Hamlin edges Newman for Atlanta pole

Autoracing Betting Lines

09/04/2010 - Hampton, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Denny Hamlin earned his first pole of the season by topping Ryan Newman in Saturday's qualifying for the Emory Healthcare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Hamlin turned in a lap of 187.380 m.p.h. around the fast 1.54-mile oval for his eight career Sprint Cup Series pole, but his first since last October at Fontana, CA. He also gave Joe Gibbs Racing its 50th pole in the series.

"I was very optimistic, no matter what happened in qualifying, said Hamlin, who notched his first pole in 11 races at Atlanta. "I told myself, 'I knew I had a race-winning car come [Sunday] night.' So this is just a huge bonus for us, because I typically am very bad in qualifying. For us to be anywhere near the front is very uplifting for this team."

Hamlin, currently fifth in points, is tied with Jimmie Johnson for most victories in the series so far with five each. Johnson, the four-time defending series champion, presently sits ninth in points. Just two races remain in the regular season before the championship Chase begins later this month at New Hampshire.

Newman qualified 0.05 seconds behind Hamlin to capture the outside pole. Newman shares the record with Buddy Baker for most poles at Atlanta with seven each.

Kyle Busch captured the third spot, followed by Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart.

Martin Truex Jr., Johnson, Juan Pablo Montoya, David Ragan and Kasey Kahne completed the top-10. Kahne is the defending race winner. He also won the pole for the Nationwide race here earlier in the day.

Clint Bowyer, who currently holds the 12th and final spot for the Chase, qualified 14th. Jamie McMurray, who trails Bowyer by 100 points, will start 12th.

Points leader Kevin Harvick will roll off 29th.

Jason Leffler, Landon Cassill, Scott Riggs and Todd Bodine failed to qualify.

Sunday's 500-mile race at Atlanta is scheduled to start shortly after 7:30 p.m. (et).

Sportventureclub Autoracing Betting News

<< Texans release 21; officially sign RB Ward
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Texans released 21 players, sent three others to various reserve lists, and officially signed running back Derrick Ward as part of their roster maneuvers on Saturday. The Texans released quarterback

<< L.A. escapes Chicago with dramatic draw
Bridgeview, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Omar Gonzalez scored in stoppage time and the Los Angeles Galaxy escaped Toyota Park with a 1-1 draw against the 10-man Chicago Fire on Saturday, despite a missed penalty from Landon Donovan and a late go

<< Quality Road rebounds to win Woodward Stakes
Saratoga Springs, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Odds-on favorite Quality Road shook loose at the head of stretch Saturday to win the $750,000 Woodward Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. It was the colt's fourth win in five starts this year. The c

<< Bengals chop 22, including WR Jones, K Rayner
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Wide receiver Matt Jones and kicker Dave Rayner were among the players released by the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday, as the team reduced its roster to the 53-man NFL limit. Jones, a former first-round pick

<< Snedeker joins Day in Deutsche Bank lead
Norton, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brandt Snedeker fired a seven-under 64 Saturday to join Jason Day in the lead after 36 holes of the Deutsche Bank Championship, the second of four FedExCup series playoff events. Day, who shared the first-round

Ducks dominate in opener against New Mexico >>
Eugene, OR (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kenjon Barner rushed for 146 yards and four touchdowns on 17 carries as 11th-ranked Oregon used a powerful first half to dismantle New Mexico, 72-0, in the first-ever meeting between the schools

25th-ranked West Virginia opens by blanking Coastal Carolina >>
Morgantown, WV (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Geno Smith completed 20-of-27 passes for a career-high 216 yards and two touchdowns in his first collegiate start and Noel Devine ran for 111 yards and a score to lead West Virginia to a 31-0 drubbin

Giants make cuts, QB Bomar among them >>
East Rutherford, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Quarterback Rhett Bomar was among the players released by the New York Giants on Saturday, as the team reduced its roster to the 53-player maximum. Bomar, a fifth-round 2009 draft choice out of Sam Hous

Thome passes Big Mac on HR list as Twins rout Rangers >>
Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jim Thome hit two homers to pass Mark McGwire for ninth place on the all-time home run list, and the Minnesota Twins pummeled the Texas Rangers, 12-4, at Target Field. Thome now has 584 career home

Vikings Release WR Walker, 19 others >>
Eden Prairie, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Veteran wide receiver Javon Walker was among the players released by the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday, as the team reduced its roster to the 53-player NFL maximum. Walker, who was signed in August after a

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.