N.Y., Henry set for huge match against Toronto

Soccer Betting Lines

08/10/2010 - Harrison, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Red Bull New York should have Thierry Henry in the starting lineup Wednesday against Toronto FC, but Rafael Marquez will miss the Major League Soccer match while on international duty with Mexico.

New York's two recent designated player signings were on the field together on Sunday for the first time in a 0-0 tie against the Chicago Fire, but Henry was pulled off the field in the first half by coach Hans Backe.

Henry is expected to return to the lineup despite the early exit just days ago for precautionary reasons. Backe saw Henry grasp his upper leg, and the French star is questionable for the Toronto match with a slight groin injury.

Marquez played just 16 minutes into the second half, and will now wait to make his home debut at Red Bull Arena until Saturday, when the Los Angeles Galaxy visit. He will captain Mexico in a friendly against World Cup winner Spain on Wednesday.

Backe will definitely have original designated player Juan Pablo Angel, who is second in MLS with 11 goals, and plans to start Henry as well after he trained on Tuesday.

"Henry can play," Backe said. "It's just tight muscles, like a cramp."

Henry played last season at Barcelona and was on France's roster for the World Cup, but has not played a full 90 minutes since February. Backe will continue to let Henry regain full fitness before pushing the 32-year-old too hard.

New York (8-6-4) is second in the Eastern Conference behind the Columbus Crew, but holds just a two-point cushion against third-place Toronto (7-6-5).

The Red Bulls have tied both matches with Henry, the other a 2-2 draw against the Houston Dynamo, but he will make his home MLS debut against Toronto. New York is 5-2-1 at home, and Toronto has struggled with six losses in eight road games.

Toronto beat Chivas USA, 2-1, on Saturday to snap a three-game winless streak, and could put itself in good position for its first-ever postseason appearance with a rare road win at New York.

TFC will be without defender Dan Gargan, who will serve a one-match suspension for accumulated yellow cards. In addition, Martin Saric and Maicon Santos will miss the match with injuries, leaving Preki without a number of key options in the key clash.

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2007 NFL Football Betting Preview


“You play to win the game!”

Those are the words of notoriously intense head coach Herman Edwards. Unfortunately, from a bettors’ perspective, most coaches don’t feel that way about the NFL preseason. August is a time to evaluate young players, finalize the depth chart and pray your star players stay healthy.

The trick to making money during the exhibition schedule is identifying coaches – like Edwards – who can’t stand losing even when there's nothing on the line.

The New York Jets betting won 15 of 21 preseason games and went 14-7 against the spread (ATS) during Edwards’s five-year tenure with the club. In his first season as the Kansas City Chiefs field boss, the team improved from 0-4 to 2-2.

Identifying win-a-holics like Edwards is a good start if you plan betting the preseason – even though most say you shouldn’t ... but what the hell do they know anyway?

Here’s a brief rundown of two teams that have a habit of winning during the second-stringers’ season, and another club that has a good chance of exceeding this year.

New York Giants betting lines

Playing in the media hub of North America can be stressful but the press can’t write anything negative about the way Tom Coughlin’s boys play in the preseason. The Giants won and covered all four games last summer, improving their record to 7-1 both straight up (SU) and against the spread over the last two years.

Coughlin has shown he’s not afraid to give his starters more time in the second preseason game than most of his colleagues, no doubt one of the reasons his team has been so dominant.

Dallas Cowboys betting lines

Bettors can count on America’s team early on. The Cowboys are 14-6 both SU and ATS since 2002 in warm-up contests. Former coach Bill Parcells, the coach of the team the last four years, has an intimidating, in-your-face presence – surely a reason Dallas has had so much early success.

The Big Tuna won’t be strolling the sidelines with looks of disgust, but new coach Wade Phillips will be anxious to make a good first impression for owner Jerry Jones.

Dallas plays the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos before things get serious. They then face the Houston Texans in their third contest (the game starters see most game time) and finish off with the Minnesota Vikings.

Expect a Dallas team able to walk away with another 3-1 preseason record.

Oakland Raiders betting lines

This team scored a league-worst 12 offensive touchdowns last season, so the rookies and veterans each have something to prove. There’s a bounty of first-unit jobs up for grabs and plenty of bodies competing for those slots.

First-time head coach Lane Kiffin will be eager to impress an owner who employs the philosophy, “Just win, baby!”

The 32-year-old Kiffin has to command respect from a locker room full of players older than him. All of these factors should lead to purpose in preseason. 

Don’t forget: before playing like a team that belonged in NFL Europe, Oakland went 4-1 (both SU and ATS) in exhibition games.

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