Montpellier joins PSG at the top of Ligue 1
Soccer Betting Lines
02/11/2012 - Montpellier, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Montpellier scored three second-half goals in the span of 14 minutes en route to a 3-0 win over Ajaccio at the Stade de la Mosson on Saturday.
The victory moves Montpellier level on points with PSG, although the capital club can take back the top spot with a win or draw at Nice on Sunday.
Montpellier always looked to be the club to open the scoring, but the hosts had to wait until the 53rd minute when Younes Belhanda converted a penalty kick after Henri Bedimo was fouled inside the penalty area by Ajaccio's Benjamin Andre.
Olivier Giroud set up the second goal for Remy Cabella in the 65th minute before Giroud found the back of the net himself two minutes later, netting his league-leading 16th goal with a wonderful volley that put Montpellier out of reach.
The hosts have now claimed wins in their last four matches, while Ajaccio saw its six-match unbeaten streak come to an end.
Auxerre 1, Lorient 1
Auxerre, France - Auxerre failed to move out of the bottom three on Saturday as the home side conceded a stoppage-time equalizer to 10-man Lorient in a 1-1 match.
Willy Boly had Auxerre in front after 18 minutes, while Lorient goalkeeper Fabien Audard was sent off two minutes later for handling the ball outside his own penalty area.
But the visitors showed plenty of fight and claimed an unlikely point in stoppage time when Innocent Emeghara met Mathieu Coutadeur's corner kick at the near post and redirected it past goalkeeper Olivier Sorin with his head.
Lorient has drawn its last four games in Ligue 1 with Auxerre sitting two points adrift of safety.
Caen 2, Lyon 1
Lyon, France - Lyon fell further off the title pace on Saturday as the club sustained a 2-1 defeat at home against relegation-threatened Caen.
The visitors beat Lyon earlier this season and completed the double on Saturday with Romain Hamouma opening the scoring after 13 minutes for Caen, while Livio Nabab doubled the advantage in the second half.
Lisandro Lopez managed to pull a goal back from the penalty spot four minutes from time for Lyon, but the result leaves them 10 points back of the leaders, while Caen moves three points clear of the relegation zone.
Valenciennes 1, Nancy 0
Valenciennes, France - Valenciennes snatched a last-gasp win on Saturday against Nancy as Mamadou Samassa scored the lone goal in stoppage time of a 1-0 win.
Valenciennes came close to scoring in the first half when Brazilian defender Gil struck the crossbar. The hosts were also denied on a good scoring chance in the second half by a goal line clearance from Nancy's Massadio Haidara.
But in the dying minutes, Samassa claimed all three points for his team when he scored from close range following a scramble in front of goal.
Rennes 1, Sochaux 0
Rennes, France - A first-half goal from Mevlut Erding was enough for Rennes to claim a 1-0 win against last-place Sochaux on Saturday.
Erding's goal arrived after 15 minutes when he headed home Jonathan Pitroipa's cross, while Rennes came close to adding another goal before halftime when a volley from Vincent Pajot struck the crossbar.
Sochaux didn't offer up much in attack but the visitors still had a chance to claim a point in the 89th minute when a shot from Charlie Davies just barely sailed over the crossbar, extending Sochaux's winless streak to nine games.
Brest 1, Dijon 1
Brest, France - Brest snatched a late draw against Dijon on Saturday as Santiago Gentiletti scored three minutes into stoppage time to level the match at 1-1 for Brest.
Dijon's Gael Kakuta scored his first goal of the campaign in the 76th minute to put the visitors in front, while Brest was reduced to 10 men in the 89th minute when Issam Jemaa picked up a second yellow card.
But despite playing a man down, the home side grabbed an unlikely point as Gentiletti scored just before the final whistle to move Brest five points clear of the drop zone.
Newark, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New Jersey Devils surely won't miss seeing Florida's Kris Versteeg for the rest of the season. Versteeg put the Panthers ahead in the second period with his fifth goal in four meetings against New Jer
<< Callahan's hat trick helps Rangers beat Philly again
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ryan Callahan's second career hat trick
helped the Rangers continue their winning ways against the Flyers this season,
as New York exited Philadelphia on Saturday with a 5-2 victory.
Marian Gaborik add
<< Georgia upsets No. 20 Mississippi State in OT
Starkville, MS (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Gerald Robinson netted eight of his 13
points in overtime and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 20 points and eight
rebounds as Georgia upset No. 20 Mississippi State, 70-68.
Dee Bost had a chance
<< Dortmund maintains lead atop Bundesliga
Dortmund, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Borussia Dortmund escaped its match at
Signal Iduna Park on Saturday with a 1-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen to maintain
its lead at the summit of the German Bundesliga.
Dortmund's 15-game unbeaten run
<< Missouri handles Baylor in Big 12 battle
Columbia, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Phil Pressey scored 19 points behind four
three-pointers and No. 4 Missouri used a second-half surge to down No. 6
Baylor, 72-57, on Saturday.
Marcus Denmon and Michael Dixon added 16 points and six
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tyler Seguin and Patrice Bergeron scored in the shootout and the Boston Bruins beat the Nashville Predators, 4-3, on Saturday afternoon. Bergeron, Daniel Paille and Milan Lucic had goals in regulation as the
Islanders down Kings in OT >>
Uniondale, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mark Streit netted the game-winning goal 96
seconds into overtime as the New York Islanders downed the Los Angeles Kings,
2-1.
Michael Grabner scored the lone goal in regulation for the Islanders, who
Varejao out indefinitely with wrist fracture >>
Cleveland, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Cleveland Cavaliers forward Anderson Varejao
is out indefinitely after an MRI on Saturday showed a non-displaced fracture
of the right wrist.
A timeline for his return to action will be established next we
Malkin's five-point game helps Penguins down Jets >>
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Evgeni Malkin had a goal and four assists,
as the Penguins downed the Jets, 8-5, on Saturday.
Kris Letang added two goals and an assist and Jordan Staal scored in his
first game back from a knee in
Martens lifts AZ to top of Eredivisie >>
Alkmaar, Netherlands (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A second-half brace from Maarten
Martens handed AZ Alkmaar a 2-0 win over Excelsior on Saturday, lifting AZ
into the top spot in the Eredivisie table.
A 6-0 win in midweek moved AZ level wit
Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value
If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture. Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).
For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot. The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win.
TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.
"While 'Babel' lost several guild awards to 'Sunshine' and 'Departed,' it still enjoys loyal support, and historically Oscar voters favor dramas with social messages over comedies like 'Sunshine' and violent crime movies like 'Departed'."
"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.
Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash. Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win.
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El Duque expected to throw Tuesday
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.
Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.
El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.
MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds.
Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.
New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.
Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''
Additional baseball lines and World Series odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com
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