Schalke edges Stuttgart to grab first

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03/12/2010 - Gelsenkirchen, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kevin Kuranyi scored his 14th goal of the season to lead Schalke to a 2-1 win over Stuttgart on Friday and into first place in Germany's Bundesliga.

Schalke moved one point ahead of Bayern Munich, which can reclaim the top spot Saturday when Freiburg visits the Allianz Arena.

Edu and Kuranyi scored in the first 10 minutes of the second half at Veltins- Arena, a span that also included Serdar Tasci's goal for Stuttgart.

Edu replaced Jefferson Farfan to start the second half and scored less than a minute after entering when he slotted past Jens Lehmann to the bottom left.

Tasci headed home a pass from Zdravko Kuzmanovic in the 50th to pull Stuttgart level, but Kuranyi answered with the game-winner in the 55th. Heiko Westermann delivered the pass to Kuranyi deep inside the area and he finished from close range to move into a tie for the Bundesliga scoring lead.

Bayern had its 18-game unbeaten streak in all competitions snapped Tuesday at Fiorentina in a 3-2 loss but still advanced to the last eight in the Champions League on away goals after the aggregate finished 4-4.

Bayern just moved atop the Bundesliga two weeks ago but a 1-1 tie against Koln allowed Schalke to move into the lead after the opening game of the weekend.

The Munich club has matches against Schalke and Bayer Leverkusen over the next two weeks, and can't afford to drop points this week against Freiburg.

"We'd like to pull clear," Thomas Muller told Bayern's website. "What we have to do is win our matches and maybe open up a small gap."

Bayern was forced to use a new defense against Fiorentina, and it did show at times, but 17-year-old David Alaba played extremely well at left back. Diego Contento could return to the lineup Saturday after missing the midweek game in Italy with a knee problem, and one of those two teenagers will start.

Coach Louis Van Gaal will have selection problems this weekend with defenders Martin Demichelis and Christian Lell, striker Mario Gomez, midfielders Franck Ribery, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Hamit Altintop all out.

Captain Mark van Bommel is also doubtful, which would leave central midfield in the hands of Anatoliy Tymoshchuk and Danijel Pranjic.

"It's good we have so many great players in the squad, which means it won't be a problem," Muller said.

Also Saturday, Bochum hosts Borussia Dortmund, Mainz hosts Koln, Hertha Berlin hosts Nurnberg, Monchengladbach hosts Wolfsburg and Hannover hosts Eintracht.

On Sunday, Hoffenheim hosts Werder Bremen and Bayer Leverkusen hosts Hamburg.

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The Nebraska athletic department said in a release Monday that Lucky was admitted Sunday night.

MySportsbook.com has the Cornhuskers listed at +2500 to win the BCS National Championship odds.

A nursing supervisor at the hospital said all questions about Lucky were being referred to the athletic department. The athletic department said there would be no further comment from the department or Lucky's family.

A Lincoln Police spokesman said officers responded to a call at Lucky's residence 11:30 p.m. Sunday. The spokesman said he didn't know Lucky's condition at the time he was taken to the hospital.

Lucky, from North Hollywood, Calif., started six games last season as a sophomore and was the team's second-leading rusher, with 728 yards and six touchdowns. He also caught 32 passes for 383 yards. He averaged 19.1 yards on eight kickoff returns.

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FOOTBALL BETTING : Cassel Signs Contract

Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.

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After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
Patriots made him their franchise player, meaning his salary for this season will be about $15 million.
New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
"I go out there each and every day with that focus that I'm the starter," Cassel said during a June minicamp. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
In his only sustained action since his teens, he hit 349 of 555 passes for 3,949 yards at New England. He had 23 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as the Patriots, who had gone unbeaten through the regular season the year before, finished 11-5 and out of the playoffs.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."

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