Real shoots for more road success at Dallas

Soccer Betting Lines

07/16/2010 - Frisco, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Real Salt Lake forward Robbie Findley said after a recent win at the Chicago Fire one of our goals this year was to "improve on our road record."

Findley converted a penalty in the 1-0 win on July 8, helping Real win for the third time on the road already this season - a total it failed to reach in its last two MLS campaigns.

Now, the defending league champions return to action and visit twice-beaten FC Dallas on Saturday with another win - and the Los Angeles Galaxy - in sight.

Real captured the MLS crown last season despite going just 2-11-2 on the road, and has amassed the second-best mark in the league behind L.A. with three wins and a tie in seven road matches.

RSL (9-3-3) is six points behind the Galaxy - and have played one fewer game - entering the weekend trip to Pizza Hurt Park against Dallas (5-2-7).

"It's been something we've been working on. We didn't do too well [on the road last year] and it is one of our goals this year," Findley said. "So far we are doing the right things."

Findley, back from the World Cup with the U.S. national team, is joined on the field by three MLS All-Star First XI members in midfielders Kyle Beckerman and Javier Morales, and defender Jamison Olave.

In addition, Real Salt Lake goalie Nick Rimando has not allowed a goal in his last 498 minutes and posted five straight shutouts, putting the Utah side in strong position for the start of the second half of the season.

Rimando admitted the team's attitude has changed on the road, and that has led to better results.

"I think last couple of years we were happy with a point and if we don't get that point it's not a big deal," Rimando said. "Now it's we aren't happy with a point, we want three points.

"I think the confidence of winning early in the season really helps us out in these kinds of games."

FC Dallas settled for a 1-1 draw against Seattle Sounders FC in its last game, as it tied its league-high seventh game of the season. However, coach Schellas Hyndman has guided his side to third place in the Western Conference.

FC Dallas' only losses were to Red Bull New York and Los Angeles, which is the lone team to shut out the Texas club this season.

David Ferreira scored in the draw against Seattle and has become Hyndman's top attacking threat with four goals. Jeff Cunningham won the Golden Boot one year ago, but three of his four goals are from the penalty spot this season.

Real has allowed just four goals while scoring 24 during its 10-match unbeaten streak, so Dallas could find another shutout tough to avoid this weekend.

"It's a big one for me - I'll be honest. I have feelings about that club - I had been there so long. And every time I go back there's a little bit extra on the line," said Real coach Jason Kreis, who played with Dallas from 1996-2004.

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Super Bowl 2009 Betting

Super Bowl 2009 Betting propositions

Underdog bettors love the Super Bowl and, history suggests, the underdogs love them back. And the big dogs bite harder.

Even so, there is a warning in store for Super Bowl gamblers who must love dogs: The Arizona Cardinals Super Bowl betting lines might not be enough of a Cinderella to make it worth your while.

Although the Cardinals were widely panned as one of the worst division winners and least playoff-worthy teams in recent memory, their trip to Super Bowl XLIII Jan. 31 in Tampa against the Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl betting lines comes with a little more respect from the oddsmakers than you might imagine. They are a 7-point underdog at most sports books.

If you count yourself among those who covet the big dog in the big game, this isn’t exactly great news. You should have been hoping for more points. This is because the facts show that the bigger the dog, the better the bet in the Super Bowl.

Case in point: Over the past 13 seasons, double-figure underdogs in the Super Bowl are 4-0-1 ATS and have won the past three outright. In fact, the last double-digit chalk to do the deed for bettors was the 1995 San Francisco 49ers, who managed to beat the astounding 19-point spot afforded backers of the San Diego Chargers in the 49-26 romp in Super Bowl XXIX.

By contrast, 7-point favorites are 2-1-1 ATS in the same span, the last such contest resulting a cover grinded out by the Colts in their 29-17 win over the Bears two seasons ago in Super Bowl XLI.

In 2004, the Patriots failed to cover the number in their 32-29 triumph over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl props while the Rams and Titans gave everyone a refund in 2000 after the Rams posted a 23-16 win as a seven-point favorite.

So while Arizona’s run has included impressive upsets as a 10-point road underdog to the Carolina Panthers and Sunday’s 32-25 win in the NFC championship game to the 4-point favored Philadelphia Eagles, their long-shot story lacks a bit of the David vs. Goliath storyline of past Super Bowl underdogs.

While the seven-point spread represents a significant gap in the perception of strength between the two teams, it is far from monumental. For example, last season the Giants were the wild-card afterthought turned road-warrior buzzsaw, with stunning wins over the Buccaneers, Cowboys and Packers to earn their place in the Super Bowl.

There, they played spoiler to New England’s bid to become the first 19-0 team in NFL history and cemented their place in sports betting lore with a 17-14 win as a 12.5-point underdog.

In other words, the Cardinals appear to have their work cut out for them as a mid-range underdog. But in homage to the spread beaters who have come before them, here is a brief look back at recent colossal upsets in the Super Bowl:

SB XLII -- 2008 -- New York Giants 17, New England Patriots 14 (Giants +12.5) – Eli Manning’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress in the final minute clinched the historic upset for the Giants, who used a masterful defensive plan to slow down Tom Brady and the previously undefeated New England Patriots.

XXXVI -- 2002 -- Patriots 20, Rams 17 (Patriots +14) – This was the coming out party for the aforementioned Brady, who went from obscure sixth-round draft pick to Super Bowl hero in one fell swoop. He led the game-winning drive in the final minute – eschewing analyst John Madden’s advice to take a knee and play for overtime – leading to Adam Vinatieri’s memorable 48-yard field goal that split the uprights as time expired.

XXXII 1998 Broncos 31, Packers 24 (Denver +12) – The first of John Elway’s two consecutive Super Bowl titles to put an end to his Hall of Fame career was an upset for the ages. The Broncos used the determination of Elway and a 157-yard, three-touchdown performance from Terrell Davis to turn back Brett Favre and the heavily favored Packers.

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