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Dynamo, Rapids to clash in Western tiltSoccer Betting Lines06/25/2010 - Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Dynamo have been wildly inconsistent so far this season, so they are aiming to get things back on track when they host the Colorado Rapids in a Major League Soccer fixture on Saturday. The Dynamo (5-7-1) alternated wins and losses between April 1 and May 22, before heading into the FIFA World Cup break on a three-game losing streak, dropping them to fifth in the Western table. "We need to get going in the second half and we have some points to get and some teams to try to climb over," Houston goalkeeper Pat Onstad told mlssoccer.com. "No better time than now to start against Colorado." One of the facets of their game the Dynamo have been working on during the break has been defensive play, a usual strength of the club. "We haven't been good," Dynamo defender Bobby Boswell told mlssoccer.com. "The team has high standards, and we are our own hardest critics. We know it's not good enough. Sometimes things don't go your way, and sometimes we've had that happen this year, but you can't say that you have to go out and get it done." The Rapids (6-3-2), on the other hand, went into the break on a four-game unbeaten run. The club is happy to be finally be getting back into action after earning a 2-2 draw at Chicago on June 9 in its last MLS fixture. "The mind set has to change from that of a World Cup attitude, sitting in front of the [TV] with your feet up, to match-related thoughts," Rapids coach Gary Smith told mlssoccer.com. "I think you can see there was some rustiness out there [in training this week]." Smith hopes the depth of his club will help it overcome some rustiness. "Whoever starts, whoever plays, there is a lot of competition," Smith said. "The guys know there is pressure from behind and that there are other guys out there who can take their place." The Rapids will be without defender Julien Baudet, midfielder Ciaran O'Brien, and forward Ross Schunk, while Kosuke Kimura is probable, all with injuries. Houston will be without midfielder Geoff Cameron because of knee surgery.
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Numerous College Basketball teams take final big step to March Madness betting So, what turned on the lock spigot? Well, after what felt like weeks of teams treading water and slipping back into the bubble muck, a bunch of them finally decided to say "to heck with parity" and won games that should put them into the Big Dance. Disagree with some of these? Then here's the challenge. Take all of the "should be ins" and make a legit case that each should be ahead of the team that's a lock. Then find 10 more teams that also should be placed in the bracket ahead of that lock team. Not so easy, is it? If you want more evidence that these locks should be good to go, check out what our research department dug up. Since the NCAA Tournament went to 64 teams in 1985, only six teams from a "big six" conference have had a record of 10-6 or better in conference play and not been selected: Colorado (2004) and Nebraska (1999) from the Big 12, Boston College and Seton Hall (both 2003) from the Big East, Indiana (2005) from the Big Ten and UCLA, which somehow went 12-6 in the Pac-10 in 1988 and still missed out. (Note: Five teams went 11-7 and didn't get in, the latest being last season's Stanford team, which had a brutal nonconference run.) Yes, 10 conference wins doesn't always mean what it used to because of unbalanced schedules, but this season, it should be plenty good in all but the extreme cases (see: Iowa). In a way, this is a welcome development, because this is a bubble watch, not a lock watch. We can finally be done with teams like Maryland and Virginia Tech and start really bearing down on at-large battles such as Syracuse-West Virginia and Appalachian State-Georgia Tech. Interestingly, all the shifting of teams into lock status appears to be more administrative than impactful. The number of remaining available at-larges didn't change one iota. The only difference is that teams on the bubble now have a clearer idea of which team(s) they are competing with for those precious bids.
As always, I've tried to be as inclusive as possible while only including teams that would have a reasonable chance of at least being discussed if this were Selection Sunday. If your team's not on here, there's probably a good reason (or three) -- start with the RPI and SOS numbers and work your way down. (Please remember, per selection committee criteria, that records displayed are Division I only. Next update: Feb. 28) If you have a legitimate grievance, or just like talking bubble, send an e-mail. Polite ones with fact-based arguments have a much better chance of receiving a response. I apologize in advance if I can't get back to all of you. Atlantic Coast Conference Work left to do: Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech
Work left to do: Clemson [19-9 (5-9), RPI: 41, SOS: 42] The Tigers are closer to locking up the collapse of the year award (in a good battle with OK State) than they are to grabbing an at-large. Clemson's been very competitive, but there's no really positive way you can spin nine losses in 11 games. They now cannot get to .500 in ACC play and still must head to Virginia Tech in the season finale (after hosting Miami). Unless the Tigers win both and/or do some serious work in the ACC tourney, they very well could be left out. There are no great nonconference wins, but ODU, App State, Miss. State, South Carolina and Georgia are all respectable W's. Florida State [18-11 (6-9), RPI: 48, SOS: 14] The Noles got thrashed at Maryland to run their losing streak to five, but then pounded NC State at home to set the table for what likely is an elimination game at Miami. You can at least make a case for the Seminoles at 7-9 in ACC play (and some work in the ACC tourney), but 6-10 is not going to cut it. Wins at Duke and over Florida will resonate, but the computer numbers remain questionable. Beyond Florida, FSU thrashed bubble buddy Providence, but there's not a ton beyond those two games that will help. They didn't show well in big-time opportunities against Pitt and Wisconsin (before the Florida win). Georgia Tech [18-10 (6-8), RPI: 51, SOS: 46] The Jackets beat Wake on Wednesday but couldn't get it done at UVa on Saturday, which could be a crucial loss with UNC and BC (both at home) remaining and 8-8 almost a certain need for at-large consideration. A nonconference win over Memphis helps, but the RPI and SOS are not at-large quality right now; if you combine those with a sub-.500 ACC mark, that could spell NIT for GT. For more College Basketball betting lines go to MySportsbook.com Additional basketball lines can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.
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