02/08/2010 - Daytona Beach, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - IndyCar series star Danica Patrick will continue to be in the spotlight during Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway.
Patrick announced on Monday she will make her Nationwide Series debut in Saturday's DRIVE4COPD 300 season-opener at Daytona. She originally was scheduled to make her series debut in the February 20 race at California, but after an impressive performance in the ARCA event over the weekend at Daytona, her foray in NASCAR's second-tier circuit has been bumped up one week.
"Racing in the Nationwide Series race was my goal during this entire two-month preparation process, but we wanted to make sure it was the right thing to do," Patrick said in a statement. "The ARCA race was a blast, and I'm not ready for my first Daytona Speedweeks to end just yet. I want more racing."
JR Motorsports -- a team co-owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr. -- made the decision shortly after Patrick's sixth-place finish in the ARCA race. Despite spinning during the mid-stages of the event, Patrick rebounded in the closing laps to become the highest-finishing female at Daytona since Shawna Robinson's second- place run here in the 1999 ARCA event.
"I think Danica proved to everyone that she can compete in stock cars at a high level, and right now seat time is extremely important," team general manager Kelley Earnhardt said. "She has worked extremely hard during the past two months for this opportunity. Her dedication and work ethic is infectious."
Patrick, driver of the No.7 Chevrolet, is guaranteed a starting position in the Nationwide race at Daytona due to JRM's acquisition of owner points from CJM Racing's No.11 team, which finished 15th in points last season.
The 27-year-old driver will compete in the first three Nationwide races this season -- Daytona, California and Las Vegas -- before taking a four-month break in the series due to her full-time IndyCar schedule.
<< Kostner to remain at Wolfsburg through season
Wolfsburg, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Caretaker manager Lorenz-Gunter Kostner
will remain in charge at German champions Wolfsburg until the end of the
season.
Kostner took charge of the Wolves a couple of weeks ago when Armin Veh
<< City waits on Bellamy injury news
Manchester, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Manchester City are waiting to discover
how long Craig Bellamy faces on the sidelines after the striker suffered a
knee injury during the 2-1 defeat at Hull City.
The 30-year-old Wales internation
<< Dikgacoi faces six weeks out with ankle injury
London, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Fulham boss Roy Hodgson has revealed that
midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi will be absent for six weeks with ankle ligament
damage.
The South Africa international limped out of Saturday's draw with Bolton
<< Wigan releases Edman from contract
Wigan, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Wigan have released defender Erik Edman from
his contract.
Edman, 31, was out of contract at the DW Stadium at the end of the current
season but the two parties have reached a mutual agreement to term
Kansas still No. 1, Syracuse slides up to No. 2 >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kansas remained the top team in the latest
Associated Press men's college basketball poll, while Syracuse moved up one
spot to No. 2.
The Jayhawks (22-1) regained the top spot last week after spending
Safina will skip Dubai >>
Moscow, Russia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former world No. 1 Dinara Safina will miss
next week's WTA Tour event in Dubai because of a back injury.
The currently world No. 2 star was forced to retire from her fourth-round
match at last month
Connecticut continues to top women's poll >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Connecticut remained a unanimous choice as the
top-ranked team in women's college basketball, as the Associated Press
released its latest poll Monday.
The Huskies (23-0) enter the week with a 62-gam
Gainey stepping down as Canadiens GM >>
Montreal, QC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Montreal Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey
will reportedly step down from his post, as the team has scheduled a press
conference for 4 p.m. (et).
According to a report by TSN Canada, assistant general
In terms of sports wagering, the NFL is "the most popular game in town." The explanation behind that is easy.
It is called the "pointspread."
Many years ago, NFL games, as well as the more popular college games, used straight odds as a vehicle for betting. For example, if the Bears were playing the Giants, and it shaped up as a competitive contest, the Bears might be, say, a 7/5 favorite. If they were playing an also-ran, it might be 10/1. Well, there is a point where a line becomes prohibitive, as far as betting the favorite. And who would waste money betting an underdog that has virtually no chance? Such a setup did not contribute to promoting betting action.
But in modern sports betting, a "pointspread" is used.
A NFL pointspreads are exactly that, a pre-established point difference between the two sides that will, for all intents and purposes, create a handicap that evens things out, and in doing so, produces comparable wagering activity on both sides of that proposition. So in lieu of a odds figure in which to bet the team to win outright, the Bears might be a three-point favorite over the New York Giants, and a 17-point favorite over the also-ran. Now that the team that is the underdog can "get" points, there can be equal action on both sides.
In sportsbooks, this is usually done with efficiency by charging the losing bettors 10% extra - in effect, bettors are laying 11/10 on those games. So they are actually betting $110 to win $100. If they lose, they pay the "vig." If they win, they simply collect.
The establishment of the pointspread as the corner stone around which team sports like football can be wagered upon was truly what brought gridiron betting into the stratosphere.
Don't believe it? Just take a look at what happens around the Super Bowl.
Stay with us here as we take you through the best in NFL action on a consistent basis, with advice columns as well as handicapping selections. If you're looking for college football betting, that's in our NCAA section, which you can reach by clicking here. And if you're looking for a different kind of football, such as the Canadian Football League, which we'll deal with occasionally, or the Arena Football League, which we really like, you can find it in our Miscellaneous section by clicking
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting odds .
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook betting credit cards
Sports Betting News: NFL Team History | Football Betting | Baseball Betting | Basketball Betting | Hockey Betting | Golf Betting | Tennis Betting | Auto Racing Betting | Horse Racing Betting | Soccer Betting