Wizards will try to make move vs. powerful Houston club

Soccer Betting Lines

07/03/2009 - Kansas City, KA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Kansas City Wizards face a tough task on Saturday when they host the Major League Soccer leading Houston Dynamo at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

The Wizards (5-5-4) are keen on making a move up the Eastern Conference table, where they are currently in the bottom half. The team is coming off a strong effort in its last league match, topping New England 3-1 on June 13.

They also coming off a couple disappointing results in the SuperLiga, with central defender Jimmy Conrad going out with a knock. His absence was a major factor in the poor showing in the North American club tournament.

"Anytime you lose Jimmy Conrad, who, in my mind, is one of the best central defenders in [MLS], you're going to have issues," Wizards coach Kurt Onalfo said. "Having said that, I thought Rauwshan [McKenzie] did a fairly solid job. But, you're playing against a very savvy group of attacking players. That ended up being the difference in the game."

Conrad will be absent on Saturday because of his participation with the U.S. national team in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Davy Arnaud and Roger Espinoza will be absent for the same reason, representing their respective countries.

The Dynamo (8-3-4) are coming off a disappointing result of their own in league play, dropping a 1-0 decision at Los Angeles this past Sunday.

"Overall, a disappointing night with the result, obviously, and in the way we played," Houston coach Dominic Kinnear said. "We've definitely played better during the season, and I expect us to play better than that. But unlucky not to come out with something, because I thought we created some chances there."

The Dynamo will be without U.S. internationals Bring Ching and Stuart Holden, and Canadian international Andrew Hainault, all because of their participation in the Gold Cup.

Defenders Eddie Robinson and Wade Barrett are also out and defender Craig Waibel is questionable, all with injuries.

The Wizards will be without forward Adam Cristman, defender Chance Myers, and midfielder Kevin Souter with their own injuries.

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2007 NFL Football Betting Preview


“You play to win the game!”

Those are the words of notoriously intense head coach Herman Edwards. Unfortunately, from a bettors’ perspective, most coaches don’t feel that way about the NFL preseason. August is a time to evaluate young players, finalize the depth chart and pray your star players stay healthy.

The trick to making money during the exhibition schedule is identifying coaches – like Edwards – who can’t stand losing even when there's nothing on the line.

The New York Jets betting won 15 of 21 preseason games and went 14-7 against the spread (ATS) during Edwards’s five-year tenure with the club. In his first season as the Kansas City Chiefs field boss, the team improved from 0-4 to 2-2.

Identifying win-a-holics like Edwards is a good start if you plan betting the preseason – even though most say you shouldn’t ... but what the hell do they know anyway?

Here’s a brief rundown of two teams that have a habit of winning during the second-stringers’ season, and another club that has a good chance of exceeding this year.

New York Giants betting lines

Playing in the media hub of North America can be stressful but the press can’t write anything negative about the way Tom Coughlin’s boys play in the preseason. The Giants won and covered all four games last summer, improving their record to 7-1 both straight up (SU) and against the spread over the last two years.

Coughlin has shown he’s not afraid to give his starters more time in the second preseason game than most of his colleagues, no doubt one of the reasons his team has been so dominant.

Dallas Cowboys betting lines

Bettors can count on America’s team early on. The Cowboys are 14-6 both SU and ATS since 2002 in warm-up contests. Former coach Bill Parcells, the coach of the team the last four years, has an intimidating, in-your-face presence – surely a reason Dallas has had so much early success.

The Big Tuna won’t be strolling the sidelines with looks of disgust, but new coach Wade Phillips will be anxious to make a good first impression for owner Jerry Jones.

Dallas plays the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos before things get serious. They then face the Houston Texans in their third contest (the game starters see most game time) and finish off with the Minnesota Vikings.

Expect a Dallas team able to walk away with another 3-1 preseason record.

Oakland Raiders betting lines

This team scored a league-worst 12 offensive touchdowns last season, so the rookies and veterans each have something to prove. There’s a bounty of first-unit jobs up for grabs and plenty of bodies competing for those slots.

First-time head coach Lane Kiffin will be eager to impress an owner who employs the philosophy, “Just win, baby!”

The 32-year-old Kiffin has to command respect from a locker room full of players older than him. All of these factors should lead to purpose in preseason. 

Don’t forget: before playing like a team that belonged in NFL Europe, Oakland went 4-1 (both SU and ATS) in exhibition games.

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