Reading finished their Championship winning campaign in style, by beating Sunderland’s points record by one point. Graeme Murty’s late penalty, only his second goal for the club and first of the season, ensured the Royals beat Queens Park Rangers 2-1 and finished the season on 106 points.

Dave Kitson gave Reading the lead five minutes before the break but veteran Paul Furlong looked set to spoil the party when he equalised for the Hoops on 72. But Murty secured victory with six minutes left from the penalty spot, scoring 3/10 Reading’s 99th goal of the season.

Sheffield United beat Crystal Palace 1-0 to ensure the Eagles finished in the sixth and final play-off spot. Chris Morgan scored the only goal of the game with nine minutes remaining for the 20/21 Blades.

Watford got the point they needed to finish third in the table after a goalless draw against Hull at Vicarage Road. The 5/2 draw means Adrian Boothroyd’s men now take a five-match unbeaten run into the play-offs semi final against Crystal Palace.

Preston earned a psychological edge over play-off opponents Leeds after beating them 2-0 at Deepdale. Brian Stock scored direct from a free kick after 38 minutes for the 6/5 Lillywhites and Brett Ormerod added a second on 77.

Wolves finished the season one place off but eight points adrift of the play-off places with a 2-1 win at Norwich. Denes Rosa opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time and Mark Kennedy doubled Wolves’ advantage on 71. Robert Earnshaw hit back for the Canaries two minutes later but Glenn Hoddle’s side held firm at 14/5.

Coventry finished the season strongly at the expense of out-of-form Cardiff. Stern John broke the deadlock for the Sky Blues after eight minutes but the Bluebirds levelled through Steve Thompson on 21. Dele Adebola on 65 and Dennis Wise in stoppage time sealed a convincing Even money win at the Ricoh Arena.

Stoke boss Johan Boskamp ended his tenure in charge on a high after thumping Brighton 5-1, making a nonsense of the 8/5 odds available. Youngster Adam Rooney scored after 6 and 22 minutes before Mamady Sidibe made it three a couple of minutes before the break. Rooney completed his hat-trick on 63 and Peter Sweeny struck his first form the club on 82. Doug Loft grabbed a consolation two minutes later but the result condemned the Seagulls to bottom position in the table.

A poker players heads up play may be completely different than their regular play. Here are some tips to help you improve your heads up Texas Hold’em poker strategy.

Tip#1 – An Ace in the Hole

The #1 rule of heads up poker play is that when you have an ace as a hole card you will usually be in a dominant position pre flop. You should then raise/re-raise strong to see what the opponent’s reaction will be. Often times an opponent will fold (depending on the specific style of the poker player) for fear of the ace or a pocket pair. Sometimes you may get called but remember, in heads up poker players have a tendency to make loose calls. Odds are you will still be in a dominant position.

Tip #2 – Lower Your Expectations

While playing heads up Texas Hold’em poker, chances are that you cannot afford to wait on a good hand. A quality hand in heads up poker is not the same as when playing with a bigger group. You may have to settle with J-6 offsuit and just see what happens. The odds are that many times your opponent will have a bad looking hand as well.

Tip #3 – Try To Pick Up A Betting Pattern

Many poker players have an extremely difficult time playing heads up. Some collapse under the pressure and others become painstakingly obvious in how they bet in heads up. Make sure you keep an eye on your opponents betting habits. Every now and then you may want to call a hand that you know your probably beat in just to see what the opponent has. If you can pick up an opponents betting habits it’s almost as if they are showing you their hands.

Tip #4 – Mix Up Your Play

Even if you are not getting the best of cards you must always try to mix up your play to throw your opponent off your scent. Raise with 9-4 suited. Call with A-3 offsuit. This way your opponent cannot pick up a good betting pattern from you. Many poker players are not great when it comes to heads up play. By throwing your opponent off your scent it possible that he/she will be enticed into making a careless all-in call. All it takes is one big mistake in heads up play and you’ll have your opponent right where you want them.

Tip #5 – Don’t Over Do the “All-In” Call

Please do not go over board going all-in. This is like leaving your hand up to fate. There is some luck involved in poker but you don’t want to just get by on being lucky. Besides, doing this is a clear give away that you may be less advanced and a veteran will wait for their chance and BURRY you.

This is USC coach Pete Carroll’s year to re-load and before anyone feels too sorry for him understand that the two players vying to replace Leinart were both regarded as the top prep quarterback in America their senior years. Bush, like Leinart, will be missed, but there’s a roll-call list of young, highly regarded runners anxious to win the job at tailback.

This is a team that went 37-2 the past three seasons with both of those losses coming by three points. Enough quality players return buoyed by a string of recruiting classes regarded among the finest in the country to give USC another shot at being in the middle of the BCS mix.

The problem for the Trojans is their opening week visit to hot, humid and hostile Arkansas where the embarrassed Razorbacks are waiting. Last season, USC hung up seventy points on Houston Nutt’s team and payback is on their minds rather than southern hospitality.

The number floating around Vegas has USC a 10 ½ point pick and I love the dog here and am definitely going to place a bet with my online sportsbook.

That same day, the California Golden Bears travel to Knoxville for a visit with the troubled Tennessee Volunteers. The Vols are coming off a pathetic 2005 season and the Golden Bears have been talented the last few years. The problem for bettors here is that the number will be inflated leaning Tennessee’s way as they are thought to have great athletes.

I would assume that Cal will be a + 4 dog and laying the wood with Phil Fulmer’s team is not recommended! Here isn’t going to be any online sports betting from me on this one.

Margaret Beckett,a British politician for the Labour Party, has been propelled as being the favourite for  the House of Commons’s Speaker, but neither now there is not an obvious candidate who appeared during the appointment.

Margaret Beckett is known to be now as short as 7/4 with Ladbrokes, after that comes George Young, at 5/2.  In the same time, Ann Widdecombe is trading at 5/2 with William Hill, who succeeded in separating the candiates only for the Speaker role.

Graham Sharpe, the William Hill’s spokesman affirmed that the political punters and they, don’t have any idea about who could be the winner of this race.

Now, a recent poll gives the following percetages: George Young is in front with 40 per cent of the vote, while Margaret Beckett is in front only with 29 per cent of the vote.

The results on who should be the winner are expected as soon as possible.

The Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino will host the inaugural Suzie and Howard Lederer Celebrity Charity Poker Tournament benefiting the Boys and Girls Club July 1, where first place will win an unprecedented seat on NBC’s hit poker program Poker After Dark.

The tournament is open to the public and the winner will receive a $20,000 seat on the top-rated, late-night poker program, giving them the opportunity to become a television poker star and win $120,000 in cash. The $20,000 Poker After Dark seat will be donated by Full Tilt Poker.net and additional prizes will be donated by the Golden Nugget and other sponsors.

“This is a very exciting and almost unbelievable poker opportunity,” said John Colville, director of Golden Nugget poker.

The charity tournament festivities kick off in The Grand events center at 4 p.m. Buy in for this tournament is $330 and will feature $200 multi re-buys and $100 add-ons. Registration for the event begins at noon July 1, or participants can register early in the Golden Nugget Poker Room.

In conjunction with the charity tournament, Suzie and Howard Lederer will also host all the fun, games and some of the best food around during their annual World Series of Barbeque.