The 2010 World Cup betting is picking up pace as the teams reach the knock-out round, and things in MLB inter-league play are getting interesting as well. The Philadelphia Phillies visit the Toronto Blue Jays in what should be an entertaining baseball game between two talented teams. But with all of the talent on the field, there is even more drama that this game has to offer.

When the season started, betting people had their money on Roy Halladay to take the NL Cy Young award. But the MLB betting crowd has been stunned to find that the adjustment from AL to NL has made Halladay’s record average at best. His record stands at 8-6, but his average is an impressive 2.43. He has 98 strikeouts to only 16 walks in 115 innings pitched. This is definitely Roy Halladay, the problem is the team surrounding him.

As a team the Phillies have a .256 batting average which puts them in the bottom half of the NL. Their team number of 35 stolen bases puts them near the bottom of the NL and their 317 runs scored puts them in the middle of the NL pack. Simply put, the Phillies are having problems scoring runs. Until they figure that out, they will continue to waste a talent like Roy Halladay.

This game will see the continuing return of Toronto pitcher Jesse Litsch who had Tommy John surgery over a year ago. Before getting injured, Litsch was a key component to the late run the Blue Jays had in 2008 towards the playoffs. After a rehab assignment in AAA, Litsch gives it another try in the big leagues.

As with most pitchers recovering from Tommy John surgery, Litsch has struggled during his comeback. He has an 0-1 record and a 6.75 ERA. His last start shows signs of improvement as he pitched seven innings against the San Francisco Giants and allowed no runs on three hits.

For as poorly as the Phillies have hit this season, they are still the Phillies. They still have Ryan Howard, Shane Victorino and Jayson Werth to hit the ball. Just like with World Cup finals betting, you don’t bet against the team with the power.

In some ways this game will be good for Jesse Litsch. He is pitching in front of a team that has the most home runs in baseball (108), the second most doubles (155) and is tenth in baseball with 327 RBIs. So the Blue Jays can hit and they can score. The problem is that they are facing Roy Halladay who can not only pitch with the best of them, but Halladay also knows the tendencies of each and every player on the Blue Jay roster. He will know which guys can hit the fast ball and which guys cannot. He knows which guys chase outside stuff and which guys stay at home. Don’t kid yourself, that is a huge advantage for a pitcher.

Pick: Philadelphia Phillies 6-2

USA Algeria betting players will be hoping that they kick off their day with a shutout by the Americans, because they could see another one at night in the major leagues when Boston heads to Colorado to face the best pitcher in all of baseball so far this season.

Red Sox Rockies Betting – Wednesday, June 23, 8:40 PM ET

John Lackey (8-3, 4.53) won his fourth straight decision in a 8-5 win over Arizona, allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits over six innings with five strikeouts and a pair of walks.  Lackey is definitely settling down in Boston after a rough start, but he still has some things to work on, like his walks.  Lackey is eighth in the American League in walks, and in the road this year, he has 18 strikeouts and 23 walks in six starts.  The 31-year-old righthander has faced the Rockies just once in his career, when he was with the Los Angeles Angels in 2006, and he gave up three runs on four hits over eight innings in a 5-4 victory.

If you bet on World Cup odds, you would compare Ubaldo Jimenez (13-1, 1.15) to Argentina’s Lionel Messi, a player who can dominate a game by himself if he wants to.  Jimenez continued his unreal start to the 2010 season in a 5-1 win at Minnesota, giving up a run on eight hits over eight innings, adding four strikeouts and a pair of walks.  He’s the fourth pitcher in MLB history to win 13 of his first 14 starts, but the more impressive stat is the ERA: only Al Benton in 1945 had a lower ERA over 14 starts.  This will be his first time facing the Red Sox, but he’s at home at Coors Field, where he has won all five of his starts with a 1.85 ERA.

If you bet on MLB odds, it’ll be a big surprise if the Rockies are the underdogs heading into this clash.  Every time that Jimenez has been on the mound this year, he’s been scary good: only once this year has he allowed more than two runs in a game.  Lackey is working himself into shape, and he has a lot of pressure on him as Josh Beckett and Daisuke Matsuzaka have been struggling and injured this year, so more is expected of him.  Nothing was expected of Jimenez, and he’s only turned in one of the most thrilling first-half performances in recent memory.  It remains to be seen whether he will slow down, but up until the All-Star break, you would be a fool to bet against the Rockies when Jimenez is on the mound.

Sports betting pick: Colorado

2010 World Cup betting players don’t have to worry much about a draft, but NBA betting players will be gearing up for next week’s draft, and the most polarizing player in the draft is a teammate of the player everyone believes will go No.1.

DeMarcus Cousins is being listed to go anywhere from third to eighth in the draft, and the opinions on the big man are varied.  Cousins spent a year at Kentucky with John Wall, who is expected to be the No.1 pick, and it was Cousins who was the SEC Freshman of the Year with 15.1 points and 9.8 rebounds.  Cousins was also a second-team All-American, and he’s a load for anyone to handle in the paint.  However, being a load is what may be causing his stock to drop, among other things.

Cousins has always been a big man, and he was listed as having 270 pounds on his 6’11” frame.  But it’s been reported that Cousins has ballooned to 290 pounds, and some are saying more than that.  Cousins’ weight has always been as unpredictable as World Cup Round of 16 betting, and even at 270, you could see that he had a lot of work to do to turn some of that into muscle.  Of course, he didn’t have to do that at Kentucky as he was just physically bigger than anyone he faced 90% of the time.  But Cousins won’t be able to get away with that in the league, and slimming down a bit would also help him get up and down the floor.  We all know that Cousins has tremendous footwork for a man his size, but he would be so much better if he wasn’t carrying that extra weight.  If he wasn’t in basketball, Cousins would have probably boosted the Wildcats’ NCAA football betting odds.

Another worry about Cousins is his temperament, as he was prone to sulk and get into foul trouble last year.  That won’t fly in the NBA, but unlike his weight, that’s something that Cousins has dealt with.  Early in the season, and in particular, the game against rival Louisville, Cousins had problems controlling his emotions, and he almost got ejected from that game after 45 seconds.  Coach John Calipari took him out of the game, talked to him, and Cousins ended up with 18 points and 18 rebounds.

Drafting all depends on need, of course, but you have to say that Cousins should be the first big man taken after Georgia Tech’s Derrick Favors, who is a better athlete than Cousins and has more upside.  But Cousins comes with a polished post game and a willingness to hit the glass, and if he can keep his weight and head in check, he’ll be a huge boost for some team’s betting odds in a couple years.

Summer has finally arrived with sports betting offering plenty of new and old events to satisfy all types of fans. Baseball moves through the second wave of interleague play and nearer to the halfway point of the year, and with the NBA and NHL at the end, it is time to consider NFL betting as training camp looms. However, for a majority of fans, the next month will be occupied by watching the biggest sporting competition around the globe as the World Cup is showcased in South Africa. And with all the exciting action, there is 2010 World Cup betting to bed had in exciting and often unexpected play.

The second set of group matches gets underway this week as Group A opponents Mexico and France face each other at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane. Both teams drew in their opening matches, and the four group A teams are all tied with a sole point, offering all teams a chance to advance in a very evenly matched contingent. Mexico tied a passionate South Africa team 1-1 in front of a raucous crowd in what was the very first World Cup final match played in the Africa continent.  Under the circumstances, El Tri were content with the point though they were favourite.  The historic circumstances, the altitude, and the opening match jitteries were all powerful influences, and rightly so.

France, on the other hand, were unimpressive in their opening match, a scoreless draw against Uruguay.  Moreover, they struggled in their recent friendlies, losing 1-0 to China a week and a half ago, and drawing Tunisia in late May.  Both teams did not qualify for the World Cup finals. Still yet, France struggled to themselves qualify for the tournament, edging the Republic of Ireland in a playoff amid great controversy. A missed hand ball by Thierry Henry led to a decisive goal by France that pushed them into the finals. Appropriate outrage ensued, but the play and the game were not reversed.

Those who expect France to do well cite their impressive runner up performance in Germany in 2006.  They lost to Italy on penalties, and many feel they should carry over the successes to 2010. However they appear sluggish and disorderly, and have been criticized by 2006 star Zinedane Zidane.

In their opening match, Nicolas Lodeiro of Uruguay earned two yellow cards, and was sent off in the 81^st minute.  France, however, failed to capitalize on the man advantage.

Betting line: France is favorite by a fair amount in a line that seems crafted more so by past performance and name recognition rather than by talent and current play. There is no reason to expect the French have gotten things together, while Mexico has played well  throughout qualifying and friendlies. Despite the historical dominance by France, Mexico has an opportunity to snatch first place in Group A, and will do so behind captain Gerardo Torrado and the lone El Tri goal scorer of game one, Rafael Marquez. Mexico is better organized, and better coached, and will earn an upset victory in South Africa this week.

It has been a tale of two Boston Celtics’ sports bet teams through the first three games of the NBA Finals series, with the team in green looking like a shadow of its Game Two version in Games One and Three. Now with just two of the potential four remaining games to be played on home court, the Celtics must find an urgency to win Game Four at the BankNorth Gardens, or risk going down three-games-to-one to a talented and determined Los Angeles Lakers team.

Los Angeles Lakers @ Boston Celtics

Thursday June 10, 2010 – 9 PM ET

NBA Finals Betting Odds: Celtics – 140

No player served as a microcosm for the incredibly opposite performances of the Celtics between Games Two and Three than guard Ray Allen, who after setting an NBA Finals record for three-point baskets by hitting his first eight in a row in the second game, failed to score from not just beyond the arc in Game Three, but also from the field. Allen finished 0-for-8 from three-point range, and 0-for-13 from the field, struggling to find his legs, while finishing with the only minus rating of the five starters. The 13-year pro is not the only Celtics player to struggle in this series, and if Kevin Garnett’s bounce back performance in Game Three is any indication after how much he struggled in the last game in California, Allen should have no trouble bouncing back in Game Four.

The Celtics will however need a much better job from its bench, after Rasheed Wallace, Glen Davis, and Nate Robinson combined to go minus-30 in the 91-84 loss. Rajon Rondo played nearly the entire game, logging over 42 minutes, but was not his usual aggressive self in the loss, and will need to find his game to help both Allen and Paul Pierce become even better players.

Rondo may also have to move to covering Derek Fisher, while allowing Allen to move over to cover Ron Artest, who has been less of a threat at the offensive end. Fisher exploded for 16 points while shooting 50-percent from the field in Game Three, complementing the consistency of Kobe Bryant, who seemed to jack up shots every chance he got en route to finishing with a game-high 29 points.

NBA Betting Pick: Los Angeles + 130

Celtic Lakers Betting Line: Over/ Under 190

Despite the Celtics doing a much better job shooting in Game Two in Los Angeles, the team struggled to find its rhythm on home court, and never really got much of a flow going until the fourth quarter. Boston will have to do a much better job shooting in Game Four, especially considering that it allowed Bryant to score 29 despite shooting just 10-for-29 from the field. Bryant should be even better in the next game, and given that Pau Gasol and Artest combined for just 15 points, they will likely finish with higher totals as well.

Pick: Over 190

The NBA betting cognoscenti is mulling over its next choice. The online betting calculus is in a pronounced state of flux as Game 3 of the NBA Finals comes across the calendar. For the first time since 2004, the Finals are tied at 1-1 after the first two games. In 2004, the Detroit Pistons became the first team to win the three middle games at home since the Finals switched to the current 2-3-2 scheduling system in 1985. In 2006, the Miami Heat also defended home court in Games 3, 4 and 5. A lot of people are wondering if Boston can take the next three games at home, but if the Celtics do have to go back to L.A., it’s universally acknowledged that they must have a 3-2 lead at the very least. This means that winning Game 3 is a very high priority. The direction of this series could very well depend on what happens Tuesday night.

2010 NBA Finals: Los Angeles Lakers @ Boston Celtics, Game 3

Tuesday, June 8

Bookmaker Odds: No line (as of yet)

If NBA Finals betting experts are conflicted about this game, they need to identify a number of trends. First of all, Rajon Rondo is back. A 19-12-10 effort in Game 2 (points-rebounds-assists) reasserted the point guard’s prominence on the Celtics and has to have Boston in a very good frame of mind. Rondo was so good that the Celtics won by nine points, 103-94, on a night when their two old stand-bys, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, played horribly. Garnett is playing comatose, body-snatched basketball in this series. The former superstar scored only six points and snatched just four rebounds. Garnett was a liability for almost all of the game, and he just couldn’t generate any lift or jump with a body that looks 40 years old.

The other big name who isn’t delivering for coach Doc Rivers is Mr. Pierce. The MVP of the 2008 Finals hit just 2 of 11 shots on Sunday night at the Staples Center. Hounded by L.A.’s defensive specialist, Ron Artest, Pierce scored just 10 points and was a non-factor from start to finish. The idea that the Celtics could win under such circumstances is amazing enough. The fact that the deed was done in Los Angeles is even more remarkable.

Just how could the Lakers lose Game 2 when Artest was doing his typical defensive lock-down job against a credentialed scorer?

The answer comes in the form of two words: Lamar Odom.

The rangy forward crashed and burned for a second consecutive game. Odom is the barometer for the Lakers. His energy comes and goes, and he is a feast-or-famine player. When Odom is flying around the court and using his combination of quickness and length to bother opponents, L.A. is positively unstoppable. When he flatlines, however, the Lakers become mortal, and that’s what happened in Game 2. Odom picked up three fouls in the game’s first three minutes, did a lot of sitting on the pine, and never got into the flow of the contest. Odom finished with an embarrassing 3 points and 5 rebounds. Coach Phil Jackson sorely missed Odom’s production and will need it as this series shifts to Boston.

It must be said, though, that Odom tends to disappear on the road more than at home. If he couldn’t perform in Southern California, it’s not likely that he’ll play well in Boston. Odom could be viewed in much the same way that World Cup odds view France’s underachieving soccer team: not favorably.

Pick the Celtics in Game 3.

Online basketball betting pick: Boston

World Cup betting is very hot right now, as well as the NBA and NHL finals going on right now, but one of the major stories in the sports world centers around the free-agent bonanza of July 1^st, when some of the biggest stars in the NBA will hit the market, and here’s an idea of how it’ll all shake out.

LeBron James

This is the big chip that everyone is waiting to fall, even Larry King, who interviewed the two-time defending MVP for his show.   The head-coaching situation in Cleveland isn’t encouraging for James, but he’ll probably get some say in who the next one is as the Cavaliers don’t want to let him go.  If we had to make a guess, we’re guessing James stays at home in Cleveland, making them next year’s NBA playoff betting favorite.

Dwyane Wade

Wade was the one who broke the news of this “free agent summit” that is going on, but we’re betting that James and Wade wouldn’t be able to play together as both are being used to being the alpha dog.  Miami is in the driver’s seat to resign their stars (remember, teams can offer their players an extra year and more money), but don’t be surprised if Wade ends up in Chicago.  He’s a Chi-Town boy, and even though there are whispers of disloyalty at the top of the franchise, could D-Wade turn down being the next idol in his city, not to mention the chance to play with Derrick Rose?

Chris Bosh

Bosh already has one foot out the door in Toronto, so it’s best that they do a sign-and-trade so they don’t lose him for nothing.  Some say that Bosh would go to Houston or Dallas (he’s from Big D), but the Rockets don’t have much to offer, and the Mavericks have Dirk Nowitzki (more on that later).  For some reason, we’re thinking Bosh will join James in Cleveland, with the Raptors getting someone like J.J. Hickson and money/draft picks/expiring contracts.

Joe Johnson

No one’s stock fell more during the playoffs than Johnson, and virtually no one wants to pay him max money.  But someone will, and we’re thinking that will be New York as their coach, Mike D’Antoni, got Johnson to improve when they were together in Phoenix.  We also get the feeling that Johnson’s not big on winning or defense, which will make him perfect for the Knicks.

Amare Stoudemire

Stoudemire is another player who looks to be up the Knicks’ alley, but we’re thinking after his time is done in Phoenix, he’ll head to Chicago with Wade.  Stoudamire almost went to Miami to join Wade, and he may have just liked the idea of playing in Miami. But with Joakim Noah rebounding and playing defense, Stoudemire won’t have to.

Dirk Nowitzki

Odds are Nowitzki will stay in Dallas, the only place that he’s ever played.  Opting out of his final year was more just to see what he could get on the market, but Nowitzki is comfortable and feels loyal to Dallas, so they can continue their trend of being NBA betting underachievers.

One of the top teams competing in this year’s World Cup, the Italy side will be considered the class of Group F when they meet with Paraguay on the fourth day of the tournament for the opening kickoff to their division’s play. With a prominent disparity throughout the groups between the top teams and those that were among the last to qualify, the defending betting World Cup champions embark on South Africa with a much bigger goal than just getting past the opening stage. For the opponent however, the final day of group play could be the key to getting past the round robin, an accomplishment that in itself must ultimately be considered a success for the Slovakia side.

Group F

Slovakia v Italy

06/24/10 – 16:00

Johannesburg- JEP

Leading Up To The 2010 World Cup: Slovakia

This will be the first time in the history of this young nation that Slovakia will compete on the major international stage in a soccer tournament such as the World Cup betting competition. Void of many recognizable names, the Slovak side has relied on fundamentals, strategy, and a team concept where no one individual has been greater than the team. Those factors have helped Slovakia clinch the top spot in Group 3 qualifying leading up to South Africa, as Martin Skrtel, Marek Hamsik and company upset several teams projected to give them trouble in the qualifying rounds, losing only to Slovenia during the process. A 1-0 win over Poland on the final day was the clinching victory, and now head coach Vladimir Weiss’ side turn their head to an even greater accomplishment, getting past the opening round in the World Cup tournament.

Leading Up To The 2010 World Cup: Italy

Undoubtedly one of the leading contenders in this year’s World Cup predictions after their improbable run in 2006, the Azzurri are one of two nations to win the tournament in successive years in the past, a feat that they look to repeat in 2010. Despite dramatic turnover since they triumphed in Berlin four years ago, Italy clinched the top spot in Group 8 in qualifying by taking their traditional approach of shutting down the other team’s top stars, and attacking in transition with some of the most talented players in the world. Missing from the disappointing finish at the Euro Cup two years ago, captain Fabio Cannavaro is back alongside goaltender Gianluigi Buffon to help shut down the opposition, and allow a potent Azzurri striking unit the opportunity to lead them to glory.

World Cup 2010 Match Up: Slovakia v Italy

While Italy will have likely clinched a spot in the next round after games against Paraguay and New Zealand, this game could have major implications for both teams. Top spot is very important in the survival game at these tournaments, and a second place finish would result in Italy playing the top soccer betting seed from another group, a situation no favorite wants to find it self in so early in the tournament. For Slovakia, this could be the deciding game that gets them through, and with a little luck, perhaps the game that sees this side challenge Italy for the top spot in the division.

Pick: Italy

If you’re betting on World Cup odds, you don’t really have to worry about homefield advantage as it would take a miracle for South Africa to get through to the next round.  Boston and Orlando must not feel like they have that much of a homecourt advantage as the road team has won three of the first games so far in their Eastern Conference finals showdown.  The Magic will try to keep that trend going in Game 6 on Friday, ironically so they can play the seventh and deciding game at home.

Bet Celtics Magic – Friday, May 28, 8:30 PM ET

The Celtics surprisingly managed to stay in the game for most of their 113-92 loss in Game 5 in Orlando, but it all fell apart in the fourth quarter when they were outscored by 12 points.  Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce netted 18 points each for the Celtics, who managed just four offensive rebounds, and were outrebounded 43-26 in total.  A lot of that may be down to their missing big men: Kendrick Perkins was ejected after his second technical foul of the first half after tangling with Dwight Howard, while Glen “Big Baby” Davis was knocked into next week by a Howard elbow and suffered a concussion.  NBA playoff betting players know that Boston can’t afford to lose their big men against Howard.

“Superman” had 21 points, 10 boards and five blocks, while Jameer Nelson notched a game-high 24 points for the Magic, who looked like they were on a mission.  Orlando hit 52.2% of their shots, and they were outlandish from long range, going 13-of-25.  Nelson and Matt Barnes combined to hit seven of those three-pointers, which really stretched the Boston defense out and allowed Howard to have his way in the post.  The Magic also got big minutes from J.J. Redick, who dropped 14 points in 22 minutes.

NBA betting odds have the Magic as a 3-point underdog in Boston in Game 6, and the Celtics will have Perkins in the lineup after his second technical was rescinded on Thursday, which is good news as Davis almost certainly won’t play on Friday night.  The Celtics looked a mess in the second half of Game 5, especially in the fourth quarter, and Boston has struggled in the final 12 minutes during this entire series.  Kevin Garnett hasn’t looked that good over the last couple of games, and you have to wonder if his knee injury is flaring up again, and Rondo and Ray Allen have been inconsistent.  You’re also seeing the Orlando team that finished second to Cleveland in the East, and was arguably the best team in the league after the All-Star break.  We’re going to lay an online sports bet with the Magic to extend this series to a seventh game.

Before making a World Cup bet on Germany, players should know that the Germans have a host of injuries to some pretty important members of the squad.  The same situation is raising its head in the NBA’s Western Conference playoffs this year as Phoenix and the Los Angeles Lakers have a couple of injury worries that could have an effect on the series.

The Lakers have had a close eye on the status of Andrew Bynum’s knee, which has gotten worse throughout the playoffs.  The young center averaged 15.0 points and 8.3 rebounds in 65 games, and he averaged 30.4 minutes during the regular season, but all of his numbers are down ahead of the Lakers’ Game 4 meeting with the Suns on Tuesday night in Phoenix as Bynum has put up 9.4 points and 7.8 boards in the playoffs, and his minutes have gone down to 24.8.  Over the first three games of the Phoenix series, Bynum has 6.3 points and 4.3 boards in 15.0 minutes of play, and he was limited to only eight minutes in Game 3.  The Lakers’ big advantage in this NBA betting matchup is their size, and even though they have enough with Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom, their job would be a lot easier if Bynum was at 100%.

World Cup Group D betting players will liken Germany losing captain Michael Ballack to Phoenix losing Steve Nash, but at least the Suns will get to go through the playoffs with their star.  Nash had his nose broken when he collided with Derek Fisher in Game 3, and he will have surgery before Game 4.  This is the second blow that Nash has suffered in this postseason as he was elbowed above the eye by San Antonio’s Tim Duncan in the last round, but Nash came back in that game to score 10 points in the fourth quarter of a win.  Nash is the unquestioned leader of the Suns, and his loss to Phoenix would be far greater than that of Bynum and Los Angeles.  The two-time MVP has averaged 16.8 points and 10.2 assists in the playoffs, and his ability to drive and dish opens up the floor for the rest of the Suns, especially for Amare Stoudamire.  The power forward had 42 points in the Suns’ 118-109 win in Game 3, and a lot of those came off of running the pick-and-roll with Nash, something that the whole league has had trouble stopping all season.  The Suns are already behind the eight-ball going against the defending NBA champions, but they have a great chance to tie the series at two games apiece on Tuesday night, and their online sports betting odds are much better with Nash in the lineup.