Oakland Athletics vs Tampa Bay Rays Live Odds and Preview

The Tampa Bay Rays have three chances to set a franchise record for victories in April.

Taking their first crack at accomplishing that feat, the Rays try for a fourth consecutive victory to sweep a brief two-game home series with the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday.

Off to the best start in its 13-year history, Tampa Bay (15-5) beat Oakland 8-6 on Tuesday to match a club record for wins in April that was set during its surprise run to the World Series in 2008.

Owners of the majors' best record, the Rays have won 12 of 14 and continue to produce at the plate. Pat Burrell hit a three-run homer while Jason Bartlett and John Jaso each had three hits Tuesday.

The Rays, who've hit .311 and scored 50 runs during a stretch where they've won five of six, lead the AL with 121 runs and a .323 batting average with runners in scoring position.

Tampa Bay's James Shields (2-0, 3.96) hasn't been as consistent as Braden through four starts, he'll try for a third consecutive win when he takes the ball in this contest.

Shields allowed two runs in a season-high seven innings of a 10-2 victory at Chicago on Thursday.

The right-hander is 3-1 with a 3.88 ERA in eight career starts against Oakland, but hasn't factored in the decision of his last three versus the A's. Read More!

2010 NFL Draft Betting Odds, NFL Draft Props and Picks

While the NFL has tweaked the format of its draft — the first round takes place on Thursday, the second to third on Friday and last four on Saturday — the basics remain the same and the worst team, the St. Louis Rams, will be selecting first.

Oklahoma Sooners QB Sam Bradford is being touted by many as the first-selection overall and seeing as the Rams have released QB Marc Bulger, there seems to be logic to that.

In a recent USA Today mock draft, an eight-analyst panel unanimously predicted that Bradford would be the player that the St. Louis Rams would select in the one-spot.

According to sportsbooks, Bradford is an overwhelming favorite to be No. 1 overall at -1200 and +550 not to be the top pick.

Checking online sportsbook SPORTSBETTING.com, the Sooners’ signal-caller is also listed at +500 to be the two-pick overall.

There was a movement to award last year’s Heisman Trophy to Nebraska Cornhusker defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.

Suh didn’t end up winning the award, Alabama’s Mark Ingram did, and wasn’t even the runner-up, that honor would go to Stanford’s Toby Gerhart.

He did benefit from the good press, as he was considered a potential top-pick overall until recently, when Bradford seemed to pull ahead.

Suh is also a possible No. 2 overall, according to a number of 2010 mock draft’s, and is currently listed with draft odds of  -410 to be just that.

Offensive linemen are hugely underrated and one of the top hogs, according to many mock drafts and analysts, is Oklahoma State’s Russell Okung.

All accounts have the Washington Redskins and Kansas City Chiefs, who select fourth and fifth overall respectively, very keen on Okung. The odds have the former OSU Cowboy at +150 to be selected second overall.

Tennessee Volunteers strong safety Eric Berry is a player that some say is a Top-10 pick and he is -200 to be taken sixth to ninth overall, +140 to go between 1-5, +300 to go between 10 and 12, +700 to 13th or higher.

Besides Bradford, another quarterback being mentioned is Notre Dame’s Jimmy Clausen.

In a recent interview with the New York Post, Clausen was asked what he would say if he were asked by an NFL team why they should draft him.

One of the reasons, Clausen said, was because he played in a pro-style offense while playing at South Bend and says he won’t travel to New York for the draft but will rather spend time with his grandfather.

The former Charlie Weis student is -150 to go between six and nine in the first-round, +130 to go 10, 11 and 12 overall, +200 to go 13th or higher and +1000 to go in the Top-5.

One of the most intriguing draft prospects is Florida Gator QB Tim Tebow.

There have been some that say that Tebow won’t be able to cut it as a pivot in the NFL.

Furthermore, in a now infamous video clip, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says Tebow won’t ever take the field.

According to the betting odds, Tebow is most likely to be selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars, at +150, and -200 to be a second-rounder.

There is plenty of intrigue going into this year’s NFL draft it should be exciting for those who are betting on all the NFL draft props at NFL Betting. Read More!