Seattle, D.C. could welcome reinforcements for MLS clash
Soccer Betting Lines
07/14/2010 -
Washington, D.C. (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two Major League Soccer clubs that sit
second-from-the-bottom in their respective conferences square off on Thursday
night when D.C. United hosts Seattle Sounders FC at RFK Stadium.
Both teams have been disappointing this season, but both expect to be better
the second half thanks to improved play as of late and reinforcements
entering the ranks.
For Seattle (4-8-4) that will come in the form of 35-year-old Swiss striker
Blaise Nkufo, who joined the club in training of Wednesday.
"I'm really happy to be back on the field and I'm ready to play the next
months," Nkufo told his club's website.
Nkufo comes to the Sounders after his appearance in the 2010 World Cup with
Switzerland.
"Well, it was my first training session [Wednesday] after 15 days off," he
said. "I'm going to work on my own and, of course, I want to be a part of the
team and playing [Thursday]."
On the club level, Nkufo last played for FC Twente in the Dutch League,
scoring 114 goals over the past seven seasons.
Don't expect Sounders FC coach Sigi Schmid to start Nkufo Thursday after
limited training with his new club, but he could use him off the bench.
United (3-9-3) also could be unveiling two new players in Montenegrin
midfielder Branko Boskovic and Argentinean forward Pablo Hernandez if their
paperwork is completed in time.
That could be a big boost to the club, which is starting to find its form,
having just one loss in its last six league fixtures. Also, after going the
first 10 league games of the season without one, United have earned shutouts
in two of their last five games.
D.C. will be without midfielder Brandon Barklage, defenders Marc Burch, Bryan
Namoff, Juan Manuel Pena and Rodney Wallace and forward Luciano Emilio
because of injuries.
The Sounders are just as banged up, with midfielders David Estrada and Brad
Evans, forward Michael Fucito and defender Jhon Kennedy Hurtado all out with
injuries. Midfielders Freddie Ljungberg and Michael Seamon are questionable,
and midfielder Osvaldo Alonso is probable, all with knocks.
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Pacific-10 Conference odds
Teams that should be in: Stanford
 Oregon and USC get their tickets punched after taking care of business this weekend. Yes, the Trojans' computer numbers aren't great, but there's no way the third-place team in this league is getting nixed. Grudgingly, I added Arizona after consultation with our Bracketologist. I don't know that Arizona will lose its last three (including a Pac-10 quarterfinal game), and even if the Cats do, I still can't see how they'd be left out, given the overall profile. That said, it bears watching, as three more L's would leave them at 18-12 (9-9) and on a 6-11 skid entering the Dance. It would be nice to see the Wildcats get at least one W in the Bay Area next week, as Cincinnati (albeit without Armein Kirkland and with a worse profile) was axed after a similar slide last season. I just couldn't rationalize having some of the other teams as locks and not having Arizona in that category -- there just aren't enough good teams behind the Cats to threaten their spot, it seems. Stanford has its fate in its own hands with the Arizona schools coming to the Farm to close out the regular season next weekend.
Should be in:
Stanford [17-10 (9-7), RPI: 40, SOS: 21] No shame in not getting a win in L.A., but that makes the home game against Arizona State a must-win ahead of what could be an intriguing meeting with Arizona should the Cats lose at Cal. Getting to 11 Pac-10 wins would make Selection Sunday much more comfortable, but 10's probably more than enough this season. The Cardinal have nonconference wins over Texas Tech and at Virginia to lean on, although they also lost badly to Air Force and Santa Clara at home.
| Southeastern Conference odds |
Work left to do: Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Mississippi State
 It looks more and more possible that no one from the SEC West will make the NCAAs. How weird is that? Tennessee and Vandy move into the locks category after more good work this weekend. Kentucky stays there, although it would be smart for the Cats to handle Georgia at home Wednesday ahead of a trip to the Swamp. Could a disaster scenario (two more L's and a first-round SEC tourney exit) somehow dislodge the Cats despite their incredible computer numbers? Still unlikely, but not worth chancing it.
Work left to do:
Alabama [19-9 (6-8), RPI: 43, SOS: 47] The tough L at Tennessee was understandable, and even created some hope. Unfortunately, that hope was dashed by a home loss to Auburn, which leaves the Tide in some real trouble. There's still no signature win on the profile (no, Kentucky doesn't count), and the computer profile is weakening rapidly. The Tide conceivably could beat Ole Miss and win at Miss. State to get to 8-8 and clinch at least a share of the West crown, but that's probably not enough right now. The Tide will need to do some work in the SEC tourney.
Georgia [16-10 (8-6), RPI: 52, SOS: 23] This is the team with the best chance to make it from this section right now. The Bulldogs rebounded from a terrible performance at Ole Miss to beat down Miss. State. Now they are at Kentucky (king of the RPI 51-100 win) and home to Tennessee. That would be worth a lot of computer points to get both (which is doable), as both teams are in the top 11 in RPI. Finishing at least 9-7 is an absolute must, and I would feel much better about the Dawgs' chances if they got both to get to 10 SEC wins. They also beat Gonzaga, but lost to ACC bubblers Georgia Tech and Clemson.
Mississippi [18-10 (7-7), RPI: 63, SOS: 79] Like everyone else in this division, Ole Miss gacked up a chance to stake a claim, losing by double figures at South Carolina. Even 9-7 likely is not nearly enough with a nonconference profile devoid of anything notable.
Mississippi State [16-11 (7-7), RPI: 66, SOS: 37] With a chance to get in the mix, these Bulldogs were leashed by their Georgia counterparts. Could they get to 9-7? I guess -- although winning at Arkansas, then beating Alabama is no lock -- but would that mean all that much for a team with this overall profile? Probably not. There's nothing of note (on the good side) in the nonconference profile. |
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