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12/26/2006 - London, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Only three days after Chelsea narrowly escaped Wigan with the maximum points on Arjen Robben's stoppage time goal, the Blues were not so lucky on Tuesday. Ashley Cole's late miscue led to an own goal, forcing Chelsea to settle for a 2-2 draw with Reading and dropping crucial points at Stamford Bridge.
The news got worse for Chelsea, as front-runners Manchester United got two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo en route to a 3-1 win over Wigan, increasing the Red Devils advantage to four points in the standings over Chelsea.
Didier Drogba continued his fantastic campaign with two goals in the match, the second coming in the 72nd minute to put Chelsea ahead 2-1. It looked as though Jose Mourinho's men would hang on for all three points and keep the heat on United, but then disaster struck in the 85th minute.
Reading's Kevin Doyle played a cross into the box that Cole, who came on as a second-half substitute, should have dealt with easily. However, the English international hurried his clearance, blasting it into teammate Michael Essien. The ball bounded off Essien and into the back of Chelsea's goal past a horrified Hilario.
The game started off well for Chelsea, with the Blues pressing forward and creating a myriad of chances.
Drogba missed a handful of opportunities, while strike partner Salomon Kalou and midfielder Frank Lampard also had narrow misses. Despite failing in his early efforts, Drogba atoned in the 38th minute to put Chelsea ahead.
A Lampard corner found the head of the Ivory Coast international, whose driving header crossed the goal line despite the efforts of Reading's Nicky Shorey, who could not keep it out.
Reading responded well after the restart, and pulled level in the 67th minute. Lampard lost possession in the midfield and Glen Little took hold of the ball and beat Essien down the right flank. Little then served up a ball in the Chelsea box that Leroy Lita slammed home with a diving header, making it a 1-1 match.
The home side had a quick answer, however, and surged back in front just five minutes later. Shaun Wright-Phillips set up Drogba's second tally of the match as he raced down the wing and crossed for Drogba, who was set up at the back post. Drogba made no mistake and finished easily for what many Chelsea supporters thought would be the match-winner.
The Stamford Bridge faithful then watched in disbelief as Cole's ill-fated clearance cost Chelsea a chance to move into the top spot in the Premiership.
In other EPL action on Tuesday, Jermain Defoe helped Tottenham down Aston Villa with a pair of goals in a 2-1 win, Linvoy Primus also hit the back of the net twice to lead Portsmouth to a 2-1 victory over West Ham at Upton Park. Blackburn moved four points clear of relegation as Benny McCarthy scored the lone goal in a 1-0 Rovers win over Liverpool, Nicolas Anelka handed Bolton three points with a 57th-minute goal in a 2-1 win over Newcastle, Everton and Middlesbrough played to a 0-0 stalemate, Stephen Ireland's first league goal of the season gave Manchester City a 1-0 victory over Sheffield United while Arsenal and Watford were tied at one at the break in the later game.
<< Injuries are taking its toll on the Hornets
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Injuries are destroying the New Orleans/Oklahoma City
Hornets season. They own a disappointing 11-15 record, after they started the
season with four straight wins.
The Hornets are without three key players. Peja
<< Clippers have been a big disappointment
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Clippers are just 11-15 and are in the
cellar in the Pacific Division. Expectations are high for the Clippers after
they won 47 games during the 2005-06 campaign and advanced to
the con
<< Jazz continue solid play
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Utah Jazz (20-8) are four games ahead of the second
place Denver Nuggets in the Northwest Division. They look like they are ready
to end their three-year drought of postseason play.
The Jazz are 10-3 when they
<< Eskandarian headed to Toronto
Washington, D.C. (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Toronto FC took another step towards its
inaugural Major League Soccer season by acquiring forward Alecko Eskandarian
from D.C. United in exchange for a partial allocation.
The 24-year-old was the to
Dorsey gets the start for Cleveland >>
Cleveland, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cleveland Browns named Ken Dorsey as
their starting quarterback for the season finale against the Houston Texans.
Dorsey gets the nod after backup Derek Anderson separated his shoulder in
Sunday
Phoenix-Denver game rescheduled >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Phoenix Suns-Denver Nuggets contest
that was postponed due to blizzard conditions in Denver on December 20 has
been rescheduled for Monday, February 5 at 9:00 p.m. (et).
In addition, the start
Onyewu, Lilly named U.S. Soccer Athletes of the Year >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Monday, U.S. Soccer named National Team
defender Oguchi Onyewu and forward Kristine Lilly the 2006 Male and Female
Athletes of the Year, respectively.
For more than 20 years, U.S. Soccer Athletes
Trail Blazers trying to reach .500 >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Portland Trail Blazers are improved and seem to be
heading in the right direction. Even though they are 12-15, the Trail Blazers
are better than most expected them to be.
On Tuesday, the Phoenix Suns attempt t
BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
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