United braces for hostile Everton crowd

Soccer Betting Lines

09/10/2010 - Liverpool, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Manchester United has had plenty of success against Everton at Goodison Park over the years, but United manager Sir Alex Ferguson never looks forward to making the trip.

"It's always a nightmare going there," Ferguson told the club's official website. "It's a hard place to go. The atmosphere is fantastic and we've had to deal with it for many years."

United will have to deal with it again on Saturday when they face a Toffees side with just one point from its first three games, but the crowd will have some extra venom to direct at striker Wayne Rooney.

Rooney left Everton in 2004 to join United, so he is never the most popular figure upon his return. But revelations about his private life and claims that he met a prostitute while his wife Coleen was pregnant will only add to the usual abuse that Rooney normally faces.

There are reports that Ferguson may drop Rooney from his starting 11 in order to keep him from the barrage of abuse he is sure to endure, but the United boss was unwilling to discuss the issue at his pre-match press conference on Friday.

United has claimed seven points from its first three games and the club could see the return of defender Rio Ferdinand to the lineup after he declared himself to be fit on Friday.

The club has a Champions League match with Rangers on Tuesday before hosting Liverpool next Sunday, so Ferguson will likely be cautious with Ferdinand's return.

Everton beat United, 3-1, in the last meeting between the two sides at Goodison Park, but manager David Moyes will have to do without midfielder Jack Rodwell for the next three months after it was determined on Friday that he will be sidelined with ankle ligament damage.

Everton has scored only one goal in its first three games this season, so Moyes will be looking for signs of improvement in front of goal.

Chelsea has gotten off to a flying start with three wins from its first three games, and the club will face former manager Avram Grant on Saturday when the Blues travel to Upton Park to face a West Ham side that has lost its first three games.

Arsenal entertains Bolton, Fulham tries for its first win of the season against Wolverhampton after three successive draws, Manchester City entertains Blackburn, Blackpool travels to Newcastle, Tottenham duo William Gallas and Rafael van der Vaart will likely make their debuts for Spurs against West Bromwich, while Wigan tries to build on its surprising win over Tottenham when the Latics host Sunderland.

The lone match on Sunday features Birmingham hosting Liverpool, while Aston Villa visits Stoke City on Monday without new manager Gerard Houllier, who is still under contract with the French Football Federation.

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Football Betting Lines

The 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds have been released and Denver Broncos' running back Knowshon Moreno has been made the opening favorite.

Bet NFL Sports Lines

Moreno was selected in the first round of April's NFL draft and is expected to carry the rushing load for the Broncos this season. And with Jay Cutler now in Chicago, Moreno might be expected to be Denver's entire offense.

Betting Lines from sports betting lines have made Moreno a 5/2 favorite to win this year's Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Fellow running back Chris “Beanie” Wells (Arizona Cardinals) is right behind Moreno at 7/2, while Donald Brown (Indianapolis Colts) and receiver Michael Crabtree (San Francisco 49ers) are 5/1 to win. Quarterbacks Mark Sanchez (New York Jets) and Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions) are 7/1 and 8/1, respectively.

A couple of players who present some value are Josh Freeman, Shonn Green and Darrius Heyward-Bey.

Freeman needs to beat out Byron Leftwich to become the starting quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but if he does, he has a lot or raw talent and could use the weapons around him (i.e. Kellen Winslow Jr. and Antonio Bryant) to be very successful in his first season.

Green enters a crowded backfield in New York, but considering both Thomas Jones and Leon Washington are unhappy about their contract situations and might holdout, the former Iowa product could become the Jets' primary back.

Everyone was shocked when Al Davis took Heyward-Bey with the eighth overall pick in April's draft, but the kid has a tremendous amount of talent and if quarterback JaMarcus Russell takes the next step this year, the former Maryland product could blossom. Plus, Heyward-Bey will be looking to prove the people wrong who said Oakland should have taken Michael Crabtree with the No. 8 pick.

And if you're looking for a deep sleeper, check out Pat White at 30/1. He enters the Miami Dolphins vaunted “Wild Cat” offense and could be a big time playmaker.

For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds, see below.

2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds to Win

Ramses Barden (NYG) 40/1

Andre Brown (NYG) 20/1

Donald Brown (IND) 5/1

Kenny Britt (TEN) 20/1

Glenn Coffee (SFO) 30/1

Chase Coffman (CIN) 50/1

Michael Crabtree (SFO) 5/1

Josh Freeman (TB) 14/1

Shonn Green (NYJ) 14/1

Percy Harvin (MIN) 10/1

Darrius Heyward-Bay (OAK) 18/1

Juaquan Iglesias (CHI) 30/1

Cornelius Ingram (PHI) 50/1

Rashad Jennings (JAC) 30/1

Johnny Knox (CHI) 40/1

Jeremy Maclin (PHI) 18/1

Mohamed Massaquoi (CLE) 30/1

LeSean McCoy (PHI) 12/1

Knowshon Moreno (DEN) 5/2

Hakeem Nicks (NYG) 18/1

Brandon Pettigrew (DET) 30/1

Brian Robiskie (CLE) 20/1

Mark Sanchez (NYJ) 7/1

Matthew Stafford (DET) 8/1

Jason Smith (STL) 40/1

Mike Thomas (JAC) 25/1

Patrick Turner (MIA) 50/1

Mike Wallace (PIT) 50/1

Chris Wells (ARI) 7/2

Pat White (MIA) 30/1

Field (Any Other Player) 9/1

Betting Line

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El Duque expected to throw Tuesday

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.

Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.

El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.

MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds. 

Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.

New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.

Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''

Additional baseball lines and World Series odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.