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04/14/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Jose Sharks will try to get off to a quick start in the postseason when they host the eighth-seeded Colorado Avalanche at HP Pavilion for Game 1 of the best-of-seven Western Conference quarterfinals.
For the second season in a row, the Sharks head into the playoffs as the Western Conference's top seed. Make no mistake, though, the Sharks do not want history to repeat itself.
The reason for that is simple; last year, the Sharks entered the playoffs fresh off a 117-point season that netted them the Presidents' Trophy and high expectations. To say San Jose ended up underachieving is putting it nicely. The Sharks were eliminated in the first round by the Anaheim Ducks in six games, not the way head coach Todd McLellan wanted to begin his tenure with San Jose in his postseason debut.
Unlike last season, the Sharks do have some momentum this time around. They went 5-4-1 in their final 10 games a year ago, but wrapped up 2009-10 with a four-game winning streak and an 8-1-1 mark in their last 10.
Similar to last season, the Sharks have the tools for a deep run in what is their sixth straight appearance in the postseason. However, just one of those has gone past the semifinals, a 2004 Western Conference finals loss to Calgary.
Goaltender Evgeni Nabokov finished second in the NHL with 44 wins and the Sharks boast potentially one of the top lines in the game with Joe Thornton centering wingers Patrick Marleau and Dany Heatley. Thornton finished second in the league with 69 assists and eighth with 89 points, while Marleau was fourth with 44 goals. Heatley, in his first season with San Jose, wasn't far back with 39 goals.
Offense won't only come from up front for the Sharks. Defenseman Dan Boyle was fourth on the club with 58 points -- fourth highest among NHL defenders -- while Rob Blake ended with 30. Those two tied for second in scoring during San Jose's short run in last year's playoffs with four points each, one behind Thornton.
Nabokov could be under the biggest spotlight, outside of maybe Thornton. The 34-year-old is 32-31 in the postseason with a 2.23 goals-against average, but posted a 2.82 GAA and .890 save percentage in last year's first-round exit.
While, the Sharks were among the preseason favorites to win it all, nobody expected much from the Avalanche. Colorado's youth movement pushed the fast- forward button in 2009-10, as the club posted an 11-win turnaround to grab the eighth seed one season after finishing last in the Western Conference with 69 points. That gave the Avs their third playoff appearance in five seasons since the lockout.
Seven of Colorado's top nine scorers this year are under 24, giving Rocky Mountain fans some hope for long-term success. However, those seven skaters also have just 22 games of playoff experience between them. Nine of those games have been played by leading scorer Paul Stastny, with defenseman Kyle Quincey possessing the other 13.
Inexperience doesn't stop at the net, as goaltender Craig Anderson makes his playoff debut. Colorado signed Anderson to be its No. 1 goaltender this past offseason and he responded with a 38-25-7 record with seven shutouts and a 2.64 goals-against average in 71 starts.
The Avalanche will hope that their lack of playoff experience doesn't hurt them in this series, but keep in mind this will also be head coach Joe Sacco's playoff debut as well.
After being limited to 45 games a season ago, Stastny turned in a career year, setting a new personal best with 79 points off of 20 goals and a career-high 59 assists.
At 24, Stastny is the elder statesman among 22-year-old Chris Stewart and 19- year-old rookie Matt Duchene. Stewart, a 2006 first round pick, was second on the club with 64 points, including a team-high 28 goals, while 2009 third overall pick Duchene put together a Calder Trophy-worthy season with 24 goals and freshman-leading 55 points.
Duchene was slowed by a torso injury late in the season but should be okay for this series. Peter Mueller, however, will not be in the lineup tonight after suffering a concussion on April 4 versus the Sharks on a hit by San Jose's Blake. Mueller revived his young career after getting traded from Phoenix to Colorado at the deadline, posting nine goals and 20 points in 15 games after the trade as opposed to four goals and 17 points in 54 games before it.
The Avalanche will try to become the third eight seed in five seasons to knock off the top-seeded club. However, the Sharks had the better of the season series, going 2-1-1 and winning both games in San Jose. However, the Sharks were actually outscored by the Avalanche, 14-13, in this year's season series, showing just how close this matchup could end up being.
These two clubs will meet in the postseason for the fourth time, with the last coming in 2004. The Sharks won that series, 4-2, in the semifinals before losing in six games to the Flames in the conference finals.
Game 2 of this set is scheduled for Friday night at the Shark Tank.
<< Surprising Coyotes host Red Wings in Game 1 of West quarters
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Phoenix Coyotes will host their first playoff game in
eight years when they welcome the Detroit Red Wings to Jobing.com Arena for
Game 1 of the best-of-seven Western Conference quarterfinals.
This will also be the firs
<< Tigers conclude set with Royals in Detroit
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Late-inning rallies are starting to become a habit for the
Detroit Tigers, who'll be seeking to build off their latest comeback win in
this afternoon's finale of a three-game series with the Kansas City Royals
from Comerica P
<< Mavs hope to lock up West's 2nd seed vs. Spurs
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Dallas Mavericks can lock up the No. 2 seed in the
Western Conference with a victory at home tonight against their longtime
rival, the San Antonio Spurs.
Dallas is a game ahead of Utah and Phoenix for the second spot i
<< Rays shoot for sweep of Orioles
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) -- The Tampa Bay Rays can finish off a road sweep against one
of their favorite foes today when they wrap up a three-game series with the
Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards.
The Rays won for the fourth time in five 2010 meeti
Hawks host Cavs in Dixie >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of Eastern Conference heavyweights meet in Atlanta
Wednesday as the Hawks host the Cleveland Cavaliers in the season finale for
both clubs.
The top-seeded Cavs locked up the NBA's best record back on Apr. 4 a
Pirates take aim at elusive series win in San Francisco >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Pittsburgh Pirates shoot for a rare series win in San
Francisco this afternoon, when they play the rubber match of their three-game
set against the Giants at AT&T Park.
The Pirates beat the Giants for the first tim
T'Wolves, Pistons square off in Twin Cities >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of teams finishing up very disappointing seasons
meet in the Twin Cities Wednesday when the Minnesota Timberwolves face off
with the Detroit Pistons.
The Pistons dropped their home finale on Monday when Andr
Cubs eye winning streak against Brewers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Randy Wells will try to follow up an excellent season debut
from last week when he takes this hill this afternoon for the Chicago Cubs in
the continuation of a three-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers from
Wrigley Field.
Matt Kenseth And Kevin Harvick Favorites To Take NASCAR Nextel Cup Championship
(September 15)—The NASCAR season has hit the homestretch with the opening event on this year’s Chase for the Cup taking place this weekend at the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway. With 10 races remaining to determine the Cup Series champion, leading online sportsbook MySportsbook.com today announced odds on all 10 Chase qualifying drivers capturing the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship.
One of the largest sportsbook sites on the Internet, MySportsbook.com currently lists the top two drivers in the point standings as the early favorites to win the Nextel Cup. Entering the Chase for the Cup with a slim five-point lead in the point standings, 2003 NASCAR champ Matt Kenseth has been made a slight favorite to win his second Cup at 7/2 betting odds. 2001 Cup Rookie of the Year Kevin Harvick has betting odds listed at 5/2 and four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon is listed at 6/1 to capture the Nextel Cup this year.
Hoping to follow in the footsteps of his legendary father who won six NASCAR titles, Dale Earnhardt Jr. stands at 8/1 to breakthrough with his first Cup victory. Staying with the family theme, MySportsbook.com lists 2005 Rookie of the Year Kyle Busch at 14/1 to succeed big brother Kurt’s 2004 NASCAR title. While Kasey Kahne was the final driver to qualify for the Chase with a third place finish last week, the oddsmakers give him a fighting chance at 10/1 mainly due to several mile-and-a-half tracks remaining on the schedule. Despite going winless on the NASCAR circuit this season, Jeff Burton enters the Chase at 5/1 to capture the Cup title. Meanwhile, rookie Denny Hamlin is 4/1 to win the championship, while veteran driver Mark Martin enters the Chase for the Cup as a 15/1 long shot to win his first NASCAR title in his 24th and final season.
MySportsbook.com will offer comprehensive Nascar betting lines on every race remaining on the Nextel Cup series including driver match-ups, props and odds to win each race. For a complete list of NASCAR odds, please visit www.MySportsbook.com.
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Underdog 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.
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