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06/04/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Spain captured the Euro 2008 title to end a 44-year drought in major competitions, and enters the 2010 World Cup as one of the favorites alongside Brazil.
Spain's starting 11 is easily the best in the World Cup. Yes, better than the five-time champion Brazilians.
Top-to-bottom, Spain has no weaknesses. Its entire roster is composed of star players. Fernando Torres and David Villa form the best attacking combo in the world. Cesc Fabregas, David Silva and Xavi are among the world-class midfielders at coach Vicente del Bosque's disposal. Carles Puyol and Sergio Ramos anchor the defense.
Heck, even in goal, Victor Valdes has never been used by Spain. He stars for Barcelona, in case you didn't know, but is third-string behind Iker Casillas and Pepe Reina.
Spain is one of the few countries with enough talent on the bench to field a separate team capable of competing in the tournament.
What Spain, which also won Euro 1964, has never done is succeed at the World Cup.
Spain's best finish was in 1950 in Brazil, when it finished fourth. Spain has not even advanced to the semifinals since.
Since 1950, Brazil has won the World Cup five times and finished second once. Germany has made seven finals and won three titles. Argentina and Italy each have two titles. England and France are the other winners since then.
Spain is in the best position in its history to finally lift the trophy, and leave the Netherlands as the most notable country without a title.
Spain should win Group H, which includes Chile, Honduras and Switzerland. In the knockout round, though, they have disappointed before.
For the last 60 years in the World Cup, to be exact.
Game of the Group: Chile vs. Switzerland (June 21)
Either Chile or Switzerland is likely to join Spain in the knockout stage, so a win in the second match of the group stage, when these countries with vastly contrasting styles collide, may determine their fate.
Chile is an attack-oriented team, and coach Marcelo Bielsa's side proved it in South American qualifying with 32 goals. Only Brazil scored more with 33.
Switzerland switched coaches since the last World Cup, with Ottmar Hitzfeld in charge in 2010, but remains a defense-first team.
The Swiss were eliminated from the 2006 World Cup without allowing a goal (it lost in the knockout stage to the Ukraine on penalties after a 0-0 draw), and will be searching for more success under Hitzfeld.
Chile is back in the World Cup for the first time since 1998 and on the heels of a second-place finish in qualifying behind Brazil, could be poised to make a run in South Africa.
Player to Watch: Fernando Torres (Spain)
One of the world's most lethal strikers, Torres really is a threat every time he touches the ball. However, Torres had a knee operation in April that makes him questionable for Spain's group-stage matches.
Even if Torres returns for group play, it's unclear how effective he'll be on the field after a long layoff. The 26-year-old has 23 goals in 72 matches for Spain, and averages just under a goal per game for Liverpool.
Spain won't need Torres' services to survive group play, but manager Vicente del Bosque needs a healthy Torres to lead his club to a second consecutive major title. Torres scored the game-winner against Germany in the 2008 Euro final, and has scored big goals for club and country for years.
Despite its wealth of talent, Spain needs Torres to win its first World Cup.
Breakout Player: Alexis Sanchez (Chile)
Sanchez broke into the national team when he was 17, and enters the World Cup at 21 having already played 28 times for Chile. Nicknamed "El Nino Maravilla" or "Wonder Boy," the 5-foot-7 forward is creative and great with the ball.
He's already scored 11 times for Chile, with three of those goals coming just ahead of the World Cup in warm-up games against Zambia and Israel. Sanchez is sure to start for coach Marcelo Bielsa in South Africa, and could easily wind up as the tournament's best young player.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has reportedly been interested in the diminutive Chilean for a few years, and would like to sign him before the World Cup. If Sanchez doesn't leave Udinese before the World Cup, he could be on every big club's radar after it.
Predictions:
Group Winner: Spain
Spain won all three games in the group stage four years ago and probably wins all of its matches in the opening round this year as well. Eventual runner-up France knocked out Spain four years ago, but Chile, Honduras and Switzerland aren't capable of stopping this team from another knockout appearance.
Second Place: Chile
Chile was impressive in South American qualifying, finishing one point behind Brazil in the final standings. Whether Chile's aggressive style translates in South Africa is still an unknown, but this team is capable of another showing like in 1962, when it finished third as hosts.
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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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