Mexican captain Marquez leaves Barcelona
Soccer Betting Lines
07/31/2010 - Barcelona, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mexican captain Rafael Marquez ended his seven-year stint at Barcelona on Saturday when he was released by the Spanish club.
Marquez, a teammate of Thierry Henry's at Barcelona, is reported to be on his way to New York to rejoin the Frenchman with Major League Soccer's Red Bulls.
"I think my time here has come to an end - I've always been ambitious and I want to be a regular starter. That can't happen here, so it's a good time to leave with my head held high and start a new challenge," Marquez said on Barcelona's website.
Since he joined Barcelona in 2003, Marquez made nearly 250 appearances for the club and won two Champions League titles and four La Liga crowns.
Marquez, a center back or defensive midfielder, has played nearly 100 matches for Mexico and is the captain of the national team. The 31-year-old has been a member of Mexico's national team since 1997.
Liverpool, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Liverpool re-signed Brazilian defender Fabio Aurelio, who left the club two months ago when his contract expired, to a two-year contract on Saturday. New Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson offered Aurelio
<< Dallas ties Colorado to extend unbeaten streaks
Commerce City, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Julien Baudet's own goal helped FC Dallas
extend its road and overall undefeated streaks to eight matches with a 1-1 tie
Saturday against the Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.
Baudet deflecte
<< Bayne wins third consecutive Nationwide pole
Newton, IA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Trevor Bayne captured his third straight pole in
Nationwide Series after winning Saturday's qualifying for the U.S. Cellular
250 at Iowa Speedway.
Bayne's qualifying lap of 133.266 m.p.h. not only made him th
<< Harden activated from disabled list
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Texas Rangers have reinstated pitcher
Rich Harden from the 15-day disabled list to start Saturday's game against the
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Harden was placed on the DL June 12, one day after
<< Le Toux's eighth goal helps Union tie Revolution
Chester, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sebastien Le Toux scored his eighth goal of the
season in the first half, but the Philadelphia Union settled for a 1-1 draw on
Saturday at PPL Park against the New England Revolution.
Marko Perovic equalized Le
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Antii Niemi has reportedly been awarded $2.75 million for next season from an arbitrator on Saturday. The Chicago Tribune is reporting a significant increase from the $800,0
St. Johnstone adds Haber on loan from West Brom >>
Perth, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - St. Johnstone acquired striker Marcus Haber
on loan from English club West Brom on Saturday.
Haber, a 21-year-old Canadian, has yet to make a first-team appearance at West
Brom. He spent parts of last seaso
Giants agree to terms with second-round pick Joseph >>
East Rutherford, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Giants have reportedly
agreed to terms on a contract with defensive tackle Linval Joseph.
Joseph was selected 45th overall by the Giants in this year's draft. The Star-
Ledger reports t
Sunderland signs Richardson to extension >>
Sunderland, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sunderland signed midfielder Kieran
Richardson to a contract extension through the 2012-13 season on Saturday.
Richardson, 25, joined Sunderland from Manchester United in 2007 and has made
85 appea
A Little Warm is hot horse in Jim Dandy Stakes >>
Saratoga Springs, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A Little Warm, ridden by John
Velazquez, took the lead in mid-stretch on his way to winning Saturday's
$500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.
The 1 1/8-mile contest is the
NFL Football Betting
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.