AZ out to play spoiler

Soccer Betting Lines

05/01/2009 - Enschede, Netherlands (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - AZ Alkmaar's victory lap continues on Sunday when the club travels to Arke Stadion to meet second-placed Twente, which is in a heated battle for second place.

AZ clinched the Eredivisie title two weeks ago, and despite having no real incentive last week against third-placed Ajax, still held the Amsterdam side to a 1-1 draw.

Now, AZ will try to spoil Twente's hopes of finishing in second place and putting themselves into the qualifying round of the Champions League next season.

Twente enters the match having lost 1-0 to Feyenoord two weeks ago and then playing to a 1-1 draw with Heerenveen last time out.

But despite the club's recent struggles, manager Steve McClaren believes that his team is capable of taking all three points against the champions and that all of their hard work to this point will not go unrewarded.

"Back in August, if I said that Twente, at this stage of the season, would compete for awards, you would have said I was mad," McClaren said. "The team has gradually grown over the season and it is because of hard work that we are in this position."

"We know what we should do on Sunday and that is win," the manager said. "The game against Ajax showed that AZ are very good and that they can win. In this game, there will be many eyes on AZ, who would like to show that they are the best."

Ajax faces a less daunting task when they visit 14th-placed Sparta, who still is not safe from the bottom three.

Sparta is three points above 16th-placed Volendam, but they are running into a motivated Ajax team that needs three points to keep its Champions League hopes on track.

Marco Van Basten's side has also stumbled in the past two weeks, losing 6-2 to PSV Eindhoven two weeks ago before finishing 1-1 with AZ, prompting the manager to vent a bit of frustration after last week's draw.

"Last week we waisted a chance to overtake Twente and basically we did that again," Van Basten said. "Thankfully we still have control over what's going to happen."

The reason why Ajax still controls its own destiny is that Twente will visit Amsterdam Arena next week on the final day of the season, and as long as Ajax remains within touching distance, they will have a chance to clinch second place on home soil.

PSV hosts NEC with an eye towards wrapping up a top-four spot, while fifth- placed Heerenveen, which is two points back of PSV, entertains Den Haag.

Groningen has already secured a spot in the top eight, giving them a chance to pick up a European spot, and they will meet Volendam, while Feyenoord travels to Utrecht in a match that will go a long way towards determining who joins Groningen.

The relegation battle is still ongoing with Roda just one point from safety and hosting Willem II, while last-placed Graafschap travels to NAC just two points from safety and Heracles, which is three clear of the bottom three, visits Vitesse.

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American Idol Betting Odds: Season 6  

The online gambling websites are in the process of deciphering each American Idol contestant and his or her chances of winning Season 6 to come up with the early American Idol betting lines.

Tim Dalton of MySportsbook.com has been locked away in a soundproof room coming up with all the latest tallies, we are told. "American Idol has become one of the most significant betting events of the year," claims Jack Black of MySportsbook.com.  "Last year, millions were bet during the season across the globe, not just in America.

It's tough early on since we really do not have a glimpse as to how well each of these individuals will perform solo on a week-to-week basis.  It's like Week 1 of the NFL.  Pre-season means nada!

We do know the 24 finalists however.

Sanjaya Malakar is the young man whose sister failed to make it into the Top 24.  He's very low key but - unless he totally flubs - will probably win over the young girlie vote for a few weeks anyway.  He's too young to go all the way, according to Payton O'Brien. 

Brandon Rogers - Who?

Phil Stacy is the military guy who missed his daughter's birth because of the Memphis audition.  He should go a good distance.

Chris Sligh - He's got the humor and in many ways he's the Anti-American Idol much like last year's winner Taylor Hicks was.  And this is why he'll probably get pretty far in this competition.  He's chubby, white with a big curly afro....but more importantly, a great voice!  People love "real", not "real cute" to go all the way. 

"Blake Lewis should go far because of his uniqueness and looks.  He's the boy next store with a twist - he beat boxes.  But on top of this, he's a great singer, and I adore him," Payton O'Brien relayed.

A talented beat-boxer Blake Lewis was a hit during the group sing in Hollywood but Simon explained that this is a singing contest just before he told him he was “in.”

Paul Kim has caught our own roving reporter, Jenny Woo's eyes. 

"I love the fact that there is a Korean American on the show and he is bound to get more Asians tuning into the show," Woo said from her Miami Beach estate.  "There has never been a major presence of Asian-Americans on American Idol in the past.  He's a hottie with a nice voice so that should help to take him far.  Expect heavy betting action from the Asian community."

Sundance Head - He's not perfect, but he's got the personality that will take him through a few weeks, plus he's got the lineage (son of Roy Head - whose 1965 single, "Treat Her Right," hit No. 5 in the charts) 

And the others:

Rudy Cardinas
AJ Tabaldo - the 5th time is the charm
Nicolas Pedro
Chris Richardson
Jared Cotter

The girls

"Melinda Doolittle has one of the best voices," says MySportsbook.com Reporter and an acclaimed dancer in her own right, Destiney Lewis.  "It is great to see a back up singer step out like she has.  The girl needs to gain more confidence but that can also be a positive.  I think she will go far."

Alena Alexander - Those tears (she never seems to stop bawling) should get her far.

"Single mom Lakisha Jones I suspect will be a pretty big favorite entering Week 1 of the competition," says Destiny Williams.  Jones is an excellent singer and down to earth.  "She'll have a wide appeal," echoed O'Brien.

Nicole Trellis - Seems to exert confidence.

Amy Krebs - a powerful singer.

Antonella Barba
Gina Glocksen
Hailey Scanardo
Jordan Sparks
Stephanie Edwards
Leslie Hunt
Sabrina Sloan

MySportsbook.com is offering a 20% signup bonus with an initial deposit (i.e. open your American Idol betting account with $300, receive another $60 in which to bet with). 

Last two contestants will be?

1 Male/1 Female +100 (a $10 bet pays $10 plus your initial $10)

2 Males +170 (a $10 bet pays $17 plus your initial $17)

2 Females +130 (a $10 bet pays $13 plus your initial $10)

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