12/03/2008 - Rome, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Roma's French midfielder Jeremy Menez has dropped a major hint that he will seek a move away from the Italian capital in a bid to secure regular first-team football.
The 21-year-old has struggled to make his mark since his summer switch from Monaco, having made just six starts for Luciano Spalletti's side.
Menez told France Football: "I haven't made a definite decision and I will have to discuss it with my agent, but if I'm not playing regularly I'd rather leave.
"I'd prefer to return to France because I know that world and I feel I fit in better.
"I would like to return to Paris, given that I am from there, but obviously I would be happy to play for Lyon or Marseille, although they seem to have the players they need."
(Courtesy of sportbox.tv)
<< Wilson inks Celtic extension
Glasgow, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Celtic defender Mark Wilson has put pen
to paper on a three-year contract extension at Parkhead.
The 24-year-old defender joined the Bhoys from Dundee United in January 2006
and has been a mainstay
<< Penguins recall Darling from Wheeling
Wilkes-Barre, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
recalled goaltender Curtis Darling from the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL, the
American Hockey League team announced on Wednesday.
The 25-year-old Darling will
<< Valencia denies bankruptcy claim
Valencia, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Valencia have dismissed reports that the
club is on the verge of bankruptcy following a worsening of their financial
situation.
The 2002 and 2004 Spanish champions are reported to be almost $822 mill
<< Augusta suspends operations
Princeton, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The ECHL announced on Wednesday that the
Augusta Lynx have suspended operations, effective immediately, and voluntarily
relinquished their membership back to the third-tier league.
"We are very disappo
Slaton, Mathis, Leggett earn AFC weekly honors >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Houston Texans running back Steve Slaton,
Indianapolis Colts defensive end Robert Mathis and Kansas City special teamer
Maurice Leggett have been selected as the AFC's top players for Week 13 of the
NFL sea
Palermo goalkeeper Fontana set for January exit >>
Palermo, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Palermo have given veteran goalkeeper
Alberto Fontana permission to seek a move away from the club in the January
transfer window.
The 41-year-old shot-stopper has struggled to command a first-t
Westbrook, Allen, Jones earn NFC weekly honors >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian
Westbrook, Minnesota Vikings defense end Jared Allen and Carolina Panthers
return specialist Mark Jones have been selected as the NFC's top players for
Week 13
Voronin hopeful of permanent Hertha stay >>
Berlin, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Striker Andriy Voronin is hoping to make
his loan stay at Hertha Berlin into a permanent transfer.
The Ukraine international has found the net three times since returning to the
Bundesliga from Liverpoo
The San Francisco 49ers (5-11 SU, 5-10-1 ATS in 2007; 1-1 SU & ATS in pre-season) found some offensive life last week, and they will try to build some momentum on Thursday night as they travel to the Windy City to take on the Chicago Bears (7-9 SU & ATS in 2007; 0-2 SU, 0-1-1 ATS in pre-season) in an NFL matchup that is set to get underway at 8 PM ET at Soldier Field (natural turf) in Chicago.
Thursday, August 21
NFL betting odds: CHICAGO -3 (-120), Total 37
NOTABLE STAT: San Francisco was last in points, last in total offense in 2007
KEY NFL BETTING TREND: SF has lost its last seven SU on pre-season road
In the BetUS NFL pre-season football betting odds, the Bears are listed as a three-point favorite (laying -120), with the total posted at 37 points.
Here are some NFL football betting trends as they relate to this matchup (reflecting numbers going into the 2008 season):
* SF has lost 11 of its last 14 games SU
* SF has covered three of its last 11 games
* SF has lost six of its last seven road games SU
* SF has covered one of its last seven road games
* CHI has covered five of its last eight games
* CHI has played five of its last seven games OVER the total
* CHI has covered four of its last 13 home games
* SF has lost its last seven pre-season road games SU
* CHI has covered two of its last seven home pre-season games
Well, I guess we should congratulate the Bears on making their quarterback choice for the season's opening game, as they have designated Kyle Orton the starter against Indianapolis. The Bears obviously have lost patience with Rex Grossman, and what they do with him at this point is anybody's guess. But suffice it to say that there isn't a quarterback competition anymore, at least in training camp.
Meanwhile, the quarterback competition may also be settled in San Francisco, where the Niners bounced back from a lackluster 18-6 loss to the Raiders, in which they turned the ball over four times, to execute a 34-6 rout of the Packers last Saturday. However, coach Mike Nolan has stopped short of saying that, insisting that the job is still open. But J.T. O'Sullivan, the longshot of the trio of Niner signal-callers who opened camp, will start his third straight pre-season game here. Against Green Bay, O'Sullivan was only 8-for-17, and was intercepted, but he also threw for 9.1 yards an attempt, which included a 59-yard TD pass to Josh Morgan. The others struggled.
Some offensive cohesion is badly needed, in light of the Niners' dismal 2007 campaign, in which they were dead last in the NFL in scoring, with just 13.7 points a game. And O'Sullivan is the guy who is most familiar with offensive coordinator Mike Martz's exacting system, because he learned it last year in Detroit. O'Sullivan will go at least the entire first half and may even last longer. He'll be relieved by Alex Smith, with Shawn Hill doing the mop-up work. Three receivers who were out last week - Bryant Johnson, Ashley Lelie and Arnaz Battle - will miss this game too.
That may hurt a little here, especially since the Bears will be using a lot of their defensive starters. And it's the defense that has been keeping the Bears in games thus far. In fact, the defense and special teams were responsible for the first 19 points Chicago scored against Seattle last time out, as the offense really struggled with Grossman at the controls. But maybe the first-team offense has a chance to settle a little bit as it works more with Orton at the helm.
Certainly we have concerns about the Bears' offensive line, but we like the scenario for them here, especially if O'Sullivan doesn't make some bis plays. The Niners may have nowhere else to turn right now, and they have lost seven straight road games in the pre-season. Let's take Chicago, the three-point favorite in the NFL football betting odds.
CHICAGO -3 (-120) **
(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)
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