BET ON SPORTS OPTIONS - CLICK HERE

The college football season kicks off tonight, so it’s time to pick the best in the nation before the teams hit the field. The No. 1 team in college football before a down has been played is Ohio State. The Buckeyes are solid on both sides of the ball and will garner national attention win or lose, with at least two Heisman Trophy candidates in Troy Smith and Ted Ginn Jr.

Just about everyone who hasn’t picked Ohio State to win the national championship this season has gone with the No. 2 team, Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish have another tough schedule ahead of them, but another year under head coach Charlie Weis could finally mean a national championship for Notre Dame. Rounding out the rest of the preseason Top 5 are reigning champs Texas, Auburn and West Virginia.

Here’s a quick rundown of the entire Top 25 with their Week 1 opponents. The team records listed are from last season.

1. Ohio State (10-2) – Led by Heisman candidates Troy Smith and Ted Ginn Jr., the Buckeyes begin the season as the top-ranked school in the nation thanks to what should be an explosive offense and a young but talented defense. The Buckeyes open their season Saturday versus 7-5 Northern Illinois.

2. Notre Dame (9-3) – The Fighting Irish begin their second season under Charlie Weis with national championship expectations and a solid Heisman contender in QB Brady Quinn. Notre Dame takes on 8-4 Navy at home on Saturday.

3. Texas (13-0) - The Longhorns are the defending national champions, but their repeat attempt will be made without star QB Vince Young. Even without Young, the Longhorns are stacked with talent and should have no problems with 2-9 North Texas on Saturday.

4. Auburn (9-3) – The Tigers have all the pieces in place to run over the rest of the SEC, while what looks like a favorable schedule could give them a shot at the national championship. Auburn kicks off the season of Saturday versus 4-7 Washington State.

5. West Virginia (11-1) – With QB Pat White and running back Steve Slaton still in the fold, the Mountaineers should easily rule the Big East again this season with the only obstacle in their way possibly being Louisville. West Virginia starts the season at home on Saturday versus 4-7 Marshall.

6. USC (12-1) – The Trojans saw a lot of talent move on after last season, but their new power performers are all ready to step in. After USC takes care of 4-7 Arkansas on Saturday, you should be more familiar with the future Trojans’ stars.

7. Florida (9-3) – The Gators head into the second year under head coach Urban Meyer with a solid QB, Chris Leak, what looks to be a strong defense, and big expectations from fans and supporters. Florida should at least get the season started off right with their opener at home Saturday versus 7-5 Southern Mississippi.

8. LSU (11-2) – The Tigers should at least be confident heading into the season after they ended last year with a 40-3 whipping of Miami in the Peach Bowl. With QB JaMarcus Russell fully healthy, the Tigers should have no trouble with 6-5 Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday.

9. California (8-4) – The Golden Bears saw most of their offense return this season, including star running back Marshawn Lynch. However, what could make them a real powerhouse this season is their defense. California gets thrown into the fire right away with their opener on the road versus No. 23 Tennessee.

10. Oklahoma (8-4) – The Sooners took a hit before the season began after the dismissal of starting QB Rhett Bomar. With running back Adrian Peterson healthy, the offense should still be in good shape. Oklahoma starts the season at home on Saturday versus 5-6 UAB.

11. Florida State (8-5) – The Seminoles have plenty of talent on both sides of the ball, but they need QB Drew Weatherford to limit his mistakes this season to see an improvement. Florida State is in tough from the start in their opener against No. 12 Miami (FL) on the road Monday night.

12. Miami (FL) (9-3) – The Hurricanes need QB Kyle Wright to have a breakout season if their offense is going to match what should be a punishing Miami defense. Miami gets a home game versus rival No. 11 Florida State to start their season on Monday night. Hurricanes running back Tyrone Moss will miss this game due to a one-game suspension.

13. Louisville (9-3) – The Cardinals have a Heisman darkhorse in QB Brian Brohm and a strong back in Michael Bush that makes them a standout in the Big East. Louisville goes up against 3-8 Kentucky at home on Sunday.

14. Michigan (7-5) – The Wolverines have a potent duo in QB Chad Henne and RB Mike Hart, if they can both stay healthy this season. Michigan gets things started at home on Saturday versus 5-6 Vanderbilt.

15. Georgia (10-3) – The Bulldogs' season could heavily depend on how well QB Joe Tereshinski takes over from departed starter D.J. Shockley. Georgia will get their first look at Tereshinski on Saturday versus 6-5 Western Kentucky.

16. Iowa (7-5) – The Hawkeyes go up against 8-4 Montana at home on Saturday.

17. Virginia Tech (11-2) – The Hokies start their season at home on Saturday versus 2-9 Northeastern.

18. Clemson (8-4) -  The Tigers get underway on Saturday versus 2-9 Florida Atlantic.

19. Penn State (11-1) – Joe Paterno begins his 41st season as the Nittany Lions' head coach versus (7-6) Akron on Saturday.

20. Nebraska (8-4) – The Cornhuskers play host to 7-4 Louisiana Tech on Saturday.

21. Oregon ( 10-2) – The Ducks are at home to 5-6 Stanford on Saturday.

22. TCU (11-1) – The Horned Frogs hit the road for their opener at 5-6 Baylor on Sunday.

23. Tennessee (5-6) – The Volunteers get a tough start to the season with a home game against No. 9 California on Saturday.

24. Arizona State (7-5) – The Sun Devils get started earlier than most with a Thursday home game versus 3-8 Northern Arizona.

25. Texas Tech (9-3) – The Red Raiders take on 5-6 Southern Methodist at home on Saturday.

BET ON SPORTS OPTIONS - CLICK HERE

Coming off a 10-5 loss in their last game, Colorado assigns the task of getting back on the winning track to Josh Fogg on Wednesday at home. Sitting atop the National League East with an 81-49 mark, New York tabs Dave Williams for the job of maintaining that spot. Williams brings a 3-3 record and a 6.4 ERA into this game. New York brings an 81-49 overall mark (34-20 in the division) into this game versus a Colorado team carrying a 61-70 record. If you don't see much advantage or edge between these teams, you and Vegas oddsmakers have it the same way. The game opened as a pick'em on the line and 10.5 on the total. On the season, the Rockies are 61-70, while the Mets are 81-49.   Last time out, at Coors Field against Colorado, the Mets as favorites defeated the Rockies 10-5. That game was an over play. The visitors bring strikeout specialists to the park today who rank #2 in the league, whiffing 7.1 per game. They will be looking to prove that reputation true again today. Some trends to consider: New York is 2-5-1 OU in its last 8 games away against Colorado New York is 5-8-3 OU in its last 16 games against Colorado New York is 13-6-0 OU in its last 19 away New York is 5-2-0 OU in its last 7 games Colorado is 4-1-1 OU in its last 6 at home Colorado is 5-8-3 OU in its last 16 games against New York Colorado is 3-8-0 SU in its last 11 games after scoring 4 to 6 runs Colorado is 2-5-1 OU in its last 8 games at home against New York Next up: NY Mets at Colorado, Thursday, August 31 Colorado home to NY Mets, Thursday, August 31

SU: 81-49 ATS: SU: 61-70 ATS:

 I love this year's Colorado team, but my money is on the Mets by 4.

BET ON SPORTS OPTIONS - CLICK HERE

Fresh off a victory in their last game, Detroit turns to lefty Nate Robertson to keep its momentum going Tuesday on the road at New York. The Tigers start Nate Robertson, 11-10, 4.10 ERA. His last trip was a loss, a 10-0 team loss against the White Sox, when he threw 6 2/3 innings, allowing 10 runs on 9 hits. Sporting an 82-49 overall record and a 39-23 mark within the division, the Tigers aim to knock the Yankees (32-18 in the division) for a loss. Oddsmakers like the Yankees in this one, opening the line at 170 in favor of New York. They are 77-52 this season, while the Tigers are 82-49. The total, which is 65-61-3 to the OVER in Yankees games and 51-75-5 in Tigers games, opened at 9.5. Detroit won at Cleveland against the Indians last game as underdogs, tallying a score of 7-1. The combined score went under the total. Meanwhile, at Angel Stadium, the underdog Yankees were winning against the Angels 11-8. The game was an over play. The Tigers need to cut down on the strikeouts and get some runners on base. They rank #13 in the league, whiffing 6.9 times per game. The hitters need to make some contact. Some trends to consider: Detroit is 1-3-1 OU in its last 5 away Detroit is 5-12-2 OU in its last 19 games Detroit is 9-16-1 OU in its last 26 games against New York New York is 5-0-0 SU in its last 5 games after scoring more than 9 runs New York is 5-1-0 OU in its last 6 games New York is 9-16-1 OU in its last 26 games against Detroit New York is 1-4-1 OU in its last 6 at home Next up: Detroit at NY Yankees, Wednesday, August 30 NY Yankees home to Detroit, Wednesday, August 30

SU: 82-49 ATS: SU: 77-52 ATS:

BET ON SPORTS OPTIONS - CLICK HERE

 Carson Palmer will make his preseason debut tonight when the Cincinnati Bengals play host to the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football. The quarterback, who is coming off a major knee injury, has been confirmed as the Bengals' starter versus the Packers, and the team will be keenly interested in their franchise player's performance.

Although Palmer likely won't see too much action in the game, the fact that he'll be taking the field at all is very welcome news for Cincinnati. The devastating knee injury that knocked Palmer out of the Bengals' playoff game against the Steelers last season had required extensive rehabilitation, and his status for Week 1 of the regular season has been in question all summer. A strong effort Monday could put him back on track.

Oddsmakers and bettors have been encouraged by the Palmer news as well. The Bengals opened as 3.5-point home favorites versus the Packers, but that line had moved to Cincinnati -5.5 at most books by the end of the week. More offense is expected in the game too - the opening total of 37 has since been boosted to 41 points.

However, the Bengals have been cruising through their exhibition schedule without their starting quarterback on the field. Cincinnati kicked off their preseason with a 19-3 win at home over the Washington Redskins, then ran wild last week in a 44-31 road victory over the Buffalo Bills. That puts the Bengals at a perfect 2-0 heading into Monday night.

Both Anthony Wright and Doug Johnson have played pretty well in the pocket in Palmer's absence. Wright, who has the inside track on the backup QB job, went 9-of-16 for 101 yards and a TD against Washington, and 9-of-19 for 99 yards and a score against Buffalo. Johnson has been a bit better, completing 11-of-14 pass attempts for 128 yards and a score against Washington, and 8-of-14 passes for 133 yards and a score against Buffalo. Palmer's return will cut into the playing time for both of the QBs.

On the other side of the ball the Packers are also expected to get a key offensive contributor back on the field on Monday night. Running back Ahman Green has been recovering from a torn quadriceps, and he was listed as a game-time decision last week against the Atlanta Falcons. Green eventually sat out that contest, but is expected to start against Cincinnati on Monday night. It's unlikely that the running back will get more than a dozen carries in the game, however, as he continues to work himself into shape.

The Packers started their preseason schedule with a weak 17-3 loss to the San Diego Chargers, but bounced back last week with a 38-10 thrashing of the Falcons. Starting QB Brett Favre went 5-of-10 for 66 yards (and no touchdowns) against the Chargers, but then completed 16-of-22 pass attempts for 134 yards and two scores versus Atlanta. Najeh Davenport and Bubba Franks caught TD passes from Favre in that win.

Favre, then, looks to be ready for the regular season - and he'll be hoping that the solid performance put forth by the offensive line against Atlanta wasn't a fluke. Young backup QB Aaron Rodgers has also had success during the exhibition schedule. Rogers went 9-of-11 for 124 yards and an interception against San Diego, then was good on 3-of-6 pass attempts for an impressive 111 yards and two touchdowns in the rout over Atlanta.

After playing on Monday night both the Packers and the Bengals will have just three days off before their preseason finales on Friday. Green Bay plays host to the Tennessee Titans in their final exhibition contest, while the Bengals close out their preseason schedule on the road against the Indianapolis Colts. Week 1 of the NFL's regular season schedule features Cincinnati at Kansas City and Chicago at Green Bay.

BET ON SPORTS OPTIONS - CLICK HERE

One week after chasing Tiger Woods at the PGA Championship, the best golfers in the world will try to end Woods’ winning streak this weekend at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational.

As usual, Woods is the favorite at 2/1. If you consider Woods' sizzling play of late, those odds might even be a little high. Since missing the cut at the U.S. Open back in June, Woods has been the best golfer on the planet. He has won his last three tournaments including major wins at the British Open and last week’s PGA Championship, where he finished five strokes ahead of his nearest competitor Shaun Micheel.

Making things even tougher on the rest of the field at the Bridgestone this weekend is the fact that Woods is the defending champion of the event. Last year Woods edged Chris DiMarco by one stroke at the Firestone Country Club, the same location as this year’s event. Woods is actually a four-time winner at Firestone, having previously won this event three years running, from 1999-2001 when it was called the WGC-NEC Invitational.

Coming in behind Woods on the odds list once again is Phil Mickelson. Lefty was never really in contention at the PGA last week and ended up in a tie for 16th. That was Mickelson’s best finish since his meltdown at the U.S. Open relegated him to second place behind Geoff Ogilvy. One possible saving grace for Mickelson this weekend is the fact that he has won at Firestone before, way back in 1996. Mickelson comes in at 10/1.

The rest of the top-ranked pros will all be looking for their first victory at the Bridgestone. Jim Furyk, who comes in a 12/1 this weekend, finished tied for 29th at the PGA last weekend and tied for 24th at the Bridgestone last season. The rest of the best, namely Ernie Els, Retief Goosen and Vijay Singh, all share the same odds at 15/1. Out of that trio, Els had the best finish at last week’s PGA, tied for 16th, while Singh shot the best at last year’s Bridgestone, tying for third place.

Aside from Woods and Mickelson, there are very few former winners at Firestone teeing it up this weekend. The only other players to previously hoist the trophy at Firestone that will be playing this weekend are Stewart Cink and Jose Maria Olazabal. Cink won back in 2004 and comes in at 25/1, while Olazabal is a two-time titleist, winning both in 1994 and 1990. Olazabal was left off the odds list and is lumped in with the field at 8/1. 

Tournament odds:

Tiger Woods – 2/1
Phil Mickelson – 10/1
Jim Furyk – 12/1
Ernie Els – 15/1
Sergio Garcia – 15/1
Retief Goosen – 15/1
Vijay Singh – 15/1
Luke Donald – 20/1
Davis Love III – 20/1
Adam Scott – 20/1
Mike Weir – 20/1
Stewart Cink – 25/1
David Toms – 25/1
Geoff Ogilvy – 25/1
Stuart Appleby – 30/1
K.J. Choi – 30/1
Tim Clark – 30/1
Padraig Harrington – 30/1
Michael Campbell – 35/1
Chris DiMarco – 35/1
Vaughn Taylor – 35/1
Scott Verplank – 35/1
Kenny Perry – 35/1
Robert Allenby – 40/1
Chad Campbell – 40/1
David Howell – 40/1
Trevor Immelman – 40/1
Fred Couples – 50/1
Fred Funk – 50/1
Justin Leonard – 50/1
Field (All Others) – 8/1

BET ON SPORTS OPTIONS - CLICK HERE

One week after chasing Tiger Woods at the PGA Championship, the best golfers in the world will try to end Woods’ winning streak this weekend at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational.

As usual, Woods is the favorite at 2/1. If you consider Woods' sizzling play of late, those odds might even be a little high. Since missing the cut at the U.S. Open back in June, Woods has been the best golfer on the planet. He has won his last three tournaments including major wins at the British Open and last week’s PGA Championship, where he finished five strokes ahead of his nearest competitor Shaun Micheel.

Making things even tougher on the rest of the field at the Bridgestone this weekend is the fact that Woods is the defending champion of the event. Last year Woods edged Chris DiMarco by one stroke at the Firestone Country Club, the same location as this year’s event. Woods is actually a four-time winner at Firestone, having previously won this event three years running, from 1999-2001 when it was called the WGC-NEC Invitational.

Coming in behind Woods on the odds list once again is Phil Mickelson. Lefty was never really in contention at the PGA last week and ended up in a tie for 16th. That was Mickelson’s best finish since his meltdown at the U.S. Open relegated him to second place behind Geoff Ogilvy. One possible saving grace for Mickelson this weekend is the fact that he has won at Firestone before, way back in 1996. Mickelson comes in at 10/1.

The rest of the top-ranked pros will all be looking for their first victory at the Bridgestone. Jim Furyk, who comes in a 12/1 this weekend, finished tied for 29th at the PGA last weekend and tied for 24th at the Bridgestone last season. The rest of the best, namely Ernie Els, Retief Goosen and Vijay Singh, all share the same odds at 15/1. Out of that trio, Els had the best finish at last week’s PGA, tied for 16th, while Singh shot the best at last year’s Bridgestone, tying for third place.

Aside from Woods and Mickelson, there are very few former winners at Firestone teeing it up this weekend. The only other players to previously hoist the trophy at Firestone that will be playing this weekend are Stewart Cink and Jose Maria Olazabal. Cink won back in 2004 and comes in at 25/1, while Olazabal is a two-time titleist, winning both in 1994 and 1990. Olazabal was left off the odds list and is lumped in with the field at 8/1. 

Tournament odds:

Tiger Woods – 2/1
Phil Mickelson – 10/1
Jim Furyk – 12/1
Ernie Els – 15/1
Sergio Garcia – 15/1
Retief Goosen – 15/1
Vijay Singh – 15/1
Luke Donald – 20/1
Davis Love III – 20/1
Adam Scott – 20/1
Mike Weir – 20/1
Stewart Cink – 25/1
David Toms – 25/1
Geoff Ogilvy – 25/1
Stuart Appleby – 30/1
K.J. Choi – 30/1
Tim Clark – 30/1
Padraig Harrington – 30/1
Michael Campbell – 35/1
Chris DiMarco – 35/1
Vaughn Taylor – 35/1
Scott Verplank – 35/1
Kenny Perry – 35/1
Robert Allenby – 40/1
Chad Campbell – 40/1
David Howell – 40/1
Trevor Immelman – 40/1
Fred Couples – 50/1
Fred Funk – 50/1
Justin Leonard – 50/1
Field (All Others) – 8/1

BET ON SPORTS OPTIONS - CLICK HERE

The New Orleans Saints will be playing in their home state on Monday night, but that doesn't necessarily mean they'll have home-field advantage in that exhibition game.

Plenty of Dallas fans are also expected at Independence Stadium in Shreveport when the Cowboys take on the Saints in a Week 2 preseason contest. The northern Louisiana city is only 180 miles from Big D, with football fans there reportedly split in their loyalty.

So expect to hear cheering from the 50,000 strong crowd when either team scores on Monday night. Shreveport last hosted an NFL preseason matchup way back in 1970, when the New England Patriots took on the Pittsburgh Steelers (the Cowboys and Saints also staged an organized scrimmage there in 1998, attracting 28,000 people).

However, neither teams' fans will get a chance to see Terrell Owens on Monday, as the Cowboys receiver will not make his preseason debut in the game. Dallas coach Bill Parcells doesn't think T.O. is ready for game action, as the troublesome receiver sat out Saturday's practice sessions to nurse his sore hamstring. There has also been talk out of Cowboys camp that Owens is upset with the way his injury has been treated to date.

Dallas, though, did manage to win their preseason opener without Owens' services, and without starting quarterback Drew Bledsoe in the lineup as well. Backup QB Tony Romo went 19-of-25 for 235 yards passing in their 13-3 win over the Seattle Seahawks last week, throwing a nine-yard touchdown pass to Patrick Crayton in the first quarter. Expect Bledsoe to get some work on Monday night, if only to hold off Romo's challenge.

Crayton had four catches for 61 yards in that win, while Mike Vanderjagt and Shaun Suisham each booted field goals. The Dallas defense held Seattle to just a Josh Brown field goal, but didn't have to contend with much of Shaun Alexander or Matt Hasselbeck.

The Saints are also coming off a victory, as they defeated the Tennessee Titans 19-16 on the road last week. Lance Moore caught a 22-yard TD pass from Todd Bouman to seal that win. Bouman went 5-of-8 for 77 yards passing in the game, while Jamie Martin was 13-of-22 for 143 yards passing and two interceptions, and Drew Brees was 5-of-9 for 60 yards passing. John Carney and Connor Hughes kicked two field goals apiece.

Reggie Bush had six carries for 59 yards in the win, with one 44-yard run the highlight. Bush also had two catches for 10 yards for the Saints. Deuce McAllister was held out of the game to rest his knee, but he's expected to start at running back for New Orleans on Monday night and play most of the first half. McAllister tore his right ACL last October.

Oddsmakers opened this game as a pick'em, but that line has shifted to Dallas -3 over the past week. The nomadic Saints struggled to a 3-13 record last season, while the Cowboys just missed the playoffs at 9-7. That big differential, combined with the number of Dallas fans expected in Shreveport, has made bettors like the Cowboys' chances on Monday night. The total for the game opened at 36 points, but has moved down to 35.

Both Dallas and New Orleans play their Week 3 preseason contests next Saturday, with the Cowboys taking on the San Francisco 49ers and the Saints battling Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. That Saints/Colts matchup will be played in Jackson, Miss.

BET ON SPORTS OPTIONS - CLICK HERE 

 Some of baseball's biggest pitching stars take to the mound Sunday looking to improve their season win total. Here's a look at four of the day's best MLB pitching matchups . . .

Toronto Blue Jays at Baltimore Orioles
Roy Halladay (15-3) vs. Erik Bedard (12-8)

Halladay picked up his 15th win of the season earlier in the week by holding the Devil Rays to two runs on six hits over seven innings of work. That victory was the righthander's second in a row since allowing an uncharacteristic five runs (and issuing three walks) in a loss to the White Sox on August 4. Against the Orioles on August 9 Halladay allowed three runs on eight hits (and fanned five) over 7 1-3 innings in a win.

Orioles ace Bedard has been stuck on 12 wins since July 23, when he defeated the Devil Rays. In his past four outings the lefthander is 0-2 (including a loss versus Halladay) with two no-decisions. However, Bedard only allowed nine runs over 25.1 innings pitched in that stretch, and managed to strike out 22 batters. Bedard's ERA now sits at 3.81 on the season, and he's fanned 125 batters in 148.2 innings of work in '06.

Chicago White Sox at Minnesota Twins
Javier Vazquez (11-7) vs. Johan Santana (14-5)

Vazquez currently boasts the highest ERA on the White Sox starting staff at 5.13, and that number has come down in the past couple of weeks. Over his last three starts the righthander is 2-1, allowing just six runs on 15 hits over 18.1 innings of work. Vazquez also managed to strike out 22 batters in those 18.1 innings, and he's fanned 120 in 144 innings on the year. Against the Twins on July 24 Vazquez allowed five runs in a loss.

Santana hasn't picked up a loss since a July 9 outing versus the Rangers, going 5-0 with two no-decisions since that start. On the season the lefthander is now 14-5 with a 3.10 ERA, and he's coming off a strong performance versus the Indians (eight innings pitched, three hits, zero runs allowed). In his last start against the White Sox (on July 25) Santana held the opposition to three runs on seven hits over seven innings of work.

Los Angeles Dodgers at San Francisco Giants
Derek Lowe (10-8) vs. Matt Morris (8-10)

Lowe has managed to pick up a victory in three of his last four starts, allowing nine runs on 22 hits over 27.2 innings of work in that stretch. That string of success has allowed the righthander to improve his record to 10-8 on the season, with a 3.97 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 165.1 innings pitched. In his most recent outing (against the Marlins on August 14) Lowe gave up just one earned run on four hits over seven innings pitched.

Morris has had some solid starts recently, but he hasn't been able to grab a victory since he beat the Phillies on July 14. Since that win the righthander is 0-3 with three no-decisions, and he's compiled an 8-10 record with a 4.62 ERA on the season. Against the Padres this week Morris allowed only one run on six hits over 6 1-3 innings, but was saddled with a no-decision. Morris has fanned 85 in 154 innings worked this season.

New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox
Mike Mussina (13-5) vs. Curt Schilling (14-5)

Mussina has yet to pick up a victory in the month of August, earning a loss and a no-decision versus the Orioles, and a loss against the White Sox. His last win came on July 30, when he beat the Devil Rays with a strong, seven-inning performance. However, the righthander has only allowed three earned runs in each of his last three outings, and he's now at 13-5 with a 3.54 ERA (and 148 strikeouts in 165.1 innings) on the season.

Schilling's last win also came against the poor Devil Rays, when he gave up just two runs on nine hits over seven innings on August 4. Since that victory the righthander has lost to the Royals (giving up five runs on 11 hits over 7 1-3 innings) and picked up a no-decision against the Tigers (allowing two runs over seven innings). On the season Schilling is now 14-5 with a 3.83 ERA, and he's struck out 153 batters in 173.2 innings.

BET ON SPORTS OPTIONS - CLICK HERE 

Milwaukee looks to follow up last game's win over the Astros with another Saturday at home. The Brewers send David Bush against Houston in this one. Sporting a 58-64 overall record and a 30-32 mark within the division, the Brewers aim to knock the Astros (25-24 in the division) for a loss. Oddsmakers like the Astros in this one, opening the line at 125 in their favor. They are 58-64 this season, while the Brewers are 58-64. The total, which is 62-53-7 to the OVER in Brewers games and 54-61-7 in Astros games, was set at 8.   After losing their last game, Phil Garner's team looks to bounce back with a solid showing on the road Saturday. They were underdogs in that game, which went under the total of 9. The visitors bring strikeout specialists to the park today who rank #3 in the league, whiffing 7 per game. They will be looking to prove that reputation true again today. Some trends to consider: Houston is 2-6-1 OU in its last 9 games Houston is 4-10-0 OU in its last 14 away Houston is 5-2-0 OU in its last 7 games against Milwaukee Houston is 5-2-0 SU in its last 7 games after scoring 1 to 3 runs Milwaukee is 4-1-0 SU in its last 5 games after scoring 1 to 3 runs Milwaukee is 5-2-0 OU in its last 7 games against Houston Milwaukee is 1-3-1 OU in its last 5 games Next up: Houston at Milwaukee, Sunday, August 20 Milwaukee home to Houston, Sunday, August 20

SU: 58-64 ATS: SU: 58-64 ATS:

BET ON SPORTS OPTIONS - CLICK HERE 

Kasey Kahne picked up a win at Michigan International Speedway earlier in the season, and he'll need another big finish there on Sunday to get back into contention for the Chase for the Nextel Cup. Kahne finished 22nd last week at Watkins Glen, and as a result still sits in 11th place in the driver standings, and just below the Chase cutoff line.

Kevin Harvick visited victory lane in the AMD at The Glen on Sunday, and he now sits in third place in the standings. Tony Stewart, Jamie McMurray, Robby Gordon, and Carl Edwards rounded out the Top 5 on the road course, while Scott Pruett, Elliott Sadler, Ryan Newman, Kyle Busch, and Denny Hamlin made up the rest of the day's Top 10.

Jeff Burton was 11th at Watkins Glen, Jeff Gordon was 13th, Jimmie Johnson was 17th, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was 18th, Kurt Busch was 19th, and Mark Martin was 20th. Matt Kenseth wound up in 21st place, while Greg Biffle finished way behind in 38th place.

Johnson continues to sit atop the Nextel Cup driver standings after 22 races, as he holds a commanding 124-point lead on second-place Kenseth. Stewart jumped two spots to seventh place with his result on the road course at Watkins Glen, while Burton, Hamlin, and Gordon each fell one spot. Here's a look at the standings' current Top 10:

01 - Jimmie Johnson - Leader
02 - Matt Kenseth - 124 Points Behind Johnson
03 - Kevin Harvick - 323 Points Behind Johnson
04 - Jeff Burton - 362 Points Behind Johnson
05 - Kyle Busch - 370 Points Behind Johnson
06 - Mark Martin - 426 Points Behind Johnson
07 - Tony Stewart - 447 Points Behind Johnson
08 - Denny Hamlin - 459 Points Behind Johnson
09 - Jeff Gordon - 485 Points Behind Johnson
10 - Dale Earnhardt Jr. - 515 Points Behind Johnson

And here are the closest drivers to the cutoff line as the regular season winds down:

11 - Kasey Kahne - 54 Points Behind Earnhardt Jr.
12 - Kurt Busch - 172 Points Behind Earnhardt Jr.
13 - Greg Biffle - 180 Points Behind Earnhardt Jr.
14 - Carl Edwards - 191 Points Behind Earnhardt Jr.

Kahne won both the pole and the race at the 3M Performance 400 at Michigan International Speedway back in June, and he'll be looking for a similar result in this weekend's GFS Marketplace 400. Biffle and Jeremy Mayfield won on the Michigan track in 2005, while Biffle and Ryan Newman picked up wins there back in the 2004 season.

Other past winners at Michigan include Kurt Busch (2003), Kenseth (2002), Jeff Gordon (2001 and 1998), Martin (four times, most recently in 1998), Dale Jarrett (four times, most recently in 2002), Stewart (2000), and Bobby Labonte (three times, most recently in 1999). Newman also won the GFS Marketplace 400 at Michigan in the 2003 season.

Overall it's Carl Edwards who has the best driver average at Michigan; in four races on the track Edwards has an average finishing position of 5.3. Kenseth is next on the list with an average finish of 8.4 (over 14 Nextel Cup races). Other high averages are boasted by Biffle (10.0), Kahne (11.0), Burton (12.5), Gordon (12.5), and Jarrett (12.6).

Here are the press-time odds for each of the listed drivers to come out on top Sunday:

Vegas Odds to Win GFS Marketplace 400

J Johnson --- 6/1
K Kahne --- 7/1
T Stewart --- 8/1
G Biffle --- 10/1
Kurt Busch --- 10/1
C Edwards --- 10/1
J Gordon --- 10/1
K Harvick --- 12/1
M Kenseth --- 15/1
Kyle Busch --- 18/1
D Earnhardt Jr. --- 18/1
M Martin --- 18/1
J Burton --- 20/1
D Hamlin --- 20/1
R Newman --- 25/1
B Vickers --- 30/1
J McMurray --- 35/1
C Mears --- 35/1
S Riggs --- 40/1
R Sorenson --- 40/1
C Bowyer --- 50/1
R Gordon --- 50/1
J Nemechek --- 50/1
M Truex Jr. --- 50/1
D Gilliland --- 60/1
J.J. Yeley --- 60/1
J Green --- 75/1
D Jarrett --- 75/1
B Labonte --- 75/1
Field --- 15/1

Here are the press-time odds for the contending drivers to come out on top this year:

Vegas Odds to Win Nextel Cup Championship

The Chase begins September 17 with the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway. There are three races on the schedule prior to that: the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway (Aug 26), the Sony HD 500 at California Speedway (Sept 3), and finally the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway (Sept 9).

(Updates with Riley carding 66, Love 68)

Ryder Cup hopeful Lucas Glover and fellow American Chris Riley took charge at the PGA Championship on Thursday while Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson moved ominously into contention.

Glover, 14th in the standings with the 12-man Ryder Cup team to be finalised on Monday, and Riley fired six-under-par 66s to finish a benign day at Medinah Country Club one stroke ahead of the chasing pack.

Compatriot Billy Andrade, a late addition to the field on Tuesday after 1995 champion Steve Elkington withdrew for personal reasons, was alone in third after shooting a blemish-free 67.

Although Medinah's 7,561-yard No. 3 Course is the longest layout in major championship history, soft conditions and friendly pin positions exposed it to low scoring.

Glover birdied three of the last four holes to set the pace on a calm, clear morning before Riley joined him at six under with a seven-birdie display on a damp and overcast afternoon.

"It was a good opener," the 26-year-old Glover told reporters. "I was real solid today, made all my short ones (putts) and made a couple of long ones for birdie."

Asked how much a Ryder Cup debut in Ireland next month had been preying on his mind, he replied: "Well, let's see, every day, every minute, every second for the last six months.   

The final major of the golf season goes this weekend, as the PGA Championship tees off at the Medinah Country Club. As usual all eyes will be on Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, which will be a lot easier this weekend than at this season’s other majors. The PGA Championship groups the season’s previous three major winners together on Day 1 and 2, so Masters champ Mickelson and British Open champ Woods will be joined by U.S. Open champ Geoff Ogilvy.

Mickelson enters the PGA as the reigning champion after shooting four under par to beat Steve Elkington and Thomas Bjorn by a stroke last year. Woods was two strokes back of Lefty last year, finishing in a tie for fourth at two under par. With Tiger on the prowl though, Mickelson is only second-best according to the oddsmakers at 6/1.

As usual Woods comes in as the overall favorite at 3/1. Woods has won the PGA twice in his career and what may give him the edge this weekend is the fact that he has won at Medinah before. The last time the PGA Championship was held at Medinah in 1999, Woods edged Sergio Garcia by a single stroke to win. Woods’ other win at the PGA came a year later at Valhalla Golf Club in 2000.

The rest of the regular top six slide in behind Mickelson and Woods on the odds chart with Ernie Els garnering the most favorable odds at 10/1. Els has never won the PGA in his career, but he has been playing some pretty good golf lately resulting in a third-place finish at the British Open and a 10th-place finish at The International last week.

Two-time PGA champ Vijay Singh is next in line at 12/1. Singh won the PGA back in 1998 and 2004. Singh took last week off after an 11th-place finish at the Buick Open two weeks ago, and a disappointing performance at the British Open where he missed the cut.

Rounding out the big six are Jim Furyk at 18/1 and Retief Goosen at 20/1. Both golfers are looking for their first win at the PGA. Aside from Woods, Furyk may be the hottest golfer on tour right now with at least a top-four finish in his last four tournaments that includes second-place finishes in the British and Buick Opens.

If the PGA Championship’s most recent stop at Medinah means anything, then the golfer to watch this weekend could be Sergio Garcia. The Spaniard comes in at what appears to be a lofty 20/1, but the oddsmakers may be taking into account his performance the last time he teed off at Medinah. Back in 1999, a then 19-year-old Garcia played some of the best golf of his life, coming up just one stroke short of tournament winner Woods. Garcia started a possible revival at the British Open with a blistering 65 in the third round before falling off the pace on Sunday. If Garcia can hold it together for the entire tournament this weekend, he could finally win his first major.

PGA Championship Odds:

Tiger Woods – 3/1
Phil Mickelson – 6/1
Ernie Els – 10/1
Vijay Singh – 12/1
Jim Furyk – 18/1
Retief Goosen – 20/1
Sergio Garcia – 20/1
Luke Donald – 25/1
Adam Scott – 25/1
Chris DiMarco – 30/1
David Toms – 30/1
Geoff Ogilvy – 35/1
Padraig Harrington – 35/1
Mike Weir – 40/1
Stuart Appleby – 40/1
Chad Campbell – 40/1
David Howell – 40/1
Davis Love III – 40/1
Trevor Immelman – 40/1
Stewart Cink – 50/1
Jose Maria Olazabal – 50/1
Justin Leonard – 50/1
Stephen Ames – 50/1
Fred Couples – 50/1
Scott Verplank – 60/1
Kenny Perry – 60/1
Robert Allenby – 60/1
Colin Montgomerie – 60/1
Charles Howell III – 60/1
John Daly – 60/1
Field (All Others) – 2/1

BET ON SPORTS WITH MULTIPLE OPTIONS

Stanley VIP Poker - click here

 Stanley VIP is owned and operated by Leisure and Gaming plc and does not accept bets from US residents.Stanley VIP is owned and operated by Leisure and Gaming plc and does not accept bets from US residents

 Lots of great promotions and tournaments here.

Find your team and read the review, then place your bets and put your money where your mouth is!

VIP.com offers the best online gaming experience to players from all over the world. They have been paying winning players for over 10 years.

VIP.com was among the first wagering sites online and is legally licensed in the Netherlands Antilles and holds a bookmakers permit in the United Kingdom .

VIP.com is part of Leisure & Gaming Plc, a publicly listed company on the London Stock Exchange. They are fully regulated and scrutinized by one of the world's oldest and most prestigious stock exchanges.

Testimonials

I will admit, it took me by surprise when I hit the Royal Flush on $5.00 Video Poker. I had played quite a bit that night and was down to my last $50, when I starting playing $1 video poker. I hit 4 four of a kinds and cashed out at $800. I then changed over to the $5 machine and shortly after hit the Royal Flush for $20,000. It was the most I had won @ VIP. It was one of those moments that you almost don't believe it just happened, but then you realize it's true. I have played for several years with VIP and have always found the service and people helpful and friendly. I Love the new Download versions. Thank you VIP !!!!

-Cynthia W.

-Scott R.

-Chad M.

-Andrew P.

Justin
I just wanted to say thank you so much for processing my winnings so quickly! I have played at many online casinos and won (and the wait was twice as long) but the win at your casino was the biggest I've had so far and the quickest payout I've had so far. I will surely recommend you to other oline gamers!

Sincerely,
Rachele G

CLICK HERE FOR VIP.COM