10/08/2008 - Sandy, UT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Real Salt Lake opens Rio Tinto Stadium on Thursday against Red Bull New York, but coach Jason Kreis knows the team needs to stay focused or a new era could get off to a horrible start.
RSL wrapped up its stay at the University of Utah's Rice-Eccles Stadium - which is an artificial turf football stadium - on Saturday with a 2-2 tie against New England.
Although Real turned Rice-Eccles into a fortress this season, going unbeaten in its first 11 games and 7-1-5 overall, the new soccer-specific stadium in Sandy, Utah can be just as tough of a place to play.
But only if Real Salt Lake plays up to its potential.
RSL expects all 20,000 seats to be filled for the mid-week clash but the hoopla surrounding the opener needs to be the last thing on the players' minds.
"It's still a game played on a green surface - grass, in this case - with white lines, and the ball's still round and the same size. So we've got to control our emotions and keep them in check," Kreis told the Salt Lake Tribune.
Real (9-10-8) is third in the Western Conference - which is the last guaranteed playoff berth - but holds just a one-point lead on Colorado and FC Dallas. San Jose and Los Angeles are also still within striking distance.
RSL joined Major League Soccer in 2005, but failed to reach the playoffs in its first three seasons. Rio Tinto, although opening with just two home games left, could earn legendary status right away if RSL can reach the playoffs.
After last week's 2-2 draw against New England, when RSL blew a two-goal lead, RSL midfielder Kyle Beckerman said "we've got to get on with it ... we've got a quick turnaround so we've got to be ready."
Although a win this week wouldn't guarantee anything for Real, it would be in a much better position entering the final two weeks. RSL hosts Dallas and visits Colorado in its last two games.
Real Salt Lake's biggest concern on the field this week is replacing midfielder Andy Williams, who picked up a red card in the 92nd minute against New England.
New York, well, it has even more concerns.
New York (9-10-8) has the same record as Real, but the Red Bulls are fourth in the Eastern Conference. With Chicago seven points away in third, New York needs to remain focused over the final three weeks to have any playoff hopes.
The Red Bulls are on a three-game losing skid and just 1-4-1 in their last six. Coach Juan Carlos Osorio believes his players panicked with a playoff berth in sight weeks ago.
"We're panicking too much," Osorio told the N.Y. Daily News. "We're not playing to our potential. ... The pressure is too much for a lot of the players."
New York is a miserable 1-7-5 on the road this season - Kansas City is the only other team with just one victory on the road - and plays Columbus and Chicago in its last two games.
Coming off of last week's 3-1 loss to Toronto FC at home, New York has a lot of work to do to get back on track. A loss at RSL could drop the Red Bulls out of the top eight and a playoff position by the end of the weekend.
"We've put our backs against the wall," Bulls defender Jeff Parke told the N.Y. Daily News. "We've had our chances to separate ourselves from the rest of the division. We haven't come to play. That's all of us."
<< Red Sox tab Matsuzaka for Game 1
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Red Sox have set their rotation for
their upcoming American League Championship Series against the Tampa Bay Rays,
handing the Game 1 start to Daisuke Matsuzaka.
Matsuzaka went 18-3 with a 2.90 e
<< Baltimore puts Gregg on IR
Owings Mills, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Baltimore Ravens placed defensive
tackle Kelly Gregg on injured reserve on Wednesday.
Gregg underwent season-ending microfracture surgery on his left knee on
Tuesday.
"We expect Kelly
<< Churchill Downs to host 2010 Breeders' Cup
Louisville, KY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Officials of Churchill Downs and Breeders'
Cup Ltd. announced Wednesday morning that the home of the Kentucky Derby will
host the World Thoroughbred Championships in 2010. This will be the seventh
time Ch
<< Keys to winning the 2008 NLCS
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - An old rivalry will be renewed when the Philadelphia
Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers square off on Thursday in Game 1 of the
National League Championship Series at Citizens Bank Park.
These teams have met in
Jets' Smith will sit Sunday for hit on Boldin >>
Florham Park, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New York Jets safety Eric Smith lost his
appeal of a one-game suspension for the helmet-to-helmet hit on Arizona wide
receiver Anquan Boldin and will sit out this Sunday's game against Cincinnati.
Smit
Roethlisberger, Brackett, Prater selected as AFC's top players >>
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Roethlisberger was
ALCS Preview - Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays will battle for
the right to represent the American League at the World Series when the best-
of-seven ALCS gets underway on Friday at Tropicana Field.
While the defending wor
Portis, Winfield and Bush earn NFC weekly honors >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Washington Redskins running back Clinton
Portis, Minnesota Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield and New Orleans Saints
running back/punt returner Reggie Bush were named the NFC's top players for
Week 5
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MySportsbook.com Favors Fighting Irish to win College Football betting odds
According to odds makers at MySportsbook.com, on January 8, the Fighting Irish faithful may be toasting their 14th national title in Arizona – Notre Dame’s first national championship in close to 20 years.
Although MySportsbook.com has listed Notre Dame as the 5-1 favorite to win thecollege football College Football betting, fans in Columbus do not need to cancel their tickets to Glendale just yet. The Ohio State Buckeyes, listed right behind the Irish at 7-1, are also heavy favorites to win college football’s most coveted prize, while West Virginia, USC and the 2007 National Champion Texas Longhorns - all listed at 8-1 – are strong contenders as well.
MySportsbook.com has also posted gambling odds on the conference championships for the ACC, Big 12 and SEC. In the ACC – it could be anyone’s title, particularly for the two schools from the Sunshine State. Florida State and Miami, both listed at 2-1, are favored to win the ACC Championship Game odds, with the ‘Noles hoping to finish in the nation’s top 10 for the first time in five years, and the ‘Canes looking to avenge their 10-7 loss against FSU in last year’s ACC Championship betting.
Moving west to the Big 12, MySportsbook.com has betting lines listing Texas as 7-5 favorites to repeat as conference champions, even though the Longhorns lost their national championship-winning quarterback Vince Young to the NFL. In the south, the Auburn Tigers – led by Heisman-hopeful senior running back Kenny Irons – have been given the best odds to win the SEC Championship odds at 5-2.
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