Blanco makes MLS home debut as Fire host Crew

Soccer Betting Lines

08/03/2007 - Bridgeview, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chicago will try to continue its resurgence into the Eastern playoff picture when it hosts the Columbus Crew Saturday night at Toyota Park.

The Fire, who are primed to climb out of the Eastern Conference's second-to- last spot, have a new look with Cuauhtemoc Blanco making his second start and Costa Rican international Paulo Wanchope making his debut up top with the team.

"I think the (addition of) Paulo Wanchope can only be good news for everyone involved with the club," Fire head coach Juan Carlos Osorio said after he was signed on July 27. "Paulo is a very experienced striker, and has scored goals at all levels. I think he will improve our attacking force and hopefully he will be someone challenging the rest of the strikers on the starting line, helping us score more goals, winning more matches, and achieving our goal of making the playoffs."

Blanco's presence was definitely felt in his league debut last weekend in Toronto, a 3-0 win for the Fire. Blanco, a Mexican icon, had an assist as the Fire snapped a six-game winless streak and won for just the second time in 13 games. It was also just the second time this season the team scored more than two goals.

Along with Blanco and Wanchope, striker Chris Rolfe, who has been out since early May with an ankle injury, is scheduled to return in the near future. Despite missing the last 10 games, he is tied for the team lead with four goals. Rolfe is listed as probable on the team's injury report.

Columbus is also coming off a win against Toronto, a 2-0 contest on July 22nd in its most recent game. The win was the team's fifth in the last seven fixtures to get the Crew back into the playoff race.

The play of Argentinean Guillermo Barros Schelotto has been a main reason for the resurgence of the Crew. Schelotto was named MLS's Player of the Month on Thursday after having recorded three goals and one assist in four games in July. He has four goals and seven assists on the season and ranks second in the league in assists while playing just 13 games.

"I thought Guillermo [Barros Schelotto] obviously has been very instrumental since he has been with us," Crew head coach Sigi Schmid said. "I think when you look at all the foreign signings in the league, he's definitely, in my mind, in the top two."

The play of goalkeeper Will Hesmer has also been pivotal in the turnaround after the Crew starting the season with one win in its first 11 games.

Since Hesmer took over for goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum eight games ago, he has four shutouts, five wins and just one loss while the Crew have climbed to fourth in the East.

"Obviously, the team is riding high right now and the chemistry is really there," Hesmer said. "Guys are starting to figure out each other, especially up top with Guillermo, Alejandro (Moreno), Eddie (Gaven), Robbie (Rodgers); everybody's starting to get on the same page. I think defensively we've been doing the same thing the whole time and getting it done. We're doing well."

After Saturday's fixture, Chicago will have a week off before traveling to Real Salt Lake while Columbus travels to FC Dallas on Aug. 11.

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2007 Academy Award Betting : Oscars odds

The 79th Annual Academy Awards odds , which will air February 25th, is sparking an interest throughout the nation with the announcement of its nominees. As the public chooses their favorites, sportsbooks are creating odds for one of the biggest entertainment betting nights of the year.

Whether its at a “Oscar Party” or in an on line sportsbook, entertainment gambling on award shows represent a huge increase in betting. As the public speculation mounts, MySportsbook.com, the largest and most respected sportsbook on the web, posted odds on who is going home with a “Golden Best Friend.”

“ We see a majority of our entertainment wagers come from the Academy Awards,” said MySportsbook.com spokesperson, Tim Dalton. “This is a competition that applies to everyone. These are the people that entertain us on a daily basis and you want to see them win.”

MySportsbook.com posted the following odds for Academy Awards:

Odds to win the Achievement in Directing:

Alejandro González Iñárritu "Babel": 8/1

Martin Scorsese "The Departed": 2/17

Clint Eastwood "Letters From Iwo Jima: 4/1

Stephen Frears "The Queen": 12/1

Paul Greengrass "United 93": 15/1

Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role:

Leonardo DiCaprio in "Blood Diamond": 11/1

Ryan Gosling in "Half Nelson": 20/1

Peter O’Toole in "Venus": 16/5

Will Smith in "The Pursuit of Happyness": 16/1

Forest Whitaker in "The Last King of Scotland": 1/11

Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role:

Penélope Cruz in "Volver": 18/1

Judi Dench in "Notes on a Scandal": 15/1

Helen Mirren in "The Queen": 1/50

Meryl Streep in "The Devil Wears Prada": 10/1

Kate Winslet in "Little Children": 20/1

Best Animated Feature Film:

"Cars": 1/3

"Happy Feet": 2/1

"Monster House": 20/1

Best Foreign-Language Film of the Year:

"Water" – Canada: 22/1

"The Lives of Others" – Germany: 7/2

"After the Wedding" - Denmark: 24/1

"Days of Glory (Indigenes)" – Algeria: 23/1

"Pan's Labyrinth" - Mexico: 1/10

Odds to win the Best Live-Action Short Film:

"Binta and the Great Idea (Binta Y La Gran Idea)": 6/5

"Eramos Pocos (One Too Many)": 7/2

"Helmer & Son": 5/2

"The Saviour": 6/1

"West Bank Story": 7/2

Odds to win the Best Original Screenplay:

"Babel": 7/4

"Letters From Iwo Jima": 3/1

"Little Miss Sunshine": 21/20

"Pan's Labyrinth": 11/4

"The Queen": 5/4

Best Motion Picture of the Year:

"Babel": 11/4

"The Departed": 1/2

"Letters from Iwo Jima": 15/2

"Little Miss Sunshine": 17/10

"The Queen": 20/1

Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role:

Alan Arkin in "Little Miss Sunshine": 11/10

Jackie Earle Haley in "Little Children": 10/1

Djimon Hounsou in "Blood Diamond": 9/1

Eddie Murphy in "Dreamgirls": 2/5

Mark Wahlberg in "The Departed": 5/1

Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role:

Adriana Barraza in "Babel": 14/1

Cate Blanchett in "Notes on a Scandal": 11/1

Abigail Breslin in "Little Miss Sunshine": 2/1

Jennifer Hudson in "Dreamgirls": 1/8

Rinko Kikuchi in "Babel": 11/1

Film To Win Most Oscars:

Dreamgirls: 2/3

Pans Labyrinth: 6/5

The Departed: 6/1

The Queen: 11/1

Babel: 15/1

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest: 11/1

Little Miss Sunshine: 15/1


Additional sports and entertainment odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

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