Bulls resume playoff push with home tilt vs. Cavs
Basketball Betting Lines
04/08/2010 -
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Time is running out on the Chicago Bulls and their chance
for a second straight postseason appearance. The quest doesn't get any easier
tonight with LeBron James and the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in town.
The season is winding down and the Bulls are a half-game behind Toronto for
the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Chicago, which
has made the postseason four times in five years and has five games remaining,
fell to 1-1 on the residency after Tuesday's 79-74 loss versus the playoff-
bound Milwaukee Bucks. Former Bull John Salmons scored 26 points to further
damage Chicago's hopes for a postseason berth.
Luol Deng had 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Derrick Rose added 12 points
and 11 assists for the Bulls, who were outscored, 28-9, in the second quarter
and lost for the third time in nine tries.
"You're not going to beat too many teams scoring 74 points," Bulls coach Vinny
Del Negro said. "It was not a solid 48 minutes for us."
After tonight's game the Bulls, who own a 22-17 home record, will play three
of their last four games as the visitor.
Cleveland has lost two straight road games, but is an NBA-best 26-13 away from
home this season. It has won four of five overall and 18 of the last 21 games,
including Tuesday's 113-101 victory over the visiting Raptors.
James had 19 points and dished out 13 assists, while Antawn Jamison scored 20
points for the top-seeded Cavaliers, who already secured homecourt throughout
the postseason and got a season-high 18 points, eight rebounds and six assists
from Anthony Parker. Mo Williams tallied 14 points and 12 assists in
Cleveland's 61st win of the season.
"We just have to keep trying to get better and keep trying to continue to
build on that edge that we have," Cavs coach Mike Brown said. "No matter who
plays, hopefully, we can continue to use these games as high-level practice
games because I think it will help us down the stretch."
The Cavs are 35-9 in the new year, and with one more win as the guest can tie
the franchise road record of 27 wins, set last season. Since the 2008-09
season, the Cavaliers are an NBA-best 53-27 as the visitor. They're also
trying to become only the second team in NBA history to put together
consecutive 65-win seasons. The only team to accomplish this feat was the
Bulls, who did it in 1995-96 (72) and 1996-97 (69).
In injury news for the Cavs, guard Delonte West is questionable for Thursday's
game with lower back spasms. West did not play in the win over Toronto and is
averaging 8.7 points and 3.1 assists this season.
Cleveland leads the 2009-10 series with the Bulls by a 2-1 count and has won
five of the past seven matchups between the teams. The Cavs, though, have lost
three of five and four of their last seven at the United Center.
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Lakers eye West's top seed in Denver >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Pacific Division-champion Los Angeles Lakers will try
to clinch the West's top seed when they take a trip to the Rocky Mountains
tonight to face the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center.
The Lakers are 4 1/2 gam
Kings host division-rival Clippers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of Western Conference also-rans get together tonight
in California's capital, as the Sacramento Kings resume a five-game homestand
versus the Los Angeles Clippers at ARCO Arena.
Both Pacific Division rivals enter T
Pirates go for sweep of Dodgers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Pittsburgh Pirates haven't had many strong finishes
over the years, but the club is starting to make a habit of good starts.
The Bucs take on the Los Angeles Dodgers once again this afternoon at PNC
Park, where the lon
Braves send Hanson to hill in finale with Cubs >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jason Heyward has already made his presence felt during his
very brief time in the major leagues. Another of the Atlanta Braves' young
phenoms will be trying to make a quick impact when the team concludes its
season-opening t
Phils try to break the brooms out in DC >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Phillies were the National League's best
team last season, while the Washington Nationals finished at the bottom of the
pack. Not much has changed so far in 2010.
The defending league champion Phillies set
Big Ten Conference odds
Teams that should be in: Michigan State, Indiana
Work left to do: Illinois, Purdue, Michigan, Iowa
Behind the big two, the pecking order might be in a bit of flux. Has Michigan State passed Indiana after handling the Hoosiers in East Lansing? Where is Illinois in that mix? What looked like a four-big league last week could be morphing into five -- and even six is not unthinkable at this point if everything breaks right.
Should be in:
Michigan State [21-8 (8-6), RPI: 20, SOS: 15] The Spartans made it four-for-four on the homestand, a gigantic accomplishment that leaves them in extremely good shape. MSU is only 1-6 on the road and is at Michigan and at Wisconsin to close things out, meaning the date with the Wolverines on Tuesday looms very, very large. Beating Texas early will hold up well, as will the rout of Bradley and the win over BYU, but will 8-8 be enough? It very well could be, as the computer numbers are good, but why chance it?
Indiana [18-9 (8-6), RPI: 24, SOS: 32] Hmm ... good thing the last two are at Northwestern and home to Penn State, because IU might want to get both to feel completely safe after dropping its third in the last four, fading after halftime at Michigan State. Who knew the best nonconference win would be over Southern Illinois, which is a gift that keeps on giving for the Hoosiers. The win over Wisconsin also looks good on the mantel.
Work left to do:
Illinois [21-9 (9-6), RPI: 31, SOS: 25] A good performance at Penn State leaves the Illini in pretty good shape. Can they go to Iowa and take care of business to really look on their way? That's a huge game, as there is a possible cluster of teams that will end at 9-7. Illinois beat Bradley, but has lost to Xavier. A 9-7 mark and a semifinals trip in Chicago could be enough with the computer profile hanging in there, but it would be better not to mess around, clinching at least a tie for third.
Purdue [18-10 (7-7), RPI: 47, SOS: 28] Couldn't get it done at Iowa, but did win at Northwestern to put 9-7 squarely in sight. Where does that leave the Boilermakers, though? Even if they beat Minnesota and Northwestern at home, that won't help the computer numbers. Nonconference wins over Virginia, DePaul and Oklahoma are solid, but not spectacular. The Boilers very well might need an upset in the B10 quarters to have a legit claim.
Michigan [19-10 (7-7), RPI: 55, SOS: 53] Well, Michigan did what it needed to do, winning at Minnesota to take control of its fate. The Wolverines have Michigan State and an already-wrapped-up-the-league Ohio State at home to close, so the chances are there. Win both and we can talk. There is no marquee win yet in the profile, and the Wolverines were splattered in several games against name opponents. A mediocre computer profile fueled by a lack of road wins isn't helping, either.
Iowa [16-12 (8-6), RPI: 80, SOS: 64] For the sake of being complete, we'll add Iowa, this season's Stanford. It's plausible that the Hawkeyes could get to 10-6 (at Penn State, vs. Illinois left), but where does that leave them after a gruesome nonconference performance where the best win was over ... Toledo? Iowa State? Cornell?? If they get to 10-6, we can start to look at what they need to do in the B10 tourney, although my gut sense is that they would need to make the final and have knocked off Ohio State or Wisconsin on the way to have any real claim.
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Sportsbook betting odds favor Europe in Ryder Cup
September 19, – Despite holding a decided edge in the all-time series, with 24 wins, 2 ties and 10 losses, Team USA is the underdog again heading into the Ryder Cup in Kidare, Ireland this weekend, according to MySportsbook.com. The Europeans have captured four of the past five editions, including their largest victory ever, an 18 ½ to 9 ½ thumping in Michigan in 2004. Current Ryder Cup betting odds favor the Europeans to continue their winning ways; they are a 4-5 bet to take the title, compared to 6-5 for the Americans.
Despite being knocked out in the first round of World Match play by Shaun Micheel, Tiger Woods is predicted to lead the US charge and be their highest point scorer for the week, with odds listed at 9-4 that he outpoints all other American players, including Jim Furyk, Phil Mickelson and Chris DiMarco to name a few. Team USA has four relatively unknown players on the roster but all four are 2007 tournament winners and have posted some of season’s best performances, each earning over $1.5 million on the PGA TOUR. They include Zach Johnson, Vaughan Taylor, JJ Henry and Brett Wetterich.
The experienced European squad includes the likes of Luke Donald, Sergio Garcia, Padraig Harrington, Jose Maria Olazabal and Darren Clarke, who’s emotions will be tested after the passing of his wife to a battle with cancer. Donald and Garcia are in particularly good form and each is a 5-1 bet to lead the European squad in the points race. Donald has proven he can go head to head with Woods at a major event after a run for the $1.2 million purse at the PGA Championship. Garcia’s Ryder Cup credentials prove he’s ready for battle too.
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Ryder Cup Odds
Europe
Tie
USA |
4-5
10-1
6-5 |
Ryder Cup Top US point scorer
Tiger Woods
Jim Furyk
Phil Mickelson
Chris DiMarco
David Toms
Stewart Cink
Chad Campbell
Scott Verplank
Zach Johnson
Vaughan Taylor
JJ Henry
Brett Wetterich |
9-4
4-1
5-1
7-1
8-1
12-1
15-1
15-1
25-1
30-1
30-1
50-1 |
Ryder Cup Top European scorer
Sergio Garcia
Luke Donald
Padraig Harrington
Colin Montgomerie
Darren Clarke
David Howell
Lee Westwood
Paul Casey
Henrik Stenson
Jose Maria Olazabal
Paul McGinley
Robert Karlsson |
5-1
5-1
6-1
13-2
8-1
9-1
9-1
11-1
12-1
12-1
20-1
25-1 |
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|