Gordon edges Biffle for pole at MIS

Autoracing Betting Lines

08/17/2007 - Brooklyn, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Going out last, Jeff Gordon captured the pole for Sunday's 3M Performance 400 at the Michigan International Speedway. The No.24 Hendrick Motorsports driver circled the high-speed, two-mile oval in 38.090 seconds (189.026 m.p.h.).

The pole victory was Gordon's series-leading sixth of the season, fifth at MIS and 62nd of his Nextel Cup career.

"Welcome back Steve Letarte," said Gordon of his crew chief, who returns from a six-race suspension. "We have good chemistry and that late draw really played out for us. I knew it was a good lap, I didn't know if it was enough for the pole,"

Starting on the front row with Gordon will be Greg Biffle, who held the top spot for about 60 seconds. Biffle went out next-to-last and posted a time of 38.159 seconds.

Kasey Kahne (38.193), who held the provisional pole for most of the session will start third and Bobby Labonte (38.271) will start from fourth place.

Other drivers of note and their starting positions: Jimmie Johnson (seventh), Denny Hamlin (eighth), Clint Bowyer (ninth), Carl Edwards (13th), Jeff Burton (19th) and Tony Stewart (35th).

Just four races remain until the cutoff for the "Chase for the Nextel Cup." Following an eventful Sunday in upstate New York, the picture is becoming clearer as to who is a contender and who is just a pretender.

The race for the final position in the "Chase" appears to be coming down to Kurt Busch, his Penske teammate Ryan Newman, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Biffle.

One thing is for sure, Busch, starting 15th, is a championship contender. The No.2 Miller Lite Penske Racing Dodge driver has been on fire since the Pepsi 400 in early July. In his last five starts, Busch has one win (Pocono), three top-10s and finished no lower than 11th.

Newman, starting 34th on Sunday, has been just outside the "Chase" all season and unfortunately appears on a course to stay there. Just two top-10s in the last five races and a accident that left him 42nd at Indianapolis has left him with only a slim chance at making NASCAR's "playoffs."

Earnhardt Jr. (starting 39th) is 100 points out of the playoffs and has finished 34th or worse in three of the last five events. Not exactly the way to make a move up the charts. At Watkins Glen, Earnhardt Jr. finished 42nd after an engine failure, his team's second in the last three events.

Biffle is 15th in the standings, but 212 points out of the "Chase." It's a tall order for Biffle to jump over three drivers and that many points. The team has been solid of late, but not extraordinary, which is what will be needed over the next month if the No.16 Roush Fenway Ford team is to make the leap into the "Chase."

Follow the race and the "race-within-the-race" when the green flag drops on Sunday at 2 p.m. (et).

Jazzspors Autoracing Betting News

<< PSV begins quest for fourth-straight league crown
Almelo, Holland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - PSV Eindhoven captured its third consecutive Eredivisie crown on the season's final day last year, but the club will be looking to win another title in more convincing fashion this season. PSV wa

<< Federer sneaks into Cincy semis
Mason, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - World No. 1 Roger Federer needed all three sets to win his quarterfinal match Friday at the $2.45 million Western & Southern Financial Group Masters -- the seventh of nine ATP Masters Series events this seaso

<< Klose goes for milestone against former club
Bremen, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - All eyes will be on Miroslav Klose on Saturday as the former Werder Bremen striker returns home as a member of Bayern Munich in search of his 100th Bundesliga goal. Klose joined Bayern from W

<< RSL tries to start winning streak against Chicago
Salt Lake City, UT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Real Salt Lake will be looking to put together its first winning streak in almost a year Saturday night when it hosts Chicago at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Both teams are currently out of the playo

<< Toronto hopes to stop six-game slide
Toronto, Canada (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Toronto FC will be trying to win its first game since July 4, when it welcomes Chivas USA to BMO Field on Saturday afternoon. Mo Johnston's club has not won in six straight outings, and has not sco

Jones' two-run blast lifts Cubs over Cardinals >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jacque Jones hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning and Rich Hill twirled seven strong frames, as the Chicago Cubs edged the St. Louis Cardinals, 2-1, in the opener of a key four-game division series at Wrig

Red Sox pound Lackey in game one of day-night doubleheader >>
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - David Ortiz blasted a two-run homer as part of a six-run first inning, and the Boston Red Sox made Clay Buchholz a winner in his major league debut with an 8-4 victory over the LA Angels of Anaheim in the fro

Blue Jackets' Svitov inks deal with Russian Super League >>
Columbus, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Columbus forward Alexander Svitov, who signed a two-year contract with the Blue Jackets on July 2, has also inked a deal with the Russian Super League and intends to play there in 2007-08. The 24-yea

BoSox place Mirabelli on 15-day DL >>
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Red Sox placed catcher Doug Mirabelli on the 15-day disabled list Friday after the veteran left the team's opener of a day-night doubleheader against the LA Angels of Anaheim with a straine

Orioles' Ray has Tommy John surgery >>
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Baltimore Orioles closer Chris Ray underwent Tommy John surgery Thursday, a procedure that will sideline him for this and possibly the entire 2008 season. Ray was placed on the disabled list on July 2

Super Bowl XLIV Odds

Super Bowl XLIII isn't even a week old yet and oddsmakers have already released Super Bowl XLIV odds.

Despite the Pittsburgh Steelers winning Super Bowl 43, the New England Patriots are 8/1 favorites to win Super Bowl 44.

Bet Super Bowl XLIV Future Odds

With their 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, the Steelers became the latest NFL champion. But believe it or not, oddsmakers from online sports book MySportsbook.com don't have the Steelers the favorites to win Super Bowl XLIV next season.

That honor belongs to the New England Patriots, who are 8/1 favorites to win despite not even qualify for the postseason in 2008. The Pats also have a major decision to make regarding what to do with Matt Cassel, who played well in Tom Brady's (knee surgery) absence last year but is also a free agent this offseason.

Ironically, the Steelers aren't even oddsmakers second choice to win Super Bowl 44, as the Dallas Cowboys are listed right behind the Patriots at 9/1 despite not making the playoffs themselves. Clearly oddsmakers think the public will hop back on the Cowboys' bandwagon considering the immense talent they have and the opening of a brand new stadium.

After Dallas, then comes Pittsburgh at 10/1, but they share those odds with the New York Giants, who won Super Bowl XLII. The Indianapolis Colts and San Diego Chargers round out the top six teams at 12/1, while the Baltimore Ravens (14/1), Tennessee Titans (16/1), Carolina Panthers (18/1) and Philadelphia Eagles (18/1) complete the top 10.

The NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals got no love from oddsmakers as they were established as a 30/1 long shot to win next year's Super Bowl. They share those same odds with the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers – two teams that didn't even qualify for the postseason. Other long shots are the Kansas City Chiefs (100/1), Detroit Lions (100/1), St. Louis Rams (75/1) and Oakland Raiders (75/1).

To see a complete list of all the team's odds to win Super Bowl XLIV, check below.

NFL TEAM FUTURE ODDS TO WIN SUPER BOWL XLIV

New England Patriots 8/1

Dallas Cowboys 9/1

New York Giants 10/1

Pittsburgh Steelers 10/1

Indianapolis Colts 12/1

San Diego Chargers 12/1

Baltimore Ravens 14/1

Tennessee Titans 16/1

Carolina Panthers 18/1

Philadelphia Eagles 18/1

New Orleans Saints 20/1

Atlanta Falcons 25/1

Denver Broncos 25/1

Green Bay Packers 25/1

Jacksonville Jaguars 25/1

Minnesota Vikings 25/1

New York Jets 25/1

Arizona Cardinals 30/1

Chicago BearS 30/1

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30/1

Buffalo Bills 35/1

Houston TexaNS 35/1

Miami Dolphins 35/1

Washington Redskins 35/1

Seattle SeahawkS 50/1

Cleveland Browns 55/1

Cincinnati Bengals 60/1

San Francisco 49ers 60/1

Oakland Raiders 75/1

St. Louis Rams 75/1

Detroit Lions 100/1

Kansas City Chiefs 100/1

Odds as of: 2/2/09

Bet Super Bowl XLIV Future Odds

To visit this online sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.