TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9th

STOKE CITY PK/+0.5 [+104]

Stoke City is in stellar form in 2010, winning four and drawing two in all competitions. They are 3-0-1 in the Premier League in the New Year, winning all three at home and drawing on the road. Their defense has been solid, allowing one goal or none in 3 of the 4. They run into a Wigan squad that has had nothing but troubles in 2010. Wigan won their first two competitions of the New Year, but have since dropped 3 of the next 5. In Premier League play, Wigan has claimed just one win in four matches in 2010. At home, they are 3-4-3 with just one win in their last five in the EPL. Stoke has had very little success grabbing the full three points on the road, with a 1-5-5 record in the EPL this season. According to information from www.goal.com, new signee Steven Gohouri is the only injury doubt for Wigan Athletic as he struggles with a hamstring injury. For Stoke City, Andy Wilkinson is set to be available after receiving stitches in his head during the win over Blackburn. Captain Abdoulaye Faye, who was forced out of that game with back spasms, is also set to return. Ricardo Fuller should be available after being bailed out of jail following an arrest related to a nightclub incident over the weekend. The first match-up of the season between these two in December ended in a wild 2-2 draw with Wigan Athletic defender Maynor Figueroa scoring a goal on a free kick from 60 yards out to give them a 2-1 lead late in the 2nd half. Stoke though rallied with a score from Ryan Shawcross just two minutes later to seal the draw. Stoke City has a recent history of solid results against Wigan with two wins and two draws in the last four meetings dating back to 2008. That includes an away win and away draw. This match could very well end in another low scoring draw, but with Stoke enjoying success both in the EPL and in Cup play so far in 2010, I'll take a shot that worst case they settle for a draw and if things fall in-line, they could steal a win and pay out full stakes on this one. For the adventurous amongst you who believe Stoke City the right call on this one and don't have the option of the split PKJ/+0.5 line, you might also consider taking Stoke City on the moneyline outright at +205 for half a unit and back it up with the draw at the same price for half a unit. If either one hits, you take home a tidy profit!

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6th

SPAIN LA LIGA: Real Madrid vs. Espanyol UNDER 3 (-109)

Real Madrid plays host to Espanyol on Saturday with their eyes focused on trying to close the five point gap between themselves and first place Barcelona. Barca is playing host to Getafe. Real Madrid has been among the stingiest squads at home with seven of their last right matches at home resulting in clean sheets. That includes both home matches in 2010 which have ended with 2-0 Madrid wins. Overall, 3 of their 4 matches in the New Year have gone under three goals. The lone exception being their road demolishment of Deportivo last week by a 3-1 scoreline. Espanyol figures to do little to end Madrid's run of clean sheets at home. Los Periquitos have been unable to find the back of the net on the road with any regularity. In fact, they have now gone eight straight and 9 of 10 overall on the road without a goal. Despite the offensive woes, Espanyol's defense away from home has been fairly solid. They have allowed multiple goals just four times in ten matches. In 2010, their two road matches have wound up with a 1-0 loss to Valencia and 2-0 to Osasuna. Overall in five matches this year, Espanyol has not played a match higher than three goals with four of the five resulting in totals less than three. Madrid has also played five matches in 2010 with four also falling below three goals. According to updates from www.soccerway.com, Madrid will continue to be without Cristiano Ronaldo as he serves the 2nd of his two game ban. Espanyol is without Captain Ivan De La Pena who will be out several months due to knee surgery. That will do nothing but further hinder a squad that has trouble scoring against the stout defense of Madrid. The first meeting between these two at Espanyol finished with Madrid winning going away 3-0. They struck for two goals in the final 13 minutes, including the third goal in the 90th minute by Ronaldo. Madrid will know the result of the Barcelona-Getafe tilt prior to kicking off this  one, but it should make little difference as they'll either need three points to keep pace or can close the gap with three points. All signs point to a Madrid win, but I don't think we'll see the scoreline much different from the first meeting at 3-0. Espanyol is very unlikely to score, so I think the total comes down to what Real Madrid does. Their three goals last week was the most they had put on an opponent in five matches this season. I think 2-0 is a fairly likely score here and do not think it will end up any worse than 3-0 and a PUSH if Madrid feels like it. Another solid option in this one would be to take Real Madrid on the asian handicap at -1.5 goals because this doesn't look like anything worse than a two goal win for Madrid on their home turf. The price is slightly better on the under for me and that is where I'll put my stakes on this one.

[FONT=Century Gothic]The slate is clean. I'm through f-ing around college basketball. No longer shall I be a slave to you and over ANAL-lyzing my selections that have to-date been worthy of nothing more than a dirty diaper worth of crap. I have tunnel vision now and it's time to go BIBLICAL on your ass. The date is set. March 16th. 3:16. The play-in game that marks the beginning of the NCAA Tournament. College basketball, I shall conquer thee by that time. Plus units. 55% or better. Those are the things that are not my goal college basketball, but the cold...[/FONT]

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5th

HOLLAND EREDIVISIE: Willem II vs. NAC Breda OVER 2.5 (-105)

Dutch side NAC Breda looks to keep its tenuous hold onto a Europa League playoff spot today when they visit Willem II in Eredivisie action. NAC Breda is currently 7th in the table, just one point ahead of AZ in 8th place. The 8th spot in the league is the final spot that gets an opportunity to get into the Europa League playoff. Groningen sits in 9th with 27 points, just three back of NAC Breda which makes all their matches important. In 2010, NAC Breda has already hit the pitch five times, four in Eredivisie play and one in the league cup. They have tallied at least one goal in each of those five matches and yielded just four. Overall, NAC Breda has scored a goal in 12 straight matches in league play. On the road, they have hit the scoresheet in 7 of 10 and in their last four straight. Defensively, they have conceded 21 goals away from home which is 5th worse in Eredivisie play. They have just one clean sheet on the road which came against bottom feeding RKC in their last road tilt. Otherwise, they have allowed a goal in all 9 of their other matches with multiple goals yielded in five of those matches. Willem II heads into this match in 17th place, stuck in the battle to get out of a relegation spot. They are one of a glut of squads trying to stay out of these spots. There are six clubs within three points of each other for the 2nd relegation spot, with RKC firmly entrenched in last with just 12 points. Picking up the full three points would be huge for Willem. They have proven to have a knack for scoring goals at home and of late with four in just two matches in 2010, but they have also conceded five in those two. At home, Willem has hit for at least one goal in 9 of 10 and has multiple scores in five of those matches. Their defense has been leaky enough to allow a goal in all ten matches. The first meeting between these two clubs was back in November with NAC Breda cruising to a 4-0 win at home. According to the match report at www.soccerway.com, NAC Breda hit all four goals in the first half and had a couple opportunities go off the goal post in the second half that could have resulted in an even larger win. Both clubs have good scoring diversity with NAC Breda having five goal scorers with four or more goals and Willem with four goal scorers with four or more goals. Willem II's matches also rank 2nd in the league for the highest number of goals on average at 3.15 behind only Ajax matches that average a stout 3.67 goals. 13 of Willem II's 20 matches have hit at least three goals. NAC Breda is stuck in the middle of the Eredivisie pack with a 2.81 goals average per match with 10 of 21 hitting for 3 or more goals this season. With Willem fighting to get out of a relegation spot and playing at home, I'd expect them to continue to show their strong goal scoring form and get in the scoresheet against a NAC Breda squad that has had trouble keeping a clean sheet on the road. On the other side, NAC Breda should be able to penetrate the Willem defense that has yet to keep a clean sheet at home and get on the scoresheet as well. That leaves one side to find the back of the net to get that third and perhaps with revenge on their minds from the beating in November, it likely could be Willem II.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4th

HOLLAND EREDIVISIE: RKC/FEYENOORD UNDER 2.5 (-110)

Fourth place Dutch club Feyenoord travel to meet bottom feeding RKC Waalwijk in Eredivisie play. RKC is in miserable form and remains firmly entrenched in one of the relegation spots in the league with just 12 points out of 20 matches played this season. Feyenoord meanwhile sit in fourth, not really a threat to the top clubs PSV and Twente, but certainly with a solid shot to qualify for the Europa League. They stand six points ahead of Heracles for the last of the two spots that Eredivisie stakes claim to in the Europa League currently. Feyenoord is seven points back of 3rd place Ajax. 2010 has started with a pair of losses for RKC as they dropped a 1-0 decision to NAC Breda at home and then lost 2-1 to Wilhelm last time out. For Feyenoord, they have two draws in Eredivisie play since the winter break ended. They drew Venlo 1-1 on the road and then had to be a little disappointed not to take the full three points from Ajax in a 1-1 draw at home. Sandwiched in between was a cup match in which they pounded PSV on the road, 3-0. In looking along the form line at home for RKC, one sees them giving up an average of 1.7 goals per match through 10 matches. That is deceptive though if you consider that they gave up six goals in one match to AZ back in August. Since then, they have played eight matches at home and never given up more than two goals. Six of those next eight have seen them conceded just one goal. Their offense continues to be a major concern with RKC either starving for goals with 7 goaless efforts at home and 11 goals in their three home wins. Those goal sprees came against lesser defenses in Roda, Groeningen and Sparta Rotterdam who have combined to allow 64 away goals in 32 matches. Feyenoord has a much more stout defense, yielding just 11 road goals in 10 matches and that number is skewed with five of those coming in one match against Ajax. Feyenoord has kept five clean sheets away from home this season and has allowed just two road goals in their last four away from home. Offensively, Feyenoord have scored at least one goal in 9 of 10 on the road and have multiple goals in four of those matches. Only 3 of 10 road matches for Feyenoord have hit totals of 3 goals or more and those all came when the club allowed multiple goals. At home, RKC has four matches out of ten that hit for 3 goals or more. Three coming when their offense exploded for goals and the other, the lopside 6-0 loss to AZ. According to news from www.goal.com, Kevin Vink (striker) and Gerard Lifondja (midfielder) are unavailable due to injury for RKC, but head coach Ruud Brood doesn't have any other notable absentees. Feyenoord will be without defenders Dani Fernandez and Kelvin Leerdam due to injury, while another defender Giovanni van Bronckhorst is doubtful, too. When these two clubs met back in October, Feyenoord dashed away with a 3-0 win at home. The scoreline perhaps a little unreflective of the match's play as Feyenoord gained their second goal on a deflection from a RKC defender and then netting the third in injury time. Also, the first goal was netted by Andy Slory (4 goals in 13 matches with Feyenoord) who has since been shipped out to England's West Brom on-loan. One would think Feyenoord to have too much class for last place RKC here, but I'm not big on the moneyline price which is at least -180 at most shops right now. Instead, I look for the UNDER to have a good shot to clean up here as RKC has rarely been blown out at home but has plenty of problems scoring. Feyenoord do possess attacking quality, but have scored just one goal in each of their last three in the league. This one looks a possibility to finish 1-0 or 2-0, but I'll protect against a 1-1 draw by taking the UNDER instead.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4th

HOLLAND EREDIVISIE: RKC/FEYENOORD UNDER 2.5 (-110)

Fourth place Dutch club Feyenoord travel to meet bottom feeding RKC Waalwijk in Eredivisie play. RKC is in miserable form and remains firmly entrenched in one of the relegation spots in the league with just 12 points out of 20 matches played this season. Feyenoord meanwhile sit in fourth, not really a threat to the top clubs PSV and Twente, but certainly with a solid shot to qualify for the Europa League. They stand six points ahead of Heracles for the last of the two spots that Eredivisie stakes claim to in the Europa League currently. Feyenoord is seven points back of 3rd place Ajax. 2010 has started with a pair of losses for RKC as they dropped a 1-0 decision to NAC Breda at home and then lost 2-1 to Wilhelm last time out. For Feyenoord, they have two draws in Eredivisie play since the winter break ended. They drew Venlo 1-1 on the road and then had to be a little disappointed not to take the full three points from Ajax in a 1-1 draw at home. Sandwiched in between was a cup match in which they pounded PSV on the road, 3-0. In looking along the form line at home for RKC, one sees them giving up an average of 1.7 goals per match through 10 matches. That is deceptive though if you consider that they gave up six goals in one match to AZ back in August. Since then, they have played eight matches at home and never given up more than two goals. Six of those next eight have seen them conceded just one goal. Their offense continues to be a major concern with RKC either starving for goals with 7 goaless efforts at home and 11 goals in their three home wins. Those goal sprees came against lesser defenses in Roda, Groeningen and Sparta Rotterdam who have combined to allow 64 away goals in 32 matches. Feyenoord has a much more stout defense, yielding just 11 road goals in 10 matches and that number is skewed with five of those coming in one match against Ajax. Feyenoord has kept five clean sheets away from home this season and has allowed just two road goals in their last four away from home. Offensively, Feyenoord have scored at least one goal in 9 of 10 on the road and have multiple goals in four of those matches. Only 3 of 10 road matches for Feyenoord have hit totals of 3 goals or more and those all came when the club allowed multiple goals. At home, RKC has four matches out of ten that hit for 3 goals or more. Three coming when their offense exploded for goals and the other, the lopside 6-0 loss to AZ. According to news from www.goal.com, Kevin Vink (striker) and Gerard Lifondja (midfielder) are unavailable due to injury for RKC, but head coach Ruud Brood doesn't have any other notable absentees. Feyenoord will be without defenders Dani Fernandez and Kelvin Leerdam due to injury, while another defender Giovanni van Bronckhorst is doubtful, too. When these two clubs met back in October, Feyenoord dashed away with a 3-0 win at home. The scoreline perhaps a little unreflective of the match's play as Feyenoord gained their second goal on a deflection from a RKC defender and then netting the third in injury time. Also, the first goal was netted by Andy Slory (4 goals in 13 matches with Feyenoord) who has since been shipped out to England's West Brom on-loan. One would think Feyenoord to have too much class for last place RKC here, but I'm not big on the moneyline price which is at least -180 at most shops right now. Instead, I look for the UNDER to have a good shot to clean up here as RKC has rarely been blown out at home but has plenty of problems scoring. Feyenoord do possess attacking quality, but have scored just one goal in each of their last three in the league. This one looks a possibility to finish 1-0 or 2-0, but I'll protect against a 1-1 draw by taking the UNDER instead.

Gotta love compulsive gamblers who play sports!

[quote]
Premier League soccer player [COLOR=#3300cc]Matthew Etherington[/COLOR] has a $1.5 million gambling debt that both his current and former team have helped him try to pay off. In a website report that ran over the weekend, the London Daily Mail said Etherington has a gambling addiction and has received financial assistance from current club [COLOR=#3300cc]Stoke[/COLOR] City and previous club [COLOR=#3300cc]West Ham United[/COLOR].

Stoke City gave him a raise to $55,000 per week, with a portion slated to pay off the debt. [URL="http://forum.sbrforum.com/#"]West Ham United[/URL] loaned him $500,000 the report said. According to the...[/quote]

TUESDAY, FERUARY 2nd

HOLLAND EREDIVISIE: VVV Venlo vs. Heerenveen OVER 2.5 (-130)

It's a Dutchtastic day treat for soccer bettors this afternoon when Venlo play host to Heerenveen in Eredivisie league play in Holland. The match pits two of the league's also rans with Venlo currently 11th in the table with 21 points and Heerenveen sitting two spots lower at 13th with 20 points. Even though Venlo is 11th out of 18 clubs in Eredivisie, they remain just three points out of a potential relegation spot. Heerenveen has suffered through a miserable season to-date after finishing 5th in the league in four of the last five seasons. They too are fighting against relegation and will need to put forth a strong effort to try and take points here. These two are meeting for the second time this season with the first meeting resulting in a 1-1 draw at Heerenveen. According to a report on www.soccerway.com from the first match, most of the action at Abe Lenstra stadium took place in the final part of the match. VVV finally broke the deadlock when Ruben Schaken enabled Sandro Calabro to score in the 88th minute, but Heerenveen didn't give up and got their reward in the third minute of added time. Michal Papadopulos, who had replaced Gerald Sibon earlier in the second half, headed the ball past keeper Begois to save the day for the hosts. VVV came very close to scoring another in the final minute but a free kick from Keisuke Honda hit the post. So despite the late action and scoreline, it appears that there were plenty of opportunities to score a third goal in that one - something to keep in mind today. The New Year has been a mixed bag in two matches for Venlo as they drew their first match from the winter break 1-1 and lost on the road last time out to NAC Breda by a final score of 2-0. Heerenveen have continued to leak goals in 2010 as they have played three matches since the break, losing 2-0 and 2-1 on the road, but fitting in a 4-2 win over Willem at home. As a unit, Heerenveen has been the worst defense on the road in Eredivise play, allowing 25 goals in just 10 matches. Overall, they are tied for third in the league for most goals allowed with 36 on the season in 20 matches. Heerenveen have been a consistent squad though in putting up goals on the road. They have just 10 on the board, but they have scored in 5 of their last 6 on the road and have only been held scoreless on 3 out of 10 tries. As for Venlo, they are much more potent at home than on the road. On home pitch, Venlo is hitting 1.8 goals per match through ten matches in Eredivisie. They have scored a goal in 9 of those 10 at home and have netted multiple goals on six occassions. Their defense has been fairly steady with three clean sheets at home. The good news being that in 2 of the 3 matches where they held an opponent scoreless, they hit for 3 or more goals by themselves. With Heerenveen continuing to leak goals in 2010, we should expect Venlo to look to take advantage on their home turf. If Heerenveen can get on the board in this one with a goal, Venlo certainly can do the rest and even if Venlo holds Heerenveen down, with the way the visitors have been giving up goals on the road - Venlo may carry this match OVER all by themselves.

[B][COLOR=Red][FONT=Century Gothic]THE GAME
[/FONT][/COLOR][/B][COLOR=Red][FONT=Century Gothic][COLOR=Black]Welcome to SBR Tennis Russian Roulette. This contest is not sanctioned by SBR and is solely the property of we the players. By entering the contest on any given day, you are agreeing to abide by all rules set forth in this rules section. Any violation of said rules can result if you forfeiting any of the SBR points put at risk for this game.

[B][COLOR=Red]WHAT IS RUSSIAN ROULETTE?
[/COLOR][/B][COLOR=Red][COLOR=Black]We've all see it. Russians, the flakiest of the flakey. The ones who make you cringe when they are big favorites and seem likely to roll, only to fall...[/COLOR][/FONT][/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR]

.... Unless you're going for the handicap or # of games. The lines are ridiculously chalky and offer nothing more than dartboard shots on the dogs IMO. Here's the ladies since the men are off till tomorrow.

[quote]
[SIZE=3]Serena/Li OVER/UNDER 19.5[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Henin/Zheng OVER/UNDER 20.5[/SIZE]

[SIZE=3]Serena -5.5[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Li +5.5[/SIZE]

[SIZE=3]Henin -5[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Zheng +5[/SIZE]
[/quote]

Li has battled Serena to 3 setters 3/4 times they met. That would lead one to go for the over first - but something tells me if Serena doesn't come out without any game like yesterday that she can roll. Li wasn't especially impressive yesterday as I think Venus lost that a little more...