Marta shines as Brazil cruises past New Zealand

Soccer Betting Lines

09/12/2007 - Wuhan, China (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Reigning FIFA Player of the Year Marta scored two goals as Brazil started its World Cup with a dominating 5-0 win over New Zealand on Wednesday.

Marta scored both goals in the second half and Daniela, Christiane and Renata also scored for Brazil, which led just 1-0 at halftime.

New Zealand remained winless in World Cup play, falling to 0-4 all time. The team was making its first appearance since the inaugural event in 1991.

Brazil opened the scoring in the 10th minute on a great goal from Daniela. The play was set up by a long pass down the left sideline to Christiane, who headed the ball back to Daniela about 35 yards from goal.

Daniela settled the ball and made a quick touch forward and to her right to set up a 30-yard effort, Her swerving, dipping shot sailed over New Zealand goalie Jenny Bindon and under the crossbar.

Although Brazil controlled most of the possession throughout the first half, it didn't have another great scoring chance until the 40th minute. Christiane had the chance, but put a header just over the crossbar.

Marta, who was also the runner-up for 2005 FIFA Player of the Year, didn't touch the ball until nearly midway through the opening half. The first few times she had the ball, she was swarmed by numerous New Zealand defenders.

Marta started to flash her skills late in the first half and made impressive moves on one play late in the half at the top of the 18 to set up a teammate for an open shot.

She continued to dazzle early in the second half as she continuously drew as many as three defenders. She had a great chance early in the second half but put a shot well high.

Brazil started to dominate early in the second half and New Zealand, which rarely had the ball in Brazil's end in the opening half, was unable to keep the ball for more than a touch or two at a time.

Miraldes delivered Brazil's first strong chance after the break, putting a header high in the 53rd minute off a corner from Daniela.

Just one minute later, Brazil extended its lead on another great strike from outside the box. Christiane had a great individual effort with three defenders in front of her to set the ball up for a left-footed shot, which she hammered toward the upper left corner. Bindon made a diving attempt, but the shot was unstoppable and sailed into the upper left corner.

Brazil continued to threaten as Daniela barely missed her second goal with a shot off the crossbar in the 65th minute.

In the 73rd, Marta finally found enough space to get an open look on goal and didn't waste the opportunity. Christiane sprung Marta with a short pass into the left side of the box and Marta fired a shot that went off the hands of Bindon and into the lower right corner.

Brazil made it 4-0 in the 86th minute on Renata's blast from 40 yards out. She blasted a shot that started out heading toward the middle of the goal and bent into the right side of the net past a diving attempt from Bindon.

Marta continued to make up for her sluggish start, scoring her second goal in extra time. She got the ball on the top right side of the box and went left to line up a shot, which she hit with her left foot just inside the right post.

Marta picked up where she left off in the 2003 World Cup, where she had three goals in four games as a 17-year-old.

Brazil, ranked eighth in the world, continues Group D play on Saturday against hosts China. New Zealand plays Denmark on Saturday.

Wwebmillion Soccer Betting News

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Numerous College Basketball teams take final big step to March Madness betting

So, what turned on the lock spigot? Well, after what felt like weeks of teams treading water and slipping back into the bubble muck, a bunch of them finally decided to say "to heck with parity" and won games that should put them into the Big Dance.

Disagree with some of these? Then here's the challenge. Take all of the "should be ins" and make a legit case that each should be ahead of the team that's a lock. Then find 10 more teams that also should be placed in the bracket ahead of that lock team. Not so easy, is it?

If you want more evidence that these locks should be good to go, check out what our research department dug up. Since the NCAA Tournament went to 64 teams in 1985, only six teams from a "big six" conference have had a record of 10-6 or better in conference play and not been selected: Colorado (2004) and Nebraska (1999) from the Big 12, Boston College and Seton Hall (both 2003) from the Big East, Indiana (2005) from the Big Ten and UCLA, which somehow went 12-6 in the Pac-10 in 1988 and still missed out. (Note: Five teams went 11-7 and didn't get in, the latest being last season's Stanford team, which had a brutal nonconference run.)

Yes, 10 conference wins doesn't always mean what it used to because of unbalanced schedules, but this season, it should be plenty good in all but the extreme cases (see: Iowa).

In a way, this is a welcome development, because this is a bubble watch, not a lock watch. We can finally be done with teams like Maryland and Virginia Tech and start really bearing down on at-large battles such as Syracuse-West Virginia and Appalachian State-Georgia Tech.

Interestingly, all the shifting of teams into lock status appears to be more administrative than impactful. The number of remaining available at-larges didn't change one iota. The only difference is that teams on the bubble now have a clearer idea of which team(s) they are competing with for those precious bids.

The Bubble Breakdown
CONFERENCE LOCKS SHOULD BE INS AT-LARGES TAKEN
(assuming no auto bid outlier)
ACC Betting Odds 6 0 5
Big East Betting Odds 5 0 4
Big Ten Betting Odds 2 2 3
Big 12 Betting Odds 3 0 2
Pac-10 Betting Odds 5 1 5
SEC Betting Odds 4 0 3
MVC Betting Odds 1 1 1
MWC Betting Odds 2 1 2
TOTAL 28 5 25

As always, I've tried to be as inclusive as possible while only including teams that would have a reasonable chance of at least being discussed if this were Selection Sunday. If your team's not on here, there's probably a good reason (or three) -- start with the RPI and SOS numbers and work your way down.

(Please remember, per selection committee criteria, that records displayed are Division I only. Next update: Feb. 28)

If you have a legitimate grievance, or just like talking bubble, send an e-mail. Polite ones with fact-based arguments have a much better chance of receiving a response. I apologize in advance if I can't get back to all of you.

Atlantic Coast Conference

Work left to do: Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech

The ACC moves to six locks as BC, Va Tech and Virginia all got their 10th ACC wins, which should be more than enough this season, and Maryland rallied past North Carolina to get the final piece the Terps needed. After that? It could end there unless FSU, Ga Tech or Clemson picks things up in a hurry.

 

Work left to do:

Clemson [19-9 (5-9), RPI: 41, SOS: 42] The Tigers are closer to locking up the collapse of the year award (in a good battle with OK State) than they are to grabbing an at-large. Clemson's been very competitive, but there's no really positive way you can spin nine losses in 11 games. They now cannot get to .500 in ACC play and still must head to Virginia Tech in the season finale (after hosting Miami). Unless the Tigers win both and/or do some serious work in the ACC tourney, they very well could be left out. There are no great nonconference wins, but ODU, App State, Miss. State, South Carolina and Georgia are all respectable W's.

Florida State [18-11 (6-9), RPI: 48, SOS: 14] The Noles got thrashed at Maryland to run their losing streak to five, but then pounded NC State at home to set the table for what likely is an elimination game at Miami. You can at least make a case for the Seminoles at 7-9 in ACC play (and some work in the ACC tourney), but 6-10 is not going to cut it. Wins at Duke and over Florida will resonate, but the computer numbers remain questionable. Beyond Florida, FSU thrashed bubble buddy Providence, but there's not a ton beyond those two games that will help. They didn't show well in big-time opportunities against Pitt and Wisconsin (before the Florida win).

Georgia Tech [18-10 (6-8), RPI: 51, SOS: 46] The Jackets beat Wake on Wednesday but couldn't get it done at UVa on Saturday, which could be a crucial loss with UNC and BC (both at home) remaining and 8-8 almost a certain need for at-large consideration. A nonconference win over Memphis helps, but the RPI and SOS are not at-large quality right now; if you combine those with a sub-.500 ACC mark, that could spell NIT for GT.

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