Blanco makes home debut as Fire host Crew

Soccer Betting Lines

08/03/2007 - Bridgeview, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chicago will try to continue its resurgence into the Eastern playoff picture when it hosts the Columbus Crew Saturday night at Toyota Park.

The Fire, who are primed to climb out of the Eastern Conference's second-to- last spot, have a new look with Cuauhtemoc Blanco making his second start and Costa Rican international Paulo Wanchope making his debut up top with the team.

"I think the (addition of) Paulo Wanchope can only be good news for everyone involved with the club," Fire head coach Juan Carlos Osorio said after he was signed on July 27. "Paulo is a very experienced striker, and has scored goals at all levels. I think he will improve our attacking force and hopefully he will be someone challenging the rest of the strikers on the starting line, helping us score more goals, winning more matches, and achieving our goal of making the playoffs."

Blanco's presence was definitely felt in his league debut last weekend in Toronto, a 3-0 win for the Fire. Blanco, a Mexican icon, had an assist as the Fire snapped a six-game winless streak and won for just the second time in 13 games. It was also just the second time this season the team scored more than two goals.

Along with Blanco and Wanchope, striker Chris Rolfe, who has been out since early May with an ankle injury, is scheduled to return in the near future. Despite missing the last 10 games, he is tied for the team lead with four goals. Rolfe is listed as probable on the team's injury report.

Columbus is also coming off a win against Toronto, a 2-0 contest on July 22nd in its most recent game. The win was the team's fifth in the last seven fixtures to get the Crew back into the playoff race.

The play of Argentinean Guillermo Barros Schelotto has been a main reason for the resurgence of the Crew. Schelotto was named MLS's Player of the Month on Thursday after having recorded three goals and one assist in four games in July. He has four goals and seven assists on the season and ranks second in the league in assists while playing just 13 games.

"I thought Guillermo [Barros Schelotto] obviously has been very instrumental since he has been with us," Crew head coach Sigi Schmid said. "I think when you look at all the foreign signings in the league, he's definitely, in my mind, in the top two."

The play of goalkeeper Will Hesmer has also been pivotal in the turnaround after the Crew starting the season with one win in its first 11 games.

Since Hesmer took over for goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum eight games ago, he has four shutouts, five wins and just one loss while the Crew have climbed to fourth in the East.

"Obviously, the team is riding high right now and the chemistry is really there," Hesmer said. "Guys are starting to figure out each other, especially up top with Guillermo, Alejandro (Moreno), Eddie (Gaven), Robbie (Rodgers); everybody's starting to get on the same page. I think defensively we've been doing the same thing the whole time and getting it done. We're doing well."

After Saturday's fixture, Chicago will have a week off before traveling to Real Salt Lake while Columbus travels to FC Dallas on Aug. 11.

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Super Bowl XLIII Betting Odds

Super Bowl XLIII, the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Super Bowl XLIII is now set, the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers will meet each other on February 1st in Tampa's Raymond James Stadium to battle it out for the coveted Lombardi Trophy. The game kicks off at 6:00pm ET on NBC with announcers Al Michaels and John Madden covering the on-field action. Super Bowl XLIII betting odds at online bookmaker MySportsbook.com have the Steelers listed as an early -6.5 against the spread favorite.Super Bowl XLIII Betting Odds

Pittsburgh earned their passage to the big game by beating their division rival, the Baltimore Ravens, 23-14 in yesterday's AFC Championship Game. The Steelers jumped on Baltimore early, building a 13-0 first half lead, and never let up on their way to a fairly easy win. Although the Ravens did close to within two points in the fourth quarter, it never appeared as if they had enough offense to pull off the upset.

The Steelers dominating defense held Baltimore to a total of 198 yards while allowing them to convert just three third downs in 13 attempts. Pittsburgh also forced quarterback Joe Flacco into three interceptions, one of which safety Troy Polamalu returned fourty yards for a touchdown.

The Cardinals, by far the playoff team with the longest odds to reach Super Bowl XLIII, did so yesterday with a 32-25 upset of the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship. Arizona charged out of the gates and built a 24-6 halftime lead that had the Eagles venerable defense reeling. Quarterback Kurt Warner and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald did most of the damage, connecting on three first half touchdowns.

Arizona, however, could not sustain their momentum and the Eagles took a 25-24 with 10:45 left to play in the fourth. The Cardinals, with the franchise's first Super Bowl appearance hanging in the balance, mounted a fourteen play, 72 yard touchdown drive that consumed 7:52 off the clock. Warner hit running back Tim Hightower on a short screen for the go-ahead, game clinching score that will forever live in Cardinal infamy.

MySportsbook.com's Super Bowl XLIII Betting Odds:

Pittsburgh Steelers -6.5 (-110), Over 46.5 (-110), -260 (Money line)

Arizona Cardinals +6.5 (-110), Under 46.5 (-110), +220 (Money line)

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