Tradition, pageantry, and all out excitement will fill the air when the 2009 college football season kicks off in just a few short weeks. The anticipation has been building all summer for college football enthusiast around the nation. After such an exciting and competitive year in 2008, the 2009 season expects to be even better considering the circumstances. All 3 Heisman Trophy Finalist are back including previous winners Tim Tebow and Sam Bradford not to mention the Florida Gators will be seeking their 3rd National Title in the last 4 years. Also, the South Eastern Conference will seek their 4 straight National Championship and look to continue their dominance among the nation’s most elite football conferences. Like many others you probably can not wait to see how your favorite team and players will fair in the upcoming season. We go a step further by trying to bring you predictions of the top teams in America heading in to 2009. We bring you an in-depth preview by predicting this year’s Top 10 teams before the rankings are released.

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#1 Florida Gators –

How can you not bet on the Florida Gators? Two National Titles in 3 years and Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow is back for his senior campaign. The offense was nearly untouchable in the SEC last season averaging a lucrative 43 points per game ranking 4th in the nation. The Gators may not have the explosive talent of Percy Harvin back, but Tebow will have plenty of talented targets in his sights. Expect wide receiver Riley Cooper to have a breakout year on the outside. The Gators have so many talented players just ready to explode on offense. However, the strength of this team will definitely be on the defensive side of the ball. Whether you are tired of hearing about it or simply not accepted it, the SEC is the premier defensive conference in America. The Gators defense nearly has everyone back from the unit that held the so called “unstoppable” Oklahoma offense to just 14 points in the National Championship Game a year ago. Linebacker Brandon Spikes may very well be the best defensive player in the country and he will be on of the key figures in what appears to be an even better defense in 2009.

#2 Texas Longhorns –

The Longhorns should still be bitter about last season’s outcome considering they likely should have been playing for a national championship. However, Texas will be a force to be dealt with again in 2009 and they may be out for some payback. QB Colt McCoy posted great numbers with 3,849 yards and 34 scores. McCoy will also get the pleasure of taking aim towards his favorite target Jordan Shipley. Shipley who is the Longhorns most prominent receiver was granted an NCAA medical hardship waiver at the end of last season giving him an extra year of eligibility. The extra year of eligibility is huge in a year where the Longhorns would have lost all of their big time receivers. However, Texas now will not only have Shipley but a number of talented receivers ready to get in on the action. Defensively, you can not replace defensive end Brian Orakpo. The Longhorns defense will not be bad, but we do question the front four and how effective they will be getting to the quarterback. Also, it would be nice to see someone step up in the back field on offense considering McCoy led the team in rushing with only 561 yards last season.

#3 Oklahoma Sooners –

The Sooners return another outstanding group of players heading into 2009. The Oklahoma offense was one of the best in recent memory last year averaging an insane 51 points per game. Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford is back along with some other very big names. Bradford who is coming off a ridiculous 4,720 yard and 50 touchdowns junior campaign will also get tight end Jermaine Gresham back in the mix. Gresham caught a team high 14 touchdown passes last season and appears to have a very bright future with Bradford back under center. However, surprisingly the running game is just as important as their dangerous air assault. Running backs Chris Brown and DeMarco Murray eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark in 2008 and will have a chance to do the same again this season. Both tailbacks provide Oklahoma with as much danger on the ground as Bradford does with his arm equaling a lethal combination. However, the offense may lack a down the field threat with the young receivers who will step in and must overcome losing a ton of talent on the offensive line.

#4 USC Trojans –

If the Trojans could slightly mirror last year’s defensive unit, then they would have nothing to worry about. However, the defense that ranked #1 in the nation will only return 3 starters on that side of the ball. Usually that would throw up all types of red flag, but there is perhaps no team in the nation that can reload talent like USC. The big hurt that the Trojans will feel is losing quarterback Mark Sanchez. The reason is not necessarily because Sanchez was irreplaceable, but rather of the lack of experience that USC is left with. The offense will return an impressive 9 starters giving opposing defenses a lot to worry about. However, to be a great football team you got to have reliability behind center and the Trojans will be searching for either Aaron Corp or Mitch Mustain to step up big in 2009.

#5 Oklahoma State Cowboys –

Could this be the upset team of the year? Well if you are familiar with the Oklahoma State offense it would not be much of an upset. This may sound crazy, but the Cowboys could have the best offense in the Big 12 this season. Quarterback Zac Robinson, running back Kendal Hunter, and wide out Dez Bryant provide the most dangerous trio of explosion in the country. Oklahoma State ranked 6th in the nation last year in total offense averaging 469 yards per game and there is no reason to think they can not be better in 2009 with the big 3 returning. The Cowboys offense will give them the opportunity to beat any team in the land. Unfortunately Texas and Oklahoma reside in the same division meaning the idea of winning the Big 12 outright is trimmed. However, the Cowboys could likely decide who does win the Big 12 if in fact they do not win it themselves.

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#6 – Alabama Crimson Tide –

The Crimson Tide were actually suppose to be a young talented team with their best years ahead in 2008. Instead, they were the only team to go through the SEC regular season undefeated. Alabama may have stumbled at the end of the season losing to Florida in the SEC Championship and Utah in the Sugar Bowl. The early out pouring of wins has left Tuscaloosa with unlimited amount of expectations. Julio Jones remains probably the best young receiver in the country. However, who will be throwing Jones the football? The likely candidate will be Greg McElroy. McElroy has very little experience, but he will inherit one of the best receiving groups in the country. The ability for the offensive line to rebuild and McElroy to establish ball control will determine the amount of success for the Tide. Crimson Tide fans should not worry much about the defensive side of the ball. The SEC’s best defense returns 9 starters and will be primed again for another fantastic season.

#7 – Ohio State Buckeyes –

The Buckeyes lost a good deal of talent at the end of last season that will be hard to replace. However, watching how the team progressed throughout the 2008 season should cause a bit of concern for the rest of the Big Ten. The Buckeyes offense really spread their wings during the latter part of the season behind freshman sensation Terrelle Pryor. Pryor legs add a big threat to the Buckeyes offensive attack and if his passing skills can continue to develop he could be a nightmare for any defense. However, Pryor lost some very talented receivers last year and it will be interesting to see who will step up. The defense lost some key players as well like Malcolm Jenkins and James Laurinaitis, but will likely reload confidently. The Buckeyes success will all be in the hands of the offense. Remember this is the team that was 36 seconds away from upsetting Texas in the Fiesta Bowl at the end of last season. If they can get the offense clicking early in the year, then they will be a team to watch out for.

#8 – Ole Miss Rebels –

We picked the Rebels to be a surprise story in the SEC last season and we forebode similar types of warning again this year. Ole Miss strived under new coach Houston Nutt turning the program from a 3-9 into a 9-4 season that was capped off by a thrashing over Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl. The offense that the Rebels displayed at the end of last year may be an eerie tale of what is to come in 2009. Ole Miss averaged 45 points per game in their final 4 games of the season. Quarterback Jevan Snead is on the verge of a breakout year and he may just be the best pure passer in the conference. Dexter McCluster will be used in all types of situations and is a guy you must contain. The defense looks to be very strong as well especially up front. The Rebels rush defense ranked 4th in the nation last year holding opponents to just 85 yards per game and that does not look to change in 2009.

#9 – Penn State Nittany Lions –

The Nittany Lions were one single game away from playing for last year’s National Championship. In fact, they were a single point away from their devastating defeat from Iowa late in the season. Penn State could have one of the better offenses in the Big Ten with the return of QB Daryll Clark and tailback Evan Royster. Royster rushed for over 1,200 yards last season while Clark threw for over 2,500 through the air. Look for Stephfon Green to be a bigger help with the offense as well. The Nittany Lions will have the most complete offense in the Big Ten, but they must be able to execute accordingly. The defensive front lost a load of talent that will be hard to replace. The losses of Aaron Maybin, Josh Gaines, and Maurice Evans cause a lot of concern on the defensive side of the ball. The rush defense which was the Nittany Lions biggest strength a season ago may be their biggest weakness in 2009.

#10 – LSU Tigers –

The Tigers downfall toward the end of last year was very surprising to college football fans. LSU lost 3 of the last 4 games of the regular season which included a heroic comeback to salvage a win over Troy. The problem was obviously the play behind center which kept the Tigers offense in neutral for the majority of the season. Freshman quarterback Jarrett Lee recorded 16 interceptions on the year before losing his job to another freshman by the name of Jordan Jefferson. Jefferson was not overly impressive, but did manage to hold on to the ball and will likely be the best back by the team the season starts. The return of Brandon Lafell at wide out gives the offense many reasons for excitement. Also, running back Charles Scott had a big junior season and will prime for another big year as a senior this season. The defense will have to replace a lot of guys up front including Tyson Jackson who was selected as the number 3 overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft. However the Tigers look to be back on the right path, but the question is will they get back to the top of the SEC West this season?

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At The Bottom of This Post is The Full List of Odds to Win the 2009 British Open

The PGA Tour will host the 3rd Major of the season starting this Thursday at the British Open. The spectacular links event will take place at Turnberry on the Ailsa Course in Turnberry, Scotland. The British Open has long been the oldest and most traditional major sporting event in the world. Dating back to the 1860s, the British Open has long held its reign as one of golf’s most prestigious events. The winner receives the infamous Claret Jug that has all the previous winners inscribed in the trophy. Padraig Harrington has won the last two British Opens and has the chance to become only the 2nd player in history to win 3 straight Open events. However, Harrington will have to hold off Tiger Woods and a hungry field of competitors all playing for one of golf’s most historic prizes.

Turnberry has hosted 3 previous British Opens over the last 30 years dating back to the first event in 1977. Tom Watson won that event posting 12 under par. Turnberry hosted two more events in 1986 and 1994. The two other winners included Greg Norman who shot even par back in 86 and Nick Price who also posted a 12 under in the most recent visit in 1994. The course has received a bad reputation for not being as challenging as other British Open courses. However, the course has received an upgrade in difficult over the last few years. The par 70 course has been added with 21 new bunkers and extended around 300 yards. The course now measures out at 7204 yards which is fairly lengthy for a par 70 style course. However to win at Turnberry, players do not have to hit bombing 350 yard drives. Instead the course is rewarding to good decision making and smart shots. Basically meaning that their will be plenty of competitors who will be in contention this weekend.

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Leading favorite Tiger Woods will seek his 4th Claret Jug and his first major victory of the season. Woods is no stranger to being a favorite at the majors, but has surprisingly yet to play extremely well in any major this year. Woods won the AT&T National just two weeks ago and will be riding momentum into the event. Woods has won every event this season (3) last player before a major this year. However, the results have yet to stick with him into the majors. Woods is a +200 favorite to win the event and we will give you a few reasons why this major could be different than the others this season. The main reason Tiger is rightfully such a big candidate to win this coming weekend, is he appeared to be a totally different golfer at the AT&T National. Unlike his other two wins where he blistered a final round 65 at the Memorial or grinded out a 5 under victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Woods was in complete control of his golf swing at the AT&T National. Woods placed shots where ever he wanted controlling his aggressiveness when only he needed. That type of control with his shots will be vital at Turnberry. Also, the Ailsa course has long rewarded great putting. If you have followed Woods over the years, then perhaps you know that no other golfer stands a chance if he gets the flat stick rolling. It’s easy to pick Woods as a winner, but we have warned you before taking bets on him in events so far this season. However, it looks like the pieces are starting to fall into place with his swing for the first time back from knee surgery.

Outside of Tiger, most would agree Padraig Harrington should have a great opportunity this weekend. Despite poor playing this season, Harrington has been tremendous in the Open Events. Surprisingly, the odds indicate how Harrington has been playing and he is a huge +3000 underdog. That may be just worth the smallest of bets heading into this Thursday. Phil Mickelson will not be playing in the event. Mickelson who is always a big name to bet on in the majors will miss the event as he will be with his wife who is trying to recover from breast cancer surgery. Anthony Kim stringed together some strong rounds of golf at the AT&T National. Kim was tied with Tiger going into the final round before losing his composure on Sunday. However, Kim is loaded with talent making him a promising figure in golf’s future. Kim will be a +2500 long shot at the Open Championship.

Other talented golfers who are bound to score big victories in the near future include Englishman Paul Casey. Casey has won 3 events this season once on the US Tour and twice more on the European Tour. Casey is ranked 11th on the money list this season even though he has kind of fell of the radar over the last few weeks after missing cuts at the AT&T and US Open. Casey will also be receiving +2500 odds to win the event. Other names to watch out for include David Duvall. That’s right Duvall made his presence felt at the U.S Open finishing tied for 2nd only 2 shots off the win. The turnaround in Duval’s career has been remarkable to watch, but he is swinging the club very nicely heading into the event. If there is any player in the field that is dangerous when swinging confidently it is David Duval. Ricky Barnes is another youngster to consider this weekend. After coming off his best major finish in history tied for 2nd place, Barnes is ranked 5th in putting on tour in 2009. Considering how vital putting will be this weekend, Barnes could make another strong run at victory. Finally one last veteran to have on your radar this weekend is 54 year old Greg Norman. As crazy as it may sound, Norman plays as well as anyone on the open links courses. Norman finished 3rd at last year’s British Open proving he can still contend with the youngsters on Tour. Norman won this exact event at Turnberry back in 1986 and at amazing +20000 odds he is definitely worth a small wager for the most unexpected of winners at the 2009 British Open.

Current odds to win the British Open From BetUS:
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Current matchup odds for the 2009 British Open From Sportsbook.com:

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*Baseball Records & Team Rankings are as of 7/6/2009
(Our Next Major League Baseball Power Ratings Update: 7/13/2009)

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (51-30) – Midway through the 2009 season, the Dodgers look to be head and shoulders ahead of everyone else in the National League. Manny Ramirez came back on Friday, going 0-fer in his first game, but hitting a homerun in his second game back. The Dodgers lead the Giants by 6.5 games in the National League West. Andre Either leads the team in homeruns and runs batted in with 15 and 53, and also leads in walk-off hits (4). The Dodgers will finish up their weekend series at San Diego on Sunday, and then head east, taking on the Mets, Tuesday through Thursday and then visit Milwaukee over the weekend before the All Star Break.

2. Boston Red Sox (48-32) – Losers of two straight games, the Boston Red Sox sit just one full game ahead of the Yankees for first place in the American League East. The Mariners have beat the Red Sox late in the game for both the wins. Kevin Youkilis leads the team with a .306 batting average, while Jason Bay leads in homeruns (19) and runs batted in (70). Boston will finish their series with the Mariners at home on Sunday, and then welcome to Athletics and Royals into town before the All Star break.

3. New York Yankees (47-33) – The Yankees have won two straight games and nine of their last ten to sneak within one game of the Red Sox for first place in the American League East. The Yankees are 25-15 at home and 22-18 on the road this season, while feasting on teams not in the Central Division; 23-9. Derek Jeter leads the team in batting with his .308 batting average, while Mark Teixeira leads in homeruns and runs batted in with 20 and 61. Left hander Andy Pettitte leads the pitching staff with eight wins, while closer Mariano Rivera continues to shine, with 21 saves. The Yankees and Blue Jays will finish their series up on Monday, before heading to Minneapolis to take on the Twins – Tuesday, Wednesday and  Thursday. After leaving Minnesota, the Yankees will head west and finish the first half of the season in Anaheim, taking on the Angels.

4. Los Angeles Angels (44-35) – The American League West has developed into an extremely tight race, as the Angels and Rangers are deadlocked at nine games over .500, and the Mariners sit just 2.5 games back. The Angels have won two of three over the weekend over the Baltimore Orioles. Saturday’s game saw Vladimir Guerrero hit just his third homerun of the season to lead the Angels to a 11-4 win. Chone Figgins leads the Angels in batting with a .316 mark, while Torii Hunter continues to provide the power numbers (17 homeruns), (62 runs batted in). Brian Fuentes, the teams first year closer, has saved 23 of 26 saves on the season. The Angels and Orioles will close their four game series on Sunday, and then the Angels will welcome the Rangers and Yankees to town before taking the All Star break.

5. Texas Rangers (44-35) – The Rangers got a homerun and three runs batted in from Andruw Jones Saturday night to assist in a 12-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rangers are tied in first place with the Angels, both with records at nine games over .500. Centerfielder Josh Hamilton is on his way back from an injury. He is scheduled to start his rehab back, but his return to Arlington is not known at this time. Nelson Cruz continues to have a great breakout season, leading the team in homeruns with 20. Texas and Tampa Bay will play their Sunday Night game, before the Rangers head on the road to Anaheim for three games, and Seattle for four to finish the first half of the season.

6. San Francisco Giants (44-36) – The Giants have emerged into one of the hottest teams in baseball, and have jumped to within 6.5 games of the Dodgers, and more importantly are the current leaders for the National League Wildcard. The Giants are a sizzling 26-12 when playing at home. Tim Lincecum picked up another win Saturday evening, throwing seven more scoreless innings. Lincecum, along with Matt Cain, Randy Johnson and Barry Zito are the majors best starting rotation. Lincecum on the season is 9-2 with a 2.23 earned run average. Young offensive stud Pablo Sandoval leads the team in batting average with a .333 mark. Sandoval also leads in homeruns with 12. The Giants will look to finish a three game sweep over the Astros on Sunday, and then welcome the Florida Marlins for three and the San Diego Padres for four leading up to the All Star break.

7. Detroit Tigers (44-36) – The Tigers sit 2.5 games ahead of the Chicago White Sox for first place in the American League Central. Detroit fell on Saturday to divisional rival Minnesota 4-3, but picked up an 11-9 win on Friday. Miguel Cabrera leads the Tigers with a .324 batting average, while Brandon Inge has popped 18 homeruns and drove in 52 runs. Justin Verlander leads the starting rotation with a 8-4 record, and a 3.54 earned run average. Verlander has struck out 130 batters, while just walking 35 on the season. Detroit and Minnesota will finish up their three game series on Sunday, and then the Tigers will host the Royals and Indians for three game sets.

8. Tampa Bay Rays (44-38) – The Tampa Bay Rays, after winning seven straight games, have lost three straight. Tampa could not finish the three game sweep of Toronto, and have now fallen in the first two to the Texas Rangers. Carl Crawford leads the team in batting with a .318 mark, while Carlos Pena has knocked out 23 homeruns. Evan Longoria leads the team in runs batted in with 63. Jeff Niemann leads the starting pitching staff with a 7-4 record, and 4.14 earned run average. The Rays and Rangers will finish their series on Sunday, before Tampa takes Monday off and then host the Toronto Blue Jays for three games, starting on  Tuesday, and then welcoming the Oakland Athletics over the weekend.

9. Milwaukee Brewers (43-38) – The Brewers, tied with St. Louis, are currently on top of a division with no clear cut favorite. Milwaukee failed to sweep the three game series with the Mets on Wednesday, falling 1-0, and then dropped the first two to divisional rival Chicago. The Brewers snapped the three game losing streak on Saturday, blasting the Cubs 11-2. Prince Fielder is having a MVP type season for the Brewers, hitting .310 with 21 homeruns and 75 runs batted in. Yovani Gallardo leads the starting pitching rotation in wins with 8, also with a 2.75 earned run average. The Brewers and Cubs will conclude their four game set on Sunday, and then the Brewers will take Monday off. St. Louis and Los Angeles will come to Miller Park this week to finish the  first half of the season.

10. St. Louis Cardinals (44-39) – On Saturday, the Cardinals modest three game winning streak was snapped by Micah Owings and the Cincinnati Reds. The Cardinals, at 44-39 are tied with Milwaukee at the top of the competitive National League Central. The Cardinals are 24-20 at home and 20-19 when playing on the road this season. On Friday, Albert Pujols hit his fourth grand slam of the 2009 season, and tenth in his career. Pujols is 6-7 with 20 runs batted in, when hitting with the bases loaded this season. Pujols’ .336 batting average is .010 from keeping him from leading all three triple crown categories. His 31 homeruns and 82 runs batted in lead the NL. The Cardinals and Reds will play the rubber match of the three game series on Sunday, and then St. Louis will take Monday off. A three game series with Milwaukee will start on  Tuesday, and then the Cardinals and Cubs will play four games in three days over the weekend.

11. Philadelphia Phillies (41-37) – The Phillies, one year after winning the World Series have not found any consistency within their offense, or their starting pitching. Despite their woes, Philadelphia still sits in first place in the National League East, as the halfway mark looms. The Phillies are seven games under .500 on the road at 15-22, while they are 26-15 when playing away from Philadelphia. The Phillies have won two straight, both over the Mets. Raul Ibanez continues to lead the team in batting, and homeruns, but is on the disabled list still with a strained left groin. The Phillies will look to sweep the Mets on Sunday, and then host the Cincinnati Reds for four straight games, followed by hosting the Pirates for three over the weekend.

12. Colorado Rockies (42-38) – After coming off possibly the best month of June in franchise history, the Rockies find themselves in contention for 2009 postseason. Colorado, at 42-38, is just 8.5 games out of first place in the NL West, but more importantly just two games behind NL Wildcard leader- San Francisco. The Rockies have slowed down their pace as of late, winning just five of their last ten games. On Saturday, Colorado fell 11-7 to the Diamondbacks. The Rockies are led in hitting by right-hander Brad Hawpe, who is hitting .331. Ian Stewart leads the team in homeruns with 15. Colorado, after finishing the three game home series with Arizona, will welcome both the Nationals and Braves into town this week to finish the first half of the season.

13. Seattle Mariners (42-38) – The Mariners felt the most recent road trip could be a make/break time for the ball club, and after going 5-3 against the Dodgers, Yankees and Red Sox, the Mariners find themselves in contention in the American League West. The Mariners have a chance to sweep the Red Sox, on the road, on Sunday. Seattle, in third place, is just 2.5 games behind both Texas and Los Angeles in the AL West. The Mariners are 21-15 at home, and 21-23 on the road. Ichiro Suzuki is making a case for AL MVP, with his .365 batting average. Power hitting Russell Branyan has done his job hitting 20 homeruns in the first 80 games of the season. Felix Hernandez has been the staff ace thus far, winning eight games, and compiling an earned run average of 2.62 on the season. Seattle, after finishing the series at Boston on Sunday, will head back home, and host the Baltimore Orioles for three and Texas Rangers for four.

14. Chicago White Sox (42-39) – The White Sox seven game winning streak was snapped on Saturday night by the Kansas City Royals. Chicago’s seven game winning streak sparked them into second place in the American League Central Division, just 2.5 games behind the Detroit Tigers. Chicago has won 20 of 40 games at home, and 22 of 41 when playing on the road. The White Sox are led in batting by outfielder Scott Podsednik, with his .312 batting average. Mark Buehrle has been the staff ace thus far in 2009 with a 8-2 record, and a 3.09 earned run average. The White Sox and Royals will play the final game of the three game series on Sunday. After taking on the Royals, the White Sox will take Monday off, host Cleveland for a three game series, and then head to Minnesota for a weekend series.

15. Toronto Blue Jays (42-40) – The Blue Jays have fallen to fourth place in the American League East, despite being two games above .500. Toronto has lost two straight games and seven of their last ten games overall. Toronto has been led in hitting by a resurging third base men Scott Rolen. Rolen leads the team in batting with a .331 batting average. Aaron Hill leads in power numbers, popping 19 homeruns, and driving in 56 runs batted in. Roy Halladay, despite missing a few starts with an injury continues to be a front runner for AL Cy Young, with a 10-2 mark, and a 2.79 earned run average. Toronto and New York will play both Sunday and Monday, before the Blue Jays head to Tampa Bay, for a Tuesday-Thursday series. The final games before the All Star Break for Toronto will be on the road at Baltimore, over the weekend.

16. Minnesota Twins (42-40) – The Twins, at 42-40, are in third place, three games behind the Detroit Tigers in the American League Central. Minnesota, has won six of their last ten games coming into Sunday’s game. The Twins are 25-16 at home, and just 17-24 when playing on the road. Saturday’s win was a comeback win, in which Justin Morneau led the comeback. Francisco Liriano did not pick up the win, but pitched well again, in his third straight start. The Twins and Tigers will finish their three game series on Sunday, and then the Twins will host the New York Yankees (Tuesday-Thursday) and the Chicago White Sox over the weekend.

17. Florida Marlins (42-40) – The Florida Marlins are taking full advantage of the struggles of the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets. As half the season has come to an end, the Marlins find themselves at 42-40, two games above .500. Florida is also just one game behind first place Philadelphia. Hanley Ramirez is making a case for runner up in the MVP voting (behind Albert Pujols) with his .346 batting average, and 60 runs batted in. Dan Uggla leads Florida in homeruns with 15. Josh Johnson leads the starting rotation in wins (7) and earned run average (2.76).  The Marlins and Pirates have split the first two games of a four game series, and will play the final game on Sunday, before Florida heads west to take on the Giants and Diamondbacks.

18. Cincinnati Reds (40-39) – The Reds, are another team that sits just above .500, and still in contention in the divisional race. Cincinnati is just two games out, behind Milwaukee and St. Louis in the NL Central. The Reds picked up a 5-2 win behind Micah Owings on Saturday, a day after blowing a 3-0 lead to the Cardinals on Friday. The Reds starting pitching staff has been excellent, with Johnny Cueto, Aaron Harang, Bronson Arroyo, Edison Volquez, and Micah Owings, as of late. Jay Bruce leads the team in homeruns with 18, while Brandon Phillips is the leading RBI guy, with 53. The Reds and Cardinals will play the rubber game of the three game series on Sunday, before Cincinnati heads to Philadelphia for four and New York for three to conclude the first half of the season.

19. Chicago Cubs (39-39) – The Chicago Cubs, at .500, are still alive in the NL Central. Chicago sits just 2.5 games behind the Brewers and Cardinals, in fourth place in the NL Central. The Cubs have not found any consistency from their offense, but have seen a surge from first basemen Derrick Lee as of late. Lee leads the team in homeruns (14) and runs batted in (48). Ryan Theriot leads the team in batting with a .287 batting average. The Cubs’ three game winning streak came to an end on Saturday, as the Milwaukee Brewers blasted them 11-2. The Brewers and Cubs will finish their four game series on Sunday, before the Cubs host the Braves for three and then the Cardinals for four, including a Sunday doubleheader to end the first half of the season.

20. Atlanta Braves (39-41) – The Braves, despite being two games under .500 are just three games out of first place in the National League East. The Braves have not had excellent offensive numbers, but have had solid pitching from Derek Lowe, Jair Jurrjens, and Javier Vazquez at the top of their rotation. The Braves and Nationals will play the rubber match of their three game series on Sunday, and then Atlanta will head to Chicago for a three game series and then to Colorado for four to end the first half of the season.

21. New York Mets (39-41) – The Mets, with all their injuries have continued to plummet in the National League East standings. New York has dropped to two games below .500, but are just three games out of first place. The Mets have lost two straight games, and seven of their last ten games. Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, Jose Reyes, John Maine and J.J. Putz lead a long list of injuries for New York. The Mets are led in homeruns by aging veteran Gary Sheffield, with 10, while third basemen David Wright leads in runs batted in (42) and runs scored (51). The Mets will look to avoid a three game sweep at Philadelphia on Sunday, and then head back to Citi Field and take on the Los Angeles Dodgers for three, starting on Tuesday. Over the weekend, the Cincinnati Reds will come to town.

22. Houston Astros (38-41) – After creeping to just one game under .500, the Houston Astros have suddenly lost their bats. Houston has been outscored 22-0 in their first two games in a series in San Francisco. Miguel Tejada leads the team in batting with a .325 batting average, while Lance Berkman has hit 17 homeruns and drove in 48 runs. Wandy Rodriguez has been the staff ace, with a 7-6 record, and a 3.21 earned run average. After Houston finishes in San Francisco on Sunday, they will come back home, four seven straight against Pittsburgh(3) and Washington(4).

23. Baltimore Orioles (36-45) – The Baltimore Orioles are the lone American League East team that is out of contention. The Orioles are in fifth place, and 12.5 games behind the Boston Red Sox. Baltimore is 24-20 when playing at home, but a dismal 12-25 on the road. The Orioles are pleased with their production from outfielder Adam Jones, who leads the team in batting average, at .307. Luke Scott leads the team in homeruns with 16, while Aubrey Huff has drove in 55 runs, and Brian Roberts has scored 60 runs. The Orioles will look to split the four game series with the Angels on Sunday, and then head to Seattle to take on the Mariners in a three game set. Over the weekend, the Orioles will host the Toronto Blue Jays to finish the 2009 first half of the season.

24. Pittsburgh Pirates (37-44) – The Pirates, are seven games below .500, but are just six games out of first place in the National League Central. Pittsburgh are 22-17 at home this season, while they have struggled on the road, winning just 15 of 42 games. Zach Duke or Freddy Sanchez look to be the choices for the National League All Star team, Pittsburgh representative. Duke is 8-6 on the season with a 3.13 earned run average, while Sanchez is batting .316 on the season. The Pirates will look to win the rubber match of a three game set in Miami on Sunday, and then continue the road trip Monday-Wednesday at Houston, before playing three at Philadelphia over the weekend.

25. San Diego Padres (35-45) – The Padres picked up their fourth win in twelve tries over the first place Los Angeles Dodgers. San Diego has got to find a way to win more games on the road, as they are just 12-26 on the season. The win for the Padres snapped a three game losing streak for San Diego. The Padres are led in homeruns and runs batted in by Adrian Gonzalez with 24 and 51. San Diego and Los Angeles will finish their three game series on Sunday, before the Padres will finish the first half of the season on the road, at Arizona and San Francisco (for four).

26. Kansas City Royals (34-46) – After the hot start, the Royals have fallen to twelve games below .500, but are just 10 games out of first in the American League Central. Kansas City is 21-24 at home, while 13-22 on the road. The bright spot for the Royals has been staff ace Zack Greinke, and his 10 wins. Greinke is 10-4 with a 2.00 earned run average on the season. Kansas City and the White Sox will finish their four game series on Sunday, with the Royals looking to split the series. After the Royals finish up the series, they will head to Detroit and Boston, finishing up their first half season with series against first place squads.

27. Oakland Athletics (33-46) – The Athletics are marred in the middle of a two game losing streak, and have won just two of their last ten games. Oakland is in last place in the American League West, sitting 11 games behind the Angels and Rangers. Kurt Suzuki leads the team in batting, but is only hitting .282 on the year. Jack Cust leads in power numbers with 14 homeruns and 42 runs batted in, also adding 42 runs scored. Oakland will look to avoid the sweep in Cleveland on Sunday, and then head east and take on the Red Sox for three, and the Rays for four games.

28. Cleveland Indians (33-49) – The Indians cannot seem to find consistency, and are 33-49 barring down on the end of the first half. Cleveland sits 12 games back of the Detroit Tigers in the American League Central Division. The Indians are 19-24 at home, and 14-25 on the road. The Indians snapped a five game losing streak on Friday, led  by Shin-Soo Choo’s four hits and seven runs batted in.  Victor Martinez leads the tribe in power numbers of (14 homeruns) and (57 runs batted in). Carl Pavano has led the starting pitching staff, with seven wins, but also seven losses and an earned run average of over 5.30. The Indians look to sweep the Athletics on Sunday, and then head on the road to face fellow divisional foes Chicago and Detroit.

29. Arizona Diamondbacks (32-49) – At 32-49, the Arizona Diamondbacks have been the most disappointing team in 2009. Arizona is a MLB worst 19 games out of first place in the National League West, and have won just 15 of 33 games at home. Arizona is 2-8 in their last ten games, but did pick up a Saturday win over the Rockies. Felipe Lopez is the lone Arizona hitter batting over .300, with a .301 mark. Mark Reynolds may be on the trading block, despite leading the team in homeruns (23), runs batted in (58), runs scored (52) and stolen bases (13). Dan Haren leads the team in wins (7), innings pitched (115), and earned run average (2.19). Arizona and Colorado will finish their series on Sunday in Denver, before Arizona comes home and hosts the Padres and Marlins to conclude the first half of the season.

30. Washington Nationals (23-55) – The Washington Nationals are 18 games out of first place in the National League East. Washington will be one of the very few sellers as the trade deadline looms. Washington has won just 9 games on the road this season, losing 29. The Nationals have struggled against divisional foes winning just 7 of 38 games this season. Christian Guzman leads the team in batting with a .316 batting average, while Adam Dunn has hit 22 homeruns and drove in 59 runs. The Nationals will look to win the series on Sunday against the Atlanta Braves, before heading out west to Colorado and Houston to finish the first half of the season.

Sports fans do not worry, the 2009 NFL Football Season will be here in just a couple of weeks. If you may have taken the summer off from the betting world or just ready for football season you are not alone. Anticipation for the upcoming football season is at an all time high because there are so many big stories heading into 2009. Tom Brady makes his return under center in New England, the ongoing saga in Dallas, and Jay Cutler becoming the new quarterback in Chicago are just a few of the headlines. It is safe to say the 2009 NFL season will be one that will be fun to watch. The NFL training camps are only about two weeks away as we begin to learn a little bit more about the teams and what to expect. We have examined all the off-season transactions and draft selections and are ready to take advantage of all available betting lines. As we transition our focus to football we look forward to bringing you the best betting strategies on hand. The season odds are most favorable before the teams take the field and we will try to pinpoint the best prop bets available for 2009 NFL Season.

Prop Bet #1 – Winning the AFC North Division (Click here for AFC Divisional Odds)

Baltimore Ravens +320
Cincinnati Bengals +800
Cleveland Browns +900
Pittsburgh Steelers -225

The Pittsburgh Steelers dominated this division a year ago on route to winning their record 6th Super Bowl. The Steelers will again be big favorites to win the division over the Baltimore Ravens. The Steelers beat the Ravens on 3 different occasions last season. Pittsburgh 3 wins may consider that they just blew down the division. However, the two regular season games were decided by a combined 7 points including an overtime game in the first meeting. The Steelers then battled in another great football game with Baltimore in the AFC Championship beating the Ravens by 9 points. We expect things to shape out differently in 2009. While this is still a two horse race in the division, we like Baltimore to extract some revenge. The Ravens passing attack improved tremendously in 2008 behind young quarterback Joe Flacco. Baltimore consistently tested the deep ball towards the end of the season proving how much trust they had in their young quarterback. Baltimore is anticipating another promising season. Both teams have the most dominating defenses in the league. Last season Pittsburgh come up with big plays at the right times mainly from WR Hines Ward. We expect the road will be more difficult as it always is when defending a Super Bowl winning season. Add to the fact, Baltimore won the last 6 out of 9 in the series before last season and the Ravens should be primed for the upset. Take advantage of Baltimore’s profitable pre-season odds and consider a wager.

Pick – Baltimore Ravens +320

Prop Bet #2 – Odds to win the AFC Championship

Notables:
Baltimore Ravens +900
Indianapolis Colts +650
New England Patriots +350
Pittsburgh Steelers +450
San Diego Chargers +650
Tennessee Titans +900

The AFC will sport a load of talent in 2009. The Pittsburgh Steelers are the defending Super Bowl Champions. The Indianapolis Colts won their last 9 games of the regular season and many are promising them to have a breakout season. Tennessee got off to a perfect 10-0 start before faltering down the stretch. San Diego came on strong during the playoffs and Baltimore is an up and coming contender as well. However, the team that has dominated the last decade will be amongst the biggest favorites and rightfully so. The Patriots had a perfect regular season at 16-0 in 2007 in what people will remember as one of the greatest teams ever. New England lost their superstar quarterback Tom Brady last year and the team struggled to return to dominance. However, many people were surprised to see how good the Patriots could contend with an inexperienced quarterback. New England finished 11-5, but this season promises to be much better with Brady back under center. Randy Moss and Wes Welker both eclipsed the 1,000 yard plateau in 2008 and we believe they will have even bigger season in 2009. Not a big surprise of a pick, but this team has the potential to flirt with their 2007 undefeated status. The Patriots return to dominance will be felt in 2009.

Pick – New England Patriots +350

Prop Bet # 3 – Who will have the most regular season passing yards?

The top 3 quarterbacks in terms of passing yards in 2008 were Jay Cutler, Kurt Warner, and Drew Brees. Brees dominated in nearly all passing statistics throwing for an amazing 5,000 plus yards in the New Orleans pass happy offense. Brees also led the league in passing touchdowns with 34 scores as well. Jay Cutler and Kurt Warner were both very impressive as both starts threw for over 4,500 yards. Warner will again be a threat as he has two of the most talented receivers in the game in Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. However, it is unlikely the veteran quarterback can reach those impressive numbers again as age is should start taking a toll. Cutler is now in Chicago and that is anything but a 4500 yard passing type of offense. Meaning the only other contenders would be Phillip Rivers and Peyton Manning who both barely eclipsed the 4,000 yard barrier. Drew Brees should be just as big a threat in 2009. Backed by a solid offensive front, the pass happy offense will go to the air early and often. Do not be surprised to see very similar numbers from the Saints biggest star in 2009.

Pick – Drew Brees +250