Results from Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Le

Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Le took place last night in San Jose, California, and we have all the results from the fight. When possible, we’ve also listed Bodog’s odds going into the matches.

SHAMROCK VS. LE - FULL RESULTS

Jesse Jones vs. Jesse Gillespie - Jones won in round one following a referee’s stoppage due to strikes.

Anthony Figueroa vs. Darren Uyenoyama - Darren Uyenoyama won with a guillotine choke at 1:27 of the first round.

Luke Stewart vs. Tiki Ghosn - Ghosn won a unanimous decision after three rounds (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

Joey “Smokin Joe” Villasenor -210 vs. Evangelista Santos +170 - Villasenor won by KO at 4:45 of the first round.

Gilbert “El Nino” Melendez -650 vs. Gabe Lemley +450 - Melendez wins by referee stoppage due to punches at 2:18 of the first round.

Mike Kyle vs. Wayne Cole - Cole won by armbar submission at 42 seconds of the opening round.

Drew Fickett vs. Jae Suk Lim - Nick Diaz was pulled from the card, and so Fickett was taken out of his fight with Jake Shields and matched up against Lim. Fickett won with a guillotine choke at 1:14 of round one.

Frank “The Legend” Shamrock -210 vs. Cung Le +170 - Le was declared the winner after round three, when Shamrock could no longer continue due to an arm injury.

A CLOSER LOOK AT SHAMROCK VS. LE

Frank Shamrock had vowed to stand and trade with Cung Le on Saturday night, and that’s exactly what he did. Unfortunately, this strategy resulted in both a loss for Shamrock and a broken right wrist. Meanwhile, Le captured the Strikeforce Middleweight Title, his first MMA championship.

It was something of an unusual strategy, considering that Le has questionable ground skills and Shamrock has a number of submission wins to his credit.

"I caught him in the head first, and then I was going to kick him again," said Le. "He pulled up his arm and I caught him with a kick. I heard his arm break. He kind of staggered back and I just chased him down with punches."

When the third round ended, Shamrock had to be helped onto his stool. He then moved to the canvas and was examined by the ringside doctor. Moments later, the fight was over. At the time of the stoppage, one judge had it 30-27, while the other two had 29-28, all for Cung Le.

For more MMA, take a look at the following:

Frank Shamrock vs. Cung Le - Bodog Odds

UFC 77 Results

Results from Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Le

Indiana Jones Betting Odds from Bodog

Who didn’t love the Indiana Jones trilogy (except for The Temple of Doom)? Well, you’ll be happy to know that Indy and company are back for another adventure in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and it opens worldwide on May 22nd, 2008.

And as an extra bonus, those badasses over at Bodog sportsbook are offering prop bets on the opening weekend results of the film. Take a look!

INDIANA JONES - OPENING WEEKEND PROP BETS

Will the fourth Indiana Jones movie have a bigger opening weekend than the fourth Die Hard film (Live Free or Die Hard)?

Yes - Over $33.3 million -1250

No - Under $33.3 million +575

Will Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull have a higher opening weekend that the first three Indiana Jones movies combined?

Yes - Over $62.9 million -300

No - Under $62.9 million +200

PLOT AND CAST

Set in 1957, Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) has settled nicely into his role as a university professor. But he’s called back into action when Soviet agents (led by Cate Blanchett as Irina Spalko) try to get their grubby Communist hands on the crystal skull, a mystical artifact of great power. Along the way, he’s assisted by ex-lover Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen), greaser Mutt Williams (Shia LaBeouf), and friend and competitor Mac (Ray Winstone). John Hurt and Jim Broadbent will also make appearances in the film.

I can hardly wait! Looks like it’s time for me to raid the back of my closet and pull out my fedora and bullwhip.

For more entertainment prop bets, take a look at the following:

Chikezie Eze Eliminated on American Idol

Double Elimination on Dancing with the Stars

Indiana Jones Betting Odds from Bodog

NCAA Tournament Results from Thursday

There’s more NCAA excitement tonight, as the rest of the Elite 8 is decided. On Thursday night, four of the remaining teams were decided, as March Madness just keeps right on rolling along. Here are the results of the games, as well as the odds from Bodog.

NCAA BASKETBALL RESULTS

(7) Western Virginia 75 vs. (3) Xavier 79 - According to Bodog, Xavier were +1 underdogs going into this game.

(4) Washington State 47 vs. (1) North Carolina 68 - North Carolina were -8 favorites, but they managed to cover while burying Washington State by 21 points.

(3) Louisville 79 vs. (2) Tennessee 60 - While they were the higher ranked seed, Tennessee still came into this one as a +2 ½ underdog. Looks like Bodog made the right call. Did you?

(12) Western Kentucky 78 vs. (1) UCLA 88 - UCLA was favored by -12 ½ in this one, but Western Kentucky did just well enough to swing things the other way.

For more NCAA action, take a look below:

NCAA Sweet Sixteen Odds from Bodog

March Madness Bracket Tournament from Bodog

NCAA Tournament Results from Thursday

Goody's Cool Orange 500 - NASCAR Action

The Goody’s Cool Orange 500 will take place this Sunday, March 30th, at 2pm EST in Martinsville, Virginia. With Sprint Cup points on the line, NASCAR fans across the nation will no doubt be cheering for their favorite driver.

Of course, if you really want to support your stock car hero, why not lay down a few dollars at Bodog? They’ll be taking bets right up until racetime, and they even accept U.S. customers. The maximum wager for this event is $600, so why not go crazy?

THE FAVORITES

Dale Earnhardt Jr. 9/1

Denny Hamlin 8/1

Jeff Gordon 5/1

Kyle Busch 6/1

Tony Stewart 7/1

Jimmie Johnson 5/1 (defending champion)

THE UNDERDOGS

Bill Elliott 200/1

Jeremy Mayfield 200/1

Ken Schrader 200/1

Tony Raines 200/1

John Andretti 200/1

Kyle Petty 200/1

ALL THE REST

Besides the drivers listed above, there are another 35 drivers that can be wagered on. Take your pick from guys like: Bobby Labonte, Casey Mears, Clint Bowyer, Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle, Elliott Sadler, Kasey Kahne, Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick and Matt Kenseth.

For more odds from Bodog, check out the following:

2008 Major League Baseball Season Begins

Soccer Gambling Crackdown - 423 Arrested

Goody's Cool Orange 500 - NASCAR Action

Chikezie Eze Eliminated on American Idol

Another one bites the dust on American Idol. This time, it was Chikezie Eze. After 30 million viewers voted (the highest number this season), lame-o Ryan Seacrest gathered together this week’s low vote-getters: Eze, Jason Castro and Syesha Mercado. Castro was quickly sent to the Sofa of Safety, leaving Mercado and Eze all alone under the harsh lights of America. Ultimately, it was Eze (who performed “If Only for One Night” this week) who got the boot.

Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson were a little confused as to why Mercado received so few votes, as they had described her performance as “steller” and “perfect.” Simon, on the other hand, said he believed she would end up in the bottom two all along.

Chikezie Eze, by the way, was getting 40/1 odds on Bodog going into this week’s competition. But with nine contestants left, there’s still plenty of time to head over to Bodog and wager on who’ll be this year’s American Idol. Let’s take a look at the most recent betting odds.

AMERICAN IDOL BETTING ODDS

David Archuleta 8/7

Michael Johns 10/1

Carly Smithson 11/1

Ramiele Malubay 25/1

Brooke White 10/1

Jason Castro 16/1

Kristy Lee Cook 100/1

David Cook 5/2

Syesha Mercado 12/1

For more American Idol goodness, check this out:

Latest American Idol Results

Amanda Overmyer Eliminated on American Idol

Chikezie Eze Eliminated on American Idol

Frank Shamrock vs. Cung Le - Bodog Odds

Saturday, March 29th, will see another joint venture between MMA promotions Strikeforce and EliteXC. This time around, the event will be known as Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Le, and it will feature the main event of Frank Shamrock versus Cung Le.

The show will be held at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California and broadcast on the Showtime network. With Shamrock’s legendary MMA status and Le’s rabid following, this could prove to be the biggest card yet for the cable channel.

So why not join the crowd and place a few bets with Bodog?

STRIKEFORCE - BODOG ODDS

Joey “Smokin Joe” Villasenor -210 vs. Evangelista Santos +170

Gilbert “El Nino” Melendez -650 vs. Gabe Lemley +450

Nick “Diablo” Diaz -550 vs. Jae Suk Lim +350

Jake Shields -500 vs. Drew Fickett +300

Frank “The Legend” Shamrock -210 vs. Cung Le +170

SHAMROCK VS. LE

Frank Shamrock was the first UFC Middleweight champ (later called the Light Heavyweight title), and he defended the belt five times before retiring from the promotion. He is currently the Strikeforce Middleweight champion and holds wins over Bas Rutten, Enson Inoue, Jeremy Horn, Tito Ortiz and Phil Baroni. His overall MMA record is 22-8-1 (with 13 wins coming by submission).

After a very impressive career in the world of martial arts, Cung Le made his MMA debut in 2006. He is currently 5-0, with all five wins coming by way of knockout. Shamrock, however, will be a major step up in competition for him, as he’s faced guys like Mike Altman and Brian Warren in previous bouts.

While this bout should make some money for all involved, I expect a short and decisive win for Shamrock. Frank will take him down, and that will be all she wrote. Of course, Frank is also an accomplished kickboxer, so he might get cocky and decide to stand and trade with Le. While this would no doubt delight the fans, he would be wise to avoid Le’s strength and capitalize on his weakness.

Check back on Sunday, as we’ll have posted the results of the fights by then.

In the meantime, take a look at these articles on fighting:

UFC 81 - Full Card

Bernard Hopkins vs. Winky Wright

Frank Shamrock vs. Cung Le - Bodog Odds

Dubai World Cup - Horse Racing and Bodog

With the richest purse in all of thoroughbred racing ($6 million), The Dubai World Cup is a can’t-miss event. It has been held at the Nad Al Sheba Racecourse every year since 1996, and it’s popularity just continues to grow, as it was shown on American television for the first time in 2006.

The first winner of the event was future Hall of Fame thoroughbred, Cigar. Last year, Invasor won with a time of 1:59:97. And while this year’s winner won’t be decided until Saturday, March 29th, everyone knows who the favorite is.

CURLIN TO THE STARTING GATE

Curlin is an American thoroughbred and winner of the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic and Preakness Stakes. Following his three-year-old campaign in 2007, he was named Horse of the Year and Three-Year-Old of the Year (much to the chagrin of rivals Hard Spun and Street Sense).

And now he’s back for his four-year-old campaign. Has he still got what it takes to get the job done? The oddsmakers over at Bodog certainly seem to think so.

Curlin vs. The Field - Who will win?

Curlin -225

The Field (any other horse) +165

Odds to win the 2008 Dubai World Cup

A P Arrow 20/1

Asiatic Boy 8/1

Curlin 4/9

Gloria De Campeao 40/1

Great Hunter 50/1

Happy Boy 12/1

Jalil 10/1

Kocab 50/1

Lucky Find 40/1

Premium Tap 16/1

Sway Yed 80/1

Vermilion 16/1

Well Armed 50/1

Will Curlin break the 2000 meter track record at the 2008 Dubai World Cup?

Yes +200

No -275

For more betting odds, check out the following:

Will China Allow Horse Racing?

Tour de France Results

Dubai World Cup - Horse Racing and Bodog

China Open - Betting Odds on Snooker

The China Open is one of the biggest snooker events of the year, and you’ll be thrilled to know that it’s currently underway in Beijing! Snooker has caught on in China in a big way, and that’s why this tournament was resurrected in 2004. It’s the last ranking event before the World Championships, so you know everyone is going to bring their best game.

Much of the first round has already been completed, but there’s still time to lay a wager or two. Or, if you just want to wait, the second round will get started tomorrow.

If you do decide to lay a wager (why wouldn’t you?), may I be so bold as to recommend Bodog? They accept punters from around the globe (including the U.S.), and their customer service is second to none. They offer quick payouts and generous odds. What more could you want from a sports book?

THURSDAY’S FIRST ROUND MATCHES

Stephen Maguire -225 vs. Barry Hawkins +162

Barry Pinches -120 vs. Nigel Bond -120

Ken Doherty -150 vs. Ryan Day +110

THURSDAY’S SECOND ROUND MATCHES

Peter Ebdon -125 vs. Mark Williams -110

John Higgins -275 vs. Mark King +200

Ding Junhui -138 vs. Shaun Murphy (EVEN)

For more odds and wagers, check out the following articles:

World Matchplay Darts - Bodog Odds

NCAA Basketball Update

China Open - Betting Odds on Snooker

2008 Major League Baseball Season Begins!

The 2008 Major League Baseball season kicked off on Tuesday, but it started a bit earlier than most American fans would have liked. The game between the defending champion Red Sox and the Oakland Athletics was played in the sold-out Tokyo Dome in Japan, meaning that the game started in America at around 6:05am EST.

But even though the bars couldn’t legally serve beer at that hour, it didn’t stop fans from stopping in to watch the game and gulp down a cup of coffee before going to work.

DICE-K ON THE MOUND

The star of the show was meant to be Japanese pitching sensation Daisuke Matsuzaka, known around the globe as Dice-K. He came to Boston last year after playing ball in Japan with the Seibu Lions, collecting a $52 million contract along the way. He finished 2007 with a 15-12 record.

Unfortunately, the Boston pitcher didn’t have his best day. After five uneven innings, he was pulled from the game in favor of another Japanese pitcher, Hideki Okajima.

It was Okajima’s night to shine, as he gave a solid performance in relief to lead Boston to a 6-5 victory in extra innings.

Manny Ramirez won player of the game honors after 4 RBIs, including a double in the 10th inning that brought in the two game-winning runs. He picked up an extra one-million yen for this honor ($10,000 bucks).

BASEBALL AND BODOG

Now that the MLB season has started, you can count on Bodog to provide you with all your baseball betting needs. For example, here’s one of the many prop bets you can wager on:

Who will win the 2008 regular season series between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox?

New York Yankees +115

Boston Red Sox -145

Right now, Bodog literally has hundreds of prop bets to choose from. Everything from who’ll get the most homers to how many hits Chipper Jones will have in 2008. And don’t forget about the daily lines on all the regular and post-season games.

When it comes to MLB, Bodog has got you covered.

For more baseball wagers, take a look below:

Make Money Playing Fantasy Baseball

MLB Home Run Derby

2008 Major League Baseball Season Begins!

Double Elimination on Dancing with the Stars

Tuesday night was double-elimination night on Dancing with the Stars, which means that the first two celebrities were sent packing for Season 6. So who got the boot? Read on.

DANCING WITH THE STARS ELIMINATIONS

The first celeb eliminated was magician Penn Jillette. His dances with partner Kym Johnson earned a combined score of 33 out of 60, making him the low-scoring male.

Ever the comedian, the 53-year-old Jillette joked that he and his partner would continue to practice and planned to perform in the parking lot.

“There’s no way my dance career ends now,” he said.

Minutes later, former tennis pro Monica Seles got the boot. Her dances with partner Jonathan Roberts scored 30 out of 60 points, making her the lowest-scoring celebrity on the show.

After being informed of her elimination, the nine-time Grand Slam champion remarked, “I’m not used to losing.”

When the 6th season of Dancing with the Stars opened, Jillette was getting 25/1 odds to win the competition by Bodog. That later changed to 50/1 before his elimination. Seles, on the other hand, opened at 9/1 odds and then dropped to 25/1 odds.

ONLY TEN REMAIN

The field of celebrity dancers has now been whittled down to only 10. That leaves:

Adam Carolla (radio host and comic)

Jason Taylor (NFL player)

Kristi Yamaguchi (Olympic skater)

Mario (R&B singer)

Steve Guttenberg (actor)

Shannon Elizabeth (actress)

Christian de la Fuente (actor)

Marlee Matlin (actress)

Pricilla Presley (actress)

Marissa Jaret Winokur (actress)

Of the remaining contestants, Kristi Yamaguchi (2/1) and Mario (4/1) are getting the best odds to win, according to Bodog. You can visit their website to see all the latest odds for your favorite celebrity dancer.

For more television prop bets, check out the following:

Overmyer Eliminated on American Idol

Dancing with the Stars - Bodog Odds

Double Elimination on Dancing with the Stars

21 and The Grand - Upcoming Gambling Movies

For fans of gambling and movies, there are a couple of upcoming releases that you might want to check out. Here are some details on both:

21

Starring: Jim Sturgess, Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth and Laurence Fishburn.

Loosely based on Ben Mezrich’s Bringing Down the House, 21 tells the story of six MIT students who used their card counting abilities to clean out Vegas in the 1990s. Spacey plays Mickey Rosa, a math professor who selects the best and brightest to participate in his scheme. Sturgess is the student in need of $300,000 for tuition to Harvard Medical, who also happens to be a genius when it comes to counting cards.

As the team is formed and begins to ply their trade, Fishburn arrives as the muscle for the casinos. As with most Hollywood adaptations, there’s no doubt far more action and danger than existed in the real-life story. Still, fans of blackjack may want to take a look at 21.

21 - CRITICAL RESPONSE

Peter Travers of Rolling Stone gave it 3 out of 4 stars. He said, “21 drags itself to a climax that puts credulity in splints. So what? In a multiplex of dumb-luck hits, it's a kick to watch Spacey and a gifted young cast use smarts to deal audiences a winning hand.”

Internet movie reviewer Eric D. Snider, meanwhile, called it a “prime example of a movie that isn't bad, per se, just unnecessary, a competently made but wholly unremarkable trifle.”

21 opens in wide release on Friday, March 28th, 2008.

THE GRAND

Starring: Woody Harrelson, Cheryl Hines, Ray Romano, Dennis Farina, David Cross, Shannon Elizabeth.

Given a limited release in 2007, The Grand is an improvisational comedy in the vein of A Mighty Wind or Best in Show. As an eclectic group of gamblers gather together for a Las Vegas poker tournament, all manner of hijinx ensue. We get to know each player a bit, and we watch as some are eliminated and others advance to the final table.

Too bad they didn‘t stay in the comfort of the homes and play one of Bodog‘s many online poker tournaments.

THE GRAND - CRITICAL RESPONSE

Ed Gonzalez of Slant Magazine have the film 2 ½ out of 4 stars, saying, “It's a largely hit-and-miss affair. Even when the jokes fall to the floor like errant darts, they never feel desperate or embarrassing.”

According to The Los Angeles Times, “They come up with about 20 minutes of priceless material -- not a bad percentage for this sort of enterprise. But "The Grand" lacks any sort of urgency or inner propulsion; the actors do their little goofs, then hand them off to the next, lending the jest the frolicking but ultimately monotonous quality of a game of tag.”

The movie will open in wide release on April 4th, 2008.

For more gambling news, click the following:

NCAA Sweet Sixteen Odds from Bodog

Arena League Football Odds

21 and The Grand - Upcoming Gambling Movies

Roy Jones Jr. vs. Anderson Silva ?

If you’re a boxing or MMA fan, then here’s some information to get excited about. The latest rumor has UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva on a possible collision course with multi-time boxing champ Roy Jones Jr. NBC Sports has reported that the two fighters have met to discuss the possibility.

According to Alan Hopper, PR guy for Don King Productions, “Roy likes the idea and is up for it. Roy will only agree if the match takes place under the rules of boxing, and the UFC would have to clear Silva’s participation.”

That means Silva would have to get the approval of both UFC bigwig Dana White and Keith Kizer, executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission. And while the fight would no doubt increase the visibility of both sports, one has to wonder if Dane White would allow his dominant champion to risk getting humbled in a match which heavily favors Jones?

The stipulation doesn’t seem to bother Silva, though. According to his manager, “We respect Jones' boxing ability and think he's one of the best, but we're tired of different boxers saying that MMA fighters aren't technical. Anderson would love to fight Roy Jones in a boxing match under boxing rules to prove that MMA fighters are technical, too.”

JONES VS. SILVA

While he’s past his prime, Jones has held titles in the middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions. He currently holds the NABO and IBC light heavyweight belts.

The 39-year old fighter has a record of 52 wins and 4 losses, with his 3 legitimate losses coming in the last 6 fights of his career (nobody counts the DQ loss to Montell Griffin). His most recent fight was a unanimous decision win over Felix Trinidad.

Jones has wins over Bernard Hopkins, James Toney, Virgil Hill, Clinton Woods and John Ruiz.

Silva is the current UFC middleweight champion, and he’s on a 7 fight winning streak. He’s got a total MMA record of 21 wins and 4 losses, with 12 wins coming by knockout. He’s also fought in two professional boxing matches, racking up a record of 1-1.

Silva has wins over such MMA luminaries as Dan Henderson, Rich Franklin, Jeremy Horn and Carlos Newton.

SO WHO WOULD WIN?

If this were an MMA match, I would without a doubt pick Silva. But it’s not, so I’ve got to go with Jones. I’m betting that the gulf between a talented MMA boxer and a world champion boxer is still pretty darned wide.

Still, the only real way to settle this is in the ring, and fight fans across the globe are crossing their fingers.

BODOG ODDS

Never ones to be left out in the cold, Bodog is already offering odds on who would win this contest. If you like to bet on underdogs, then this fight is for you. Jones is a -2800 favorite, while Silva is currently a whopping +1400 underdog.

How in the world can you not lay some money on that one?!

For more from the world of sports betting, take a look at the following:

UFC 82 - Full Card and Bodog Odds

Cage Rage 21 Results

Roy Jones Jr. vs. Anderson Silva ?

NCAA Sweet Sixteen Odds from Bodog

After a week of fast and furious NCAA action, we finally have our Sweet Sixteen. Boy, it sure seems to go by fast, and I doubt that I’m the only one who wishes March Madness could last a little longer. We’ve already had a number of tournament upsets, as teams like Duke have been sent home earlier than expected. But that’s what makes the tournament great, as smaller teams get to rise up and destroy brackets across the country.

The NCAA tourney will resume on Thursday and Friday, and the field will then be cut down to the Elite 8. In case you want to get in on the action, here are the current odds from our pals at Bodog.

MARCH MADNESS - BODOG ODDS

Thursday Games

West Virginia -1 vs. Xavier +1

Washington State +8 vs. North Carolina -8

Western Kentucky +12 ½ vs. UCLA -12 ½

Louisville -2 ½ vs. Tennessee +2 ½

Friday Games

Davidson +5 vs. Wisconsin -5

Stanford +1 ½ vs. Texas -1 ½

Villanova +11 ½ vs. Kansas -11 ½

Michigan State +5 vs. Memphis -5

And don’t forget that Bodog is also offering odds for the NIT and CBI basketball tournaments, as well.

For more NCAA goodness, take a look at the following:

March Madness Bracket Contest from Bodog

NCAA March Madness Tournament Results

NCAA Sweet Sixteen Odds from Bodog

Ashlee Simpson - Babe of the Week

This week's Babe is Ashlee Simpson - the little sister of uber-hot Jessica. She's a singer, actress, lip-sync specialist and all-around babe.

Ashlee Simpson - Babe of the Week

NCAA March Madness Tournament Results

Here are the latest results from the NCAA March Madness tournament. As we head towards the Sweet Sixteen, things are really starting to heat up. Did your favorite team get upset? Read on and find out. All odds are courtesy of Bodog.

NCAA FRIDAY RESULTS

American 57 vs. Tennessee 72
Davidson 82 vs. Gonzaga 76
Western Kentucky 101 vs. Drake 99
St. Mary’s CA 64 vs. Miami Florida 78
South Alabama 61 vs. Butler 81
MD Baltimore CO 47 vs. Georgetown 66
San Diego 70 vs. Connecticut 69
Austin Peay 54 vs. Texas 74
Mount Saint Mary’s 64 vs. North Carolina 78
St. Joseph’s 64 vs. Oklahoma 72
Siena 83 vs. Vanderbilt 62
Oregon 69 vs. Mississippi State 76
Arkansas 86 vs. Indiana 72
Boise State 61 vs. Louisville 79
Villanova 75 vs. Clemson 69
Texas Arlington 63 vs. Memphis 87

Upsets

Friday saw its share of upsets. The biggest came in the form of #12 Western Kentucky downing #5 Drake, #13 San Diego defeating #4 Connecticut, #13 Siena beating #4 Vanderbilt and #12 Villanova triumphing over #5 Clemson. No doubt, this left a lot of tournament brackets in complete disarray.

The higher-ranked seeds went 10-6 on Friday night. Betting the favorites against the line would have netted you a less-than-impressive record of 9-7.

NCAA SATURDAY RESULTS

Kansas State 55 vs. Wisconsin 72

Purdue 78 vs. Xavier 85

Notre Dame 41 vs. Washington State 61

Marquette 81 vs. Stanford 82

UNLV 56 vs. Kansas 75

Michigan State 65 vs. Pittsburgh 54

Texas A&M 49 vs. UCLA 53

West Virginia 73 vs. Duke 67

Upsets

Two underdogs triumphed on Saturday, with #5 Michigan State beating #4 Pittsburgh and #2 Duke suffering a shocking defeat at the hands of #7 West Virginia. After last year‘s early exit, it looks as though Duke’s reputation as a tournament powerhouse may be starting to wane.

NCAA SUNDAY BODOG ODDS

Here are the odds for Sunday’s games from Bodog. Have I mentioned, by the way, that Bodog is the best sports book option out there (and that they accept U.S. customers)?

Siena +5 ½ vs. Villanova -5 ½

Miami Florida +7 vs. Texas -7

Butler +4 ½ vs. Tennessee -4 ½

San Diego +5 ½ vs. Western Kentucky -5 ½

Davidson +5 ½ vs. Georgetown -5 ½

Mississippi State +9 vs. Memphis -9

Oklahoma +7 vs. Louisville -7

Arkansas +11 vs. North Carolina -11

For more on the NCAA Tournament, click the following links:

March Madness Friday - Bodog Odds

March Madness Bracket Contest from Bodog

NCAA March Madness Tournament Results

NCAA March Madness - Thursday Results

Thursday night’s NCAA March Madness games are in the book, and we have the results below. Upsets? Last second heroics? How did the teams do versus the odds put out by Bodog? Read on and find out.

NCAA RESULTS AND BODOG ODDS

Winning teams are in bold.

Georgia 61 vs. Xavier 73
Portland State 61 vs. Kansas 85
Temple 61 vs. Michigan State 72
Kentucky 66 vs. Marquette 74
Baylor 79 vs. Purdue 90
Kent State 58 vs. UNLV 71
Oral Roberts 63 vs. Pittsburgh 82
Cornell 53 vs. Stanford 77
Belmont 70 vs. Duke 71
Kansas State 80 vs. USC 67
Winthrop 40 vs. Washington State 71
Texas A&M 67 vs. BYU 62
Arizona 65 vs. West Virginia 75
Cal State Fullerton 56 vs. Wisconsin 71
George Mason 50 vs. Notre Dame 68
Mississippi Valley St. 29 vs. UCLA 70

UPSETS AND CLOSE CALLS

There were no major upsets to speak of, but #2 Duke narrowly avoided a close call against #15 Belmont. It took a Gerald Henderson basket with 12 seconds remaining to lift the Blue Devils to a one-point win. No doubt, the Cameron Crazies were having flashbacks to their team‘s early exit last year.

The other “upsets” came as #11 Kansas State downed #6 USC and #9 Texas A&M beat #8 BYU.

Against the spread, the favorites were 13-3. Straight up, the higher seeds were 14-2. So far, it’s about what you would expect when smaller programs who just squeaked in take on basketball juggernauts.

But things should start to get really interesting in the second round. And don’t forget, we’ve still got a whole night of games on Friday. Hope springs eternal for the underdogs.

For more on the NCAA tournament, check out the following:

March Madness Bracket Contest from Bodog

NCAA March Madness Friday - Bodog Odds

NCAA March Madness - Thursday Results

Amanda Overmyer Eliminated On American Idol

With the elimination of Amanda Overmyer last night, there are just 10 contestants remaining on American Idol. The biker chick nurse with the crazy hair got the hook during a week when contestants sang Beatles’ songs. Overmyer chose “Back in the U.S.S.R.,” but instead the 23-year-old will be going back to her home in Mulberry, Indiana.

Overmyer was getting 30/1 odds to win the competition by Bodog.

After her elimination, she told Ryan Seacrest (who I wish I could vote off the show), “It’s been a run…No. 11 out of all them people is more than I could expect.”

Carly Smithson and Kristy Lee Cook were the other low vote-getters.

This year’s celebrity mentors were also announced on Wednesday night. They include: Neil Diamond, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Dolly Parton and Mariah Carey.

AMERICAN IDOL - BODOG ODDS

So who’s going to walk away as the next American Idol? Let’s take a look at the latest odds from Bodog:

David Archuleta 3/2

Michael Johns 14/1

Carly Smithson 7/2

Ramiele Malubay 25/1

Brooke White 4/1

Jason Castro 15/1

Kristy Lee Cook 60/1

David Cook 9/2

Syesha Mercado 50/1

Chikezie Eze 40/1

For more American Idol, see the following:

Latest American Idol Results

American Idol Stripper Scandal

Amanda Overmyer Eliminated On American Idol

NCAA March Madness Friday - Bodog Odds

March Madness is underway, as the first game was played on Tuesday night. In that contest, Mount Saint Mary’s defeated Coppin State by a score of 69-60. In case you’re wondering, that was enough to cover the -7 odds Mount Saint Mary’s was getting from Bodog.

They now get the honor of moving on to be destroyed by #1 ranked North Carolina on Friday night.

And speaking of Friday, a total of 16 games will be played on that night. And don’t forget about the 16 being played on Thursday. For the next two days, college basketball fans will think they’ve died and gone to heaven.

We’ve already listed the match-ups and odds for Thursday, so now let’s take a look at Friday.

March Madness - Friday Games

American +19 ½ vs. Tennessee -19 ½

Davidson -2 vs. Gonzaga +2

Western Kentucky +4 vs. Drake -4

St. Mary’s CA +1 vs. Miami Florida -1

South Alabama +4 ½ vs. Butler -4 ½

MD Baltimore CO +17 vs. Georgetown -17

San Diego +11 ½ vs. Connecticut -11 ½

Austin Peay +16 vs. Texas -16

Mount Saint Mary’s vs. North Carolina

St. Joseph’s +1 vs. Oklahoma -1

Siena +6 ½ vs. Vanderbilt -6 ½

Oregon +2 ½ vs. Mississippi State -2 ½

Arkansas +1 ½ vs. Indiana -1 ½

Boise State +13 vs. Louisville -13

Villanova +6 vs. Clemson -6

Texas Arlington +24 ½ vs. Memphis -24 ½

For more NCAA action, check out the following:

March Madness - Tuesday and Thursday Games

March Madness Bracket Contest

NCAA March Madness Friday - Bodog Odds

Britney Spears on TV - Bodog Prop Bets

As you may know, I can’t get enough of the Britney Spears prop bets. That troubled blonde sexpot is like a magnet for off the wall bets, and I’ve made a nice little chunk of change the last few years by betting on her antics at Bodog.

Well, the singer affectionately known as Brit Brit is at it again. On March 24th, she’ll be appearing on an episode of the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother. Playing a receptionist in a dermatologist’s office, she’ll be asked to deliver such lines as, “Can we have sex and then go shopping?”.

According to the show’s co-star and former Babe of the Day, Alyson Hannigan, “Britney nailed her jokes. It’s so sweet and so endearing. I love her.”

So do I, Alyson. So do I.

BRITNEY SPEARS PROP BETS

Speaking of Britney’s dialogue, you can pop on over to Bodog and wager on who she’ll mention during her appearance. There’s no action if she mentions more than one, and the maximum wager is $50.

Who will Britney Spears’ character mention as part of a joke during her cameo appearance on ‘How I Met Your Mother’?

Kevin Federline 10/1

Justin Timberlake 8/1

Lindsay Lohan 5/1

Paris Hilton 8/1

Britney Spears 1/1

The Paparazzi 5/1

Will her character dance, sing or rap during her cameo appearance on ‘How I Met Your Mother’?

Yes +250

No -400

For more celebrity prop bets, be sure to check out the following:

Michael Jackson Keeps Neverland Ranch

Amy Winehouse - Wager on Her Crazy Life

Britney Spears on TV - Bodog Prop Bets

Dancing with the Stars - Bodog Odds for Season Six

On Monday night, the sixth season of Dancing with the Stars debuted on ABC. Nobody was eliminated tonight, but that will all change on March 25th, when the results show will air and two celebrity dancers will be sent home.

Twelve celebrities are competing, and each hopes to duplicate the success of past winners Kelly Monaco, Drew Lachey, Emmitt Smith, Apolo Anton Ohno and Helio Castroneves. But to do so, they’ll have to impress judges Len Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and the American public.

Of course, Bodog is taking bets on the eventual winner, so this is a great way to add a few bucks to your bank account. Bodog, by the way, does accept U.S. players.

DANCING WITH THE STARS - BODOG ODDS

So who are this year’s celebrity dancers, and what are their chances of winning?

Adam Carolla - Comedian and talk show host (15/1)

Cristian de la Fuente - Actor (20/1)

Jason Taylor - NFL player (3/1)

Kristi Yamaguchi - Gold winning figure skater (5/2)

Mario - R&B singer (4/1)

Marissa Jaret Winokur - Actress (20/1)

Marlee Matlin - Actress (11/1)

Monica Seles - Former tennis pro (9/1)

Penn Gillette - Magician and actor (25/1)

Pricilla Presley - Actress (20/1)

Shannon Elizabeth - Actress (15/1)

Steve Guttenberg - Actor (20/1)

Will the winner be male or female?

Male -110

Female -130

For more television-related news, see the following:

Latest American Idol Results

MTV Looking for Online Poker Players

Dancing with the Stars - Bodog Odds for Season Six

NCAA March Madness - Tuesday and Thursday Games

March Madness is here! With the tournament schedule finally set, NCAA fans all across the globe can start filling in their brackets and looking for possible upsets.

And remember that Bodog sports book is holding a bracket contest of their very own. If you fill out a perfect bracket, you’ll walk away with a cool $1 million dollars in your pocket. Sure, it won’t be easy, but we’re talking about a million bucks.

And if a bracket isn’t your style, how about showing a little support for your favorite college team by placing a wager or two? To help you in that area, we’ve listed the upcoming Tuesday and Thursday March Madness games below, along with the current Bodog odds. Look for the Friday games to be covered in an upcoming article.

NCAA TOURNAMENT - BODOG ODDS

Tuesday

Coppin State +7 vs. Mount Saint Mary’s -7

Thursday

Georgia +8 ½ vs. Xavier -8 ½

Portland State +22 ½ vs. Kansas -22 ½

Temple +6 ½ vs. Michigan State -6 ½

Kentucky +6 vs. Marquette -6

Baylor +3 vs. Purdue -3

Kent State -2 vs. UNLV +2

Oral Roberts +9 ½ vs. Pittsburgh -9 ½

Cornell +14 ½ vs. Stanford -14 ½

Belmont +19 ½ vs. Duke -19 ½

Kansas State +2 ½ vs. USC -2 ½

Winthrop +8 ½ vs. Washington State -8 ½

Texas A&M -2 vs. BYU +2

Arizona +2 vs. West Virginia -2

Cal State Fullerton +11 vs. Wisconsin -11

George Mason +7 vs. Notre Dame -7

Mississippi Valley St. +32 vs. UCLA -32

For more NCAA articles, check out the following:

March Madness Bracket Contest from Bodog

March Madness - The Greatest Upsets

NCAA March Madness - Tuesday and Thursday Games

Allison Stokke - Babe of the Week

This week's Babe is college pole vaulter Allison Stokke. For my money, pole vaulters are at the top of the hottie food chain when it comes to female athletes, and Allison is a perfect example why.

Allison Stokke - Babe of the Week

DREAM Lightweight MMA Tournament - Full Results

The first DREAM event is in the books. DREAM, of course, is a Japanese MMA organization put together by elements of PRIDE and K-1. Right off the bat, they’re holding a Lightweight tournament to crown a champion, with a Middleweight tourney to follow later this year. Oh, and the main event had nothing to do with the tournament as Mirko Cro-Cop made his debut with the organization and tried to snap a two-fight UFC losing streak. Could he do it?

Let’s take a look. Odds, by the way, were provided by Bodog sports book, which is fast, friendly and open to U.S. customers.

DREAM FIGHT RESULTS

Non-tournament Matches
Minowa-man defeated Bum Chan Kang by submission
Hayato Sakurai (-800) defeated Hidetaka Monma (+500) with punches in the first round.

Lightweight Tournament - First Round
Joachim Hansen (-200) defeated Kotetsu Boku (+160) via decision.
Luiz Firmino (-240) defeated Kazuyuki Miyata (+190) via choke in first round.
Katsuhiko Nagata (+155) defeated Artur Oumakhanov (-185) via decision.
Mitsuhiro Ishida (-1100) defeated Bu Kyung Jung (+600) via decision.
Eddie Alvarez (+105) defeated Andre Dida (-135) via knockout first round.
Tatsuya Kawajiri (-850) defeated Black Mamba (+550) via decision.
J.Z. Calvan (-175) vs. Shinya Aoki (+145) was ruled a No Contest after Calvan threw an illegal elbow and injured Aoki.

Main Event
Mirko Cro Cop defeated Tatsuya Mizuno by KO in 56 seconds.

For more MMA action, take a look at the following:

UFC 77 Results

Kimbo Slice Fights

DREAM Lightweight MMA Tournament - Full Results

Latest American Idol Results

On Wednesday night, another American Idol contestant was sent home. This time around, it was David Hernandez. As you might remember, he was recently involved in a scandal when it was revealed that he used to work as a dancer at a gay strip club.

But despite the recent scandal, Hernandez was confident that it had nothing to do with his dismissal. Instead, he blamed his poor rendition of Lennon/McCartney’s “I Saw Her Standing There.” The judges, who had been largely complimentary in the past, ripped Hernandez’s performance and helped seal his fate.

AMERICAN IDOL - BODOG ODDS

Before getting voted off, Hernandez was getting 28/1 odds to win from Bodog sportsbook. Now only 11 contestants remain until the next American Idol is crowned.

Why not visit Bodoglife.com and wager on your favorite?

David Archuleta 13/10 (getting 8/11 last week)

Michael Johns 14/1

Carly Smithson 5/1

Ramiele Malubay 18/1

Brooke White 4/1

Jason Castro 13/1

Kristy Lee Cook 60/1

David Cook 9/2

Syesha Mercado 40/1

Amanda Overmyer 30/1

Chikezie Eze 50/1

For more American Idol prop bets, check out the following:

American Idol 7 - Bodog Odds

Sanjaya Malakar Proposition Bets

Latest American Idol Results

Michael Jackson Keeps Neverland Ranch

Looks like Michael Jackson will get to keep Neverland Ranch - at least for a little while longer.
According to his attorney, an auction of the estate will be delayed until May 14th. Originally scheduled to take place this week, the auction was the result of “The King of Pop" lapsing on payments of $24.5 million, which he still owes on the property. The postponement was reached by “mutual agreement” of Jackson and his creditors. Reportedly, Jacko has worked out a deal with Fortress Investment Group, but the details are still unknown.

Bodog was offering odds on how much the property would sell for if it was auctioned off. Over $28.5 million was getting +165 odds, while under $28.5 million was at -240. With this most recent development, looks like there will be no action on the wager.

Luckily, there will be plenty of other celebrity antics to bet on in the near future. Stay tuned.

For more prop bets on celebrities, click on the following links:

Brangelina Pregnant Again - Bodog Odds

Paris Hilton Back In Jail

Michael Jackson Keeps Neverland Ranch

NFL Fantasy Football Player News

With just over a month to go until the NFL Draft, free agency marches on. There have been a lot of great moves this off-season, and I imagine things will get even crazier after teams stock up on rookie players at the draft.

Be sure to check out Bodog sports book, as they should be putting up NFL Draft prop bets at any time. Last year, you could bet on who the Jets would take in the first round, which wide receiver would be selected first, and many, many other options. It’s fast, easy and fun.

NFL NEWS AND RUMORS

The Seattle Seahawks signed RB Julius Jones. Rumors are already swirling that great-but-aging RB Shawn Alexander will be cut later in the summer to save cap room.

Warrick Dunn, formerly of the Falcons, has been reunited with his old team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Too bad Mike Alstott still isn’t around, as we could have seen the return of Thunder and Lighting (but much older and less effective).

After weeks of negotiations, the Arizona Cardinals have finally signed WR Larry Fitzgerald to a four-year, $40 million contract. Now if they can only make the playoffs.

The hapless Detroit Lions announced Thursday that they were cutting oft-injured RB Kevin Jones.

QB David Carr has signed on with the New York Giants to back up Eli Manning.

The Houston Texans have signed free-agent RB Chris Brown. He’ll no doubt make a contribution until he suffers his yearly injury.

The 49ers have agreed to terms with WR Bryant Johnson, formerly of the Cardinals. A former first-round pick, Johnson ended up playing a back-up role in Arizona. Here’s his chance to shine.

Oregon RB Jonathan Stewart, expected to be the second back taken in this year’s draft, underwent toe surgery today. He could miss anywhere from four to six months. Looks like some lucky team may get themselves a bargain in this year’s draft.

For more football news, check this out:

2008 NFL Drafts - The Running Backs

NFL Free Agents - News and Rumors

NFL Fantasy Football Player News

NCAA March Madness Basketball Update

The countdown to March Madness continues! As Selection Sunday approaches, teams are still battling it out to be selected to the 65-team tournament. Tonight’s games will go a long way towards rounding out the field, but a lot of the mystery will remain until Sunday morning.

Here’s a list of all of Friday’s games. Odds have been provided by Bodog.

If you care to wager on one (or more) of the games, Bodog makes it easy as pie. They also offer great customer service, and they do accept U.S. customers.

Atlantic Coast Conference (Quarterfinals)

Florida State (+14) vs. North Carolina (-14)

Miami Florida (-1) vs. Virginia Tech (+1)

Georgia Tech (+11 ½) vs. Duke (-11 ½)

Boston College (+9) vs. Clemson (-9)

Big 10 Conference (Quarterfinals)

Michigan (+13) vs. Wisconsin (-13)

Ohio State (+5) vs. Michigan State (-5)

Illinois (+4 ½) vs. Purdue (-4 ½)

Minnesota (+6) vs. Indiana (-6)

Big 12 Conference (Quarterfinals)

Oklahoma State(+7) vs. Texas (-7)

Colorado (+9 ½) vs. Oklahoma (-9 ½)

Nebraska (+14 ½) vs. Kansas (-14 ½)

Texas A&M (+1 ½) vs. Kansas State (-1 ½)

Southeastern Conference (Quarterfinals)

South Carolina (+13) vs. Tennessee (-13)

Vanderbilt vs. Arkansas (PICK ‘EM)

Alabama (+5 ½) vs. Mississippi State (-5 ½)

Georgia (+4) vs. Kentucky (-4)

Conference USA (Semifinals)

Southern Mississippi (+19) vs. Memphis (-19)

Tulsa (-2) vs. Texas El Paso (+2)

Patriot League Championship

Colgate (+6 ½) vs. American (-6 ½)

Atlantic 10 Conference (Semifinals)

St. Joseph’s (+5 ½) vs. Xavier (-5 ½)

NC Charlotte (+2 ½) vs. Temple (-2 ½)

Big East Conference (Semifinals)

West Virginia (+3 ½) vs. Georgetown (-3 ½)

Pittsburgh (+2 ½) vs. Marquette (-2 ½)

Mid American Conference (Semifinals)

Akron (-2) vs. Western Michigan (+2)

Miami (Ohio) (+3 ½) vs. Kent State (-3 ½)

Western Athletic Conference (Semifinals)

Boise State (+3) vs. Utah State (-3)

Nevada (+5) vs. New Mexico State (-5)

Big West Conference (Semifinals)

Cal Irvine (+3) vs. Cal Santa Barbara (-3)

Cal State Fullerton (-3 ½) vs. Cal State Northridge (+3 ½)

PAC 10 Conference (Semifinals)

USC (+8 ½) vs. UCLA (-8 ½)

Washington State (+2) vs. Stanford (-2)

Mountain West Conference (Semifinals)

San Diego State (+6 ½) vs. BYU (-6 ½)

Utah (+4 ½) vs. UNLV (-4 ½)

For more on the NCAA tournament, look at the following:

March Madness Bracket Contest from Bodog

NCAA Basketball Bubble Watch

NCAA March Madness Basketball Update

Gambling News and Rumors

It seems as though there’s never a lack of gambling news. In fact, the stuff can pile up pretty quickly and be hard to keep track of. That’s why we here are Dare to Gamble decided to put together some of the top gambling stories of the week for your convenience.

GAMBLING NEWS AND RUMORS

1. On Monday, the European Union launched a probe into various U.S. online gambling prosecutions. They want to investigate whether or not the prosecutions are discriminatory, which could set the stage for another case in front of the World Trade Organization.

2. Argentina’s online casino, Bwin.com, will be shut down following a judge’s ruling. Seems the casino’s parent company violated the law by advertising in the Argentine media with getting permission.

3. Costa Rica and the United States have reached an agreement in their online gambling dispute. This has led to Costa Rica dropping their request for a WTO hearing.

4. Recently, France has been restricting payments to gambling companies unless they’re part of the state’s monopoly on gambling (PMU or Francaise des Jeux). A European Commission has ruled this practice to be against EU law.

5. The parent company of UltimateBet is in trouble again. They were fined $500,000 after an employee used a backdoor to see other players’ hole cards. This time, the trouble is with UltimateBet. They have confirmed evidence of “abnormal” playing activity and asked a third-party to review the case. Look for more fines to come their way.

Looking for an online casino that doesn’t cheat? Why not try Bodog?

6. The Women’s Tennis Association will now require criminal background checks on coaches. They hope to avoid the recent match-fixing scandals which have plagued men’s tennis.

7. Speaking of which, it looks as though FIFA isn’t taking any chances. The international soccer authority has contracted a company to look out for any irregular betting activity on football matches. The purpose is to track and prevent illegal control of soccer results for wagering purposes.

8. Next month, an offshore casino with no-limit tables will be opening in Goa, India. It is reported to be the largest casino in South Asia.

9. The Bodog Poker Open is in the books. With a total prize pool of $305,120, it was the richest event in Bodog’s history. Shawn “phatcat” Luman won the event and walked away with $76,280, becoming the first Bodog Poker Champion in the process.

10. The Poker Players Alliance will be holding a rally on March 18th in Boston to oppose a bill designed to make online poker a felony. This is meant to clear the way for three land-based casinos to be built in the state. The rally will begin at 8:30am and take place on the steps of the State House.

For more gambling news, take a look at the following:

Gambling Addict Sues Over Losses

Six Online Casinos in Trouble

Gambling News and Rumors

2008 NFL Draft - The Running Backs

The NFL Draft is almost here. On April 26th and 27th at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, a new crop of young athletes will join the National Football League. There will also be some changes in place, as the draft will start at 3pm EST instead of noon. Only the first two rounds will be shown on Day One, with teams getting 10 minutes in the first round (previously 15) and seven minutes in the second (instead of 10). Overall, these changes should make for a more fan-friendly product.

And when it comes time to wager on the NFL Draft, be sure to check out Bodog. Believe me, they‘ll have a ton of prop bets for your enjoyment.

TOP RUNNING BACKS IN THE 2008 NFL DRAFT

Whether you play fantasy football or your favorite team can’t move the chains to save their life, running backs are always an important commodity in the NFL. With that in mind, let’s take a look at five of the top running backs available in the 2008 NFL draft.

Darren McFadden

Playing for the Arkansas Razorbacks, the 6’2”, 205 pound McFadden gained 1830 yards on 325 carries in 2007. He scored 16 touchdowns on the ground and chipped in with 21 receptions for 164 yards and 1 TD.

He won the Walter Camp Award as the nation’s best player, and he was the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy two straight years. Possessing speed and power, McFadden is expected to be the first running back taken in the draft. While some believe the Raiders might take him, many mock drafts are now projecting him to go to the New York Jets with the sixth overall pick.

At the NFL Scouting Combine, McFadden ran an unofficial forty-yard dash time of 4.27 seconds. His official time was 4.33, giving him the second-fastest time of any runner.

Clips of Darren McFadden in action.

Jonathan Stewart

The 5’11”, 230 pound Stewart played his college ball with the Oregon Ducks. He racked up 1722 yards on 280 carries for 11 touchdowns and added 22 receptions for 145 yards and 2 touchdowns in 2007. The cousin of Kordell Stewart is a real beast, running a 4.4 and possessing tremendous power. While he’s got great moves, some scouts have wondered as to his straight line speed and ability to get around the corner.

Still, most agree that he’s second only to McFadden, and being a solid receiver and kick returner won’t hurt his draft stock. There's been a snag, however. An MRI recently confirmed that Stewart has suffered a big toe injury and needs surgery to repair it. This will put him on the shelf for 4 to 6 months. He might very well fall a little considering this news, and many are now projecting him to go to the Texans with the 18th overall pick.

Clips of Jonathan Stewart in action.

Rashard Mendenhall

Mendenhall is both elusive and strong. At 5’11” and 224 pounds, he excelled at pounding the ball for the Illinois Fighting Illini. In 2007, he gained 1681 yards on 262 carries for 17 touchdowns. He also showed off his hands by pulling down 34 receptions for 318 yards and 2 touchdowns.

After putting up a 40 time of 4.55, there are a few concerns about his speed, but he’s certainly a lock for the first round of the NFL draft. He is currently being projected to go to the Bears with the 14th overall, as his hard-nosed style would suit Da Bears. And God knows they need the help.

Clips of Rashard Mendenhall in action.

Felix “The Cat” Jones

Playing second-fiddle to Darren McFadden on the Razorbacks roster, the 6’, 200 pound Jones still managed to rack up 1162 yards on 133 carries for 11 touchdowns. He also grabbed 16 receptions for 176 yards. Known for his blazing speed, Jones will also help out some lucky team’s return game. Almost everyone thinks the Cowboys will take him with the 28th overall pick to replace the departing Julius Jones, but there’s just no telling what tricks Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has up his sleeve.

Clips of Felix Jones in action.

Ray Rice

The 5’9”, 205 pound Rice had a great 2007 season for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, gaining 2012 yards on 380 carries for 24 touchdowns. He also added 25 receptions for 239 yards and 1 TD. In his last college game, he broke a school record by rushing for 280 yards and four touchdowns, including a 90-yard scamper.

While he’s not the tallest guy around, he’s got the body weight to handle the load, and he should go high in the second round of the NFL Draft. Look for him to fill a Reggie Bush role for some lucky team.

Clips of Ray Rice in action.

KEEP AN EYE ON THESE RUNNERS

Here’s a short list of other runners you might want to keep your eye on come April 26th. Any one of these players could end up as a productive player in the NFL.

Kevin Smith (Central Florida)

Chris Johnson (East Carolina)

Matt Forte (Tulane)

Jamaal Charles (Texas)

Steve Slaton (West Virginia)

Cory Boyd (South Carolina)

Tashard Choice (Georgia Tech)

Jalen Parmele (Toledo)

Thomas Brown (Georgia)

Mike Hart (Michigan)

For more NFL articles, see the following:

NFL Free Agents - News and Rumors

NFL Odds from Bodog - Overall Team Records

2008 NFL Draft - The Running Backs

DREAM Makes MMA Debut - Bodog Odds

This Saturday will be the first show put on by new MMA organization DREAM. This Japanese fighting organization was put together by members of K-1 and former PRIDE officials. The event will take place at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.

THE DREAM BEGINS

After PRIDE was bought out by Zuffa (owners of the UFC), a New Year’s Eve show was put on as a way to say goodbye to the fans. However, Japanese fans went wild for the event and weren’t particularly pleased by the intrusion of Zuffa. The show was a major financial success, enough so that those involved decided to put together a new organization.

Things got off on the right foot with an announcement that DREAM had signed Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic. The “Croatian Sensation” had just been released from his large UFC contract, and they smartly snatched up the popular European fighter. It was also confirmed that former PRIDE heavyweight champ Fedor Emelianenko would fight on their cards.

First up, DREAM will hold two 16-man grand prix events to crown their middleweight and lightweight champions. Saturday’s event will focus on lightweights and is titled, appropriately enough, Dream -1.

The main event will feature Mirko Filipovic taking on Tatsuya Mizuno. The rest of the matches on the card will be part of the lightweight tournament.

As you might expect, those groovy bastards over at Bodog are offering odds on all the tournament matches. If you‘re a real MMA fan, feel free to visit their site, register, and lay down a few wagers.

DREAM 1 - BODOG ODDS

Hayato “Mach” Sakurai (-800) vs. Hidetaka Monma (+500)

Gesias “JZ” Calvancante (-175) vs. Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki (+145)

Tatsuya “Crusher” Kawajiri (-850) vs. Kultar “Black Mamba” Gill (+550)

“The Endless Warrior” Mitsuhiro Ishida (-1100) vs. Bu Kyung Jung (+600)

Luiz Buscape Firmino (-240) vs. Kazuyuki Miyata (+190)

Andre Dida Amade (-135) vs. Eddie Alvarez (+105)

Artur Oumakhanov (-185) vs. Katsuhiko Nagata (+155)

Joachim “Hellboy” Hansen (-200) vs. Kotetsu Boku (+160)

For more MMA action, check out the following articles:

UFC 82 Fight Results

Kimbo Slice Fights

DREAM Makes MMA Debut - Bodog Odds

March Madness Bracket Contest from Bodog

This Sunday, March 16th, at 9pm EST, Selection Sunday will officially kick off March Madness. The 65 NCAA basketball teams will be announced, and everyone will then scramble to fill out their tournament brackets.

But before you mess with that $5 office bracket, you may want to stop and concentrate on one very special bracket being offered. I’m talking about the one over at Bodog sports book.

BODOG BRACKET CONTEST

Our good pals at Bodog are offering $1 million to anyone who can pick a perfect NCAA bracket. While the odds are certainly long, the world’s leading sportsbook is also offering prizes of $5,000, $2,500, Ipods, tote bags and iTunes and Amazon gift cards.

As soon as the participating teams are announced on Sunday, you’ll have until the first game on Thursday, March 20th, to enter your bracket. What have you got to lose?

MARCH MADNESS

Everyone seems to love March Madness. In fact, it’s only second to the Super Bowl when it comes to the amount of money wagered. Millions of gamblers can’t be wrong (well, at least not all the time)! Heck, even the Republican candidate for President, John McCain, was offering supporters a chance to get in on a bracket (just for fun).

It’s just that big.

And since you don’t want to be the only person around the water cooler not talking about March Madness, head on over to Bodog and get in on the action.

Oh, and they also take bets on the games.

For more NCAA action, check out the following:

NCAA Bubble Watch

March Madness Greatest Upsets

March Madness Bracket Contest from Bodog

Gambling Addicts Sue Over Losses

There have been two recent cases involving chronic gamblers suing either bookmakers or casinos over their massive losses. Let’s take a look at both, shall we?

BRIT SUES BOOKMAKER

On Wednesday, a British court ruled against Graham Calvert. A former greyhound trainer, Calvert was suing the William Hill chain of bookmakers for allowing him to place telephone bets even though he asked them to close his account. Calvert claims this cost him his marriage, health and job.

While wagering on horse racing and golf, Calvert lost more than 2 million pounds (roughly 4 million U.S. dollars). The High Court judge ruled that Calvert’s behavior was to blame for his ruin, not William Hill.

Before that, he was making about 50,000 pounds a year betting on greyhound racing, but they eventually limited his bets based on his insider knowledge of the sport. So he turned to golf and horse racing, losing 347,000 pounds on one bet during the 2006 Ryder Cup competition.

Somehow, I don’t think William Hill will be accepting any bets from him in the future. Luckily, there’s always Bodog sportsbook, which is far better, anyway.

FORMER LAWYER SUES CASINOS

In another case of sour grapes, a former attorney and TV commentator is suing seven casino in Atlantic City and Las Vegas. The reason? They failed to stop her compulsive gambling, which eventually led to her losing $1 million and her career.

Arelia Margarita Taveras was disbarred after taking $99,000 from escrow accounts for divorce and real estate clients to fund her gambling habit. These days, she works at a call center as an operator.

She is suing six Atlantic City casinos and one Vegas casino for a total of $20 million.

“They knew I was going for days without eating or sleeping,” she said. “They had a duty of care to me.”

Honey, the only duty the casino has is to take your freakin’ money. What a couple of pinheads.

The moral of the story? Don’t gamble anything that you can’t afford to lose. It’s that simple.

Speaking of simple, why not register with Bodog’s casino? It really couldn’t get any easier, just don’t sue us if you lose.

For more gaming news, see the following:

NCAA Basketball Bubble Watch

European Union Demands Money from U.S.

Gambling Addicts Sue Over Losses

NBA Power Rankings for March

May is right around the corner, and that means NBA teams are gearing up to make one last push for the playoffs. While teams like the Houston Rockets peak just a bit too soon, teams such as the Mavericks hope to bide their time and catch on fire when it really matters.

It’s still hard to believe that we might actually see a Celtics/Lakers final. I’m not holding my breath, but I’m sure David Stern can barely contain himself.

In case you haven’t been following the season that closely, here’s the most recent power rankings to give you an idea of who stands where. This list was generated by Marc Stein of ESPN. Current records are listed next to each team.

NBA POWER RANKINGS

30. Memphis Grizzlies (14-45)

29. New York Knicks (18-45)

28. Miami Heat (11-50)

27. Seattle SuperSonics (16-47)

26. Minnesota Timberwolves (14-48)

25. Milwaukee Bucks (23-40)

24. Indiana Pacers (24-39)

23. LA Clippers (20-41)

22. New Jersey Jets (26-37)

21. Charlotte Bobcats (24-39)

20. Chicago Bulls (25-38)

19. Atlanta Hawks (26-36)

18. Washington Wizards (30-32)

17. Sacramento Kings (28-35)

16. Toronto Raptors (34-28)

15. Portland Trail Blazers (33-30)

14. Philadelphia 76ers (30-33)

13. Orlando Magic (40-24)

12. Cleveland Cavaliers (36-27)

11. Denver Nuggets (37-25)

10. Golden State Warriors (39-2