09/25/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Dodgers can wrap up the National League West division even before taking the field tonight in the finale of a three- game series versus the San Diego Padres at Chavez Ravine.
If the Arizona Diamondbacks, who are four games behind LA in the division standings, lose this afternoon against the St. Louis Cardinals, the Dodgers will earn their first division crown since the 2004 season. Los Angeles has already clinched a share of the NL West title.
The Dodgers have won two straight and three of their last four games, including Wednesday's 12-4 pummeling of the Friars. Manny Ramirez clubbed a two-run homer and Nomar Garciaparra also went deep and finished with two RBI for Los Angeles, which trimmed its magic number down to one. Matt Kemp had three hits and two RBI while James Loney and Angel Berroa each knocked in a pair of run in a winning effort.
Starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw recorded the victory with 5 2/3 innings of work, allowing three runs and six hits with seven K's for his third straight winning decision. Kershaw helped the Dodgers improve to a major league-best 16-5 in September.
Future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux will take the ball for Joe Torre's ballclub on Thursday and he is just 1-4 with a 5.71 earned run average in six starts with Los Angeles. Maddux, who is 7-13 with a 4.31 ERA with San Diego and LA this season, is 0-2 in his previous three starts. Maddux last pitched on Friday versus the San Francisco Giants and suffered the loss in the 7-1 setback, allowing seven runs and nine hits in five frames.
The right-hander recently faced San Diego on September 8 at Petco Park and was roughed up for four runs in six innings of his team's 4-0 loss. Maddux beat the Padres seven days earlier in a 5-2 victory with 5 2/3 innings of two-run ball. He is 25-16 with nine complete games and a 3.06 ERA in 46 lifetime meetings with San Diego.
San Diego will try to avoid the sweep on Thursday after entering this series on a three-game winning streak. In Wednesday's loss at Dodger Stadium, Brian Giles, Adrian Gonzalez, Chase Headley and Nick Hundley each knocked in a run in defeat. Starter Shawn Estes gave up six hits and two runs in 3 2/3 innings for the no-decision. Michael Ekstrom suffered the loss for yielding two runs in just two-thirds of an inning. Clay Hensley and Dirk Hayhurst both permitted three runs in relief.
Taking the ball tonight for the Padres will be ace Jake Peavy, who missed his scheduled start on Friday to be with his wife for the birth of their son. Peavy has dropped back-to-back starts and is 0-3 in his past five outings, having lost his last trip to the hill on September 12 versus San Francisco.
Peavy was reached for five runs and 11 hits through eight innings of a 5-2 loss to the Giants, and fell to 9-11 in 26 starts this season. The righty has enjoyed success throughout his career against the division-rival Dodgers and is 12-1 with a 2.21 ERA in 21 lifetime matchups. Peavy, whose last loss to LA was during the 2003 campaign, is 3-0 with a 1.71 ERA versus the Dodgers in 2008. He beat them on June 12 with six innings of three-hit ball in a 9-0 win.
Los Angeles has won 11 of the 17 matchups with San Diego this season, with a 6-2 record at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers have won four straight and seven of the eight most recent matchups in this series.
<< Angels, Mariners close out set at Safeco Field
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim resume their quest to
gain home-field advantage throughout the upcoming playoffs when the American
League West champions wrap up a four-game series with the Seattle Mariners
this ev
<< Lester leads BoSox in series finale vs. Tribe
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jon Lester makes the final regular-season start of what's
been a terrific 2008 campaign for the young pitcher when the Boston Red Sox
conclude a four-game series with the Cleveland Indians tonight at Fenway Park.
Lest
<< Kirilenko rolls into Seoul quarters
Seoul, Korea (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Top-seeded Maria Kirilenko highlighted
Thursday's second-round winners at the $145,000 hardcourt Korea Open.
The 2007 Seoul runner-up leveled Czech Lucie Safarova 6-3, 6-3 on Day 4 at the
Olympic Tenn
<< Ivanovic, Kuznetsova move into Beijing quarters
Beijing, China (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Second-seeded Serb Ana Ivanovic
and fourth-seeded Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova were among Thursday's second-
round winners at the $600,000 China Open.
The French Open champion and Australia
Rays conclude set with Tigers gunning for division crown >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Rays can clinch their first division title in
team history this afternoon when they start a four-game series with the
Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.
Tampa, which clinched its first-ever postseason berth ear
Rolling Rockies shoot for sweep of Giants >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Even though the Colorado Rockies are out of the playoff
race they are still playing solid baseball as the season winds down.
Tonight, the defending National League champions will shoot for a three-game
sweep of the San Fra
Desperate Mets vie to even crucial series with Cubs >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After failing to hold on to the lead in the National League
East earlier this month, the New York Mets have now lost sole control of the
Wild Card spot. New York will try to rebound tonight in the finale of a four-
game se
Brewers try for yet another win over Pirates >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Milwaukee Brewers will try to sweep their fourth
consecutive series against the Pittsburgh Pirates and take total control of
the National League Wild Card race in tonight's finale of a three-game set
between
Many fans thought it was the best side in the nation by the end of last season. This year, the polls have built on Georgia's momentum and granted it the No. 1 preseason ranking, followed by Ohio State and USC. (The Associated Press has the Buckeyes at No. 2; USA Today took the Trojans.)
"To have people believing we have one of the best teams in the nation going into this thing, it's exciting for us," Bulldogs coach Mark Richt told the AP. "I don't think anything is guaranteed, but we certainly have put ourselves in position where at least the college football world thinks we're pretty good."
Georgia Bulldogs - 9.5 wins
There's no question they're good, but the Bulldogs have one of the toughest 12-game schedules in the nation, mostly because they play in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference. Away games at No. 15 Arizona State, No. 7 LSU and No. 10 Auburn loom large, with contests between the hedges versus No. 24 Alabama and No. 18 Tennessee as well as the World's Largest Cocktail Party in Jacksonville versus No.5 Florida.
Ohio State Buckeyes - 10 wins
Like the Bulldogs, the Buckeyes also have a number of tough road contests in 2008. After two scrimmages dressed up as real games versus Youngstown State and Ohio, it's off to face USC. Other tough away games include No.13 Wisconsin in October and No. 20 Illinois in November. Granted, it should be pretty easy sledding at the Horseshoe. In fact, the only ranked team that travels to Columbus is No. 22 Penn State, in October.
USC Trojans - 10.5 wins
A similarly light schedule awaits the Trojans of Southern California, which is why the oddsmakers' total is one win more and the over is currently commanding -150 odds. Pete Carroll's troops only play three ranked teams in 2008, and all of those games are at home. After what should be an easy trip to Virginia to start things off on Aug. 30, the Trojans get two weeks to prepare for Ohio State in Los Angeles. Their two other ranked opponents, No. 21 Oregon and No. 15 Arizona State, visit in consecutive weeks to start the month of October. After that, the competition eases up. Of course, this is the same highly-touted school that lost to Stanford in 2007 and Oregon State in 2006. And don't discount the fact that USC plays its biggest rivals, Notre Dame and UCLA, back-to-back to close out the regular season. On paper, the Trojans are far superior, but motivation will be high for the Irish and Bruins, especially if their historic foes are in national-title contention.
Odds to Win the Heisman Trophy
Tim Tebow, Florida - 7/2
He won it last year, so it's no surprise he's the favorite to do it again, making him just the second player to go back-to-back. Ohio State's Archie Griffin turned the trick in 1974 and 1975, and Tebow's coach, Urban Meyer, is pretty sure his star quarterback can match the Buckeyes legend.
"There has never been anyone quite like him," Meyer told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I am very lucky to be his coach."
Chris Wells, Ohio State - 5/1
The man they call "Beanie" was a star recruit out of high school, so it's not like nobody knew who the star tailback was before he rushed for 576 yards as a freshman in 2006 and 1,609 as a sophomore. But perhaps his finest moment came last year versus Michigan when he rumbled for 222 yards and two touchdowns in the Buckeyes' 14-3 victory over the hated Wolverines.
Knowshon Moreno, Georgia - 8/1
If the Bulldogs are to live up to expectations, they'll need a huge effort from their sophomore running back. This might be the last year of college ball for Moreno, who rushed for 1,334 yards and for 14 touchdowns as a freshman, while adding 253 receiving yards on 20 receptions, so expect big things for the man from Belford, N.J.
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 lines .
To visit this sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs. Mysportsbook.com online sports betting
Sports Betting News: NFL Team History | Football Betting | Baseball Betting | Basketball Betting | Hockey Betting | Golf Betting | Tennis Betting | Auto Racing Betting | Horse Racing Betting | Soccer Betting