Even the Germans lose
Soccer Betting Lines
07/08/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Germany manager Joachim Loew abandoned his strategy at the wrong time. Loew said before Wednesday's FIFA World Cup semifinal against Spain that attacking was the only way Germany could win the title.
Loew's plan worked to perfection in the first two games of the knockout stage with wins over England and Argentina by combined scores of 8-1. Despite having the second-youngest team in the tournament, Loew created the most dynamic side to descend upon South Africa.
"We could only win the World Cup by playing attacking football and making life difficult for other teams," Loew told Bild after Germany's 4-0 win in the last eight against Argentina.
Germany's more recent success, however, was built on solid defense and 1-0 wins, exactly what it did eight years ago to reach its seventh World Cup final. Loew, coaching in his first World Cup, felt it was time to alter the German style. For a pair of games, Germany looked unstoppable.
Loew's old plan was executed perfectly in the semifinals Wednesday, only by Spain. Spain kept the pressure on Germany for 90 minutes and, besides one good chance from Toni Kroos, goalie Iker Casillas had the day off.
"We didn't have enough belief in ourselves," said Germany's Miroslav Klose.
Obviously, credit goes to Spain for enforcing its style of play. Vincente del Bosque's team, the pre-tournament favorite, continued to do what they do best - dominate possession. Xavi again orchestrated the play from midfield and Germany was chasing the ball all match. Despite its third straight 1-0 win in knockout play, Spain didn't win ugly. No other country, it seems, is Spain's equal in talent or ability.
"Spain's organization and tactics are in a different league," said German defender Marcell Jansen. Spain previously proved it to the Germans with a 1-0 win in the Euro 2008 final.
The Spaniards proved it again on Wednesday, this time, on a bigger stage. Now, Spain is on the verge of its first World Cup title, and with a win over the Netherlands would match Germany's feat of winning consecutive Euro and World Cup titles.
Germany missed 20-year-old emerging star Thomas Muller, who was suspended. But what the Germans really lacked was Loew's plan. Germany did try to attack, but the times it actually got the ball away from Spain, the Spaniards won it back. Almost immediately. Almost every time.
"We lacked the courage of our convictions going forward," said Germany captain Philipp Lahm. Yes, but the Germans also failed to commit enough people forward. They relied too heavily on counter-attacking. That worked well against England and Argentina, but it also worked because Germany took an early lead in both games.
Spain is too well-organized and disciplined to get caught on the counter. Loew and the Germans failed to adjust. But as Loew said, it was simple: attack. The Germans were enjoyable to watch when they opened up. Muller, Mesut Ozil, Lukas Podolski and Klose created some of the best goals in the tournament. Not based on individual effort, but through fast, smooth build-ups with pinpoint passes.
Germany didn't do that against Spain. For a team that lost influential Michael Ballack to injury just weeks before the tournament, you could hardly tell. The Germans used a lineup including nine starters 26 or younger, three 21 or less, but extended their streak of advancing to knockout play in every World Cup.
Spain's Carles Puyol ended Germany's quest for a record eighth final with his game-winning goal with 17 minutes remaining. But except for Klose and defender Arne Friedrich, the Germans will likely have the same core of players four years from now in Brazil to compete for the country's fourth World Cup title.
If Loew continues to build on the style of play Germany displayed in the first two matches of the knockout stage in South Africa, his squad will be again be entertaining to watch - and among the favorites. Had he stuck to that plan in South Africa, Germany could be playing for that title Sunday, instead of being in the third-place match Saturday against Uruguay.
Former England striker Gary Lineker once famously said: "Soccer is a game for 22 people that run around, play the ball, and one referee who makes a slew of mistakes - and in the end Germany always wins."
Sometimes though, even the Germans lose.
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Super Bowl XLIV Odds
Super Bowl XLIII isn't even a week old yet and oddsmakers have already released Super Bowl XLIV odds.
Despite the Pittsburgh Steelers winning Super Bowl 43, the New England Patriots are 8/1 favorites to win Super Bowl 44.
Bet Super Bowl XLIV Future Odds
With their 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, the Steelers became the latest NFL champion. But believe it or not, oddsmakers from online sports book MySportsbook.com don't have the Steelers the favorites to win Super Bowl XLIV next season.
That honor belongs to the New England Patriots, who are 8/1 favorites to win despite not even qualify for the postseason in 2008. The Pats also have a major decision to make regarding what to do with Matt Cassel, who played well in Tom Brady's (knee surgery) absence last year but is also a free agent this offseason.
Ironically, the Steelers aren't even oddsmakers second choice to win Super Bowl 44, as the Dallas Cowboys are listed right behind the Patriots at 9/1 despite not making the playoffs themselves. Clearly oddsmakers think the public will hop back on the Cowboys' bandwagon considering the immense talent they have and the opening of a brand new stadium.
After Dallas, then comes Pittsburgh at 10/1, but they share those odds with the New York Giants, who won Super Bowl XLII. The Indianapolis Colts and San Diego Chargers round out the top six teams at 12/1, while the Baltimore Ravens (14/1), Tennessee Titans (16/1), Carolina Panthers (18/1) and Philadelphia Eagles (18/1) complete the top 10.
The NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals got no love from oddsmakers as they were established as a 30/1 long shot to win next year's Super Bowl. They share those same odds with the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers – two teams that didn't even qualify for the postseason. Other long shots are the Kansas City Chiefs (100/1), Detroit Lions (100/1), St. Louis Rams (75/1) and Oakland Raiders (75/1).
To see a complete list of all the team's odds to win Super Bowl XLIV, check below.
NFL TEAM FUTURE ODDS TO WIN SUPER BOWL XLIV
New England Patriots 8/1
Dallas Cowboys 9/1
New York Giants 10/1
Pittsburgh Steelers 10/1
Indianapolis Colts 12/1
San Diego Chargers 12/1
Baltimore Ravens 14/1
Tennessee Titans 16/1
Carolina Panthers 18/1
Philadelphia Eagles 18/1
New Orleans Saints 20/1
Atlanta Falcons 25/1
Denver Broncos 25/1
Green Bay Packers 25/1
Jacksonville Jaguars 25/1
Minnesota Vikings 25/1
New York Jets 25/1
Arizona Cardinals 30/1
Chicago BearS 30/1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30/1
Buffalo Bills 35/1
Houston TexaNS 35/1
Miami Dolphins 35/1
Washington Redskins 35/1
Seattle SeahawkS 50/1
Cleveland Browns 55/1
Cincinnati Bengals 60/1
San Francisco 49ers 60/1
Oakland Raiders 75/1
St. Louis Rams 75/1
Detroit Lions 100/1
Kansas City Chiefs 100/1
Odds as of: 2/2/09
Bet Super Bowl XLIV Future Odds
To visit this online sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.
Football Betting
NFL Football Betting OnlineThe San Francisco 49ers (5-11 SU, 5-10-1 ATS in 2007; 1-1 SU & ATS in pre-season) found some offensive life last week, and they will try to build some momentum on Thursday night as they travel to the Windy City to take on the Chicago Bears (7-9 SU & ATS in 2007; 0-2 SU, 0-1-1 ATS in pre-season) in an NFL matchup that is set to get underway at 8 PM ET at Soldier Field (natural turf) in Chicago.
Thursday, August 21
NFL betting odds: CHICAGO -3 (-120), Total 37
NOTABLE STAT: San Francisco was last in points, last in total offense in 2007
KEY NFL BETTING TREND: SF has lost its last seven SU on pre-season road
In the BetUS NFL pre-season football betting odds, the Bears are listed as a three-point favorite (laying -120), with the total posted at 37 points.
Here are some NFL football betting trends as they relate to this matchup (reflecting numbers going into the 2008 season):
* SF has lost 11 of its last 14 games SU
* SF has covered three of its last 11 games
* SF has lost six of its last seven road games SU
* SF has covered one of its last seven road games
* CHI has covered five of its last eight games
* CHI has played five of its last seven games OVER the total
* CHI has covered four of its last 13 home games
* SF has lost its last seven pre-season road games SU
* CHI has covered two of its last seven home pre-season games
Well, I guess we should congratulate the Bears on making their quarterback choice for the season's opening game, as they have designated Kyle Orton the starter against Indianapolis. The Bears obviously have lost patience with Rex Grossman, and what they do with him at this point is anybody's guess. But suffice it to say that there isn't a quarterback competition anymore, at least in training camp.
Meanwhile, the quarterback competition may also be settled in San Francisco, where the Niners bounced back from a lackluster 18-6 loss to the Raiders, in which they turned the ball over four times, to execute a 34-6 rout of the Packers last Saturday. However, coach Mike Nolan has stopped short of saying that, insisting that the job is still open. But J.T. O'Sullivan, the longshot of the trio of Niner signal-callers who opened camp, will start his third straight pre-season game here. Against Green Bay, O'Sullivan was only 8-for-17, and was intercepted, but he also threw for 9.1 yards an attempt, which included a 59-yard TD pass to Josh Morgan. The others struggled.
Some offensive cohesion is badly needed, in light of the Niners' dismal 2007 campaign, in which they were dead last in the NFL in scoring, with just 13.7 points a game. And O'Sullivan is the guy who is most familiar with offensive coordinator Mike Martz's exacting system, because he learned it last year in Detroit. O'Sullivan will go at least the entire first half and may even last longer. He'll be relieved by Alex Smith, with Shawn Hill doing the mop-up work. Three receivers who were out last week - Bryant Johnson, Ashley Lelie and Arnaz Battle - will miss this game too.
That may hurt a little here, especially since the Bears will be using a lot of their defensive starters. And it's the defense that has been keeping the Bears in games thus far. In fact, the defense and special teams were responsible for the first 19 points Chicago scored against Seattle last time out, as the offense really struggled with Grossman at the controls. But maybe the first-team offense has a chance to settle a little bit as it works more with Orton at the helm.
Certainly we have concerns about the Bears' offensive line, but we like the scenario for them here, especially if O'Sullivan doesn't make some bis plays. The Niners may have nowhere else to turn right now, and they have lost seven straight road games in the pre-season. Let's take Chicago, the three-point favorite in the NFL football betting odds.
CHICAGO -3 (-120) **
(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)
The 2008 NFL betting lines season is almost upon us! If you like to bet on the NFL, you are in the best possible place for online betting. The sportsbook has NFL odds up on a ton of futures, and you will also find NFL lines up for early games as well. Join sportbook today and we'll help guide you right through to Super Bowl XLIII and beyond!
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