It’s not too early to go with AFC

By the end of this weekend, all 32 teams in the NFL will have started training camp, meaning the first exhibition game isn’t far behind.

In fact, Pittsburgh and New Orleans will meet Aug. 5 in the annual Hall of Fame game at Canton, Ohio, the day after Michael Irvin, Bruce Matthews, Thurman Thomas, Charlie Sanders, Gene Hickerson and Roger Wehrli are inducted into the Hall of Fame.

In other words, it’s not too early to start thinking about Super Bowl XLII, which will be played Feb. 3 in Arizona.

Those who believe the AFC will continue its recent dominance of the game -- four consecutive wins -- can bet the conference at --7 1/2 . The website NSAwins.com is offering that spread at --115, meaning a player can bet $115 to win $100 if they believe the AFC will win by at least 7 1/2 points.

The last two Super Bowl champions, Indianapolis and Pittsburgh, both won by more than 7 1/2 points, and New England, which won two years in a row, didn’t cover, defeating both Philadelphia and Carolina by three points in 2005 and 2004.

Those who like the NFC plus the points also will have to lay $115 to win $100. The over-under total is 47 1/2 points and both are also --115.

Baseball

Milwaukee, which is clinging to the lead in the National League Central it has held since the start of the season, could get well tonight in St. Louis.

The Brewers, who have won four of the five previous games in 2007 against the defending World Series champions, will face Mike Maroth, a left-hander who has been ineffective since arriving June 22 in a trade with Detroit. Maroth is 0-3 with an earned-run average of more than eight for St. Louis, having given up 23 earned runs in 25 1/3 innings.

Claudio Vargas will pitch for Milwaukee, and although he has been more effective at home than on the road, the Brewers are 14-3 in games he starts.

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There has yet to be any second-half surge by Minnesota, which came from far back to win the American League Central in 2006, edging past Detroit on the final day of the season.

Fresh off getting swept in Toronto, including an embarrassing 13-1 loss Wednesday, the Twins begin a series in Cleveland tonight and they have been dreadful against the Indians this year.

Minnesota has lost all six games against Cleveland and has to face Paul Byrd this evening. Byrd is 7-3 lifetime against the Twins, including a win earlier in the season.

bob.mieszerski@latimes.com

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The Odds

Example of a -140 favorite: To win $100, you would have to bet $140. Example of a +130 underdog: A $100 bet would win you $130.

Major League Baseball

National League

*--* Favorite Underdog at Philadelphia -180 Pittsburgh +170 Chicago -115 at Cincinnati +105 at New York -190 Washington +180 San Diego -150 at Houston +140 at St. Louis -105 Milwaukee -105 at Colorado -120 Dodgers +110 at Arizona -120 Atlanta +110 at San Fran -140 Florida +130

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American League

*--* Favorite Underdog at Cleveland -155 Minnesota +145 Boston -155 at Tampa Bay +145 New York -145 at Baltimore +135 at Kansas City -130 Texas +120 at Chicago -130 Toronto +120 at Angels -145 Detroit +135 at Seattle -175 Oakland +165

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Copyright 2007 World Features Syndicate, Inc.