...ichick didn't like the performance and sent the starters back out for the second half, injuries be damned! They followed the next few weeks with dominating performances on the way to winning another Super Bowl title.

With the four remaining teams, does anything stand out? Yes, defense! Carolina and Pittsburgh are ranked No. 3 and 4 in the NFL in total defense, with the Broncos and seahawks at No. 15 and 16. More important is run defense, and notice that all the remaining teams are in the top 5 in the NFL at stopping the run! It goes Denver (2nd), Pittsburgh (3rd), Carolina (4th) and Seattle (5th). One of those will win the Super Bowl, so again, stuffing the run is a huge key to building a championship defense.

That hasn't translated into a significant amount of unders for those teams, but keep in mind that 6 of the 8 playoff games thus far have gone under the total. Yes, it should come as no shock that defense wins championships in all sports, once again!

...more

Super Bowl Props: Do Your Homework

...fourth quarter points! If youre keeping score, thats 7-0 the last seven years where there has been more scoring in the second half than the first half.

In the Broncos/Packers Super Bowl before that, the teams combined for 31 first half points, then 24 second half points. So we have to go back to 1998 to find the last time the first half won that wager. This doesnt guarantee that there will be more second half scoring this Sunday, of course, but my point is to show you what handicappers do when assessing whether a prop bet is worth a wager or not. There are dozens of interesting prop bets to examine this Sunday. So get out there and find ones you think may be worth wagering on. But dont stop there: Do your homework to support your findings!more

FIFA World Cup 2006 England Glory - 1966 / 2006

...ountry with the once largest of empires has, at one time or another, trounced on or been instrumental in shaping the modern world as we know it. It seems logical that someone would want to get their own back by beating the national football team.

Many of the England naysayers believe that the England team lacks the personality and passion to bring home the cup. Although a personality is great for the cameras, the one ingredient that is surely more important is playing the game of football and scoring goals, and with the current England line up we have the best chance since 1966. Roll on World Cup 2006

...more

World Cup 2006 - Reaction To Group Stage Draw

...e straight forward. Iran have won just once in six World Cup finals matches while first-timers Angola may find the step up difficult, despite finishing top of a tough qualifying group containing Nigeria and Zimbabwe.

GROUP E
italy 11/1
Ghana 250/1
usa 100/1
Czech Republic 33/1

A very tough group to predict. Both italy and world number two Czech Republic will be expected to qualify, although the usa, themselves ranked eighth in the world, will also fancy their chances of progression. Ghana are one of the stronger African participants and are capable of causing an upset.

GROUP F
Brazil 16/5
Croatia 80/1
Australia 125/1
Japan 250/1

A favourable draw for Brazil who should qualify as comfortable winners of this group. Croatia failed to qualify for the second round in 2002 and may miss out again to Japan, who topped their group four years ago at the expense of fancied european sides Belgium and Russia. australia have the players capable of springing a few surprises but lack of experience at this level may go against...more

Directory Teacher Yoga