'Quakes aim to stay alive in playoff hunt vs. Sporting
Soccer Betting Lines
09/30/2011 - Santa Clara, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Eastern-Conference leading Sporting Kansas City travels to Buck Shaw Stadium to face the playoff-hopeful San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday, with both sides eager to take three points.
Sporting claimed the lead in the Eastern Conference with a 2-1 win over the Columbus Crew on Wednesday, the first time that the club has held sole possession of the top spot all season.
The game-winner came with 16 minutes left in the match, when a long throw-in from Matt Besler was met by Julius James, who headed the ball into his own net. It was the fifth time this season that Sporting has scored as a direct result of a long throw-in from Besler.
"It's too dangerous with the guys that we have on or team [to stop]," said Sporting manager Peter Vermes. "It's C.J. and Kei and Collin comes forward, even Julio (Cesar) at times. That's a lot of guys that can get in the box. It's a weapon. It's almost like a corner kick for us. We're going to take those as many times as we can."
Vermes was full of praise for his young team after the victory, and said that while he was impressed with how they coped with pressure, they must take care of business against San Jose.
"We have a young team, and this victory will pay major dividends down the road," said Sporting manager Peter Vermes. "This isn't a type of game that many of the guys on the field tonight have ever been in before and they did well to steal the moment. We haven't achieved anything yet, we have San Jose in front of us we have to get prepared for."
San Jose, meanwhile, has struggled over the last few months, taking just one win since June 11. It has a 1-7-9 record since that date.
The Earthquakes sit in eighth place in the Western Conference with 31 points on the season, eight points of the last wild card spot, which is held by Red Bull New York.
San Jose could still make the postseason, but a loss to Sporting paired with other results would see the 'Quakes crash out of contention.
"Numerically, we're still in it," Earthquakes defender Steven Beitashour said. "There's a bunch of teams sitting on the playoff bubble, at the bottom of the pack. Just having that slight possibility keeps us going. The players, the coaches won't let us quit. Even if we were out of it, don't think the personnel would quit."
Sporting defeated San Jose on June 17 this season in the second match ever held at Livestrong Sporting Park. C.J. Sapong recorded the lone goal in the affair, thereby scoring the first goal ever at Sporting's new stadium.
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Football Betting: Defensive Rookie of the Year Awards
Oddsmakers have released the odds for the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and Seattle Seahawks linebacker Aaron Curry has been made the opening favorite.
Seattle took Curry with the fourth overall pick in April's NFL draft and plan on inserting him into its starting lineup right away. The Hawks traded linebacker Julian Peterson in the offseason, so Curry is expected to have a significant role in Seattle's defense next year and that's one of the primary reasons he is the favorite to win the NFL ROY Award.
Oddsmakers from online sportsbook MySportsbook.com have made Curry a 5/1 favorite to win this year's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. Given that he was the best defensive prospect in this year's draft and how he'll have plenty of opportunities to make plays in '09, Curry offers a ton of value at 5/1.
Another thing working for Curry is the position he plays. A linebacker has won the defensive ROY award six straight times and eight of the last nine years. Jerod Mayo, Patrick Willis, DeMeco Ryans, Shawne Merriman, Jonathan Vilma, Terrell Suggs, Kendrell Bell and Brian Urlacher were the most recent linebackers to take home the award.
Following Curry at 5/1 are Tyson Jackson (Chiefs) at 7/1, James Laurinaitas (Rams) at 8/1, Brian Orakpo (Redskins) at 10/1, Rey Maualuga (Bengals) at 10/1 and Jerry Peria (Falcons) at 10/1.
All the players mentioned above are expected to start for their respective teams, but Jackson and Peria are going to have a tough time being recognized on a national level given they're both defensive linemen. D-linemen rarely put up the numbers that it takes to win an individual award like the ROY.
A couple of players with some value are Clay Matthews (Packers) at 12/1 and Larry English (Chargers) at 15/1. Matthews is expected to start at outside linebacker in Green Bay's new 3-4 defense and could rack up a ton of tackles. English, who was an impressive player at Northern Illinois, is expected to be a situational pass rusher for the Chargers and could rack up a ton of sacks.
For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, see below. And for complete odds for the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, click the link provided.
2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award
Robert Ayers (DEN) 12/1
Ron Brace (NE) 25/1
Everette Brown (CAR) 16/1
Darius Butler (NE) 40/1
Patrick Chung (NE) 30/1
Aaron Curry (SEA) 5/1
Brian Cushing (HOU) 12/1
Vontae Davis (MIA) 30/1
Louis Delmas (DET) 30/1
Larry English (SD) 15/1
Evander Hood (PIT) 25/1
Tyson Jackson (KC) 7/1
Malcolm Jenkins (NO) 25/1
Paul Kruger (BAL) 50/1
James Laurinaitas (STL) 8/1
Sen'Derrick Marks (TEN) 20/1
Clay Matthews (GB) 12/1
Aaron Maybin (BUF) 15/1
Rey Maualuga (CIN) 10/1
Roy Miller (TB) 20/1
Michael Mitchell (OAK) 45/1
Fili Moala (IND) 30/1
Brian Orakpo (WAS) 10/1
Jerry Peria (ATL) 10/1
B J Raji (GB) 7/1
Clint Sintim (NYG) 35/1
Alphonso Smith (DEN) 40/1
David Verkune (CLE) 20/1
Jason Williams (DAL) 30/1
Field (Any Other Player) 6/1
To visit this internet sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.