Playoff-hopeful Flames, Red Wings square off in key battle
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03/15/2010 -
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The last time the Flames took on the Red Wings, they walked
away with two points and the eighth spot in the Western Conference.
Calgary will hope for similar results tonight at Pengrowth Saddledome versus
Detroit, which will by aiming to hold onto the conference's final playoff
position in the opener of a three-game tour of Western Canada.
The Flames visited the Red Wings last Tuesday and rallied for a 4-2 victory as
Rene Bourque assisted on the tying goal early in the third period before
netting the game-winner with 12:44 to play in the frame. An empty-net goal by
Christopher Higgins sealed Calgary's win and moved the club a point up on
Detroit in the standings.
However, after both teams picked up victories on Thursday, the Red Wings
jumped back ahead of the Flames for the eighth spot with a 3-2 overtime
victory on Saturday, giving them 78 points to Calgary's 77. The Flames then
failed to alter the standings again on Sunday, dropping a 3-1 decision in
Vancouver to remain a point back of the Red Wings.
Brian Rafalski, who had a pair of assists for the Red Wings last week versus
the Flames, made sure Detroit walked away with two points on Saturday as he
scored an overtime power-play goal 31 seconds into the frame. The defenseman
one-timed a Nicklas Lidstrom feed through a screen from the left circle.
"Every point is crucial right here," Rafalski said. "Obviously, going into
Calgary on Monday could decide the playoffs. We wanted to make sure we got the
two [points] here."
Pavel Datsyuk and Patrick Eaves each had a goal for the Red Wings, who blew an
early two-goal lead but have won five of seven since the Olympic break. Jimmy
Howard made 24 stops for Detroit.
Knowing the Red Wings had moved past them in the standings, the Flames carried
a four-game winning streak into Vancouver on Sunday. However, Calgary yielded
three first-period goals and never recovered in the two-tally deficit.
Miikka Kiprusoff stopped 17-of-20 shots faced in the first period before being
lifted and Vesa Toskala halted all eight shots fired his way in the second.
Calgary did not allow a shot in the third frame, but only managed one goal by
Robyn Regehr in the period.
"We spotted them three goals. It could have been more in the first period,"
Jarome Iginla said. "After that we played a lot better. We take our own blame,
but you also have to give them credit."
Calgary won both meetings in Detroit this season but did drop a 3-1 decision
at home to the Red Wings back on Oct. 31. Tonight marks the final regular-
season meeting between the clubs.
<< Blue Jackets host Oilers in meeting of disappointing clubs
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With both clubs headed towards disappointing finishes to
the 2009-10 season, the Edmonton Oilers and Columbus Blue Jackets face each
other for the final time this year tonight at Nationwide Arena.
Columbus made the postsea
<< Devils hope to get on track versus Bruins
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Devils learned last time out that they can't take any
opponent lightly. New Jersey will keep that in mind tonight when it shoots for
a third straight win against Boston, while the Bruins try to avoid losing
their grip on
<< Leafs-Oilers not what it used to be
Toronto, Canada (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - There was a time when the Edmonton Oilers
playing the Toronto Maple Leafs on a Saturday night was a glittering affair.
In the 1980s, Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier and Co. would come in to Maple Leaf
Gardens a
<< Arenas: 'I deserve to be punished' for gun prank
WASHINGTON (AP) -Gilbert Arenas says he deserves to be punished for bringing guns to the locker room.The suspended Washington Wizards guard tells Esquire magazine he wasn't using ``longevity thinking'' when he took out four guns in what he says was
<< World Cup of Golf to become biennial event
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The World Cup of Golf will return in 2011 as a biennial
event so it does not conflict with the sport's inclusion in the Olympics, the
Asian Tour said Monday in a press release.
The decision to hold the team event only
Streelman carries 3-shot lead into final round >>
Rio Grande, Puerto Rico (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kevin Streelman finished off an
eight-under 64 in the third round Monday to carry a three-shot lead into the
final round of the rain-delayed Puerto Rico Open.
Streelman made five birdies in
Sixers, Knicks meet in Philly >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Third place in the Atlantic Division is on the line tonight
in Philadelphia.
Of course, third place doesn't mean all that much if you are entering the
contest at 23-43 like the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers.
Ne
Celtics and Pistons clash in Beantown >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Celtics hope to bounce back from a tough loss in
Cleveland on Sunday when they welcome Eastern Conference also-ran Detroit to
Beantown.
In a possible playoff preview the C's came up short against the Cavs when
Jazz return home to face hapless Wizards >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Utah Jazz hope a return to Salt Lake City against a
hapless Washington team will get them back on the winning track as the
postseason approaches.
The short-handed Jazz dropped the final two games of a four-game road tr
Fading Hornets resume road trip vs. Clippers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The fading New Orleans Hornets resume a five-game road trip
at Staples Center tonight hoping for their 13th straight win over the Los
Angeles Clippers.
The Hornets dropped the opener of their trek in Phoenix last night whe
NFL Sports Betting
NFL betting action is back! At MySportsbook, all of the pro football odds are posted for the NFC North.
Check out how we see the four teams in this cloudy division stacking up this year in the chase for the playoffs! Green Bay Packers (+125) - With QB Aaron Rodgers leading the offense and DC Dom Capers working his magic on defense, the Packers are a real force to be reckoned with.
Virtually nothing changed on this offense for Green Bay from last year to this year, save for the addition of rookie OT Brian Bulaga to the bunch. Expect more huge numbers from the Pack, and a relatively favorable schedule should get them over the hump and into the playoffs once again this season. My NFL Betting Predictions: 11-5, 1st place in NFC North Minnesota Vikings (+130) - There are still too many unknowns about the Vikes this year. There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not.
There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.
Chicago Bears (+350) - The Bears are probably a bit of an overhyped team once again this year.No, we don't think it is plausible for QB Jay Cutler to have as bad of a season as he did last year, and we do think the additions of RB Chester Taylor and DE Julius Peppers are going to help immensely, but there's still something in the water in the Windy City that we aren't so sure about. Maybe Chicago finds its way to .500... but then again, maybe it doesn't. If Favre comes back, Cutler might be the worst quarterback in this division this year.
Detroit Lions (+1500) - The Lions are probably once again going to be the whipping boys for the rest of the teams in the NFC North, but they aren't just going to roll over and die once again. There is some real talent amassing on this team offensively, as the combination of QB Matt Stafford, RB Jahvid Best, WR Calvin Johnson, and TE Brandon Pettigrew should put a bunch of points on the board if the offensive line can even remotely hold up. The questions really lie on defense, where it feels like DT Ndamukong Suh is going to be trying to stop opposing teams all by himself. This year should show some marked improvement in the Motor City.
The Patriots will make NFL betting fans a lot of money this season, get in early and enjoy the cash. NFL Betting
To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.
MySportsbook.com: New College Football Clock Rules Examined
Coaches and bettors alike are desperate to make sense of the new time-keeping rules on the NCAA gridiron. One of the big stories to come out of the Ohio State-Texas clash last weekend was Texas coach Mack Brown's criticism of the NCAA's new clock rules that are intended to shorten the duration of college football games, therefore affecting college football betting.
"They scored with six minutes left and the game was over before we had a chance to do anything," Brown told ESPN.com. "I really hope whoever made these changes will go back and look them over."
Sure, it might be sour grapes; the Buckeyes thoroughly trounced the defending national champion Longhorns 24-7. However, Brown isn't alone in giving the changes their due thought. Bettors are also wondering about them, albeit for a completely different reason. Most experts agree that the changes will result in games being shortened by anywhere from 10 to 20 plays. The obvious consequence is lower scores, with more time rolling off the clock during changes of possession. (The Ohio State-Texas game flew well under the total of 52.)
According to research at the online sportsbook MySportsbook.com, more than 18 plays a game disappeared last weekend into thin air. That's a 10-percent reduction. In 2005, a typical game had 168.58 plays. For 2007 already, it's down to 150.26.
As a result, teams combined to gain an average of about 100 fewer yards a game last weekend versus the 2005 openers. Scoring was also down by about 4.5 points (attention Las Vegas sports lines).
Of course, oddsmakers were able to adjust to the changes before the season started. Proof of that came as the over went a balanced 8-9 at My Sportsbook on Saturday.
Other angles to consider:A shorter game should theoretically result in shorter lines. Whereas Team A might have been a 14-point favorite in a 168-play game (last year), if there are 10 percent less snaps in 2007, the line should also be reduced by 10 percent (to 13 or 12.5). Of course, this is an over-simplification of the matter, but something to keep in mind.
Less possessions means a better chance the game will be decided by three or seven points. For example, what might have been a 20-10 final score in 2005 may end at
17-10 in 2007. Granted, a 24-17 game last year might end at 21-17 these days, but the former - a three- or seven-point advantage being preserved as opposed to created - is the most likely scenario.
*UPDATE* - Sept. 25, 2007
New Clock Rules Boon for online bookmakers
By adjusting the time-keeping rules to shorten the duration of college football games, the NCAA hoped to make its product more enjoyable for the fans. While the NCAA's success in this regard is still up for debate, bookmakers couldn't be happier with the results.
"We are seeing a massive jump in college football betting," noted the MySportsbook.com management team. "With all the early Saturday games (12 a.m. ET) ending before the second wave begins (3:30 p.m. ET) - something that didn't always happen before the changes - bettors are now able to re-invest their winnings from the morning session in the afternoon games."
While not all bettors will choose to roll over their winnings, it doesn't take much for an impact to be seen on the bottom line. "Not all of the millions of dollars in morning payouts get re-bet. In fact, it's probably only 10 to 20 percent," noted the sportsbook management team. "Still, the increased football betting lines window will create a ton of growth for us over the course of the season."
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