Kouzmanoff, Braden help A's stop streaking White Sox

Baseball Betting Lines

07/31/2010 - Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kevin Kouzmanoff finished a triple shy of hitting for the cycle and Dallas Braden tossed a complete game to lead Oakland to a 6-2 victory over Chicago in the second installment of a three-game set.

Kouzmanoff went 3-for-5 and scored three times while Daric Barton added a pair of hits and drove in two runs to help the Athletics snap a two-game slide.

Braden (6-7) permitted eight hits, walked one and struck out five to win his second consecutive start -- both against Chicago -- after going nine straight turns without a win following his perfect game for Oakland, which snapped the White Sox's 12-game home winning streak.

John Danks (11-8) suffered the loss after allowing five runs on seven hits while walking two and striking out eight in 6 2/3 innings for Chicago, which also had a five-game overall win streak halted.

Kouzmanoff started the second inning with a single, moved to second base on an Adam Rosales base hit and scored when Rajai Davis singled to right field. Mark Ellis walked to load the bases for Matt Carson, who roped a single to left to plate Rosales.

Coco Crisp struck out before Barton lined a single to right field to chase home two runs to extend the visitors' lead to 4-0.

Kouzmanoff led off the third with a home run to straightaway center to push the lead to five.

Braden held the Sox to two hits over the first five frames before Juan Pierre and Alexei Ramirez opened the sixth with back-to-back singles. The southpaw got out of trouble by retiring Alex Rios and Paul Konerko on fly outs and Carlos Quentin on a fielder's choice grounder.

Barton's ground rule double with two outs in the seventh spelled the end of the night for Danks. Tony Pena came on to end the inning.

Chicago's only runs came in the seventh when Dayan Viciedo singled with one out and scored when Andruw Jones followed with a homer.

Oakland loaded the bases with one out in the eighth and got a sacrifice fly from Ellis to push their advantage to 6-2.

Viciedo doubled with one out in the ninth, but Braden retired Jones and Gordon Beckham to end the game and sew up his third route-going performance of the season.

Game Notes

Oakland has won 10 of its last 15 road games, while the Sox fell for only a second time in their last 21 home games...The A's are 8-10 in Braden's starts. Kouzmanoff has hit safely in 11 of his last 13 games, while Davis extended his hitting streak to six games...Jones' long ball was the 403rd of his career... Danks suffered his first career defeat to Oakland in six starts. He is 4-1 against the A's...Oakland was 4-for-9 with runners in scoring position while the Sox were 0-for-8 with RISP and stranded seven...Oakland leads the season series, 3-2.

Wwwgameland Baseball Betting News

<< Hamilton scratched from lineup
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton, the leader in the majors in batting average, was scratched from Saturday's lineup against the Angels because of patella tendinitis in his right knee. David Murphy

<< Oilers come to terms with Deslauriers
Edmonton, AB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Goaltender Jeff Deslauriers has come to terms on a one-year contract to remain with the Edmonton Oilers. The 26-year-old Deslauriers went 16-28-4 with a 3.26 goals against average in 48 games last season. H

<< Butler's late homer lifts Royals over O's
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Billy Butler's go-ahead, two-run homer in the eighth proved to be the difference, lifting the Kansas City Royals to a 4-3 win over the lowly Baltimore Orioles. Butler's 10th home run of the season ga

<< Giants sign top two picks
Albany, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Giants have signed defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, their first round draft choice, and defensive tackle Linval Joseph, their second round choice. No terms of the deals were announced. Pierre-

<< Mainz signs striker Allagui
Mainz, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mainz signed striker Sami Allagui from SpVgg Greuther Furth of the Bundesliga 2 on Saturday. Allagui, 24, signed a three-year contract through the 2012-13 season, with an option for a fourth year. "Sami

Slowey and Twins shut down slumping Seattle >>
Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kevin Slowey threw eight shutout innings to outduel Seattle's Felix Hernandez and keep the Twins rolling in a 4-0 victory. Slowey (10-5) gave up three hits, struck out five and didn't walk a batter to pitc

Congi kicks Saskatchewan over Hamilton >>
Regina, SK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Luca Congi made seven field goals and Wes Cates added two short rushing touchdowns, as the Saskatchewan Roughriders pulled away from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats for a 37-24 victory at Mosaic Stadium. Congi was

Sanchez, Rodriguez help Astros blank Brewers >>
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Angel Sanchez drove in two runs and Wandy Rodriguez tossed eight scoreless innings, as the Houston Astros dominated the Milwaukee Brewers, 6-0, in the second test of a three-game series at Minute Maid Pa

Cano lifts Yanks over Rays; A-Rod still stuck on 599 >>
St. Petersburg, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Just after Alex Rodriguez failed to club career homer No. 600, Robinson Cano belted a solo shot to right field with one out in the ninth inning, providing the New York Yankees with a 5-4 win over the Ray

Busch dominant in Nationwide win at Iowa >>
Newton, IA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kyle Busch put on a dominating performance to easily win Saturday's U.S. Cellular 250 Nationwide Series race at Iowa Speedway. Busch led 208 of 250 laps, but fell back to seventh for a late-race restart after t

Big East Conference odds

Work left to do: Villanova, Syracuse, DePaul, West Virginia, Providence

Notre Dame and Louisville appear to have done enough to make the move, so we'll make them locks. The Cardinals, despite a modest RPI, are trending way up and have clinched at least a tie for third in the Big East, which should be more than enough with their pair of big road wins. Villanova got back to .500 and gets back to more solid footing. Syracuse got a very important road win and crippled a fellow contender in the process. West Virginia's fate could be in its hands Tuesday at Pitt.

Work left to do:

Villanova [18-9 (7-7), RPI: 21, SOS: 5] Pounded Rutgers to get back to .500. If Cats can get their last two (at UConn, vs. Syracuse), that should be enough with strong computer numbers and a host of wins away from The Pavilion. The Cats have beaten Texas and swept the Big 5 (never easy in Philly), but have a couple of losses to bubble teams (Xavier, Drexel), too. I still think they'll be OK, possibly even at 8-8.

Syracuse [20-8 (9-5), RPI: 53, SOS: 62] History says 10 wins will be plenty, but it might be hard for the Orange to get that last one with a final two vs. G'town, which is trying to win the league title, and at Villanova, which will be desperate for a W. The relative lack of nonconference heft and the weak computer numbers are still concerns, but the Orange have won four in a row and got a very, very big win at Providence on Saturday.

DePaul [16-12 (8-7), RPI: 54, SOS: 18] Beat Cincy and should get past South Florida to get to 9-7, but then what? They have beaten Kansas and Cal (right after the DeVon Hardin injury) earlier this season, but also have lost to Bradley and Purdue, among others. They'll likely need a couple of BE tourney wins, too, but we'll see ...

West Virginia [19-7 (8-6), RPI: 58, SOS: 125] The game at Pitt on Tuesday night could decide the Mountaineers' fate (barring a deep tournament run). They can still get to 9-7 in the Big East without it by beating Cincinnati, but the nine wins would be against UConn, Villanova, St. John's, South Florida, DePaul, Rutgers, Seton Hall twice and the Bearcats. Beating bubble foes is fine, but where's the beef? Outside of beating PG-less UCLA in nonconference play (still a top quality win), there's not a lot to fall back on (besides maybe NC State). WVU vs. Syracuse would be an interesting debate, as the teams don't play in the Big East regular season. WVU has the best win, but Cuse has played the much better schedule.

Providence [17-10 (7-7), RPI: 70, SOS: 33] The Friars likely saw their at-large hopes die at home in the four-point loss to Syracuse, barring an unexpected run to the Big East semis or more. The RPI, bad already, won't be helped by playing St. John's and South Florida in the final two league games.

For more March Madness odds go to MySportsbook.com

For more College Basketball betting lines go to BettingExpress.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.


American Idol Betting Odds: Season 6  

The online gambling websites are in the process of deciphering each American Idol contestant and his or her chances of winning Season 6 to come up with the early American Idol betting lines.

Tim Dalton of MySportsbook.com has been locked away in a soundproof room coming up with all the latest tallies, we are told. "American Idol has become one of the most significant betting events of the year," claims Jack Black of MySportsbook.com.  "Last year, millions were bet during the season across the globe, not just in America.

It's tough early on since we really do not have a glimpse as to how well each of these individuals will perform solo on a week-to-week basis.  It's like Week 1 of the NFL.  Pre-season means nada!

We do know the 24 finalists however.

Sanjaya Malakar is the young man whose sister failed to make it into the Top 24.  He's very low key but - unless he totally flubs - will probably win over the young girlie vote for a few weeks anyway.  He's too young to go all the way, according to Payton O'Brien. 

Brandon Rogers - Who?

Phil Stacy is the military guy who missed his daughter's birth because of the Memphis audition.  He should go a good distance.

Chris Sligh - He's got the humor and in many ways he's the Anti-American Idol much like last year's winner Taylor Hicks was.  And this is why he'll probably get pretty far in this competition.  He's chubby, white with a big curly afro....but more importantly, a great voice!  People love "real", not "real cute" to go all the way. 

"Blake Lewis should go far because of his uniqueness and looks.  He's the boy next store with a twist - he beat boxes.  But on top of this, he's a great singer, and I adore him," Payton O'Brien relayed.

A talented beat-boxer Blake Lewis was a hit during the group sing in Hollywood but Simon explained that this is a singing contest just before he told him he was “in.”

Paul Kim has caught our own roving reporter, Jenny Woo's eyes. 

"I love the fact that there is a Korean American on the show and he is bound to get more Asians tuning into the show," Woo said from her Miami Beach estate.  "There has never been a major presence of Asian-Americans on American Idol in the past.  He's a hottie with a nice voice so that should help to take him far.  Expect heavy betting action from the Asian community."

Sundance Head - He's not perfect, but he's got the personality that will take him through a few weeks, plus he's got the lineage (son of Roy Head - whose 1965 single, "Treat Her Right," hit No. 5 in the charts) 

And the others:

Rudy Cardinas
AJ Tabaldo - the 5th time is the charm
Nicolas Pedro
Chris Richardson
Jared Cotter

The girls

"Melinda Doolittle has one of the best voices," says MySportsbook.com Reporter and an acclaimed dancer in her own right, Destiney Lewis.  "It is great to see a back up singer step out like she has.  The girl needs to gain more confidence but that can also be a positive.  I think she will go far."

Alena Alexander - Those tears (she never seems to stop bawling) should get her far.

"Single mom Lakisha Jones I suspect will be a pretty big favorite entering Week 1 of the competition," says Destiny Williams.  Jones is an excellent singer and down to earth.  "She'll have a wide appeal," echoed O'Brien.

Nicole Trellis - Seems to exert confidence.

Amy Krebs - a powerful singer.

Antonella Barba
Gina Glocksen
Hailey Scanardo
Jordan Sparks
Stephanie Edwards
Leslie Hunt
Sabrina Sloan

MySportsbook.com is offering a 20% signup bonus with an initial deposit (i.e. open your American Idol betting account with $300, receive another $60 in which to bet with). 

Last two contestants will be?

1 Male/1 Female +100 (a $10 bet pays $10 plus your initial $10)

2 Males +170 (a $10 bet pays $17 plus your initial $17)

2 Females +130 (a $10 bet pays $13 plus your initial $10)

MySportsbook.com is an online sportsbook accepts Visa Credit Cards and online sportsbook accepts Mastercard Credit Cards for easy American Idol betting lines.