PSG maintains lead in Ligue 1 with win over Brest

Soccer Betting Lines

01/28/2012 - Brest, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - PSG maintained its three-point lead at the top of Ligue 1 with a 1-0 win over Brest at the Stade Francis-Le Ble on Saturday.

It looked as if PSG would comfortably cruise to three points after Milan Bisevac scored in the sixth minute, but the league leaders were kept at bay for the remainder of the match as Brest ensured a respectable scoreline.

PSG has won three-straight Ligue 1 contests and is unbeaten in its last six league games. The Paris club sets the pace in the French top flight with 46 points on the year.

The win turned out to be a crucial one in the title race as second-place Montpellier also picked up a win Saturday, defeating Nice, 1-0, at the Stade Municipal du Ray. It remains three points adrift of first-place PSG.

Brest, which sits just outside the top-half of the table on 24 points, sees its five-match unbeaten in league play come to an end.

Both sides return to Ligue 1 action on Feb. 4 as PSG welcomes Evian to the Parc des Princes and Brest heads to the Stade de la Mosson for a tough encounter with Montpellier.

Nancy 3, Auxerre 1

Auxerre, France - Yohan Mollo bagged a brace with Daniel Niculae notching a goal in between to help Nancy claim a 3-1 win over Auxerre on Saturday.

Mollo scored his first in the 68th minute before Niculae quickly doubled the advantage with a goal a minute later. Mollo wrapped up the affair with his second goal of the game in the 78th minute. Edouard Cisse nabbed the only goal for Auxerre, netting in the 82nd minute.

The win brings Nancy (22 points) three points clear of the relegation zone, while Auxerre (19 points) remains one spot out of the drop zone on goal differential.

Lille 3, St. Etienne 0

Lille, France - Lille notched three second-half goals to cruise to a 3-0 defeat of St. Etienne at the Stade Lille-Metropole on Saturday.

Eden Hazard converted from the penalty spot in the 50th minute before Nolan Roux grabbed his first two goals of the Ligue 1 season in the 86th and 87th minutes to wrap up the win.

Lille, now with 39 points, moves back into third place after Lyon claimed a 3-1 win over Dijon earlier in the day. St. Etienne sits in eighth place with 33 points.

Montpellier 1, Nice 0

Nice, France - Montpellier edged Nice in dramatic fashion Saturday as Olivier Giroud scored at the death to see his club claim a 1-0 win to keep pace with PSG atop Ligue 1.

Giroud notched his league-leading 15th goal of the season in second-half stoppage time, helping Montpellier to 43 points on the season. It trails first-place PSG by three points.

Nice drops its second-straight league result to remain in the relegation zone on 18 points.

Lyon 3, Dijon 1

Lyon, France - Lyon left it late but still managed to snap a two-game losing skid in league play as it defeated Dijon, 3-1, at the Stade de Gerland on Saturday.

Jimmy Briand opened the scoring for Lyon in the eighth minute, but Dijon equalized through Younousse Sankhare in the 61st minute. Bafetimbi Gomis lifted the home side to the victory, putting Lyon back in front eight minutes from time before Alexandre Lacazette added a third in stoppage time.

Lyon improves to 38 points as it looks to sneak back into the title race, while Dijon remains on 22 points as it looks to avoid relegation.

Lorient 1, Sochaux 1

Lorient, France - Lorient and Sochaux traded second-half goals on Saturday as the two sides played to a 1-1 draw at the Stade du Moustoir.

Alaixys Romao put the home side in front with his strike in the 63rd minute, but Sochaux leveled 10 minutes from time through French forward Cedric Bakambu.

Lorient has drawn three-straight league games to climb to 26 points on the season, while Sochaux sees its four-game losing skid come to end an end as it improves to 19 points.

Toulouse 1, Caen 0

Toulouse, France - French striker Emmanuel Riviere scored the lone for Toulouse in a 1-0 home defeat of Caen at the Stadium Municipal de Toulouse on Saturday.

Riviere provided the break through in the 35th minute to see his side improve to 34 points on the season.

Caen, winless in its last eight league matches, sits three points clear of the relegation zone on 22 points.

Virtualvagas Soccer Betting News


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SPORTS BETTING

NFL Football Betting Online

In terms of sports wagering, the NFL is "the most popular game in town." The explanation behind that is easy.

It is called the "pointspread."

Many years ago, NFL games, as well as the more popular college games, used straight odds as a vehicle for betting. For example, if the Bears were playing the Giants, and it shaped up as a competitive contest, the Bears might be, say, a 7/5 favorite. If they were playing an also-ran, it might be 10/1. Well, there is a point where a line becomes prohibitive, as far as betting the favorite. And who would waste money betting an underdog that has virtually no chance? Such a setup did not contribute to promoting betting action.

But in modern sports betting, a "pointspread" is used.

A NFL pointspreads are exactly that, a pre-established point difference between the two sides that will, for all intents and purposes, create a handicap that evens things out, and in doing so, produces comparable wagering activity on both sides of that proposition. So in lieu of a odds figure in which to bet the team to win outright, the Bears might be a three-point favorite over the New York Giants, and a 17-point favorite over the also-ran. Now that the team that is the underdog can "get" points, there can be equal action on both sides.

In sportsbooks, this is usually done with efficiency by charging the losing bettors 10% extra - in effect, bettors are laying 11/10 on those games. So they are actually betting $110 to win $100. If they lose, they pay the "vig." If they win, they simply collect.

The establishment of the pointspread as the corner stone around which team sports like football can be wagered upon was truly what brought gridiron betting into the stratosphere for online football betting .

Don't believe it? Just take a look at what happens around the Super Bowl.

Stay with us here as we take you through the best in NFL action on a consistent basis, with advice columns as well as handicapping selections. If you're looking for college football betting, that's in our NCAA section, which you can reach by clicking here. And if you're looking for a different kind of football, such as the Canadian Football League, which we'll deal with occasionally, or the Arena Football League, which we really like, you can find it in our Miscellaneous section by clicking

Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting odds .
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook betting credit cards

American Idol odds : Blake Lewis the Early Standout

An important American Idol betting lines recap from February 20 Guys episode. The 12 men came out flat overall with Blake Lewis appearing to have the early edge after the first hour and a half.

Rudy - was quite good singing "Free Ride" to start off.  Randy was not impressed though.  Paula thought he started off fantastic.  "Never had anyone stop off so lively" said Paula but Simon (who does not like Rudy) does not feel he has a distinct voice and was not impressed either. 

Brandon was a little pitchy according to Randy and Paula agreed.  Simon said he was a good singer but the song was "too safe" and he needs to make an impact.  He was listed at +1200 odds or $1200 paid out on a $100 bet should he win the competition. 

Big favorite Sundance came in with a flat version of "Knights in White Satin" and the judges let him have it, including Paula.  Randy claimed the song was out of pitch throughout.

Korean American - and a Jenny Woo favorite - Paul Kim was up next.  Another pitchy flat one but Randy said he still liked his potential.  Kim at +3000 odds was said to have sung a "third rate version of that (George Michael) song" according to Simon Cowell.  He sang "Careless Whisper".

22 year old Chris Richardson was up next.  He was listed with +1100 odds coming in.  He got the best response from the judges though Simon did not believe the vocal was that great. 

Nick was boring and pitchy.  Simon didn't think he was that bad though and predicted he would be back next week.  Nick Pedro was a big +3000 dog coming into this competition. 

Beat boxer Blake Lewis was listed with early +1000 odds or $1000 payout on a $100 bet if he were to become the next American Idol winner odds .  These of course were the early odds.  He was considered original for picking an "odd song".  He did not beat box and the judges felt it was the best vocal of the night. 

Sanjaya came in as the second biggest favorite after Chris Sligh but his performance Tuesday night was not very good. 

Chris Sleigh was the early favorite at +450 odds.  Great voice and a great sense of humor.  He's a real standout.  Randy felt it was on point but maybe ahead of the chorus a little bit.  Simon Cowell said he felt like he was in some "sort of weird student gig". 

Jared Cotter followed.  He was listed with +2000 odds early on to win the competition.  The judges felt he needs to take more risks but looked good. 

22-year old AJ Talbado, who has tried out for American Idol five times, was up next.  "Kind of a theme park performance" said Simon.  Though the judges felt he performed okay.  Simon did feel AJ might be better than he originally thought.

Phil - this season's military favorite - came into this competition with +1200 odds to win the competition.  He was the last to perform.  He was certainly strong enough to get through this stage of the competition and perhaps the best one after a shaky start. 

Tomorrow night, the ladies perform and I sure hope they do a better job than the boys.  Check out all the American Idol betting odds here.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.