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Bafana Bafana need win over frazzled French, help to surviveSoccer Betting Lines06/21/2010 - Bloemfontein, South Africa (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - South Africa is on the verge of becoming the first host nation to fail to advance to the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup, but a frazzled France presents a part of the miracle equation the Bafana Bafana need to survive Tuesday. South Africa started the tournament with promising 1-1 tie against Mexico, but after a 3-0 defeat to Uruguay, needs a win over France, for Mexico and Uruguay not to draw Tuesday, and to overturn a considerable goal differential deficit. Bafana Bafana continue their tournament at Free State Stadium and hope support from the hum of the vuvuzela can help produce, if nothing else, a win to close their World Cup in Group A play. Mexico and Uruguay are level atop the group with four points, meaning a tie is sufficient to put both countries into the knockout round. South Africa and the French each have one point, so both need a win and help. South Africa trailed Uruguay by one goal before goalie Itumeleng Khune was red carded. Diego Forlan scored his second goal on the ensuing penalty and Alvaro Pereira added the last goal just before the final whistle. "We have to go on and believe. But [the Uruguay loss] was unacceptable," said South African captain Aaron Mokoena. "The first 15-20 minutes, they started pressing us, we lost that belief and we didn't want to play at all. "We still have France and we really have to bounce back." South Africa will be without Khune and Kagisho Dikgacoi, who is suspended for accumulated cards, but will try to add to France's woes. The French don't have a goal through their first two games, a 0-0 tie against Uruguay and a 2-0 loss to Mexico, and are headed toward a disappointing exit similar to 2002 when it failed to score in group play. During halftime of the loss to Mexico, Nicolas Anelka had a confrontation with coach Raymond Domenech and the Chelsea striker was later kicked off the team. Jeremy Toulalan is also suspended through accumulated cards, leaving Domenech without two starters. On top of that, another incident involving Domenech before training Sunday led to practice being canceled. The latest incidents follow France's controversial qualification after Thierry Henry's handball set up the game-winning goal in a playoff against Ireland and an underage sex scandal involving Franck Ribery. Coupled Domenech's impending departure after the World Cup, France is in total disarray entering its finale, and captain Patrice Evra admitted it was crucial just to "salvage our pride against South Africa."
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(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Finding 32 quality teams to fill out a World Cup field can sometimes be a difficult task, especially when soccer hotbeds like Europe and South America are limited to a certain number of teams. Often times it is the las
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COLLEGE FOOTBALL BETTINGNCAA Football BettingMany 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 "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. Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting lines . |
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