Barca's Iniesta returns to training

Soccer Betting Lines

05/11/2010 - Barcelona, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Barcelona's attempt to retain its La Liga crown have been handed a boost after Andres Iniesta returned to training.

The 26-year-old has been sidelined for more than a month with a hamstring injury but is expected to start Barca's final game of the season against Valladolid on Sunday.

It is anticipated that Spain international Iniesta will replace Xavi Hernandez who is suspended for this weekend's match.

Barca have won 17 and drawn one of its 18 league games at the Camp Nou this term and lead second-place Real Madrid by one point going into Sunday's final round of fixtures.

(Courtesy of sportbox.tv)

Wwwaesop Soccer Betting News

<< Dortmund swoops for Japanese star Kagawa
Dortmund, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Borussia Dortmund has signed Japanese midfielder Shinji Kagawa from Cerezo Osaka for a nominal transfer fee. The 21-year-old has spent the last four years with the J-League outfit and is widely consi

<< Reid plans to stay at Hamilton
Hamilton, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hamilton manager Billy Reid insists that he will still be with the SPL club next season, having guided the Accies to seventh place this term. Reid has been linked with a summer exit from New Do

<< Italy leaves Toni, Totti off preliminary team
Rome, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Luca Toni and Francesco Totti were not included in Italy's 30-man preliminary World Cup roster, which was released Tuesday. Coach Marcello Lippi also left Nicola Legrottaglie off the team, but included America

<< Wozniacki, Dementieva exit Madrid
Madrid, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Last year's runner-up Caroline Wozniacki and two-time major finalist Elena Dementieva were a pair of second-round upset victims Tuesday at the $4.5 million Madrid Open, a clay-court French Open tune-up

<< Four-match suspension for Roma's Totti
Rome, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Roma's Francesco Totti has been banned for four Coppa Italia games following his dismissal in last week's final. Totti was charged with unsporting conduct by the Italian football authorities after aiming a del

Wolverhampton extends Bia's loan >>
Wolverhampton, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Wolverhampton has extended the loan stay of Charleroi winger Geoffrey Mujangi Bia for a further 12 months. The 20-year-old moved to Molineux in January and made only five appearances for Mick McC

Haskell to go national on ABC >>
Oceanport, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - One year after the filly Rachel Alexandra made history by winning the $1 million Haskell Invitational, Monmouth Park announced that the race will be televised on ABC. "This is a terrific opportunity t

Birmingham's Johnson avoids ban >>
Birmingham, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Birmingham defender Roger Johnson has been fined by the Football Association for the comments he made in the wake of last month's 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa. The former Cardiff City star has, however,

Federer, Verdasco reach third round in Madrid >>
Madrid, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - World No. 1 superstar Roger Federer and surging Spaniard Fernando Verdasco were a pair of second-round winners Tuesday at the $3.6 million Madrid Open, a clay-court French Open tune-up. The top-seeded Fe

Steelers WR Sweed placed on IR >>
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday placed wide receiver Limas Sweed on injured reserve. Sweed had surgery last week to repair a damaged Achilles tendon. The injury occurred during the Steelers' recent

2007 NFL Football Betting Preview


“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.

New York Giants betting lines

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.

Dallas Cowboys betting lines

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.

Oakland Raiders betting lines

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.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football wagering needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.