a freshman, while adding 253 receiving yards on 20 receptions, so expect big things for the man from Belford, N.J.
Stay with us here as we take you through the best in NFL action on a consistent basis, with advice columns as well as handicapping selections. If you're looking for college football betting, that's in our NCAA section, which you can reach by clicking here. And if you're looking for a different kind of football, such as the Canadian Football League, which we'll deal with occasionally, or the Arena Football League, which we really like, you can find it in our Miscellaneous section by clicking
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting lines .
To visit this sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs. Mysportsbook.com online sports betting
Sports Betting News: NFL Team History | NFL Football Betting | College Football Betting | Baseball Betting | Basketball Betting | College Basketball Betting | Hockey Betting | Golf Betting | Tennis Betting | Auto Racing Betting | Horse Racing Betting | Soccer Betting