Resurgent Phils to begin home set with Diamondbacks

Baseball Betting Lines

07/27/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Phillies are starting to play like the team that won back-to-back National League titles. Tonight they shoot for a sixth straight win when they open a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park.

Philadelphia completed a four-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies on Monday, as Brian Schneider hit a two-run triple and Joe Blanton threw six solid innings in a 5-4 victory.

Blanton (4-6) struggled early and was pulled after throwing 85 pitches, but limited the Rockies to two runs to get the win, his first since June 24. He gave up six hits and walked three.

Brad Lidge recorded the save, but only after giving up a two-run homer to Seth Smith and working out of a bases-loaded jam for the second straight day.

"I wasn't thrilled today," Lidge said afterward. "I actually had a better fastball and better command today, and it just doesn't show. You just never know what's going to happen. But like I said, obviously when you have a three- run lead, you can't give up three runs. I feel great that we won the game, I feel great that I got my job done."

Placido Polanco and Greg Dobbs each had two hits for the Phillies, who took advantage of a variety of fielding mishaps by the Rockies to win their eighth straight at Citizens Bank Park.

It is Philadelphia's longest home winning streak since 1991, when it won 16 in a row.

Hoping to continue that streak tonight will be lefty Cole Hamels, who has been terrific in his last three starts. Hamels did not get a decision on Thursday in St. Louis, despite giving up just one hit in eight scoreless innings of his team's 2-0 win.

Hamels, who is 7-7 with a 3.40 ERA on the year, has allowed just one earned run in his last three starts, spanning 22 2/3 innings. He lost to the Diamondbacks earlier in the year, but is 2-1 lifetime against them with a 3.38 ERA in four starts.

Arizona, meanwhile, will counter with righty Rodrigo Lopez, who will move up a day to take the spot of departed ace Dan Haren. Lopez has lost his last two starts and is 5-9 with a 4.58 ERA on the year.

Lopez is 1-1 with a 6.27 ERA in three starts against the Phils.

Arizona enters tonight's tilt after getting swept in a four-game set by the San Francisco Giants over the weekend. The Diamondbacks have lost eight of their last 11 games.

The Diamondbacks took two of three from Philly earlier in the year.

Sportsbook-internet-sportsbook Baseball Betting News

<< Mets return home to face Wainwright following disastrous trip
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After a disastrous road trip, the New York Mets return home in the hopes of finding their offense. Too bad they have St. Louis ace Adam Wainwright waiting for them. Wainwright will look to extend his scoreless innings stre

<< Dodgers hope to gain some ground in San Diego
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After stumbling out of the gate to begin the second half, the Dodgers have finally started to turn things around. It's a good thing, because the National League West-leading Padres have had no such troubles since the All-Star

<< Blue Jays try to continue mastery of Orioles
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Plenty of teams have given the Baltimore Orioles trouble over the course of this season, but none has proven to be a tougher opponent than the Toronto Blue Jays. Having won all 10 meetings between the American League East

<< Shields and Verlander square off at the Trop
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After being on the receiving end of several no-hitters over the past year, the Tampa Bay Rays finally got one of their own last night. Fresh off Matt Garza's pitching gem, the Rays will attempt to pin an eighth consecutive

<< Lee goes for Rangers in opener with A's
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Cliff Lee only has one victory since joining the Rangers by way of a trade, but the club is expecting many more down the road. Lee will try to build off that win this evening when Texas begins a three-game series versus th

Cubs' Lilly to make possible showcase start against Astros >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Slumping lefty Ted Lilly faces a team against which he's had career-long success tonight, when the Chicago Cubs meet the Houston Astros in the second test of a three-game series at Minute Maid Park. In Monday's opener, Rya

Reds seek revenge in clash with streaking Brewers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Edinson Volquez aims to start another Cincinnati win streak when the Reds visit Miller Park tonight for the second test of a four-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers. Cincinnati had beaten the Brewers six straight times

White Sox put home streak on line against Mariners >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago White Sox shoot for their ninth straight home win this evening, when they continue their four-game series against the Seattle Mariners at U.S. Cellular Field, After a 4-6 road trip, Chicago returned to the Wind

Johnson hopes for record-setting start in Marlins-Giants tilt >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Josh Johnson could put himself into the record books when the Florida Marlins continue their four-game series with the San Francisco Giants this evening at AT&T Park. Johnson has gone 13 straight starts without allowin

Lackey returns to Anaheim as Red Sox take on Angels >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - John Lackey returns to Anaheim for the first time since leaving for Boston as a free agent when the Red Sox continue their three-game set against the Angels this evening. Lackey, who was 49-32 with a 3.72 earned run averag

COLLEGE FOOTBALL BETTING

NCAA Football Betting

Many fans thought it was the best side in the nation by the end of last season. This year, the polls have built on Georgia's momentum and granted it the No. 1 preseason ranking, followed by Ohio State and USC. (The Associated Press has the Buckeyes at No. 2; USA Today took the Trojans.)

"To have people believing we have one of the best teams in the nation going into this thing, it's exciting for us," Bulldogs coach Mark Richt told the AP. "I don't think anything is guaranteed, but we certainly have put ourselves in position where at least the college football world thinks we're pretty good."

Georgia Bulldogs - 9.5 wins

There's no question they're good, but the Bulldogs have one of the toughest 12-game schedules in the nation, mostly because they play in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference. Away games at No. 15 Arizona State, No. 7 LSU and No. 10 Auburn loom large, with contests between the hedges versus No. 24 Alabama and No. 18 Tennessee as well as the World's Largest Cocktail Party in Jacksonville versus No.5 Florida.

Ohio State Buckeyes - 10 wins

Like the Bulldogs, the Buckeyes also have a number of tough road contests in 2008. After two scrimmages dressed up as real games versus Youngstown State and Ohio, it's off to face USC. Other tough away games include No.13 Wisconsin in October and No. 20 Illinois in November. Granted, it should be pretty easy sledding at the Horseshoe. In fact, the only ranked team that travels to Columbus is No. 22 Penn State, in October.

USC Trojans - 10.5 wins

A similarly light schedule awaits the Trojans of Southern California, which is why the oddsmakers' total is one win more and the over is currently commanding -150 odds. Pete Carroll's troops only play three ranked teams in 2008, and all of those games are at home. After what should be an easy trip to Virginia to start things off on Aug. 30, the Trojans get two weeks to prepare for Ohio State in Los Angeles. Their two other ranked opponents, No. 21 Oregon and No. 15 Arizona State, visit in consecutive weeks to start the month of October. After that, the competition eases up. Of course, this is the same highly-touted school that lost to Stanford in 2007 and Oregon State in 2006. And don't discount the fact that USC plays its biggest rivals, Notre Dame and UCLA, back-to-back to close out the regular season. On paper, the Trojans are far superior, but motivation will be high for the Irish and Bruins, especially if their historic foes are in national-title contention.

Odds to Win the Heisman Trophy

Tim Tebow, Florida - 7/2
He won it last year, so it's no surprise he's the favorite to do it again, making him just the second player to go back-to-back. Ohio State's Archie Griffin turned the trick in 1974 and 1975, and Tebow's coach, Urban Meyer, is pretty sure his star quarterback can match the Buckeyes legend.

"There has never been anyone quite like him," Meyer told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I am very lucky to be his coach."

Chris Wells, Ohio State - 5/1

The man they call "Beanie" was a star recruit out of high school, so it's not like nobody knew who the star tailback was before he rushed for 576 yards as a freshman in 2006 and 1,609 as a sophomore. But perhaps his finest moment came last year versus Michigan when he rumbled for 222 yards and two touchdowns in the Buckeyes' 14-3 victory over the hated Wolverines.

Knowshon Moreno, Georgia - 8/1

If the Bulldogs are to live up to expectations, they'll need a huge effort from their sophomore running back. This might be the last year of college ball for Moreno, who rushed for 1,334 yards and for 14 touchdowns as a freshman, while adding 253 receiving yards on 20 receptions, so expect big things for the man from Belford, N.J.

Stay with us here as we take you through the best in NFL action on a consistent basis, with advice columns as well as handicapping selections. If you're looking for college football betting, that's in our NCAA section, which you can reach by clicking here. And if you're looking for a different kind of football, such as the Canadian Football League, which we'll deal with occasionally, or the Arena Football League, which we really like, you can find it in our Miscellaneous section by clicking

Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting lines .
To visit this sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs. Mysportsbook.com online sports betting