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06/25/2010 - Rustenburg, South Africa (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Captain Carlos Bocanegra did not think any United States team had ever won its group at the World Cup, and when you have to look back 80 years to the inaugural tournament to prove him wrong, it is an understandable oversight by the 31-year-old.
The U.S. claimed Group C with its memorable win over Algeria on Wednesday, and opens knockout play Saturday against Ghana, the host continent's only survivor from group play.
Bocanegra was also wrong when he said the five points the U.S. accumulated was the most for an American team, as the 1930 squad beat Belgium and Paraguay for six points that year.
The U.S. exited the 1930 World Cup with a 6-1 loss to Argentina in its opening game in the knockout round, which started in the semifinals with just 13 teams competing.
The Americans are in much better position 80 years later, but Ghana presents a challenge in the round of 16 at Royal Bafokeng Stadium. And, if the U.S. hopes to return to the semifinals, which it hasn't done since 1930, it has as good a path as it could have hoped for.
Although the U.S. can't overlook Ghana, which eliminated the Americans in the group stage four years ago, with the winner of the Uruguay and South Korea match its potential opponent in the quarterfinals, it's hard not to get hopeful.
"We want to do something special here this whole time, and I think we're on our way to doing that," U.S. right back Steve Cherundolo said.
The U.S. was lucky in its opener in South Africa, when Clint Dempsey scored on a weak shot that trickled off England goalie Robert Green's hands and into the net in a 1-1 draw.
But the Americans erased a two-goal deficit to earn a 2-2 tie against Slovenia on goals from Landon Donovan and Michael Bradley, and appeared to score in the closing seconds to win the match but had the goal called back for a foul.
The U.S. waited until stoppage time, when Donovan scored in the 91st minute, in its group finale against Algeria to seal a berth in the knockout stage, but that type of dramatic ending could be just the spark the team needed.
"This is where the fun starts," Bocanegra said.
The Americans should take pride in being able to produce late goals. Also, the fact the U.S. posted its first shutout in the World Cup since a 2-0 victory in 2002 over Mexico in the round of 16, is good sign.
"We really have to concentrate on ourselves and continue to do the little things right in the next few days and more importantly in the round of 16," Cherundolo said.
The United States proved last summer in South Africa its not how well you play in the group stage. The Americans were lucky to advance in the Confederations Cup last year, but surprised Spain in the semifinals with a 2-0 win.
The U.S. is now in position to challenge for its first World Cup title, and it just needs four straight wins to accomplish the unthinkable. Based on its will to survive in the knockout stage, and relatively easy path, the U.S. needs to remain grounded against Ghana.
"We understand there's a lot of work to do but we're on the right path," U.S. striker Jozy Altidore said.
Ghana's most impressive performance of the group stage was its 1-0 loss in its last match to Germany. Ghana defeated Serbia 1-0 in its first match and tied Australia 1-1 in its second, but both of its scores were penalties by Asamoah Gyan.
Ghana showed much more life against Germany, but failed to score and finished second in the group.
Black Stars boss Milovan Rajevac admitted after the Germany defeat he was "not thinking about the USA yet, we want to celebrate today's achievement." Rajevac has to feel good about his club's chances, though, as all of South Africa will be in their corner.
Considering Ghana is without star midfielder Michael Essien because of injury, and fellow midfielder Sulley Muntari has played just 39 minutes, Rajevac's team should just improve with every match.
Ghana should also feel like a trip to the semifinals is within reach, so a win this weekend is even more important for both sides. The Black Stars won 2-1 in Germany four years ago, but this American team is a little more dynamic and is a much tougher challenge.
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After all the trouble that’s ensued since Braylon Edwards allegedly punched one of LeBron James’ homeboys in the face at a club, the Cleveland Browns have sent away their last remaining player of worth to the New York Jets. This is a great move for Dirty Sanchez and all, but it’s even better for the Knicks. Now Donnie Walsh can say, “You get to haunt Braylon Edwards with your posse if you sign here!” next summer.
Putting that aside for a moment, the move is a clear indication that the new-look Jets are gunning for the Super Bowl this year. I don’t think that New York thought that Dirty Sanchez was going to be such a rock star. With a 75.2 passer rating that was killed against the Jets, Sanchez is doing an admirable job of managing games and putting the Jets in a position to win. The defense has been the major story in New York thus far, but the acquisition of Braylon Edwards makes this offense loaded with talent that can dent any defense…as long as Dirty Sanchez continues his meteoric rise.
Thus far, Edwards has been a non-factor in the NFL piling up just 139 receiving yards on 10 catches. He has yet to find the endzone, and with the Browns mired in the most unsexy quarterback controversy of all time (Anderson vs. Quinn...yawn), there going nowhere fast. Edwards is two seasons removed from a career year which saw him catch 80 passes for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns when the Browns were the spread killing monsters of 2007. In 2008, injuries slowed the receiver down to just 873 yards and three touchdowns though he played in all 16 games.
So that being said, we really don’t know if Braylon Edwards is just a flash in the pan, or a legit threat. At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, he is a prototypical receiver. But he’s also shown a strange, and unwarranted, talent for dropping passes. Lining up opposite Jericho Cotchery, a speed demon with 23 catches, 356 yards and a single touchdown, may give Braylon the open looks he needs. A change of scenery may also rejuvenate the star receiver.
In return, the Browns will receive Chansi Stuckey, online football betting a special teams player you’ve never heard of and a pair of draft picks. That’s a tall order for a guy whose only real value right now is in his name, and it shows no promise to the Browns that they can rebuild around those acquisitions. Braylon was the only reason to hope for the Browns to go 3-14 SU this year. Without him, they don’t have a single guy on offense that can scare any team.
For the Jets, it’s a response to the pounding that they took at the hand of the Saints. Thomas Jones and Leon Washington have averaged around 4.0 yards per carry each on the ground, but striking a fair balance between the passing and rushing attacks in New York has been a struggle. You have to believe that the trio of Dustin Keller, Jericho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards will give Sanchez the weapons he needs to unleash through the air. Theoretically, that would open up holes for the rushing game. But the proposed public option health care plan works in theory too. We need to see the proof in the pudding before we start loading up mega bucks on the New York Jets to take the AFC.
The one wrinkle in this whole thing is that Braylon could very well be suspended by the league for disciplinary action due to his “brawl” with LeBron’s friend. If that’s the case, the Jets may have to bench him for a few games leaving them with a somewhat depleted receiving corps for a few games. Also, this is a guy who gets in fights with people at clubs. New York may not be the best place for him. Just sayin’.
The Jets have a long week before they meet the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football Betting in a virtual pick ‘em game. Braylon’s excess baggage may be a distraction, and his curiously low production may be what we should be expecting of him overall, but for the Jets, taking a chance to strike gold is well worth it. At the end of the year, they can simply just blame it on their rookie quarterback.
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“You play to win the game!”
Those are the words of notoriously intense head coach Herman Edwards. Unfortunately, from a bettors’ perspective, most coaches don’t feel that way about the NFL preseason. August is a time to evaluate young players, finalize the depth chart and pray your star players stay healthy.
The trick to making money during the exhibition schedule is identifying coaches – like Edwards – who can’t stand losing even when there's nothing on the line.
The New York Jets betting won 15 of 21 preseason games and went 14-7 against the spread (ATS) during Edwards’s five-year tenure with the club. In his first season as the Kansas City Chiefs field boss, the team improved from 0-4 to 2-2.
Identifying win-a-holics like Edwards is a good start if you plan betting the preseason – even though most say you shouldn’t ... but what the hell do they know anyway?
Here’s a brief rundown of two teams that have a habit of winning during the second-stringers’ season, and another club that has a good chance of exceeding this year.
Playing in the media hub of North America can be stressful but the press can’t write anything negative about the way Tom Coughlin’s boys play in the preseason. The Giants won and covered all four games last summer, improving their record to 7-1 both straight up (SU) and against the spread over the last two years.
Coughlin has shown he’s not afraid to give his starters more time in the second preseason game than most of his colleagues, no doubt one of the reasons his team has been so dominant.
Bettors can count on America’s team early on. The Cowboys are 14-6 both SU and ATS since 2002 in warm-up contests. Former coach Bill Parcells, the coach of the team the last four years, has an intimidating, in-your-face presence – surely a reason Dallas has had so much early success.
The Big Tuna won’t be strolling the sidelines with looks of disgust, but new coach Wade Phillips will be anxious to make a good first impression for owner Jerry Jones.
Dallas plays the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos before things get serious. They then face the Houston Texans in their third contest (the game starters see most game time) and finish off with the Minnesota Vikings.
Expect a Dallas team able to walk away with another 3-1 preseason record.
This team scored a league-worst 12 offensive touchdowns last season, so the rookies and veterans each have something to prove. There’s a bounty of first-unit jobs up for grabs and plenty of bodies competing for those slots.
First-time head coach Lane Kiffin will be eager to impress an owner who employs the philosophy, “Just win, baby!”
The 32-year-old Kiffin has to command respect from a locker room full of players older than him. All of these factors should lead to purpose in preseason.
Don’t forget: before playing like a team that belonged in NFL Europe, Oakland went 4-1 (both SU and ATS) in exhibition games.
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