First-place Tigers set sights on sweep of Twins

Baseball Betting Lines

07/11/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Detroit Tigers have taken over first place in the ultra-competitive AL Central and will close out a three-game set with the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park this afternoon.

Detroit maintained its half-game edge on second-place Chicago in the division standings with Saturday's verdict against the struggling Twins. Miguel Cabrera, Magglio Ordonez and Johnny Damon each hit home runs to support six solid innings from Jeremy Bonderman in the Tigers' 7-4 win in the middle meeting of this three-game set.

Cabrera extended his hitting streak to a career-high 18 games and Alex Vila added another home run for the Tigers, who have won five straight.

Bonderman (5-6) grabbed the win after allowing three runs on four hits and a walk while fanning a pair for Detroit, which has won 17 of its last 19 games at home. Jose Valverde retired the side in order in the ninth to record his 19th save of the season.

"We played well. The guys battled and came up with big hits and made some great plays behind me," Bonderman said about the game. "It's a great team win. We'll come in [Sunday] and try to take the last one."

Minnesota starter Nick Blackburn (7-7) was roughed up to the tune of seven runs on seven hits, including four home runs, in four-plus innings for the slumping Twins, who have dropped four in a row and six of seven and are now four games back of the Tigers.

Twins first baseman Justin Morneau missed his third straight game Saturday with concussion-like symptoms and will not make the trip to Anaheim for the All-Star Game. A head and concussion specialist in Detroit examined Morneau on Saturday and recommended rest. He will be re-evaluated in Minnesota over the All-Star break.

One of the most pleasant surprises during the first half of this season has been the pitching of Twins veteran Carl Pavano, who is 9-6 with a 3.58 ERA. The righty has only walked 17 batters through 118 innings, and the pinpoint control has been key to his success.

Pavano wasn't effective in his most recent start, however, as he was roughed up for six earned runs on eight hits in 6 1/3 innings against Toronto and did not figure in the decision.

He lost his only previous start against Detroit this season despite surrendering just two earned runs in eight innings. Pavano is 4-2 with a 2.88 ERA in his career against the Tigers.

Detroit is slated to send Andrew Oliver to the hill today, and he is in search of his first win in the majors. Oliver, who has made three starts to date, is 0-2 with a 5.93 ERA and struggled mightily Monday against Baltimore, allowing five earned runs in just 1 2/3 innings of action in front of a disappointed home crowd.

Oliver's only previous start against Minnesota came on June 30 and resulted in defeat. Still, he pitched well in that game, allowing only two earned runs in six innings.

Minnesota has won six of its 11 matchups with the Tigers this season.

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NFL Football Betting : Odds on NFL Division to Win the Super Bowl

NFL Super Bowl Betting

The AFC South and the NFC East are the favorite divisions to have the next Super Bowl champ among them in the NFL betting odds. But more down to the point, these football odds are in favor of the Indianapolis Colts, by far the strongest team in the AFC South, and the Dallas Cowboys of the NFC East.

Most sports fans would agree that these two teams top the list to win it all before the season even begins. In the BetUS Sportsbook football futures, the Colts are +800 in the odds to win the Super Bowl, while the Cowboys are sitting at +1000 and the Super Bowl XLIV champions New Orleans Saints at +900. In the AFC South, the Colts won the division for five straight years after the 2002 realignment, before the Tennessee Titans won it in 2008. But the Colts came back strong in 2009 to win the division again en route to the Super Bowl. The Cowboys are the favorite to win the NFC East, as well as to advance far into the post season. The Cowboys won the division last season before their horrendous loss in the NFC Divisional playoff to Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings. But the ‘Boys will take that loss humbly and be ready for the playoffs this time around.

The NFC South is also very strong, at +600 in the NFL futures, considering that it is home to the defending Super Bowl champions. However, some predictions have the Atlanta Falcons with possibilities of claiming the divisional title this season in place of the Saints, as no team has won back-to-back division championships since the division realignment took place. Let’s not overlook the AFC North at +500. As TO goes to Cincinnati to join Chad OchoCinco and Adam “Pac-Man” Jones, this team looks to claim the division title again. And it is likely they will do so. The Bengals lost in the AFC Wild Card spot in a hard-fought battle against the New York Jets last season. Lest not forget the Pittsburgh Steelers, the XLII Super Bowl Champions… All these teams present interesting odds and matchups for the upcoming season, but the safest and surest bet seems to be with the Colts in the AFC South and the Cowboys in the NFC East. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.

To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.