10/09/2008 - Concord, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Persistent rain forced NASCAR to cancel Thursday night's qualifying for the Bank of America 500 at the Lowe's Motor Speedway.
By rule, the starting lineup for Saturday's Sprint Cup Series race will be set by owner points, giving Jimmie Johnson the pole position. Johnson leads all active drivers with five victories at Lowe's, including four straight from 2004-05.
"To have the first pit stall is going to be helpful since things happen on pit road," Johnson said. "It is an advantage being in that first pit stall at Lowe's Motor Speedway."
Johnson currently holds a 72-point lead over Carl Edwards, who will start on the outside pole.
Greg Biffle and Jeff Burton will make up row two, while Clint Bowyer and Kevin Harvick will start in the third row.
The remaining "Chase for the Sprint Cup" contenders - Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin - will start seventh through 12th, respectively.
Bryan Clauson, Brad Keselowski, Scott Speed and Derrike Cope did not make the field. Clauson, Keselowski and Speed were attempting to make their first career Sprint Cup starts this weekend at Lowe's.
Rain also scrubbed Sprint Cup practice in the afternoon, while Nationwide Series practice was cut short.
Johnson, competing in both races this weekend at Lowe's, expected a busy day at the track, but that wasn't the case.
"I made seven laps in the Nationwide car, looked at my Cup car, ate a bunch of junk food in the trailer and now I'm ready to go home, I guess," Johnson said.
Sprint Cup final practice is scheduled for Friday evening. The green flag is scheduled to drop Saturday around 7:30 p.m. (et).
<< Green takes Texas Open lead with 62
San Antonio, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Nathan Green was flawless until he hit into
a bunker at the par-three 17th and walked off with a bogey.
His slim chances of shooting a 59 in the past, the 33-year-old Australian
settled for an eight-
<< 'Quakes announce partnership with Premiership club
San Jose, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Jose Earthquakes have established a
partnership with the English Premier League's Tottenham Hotspur Football Club,
the Major League Soccer club announced at a press conference at the Fairmont
Hotel i
<< Jags' Walker, Nelson, Meier did not practice
Jacksonville, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver
Mike Walker, safety Reggie Nelson and defensive tackle Rob Meier did not
participate in Thursday's practice.
Walker has knee troubles and has not taken th
<< Garcia likely to start Sunday with Griese nursing a bum elbow
Tampa, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Brian Griese
missed practice for the second straight day Thursday due to a right elbow
injury, which made Jeff Garcia the favorite to start under center against the
Panther
Miami C Magloire injures left hand >>
Paris, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Miami Heat center Jamaal Magloire suffered
a fracture of the third metacarpal in his left hand during the team's
preseason loss to the New Jersey Nets on Thursday.
Magloire was taken to a local P
Three share lead in Texas >>
Midland, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Spencer Levin, Tom Gillis and Reid Edstrom each
opened with rounds of six-under-par 66 Thursday to share the lead after the
first round of the WNB Golf Classic.
Aron Price, the Livermore Valley Wine Champio
Toronto spoils Detroit's title celebration >>
Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Nikolai Kulemin's first NHL goal was the game-
winner, as Toronto held on for a 3-2 triumph over Detroit in the regular-
season opener for both clubs at Joe Louis Arena.
Pavel Kubina and Dominic Moore al
Redman, Hjorth share Longs Drugs lead >>
Danville, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Michele Redman and Maria Hjorth both opened
with rounds of six-under-par 66 on Thursday to share the lead after one round
of the Longs Drugs Challenge at Blackhawk Country Club.
In-Kyung Kim and Mikaela Pa
BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers SPORTS TRASH TALK
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
Terrell Owens could return for Cowboys next game
A bye week will allow Terrell Owens broken hand to recover just in time for the next game the Dallas Cowboys are slated to play, according to reports. MySportsbook.com, an football sportsbook, has posted football betting lines on TO playing.
Owens broke the bone leading to his right ring finger Sunday night and had a plate surgically attached to it Monday. Although Owens' hand was swollen and aching Wednesday, Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said he's optimistic the receiver will be back at work next week and catching passes a week from Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.
MySportsbook.com online sportsbook listed Terrell Owens with odds of 7-2 (or $7 paid out for every $2 bet) to return back for the game against Tennessee.
"I certainly wouldn't rule it out now," Parcells said, referring to Terrell Owens immediate return. "Maybe five days from now I might, but I wouldn't rule it out now. ... I know we're looking to try to get him moving around pretty good in the next day or so. So we'll see where we are."
Owens did not speak with reporters Wednesday, but said Sunday he'd be out two to four weeks. A return against the Titans would be 13 days after the surgery. The Cowboys were listed as an early -7 1/2 favorite vs. the Tennessee Titans for Week 4 at MySportsbook.com
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