Celtic, Rangers highlight SPL once again

Soccer Betting Lines

08/13/2010 - Glasgow, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Old Firm rivals Celtic and Rangers have combined to win the last 25 Scottish Premier League titles, so when the season kicks off Saturday, the only suspense is which Glasgow club wins this time.

Celtic has finished second the last two seasons behind Rangers, and both teams remain a cut above the rest of the SPL again this season, although both squads lost a number of players.

"The pressure is always the same for Old Firm managers," Ranger manager Walter Smith said. "Every other SPL manager would like to be in our shoes and it's only when you are there that you encounter the difficulties that managing one of the Old Firm throws up.

"The challenge is always there. Celtic had won three in a row and we have managed to win the last two so we obviously want to make it three and carry that on."

Rangers lost leading scorer Kris Boyd to Middlesbrough of the English Premier League and replacing the striker won't be easy. Boyd led the SPL with 23 goals last season and scored 101 goals in under 150 appearances for the club.

Coach Smith will also be without United States international DeMarcus Beasley, who remains without a club after being with the Scottish team from 2007-10.

Smith did add striker James Beattie, a former England international, from EPL side Stoke City this week, but one or two more additions are likely before the transfer window closes.

Kenny Miller, second on the team and third in the league with 18 goals, is now forced to pick up more scoring load alongside Beattie.

Rangers, which opens at Ibrox against Kilmarnock, lost just three matches last season and topped Celtic by six points. Celtic struggled last season but still finished 18 points ahead of third-place Dundee United.

Celtic, under first-year coach Neil Lennon, will have to replace more notable departures, including striker Robbie Keane, goalie Artur Boruc and defender Edson Braafheid. Keane and Braafheid were on loan from Tottenham and Bayern Munich, respectively, while Boruc transferred to Fiorentina. Midfielder Aiden McGeady joined the exodus Friday, transferring to Russian club Spartak Moscow.

Keane led the club with 12 goals last season, although he joined the team from the English club on loan at midseason.

The Bhoys, who open at Iverness, signed Cha Du-Ri, Gary Hooper, Efrain Juarez, Beram Kayal, Joe Ledley, Charlie Mulgrew and Daryl Murphy to compensate for the losses.

Lennon will have a hard time in his first year in charge, and with just a one- year contract, will also be battling for his job.

"From my point of view you always have a level of respect for Celtic managers and that hasn't changed. Neil is just starting out and my first managerial job was with Rangers so I know what he is going through," Smith said.

Rangers and Celtic will also try to contend in the Champions League, something that hasn't happened in recent years for the Scottish teams.

Also Saturday, Dundee United will try to take a step toward joining the SPL's elite when it opens at St. Mirren. In the day's other matches, Aberdeen hosts Hamilton and Hearts hosts St Johnstone. Motherwell hosts Hibernian on Sunday.

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Football Betting Lines

The 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds have been released and Denver Broncos' running back Knowshon Moreno has been made the opening favorite.

Bet NFL Sports Lines

Moreno was selected in the first round of April's NFL draft and is expected to carry the rushing load for the Broncos this season. And with Jay Cutler now in Chicago, Moreno might be expected to be Denver's entire offense.

Betting Lines from sports betting lines have made Moreno a 5/2 favorite to win this year's Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Fellow running back Chris “Beanie” Wells (Arizona Cardinals) is right behind Moreno at 7/2, while Donald Brown (Indianapolis Colts) and receiver Michael Crabtree (San Francisco 49ers) are 5/1 to win. Quarterbacks Mark Sanchez (New York Jets) and Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions) are 7/1 and 8/1, respectively.

A couple of players who present some value are Josh Freeman, Shonn Green and Darrius Heyward-Bey.

Freeman needs to beat out Byron Leftwich to become the starting quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but if he does, he has a lot or raw talent and could use the weapons around him (i.e. Kellen Winslow Jr. and Antonio Bryant) to be very successful in his first season.

Green enters a crowded backfield in New York, but considering both Thomas Jones and Leon Washington are unhappy about their contract situations and might holdout, the former Iowa product could become the Jets' primary back.

Everyone was shocked when Al Davis took Heyward-Bey with the eighth overall pick in April's draft, but the kid has a tremendous amount of talent and if quarterback JaMarcus Russell takes the next step this year, the former Maryland product could blossom. Plus, Heyward-Bey will be looking to prove the people wrong who said Oakland should have taken Michael Crabtree with the No. 8 pick.

And if you're looking for a deep sleeper, check out Pat White at 30/1. He enters the Miami Dolphins vaunted “Wild Cat” offense and could be a big time playmaker.

For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds, see below.

2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds to Win

Ramses Barden (NYG) 40/1

Andre Brown (NYG) 20/1

Donald Brown (IND) 5/1

Kenny Britt (TEN) 20/1

Glenn Coffee (SFO) 30/1

Chase Coffman (CIN) 50/1

Michael Crabtree (SFO) 5/1

Josh Freeman (TB) 14/1

Shonn Green (NYJ) 14/1

Percy Harvin (MIN) 10/1

Darrius Heyward-Bay (OAK) 18/1

Juaquan Iglesias (CHI) 30/1

Cornelius Ingram (PHI) 50/1

Rashad Jennings (JAC) 30/1

Johnny Knox (CHI) 40/1

Jeremy Maclin (PHI) 18/1

Mohamed Massaquoi (CLE) 30/1

LeSean McCoy (PHI) 12/1

Knowshon Moreno (DEN) 5/2

Hakeem Nicks (NYG) 18/1

Brandon Pettigrew (DET) 30/1

Brian Robiskie (CLE) 20/1

Mark Sanchez (NYJ) 7/1

Matthew Stafford (DET) 8/1

Jason Smith (STL) 40/1

Mike Thomas (JAC) 25/1

Patrick Turner (MIA) 50/1

Mike Wallace (PIT) 50/1

Chris Wells (ARI) 7/2

Pat White (MIA) 30/1

Field (Any Other Player) 9/1

Betting Line

To visit this sports betting site go to BettingExpress.com for all your football betting lines needs.

For sports betting with credit cards site go to BettingExpress.com as well.

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