Bayern hopes to start new run against Wolfsburg
Soccer Betting Lines
01/27/2012 - Munich, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Bayern Munich opened the second half of the Bundesliga season the way it opened the first half, with a loss. But after the setback to Monchengladbach in August, Bayern became invincible.
Well, at least for a stretch of 13 matches.
Bayern turned its season-opening 1-0 loss to Gladbach into the spark for a big streak of 12 successive shutouts in all competitions, including a 2-0 win over Manchester City in the Champions League.
At the time, Bayern entered the conversation with Barcelona as one of the best club's in Europe. But since the unbeaten streak was snapped, Bayern has proven it is still mortal.
After its latest loss to Gladbach, 3-1, last weekend, the pressure is on for a second streak, and coach Jupp Heynckes admitted it was time for a new approach with its lead atop the standings only goal differential.
"I've told my team in no uncertain terms," Heynckes stated, "that I expect a very different approach, not just on Saturday, but right through to the end of the season."
Bayern hosts Wolfsburg at the Allianz Arena on Saturday, but while suspended winger Franck Ribery returns ("When Franck's in the team, our quality goes up another notch," Heynckes said.), injured center back Daniel van Buyten starts his spell on the sidelines with a foot injury.
Regardless, Bayern has no choice but to move on with the options it has at its disposal, even if those include Brazilian defender Breno, who has gone through a turbulent first half of the season off the field.
"We're wide awake now," said Bayern Munich's Bastian Schweinsteiger about the loss to Gladbach, "I'm very confident."
Wolfsburg has allowed 34 goals this season, third-worst in the league, and may play right into the hands of Bayern, which will look to get back on track this week to maintain its lead and build momentum for the Champions League last 16.
Defending champion Borussia Dortmund sits level on 37 points withe Bayern, and hosts Hoffenheim on Saturday. Third-place Schalke also has 37 points, and will visit Cologne on Saturday.
Gladbach has also remained in the race, as it's just one point off the pace in fourth ahead of its visit to Stuttgart on Sunday.
In Saturday's other games, Augsburg hosts Kaiserslautern, Hertha Berlin hosts Hamburg, and Werder Bremen hosts Bayer Leverkusen in a match-up of the fifth- and sixth-place teams, respectively. Also Sunday, Mainz hosts Freiburg in a clash of bottom-four sides.
Hannover hosts Nurnberg on Friday to open the week's matches.
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American Idol Betting Odds: Season 6
The online gambling websites are in the process of deciphering each American Idol contestant and his or her chances of winning Season 6 to come up with the early American Idol betting lines.
Tim Dalton of MySportsbook.com has been locked away in a soundproof room coming up with all the latest tallies, we are told. "American Idol has become one of the most significant betting events of the year," claims Jack Black of MySportsbook.com. "Last year, millions were bet during the season across the globe, not just in America.It's tough early on since we really do not have a glimpse as to how well each of these individuals will perform solo on a week-to-week basis. It's like Week 1 of the NFL. Pre-season means nada!
We do know the 24 finalists however.
Sanjaya Malakar is the young man whose sister failed to make it into the Top 24. He's very low key but - unless he totally flubs - will probably win over the young girlie vote for a few weeks anyway. He's too young to go all the way, according to Payton O'Brien.
Brandon Rogers - Who?
Phil Stacy is the military guy who missed his daughter's birth because of the Memphis audition. He should go a good distance.
Chris Sligh - He's got the humor and in many ways he's the Anti-American Idol much like last year's winner Taylor Hicks was. And this is why he'll probably get pretty far in this competition. He's chubby, white with a big curly afro....but more importantly, a great voice! People love "real", not "real cute" to go all the way.
"Blake Lewis should go far because of his uniqueness and looks. He's the boy next store with a twist - he beat boxes. But on top of this, he's a great singer, and I adore him," Payton O'Brien relayed.
A talented beat-boxer Blake Lewis was a hit during the group sing in Hollywood but Simon explained that this is a singing contest just before he told him he was “in.”
Paul Kim has caught our own roving reporter, Jenny Woo's eyes.
"I love the fact that there is a Korean American on the show and he is bound to get more Asians tuning into the show," Woo said from her Miami Beach estate. "There has never been a major presence of Asian-Americans on American Idol in the past. He's a hottie with a nice voice so that should help to take him far. Expect heavy betting action from the Asian community."
Sundance Head - He's not perfect, but he's got the personality that will take him through a few weeks, plus he's got the lineage (son of Roy Head - whose 1965 single, "Treat Her Right," hit No. 5 in the charts)
And the others:
Rudy Cardinas
AJ Tabaldo - the 5th time is the charm
Nicolas Pedro
Chris Richardson
Jared Cotter
The girls
"Melinda Doolittle has one of the best voices," says MySportsbook.com Reporter and an acclaimed dancer in her own right, Destiney Lewis. "It is great to see a back up singer step out like she has. The girl needs to gain more confidence but that can also be a positive. I think she will go far."
Alena Alexander - Those tears (she never seems to stop bawling) should get her far.
"Single mom Lakisha Jones I suspect will be a pretty big favorite entering Week 1 of the competition," says Destiny Williams. Jones is an excellent singer and down to earth. "She'll have a wide appeal," echoed O'Brien.
Nicole Trellis - Seems to exert confidence.
Amy Krebs - a powerful singer.
Antonella Barba
Gina Glocksen
Hailey Scanardo
Jordan Sparks
Stephanie Edwards
Leslie Hunt
Sabrina Sloan
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Last two contestants will be?
1 Male/1 Female +100 (a $10 bet pays $10 plus your initial $10)
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