Brazil advances to play U.S. in Confed Cup final
Soccer Betting Lines
06/25/2009 - Johannesburg, South Africa (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Daniel Alves scored in the 87th minute, helping Brazil edge South Africa 1-0 on Thursday in the Confederations Cup to set up a rematch with the United States in the final.
Alves, who entered the match as a substitute in the 81st, lined up a free kick from 19 yards and drilled a shot to the right of a five-man South African wall, just off the post and into the side netting.
Brazil, which beat the United States 3-0 in group play, faces the Americans on Sunday at 2:30 (ET). The U.S. shocked world No. 1 Spain on Wednesday to advance to its first FIFA final.
South Africa will play the third-place game Sunday against Spain, which won the teams' group meeting 2-0.
Brazil opened Thursday's semifinal with the first scoring chance when Ramires unleashed a 20-yard blast that tested South Africa goalie Itumeleng Khune, who dove to make the first of four saves.
South Africa followed with three straight chances, the best in the 21st minute when Aaron Mokoena ran between Brazil center defenders Lucio and Luizao to meet a free kick and headed just high with only goalie Julio Cesar to beat.
Brazil's Kaka had two chances in a five-minute span late in the half, but his first shot was wide and Khune saved the second.
South Africa's Steven Pienaar capped the back-and-forth first half with a blast inches wide of the left post in the 43rd as the game went to half scoreless.
The African club had the first good chance of the second half also, with Teko Modise unleashing an 18-yard shot in the 58th that deflected off Luizao's arm and changed directions but was still stopped by Cesar at the right post for the best of his four saves.
Over the next 30 minutes, both sides had a few chances but rarely finished well and overtime and penalty kicks seemed like the only way the match would end.
But just minutes from the end of regulation, Ramires earned a foul just outside the area and Alves lined up the kick from 19 yards out on the top left side of the area.
South Africa lined up a good wall but Alves eyed the right side and drilled the shot just past a defender and a diving Khune for a near-perfect goal, his third for Brazil.
The Brazilians nearly added a second goal before the final whistle, but Luis Fabiano was denied from close-range to give the South Africans some hope in the closing seconds.
South Africa couldn't find the equalizer, though, and settled for the rematch with Spain, which will be trying to rebound from its first loss in 36 games, despite an inspired performance.
Brazil extended its unbeaten streak to 15 games (11-0-4), and improved to 3-0-0 all-time against South Africa.
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COLLEGE FOOTBALL BETTING
NCAA Football BettingMany fans thought it was the best side in the nation by the end of last season. This year, the polls have built on Georgia's momentum and granted it the No. 1 preseason ranking, followed by Ohio State and USC. (The Associated Press has the Buckeyes at No. 2; USA Today took the Trojans.)
"To have people believing we have one of the best teams in the nation going into this thing, it's exciting for us," Bulldogs coach Mark Richt told the AP. "I don't think anything is guaranteed, but we certainly have put ourselves in position where at least the college football world thinks we're pretty good."
Georgia Bulldogs - 9.5 wins
There's no question they're good, but the Bulldogs have one of the toughest 12-game schedules in the nation, mostly because they play in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference. Away games at No. 15 Arizona State, No. 7 LSU and No. 10 Auburn loom large, with contests between the hedges versus No. 24 Alabama and No. 18 Tennessee as well as the World's Largest Cocktail Party in Jacksonville versus No.5 Florida.
Ohio State Buckeyes - 10 wins
Like the Bulldogs, the Buckeyes also have a number of tough road contests in 2008. After two scrimmages dressed up as real games versus Youngstown State and Ohio, it's off to face USC. Other tough away games include No.13 Wisconsin in October and No. 20 Illinois in November. Granted, it should be pretty easy sledding at the Horseshoe. In fact, the only ranked team that travels to Columbus is No. 22 Penn State, in October.
USC Trojans - 10.5 wins
A similarly light schedule awaits the Trojans of Southern California, which is why the oddsmakers' total is one win more and the over is currently commanding -150 odds. Pete Carroll's troops only play three ranked teams in 2008, and all of those games are at home. After what should be an easy trip to Virginia to start things off on Aug. 30, the Trojans get two weeks to prepare for Ohio State in Los Angeles. Their two other ranked opponents, No. 21 Oregon and No. 15 Arizona State, visit in consecutive weeks to start the month of October. After that, the competition eases up. Of course, this is the same highly-touted school that lost to Stanford in 2007 and Oregon State in 2006. And don't discount the fact that USC plays its biggest rivals, Notre Dame and UCLA, back-to-back to close out the regular season. On paper, the Trojans are far superior, but motivation will be high for the Irish and Bruins, especially if their historic foes are in national-title contention.
Odds to Win the Heisman Trophy
Tim Tebow, Florida - 7/2
He won it last year, so it's no surprise he's the favorite to do it again, making him just the second player to go back-to-back. Ohio State's Archie Griffin turned the trick in 1974 and 1975, and Tebow's coach, Urban Meyer, is pretty sure his star quarterback can match the Buckeyes legend.
"There has never been anyone quite like him," Meyer told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I am very lucky to be his coach."
Chris Wells, Ohio State - 5/1
The man they call "Beanie" was a star recruit out of high school, so it's not like nobody knew who the star tailback was before he rushed for 576 yards as a freshman in 2006 and 1,609 as a sophomore. But perhaps his finest moment came last year versus Michigan when he rumbled for 222 yards and two touchdowns in the Buckeyes' 14-3 victory over the hated Wolverines.
Knowshon Moreno, Georgia - 8/1
If the Bulldogs are to live up to expectations, they'll need a huge effort from their sophomore running back. This might be the last year of college ball for Moreno, who rushed for 1,334 yards and for 14 touchdowns as a freshman, while adding 253 receiving yards on 20 receptions, so expect big things for the man from Belford, N.J.
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