Ajax strives to make a run at top-spot

Soccer Betting Lines

12/29/2006 - Nijmegen, Holland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Eredivisie's second-place Ajax stand nine points behind the league's leaders, PSV Eindhoven, so on Saturday Henk ten Cate's squad will look to chip away at the difference with a road-win over NEC at De Goffert.

The visitors hope to continue on with their winning ways after a 2-0 finish over Roda on Wednesday, a victory that was much needed for Ajax, especially after coming off a 4-2 drubbing handed out by Vitesse last weekend.

NEC enjoys the homecooking for another fixture, suffering a 2-0 defeat at home against Heerenveen on Wednesday, after putting up a scoreless draw against AZ Alkmaar on the 24th. The hosts will look to break out of a four-way 25 point-holding tie in the standings.

Ajax will be without a trio of players, as Roger will sit with an upper-leg injury, Maarten Stekelenburg will not suit up due to illness and Thomas Vermaelen's back problems look to keep him sidelined for the contest. However, the visiting team does welcome back Kenneth Perez from suspension.

Mario Been's group will have Andrzej Niedzielan available, along with captain Peter Wisgerhof. Youssouf El-Akchaoui is still being investigated for an incident that occurred in the AZ Alkmaar match, but no ban has been put in place.

On Friday, Excelsior made it six-straight losses, falling 3-1 to Feyenoord in the Rotterdam Derby. The win for the visitors moves Erwin Koeman's men into fourth in the Eredivisie standings heading into the remaining weekend Dutch fixtures.

Saturday's matches include, Heerenveen as it hopes to continue its two-game win streak with a home W against FC Utrecht, while top-squad PSV Eindhoven welcome in 17th-place ADO Den Haag to a match at Philipsstadion. RKC will try to climb further away from the relegation zone, as the 13-point holders take on FC Groningen at Mandemakers Stadion and Twente looks to make a run at the top three when it travels to Sparta.

On Sunday, AZ Alkmaar has a chance to cut down the 10-point window between itself and first-place PSV when the squad welcomes in Roda to the Alkmaarder Hout and Vitesse hopes to re-create its 4-0 result over Heracles back in September when the Yellow-Blacks travel to Polman Stadion.

WEEKEND EREDIVISIE FIXTURES:

FRIDAY

Excelsior 1, Feyenoord 3

SATURDAY

NEC Nijmegen - Ajax Amsterdam

Heerenveen - FC Utrecht

PSV Eindhoven - ADO Den Haag

RKC Waalwijk - FC Groningen

Sparta - Twente

SUNDAY

Alkmaar - Roda

Heracles - Vitesse

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Football Betting Lines

The 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds have been released and Denver Broncos' running back Knowshon Moreno has been made the opening favorite.

Bet NFL Sports Lines

Moreno was selected in the first round of April's NFL draft and is expected to carry the rushing load for the Broncos this season. And with Jay Cutler now in Chicago, Moreno might be expected to be Denver's entire offense.

Betting Lines from sports betting lines have made Moreno a 5/2 favorite to win this year's Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Fellow running back Chris “Beanie” Wells (Arizona Cardinals) is right behind Moreno at 7/2, while Donald Brown (Indianapolis Colts) and receiver Michael Crabtree (San Francisco 49ers) are 5/1 to win. Quarterbacks Mark Sanchez (New York Jets) and Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions) are 7/1 and 8/1, respectively.

A couple of players who present some value are Josh Freeman, Shonn Green and Darrius Heyward-Bey.

Freeman needs to beat out Byron Leftwich to become the starting quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but if he does, he has a lot or raw talent and could use the weapons around him (i.e. Kellen Winslow Jr. and Antonio Bryant) to be very successful in his first season.

Green enters a crowded backfield in New York, but considering both Thomas Jones and Leon Washington are unhappy about their contract situations and might holdout, the former Iowa product could become the Jets' primary back.

Everyone was shocked when Al Davis took Heyward-Bey with the eighth overall pick in April's draft, but the kid has a tremendous amount of talent and if quarterback JaMarcus Russell takes the next step this year, the former Maryland product could blossom. Plus, Heyward-Bey will be looking to prove the people wrong who said Oakland should have taken Michael Crabtree with the No. 8 pick.

And if you're looking for a deep sleeper, check out Pat White at 30/1. He enters the Miami Dolphins vaunted “Wild Cat” offense and could be a big time playmaker.

For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds, see below.

2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds to Win

Ramses Barden (NYG) 40/1

Andre Brown (NYG) 20/1

Donald Brown (IND) 5/1

Kenny Britt (TEN) 20/1

Glenn Coffee (SFO) 30/1

Chase Coffman (CIN) 50/1

Michael Crabtree (SFO) 5/1

Josh Freeman (TB) 14/1

Shonn Green (NYJ) 14/1

Percy Harvin (MIN) 10/1

Darrius Heyward-Bay (OAK) 18/1

Juaquan Iglesias (CHI) 30/1

Cornelius Ingram (PHI) 50/1

Rashad Jennings (JAC) 30/1

Johnny Knox (CHI) 40/1

Jeremy Maclin (PHI) 18/1

Mohamed Massaquoi (CLE) 30/1

LeSean McCoy (PHI) 12/1

Knowshon Moreno (DEN) 5/2

Hakeem Nicks (NYG) 18/1

Brandon Pettigrew (DET) 30/1

Brian Robiskie (CLE) 20/1

Mark Sanchez (NYJ) 7/1

Matthew Stafford (DET) 8/1

Jason Smith (STL) 40/1

Mike Thomas (JAC) 25/1

Patrick Turner (MIA) 50/1

Mike Wallace (PIT) 50/1

Chris Wells (ARI) 7/2

Pat White (MIA) 30/1

Field (Any Other Player) 9/1

Betting Line

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