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08/20/2010 - Kansas City, KS (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New England's eight-game unbeaten streak in all competitions was snapped Wednesday, when the Revolution blew an early lead against the Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer.
The Revolution also slipped behind the Fire in the playoff chase, and sit five points out of the eighth and final berth currently held by Toronto FC and the San Jose Earthquakes with 26 points apiece.
New England (6-10-3) has qualified for the playoffs for eight straight seasons - a stretch including four losses in the MLS Cup - and climbed back into the race with three wins during a four-game MLS unbeaten run.
With just 11 games left in the season, Steve Nicol's club needs to rebound on Saturday at the Kansas City Wizards.
Kansas City (5-9-5) also had a four-match MLS undefeated streak snapped in its last league game, a 1-0 defeat to San Jose, and are battling for their playoff lives. The Wizards are six points behind Toronto and San Jose.
The Revolution's impressive streak included four SuperLiga games, including a semifinal victory over Mexico's Puebla in penalty kicks. Despite the defeat to Chicago, a 2-1 loss, Revs midfielder Pat Phelan thinks the playoffs are still attainable.
"It's definitely possible; you just have to pick up points on the road in this league to be in the playoffs. We dug ourselves a big hole. It's more important for us to pick up points," Phelan said.
"The game against Kansas City is a must win for us, like all of our games."
New England visits CommunityAmerica Ballpark tied with Toronto and expansion Philadelphia for the fewest road points this year, each with a win and a draw.
Kansas City has four wins and three ties in its 10 home matches, but will also have to shake off a tough 1-0 loss to San Jose.
"It doesn't matter if you win or lose or tie, you have to go back and train; just get on with it, that's the way it goes," K.C. coach Peter Vermes said.
K.C. will be without rookie striker Teal Bunbury due to a one-game suspension, but Wizards midfielder Davy Arnaud knows the squad cannot make excuses if it hopes to contend for a playoff berth.
"Every game is obviously important for us now. By no means are we out of it," Arnaud said. "If we play the way that we can play, we can make the playoffs. We are good enough to be there."
<< Brandao still believes Marseille is the team to beat
Marseille, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - There are only three teams in Ligue 1
that have lost their opening two games, Arles, Bordeaux and defending
champions Marseille.
And while promoted-side Arles should not be a surprise, Bord
<< Hanson and Widmark share Czech Open lead
Celadna, Czech Republic (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Swedes Peter Hanson and Fredrik
Widmark are tied atop the leaderboard after Friday's second round of the Czech
Open.
Hanson shot a two-under 70 in round two, while Widmark fired a five-under 67
<< AL Central: Twins beginning to separate from the pack
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - You'll have to forgive the Minnesota Twins if they're not
quite sure how to handle themselves in the role of frontrunner.
Typically around this time of year, the Twins are the ones fighting for their
playoff lives. They ar
<< Hibs ready to take on defending champions
Edinburgh, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two-time defending champions Rangers
will visit Easter Road Stadium on Sunday to face Hibernian, with both teams
coming off of successful opening weekend matches.
Rangers held off Kilmarnock, 2-
Vidic completes new United deal >>
Manchester, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Manchester United confirmed on Friday
that defender Nemanja Vidic has signed a four-year contract extension.
The deal means that the Serbian will remain at Old Trafford through June 2014,
while it al
Neymar decides to remain with Santos >>
Sao Paulo, Brazil (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brazil starlet Neymar has decided to
remain in his native country and continue to play for Santos after signing a
five-year contract extension.
The move comes as a surprise to many, with big Eu
Dallas puts unbeaten run on line vs. Chivas USA >>
Frisco, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Very quietly, FC Dallas has turned into a major
contender for the Major League Soccer Cup this season.
The Hoops (8-2-9) lead the league with just two losses through 19 MLS
fixtures while riding a 10
West Brom completes Odemwingie and Tchoyi signings >>
West Bromwich, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - West Bromwich completed a double
signing on Friday as the club added both Lokomotiv Moscow forward Peter
Odemwingie and Somen Tchoyi from Red Bull Salzburg.
The 29-year-old Odemwingie re
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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