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Rapids aim to continue Independence Day dominanceSoccer Betting Lines07/03/2009 - Commerce City, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Fire returns to Major League Soccer action for the first time in three weeks on Saturday when the club travels to Dick's Sporting Goods Park to meet the Colorado Rapids. Chicago has been busy with its participation in the SuperLiga for the past few weeks, and although they were successful in advancing to the semifinals of the competition, not a lot has gone right for the club in league play recently. The Fire has lost its last three games in MLS, dropping the club to fourth in the Eastern Conference, although they are still only two points back of East leaders D.C. United. Head coach Denis Hamlett's side was also bounced from the U.S. Open Cup this past Tuesday, losing 1-0 to a USL2 side, the Wilmington Hammerheads. The loss is the fifth in seven games in all competitions for the Fire, but things don't figure to get much easier on Saturday against the Rapids. Colorado will be hosting a game on Independence Day for the 14th time, and judging by their 11-1-1 all-time record on the nation's birthday, Chicago had better be in top form. The Rapids had their eight-game unbeaten streak snapped last time out in a 3-0 defeat at Seattle, but head coach Gary Smith believes that his team simply did not make the most of its chances. "Seattle had seven shots and hit the target four times. We had six shots and hit the target twice," Smith said. "We missed a penalty at a very, very important time and we come in at 1-1 and are in the game. It still gives a nice foothold into the game. We never really took advantage of our possessions and opportunities." Colorado enters Saturday's match in fourth place in the Western Conference, seven points back of leaders Houston, but the club will be missing a pair of key players due to international duty. The CONCACAF Gold Cup will rob a number of teams of important contributors, and the Rapids are no exception. The club will be missing midfielder Colin Clark and striker Omar Cummings, who have combined for nine goals and 11 assists so far this season, while leading scorer Conor Casey, who missed the team's past few games because of the Confederations Cup, could also be in action for the United States at some point during the tournament. Chicago is without two players of their own due to international duty as defender Gonzalo Segares and midfielder Logan Pause will miss Saturday's match.
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Teams that should be in: Michigan State, Indiana Should be in: Michigan State [21-8 (8-6), RPI: 20, SOS: 15] The Spartans made it four-for-four on the homestand, a gigantic accomplishment that leaves them in extremely good shape. MSU is only 1-6 on the road and is at Michigan and at Wisconsin to close things out, meaning the date with the Wolverines on Tuesday looms very, very large. Beating Texas early will hold up well, as will the rout of Bradley and the win over BYU, but will 8-8 be enough? It very well could be, as the computer numbers are good, but why chance it? Indiana [18-9 (8-6), RPI: 24, SOS: 32] Hmm ... good thing the last two are at Northwestern and home to Penn State, because IU might want to get both to feel completely safe after dropping its third in the last four, fading after halftime at Michigan State. Who knew the best nonconference win would be over Southern Illinois, which is a gift that keeps on giving for the Hoosiers. The win over Wisconsin also looks good on the mantel. Work left to do: Illinois [21-9 (9-6), RPI: 31, SOS: 25] A good performance at Penn State leaves the Illini in pretty good shape. Can they go to Iowa and take care of business to really look on their way? That's a huge game, as there is a possible cluster of teams that will end at 9-7. Illinois beat Bradley, but has lost to Xavier. A 9-7 mark and a semifinals trip in Chicago could be enough with the computer profile hanging in there, but it would be better not to mess around, clinching at least a tie for third. Purdue [18-10 (7-7), RPI: 47, SOS: 28] Couldn't get it done at Iowa, but did win at Northwestern to put 9-7 squarely in sight. Where does that leave the Boilermakers, though? Even if they beat Minnesota and Northwestern at home, that won't help the computer numbers. Nonconference wins over Virginia, DePaul and Oklahoma are solid, but not spectacular. The Boilers very well might need an upset in the B10 quarters to have a legit claim. Michigan [19-10 (7-7), RPI: 55, SOS: 53] Well, Michigan did what it needed to do, winning at Minnesota to take control of its fate. The Wolverines have Michigan State and an already-wrapped-up-the-league Ohio State at home to close, so the chances are there. Win both and we can talk. There is no marquee win yet in the profile, and the Wolverines were splattered in several games against name opponents. A mediocre computer profile fueled by a lack of road wins isn't helping, either. Iowa [16-12 (8-6), RPI: 80, SOS: 64] For the sake of being complete, we'll add Iowa, this season's Stanford. It's plausible that the Hawkeyes could get to 10-6 (at Penn State, vs. Illinois left), but where does that leave them after a gruesome nonconference performance where the best win was over ... Toledo? Iowa State? Cornell?? If they get to 10-6, we can start to look at what they need to do in the B10 tourney, although my gut sense is that they would need to make the final and have knocked off Ohio State or Wisconsin on the way to have any real claim. 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.
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