Friars send Stauffer to hill to face Astros

Baseball Betting Lines

07/29/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tim Stauffer makes his first start of the season this afternoon when the San Diego Padres play the finale of their four-game series with the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park.

Stauffer will be starting in place of the major leagues' leader in earned run average, Chris Young, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Saturday with an oblique strain.

The 25-year-old right-hander, who made one start for the Padres last season, was 5-4 with a 5.34 ERA in 20 games (15 starts) for Triple-A Portland.

Houston will counter with right-hander Jason Jennings, who is just 2-6 with a 4.74 ERA in his initial season with the Astros. Jennings, though, snapped a five-start losing streak in his last outing on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, as he allowed three runs and three hits in six innings to nail down his first home victory of the season.

Jennings has faced the Padres 21 times and is 9-5 against them with a 4.41 ERA.

In the third game of this set on Saturday, Roy Oswalt continued his dominance of San Diego, allowing just one run and fanning 10 over seven innings to help the Astros to a 3-1 win. Carlos Lee hit a two-run homer, his third long ball in four games for the Astros, who have won four of their last five.

Oswalt (10-6), who scattered just three hits and walked a batter, has faced the Padres ten times (eight starts) in his career and is 7-1 against them. The 29-year-old right-hander, who skipped his last outing due to an upper chest injury, also lowered his earned run average on the season to 3.63.

With his 108th career win (in his 200th career start), Oswalt passed J.R. Richard and moved into a tie for fourth place on the franchise's all-time wins list.

Greg Maddux (7-8) surrendered five hits, three runs and a pair of walks over six innings for the Padres. The future Hall-of-Famer is now winless in his last six starts dating back to July 3, going 0-4 in that span. His last win came in San Diego's 4-2 victory over San Francisco on June 27.

Adrian Gonzalez knocked in the lone run for the Padres, who have dropped seven of their last nine games.

Houston also made some off the field news on Saturday, as it acquired infielder Ty WIgginton from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for reliever Dan Wheeler. Wigginton hit .275 with 16 homers and 49 RBIs in 98 games for the Devil Rays this season.

San Diego and Houston are playing their first series since both ballclubs split six meetings in 2006. The Astros are 10-7, though, in the last 17 matchups.

Wwwvegaspalms Baseball Betting News

<< Phils hope to get the brooms out against Bucs
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Phillies will try and complete a three- game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates this afternoon at Citizens Bank Park. Philadelphia won the middle contest of this set on Saturday, as Chris Coste's three-run

<< Zambrano goes for win No. 14 in finale with Cincinnati
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Carlos Zambrano tries to become the first 14-game winner in the major leagues' this afternoon when the Chicago Cubs play the rubber match of their three-game series with the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Za

<< Monaco wins Austrian Open
Kitzbuhel, Austria (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Fifth-seeded Argentine Juan Monaco came back to best 10th-seeded Italian Potito Starace in Sunday's final of the $1.079 million Austrian Open. Monaco, who upset top-seed and world No. 7 Tommy Robr

<< 49ers sign first round pick
Santa Clara, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Francisco 49ers signed their first round draft choice, linebacker Patrick Willis, early Sunday morning. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The 6-foot-1, 242-pound Willis played in 45 games with

<< Schiavone takes Gastein final
Bad Gastein, Austria (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Top-seeded Italian Francesca Schiavone blitzed Austrian crowd favorite Yvonne Meusburger in straight sets to win the inaugural $175,000 Gastein Ladies tennis event. Schiavone, who ousted fourth-see

Sabathia tries for win No. 14 against Twins >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - C.C. Sabathia takes aim at his major league leading 14th win of the season today, as the Cleveland Indians wrap up a three-game series with the Minnesota Twins at Jacobs Field. With 13 victories on the season, Sabathia is

D-Rays try and avoid ninth straight loss in final tilt with Red Sox >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Devil Rays will try to bring their eight- game skid to an end today, as they finish a three-game series with the Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field. Last night, Manny Ramirez's two-run double capped a six-run

Seattle wraps up set with A's at Safeco >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Seattle Mariners shoot for their third win in a row today, as they wrap up a four-game series with the Oakland Athletics at Safeco Field. On Saturday, Yuniesky Betancourt hit a solo home run in the fifth inning, as Se

Billinsgley tries to keep Dodgers atop NL West >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chad Billingsley tries to remain unbeaten on the season this afternoon when the Los Angeles Dodgers play the final game of their rain- shortened three-game series with the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Billingsley ente

O's go for seventh straight win in finale with Yankees >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Baltimore Orioles try to stretch their winning streak to seven games today, as they conclude a three-game set with the New York Yankees from Camden Yards. On Saturday, Miguel Tejada went 2-for-4 with four RBI, as Bal

SPORTS BETTING

NFL Football Betting Online

In terms of sports wagering, the NFL is "the most popular game in town." The explanation behind that is easy.

It is called the "pointspread."

Many years ago, NFL games, as well as the more popular college games, used straight odds as a vehicle for betting. For example, if the Bears were playing the Giants, and it shaped up as a competitive contest, the Bears might be, say, a 7/5 favorite. If they were playing an also-ran, it might be 10/1. Well, there is a point where a line becomes prohibitive, as far as betting the favorite. And who would waste money betting an underdog that has virtually no chance? Such a setup did not contribute to promoting betting action.

But in modern sports betting, a "pointspread" is used.

A NFL pointspreads are exactly that, a pre-established point difference between the two sides that will, for all intents and purposes, create a handicap that evens things out, and in doing so, produces comparable wagering activity on both sides of that proposition. So in lieu of a odds figure in which to bet the team to win outright, the Bears might be a three-point favorite over the New York Giants, and a 17-point favorite over the also-ran. Now that the team that is the underdog can "get" points, there can be equal action on both sides.

In sportsbooks, this is usually done with efficiency by charging the losing bettors 10% extra - in effect, bettors are laying 11/10 on those games. So they are actually betting $110 to win $100. If they lose, they pay the "vig." If they win, they simply collect.

The establishment of the pointspread as the corner stone around which team sports like football can be wagered upon was truly what brought gridiron betting into the stratosphere for online football betting .

Don't believe it? Just take a look at what happens around the Super Bowl.

Stay with us here as we take you through the best in NFL action on a consistent basis, with advice columns as well as handicapping selections. If you're looking for college football betting, that's in our NCAA section, which you can reach by clicking here. And if you're looking for a different kind of football, such as the Canadian Football League, which we'll deal with occasionally, or the Arena Football League, which we really like, you can find it in our Miscellaneous section by clicking

Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting odds .
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook betting credit cards

Matt Kenseth And Kevin Harvick Favorites To Take NASCAR Nextel Cup Championship

(September 15)—The NASCAR season has hit the homestretch with the opening event on this year’s Chase for the Cup taking place this weekend at the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway. With 10 races remaining to determine the Cup Series champion, leading online sportsbook MySportsbook.com today announced odds on all 10 Chase qualifying drivers capturing the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship.

One of the largest sportsbook sites on the Internet, MySportsbook.com currently lists the top two drivers in the point standings as the early favorites to win the Nextel Cup. Entering the Chase for the Cup with a slim five-point lead in the point standings, 2003 NASCAR champ Matt Kenseth has been made a slight favorite to win his second Cup at 7/2 betting odds. 2001 Cup Rookie of the Year Kevin Harvick has betting odds listed at 5/2 and four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon is listed at 6/1 to capture the Nextel Cup this year.

Hoping to follow in the footsteps of his legendary father who won six NASCAR titles, Dale Earnhardt Jr. stands at 8/1 to breakthrough with his first Cup victory. Staying with the family theme, MySportsbook.com lists 2005 Rookie of the Year Kyle Busch at 14/1 to succeed big brother Kurt’s 2004 NASCAR title. While Kasey Kahne was the final driver to qualify for the Chase with a third place finish last week, the oddsmakers give him a fighting chance at 10/1 mainly due to several mile-and-a-half tracks remaining on the schedule. Despite going winless on the NASCAR circuit this season, Jeff Burton enters the Chase at 5/1 to capture the Cup title. Meanwhile, rookie Denny Hamlin is 4/1 to win the championship, while veteran driver Mark Martin enters the Chase for the Cup as a 15/1 long shot to win his first NASCAR title in his 24th and final season.

MySportsbook.com will offer comprehensive Nascar betting lines on every race remaining on the Nextel Cup series including driver match-ups, props and odds to win each race. For a complete list of NASCAR odds, please visit www.MySportsbook.com.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts US credit cards needs.