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08/06/2010 - Foxborough, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ben Olsen makes his coaching debut Saturday night for D.C. United, which fired coach Curt Onalfo earlier this week after a 3-12-3 start in his first season in charge.
Olsen retired following a 12-year career at United last season and started his coaching career as an assistant this year under Onalfo. Now, the former United States international will try to turn United's season around.
D.C., winless in six straight and shut out 12 times this year, visits Gillette Stadium to battle the New England Revolution this weekend.
Although D.C. is 25 points behind the first-place Columbus Crew in the Eastern Conference, the struggling side trails New England and the Philadelphia Union by just three points.
Olsen is used to winning as a player, he helped United win the MLS Cup in 1999 and 2004, and D.C. President and CEO Kevin Payne felt a change was needed.
"This was a difficult and painful decision. Curt is an outstanding person and a fine coach," Payne said. "This has certainly been a trying season, made more so by a number of factors outside of anyone's control.
"This decision is not about placing blame, but about looking forward. Recent performances have convinced us that we need to make a change at the top for the team to improve the remainder of this season, for 2011 and beyond."
Olsen has been in charge for just a few days, so it's tough to know how he'll make his mark on D.C. this weekend. Branko Boskovic was added as a designated player and Argentine forward Pablo Hernandez was signed this month as well, so Olsen has new talent at his disposal.
New England (4-9-3) qualified for the SuperLiga final with a 5-3 penalty kick win over Puebla following a 1-1 draw Wednesday, and has a six-match undefeated streak in all competitions.
The Revolution tied Philadelphia in their last league match, 1-1, and will try to sweep the season series with United.
New England may be without starters Kevin Alston and Marko Perovic, after the duo left the field during the SuperLiga match against Puebla. That would be a blow for Revs coach Steve Nicol, who is also in need of league points.
"That's unfortunate," New England midfielder Pat Phelan said. "Hopefully, it's not too bad with either Kevin or Marko because we have a big game Saturday."
<< Fire trade defender Ward to San Jose
San Jose, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Jose Earthquakes acquired defender Tim
Ward from the Chicago Fire in exchange for a conditional pick in the 2011
draft, the Major league Soccer club's announced on Friday.
"Tim is someone we thin
<< United acquires defender Zayner from Columbus
Washington, D.C. (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - D.C. United acquired defender Jed Zayner
and a fourth-round pick in the 2011 draft from the Columbus Crew for a
second-round pick in the 2012 draft, the Major League Soccer clubs announced on
Friday
<< Seahawks agree to terms with top pick Okung
Renton, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Seattle Seahawks and offensive lineman
Russell Okung have agreed to a contract.
Okung's representation company, All Pro Sports and Entertainment, reported the
deal on its Twitter page.
Okung, the
<< Thunder ink first-round pick Aldrich
Oklahoma City, OK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed
first-round pick Cole Aldrich.
The 11th overall pick of this year's draft out of Kansas, Aldrich, the two-
time Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, averaged
Rapids aim to snap winless streak against 'Quakes >>
Commerce City, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Colorado Rapids will try to snap a
seven-game winless skid on Saturday when they host the San Jose Earthquakes at
Dick's Sporting Goods Park.
The Rapids enter the game in fifth place in the Western
AL Central: Tigers' tank running on empty >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It was only less than a month ago the Detroit Tigers were
in first place in the American League Central. They had won seven of their
first nine games in the month of July and headed into the All-Star break with
all kinds of
Knicks bring back Isiah Thomas as consultant >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Knicks have hired former head
coach and team president Isiah Thomas as a consultant with the club.
Thomas, who oversaw the team's operations from 2003-08, never guided the
Knicks to the
Brewers place Gomez on DL with concussion >>
Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Milwaukee Brewers deemed Carlos Gomez's
concussion serious enough to place him on the 15-day disabled list Friday.
Gomez was hit in the head by a Brian Schlitter pitch on Monday against the
Cubs and
BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
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