Birmingham snaps up Zigic

Soccer Betting Lines

05/26/2010 - Birmingham, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Birmingham have completed the signing of Serbia striker Nikola Zigic from Spanish side Valencia.

Zigic has joined the Blues on a four-year contract after the two clubs agreed to an undisclosed fee believed to be in the region of $8.5 million.

The striker, who is part of Serbia's World Cup squad, has been linked with several moves to the Premier League in the recent past.

Valencia signed Zigic from Racing in 2007 but he struggled to hold down a starting place at the Mestalla.

He was loaned back to Racing last season where he scored an impressive 13 goals in 19 matches.

The 29-year-old has also scored 16 goals in 42 international appearances.

Speaking earlier in the month, agent Milan Calasan said: "He has always said would be interested in a move to England and if he was to go there it would have to be the right club that understands his characteristics."

Zigic is the third new signing made by Blues boss Alex McLeish since the Premier League season ended.

He has paid a reported $8 million for Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster and signed Spanish midfielder Enric Valles on a free transfer.

(Courtesy of sportbox.tv)

Wwwmysteries Soccer Betting News

<< Holden offered new Bolton deal
Bolton, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Owen Coyle has offered United States international Stuart Holden a new one-year contract with Bolton. A broken leg restricted the former Houston Dynamo midfielder to just three appearances for t

<< ChiSox survive Buehrle ejection, ninth-inning rally to top Tribe
Cleveland, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mark Kotsay hit a two-run homer and Mark Teahen drove in two runs as the Chicago White Sox survived a Cleveland rally in the ninth to earn a 5-4 win over the Indians in the rubber match of a three-g

<< Franco confirms West Ham exit
London, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mexico international Guillermo Franco has confirmed that he has played his last game in a West Ham shirt. The 33-year-old scored his country's consolation goal in Monday's 3-1 defeat to England at Wembl

<< Merida moves to Atletico Madrid
Madrid, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has allowed midfielder Fran Merida to move to Atletico Madrid on a free transfer. The 20-year-old Spaniard penned a four-year deal when he joined the Gunners from Barcelon

<< Smith signs on for one more year at Rangers
Glasgow, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Veteran Rangers manager Walter Smith has agreed to stay at Ibrox for one more season. It had been anticipated that the 62-year-old former Scotland and Everton boss would quit the financially-troubled

Shanahan not worried about Moss situation >>
Ashburn, VA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Washington Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan said Wednesday that he feels "very good" about the situation involving wide receiver Santana Moss and his link to a Canadian doctor charged with unlawful distrib

Pellegrini axed by Real Madrid >>
Madrid, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Real Madrid announced on Wednesday that the club has fired manager Manuel Pellegrini, which could pave the way for Jose Mourinho to take over at the Bernabeu. Pellegrini's job status has been in questi

Stanley Cup Finals Preview - Chicago vs. Philadelphia >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It's been nearly a half-century since the Chicago Blackhawks have claimed Lord Stanley's Cup as their own, but four more wins could finally bring another parade. Since last winning it all in 1961, the Blackhawks have lost

Reds place Janish on bereavement list >>
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cincinnati Reds placed infielder Paul Janish on the bereavement list on Wednesday. Janish, who is batting .276 with a home run and five RBI over 17 games this season, is attending his grandmother's

Probable Belmont Stakes favorite training at Saratoga >>
Elmont, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kentucky Derby runner-up Ice Box, the probable Belmont Stakes favorite, is being trained for the Test of Champions at Saratoga Race Course by Nick Zito. The colt will be one of two horses that the Hall of

Big East Conference odds

Work left to do: Villanova, Syracuse, DePaul, West Virginia, Providence

Notre Dame and Louisville appear to have done enough to make the move, so we'll make them locks. The Cardinals, despite a modest RPI, are trending way up and have clinched at least a tie for third in the Big East, which should be more than enough with their pair of big road wins. Villanova got back to .500 and gets back to more solid footing. Syracuse got a very important road win and crippled a fellow contender in the process. West Virginia's fate could be in its hands Tuesday at Pitt.

Work left to do:

Villanova [18-9 (7-7), RPI: 21, SOS: 5] Pounded Rutgers to get back to .500. If Cats can get their last two (at UConn, vs. Syracuse), that should be enough with strong computer numbers and a host of wins away from The Pavilion. The Cats have beaten Texas and swept the Big 5 (never easy in Philly), but have a couple of losses to bubble teams (Xavier, Drexel), too. I still think they'll be OK, possibly even at 8-8.

Syracuse [20-8 (9-5), RPI: 53, SOS: 62] History says 10 wins will be plenty, but it might be hard for the Orange to get that last one with a final two vs. G'town, which is trying to win the league title, and at Villanova, which will be desperate for a W. The relative lack of nonconference heft and the weak computer numbers are still concerns, but the Orange have won four in a row and got a very, very big win at Providence on Saturday.

DePaul [16-12 (8-7), RPI: 54, SOS: 18] Beat Cincy and should get past South Florida to get to 9-7, but then what? They have beaten Kansas and Cal (right after the DeVon Hardin injury) earlier this season, but also have lost to Bradley and Purdue, among others. They'll likely need a couple of BE tourney wins, too, but we'll see ...

West Virginia [19-7 (8-6), RPI: 58, SOS: 125] The game at Pitt on Tuesday night could decide the Mountaineers' fate (barring a deep tournament run). They can still get to 9-7 in the Big East without it by beating Cincinnati, but the nine wins would be against UConn, Villanova, St. John's, South Florida, DePaul, Rutgers, Seton Hall twice and the Bearcats. Beating bubble foes is fine, but where's the beef? Outside of beating PG-less UCLA in nonconference play (still a top quality win), there's not a lot to fall back on (besides maybe NC State). WVU vs. Syracuse would be an interesting debate, as the teams don't play in the Big East regular season. WVU has the best win, but Cuse has played the much better schedule.

Providence [17-10 (7-7), RPI: 70, SOS: 33] The Friars likely saw their at-large hopes die at home in the four-point loss to Syracuse, barring an unexpected run to the Big East semis or more. The RPI, bad already, won't be helped by playing St. John's and South Florida in the final two league games.

For more March Madness odds go to MySportsbook.com

For more College Basketball betting lines go to BettingExpress.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.