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05/20/2010 - Madrid, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Bayern Munich's Hamit Altintop has sat on the bench a lot this season, going unused in more than 20 matches, but don't look for him there Saturday in the Champions League final against Inter Milan.
Coach Louis van Gaal left the Turkey international on the bench for the entire match 15 times during a 22-game span at one point this season.
Altintop made just start one after the winter break until late March, when he was thrust back into an important role in the Champions League.
Van Gaal used Altintop in the first game of the Champions League quarterfinals against Manchester United with Dutch winger Arjen Robben out. Altintop was on the field against Schalke a few days later as well, but went back to the bench and even went unused in the ensuing weeks.
Altintop continued to play his role on the Bundesliga and Pokal Cup champions without causing a problem, and replaced suspended winger Franck Ribery against Lyon in the second leg of the Champions League semifinals.
Bayern, with Altintop playing a big role, won the second leg 3-0 in France to seal the series on aggregate 4-0.
With Ribery also suspended for the final, Van Gaal's obvious choice is to hand Altintop another start Saturday at the Bernabeu in Madrid at 2:45 p.m. (ET).
"Hamit has shown what he can do," Robben, who leads the club with 23 goals in all competitions, said on the team's website.
Altintop has 12 starts this season and has come off the bench 13 times, but in France a few weeks ago played his best match of the season. He assisted on one of Ivica Olic's three goals, and was involved all over the pitch.
Although Altintop has played a quieter role this season, he joked "I've always been around, even if you weren't aware of it." Although he has just one goal - in the Pokal Cup - he is a better defensive player than Ribery and can also be a weapon in the attack.
Altintop will try to compensate for Ribery's absence again, this time against a Jose-Mourinho led Inter side that disposed of defending champion Barcelona in the semifinals.
Bayern advanced to the final the hard way, losing 3-2 in the second leg of its Round of 16 series against Fiorentina and quarterfinal clash against United to advance on away goals following 4-4 aggregate draws.
Although Bayern rolled past Lyon, which knocked out Real Madrid earlier in the tournament, Inter Milan provides an even tougher challenge. With the exception of Ribery, though, Van Gaal has his first-choice lineup.
If Altintop, who played a great Euro 2008 tournament for Turkey, plays another game like he did against Lyon - he should have space to roam with Inter sure to focus on Robben - Van Gaal and Bayern won't feel Ribery's loss as much.
Bayern is searching for its fifth Champions League title, with its last win in 2001 against Valencia. Bayern also won three straight from 1974-76.
Inter also has to compensate for a banned player, with influential midfielder Thiago Motta suspended for the final. Inter is vying for its third Champions League crown, and first in 45 years. Inter won in 1964 and 1965.
Mourinho's plan to replace Motta won't be known until his squad gets onto the field, but the presence of Wesley Sneijder - who like Robben was sold by Real Madrid last summer - will go a long way again for the Italian champions.
Bayern and Inter have met four previous times in European play, with Bayern on top with two wins and a draw. The teams last played in the 2006-07 Champions League, when the teams tied the first leg 1-1 in Munich and Bayern won 2-0 in Italy in the group stage.
That was before Van Gaal and Mourinho arrived at their current clubs. Van Gaal and Mourinho have both won the Champions League before, Van Gaal with Ajax in 1995 and Mourinho with FC Porto in 2004.
Van Gaal was a mentor for Mourinho, widely regarded as one of the best coach's in the world, when he was head man at Barcelona and Mourinho was an assistant. Saturday's final will prove if the teacher is smarter than the student.
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BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
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