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09/10/2010 - Seattle, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Real Salt Lake and Seattle Sounders FC battled to a scoreless draw in Major League Soccer action in front of over 36,000 fans at Qwest Field on Thursday night.
RSL (12-4-8) moves into a tie with Columbus and Los Angeles atop the league's overall table with 44 points, although it has played one more game than the other two.
Seattle (9-9-6) solidified its spot in the middle of the Western table with the draw, and looks to be in the driver's seat as far as advancing to the postseason as a wild-card team.
The game, which was the 29th-straight sell-out for Seattle, was the first for RSL at Qwest Field since winning the MLS Cup there last season.
The game, while fast-paced, featured very few clear-cut scoring opportunities for either team. Seattle goalkeeper Kasey Keller and RSL goalkeeper Kyle Reynish - starting for the injured Nick Rimando - combined for just five saves in the game.
The biggest save was credited to Keller when he denied RSL striker Robbie Findley on a penalty kick just after the half-hour mark.
Findley earned a penalty when Seattle defender Jeff Parke lost his footing on the edge of the penalty area with the U.S. international driving toward him. Parke then stuck out his knee and took down Findley, but he wasted the ensuing PK by firing right at Keller.
It was the first missed PK for RSL since May of 2008 at the club's old venue, Rice-Eccles Stadium, vs. San Jose.
Seattle midfielder Steve Zakuani had his team's best chance in the 53rd minute when he sped past a number of defenders into the RSL penalty area, but Kyle Reynish anticipated well and jumped off his line to grab the ball before the speedy winger could get off a shot.
RSL had another chance after the hour mark, but Andy Williams' left-footed shot from about 20 yards was saved by Keller.
Seattle will aim to get back into the win column when it travels to Columbus on Sept. 18, while RSL hosts Chicago earlier the same day in its next MLS fixture.
<< Saints start title defense with win over Vikings
New Orleans, LA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Drew Brees threw for 237 yards and a score
and Pierre Thomas ran for the decisive touchdown in the third quarter, as the
Saints opened their title defense and the 2010 season with a 14-9 win over
the Vik
<< Johnson's homer lifts Astros over Dodgers
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chris Johnson's three-run homer in the sixth
inning lifted the Houston Astros over the Los Angeles Dodgers, 3-2, in the
opener of a four-game series at Minute Maid Park.
Bud Norris (7-8), who was winle
<< Report: Patriots, Brady finalize extension
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New England Patriots and quarterback Tom
Brady have finalized a four-year contract extension worth about $19 million
per season, according to a report from the Boston Herald.
The report, which cites
<< Youzhny, Nadal reach U.S. Open semis
Flushing Meadows, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mikhail Youzhny and eight-time
major titlist Rafael Nadal won their quarterfinal matches on Thursday at the
2010 U.S. Open.
Nadal, the world No. 1, handled eighth-seeded Fernando Verdasco 7-
Colorado travels for inter-conference match-up with Red Bulls >>
Harrison, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Colorado Rapids travel to take on Red Bull
New York on Saturday in an inter-conference clash between the two Major league
Soccer clubs at Red Bull Arena.
Colorado (9-6-7) is riding high after two straig
Giants down Padres to begin key series >>
San Diego, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Matt Cain threw eight-plus solid innings and
was backed by an offense that smacked four home runs, as the San Francisco
Giants beat the San Diego Padres, 7-3, in the opener of a critical four-game
series.
Brady's day starts with crash, ends with contract >>
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) - A loud crash. A crumpled front end. A brief stay in an ambulance.It was a very bad start to Tom Brady's day.A new contract. The highest average salary in the NFL. A deal that ties him to the New England Patriots through 2014
Packers' O-line expects to keep Rodgers upright >>
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) - The Green Bay Packers' offensive line got off to such a bad start last year that it's even serving as a punchline for the satirical newspaper The Onion.In its tongue-in-cheek NFL preview this week, the paper's website wrote, `
BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
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