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Blazers wrap up trek at MemphisBasketball Betting Lines03/01/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Portland Trail Blazers hope to finish up a five-game road trip in winning fashion Monday against a Memphis Grizzlies team chasing them for the final spot in the Western Conference playoff hunt. Shooting for just the fourth playoff berth in franchise history, Memphis is now 3 1/2 games behind Portland for the eighth spot in the West. The Blazers improved to an impressive 3-1 on their trek Saturday in Minneapolis when Nicolas Batum netted 22 points in the third quarter on the way to a career-high 31, leading Portland to a 110-91 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Batum, the 25th overall selection in the 2008 draft, is in his second season in the NBA since coming over from France. The 21-year-old also finished with seven rebounds and seven assists against the Wolves. Batum did the bulk of his damage in the third quarter, when he drained four three pointers, and his 22 points in that frame alone surpassed his previous career-high of 20. LaMarcus Aldridge added 21 points and seven boards for the Blazers, who rebounded from Friday's overtime loss in Chicago. Rudy Fernandez added 18 points off the bench. "We definitely needed this win, especially giving away a game like we did last night [against] Chicago," Portland center Marcus Camby said. "The guys came out with energy, especially the second half defensively." The Grizzlies, meanwhile, are coming off a win in New York on Saturday. All- Star Zach Randolph poured in 31 points and pulled down a career-high 25 rebounds in that one, as Memphis used a late surge to take down the Knicks, 120-109, at Madison Square Garden. Rudy Gay added 27 points and five rebounds for the Grizzlies, who have won four in a row on the road for the first time since January 1-19, 2005. Marc Gasol donated 25 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists, while Mike Conley tallied 18 points and five assists for the victors. "What can you say about Zach (Randolph). Thirty-one and 25 and he probably would've had more [rebounds] if guys weren't taking rebounds from him because he can't jump," Grizzlies head coach Lionel Hollins joked. The Grizzlies have been a bit of a Bipolar team recently. The latest road success hasn't transferred Memphis and Hollins' club has dropped six straight on its home floor. Portland has won six straight at FedEx Forum and 10 of its last 14 overall meetings against Memphis, but both Grizzlies wins have come this season in the Pacific Northwest.
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(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Antonio Spurs shoot for their second win in as many nights on Monday in the Big Easy when they visit a New Orleans Hornets team on the outside, looking in at the Western Conference playoff picture. The Spurs recor
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Jazz aim to resume success against Clippers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Utah Jazz hope to build on one of their most impressive offensive performances of the season Monday night when they visit the Los Angeles Clippers. Deron Williams scored 20 of his 35 points in the first quarter
Stars agree to new deal with Ott >>
Shaq out eight weeks after thumb surgery >>
Florida's Leopold headed to Pittsburgh >>
Woodies, Fernandez-Zvereva elected to Tennis HOF >>
Super Bowl 2009 BettingSuper Bowl 2009 Betting propositionsUnderdog bettors love the Super Bowl and, history suggests, the underdogs love them back. And the big dogs bite harder. Even so, there is a warning in store for Super Bowl gamblers who must love dogs: The Arizona Cardinals Super Bowl betting lines might not be enough of a Cinderella to make it worth your while. Although the Cardinals were widely panned as one of the worst division winners and least playoff-worthy teams in recent memory, their trip to Super Bowl XLIII Jan. 31 in Tampa against the Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl betting lines comes with a little more respect from the oddsmakers than you might imagine. They are a 7-point underdog at most sports books. If you count yourself among those who covet the big dog in the big game, this isn’t exactly great news. You should have been hoping for more points. This is because the facts show that the bigger the dog, the better the bet in the Super Bowl. Case in point: Over the past 13 seasons, double-figure underdogs in the Super Bowl are 4-0-1 ATS and have won the past three outright. In fact, the last double-digit chalk to do the deed for bettors was the 1995 San Francisco 49ers, who managed to beat the astounding 19-point spot afforded backers of the San Diego Chargers in the 49-26 romp in Super Bowl XXIX. By contrast, 7-point favorites are 2-1-1 ATS in the same span, the last such contest resulting a cover grinded out by the Colts in their 29-17 win over the Bears two seasons ago in Super Bowl XLI. In 2004, the Patriots failed to cover the number in their 32-29 triumph over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl props while the Rams and Titans gave everyone a refund in 2000 after the Rams posted a 23-16 win as a seven-point favorite. So while Arizona’s run has included impressive upsets as a 10-point road underdog to the Carolina Panthers and Sunday’s 32-25 win in the NFC championship game to the 4-point favored Philadelphia Eagles, their long-shot story lacks a bit of the David vs. Goliath storyline of past Super Bowl underdogs. While the seven-point spread represents a significant gap in the perception of strength between the two teams, it is far from monumental. For example, last season the Giants were the wild-card afterthought turned road-warrior buzzsaw, with stunning wins over the Buccaneers, Cowboys and Packers to earn their place in the Super Bowl. There, they played spoiler to New England’s bid to become the first 19-0 team in NFL history and cemented their place in sports betting lore with a 17-14 win as a 12.5-point underdog. In other words, the Cardinals appear to have their work cut out for them as a mid-range underdog. But in homage to the spread beaters who have come before them, here is a brief look back at recent colossal upsets in the Super Bowl: SB XLII -- 2008 -- New York Giants 17, New England Patriots 14 (Giants +12.5) – Eli Manning’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress in the final minute clinched the historic upset for the Giants, who used a masterful defensive plan to slow down Tom Brady and the previously undefeated New England Patriots. XXXVI -- 2002 -- Patriots 20, Rams 17 (Patriots +14) – This was the coming out party for the aforementioned Brady, who went from obscure sixth-round draft pick to Super Bowl hero in one fell swoop. He led the game-winning drive in the final minute – eschewing analyst John Madden’s advice to take a knee and play for overtime – leading to Adam Vinatieri’s memorable 48-yard field goal that split the uprights as time expired. XXXII 1998 Broncos 31, Packers 24 (Denver +12) – The first of John Elway’s two consecutive Super Bowl titles to put an end to his Hall of Fame career was an upset for the ages. The Broncos used the determination of Elway and a 157-yard, three-touchdown performance from Terrell Davis to turn back Brett Favre and the heavily favored Packers. Get free 2009 Super Bowl Betting from top rated online sportsbook MySportsbook.com. Mysportsbook.com online Super Bowl betting VISA Mastercard |
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