Miscellaneous Articles

World Cup Odds and Picks: Germany Vs. Serbia Predictions
by Nicholas Tolomeo - 6/16/2010

Yet with the draw of their group this year and the injury to Michael Ballack, the 2006 hosts will be in danger of an early exit if they look beyond the group stage, specifically their matchup with Serbia at 7:30 a.m. EST on Friday in Port Elizabeth. With Ghana looming large as a threat neither team can afford to leave this game without a point. Serbia knows all too well that scenario after a late-game mishap against Ghana put itself in a precarious position.

World Cup Odds and Picks: Greece Vs. Nigeria Predictions
by Jordan Adams - 6/15/2010

This match between Greece and Nigeria may be a battle for the runner up position in Group B. I don’t think anyone will feel insulted if we go ahead and assume the vastly skilled Argentines will be making quick work of first place in this foursome. Now what’s left to be decided is the second spot, and Greece and Nigeria are in a good place to dictate terms on their own behalf.

World Cup Odds and Picks: Argentina vs. South Korea Predictions
by Jordan Adams - 6/15/2010

Park Ji-Sung is an exceptional world-class player for South Korea, and the Manchester United winger’s brilliance will be seen this summer. But when on the pitch against Argentina’s handful of skillful footballers, in a game of poker it’d be like an Ace-high hand against a full house. Argentina squares off against South Korea in the two’s second World Cup group play match. On June 17 these two will take the pitch with Group B’s top spot on the line at Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg.

World Cup Odds and Picks: France Vs. Mexico Predictions
by Jordan Adams - 6/15/2010

When comparing this year’s teams from both France and Mexico, quality group play results are not the only thing these two teams have in common. Both have received their fair share of criticism, and rightfully so. Both have come to South Africa with high aims and a desire to prove those wrong that uttered harsh words. Expect a methodical approach from each squad in this fixture.

World Cup Odds and Picks: Uruguay Vs. South Africa Predictions
by Jordan Adams - 6/14/2010

Oh, just another massively important game for the hosts in the second play of South Africa’s group campaign. But then again, when you’re the host of the FIFA World Cup and no host nation has ever failed to qualify for the knockout stages, expectations and the desire for good results come with the territory. And it doesn’t lessen the impact when you’re the first African nation to stage the tournament in the history of the event either.

World Cup Odds and Betting Picks: Spain Vs. Switzerland Preview and Predictions
by Robert Ferringo - 6/14/2010

I have a feeling that it’s going to be devastation in South Africa for the Spanish national team. But the question is, will they continue to devastate opponents on their way to a title or will their faithful nation of supporters once again be devastated by another World Cup flop?

World Cup Odds and Betting Picks: Honduras Vs. Chile Preview and Predictions
by Robert Ferringo - 6/14/2010

Outside of the host nation and some excitable African squads, few teams in the World Cup field will be tapping as much emotional reserve as the team from Chile. Less than four months removed from one of the most devastating natural disasters in the South American nation’s history, the Chilean team will hope to send some shockwaves through Group H in the 2010 World Cup at South Africa.

World Cup Odds and Betting Picks: Ivory Coast Vs. Portugal Preview and Predictions
by Robert Ferringo - 6/13/2010

The Ivory Coast hosts Portugal at 10 a.m. EST on Tuesday, June 15 in Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth. In my opinion, this is the best and the most meaningful match of the opening round of games and pits two teams that could either flame out or catch fire, impacting everything else going on in their group and the knockout bracket.

World Cup Odds and Betting Picks: Brazil Vs. North Korea Preview and Predictions
by Robert Ferringo - 6/13/2010

What would you say if I told you that North Korea over Brazil in the opening match for each team was one of the best wagers you could make in the entire 2010 World Cup? The two teams will meet at 2:30 p.m. EST on Tuesday, June 15 at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. And North Korea stands about as much of a chance of winning this game as I do of being named Kim Jong-Il’s successor.

World Cup Odds and Picks: Slovakia Vs. New Zealand Predictions
by Nicholas Tolomeo - 6/13/2010

ESPN is advertising these World Cup games with the slogan “One Game Changes Everything.” It’s hard to imagine the marketing executives at ESPN were talking about the New Zealand/Slovakia game as one of those games that would change everything.

World Cup Odds and Betting Picks: Netherlands Vs. Denmark Preview and Predictions
by Robert Ferringo - 6/12/2010

Netherlands will open its 2010 World Cup journey with a match against Denmark at 7:30 a.m. EST on Monday, June 14 at Soccer City in Johannesburg. The Netherlands is No. 4 in the world heading into soccer’s biggest stage while Denmark may be one of the more underrated squads heading to South Africa at No. 36.

World Cup Odds and Betting Picks: Japan Vs. Cameroon Preview and Predictions
by Robert Ferringo - 6/12/2010

Cameroon, one of the top African teams in the World Cup, will be “hosting” Japan at 10 a.m. EST on Monday, June 14 at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein in the first game for either team. Cameroon is presently No. 19 in the world while Japan is situated at No. 45.

World Cup Odds and Betting Picks: Italy Vs. Paraguay Preview and Predictions
by Robert Ferringo - 6/12/2010

The Italians begin the defense of their World Cup title at 2:30 p.m. EST on Monday, June 14 with a match against Paraguay. The game is the Group F opener for each squad and will be played in Green Point Stadium in Cape Town.

World Cup Odds and Picks: Germany Vs. Australia Predictions
by Robert Ferringo - 6/11/2010

Germany begins its march toward a fourth World Cup title with a match against upstart Australia at 2:30 p.m. EST on Sunday, June 13. The Aussies are making their second consecutive appearance, and third overall, compared to the 17 that the Germans will have embarked on.

World Cup Odds and Picks: Algeria Vs. Slovenia Predictions
by Robert Ferringo - 6/11/2010

Algeria and Slovenia will lock horns at 7:30 a.m. EST on Sunday, June 13 in the World Cup opener for each club. Slovenia is ranked No. 25 in the world by the latest FIFA rankings while Algeria is No. 30. But while England and the United States are the clear favorites to come out of this group, the winner of this game would have an inside track at advancement.

World Cup Odds and Picks: Serbia Vs. Ghana Predictions
by Nicholas Tolomeo - 6/11/2010

This summer Ghana will try to pick up where it left off in the 2006 World Cup after an impressive run to the knockout round four years ago in Germany. On the other side of the pitch Serbia is just trying to get off on the right foot in its inaugural World Cup appearance as an independent country.

NASCAR: Helluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400 Odds and Predictions
by Christopher Shepard - 6/10/2010

Denny Hamlin, who earned his fourth win of the season last week at Pocono, thanked his crew by wrecking the No. 11 car in the post-race burnout. This weekend Hamlin might get a chance to perfect his signature wall-slapping maneuver as the Sprint Cup heads out for the Helluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400 at 1:13 p.m. on Sunday, June 13 at Michigan International Speedway.

World Cup Odds and Picks: England Vs. USA Predictions
by Robert Ferringo - 6/10/2010

The Yanks are set to lock horns with one of the top teams in the field and an old-time rival. A loss in that game would not only be a blow to American confidence (on the pitch, anyway, we still know we can kick your ass at anything else. Except education. And beheadings. And darts.) but it would put the United States in do-or-die mode for their remaining two group games against sneaky Slovenia and Algeria.

World Cup Odds and Picks: Argentina Vs. Nigeria Predictions
by Robert Ferringo - 6/10/2010

Two of the more rip-roaring, free-wheeling, fluid and creative national teams on the earth are set for dueling brushes in the World Cup opener for each team. However, in an odd turn there seems to be more attention being paid to the headmen on the sideline rather than the players on the pitch.

World Cup Odds and Picks: South Korea Vs. Greece Predictions
by Robert Ferringo - 6/10/2010

Greece enters the 2010 World Cup as the No. 13 team in the FIFA World Rankings. Their opening game opponent, South Korea, will begin play in South Africa at No. 47. But don’t let the rankings fool you: this isn’t a significant mismatch on paper or on the pitch.