Houston hopes to start win streak at Colorado

Soccer Betting Lines

08/27/2010 - Commerce City, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Houston manager Dominic Kinnear summed up the Dynamo's 4-3 win over the Chicago Fire on Saturday night perfectly when he said, "Thank goodness for Brian Ching."

Ching scored a hat trick, including a spectacular bicycle kick, as the Dynamo snapped a 10-match winless run in Major League Soccer. Ching doubled his goals total for the season, and put Houston in position to make a playoff run.

Although Kinnear's team has struggled this season without midfielders Ricardo Clark and Stuart Holden, who are both now playing in Europe, Houston sits just five points behind the Colorado Rapids for the final playoff berth.

Houston (6-10-5) visits Dick's Sporting Goods Park on Saturday night to battle Colorado (7-6-7), which has just one win in its last 10 matches.

Ching has been the missing ingredient this season, as the absence of Clark and Holden - two U.S. internationals - has proven to be two huge voids to fill.

Kinnear added Saturday night that Ching always "leads by example," and for the U.S. striker able to score "with teams keying on him shows what a presence he is in the box for us."

Houston still has other teams to overtake in the standings, but Ching could be the difference-maker over the Dynamo's final nine matches. Houston lost six of its games during the winless skid, but a win over Colorado could give the team the confidence it needs to be a factor down the stretch.

Colorado has been struggling just as much as Houston, and considering its lone win during its current 10-game MLS slide was thanks to an own goal from goalie Jon Busch in a 1-0 win over San Jose, the Rapids are also in need of a spark.

The Rapids were on the verge of a season-changing result last week at Columbus after Pablo Mastroeni scored in the 45th minute to cancel an early goal, but the Crew responded with two second-half goals in a 3-1 win.

Coach Gary Smith can at least feel good that Colorado has earned nine points during its skid and still sits in a playoff spot. But with Houston among three teams within five points, the race is getting tighter each week.

"The feeling in the changing room was the guys felt they could go on and win the game," Smith said after the loss to the Eastern Conference leaders.

"Disappointing that we start the second half just appalling. We've not scored lots of goals in games all year. And that second goal was just gift-wrapped," Smith added. "Even then, I felt we might just get ourselves back in the game."

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Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value

If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture.  Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).

For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot.  The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win.

TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the  drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.

"While 'Babel' lost several guild awards to 'Sunshine' and 'Departed,'  it still enjoys loyal support, and historically Oscar voters favor dramas with social messages over comedies like 'Sunshine' and violent crime movies like 'Departed'."

"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.

Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash.  Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win. 

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