Critical Notes

Jen Johnson (left) was voted out of the Big Brother house after Daniele Donato put her up for eviction. (Photo courtesy of CBS.com)

Like college roommates from hell, Dick Donato and Jen Johnson nearly came to blows - and one actually got burned - during a wicked hissyfit on Thursday’s eviction episode of “Big Brother 8″.

Jen, knowing she was about to be booted from the CBS show, went into hyper-bitch mode, stealing Dick’s cigarettes, breaking rules of the game and sulking her way out the door. When Dick finally did retrieve his cigs, he started smoking in Jen’s face, causing her to become rightly irate. She grabbed at the smoke and eventually ran her hand into the lit butt - ouch.

By the end of the show, she was ousted, promising revenge against Dick and his daughter, Daniele. The Donatos are effectively running the show at the moment and with only seven contestants remaining have a good chance of emerging on top. Daniele already had a highlight as she flew to New York, along with fellow contestant Amber Tomcavage, to take part in an episode of “Power of Ten”, which will air Tuesday.

Next week’s Head of Household on Big Brother is Jessica Hughbanks, whose nominations for eviction will go a long way toward determining the winner of the $250,00 grand prize. If she puts both Donatos up, the course of the program shifts.

Here are the latest Big Brother odds on who will win Season 8 of the hit CBS show:

Eric Stein - 4/1

Jameka Cameron - 6/1

Zach Swerdzewski - 9/1

Daniele Donato - 9/2

Jessica Hughbanks - 4/1

Amber Tomcavage - 8/1

Dick Donato - 7/1

For reality TV odds on your favorite shows and celebrity betting odds on the hottest stars, visit the Bodog Sportsbook’s entertainment section.

Ichiro Suzuki sparked a seven-run inning for the Mariners. (AI Wire photo)

The Texas Rangers should’ve saved some of those runs.

One night after putting up a record 30 runs in Baltimore, the Rangers could muster only four in a 9-4 defeat to the Seattle Mariners in Arlington, Texas, on Friday.

Led by a three-run double by Ichiro Suzuki, the Mariners improved to 18-7 in their last 25 games and built their lead in the American League wild-card race to two games over the idle New York Yankees. They also closed to within a game of AL West-leading Los Angeles.

Jose Guillen and Jose Vidro homered during a seven-run sixth inning that secured the win for Seattle, which paid -140 on the moneyline (meaning a winning wager of $140 would net a $100 profit).

Jeff Weaver improved to 6-10 as he won his fourth straight start.

In other key games in the majors on Thursday:

Toronto 5, Los Angeles Angels 4: Jesse Litsch (5-6) stunned the Angels in Anaheim with seven solid innings as Toronto pulled off the upset, paying out +146.

San Diego 9, New York Mets 8: Adrian Gonzalez homered in the 10th to lift the underdog Padres at Shea Stadium. San Diego paid +142 in a game that featured blown saves by both Billy Wagner and Trevor Hoffman.

Los Angeles Dodgers 5, Philadelphia 2: Chad Billingsley fanned seven Phillies and improved to 8-4 as the Dodgers won as -127 road favorites.

Cincinnati 9, Atlanta 7: Adam Dunn’s two-run blast in the 12th led the Reds to an upset at home, where they paid +114. It was Cincinnati’s third straight win and spoiled a career day for the Braves’ Chipper Jones, who had five RBIs.

For complete MLB odds for Friday, visit the Bodog Sportsbook.

Drew Brees was nearly perfect for the Saints. (AI Wire photo)

Last year, Drew Brees shocked the NFL with his consistency and output. He’s not sneaking up on anyone now. Brees is solidifying himself as a superstar quarterback and was outstanding again Thursday night in a preseason rout of the Kansas City Chiefs. The New Orleans Saints’ All-Pro was 17-for-19 for 182 yards and a touchdown in a 30-7 victory at Arrowhead Stadium.

Brees and the Saints hold Super Bowl odds of 8/1 and are 5/1 to win the NFC after falling short last season despite leading the league in offense. New Orleans, which beat the point spread that favored Kansas City by 2.5, went up 30-0 in the second half on two TD runs by backup Pierre Thomas. New kicker Olindo Mare, formerly of Miami, was 3-for-3 on field-goal attempts.

One reason for the Chiefs’ poor play was the fact starting QB Damon Huard didn’t take the field. He sat out as coach Herm Edwards gave his backups a closer look. Also, running back Larry Johnson, who ended a holdout earlier in the week by signing a $50-million deal, didn’t play.

For Super Bowl odds and NFL exhibition odds for the weekend, visit the Bodog Sportsbook, where you will also get NFL betting tips.

Donald Driver was injured during the second quarter against Jacksonville. (AI Wire photo)

One goal of the NFL preseason for every team is to come out of it unscathed by injury. The Green Bay Packers had a scare on Thursday night when wide receiver Donald Driver, who caught 92 passes last season, went down late in the first half. Driver was carted off the field with an ankle injury, but early indications were he would be all right and ready for the season opener on Sept. 9.

The Packers also lost the game, 21-13, as the Jacksonville Jaguars scored all of their points in the second half at Lambeau Field. The Jaguars’ offense got two touchdowns with backup quarterback David Garrard in charge then had an interception return for a touchdown in the final minute. The Jags covered against the point spread of three points and the betting total was under 37. Garrard was 6-for-7 for 97 yards and a touchdown pass.

For Green Bay, Brett Favre played most of the first half and looked sharp, finishing 14-for-20 passing for 130 yards. He led the Packers to a field goal before departing the game. In the second half, rookie running back Brandon Jackson scored on a one-yard run.

For Super Bowl odds and NFL exhibition odds for the weekend, visit the Bodog Sportsbook, where you will also get NFL betting tips.

The shutout streak stops, but the winning streak reaches six for Brandon Webb. (AI Wire photo)

Brandon Webb didn’t quite make history, but he did get the win. For the Arizona Diamondbacks, that comes first.

Entering Wednesday night’s game, Webb carried a streak of 42 consecutive innings without allowing a run. He never extended it beyond that plateau as he surrendered a run in the top of the first inning to the Brewers. His teammates, though, didn’t let the reigning National League Cy Young winner down.

The Diamondbacks got a home run from Chris Young - his 26th - and rallied to beat Milwaukee, 3-2, in Phoenix. Jose Valverde threw a scoreless ninth to record his major league-high 38th save. With the win, heavily favored Arizona paid -230 on the moneyline (meaning a winning wager of $230 would net a $100 profit) and it also ended a three-game slide. The Diamondbacks remained 3.5 games ahead of the San Diego Padres in the NL West race.

In winning his sixth straight start, Webb (14-8) gave up two runs in seven innings. He had been chasing Orel Hershisher’s major league record of 59 shutout innings, a mark that was set in 1988. But Prince Fielder’s RBI single in the first ended the hunt.

In other late games in the majors on Wednesday:

New York Yankees 8, Los Angeles Angels 2: The Yankees bounced back from a trouncing the night before to salvage one game in the three-game set in Anaheim, Calif. Bobby Abreu was 2-for-5 with a home run as New York paid -120.

Chicago Cubs 4, San Francisco 2: A fielding error by the Giants’ Rajai Davis led to the winning run scoring in the 10th inning as the Cubs won on the road and rewarded their backers with a -111 payday.

For complete MLB odds for Thursday, visit the Bodog Sportsbook.

Stephon Marbury says ‘dogfighting is a sport’. (AI Wire photo)

You’d think Stephon Marbury would know better. A lightning rod for controversy throughout his career, the New York Knicks’ point guard stepped in where his publicist should’ve warned him he doesn’t belong. Speaking in Albany, N.Y., on Wednesday, Marbury compared dogfighting to hunting in a defense of Michael Vick, the embattled NFL quarterback in legal trouble over his role in illegal dogfighting in Virginia.

“I think, you know, we don’t say anything about people who shoot deer or shoot other animals. You know, from what I hear, dogfighting is a sport. It’s just behind closed doors,” Marbury told Capital News 9, a local station in upstate New York.

Maybe Marbury has a point, but we at the Beat see deer as a nuisance - road kill waiting to happen. While dogs are, well, man’s best friend and all. Not that Vick doesn’t deserve his day in court and guilty until proven innocence and all of that good stuff, but Stephon probably should’ve stuck to just doing what he was in town to do - sell overpriced basketball shoes to teenagers who can’t afford them.

“I think it’s tough that we build Michael Vick up and then we break him down,” Marbury said. “I think he’s one of the superb athletes, and he’s a good human being. I just think that he fell into a bad situation.”

Vick will enter a guilty plea on charges related to illegal dogfighting, according to his lawyer. With Vick in heat, the Atlanta Falcons’ Super Bowl odds have plummeted. No word on the ongoing investigation into prison league teams throwing games in order to get the No. 1 pick and the right to draft Vick as soon as he’s issued a cell.

Tom Brady and Bridget Moynahan are no longer an item, but they do have a baby together. (AP Images)

Captain America is now Super Dad.

Tom Brady became a father Wednesday when his ex, actress Bridget Moynahan, gave birth to a boy at a Los Angeles hospital, according to published reports. Brady, who is preparing to lead the New England Patriots into the NFL’s regular season, said this week the birth of his first child would be “a very joyous, happy situation.”

But certainly not as happy as it could be. The 30-year-old quarterback and Moynahan, 36, broke up last year after three years together. Brady is now dating Gisele Bundchen, a supermodel from France. It was unknown where Brady was during the birth. He has been practicing with the Patriots in Foxborough, Mass., but the team said they weren’t sure if he would play in their preseason game on Friday against the Carolina Panthers.

Moynahan and the baby are doing fine, according to her publicist.

The birth of his son could be only the beginning of happy occasions for Brady in the coming months. The Patriots hold Super Bowl odds of 8/5, making them the favorites to win their fourth championship this decade. Think they can do it? Visit the Bodog Sportsbook for the latest NFL odds and celebrity betting options on your favorite stars.

Andre Ethier homered and had three RBIs for L.A. (AI Wire photo)

On a day when Cole Hamels was supposed to pitch, the Philadelphia Phillies learned how valuable it is to have your ace healthy and on the mound.

Philadelphia, struggling to keep pace in the National League playoff race, sent J.D. Durbin to the hill instead of the injured Hamels and watched the floodgates open for the Dodgers. Los Angeles got offense from seemingly everywhere in its lineup en route to a 15-3 drubbing of the Phillies.

Andre Ethier had a two-run home run and added an RBI double while Matt Kemp shined with a 4-for-6 day and two runs driven in as the Dodgers paid -111 on the moneyline in Philadelphia (meaning a winning wager of $111 would net a $100 profit). James Loney also had three RBIs for L.A.

The benefactor of all the offense was Derek Lowe (10-11), who threw seven innings.

Hamels was placed on the disabled list prior to the game because of an elbow strain.

Durbin (5-3) surrendered five runs - four earned - over six innings.

In other early NL action on Wednesday:

San Diego 7, New York Mets 5: Jake Peavy (14-5) fanned 11 Mets as the Padres claimed a crucial win at Shea Stadium. Peavy gave up only two hits over six innings before turning the lead over to the Padres’ bullpen, which held the lead one night after blowing it. San Diego paid -155. The Padres moved one game ahead of Philadelphia in the NL wild-card race and two in front of Atlanta.

Cincinnati 4, Atlanta 2: Pitcher Bronson Arroyo hit a go-ahead single in the fifth inning and improved to 7-13 as the Reds beat the visiting Braves. Cincinnati paid -120.

St. Louis 6, Florida 4: Five games, five homers for Albert Pujols. The Cardinals’ slugger lifted his team to a home win that paid their backers -150.

Pittsburgh 11, Colorado 2: The Pirates had six home runs among their 17 hits as they won in Denver to pay +107.

Houston 3, Washington 2: Woody Williams (7-12) struck out eight Nationals and won his third straight decision as the Astros paid -142 at home. Ty Wigginton homered for the Astros.

For complete MLB odds for Thursday, visit the Bodog Sportsbook.

Marlon Byrd was a big part of the Rangers’ hit parade. (AI Wire photo)

The Texas Rangers made like the Texas Longhorns on Wednesday night, putting up a football-sized 30 on the Baltimore Orioles.

Marlon Byrd and Travis Metcalf hit grand slams as the Rangers became the first team since 1897 to score 30 runs in a game. They set an American League record in the 30-3 victory over the Orioles in front of a dazed crowd at Camden Yards.

The 30 runs were scored unanswered. Baltimore had taken a 3-0 lead in the opener of a doubleheader before Texas put up five runs in the fourth inning then nine in the sixth, 10 in the eighth and six more in the ninth. Although nine other teams have scored 30 runs in a game, no one had done it six the Chicago Colts smacked Louisville 36-7 on June 28, 1897, in a National League game.

The Rangers finished with 29 hits and paid +137 on the moneyline (meaning a winning wager of $100 would net a $137 profit). Oh, yeah, and the betting total went over.

“This is something freaky. You won’t see anything like this again for a long, long time. I am glad I was on this end of it,” Byrd said.

Fantasy baseball studs for the Rangers included Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Ramon Vazquez, who both hit two homers and had seven RBIs.

The Orioles’ Brian Burres gave up eight earned runs in just two-thirds of an inning.

Tampa Bay 2, Boston 1: The Devil Rays have Daisuke Matsuzaka’s number. Tampa Bay beat the Red Sox rookie for the third time this season as B.J. Upton hit a two-run homer. The home win paid +168.

Cleveland 11, Detroit 8: The Indians swelled their AL Central lead to 1.5 games over the Tigers with a win in Comerica Park that paid their backers +142. Franklin Gutierrez’s three-run homer led the way.

Minnesota 8, Seattle 4: The Twins avoided being swept at home as Carlos Silva (10-12) threw seven innings to notch his first win in August. Minnesota paid -112.

Oakland 4, Toronto 1: The Athletics won their fourth straight as they completed a sweep of the Blue Jays in Toronto. Oakland paid +170.

Kansas City 7, Chicago White Sox 6: Brian Bannister (10-7) retired 18 of the final 21 batters he faced and became the first Royals rookie to win 10 games since 1992. The visiting Royals paid -114.

For complete MLB odds for Thursday, visit the Bodog Sportsbook.

Garrett Anderson racked up 10 RBIs in the Angels’ win. (AI Wire photo)

Garrett Anderson single-handedly bashed the Bronx Bombers. The Angels’ clean-up hitter blasted two homers, including a grand slam, and drove in 10 runs as Los Angeles beat the New York Yankees for the second night in a row, claiming a 18-9 victory on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif. Anderson had a three-run shot in the third inning then hit his eighth homer of the season with the bases loaded in the sixth to put the game away. He finished 4-for-6 with three runs scored.

Vladimir Guerrero also homered. The Angels scored five runs in both the second and third innings. They chased Mike Mussina after only 1.2 innings.

With the win, the Angels stayed two games ahead of the Seattle Mariners in the Amercian League West race. The Yankees, meanwhile, fell behind both the Mariners and the Boston Red Sox as they aim to reach the postseason for the 12th straight year. New York trails Seattle by 2.5 games in the AL wild-card race and Boston by six games in the AL East chase.

The Angels were favored at -125 on the moneyline (meaning a winning wager of $125 would net a $100 profit). In-game wagering was available for the game through BodogLIVE.

Alex Rodriguez hit his 41st and 42nd homers in the loss.

In other AL action on Tuesday:

Boston 8, Tampa Bay 6: The Red Sox got two-run doubles from Coco Crisp and Julio Lugo in the fourth inning to power past the host Devil Rays. Boston, which scored five times in the fourth, paid -155. Jon Lester (2-0) went 5.1 innings, allowing five runs and four hits, and Jonathan Papelbon earned his 30th save.

Seattle 7, Minnesota 2: With back-to-back homers from Adrian Beltre and Richie Sexson, the Mariners boosted their winning streak to five games with a road win that netted +104 for their supporters. Jarrod Washburn improved to 9-10.

Detroit 2, Cleveland 1: Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Guillen hit solo homers and that was enough for the Tigers, who got a great performance for Jair Jurrjens, a pitcher from Curacao. Detroit paid +119 at home.

Oakland 6, Toronto 4: Dan Haren (14-4) surrendered three homers, but still won, helping the Athletics to a road win that paid their backers -117.

Baltimore 6, Texas 2: Erik Bedard (13-4) fanned 11 Rangers through seven innings to win his ninth straight decision as the Orioles paid -260 at home. Miguel Tejada and Aubrey Huff homered for Baltimore.

Chicago White Sox 5, Kansas City 2: Behind Jim Thome’s 493rd homer and Javier Vazquez’s third win in a row, the White Sox topped the visiting Royals. Vazquez improved to 11-6 as Chicago paid -154.

For complete MLB odds for Wednesday, visit the Bodog Sportsbook.