City kicks off EPL season against Spurs

Soccer Betting Lines

08/13/2010 - London, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Manchester City will debut well over $100 million in new talent Saturday morning, when the English club opens pursuit of the Premier League title against last season's nemesis Tottenham.

City lost at home to Tottenham in the final week of the season, allowing Spurs to claim fourth place and a Champions League berth. The rivals open the season at White Hart Lane, with Arsenal's visit to Liverpool the other big opener.

Manchester City has lost 11 of its last 12 games against Tottenham but went on another spending spree this summer. In addition to finishing in the top four, coach Roberto Mancini hopes Yaya Toure and David Silva will help City contend for the EPL title.

Defenders Jerome Boateng and Aleksandar Kolarov were also signed this summer, and together with midfielders Toure and Silva to provide Mancini with enough talent to challenge defending champion Chelsea and Manchester United.

First, City has to try and solve Tottenham this weekend. Spurs edged Liverpool in their season opener last year and never looked back. Tottenham got off to its best-ever start, and eventually claimed a spot in Europe's top club event for the first time in five decades.

Tottenham is essentially unchanged from one season ago, so Harry Redknapp will have a better grasp on his team entering the opener. With City adding Mario Balotelli on Friday - he will not play this weekend - Spurs would benefit from three points before Manchester finds its groove.

Redknapp could be without Jermain Defoe, who had 18 goals in 31 starts a year ago, because of injury, but talented duo Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon drive the team from the wings, while captain Ledley King anchors the back.

King knows how important it is to get off to a good start, as both teams hope to finish in the top four and possibly end 40-plus year title droughts. Spurs last won the EPL in 1960-61, while City last won in 1967-68.

"We took a lot of positives out of the Liverpool result on the first day of last season and went from strength to strength after that," King said on the club's website.

"We're aware of the threat they possess and we're expecting a very tough game. They've got big aspirations for this season and will want to get off to a good start, as will we."

Chelsea has also remained pretty quiet for much of the offseason, as Michael Ballack departed and Yossi Benayoun joined from Liverpool. But the Blues added Brazilian Ramires on Friday, and more signings are still possible.

Even without Ramires for the opener, Chelsea should be a handful for promoted West Bromwich on Saturday. Goalie Petr Cech and defender Alex are fit after calf injuries, although Frank Lampard is doubtful.

Also Saturday, Aston Villa hosts West Ham, Blackburn hosts Everton, promoted Blackpool hosts Wigan, Wolverhampton hosts Stoke City, Bolton hosts Fulham, and Sunderland hosts Birmingham.

Arsenal visits Anfield to battle Liverpool in the lone match Sunday, as Arsene Wenger will try to keep his club in the top four. The Gunners added defender Laurent Koscielny, midfielder Milan Jovanovic, and forward Wellington Silva, but didn't make a big splash in the transfer market.

Liverpool signed midfielder Joe Cole from Chelsea and Serbian midfielder Milan Jovanovic on free transfers, and acquired midfielder Christian Poulsen from Juventus, but more importantly kept Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard.

Roy Hodgson replaced Rafa Benitez as coach, and is faced with the challenge of getting Liverpool back into the top four after a seventh-place finish.

Manchester United, which had its three-year title run snapped by one point one season ago, opens against Newcastle on Monday. Sir Alex Ferguson made a trio of additions, all 22 or younger.

Mexican Javier Hernandez was the most expensive, but he has already showed all the signs of being a great signing. In additions, 20-year-olds Bebe and Chris Smalling were acquired, giving United the talent to challenge for the title in 2010-11 and beyond.

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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

MySportsbook.com is offering a 20% signup bonus with an initial deposit (i.e. open your American Idol betting account with $300, receive another $60 in which to bet with). 

Last two contestants will be?

1 Male/1 Female +100 (a $10 bet pays $10 plus your initial $10)

2 Males +170 (a $10 bet pays $17 plus your initial $17)

2 Females +130 (a $10 bet pays $13 plus your initial $10)

MySportsbook.com is an online sportsbook accepts Visa Credit Cards and online sportsbook accepts Mastercard Credit Cards for easy American Idol betting lines.