05/11/2008 - Milan, Italy (Soccer Betting) - Inter Milan failed in its second attempt to secure a third straight Serie A title, finishing 2-2 with Siena at the San Siro while Roma beat Atalanta 2-1, cutting Inter's lead to just one point with one game to play.
Inter will finish the season at relegation-battling Parma, while Roma will hope Inter drops points for the third consecutive game and the capital club secures all three against Catania.
Patrick Vieira put Inter ahead 11 minutes into the match, but Siena answered 20 minutes later through Massimo Maccarone. Mario Balotelli's third goal of the season right before halftime gave the Nerazzuri a 2-1 lead, but the visitors responded once again through a terrific strike from Houssine Kharja with 20 minutes to play.
Inter was handed a chance to get the win in the 78th minute when Marco Materazzi drew a questionable penalty kick, but his effort from the spot was stopped by Siena goalkeeper Alex Manninger.
The home side got off to a great start with Balotelli's corner kick finding the head of Vieira inside the box. The former Arsenal man then headed his side ahead by beating Manninger from close range.
The Inter defense gave the goal back in the 31st minute, however, when Siena's Kharja split the back line with a through ball, allowing Maccarone to get in on goal and slip the ball underneath Inter keeper Julio Cesar.
Another dead-ball situation allowed Inter to take a one-goal lead into the half as Maicon's long throw into the box was flicked through the face of goal by Vieira to Balotelli, who was left with an easy finish at the back post.
The home side was just 45 minutes away from the title, but Kharja put the celebrations on hold with a fantastic effort from 25 yards that found the lower corner to level the match.
Inter had one last chance to grab the title eight minutes later when Siena's Christian Rigano was called for bringing down Materazzi inside the box. It was a debatable call, but Manninger made it a mute point when he came up with a diving stop to deny the Inter defender from the penalty spot.
Roma got goals from Christian Panucci and Daniele De Rossi to hold off Atalanta, giving themselves a shot to steal the title on the season's final day.
Third-place Juventus finished 1-1 with Catania, which is now two points clear of the drop zone, while last-place Livorno will be headed down next year after losing 1-0 to Torino.
Empoli is in trouble after losing 2-0 to Reggina, leaving the team three points from safety with one game left. Parma occupies the final relegation spot heading into the last week after they suffered a 3-1 defeat to Fiorentina, which jumped into fourth place after AC Milan was stunned 3-1 by Napoli.
Sampdoria improved its European chances with a 2-0 win over Palermo, Cagliari downed Udinese 2-0 and Lazio got goals from Goran Pandev and Tommaso Rocchi in a 2-0 win over Genoa.
<< Diamondbacks' Johnson scratched from start
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Randy
Johnson was scratched from his scheduled start against the Chicago Cubs on
Sunday due to wet weather conditions.
Edgar Gonzalez was tabbed to start in Johnson's pl
<< Yankees-Tigers postponed due to heavy rain
Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sunday's scheduled series finale between the
New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers was postponed due to rain.
No make-up date for the game was announced.
<< Fever knocks Recapturetheglory out of Preakness
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Recapturetheglory, fifth in the Kentucky
Derby, has been declared out of the Preakness Stakes after showing a fever
Friday night.
"We took his temperature last night (Friday)," assistant trainer
<< Second day qualifying for Indy a washout
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - An all-day rain ended the second day of
Indianapolis 500 qualifying even before it began. No drivers were able to take
to the track.
Qualifying for positions 12-33 will restart next Saturday, the thir
Millwood sent to 15-day DL >>
Arlington, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Texas Rangers placed starting
pitcher Kevin Millwood on the 15-day disabled list on Sunday with a strained
right groin.
Millwood left Saturday's 6-4 victory over the Oakland Athletics af
Braves/Bucs game rained out >>
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sunday's game between the Atlanta Braves
and Pittsburgh Pirates was postponed due to rain.
The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Monday, with the first
pitch scheduled for 12:35 p.m. (e
Toronto, Cleveland to play doubleheader Monday after rainout >>
Cleveland, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sunday's game between the Toronto Blue Jays
and the Cleveland Indians has been postponed due to rain.
The game will be made up as a traditional doubleheader on Monday, as the clubs
will play twice to fini
Padres acquire P Corey from BoSox >>
San Diego, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Diego Padres acquired pitcher
Bryan Corey from the Boston Red Sox on Sunday in exchange for a player to be
named later or cash considerations.
Corey, who was outrighted to Triple-A Pawtuc
Eastern Conference Playoff Betting Trends
We all know by now that the “public” loves to put their money on the FAVORITES and the OVERS. Just by taking a quick glance at Sportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends” it appears as is this tendency will continue as far as the Eastern Conference games are concerned. For the inaugural games of the first round, 69% of the early money is on Toronto -4.5; 59% of bettors prefer Chicago -4.5; 84% are backing Detroit -9; and 56% think Cleveland -11.5 is the way to go. As far as TOTALS are concerned, the only UNDER the “public” is backing is the Cleveland/ Washington game in which 83% are pounding the UNDER (190). Remember, there is no better way to predict a possible line change than by monitoring MySportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends”. By determining who the “public” is backing, you can get the most ideal line for your bet. For example, if you are siding with the public you better place your bet before the line moves in the wrong direction. On the other side of the coin, if you prefer the team that the “public” is betting against; you might be able to get and extra ½ or even more by placing your bet a bit later. Under the “Betting Trends” section, Sportsbook.com also provides plenty of statistical data and trends in order for the bettor to make the most informed pick. Below are some extremely important trends for the first round opponents of the Eastern Conference match-ups, more can be found at MySportsbook.com
New Jersey Nets vs. Toronto Raptors
Toronto was the most reliable covering team this season with a 48-33-1 ATS record but covered the OVER only 41.5% of the time.
The last 20 times these teams have played, the TOTAL has gone UNDER 16 times.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Toronto is 33-19 ATS including 17-9 at home.
New Jersey has covered four games in a row while Toronto has failed to cover their last four games.
When playing a team with a winning record during the second half of the season, New Jersey was just 5-13 ATS this season.
After scoring 105 points or more, Toronto has covered the OVER only 28% of the time this season.
Miami Heat @ Chicago Bulls
Miami has failed to cover their last 7 games whereas Chicago has covered 6 out of their last 8 games.
Miami has covered the UNDER in four of their last five games whereas Chicago has covered the UNDER in five out of their last six.
When playing on Saturdays, Miami covered 80% of their games this season.
Away from home, Chicago is just 16-25 ATS this season.
At home, Miami covered the UNDER about 66% of the time whereas Chicago covered the UNDER about 61% of the time.
The last 13 times these teams have played each other, Chicago has covered 9 times.
In Miami’s last 11 road games, the UNDER covered 9 times.
Orlando Magic @ Detroit Pistons
Detroit has covered 5 out of their last 6 games.
Away from home, Detroit is 28-13 ATS but just 14-26-1 ATS at home.
At home, Orlando covered the UNDER 64% of the time while Detroit covered the UNDER in 63% of their away games.
The last five times these teams have played in Detroit, the OVER covered each time.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Detroit is 8-17-1 ATS at home but 17-9 ATS away.
Detroit covered the spread 5 out of the last 6 times they played Orlando.
After a Division game, Orlando covered the UNDER 87% of the time this season.
Washington Wizards @ Cleveland Cavaliers
In a home game where the TOTAL is between 190 and 194.5 points, Cleveland is 9-1 ATS this season.
Washington has covered the UNDER in their last 6 games and in 8 of their last 9 games.
The last 6 times these teams have played each other, the UNDER covered each time.
When playing on 3 or more days of rest, Washington is just 18-37 ATS since 1996.
Since 1996, Washington is 28-16 ATS versus Cleveland including 11-5 over the last 3 seasons.
In their last 7 road games, Washington is 6-1 ATS.
Versus Eastern Conference teams at home, Washington is just 6-18-2 ATS.
For even more betting trends for not just the NBA but for all of the major sports, log on to Sportsbook.com and click on “Trends”. With only two months left in the NBA betting season it is important to be as well informed as possible in order to maximize your profit. Also for all of you poker players, check out MySportsbook.com’s “WSOP Low Bid Auction”. You could be on your way to Vegas to play against the world’s best poker players for under a buck.
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Kurt Warner to start, Matt Leinart to watch
Despite the debate that's swirling , Kurt Warner will remain the starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals, coach Dennis Green said today. The Arizona Cardinals are the +7 point underdog at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com for this Sunday's game.
Green's comment came in a statement released by the team following an ESPN report that Green decided that rookie Matt Leinart would replace Warner as starter for Sunday's game at Atlanta.
"Generally talking about the starting lineup is not something we do," Green told the AP. "However, given the speculation that was out there we want to make it clear. We're disappointed after last week, but we still expect to be a playoff football team and we fully expect Kurt Warner to be the quarterback that leads us. That has not changed."
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