Barca's Iniesta could return for Real clash

Soccer Betting Lines

11/25/2008 - Barcelona, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta has returned to light training ahead of schedule and could be back in time to feature in the El Classico fixture against Real Madrid.

The 24-year-old Spain international has been sidelined since suffering a torn thigh muscle in a Champions League clash against FC Basel on November 4.

Iniesta was expected to be out of action for up to eight weeks, but has returned to training this week and is close to making his first-team comeback.

Barca face their biter rivals at the Camp Nou on Dec. 14 and the influential midfielder could be included in coach Josep Guardiola's squad for the first meeting of the sides this season.

(Courtesy of sportbox.tv)

Lasveags Soccer Betting News

<< Bulldogs recall Shelast from Idaho
Hamilton, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Forward Tyler Shelast has been reassigned from the Idaho Steelheads of the ECHL to the Hamilton Bulldogs of the American Hockey League, it was announced on Tuesday. The 23-year-old played in eight games

<< Pair of Breeders' Cup races elevated
Lexington, KY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two of the three Breeders' Cup races introduced in 2007 have been granted Grade I status for 2009 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. A third B

<< Phils' Utley undergoes surgery
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley underwent hip surgery on Monday and the club said the procedure went as expected. Utley had an arthroscopic debridement of his labrum performed at the Hos

<< Agent: Gallas not leaving Arsenal
London, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - William Gallas' agent has scotched reports suggesting the controversial defender is looking to leave Arsenal. Gallas, 31, was stripped of the club captaincy and dropped last weekend following a ve

<< Hoffenheim's Ibisevic cools record talk
Hoffenheim, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hoffenheim striker Vedad Ibisevic insists he is not aiming to break Gerd Muller's long-standing Bundesliga goal record. Ibisevic took his tally to 16 goals from 14 games after claiming a brace

Sound Tigers announce schedule changes >>
Bridgeport, CT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Bridgeport Sound Tigers' home game initially scheduled for Feb. 14 against the Worcester Sharks has been changed to March 24, the American Hockey League club announced. Also, the team's Jan. 2 g

Celtic's McGeady hopes to play through knee injury >>
Glasgow, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Celtic winger Aiden McGeady has revealed he is willing to play through the pain in a bid to help his club through an important period of games. The Republic of Ireland international has declared

Moose lose Bolduc, recall Labelle >>
Winnipeg, MB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Vancouver Canucks recalled forward Alexandre Bolduc from their American Hockey League affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, it was announced on Tuesday. The 23-year-old Bolduc has appeared in 12 g

Lightning send Ramo down to Norfolk >>
Tampa Bay, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Lightning have reassigned goaltender Karri Ramo to their American Hockey League affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals, it was announced on Tuesday. Ramo, 22, made his 2008-09 NHL season de

2008: Prince Rafa dethroned King Roger >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 2008 men's tennis season was full of highlights, but the biggest ones were provided by Rafael Nadal, who halted Roger Federer's five-year reign at Wimbledon and supplanted the mighty Swiss atop the rankin


Pacific-10 Conference odds

Teams that should be in: Stanford

Oregon and USC get their tickets punched after taking care of business this weekend. Yes, the Trojans' computer numbers aren't great, but there's no way the third-place team in this league is getting nixed. Grudgingly, I added Arizona after consultation with our Bracketologist. I don't know that Arizona will lose its last three (including a Pac-10 quarterfinal game), and even if the Cats do, I still can't see how they'd be left out, given the overall profile. That said, it bears watching, as three more L's would leave them at 18-12 (9-9) and on a 6-11 skid entering the Dance. It would be nice to see the Wildcats get at least one W in the Bay Area next week, as Cincinnati (albeit without Armein Kirkland and with a worse profile) was axed after a similar slide last season. I just couldn't rationalize having some of the other teams as locks and not having Arizona in that category -- there just aren't enough good teams behind the Cats to threaten their spot, it seems. Stanford has its fate in its own hands with the Arizona schools coming to the Farm to close out the regular season next weekend.

Should be in:

Stanford [17-10 (9-7), RPI: 40, SOS: 21] No shame in not getting a win in L.A., but that makes the home game against Arizona State a must-win ahead of what could be an intriguing meeting with Arizona should the Cats lose at Cal. Getting to 11 Pac-10 wins would make Selection Sunday much more comfortable, but 10's probably more than enough this season. The Cardinal have nonconference wins over Texas Tech and at Virginia to lean on, although they also lost badly to Air Force and Santa Clara at home.

Southeastern Conference odds
Work left to do: Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Mississippi State

It looks more and more possible that no one from the SEC West will make the NCAAs. How weird is that? Tennessee and Vandy move into the locks category after more good work this weekend. Kentucky stays there, although it would be smart for the Cats to handle Georgia at home Wednesday ahead of a trip to the Swamp. Could a disaster scenario (two more L's and a first-round SEC tourney exit) somehow dislodge the Cats despite their incredible computer numbers? Still unlikely, but not worth chancing it.

Work left to do:

Alabama [19-9 (6-8), RPI: 43, SOS: 47] The tough L at Tennessee was understandable, and even created some hope. Unfortunately, that hope was dashed by a home loss to Auburn, which leaves the Tide in some real trouble. There's still no signature win on the profile (no, Kentucky doesn't count), and the computer profile is weakening rapidly. The Tide conceivably could beat Ole Miss and win at Miss. State to get to 8-8 and clinch at least a share of the West crown, but that's probably not enough right now. The Tide will need to do some work in the SEC tourney.

Georgia [16-10 (8-6), RPI: 52, SOS: 23] This is the team with the best chance to make it from this section right now. The Bulldogs rebounded from a terrible performance at Ole Miss to beat down Miss. State. Now they are at Kentucky (king of the RPI 51-100 win) and home to Tennessee. That would be worth a lot of computer points to get both (which is doable), as both teams are in the top 11 in RPI. Finishing at least 9-7 is an absolute must, and I would feel much better about the Dawgs' chances if they got both to get to 10 SEC wins. They also beat Gonzaga, but lost to ACC bubblers Georgia Tech and Clemson.

Mississippi [18-10 (7-7), RPI: 63, SOS: 79] Like everyone else in this division, Ole Miss gacked up a chance to stake a claim, losing by double figures at South Carolina. Even 9-7 likely is not nearly enough with a nonconference profile devoid of anything notable.

Mississippi State [16-11 (7-7), RPI: 66, SOS: 37] With a chance to get in the mix, these Bulldogs were leashed by their Georgia counterparts. Could they get to 9-7? I guess -- although winning at Arkansas, then beating Alabama is no lock -- but would that mean all that much for a team with this overall profile? Probably not. There's nothing of note (on the good side) in the nonconference profile.

For more College Basketball betting lines go to MySportsbook.com

Additional sports lines can be found at: www.Sportsbooks.com

To bet on March Madness games this online sportsbook accepts credit cards.