NFL Sports Betting News Tomlin expects Roethlisberger to practice this week 11/24 - 22:44   Pittsburgh, PA (Betting Express) - Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said quarterback Ben Roethlisberger sustained a concussion in Sunday's game against Kansas City, but added that he expects the veteran signal-caller to be back at practice this week after passing a series of tests on Monday. Roethlisberger was hurt in overtime of the 27-24 loss when he was struck in the helmet by the knee of Kansas City linebacker Derrick Johnson. "Monday, we brought him in and he took a battery of neurological tests, met with our medical staff. He passed those tests and felt fine," Tomlin said about the procedure Roethlisberger went through. "We can anticipate him practicing this week. He felt normal, felt fine. The tests showed no symptoms. We'll continue to monitor his condition and go on a day-to-day basis." When asked to clarify the severity of the concussion, Tomlin reluctantly used the term mild. "I hesitate to use the word 'mild' because concussions are not to be taken lightly," Tomlin stated, adding that the team and medical staff will watch Roethlisberger closely during the week. "If any symptoms re-occur, then we'll act appropriately." Tomlin also said backup Charlie Batch will undergo surgery Wednesday for a broken bone in his wrist area and would be sidelined for at least two weeks, depending on the outcome of the procedure. A plate will be inserted into the wrist to stabilize it. Batch was hurt during the overtime period against the Chiefs and his injury leaves the Steelers with former Oregon star Dennis Dixon as the backup. Dixon, drafted by the Steelers in 2008, has thrown just one pass in a regular-season game. Tomlin said the Steelers plan to sign a quarterback to the practice squad this week, as the team prepares for a Sunday night matchup with division-rival Baltimore. More NFL sports betting news

MLB Sports Betting News Pujols nabs second straight NL MVP Award 11/24 - 20:04   New York, NY (Betting Express) - For the second straight year and the third time in the last five seasons, St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols has been named the National League's Most Valuable Player, as voted on by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. This time, though, he was a unanimous choice. Pujols placed first on all 32 ballots cast by two writers from each NL city to receive a total of 448 points to easily outdistance Florida's Hanley Ramirez, as he became the first repeat winner of this award since Barry Bonds won four in a row from 2001-04. He is also the sixth NL player to be a unanimous selection and the first since Bonds in 2002. Pujols, who was also the NL's MVP in 2005, is the 10th player in baseball history to win this award three times. He is also the second Cardinal to complete the hat trick, joining St. Louis legend Stan Musial. This was the ninth consecutive top-10 finish in MVP voting for Pujols, who was second in 2002, 2003 and 2006, third in 2004, fourth in 2001 (his rookie year) and ninth in 2007. Pujols, who was also named the Sporting News Player of the Year and the Outstanding Player of the Year by the MLBPA this offseason, hit .327 with a career-best 47 home runs, 135 RBI, 124 runs scored, 45 doubles, one triple, and a team-high 16 stolen bases this year. He helped the Cardinals win the NL Central Division, but they were swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first round of the playoffs. "It was a great year for myself and for our organization, but we didn't accomplish what we wanted, which was getting into the World Series," said Pujols. "There's always next year. I believe we'll have a good team next year to get back to the postseason." The first baseman led the league in homers, runs, on-base percentage (.443) and slugging percentage (.658), while ranking third in RBI. Pujols, who also set a team record with five grand slams, is also the only major leaguer to hit at least 30 home runs and drive in 100 runs in each of his first nine seasons. Pujols' victory is the 14th by a first baseman in the NL, the most of any position. This also marks the 17th time a Cardinals player has been honored. Their total of MVP winners is the most in the NL and second only to the New York Yankees' 20 MVPs in the American League. Ramirez, who finished 215 points behind Pujols, led the NL with a .342 batting average in addition to hitting 24 home runs and finishing with 106 RBI. He also scored 101 runs and swiped 27 bases. Finishing third was Philadelphia first baseman and 2006 winner Ryan Howard, who ended the year with 45 home runs, 141 RBI with 105 runs scored, while hitting .279 Milwaukee's Prince Fielder and Colorado's Troy Tulowitzki completed the top- five. Rounding out the top-10 were Los Angeles' Andre Ethier, San Francisco's Pablo Sandoval, Philadelphia's Chase Utley, Chicago's Derrek Lee and Matt Kemp of the Dodgers. In all, 30 players received votes, but only Pujols, Ramirez and Fielder were on every ballot. More MLB sports betting news

NBA Sports Betting News Heavy-hearted Wizards edge Sixers 11/25 - 01:52   Washington, DC (Betting Express) - Antawn Jamison had 19 of his season-high 32 points in the second half, as Washington held off a late charge by Philadelphia to notch a 108-107 win just hours after the death of Wizards owner Abe Pollin. Nick Young totaled 20 points and Gilbert Arenas 17 with a game-high eight assists, as the Wizards pulled out only their second win in the last 10 -- and with heavy hearts. Pollin, along with his wife Irene, began ownership of the Bullets/Wizards franchise in 1964 and quickly established himself as a Washington sports pioneer -- taking ownership of the NHL's Capitals and WNBA's Mystics as well. He had since sold off both to minority partners in Washington Sports & Entertainment Limited Partnership, of which he and his wife are the majority owners, but remained in control of the Wizards as the league's longest tenured owner. "We knew it was another important game, but we wanted to get the win for Mr. Pollin," said Jamison. "Every game we knew he was watching. Every game we play from now on we know he's going to be watching as well, but from a better place. It was tough." The Sixers mounted a late charge with Lou Williams serving as catalyst but ultimately lost their third in a row and fifth in the last six games. Williams had 10 of his 26 points come in the final 3:13 of the game and had a potential game-winning jumper rim out at the buzzer. It was also the first game back in Washington for new Sixers coach Eddie Jordan, who served as the Wizards head coach under Pollin's watch for five- plus seasons. "There were terrific memories," said Jordan. "He hired me in 10 minutes and he was my biggest supporter. He had a passion for the game and a passion for his team. We'll miss him." Thaddeus Young scored 23 points and Samuel Dalembert posted 15 points and nine rebounds in the loss. The Sixers found themselves down 15 in the third quarter after Washington ripped off a 19-4 run during which Jamison and Nick Young combined for 15 points. Andray Blatche's runner capped the stretch with 3 1/2 minutes to go and allowed for a 74-59 advantage. Philadelphia scored the next five points to cut the lead to 10, and it ended up being, 85-75, in favor of Washington heading to the fourth. "We weren't going to lose this game for Mr. P," stated Arenas. "He treated us like family. He brought us in, he believed in us. No matter what anybody was saying out there, he always believed we were his guys from the beginning." Randy Foye drained a triple and Blatche followed with a layup to stretch Washington's lead to 13 early in the final period. Rookie Jrue Holiday came on for Williams moments later and made the most of his nine-plus minutes by knocking down a trio of three-pointers -- the last with just under 5 1/2 minutes remaining to draw the visitors within six, 98-92. Holiday then had a tip-in bucket fall to shave another two off the deficit and Williams sank a triple with 3:13 left for a 100-97 game. Blatche ran the Wizards' lead out to 104-99 with a short jumper, but Thaddeus Young quickly answered with a three-ball. The Sixers traded twos for threes as Williams hit from long distance after a Brendan Haywood dunk to inch closer at 106-105. Arenas and Williams traded baskets and Williams forced a turnover with 27.8 seconds left. Philadelphia ran the clock down and Williams held for the final shot, but his jumper from the right wing rimmed in and back out. "I felt like I had it going and it was a very makeable shot that rimmed out," said Williams. "I'll take that shot over and over again." The Wizards went ahead, 23-22, on back-to-back jumpers by Blatche and Nick Young to close out the first quarter while the Sixers reversed the deficit to go in front 46-45 at halftime on a Thaddeus Young bucket. Game Notes Jamison also grabbed 14 rebounds...Blatche had 14 points and five rebounds for Washington while Haywood ended with eight points and as many boards...Andre Iguodala scored 12 points with seven rebounds and five assists in the loss...Jason Smith posted 14 points and Holiday 11 with six boards in just 9:40 on the court...Washington's JaVal McGee had a career-high six blocks...Caron Butler sat for the Wizards with a sore ankle while Mike Miller was out with a calf injury...Philadelphia's Elton Brand was unavailable late in the fourth quarter with what the team is calling a sore right hamstring. He was 1-of-9 shooting for four points in 27:11 on the floor. More NBA sports betting news