Sweden needs a little luck to get past North Korea

Soccer Betting Lines

09/17/2007 - Tiajin, China (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sweden's hoping to change its luck against North Korea on Tuesday.

The third-ranked Swedes settled for a 1-1 tie in their World Cup opener on a late equalizer by Nigeria, then lost to the United States 2-0.

To avoid failing to make the quarterfinals for the first time in its history, Sweden has to beat North Korea by at least three goals.

"Luck's not been on our side and we've only got one point in the bag. But we'll do everything in our power to get back on track and try and win our third group match," Sweden coach Thomas Dennerby told FIFA's website.

A change in luck may help the Swedes, who have struggled finishing scoring chances despite numerous opportunities in both games, but it's going to take more than that against North Korea.

North Korea, ranked fifth, tied the United States in its opener 2-2 and then posted a 2-0 win over Nigeria. North Korea is tied with the United States for first place in Group B, and needs a tie or win to secure a spot in the next round.

"Our next game against Sweden will be very tough, but we're ready to take them on," North Korea coach Kim Kwang Min told FIFA's website. "We haven't sealed qualification yet so we're obliged to play to win, there's no other way."

Sweden has no other option, either. But if it's going to advance, Victoria Svensson, Hanna Ljungberg and Lotta Schelin have to start scoring.

The trio are three of the best scorers in the tournament, with Svensson and Ljungberg more experienced on the international level.

Ljungberg has 71 career goals and Svensson - who scored the team's lone goal in a tie with Nigeria - has 59.

With the way Sweden's struggled offensively in its first two games, the large winning margin seems unlikely. But the Swedes displayed just how dangerous the offense can be in European qualifying, scoring 32 goals in eight games - an average of four per contest.

Ljungberg had 10 goals in qualifying, Schelin had six and Svensson and Therese Lundin, a midfielder, each had four.

As bad as Sweden's played in its first two games, it would still be a threat to win the tournament if it can advance.

"If we can do that," Dennerby said, "then anything is possible."

North Korea won't make it easy on the 2003 runners-up, though. The Asian team looked better than the Americans for long stretches, and had no real trouble with Nigeria.

Wwwmaximumexp Soccer Betting News

<< USA looking to rain goals on Nigeria
Shanghai, China (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The United States needs to earn at least a draw against Nigeria on Tuesday to escape the "Group of Death" and advance to the quarterfinals. While a draw would be enough to ensure the United States moved

<< Scattered change marks new LPGA rankings
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Solheim Cup had no bearing on the Rolex Rankings for women's golf, so there were few changes this week to the top 20. Lorena Ochoa, Karrie Webb, Annika Sorenstam, Cristie Kerr, Suzann Petter

<< NBA reinstates official Joey Crawford
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The NBA has reinstated referee Joey Crawford, the league announced Monday, five months after he was suspended indefinitely for improper on-court conduct. Crawford ejected San Antonio Spurs s

<< Penguins and Sabres to play outdoor game on New Year's Day
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres will ring in 2008 by playing an outdoor contest on January 1 in the NHL Winter Classic at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, NY. The NHL Winter Classic will b

<< Appalachian State still unanimous in Sports Network Top-25
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Appalachian State took advantage of its 34-21 victory over Northern Arizona on Saturday to remain the unanimous No. 1 team in The Sportsbook Betting Lines FCS Top-25 poll, which was released on Monday. The Mountaine

Drake edges San Diego again at top of Mid-Major poll >>
Philadelphia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Drake maintained a slim lead over San Diego in The Sportsbook Betting Lines FCS Mid-Major poll released on Monday. Following a tight 20-7 victory over Wisconsin-Platteville, the Bulldogs (3-0) received 14 of 25 first-p

George Washington extends Hobbs through 2012 >>
Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - George Washington extended the contract of men's basketball head coach Karl Hobbs through June 30, 2012, the school announced Monday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Hobbs is entering his se

Foster and Santos highlight FCS players of the week >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Georgia Southern quarterback Jayson Foster, New Hampshire quarterback Ricky Santos, Austin Peay linebacker Daniel Becker and North Dakota State punter Mike Dragosavich were selected as national FCS players of

Carmona, Kazmir share AL weekly honors >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two 23-year-old starting pitchers shared the AL weekly honors, as Fausto Carmona of the Cleveland Indians and Scott Kazmir of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays have been named co-players of the week for the period

Heat sign Bell to offer sheet >>
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Miami Heat signed guard Charlie Bell to an offer sheet on Monday. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. Bell appeared in all 82 games last season for the Milwaukee Bucks, averaging a caree

MySportsbook.com Posts Heisman Trophy Odds

With 3,919 passing yards, 32 touchdowns and a mere seven interceptions last season, combined with a powerful South Bend Heisman legacy, odds makers at MySportsbook.com have given Notre Dame senior quarterback Brady Quinn the best Heisman Trophy odds at 5-2.

Quinn isn’t the only big man on campus this season.  Oklahoma junior running back and 2004 Heisman runner-up Adrian Peterson, listed at 7-2, rushed for a combined 3,033 yards in his first two years as a college player and will give Quinn a run for his money. 

This online sportsbook has also listed Troy Smith, Ohio State senior quarterback, as another strong favorite to win the 72nd Heisman Trophy.  A 7-1 bet, Smith threw for 2,282 yards last season and also led the Buckeyes to a convincing 34-20 victory over Quinn and the Fighting Irish in last season’s Fiesta Bowl.

Current betting odds Heisman trophy are:

Brady Quinn (QB, Notre Dame)
Adrian Peterson (RB, Oklahoma)
Troy Smith (QB, Ohio State)
Michael Bush (RB, Louisville)
Steve Slaton (RB, West Virginia)
Brian Brohm (QB, Louisville)
Chris Leak (QB, Florida)
Mike Hart (RB, Michigan)
Ted Ginn (WR, Ohio State)
Darius Walker (RB, Notre Dame)
Drew Tate (QB, Iowa)
Marshawn Lynch (RB, Cal)
Kenny Irons (RB, Auburn)
Chad Henne (QB, Michigan)
Kyle Wright (QB, Miami)
Drew Stanton (QB, Michigan State)
Kenneth Darby (RB, Alabama)
JaMarcus Russell (QB, LSU)
Drew Weatherford (QB, Florida State)
Blake Mitchell (QB, South Carolina)
Reggie Ball (QB, Georgia Tech)		 5-2
7-2
7-1
10-1
10-1
12-1
12-1
18-1
18-1
20-1
30-1
35-1
35-1
40-1
50-1
50-1
60-1
60-1
60-1
60-1
60-1

For complete NCAA Football odds visit MySportsbook.com.

MySportsbook.com favors Bears, Bengals, Chargers and Colts to remain perfect

LAS VEGAS , Sept. 28 - Two big match-ups of undefeated teams have fans salivating at the Week Four schedule in the NFL. The Chicago Bears stifling defense looks to provide a less than hospitable welcome to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night in a battle of two 3-0 teams in the NFC conference. In the AFC, the San Diego Chargers (2-0) head to Maryland to face the surprising Baltimore Ravens (3-0) as both try to keep pace atop the conference standings. Betting Lines makers at MySportsbook.com, online sportsbook and casino, have set the Bears as 3.5 point favorites while the Chargers are a 2.5 point bet.

Of the three remaining undefeated teams, only one, New Orleans, enters this week's game as an underdog. Despite an emotional and resounding win over Atlanta on Monday night, the Saints are a 7.5 point underdog against the struggling Carolina Panthers. Indianapolis looks to stay perfect when they face the New York Jets as a 9 point road favorite while the Cincinnati Bengals are a 6 point favorite at home to the New England Patriots.

Six teams enter the week still looking for their first win, with a seventh, Tampa Bay, on a bye week. The prospect of dropping another game would not bode well for a potential playoff run. Since 1990, just three teams -- the 1992 Chargers, 1995 Detroit Lions and 1998 Buffalo Bills -- have overcome losing their first three games of the season to earn a postseason berth. And only the Chargers managed to accomplish the feat after starting 0-4.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.