 |
 Basketball Betting |
 |
||||
|
 |
||||
|
||||
Boozer, Jazz try to stay on track at MinnesotaBasketball Betting Lines02/25/2009 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With one of their top players back in action, the Utah Jazz take aim at their longest winning streak of the season in tonight's clash against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center. The Jazz won for the fifth straight time and eighth time in nine outings after completing a perfect homestand with Monday's 108-89 victory over Atlanta. Ronnie Brewer led a balanced scoring attack with 19 points as Utah ended its residency with a 5-0 record. Paul Millsap added 16 points and 12 rebounds and Deron Williams also recorded a double-double for the Jazz, finishing with 15 points and 10 assists. Utah was also bolstered by the long-awaited return of Carlos Boozer to the lineup. The standout forward, an All-Star selection in each of the past two seasons, had been sidelined since November 19 with an injured left knee that required surgery. Boozer played a little over 21 minutes on Monday and scored two points while grabbing five rebounds. The Jazz, who enter tonight's tilt tied for sixth place in the Western Conference standings and three games back of Northwest Division leader Denver, also had a five-game win streak to begin this season. Utah hasn't won six in a row since it ripped off 10 straight victories from January 18-February 6, 2008. Utah is just 9-17 on the road this season, but one of those wins came at the Target Center back in December. Minnesota's recent struggles continued Tuesday in Toronto, where Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani each had 26 points as the Raptors posted a 118-110 triumph over the Timberwolves. Randy Foye and Ryan Gomes scored 25 and 23 points, respectively, for Minnesota, which received a 15-point outing from rookie Kevin Love as well. The loss was the Timberwolves' third in a row and eighth in their last nine games. Minnesota has also dropped six straight at the Target Center and is a poor 8-19 as the host this season. Utah has taken three straight meetings with the T-Wolves, two of which took place earlier this season.
<< Playoff-hopeful Pens host lowly Islanders
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Still outside the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference, the Penguins can't afford to be without Sidney Crosby heading down the stretch. The Pens captain is expected to be on the ice tonight despite a sore groin, as Pitts
<< Mavs open homestand vs. Bucks
<< KryptoNate welcomes Superman to MSG as Knicks host Magic
<< Cellar dwellers meet in Indy as Pacers host Grizzlies
<< Nets hope to build on Harris' miracle as Bulls visit Izod Center
Rangers begin Tortorella era in Toronto >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Rangers hope a coaching change can help turn their fortunes around. Tonight, the Rangers will visit the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre in the finale of a home-and-home series and the first game for New
Sharks visit Red Wings for West showdown >>
Slumping Pistons hope to snap skid in New Orleans >>
Hobbling Spurs resume homestand against Portland >>
Flyers aim to stay hot versus Kings >>
FOOTBALL BETTINGAfter all the trouble that’s ensued since Braylon Edwards allegedly punched one of LeBron James’ homeboys in the face at a club, the Cleveland Browns have sent away their last remaining player of worth to the New York Jets. This is a great move for Dirty Sanchez and all, but it’s even better for the Knicks. Now Donnie Walsh can say, “You get to haunt Braylon Edwards with your posse if you sign here!” next summer. Putting that aside for a moment, the move is a clear indication that the new-look Jets are gunning for the Super Bowl this year. I don’t think that New York thought that Dirty Sanchez was going to be such a rock star. With a 75.2 passer rating that was killed against the Jets, Sanchez is doing an admirable job of managing games and putting the Jets in a position to win. The defense has been the major story in New York thus far, but the acquisition of Braylon Edwards makes this offense loaded with talent that can dent any defense…as long as Dirty Sanchez continues his meteoric rise. Thus far, Edwards has been a non-factor in the NFL piling up just 139 receiving yards on 10 catches. He has yet to find the endzone, and with the Browns mired in the most unsexy quarterback controversy of all time (Anderson vs. Quinn...yawn), there going nowhere fast. Edwards is two seasons removed from a career year which saw him catch 80 passes for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns when the Browns were the spread killing monsters of 2007. In 2008, injuries slowed the receiver down to just 873 yards and three touchdowns though he played in all 16 games. So that being said, we really don’t know if Braylon Edwards is just a flash in the pan, or a legit threat. At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, he is a prototypical receiver. But he’s also shown a strange, and unwarranted, talent for dropping passes. Lining up opposite Jericho Cotchery, a speed demon with 23 catches, 356 yards and a single touchdown, may give Braylon the open looks he needs. A change of scenery may also rejuvenate the star receiver. In return, the Browns will receive Chansi Stuckey, online football betting a special teams player you’ve never heard of and a pair of draft picks. That’s a tall order for a guy whose only real value right now is in his name, and it shows no promise to the Browns that they can rebuild around those acquisitions. Braylon was the only reason to hope for the Browns to go 3-14 SU this year. Without him, they don’t have a single guy on offense that can scare any team. For the Jets, it’s a response to the pounding that they took at the hand of the Saints. Thomas Jones and Leon Washington have averaged around 4.0 yards per carry each on the ground, but striking a fair balance between the passing and rushing attacks in New York has been a struggle. You have to believe that the trio of Dustin Keller, Jericho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards will give Sanchez the weapons he needs to unleash through the air. Theoretically, that would open up holes for the rushing game. But the proposed public option health care plan works in theory too. We need to see the proof in the pudding before we start loading up mega bucks on the New York Jets to take the AFC. The one wrinkle in this whole thing is that Braylon could very well be suspended by the league for disciplinary action due to his “brawl” with LeBron’s friend. If that’s the case, the Jets may have to bench him for a few games leaving them with a somewhat depleted receiving corps for a few games. Also, this is a guy who gets in fights with people at clubs. New York may not be the best place for him. Just sayin’. The Jets have a long week before they meet the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football Betting in a virtual pick ‘em game. Braylon’s excess baggage may be a distraction, and his curiously low production may be what we should be expecting of him overall, but for the Jets, taking a chance to strike gold is well worth it. At the end of the year, they can simply just blame it on their rookie quarterback. To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your college football betting needs. |
|
