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12/23/2006 - Rotterdam, Holland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Feyenoord are traditionally looked at as one of the big three in Holland, along with PSV and Ajax. This season, Erwin Koeman's club have endured plenty of ups and downs on their way to a fifth-place spot in the Eredivisie this season, and will try to improve on that position when they host city rivals Sparta on Saturday.
After fighting their way through a sluggish start, Feyenoord have won seven of their last nine league games, putting themselves back in the top five and within striking distance of second-place AZ. The Rotterdam club is 14 points adrift of league-leaders PSV, making a run at the title unlikely. However, a spot in the Champions League next season is well within reach. With three games to go before the brief winter break, Feyenoord will be trying to position itself for a run at the coveted European spot in the second half.
Koeman's lineup will not include goalkeeper Patrick Lodewijks, who will miss out with an Achilles problem, while Romeo Castelen (ankle), Pieter Collen (shoulder) and Karim Saidi (knee) will also be relegated to the role of spectator. Defender Serginho Greene will be a game-time decision.
On a positive note for Feyenoord, playmaking midfielder Alfred Schreuder could return from a 16-month layoff to make an appearance. Schreuder has missed the past 16 months with a knee injury.
The home side is coming off of a 2-1 loss at Utrecht last weekend, and anything less than three points on Saturday will be a disappointment.
Sparta, meanwhile, languished at the bottom of the table in the early part of the season, but have since lifted themselves out of the basement and three points clear of relegation in 14th place.
The visitors will be without the services of striker Yuri Rose, who is battling muscle issues, and midfielder Sani Kaita, who is struggling with a groin problem. Midfielder Edwin van Bueren will be available after serving a suspension.
On Friday, FC Groningen took-out Heracles Almelo 1-0 at the Polman Stadion courtesy of a 62-minute tally from Goran Lovre.
In other play on Saturday in Holland, Heerenveen, sixth-place in the standings, host Excelsior, NAC and Den Haag get together in a matchup of bottom-half clubs and PSV try to maintain their seven-point cushion at the top when they host Willem II.
On Sunday, Twente travel to Roda in an attempt to move into the top three, Ajax sit third in the table and visit a middle of the standings Vitesse team. AZ are seven points back of PSV in second place and will try to keep pace with the leaders as they entertain NEC and cellar-dwellers RKC Waalwijk host Utrecht.
WEEKEND EREDIVISIE FIXTURES:
FRIDAY
Heracles - Groningen
SATURDAY
Heerenveen - Excelsior
NAC - ADO Den Haag
PSV Eindhoven - Willem II
Feyenoord - Sparta
SUNDAY
AZ Alkmaar - NEC
RKC Waalwijk - Utrecht
Roda - Twente
Vitesse - Ajax
<< Celtic doesn't rest on laurels, signs Copil
Glasgow, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Only one day after Celtic announced
the signing of Dutch international Jan Vennegoor, the Scottish Premier League
club inked Romanian teenager Dumitru Copil on Friday, who is set to join the
squad i
<< Sonics' Lewis sidelined two months with hand injury
Seattle, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Seattle SuperSonics forward Rashard Lewis is
expected to miss eight weeks after undergoing surgery on his right hand,
general manager Rick Sund announced Friday.
Lewis injured the tendon sheath on th
<< Clemson suspends DB Coleman for Music City Bowl
Clemson, SC (The Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Clemson defensive back Duane Coleman will
miss the final game of his college career after being suspended for the Music
City Bowl against Kentucky on December 29, head coach Tommy Bowden announced
Friday.
<< Astros sign Bruntlett
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Astros signed infielder Eric
Bruntlett to a one-year deal on Friday, announced general manager Tim Purpura.
The 28-year-old Bruntlett hit .277 with a career-high 33 hits and eight
doub
49ers' Bryant suspended four games >>
Santa Clara, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Antonio
Bryant has been suspended four games for violating the NFL Substance Abuse
Policy.
Bryant was arrested last month for suspicion of drunk driving, among ot
Preds' Nichol gets nine-game suspension >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Nashville Predators forward Scott Nichol has
been suspended for nine games, without pay, for his blind-side punch to the
head of Buffalo Sabres defenseman Jaroslav Spacek during Thursday night's 7-2
setback
Jaguars' Taylor out for Week 16 >>
Jacksonville, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jacksonville Jaguars running back Fred
Taylor is expected to miss Week 16's game against the New England Patriots
because of a hamstring injury.
Taylor started the week listed as questionable and
Jets Need Win in Miami to Aid Playoff Hopes >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Prior to the start of the 2006 NFL season, it was easy to
look at a Christmas night matchup between the Jets and Dolphins in Miami and
expect one team to be looking to advance its playoff position, while the other
played the
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.
El Duque expected to throw Tuesday
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.
Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.
El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.
MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds.
Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.
New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.
Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''
Additional baseball lines and World Series odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com
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