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Pacers, Wizards clash in IndyBasketball Betting Lines03/24/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - While the Indiana Pacers will be shooting for their longest winning streak in four months, the Washington Wizards hope to avoid matching a franchise record for consecutive losses when these two teams square off tonight at Conseco Fieldhouse. Washington has dropped 12 straight contests since an 89-85 road decision over NBA-worst New Jersey on February 28. It's the club's longest stretch of defeats since a 13-game skid from March 21-April 13, 1995. The Wizards also lost a team-record 13 in a row from December 17, 1966-January 8, 1967, when the organization was then located in Baltimore. Washington nearly put an end to its slide last night, but came up on the short end of a 95-86 overtime verdict to visiting Charlotte. The Wizards fought hard and sent the game into extra minutes when Al Thornton hit a three-pointer with 8.7 seconds remaining in regulation. The Bobcats controlled overtime, however, outscoring Washington 12-2 to start the period to put the contest out of reach. "It is a learning process," said Wizards guard Randy Foye afterward. "A lot of guys haven't played all year. I know I haven't. I made a lot of stupid mistakes out there." Mike Miller led Washington with 15 points and JaVale McGee contributed 14 with 12 rebounds before fouling out. Thornton finished with 10 points, eight of which came in the fourth quarter. The Wizards draw another tough assignment tonight from an Indiana squad that's playing some of its best basketball of the season as of late. The Pacers won their third straight outing with Tuesday's 98-83 triumph at Detroit and return to Conseco Fieldhouse having won their last five tests on their home court. Danny Granger has led Indiana's late surge and delivered his second consecutive 32-point outing in last night's win over the Pistons. Brandon Rush added 20 points and Troy Murphy compiled 10 points and 12 rebounds to help the Pacers halt a nine-game road losing streak. "It is a good way to end [the streak]," said guard Earl Watson, who contributed 13 assists on the night. "At the same time, the season is about to end and we are trying to take advantage of every opportunity." Indiana hasn't won four consecutive tilts since a season-high five-game run from November 4-17 and last posted six straight home victories from February 6-March 1, 2009. The Pacers have also taken the last three meetings in this series, two of which have taken place this season. The Wizards have lost in each of their last four trips to Conseco Fieldhouse, including a 102-86 setback there on November 6.
<< Raptors hope to stay the course vs. Jazz
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A two-game winning streak has enhanced the Toronto Raptors' chances of reaching the playoffs, but the club will be facing a step up in competition when it starts a brief homestand with tonight's encounter with the formida
<< Celtics back in Beantown to host Nuggets
<< Cavs visit Paul, Hornets
<< Kings kick off road trip against hapless Nets
<< Magic hope to inch closer to Southeast Division crown vs. Hawks
Rangers try to solve Isles at MSG >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - If the Rangers are going to climb back into the playoff race, finding a way to beat the Islanders would be helpful. The visiting Islanders will try to beat the Rangers for the fourth time in five meetings this season as th
Pens and Caps clash in D.C. >>
Report: Charge against Sapp dropped >>
Habs get reinforcements for battle in Buffalo >>
Desperate Rockets hope to maintain mastery of Thunder >>
2007 NFL Football Betting Preview“You play to win the game!” Those are the words of notoriously intense head coach Herman Edwards. Unfortunately, from a bettors’ perspective, most coaches don’t feel that way about the NFL preseason. August is a time to evaluate young players, finalize the depth chart and pray your star players stay healthy. The trick to making money during the exhibition schedule is identifying coaches – like Edwards – who can’t stand losing even when there's nothing on the line. The New York Jets betting won 15 of 21 preseason games and went 14-7 against the spread (ATS) during Edwards’s five-year tenure with the club. In his first season as the Kansas City Chiefs field boss, the team improved from 0-4 to 2-2. Identifying win-a-holics like Edwards is a good start if you plan betting the preseason – even though most say you shouldn’t ... but what the hell do they know anyway? Here’s a brief rundown of two teams that have a habit of winning during the second-stringers’ season, and another club that has a good chance of exceeding this year. Playing in the media hub of North America can be stressful but the press can’t write anything negative about the way Tom Coughlin’s boys play in the preseason. The Giants won and covered all four games last summer, improving their record to 7-1 both straight up (SU) and against the spread over the last two years. Coughlin has shown he’s not afraid to give his starters more time in the second preseason game than most of his colleagues, no doubt one of the reasons his team has been so dominant. Bettors can count on America’s team early on. The Cowboys are 14-6 both SU and ATS since 2002 in warm-up contests. Former coach Bill Parcells, the coach of the team the last four years, has an intimidating, in-your-face presence – surely a reason Dallas has had so much early success. The Big Tuna won’t be strolling the sidelines with looks of disgust, but new coach Wade Phillips will be anxious to make a good first impression for owner Jerry Jones. Dallas plays the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos before things get serious. They then face the Houston Texans in their third contest (the game starters see most game time) and finish off with the Minnesota Vikings. Expect a Dallas team able to walk away with another 3-1 preseason record. This team scored a league-worst 12 offensive touchdowns last season, so the rookies and veterans each have something to prove. There’s a bounty of first-unit jobs up for grabs and plenty of bodies competing for those slots. First-time head coach Lane Kiffin will be eager to impress an owner who employs the philosophy, “Just win, baby!” The 32-year-old Kiffin has to command respect from a locker room full of players older than him. All of these factors should lead to purpose in preseason. Don’t forget: before playing like a team that belonged in NFL Europe, Oakland went 4-1 (both SU and ATS) in exhibition games. To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football wagering needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards. Numerous College Basketball teams take final big step to March Madness betting So, what turned on the lock spigot? Well, after what felt like weeks of teams treading water and slipping back into the bubble muck, a bunch of them finally decided to say "to heck with parity" and won games that should put them into the Big Dance. Disagree with some of these? Then here's the challenge. Take all of the "should be ins" and make a legit case that each should be ahead of the team that's a lock. Then find 10 more teams that also should be placed in the bracket ahead of that lock team. Not so easy, is it? If you want more evidence that these locks should be good to go, check out what our research department dug up. Since the NCAA Tournament went to 64 teams in 1985, only six teams from a "big six" conference have had a record of 10-6 or better in conference play and not been selected: Colorado (2004) and Nebraska (1999) from the Big 12, Boston College and Seton Hall (both 2003) from the Big East, Indiana (2005) from the Big Ten and UCLA, which somehow went 12-6 in the Pac-10 in 1988 and still missed out. (Note: Five teams went 11-7 and didn't get in, the latest being last season's Stanford team, which had a brutal nonconference run.) Yes, 10 conference wins doesn't always mean what it used to because of unbalanced schedules, but this season, it should be plenty good in all but the extreme cases (see: Iowa). In a way, this is a welcome development, because this is a bubble watch, not a lock watch. We can finally be done with teams like Maryland and Virginia Tech and start really bearing down on at-large battles such as Syracuse-West Virginia and Appalachian State-Georgia Tech. Interestingly, all the shifting of teams into lock status appears to be more administrative than impactful. The number of remaining available at-larges didn't change one iota. The only difference is that teams on the bubble now have a clearer idea of which team(s) they are competing with for those precious bids.
As always, I've tried to be as inclusive as possible while only including teams that would have a reasonable chance of at least being discussed if this were Selection Sunday. If your team's not on here, there's probably a good reason (or three) -- start with the RPI and SOS numbers and work your way down. (Please remember, per selection committee criteria, that records displayed are Division I only. Next update: Feb. 28) If you have a legitimate grievance, or just like talking bubble, send an e-mail. Polite ones with fact-based arguments have a much better chance of receiving a response. I apologize in advance if I can't get back to all of you. Atlantic Coast Conference Work left to do: Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech
Work left to do: Clemson [19-9 (5-9), RPI: 41, SOS: 42] The Tigers are closer to locking up the collapse of the year award (in a good battle with OK State) than they are to grabbing an at-large. Clemson's been very competitive, but there's no really positive way you can spin nine losses in 11 games. They now cannot get to .500 in ACC play and still must head to Virginia Tech in the season finale (after hosting Miami). Unless the Tigers win both and/or do some serious work in the ACC tourney, they very well could be left out. There are no great nonconference wins, but ODU, App State, Miss. State, South Carolina and Georgia are all respectable W's. Florida State [18-11 (6-9), RPI: 48, SOS: 14] The Noles got thrashed at Maryland to run their losing streak to five, but then pounded NC State at home to set the table for what likely is an elimination game at Miami. You can at least make a case for the Seminoles at 7-9 in ACC play (and some work in the ACC tourney), but 6-10 is not going to cut it. Wins at Duke and over Florida will resonate, but the computer numbers remain questionable. Beyond Florida, FSU thrashed bubble buddy Providence, but there's not a ton beyond those two games that will help. They didn't show well in big-time opportunities against Pitt and Wisconsin (before the Florida win). Georgia Tech [18-10 (6-8), RPI: 51, SOS: 46] The Jackets beat Wake on Wednesday but couldn't get it done at UVa on Saturday, which could be a crucial loss with UNC and BC (both at home) remaining and 8-8 almost a certain need for at-large consideration. A nonconference win over Memphis helps, but the RPI and SOS are not at-large quality right now; if you combine those with a sub-.500 ACC mark, that could spell NIT for GT. For more College Basketball betting lines go to MySportsbook.com Additional basketball lines can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.
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