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05/16/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Eastern Conference finals are set to begin tonight in Philadelphia, as a pair of surprising teams meet at the Wachovia Center for Game 1 between the host Flyers and the Montreal Canadiens.
The Flyers and Canadiens entered this postseason as the seventh and eighth- seeded teams, respectively, in the Eastern Conference. This best-of-seven set marks the first time since the NHL adopted its current playoff format in 1994 that the bottom two seeds in either conference will play a series with a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals on the line.
The Flyers earned their spot in the conference finals by beating New Jersey in five games in Round 1 before making history in their seven-game series victory over Boston.
Philadelphia was down three games to none against the Bruins, but won the final four games of the best-of-seven set to become the first NHL team in 35 years to overcome a 3-0 deficit to win a series. Not only did the Flyers come back from down 3-0 in the series, but also trailed 3-0 in the first period of Game 7 before charging back for a 4-3 victory in front of a stunned crowd at Boston's TD Garden.
All this from a team that needed to win a shootout over the New York Rangers on the final day of the season to even make the playoffs. Now, the Flyers have home-ice to start the Eastern Conference finals and are just one step away from reaching their first Cup Finals since 1997. Philadelphia has lost in its last three trips to the conference finals.
Meanwhile, Montreal needed to come back from a 3-1 series deficit to beat top- seeded Washington in the opening round, but the Habs never seemed to be overmatched in the conference semifinals against Pittsburgh, last year's Stanley Cup champions. The Canadiens never allowed the two-time defending conference champs to get more than a one-game lead in the series, as the team's alternated wins and losses until Montreal was able to take both Games 6 and 7.
The Flyers and Canadiens are meeting in the playoffs for the sixth time. Montreal won three of the previous five encounters, but Philly beat the Habs in five games the last time the franchises met in the 2008 conference semifinals. Prior to that, the previous two encounters were for conference titles, with Montreal earning a trip to the Cup Finals in 1989 -- two years after Philly beat them for the Prince of Wales Trophy in 1987.
The clubs split four meetings during the regular season. Each team picked up a win at home and on the road in the 2009-10 season series. Montreal has taken 11 of the last 14 regular-season meetings overall.
Philadelphia enters this series with four double-digit scorers. Captain Mike Richards leads the pack with 17 points, (5 goals, 12 assists), Danny Briere has a team-high seven goals to go along with eight assists, while young forward Claude Giroux and defenseman Chris Pronger each have 11 points in this postseason.
Brian Boucher started the first 10 games of this postseason for the Flyers until suffering a sprained left MCL in Game 5 against the Bruins. However, Michael Leighton, who had been the starter before going down to a high ankle sprain in mid-March, stepped in for the rest of the series and stopped 66- of-70 shots (.943 save percentage) to help Philly close out the set.
Leighton had never seen action in an NHL postseason game before Boucher's injury in Game 5, but outside of giving up three goals in the first period of Game 7 against the Bruins, he seemed more than up to the task. He will be the No. 1 netminder in this series as Boucher is expected to be out for the next month.
The Canadiens are in the conference finals for the first time since 1993, which was also when they won the last of their record 24 Stanley Cup titles.
The Habs have been able to knock off higher seeds in this postseason thanks to a total team effort on defense, timely goal-scoring from forwards Brian Gionta and Michael Cammalleri, and superb puck-stopping from goaltender Jaroslav Halak.
Cammalleri and Gionta, with 12 and seven goals, respectively, have accounted for nearly half of the Canadiens' 39 goals in this postseason and Cammalleri's goal total is the most by a Montreal player since Guy Lafleur also had 12 in the 1975 postseason.
Halak, meanwhile, has stopped 420 of the 450 shots thrown his way for a mind- boggling .933 save percentage.
But, as cliche as it sounds, this truly has been a team effort for the Canadiens. Cammalleri and Gionta are providing most of the offense, and Halak is taking care of business at his end, but in between are a group of guys that have completely bought into the system put in place by head coach Jacques Martin.
This emphasis on team was clearly illustrated in the series victory over Pittsburgh. Already without defenseman Jaroslav Spacek since early in the Washington series, the Canadiens lost their top blueliner Andrei Markov to an ACL tear in Game 1 against the Pens. Of course Markov's injury meant more responsibility for defensemen like Hal Gill and rookie P.K. Subban, but Martin also needed his forwards to step up and help slow down Pittsburgh's relentless offense.
And that's just what Montreal did, the club came together and made it their main priority to frustrate the Penguins and it worked time and time again. In the end, Pittsburgh, which exploded for six goals in Game 1, scored a total of 12 times in Games 2-7.
The good news is Spacek returned for the final two games against Pittsburgh, and there is speculation that Markov could return at some point during the conference finals after it was originally believed he would miss the rest of the postseason. Markov is expected to miss tonight's game.
The Flyers, who will also host Game 2 on Tuesday, are 4-1 as the host in this year's playoffs after going 24-14-3 in Philadelphia during the regular season. This matchup marks the first time the Flyers have begun a series with home-ice advantage in the post-lockout era.
Montreal was 19-17-5 on the road prior to the start of the playoffs and has won five out of eight as the guest in the postseason.
<< First place in NL Central on the line in Cards-Reds finale
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cincinnati Reds can end the weekend in first place in
the National League Central Division with a defeat of the visiting St. Louis
Cardinals in the finale of their three-game series today at Great American
Ball Park.
<< A rare catch: Marlins try for first four-game home sweep of Mets
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - While the Mets are starting to shake things up in an effort
to halt their current skid, the Marlins have been taking advantage of the
club's struggles on the road.
Florida will try for its first ever four-game sweep at hom
<< Orioles aim to rebound in rubber match against Indians
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With their three-game win streak now history, the Baltimore
Orioles try to work their way back into the win column this afternoon as they
close out a three-game set with the Cleveland Indians at Camden Yards.
After holding
<< Tigers, Red Sox close out set in Motown
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In the midst of a 10-game homestand, the Detroit Tigers try
to finish off the visiting Boston Red Sox this afternoon as the teams close
out a three-game set at Comerica Park.
The Tigers, who will be hosting division foe Ch
Pirates hope to leave Chicago with sweep of Cubs >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Texas-born righty Ross Ohlendorf faces the Chicago Cubs for
the second time in a brief major-league career today when the Pittsburgh
Pirates visit Wrigley Field to close out a three-game series.
The Pirates have won the fi
White Sox aim for back-to-back wins over Royals >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago White Sox try to post back-to-back wins for the
first time in the month of May as they battle the Kansas City Royals in the
finale of a three-game series at Kauffman Stadium.
On Saturday the Sox battled back fr
Francis set for season debut as Rockies close out set with Nats >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jeff Francis is expected to make his first start in well
over a year this afternoon for the Colorado Rockies, who are coming off a
sweep of yesterday's doubleheader and will look to secure a series win over
the Washington Nat
Dodgers hope for sweep of division rival Padres >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The surprising Padres came into this series sitting in
first place in the National League West. However, a pair of losses to the
Dodgers has quickly reminded them just who the defending division champs are.
San Diego will
March Madness odds and printable March Madness brackets
With the field of 64/65 set, MySportsbook.com has the Florida Gators as the 4-1 favorite to successfully defend their National Championship. Men’s Division-1 College Basketball has not seen a team repeat as National Champions since Duke won back to back championships in ’91 & ‘92. After losing three out of four late in the season, the Gators are full of momentum as they won their last four games by an average of 18 points. Not surprisingly, right behind the Gators are the other three top seeds: Kansas 5-1, UNC 6-1, and Ohio State 7-1. Many consider Kansas to be the hottest team in the country, having won 11 straight. With Kansas, it is hard to ignore all of the early exits from the “dance” in recent years. With an impressive ACC Tournament, UNC ensured themselves the other top seed. UNC has about as much talent as any other team in the tournament but with a team that’s best players are primarily freshman and sophomores, could youth be a concern. Behind freshman sensation, Greg Oden, OSU will look to do what their football team failed to do just a few months earlier. OSU seems to have peeked at the right time, as they currently have a 17 game winning streak. Since the tournament field was expanded in 1985, there has never been an instance where all four #1 seeds advanced to the Final Four. It is obvious that each of the top seeds have the talent to make it through to Atlanta. But as everyone knows, when makes the NCAA Tournament so special are all of the spoilers and “Cinderella” stories that knock off the favorites on a daily basis.
Be sure to logon to MySportsbook.com to see check out all of the early lines and “March Madness” props. Also be sure to enter the “$10,000,000 Perfect Bracket Contest”. If someone has the skills to predict every winner, they will be set for life and walk away with $10,000,000. Even if no one can cash in on the Grand Prize, with a $35,000 guaranteed prize pool and a Mazda RX-8 to the first prize winner, Sportsbook.com’s bracket is a must for all “March Madness” fans.
MySportsbook.com’s odds to win the Championship and Regions:
| EAST | National Championship | Region |
| Arkansas | 300-1 | 50-1 |
| Belmont | 1000-1 | |
| Boston College | 100-1 | 40-1 |
| Eastern KY | 1000-1 | |
| George Washington | 75-1 | |
| Georgetown | 10-1 | 3-2 |
| Marquette | 100-1 | 40-1 |
| Michigan State | 100-1 | 25-1 |
| New Mexico St. | 500-1 | 200-1 |
| UNC | 6-1 | 6-5 |
| Oral Roberts | 500-1 | |
| Texas | 15-1 | 5-1 |
| Texas Tech | 200-1 | 5-1 |
| USC | 75-1 | 20-1 |
| Vanderbilt | 100-1 | 30-1 |
| Washington State | 40-1 | 15-1 |
| WEST | ||
| Duke | 50-1 | 10-1 |
| Florida A&M | 1000-1 | |
| Gonzaga | 200-1 | 40-1 |
| Holy Cross | 300-1 | |
| Illinois | 300-1 | 60-1 |
| Indiana | 75-1 | 40-1 |
| Kansas | 5-1 | 13-10 |
| Kentucky | 100-1 | 40-1 |
| Niagara | 1000-1 | |
| Pittsburgh | 40-1 | 8-1 |
| Southern Ill. | 50-1 | 12-1 |
| UCLA | 10-1 | 3-2 |
| VCU | 500-1 | 100-1 |
| Villanova | 100-1 | 40-1 |
| VA Tech | 50-1 | 15-1 |
| Weber St | 1000-1 | |
| Wright St | 1000-1 | 300-1 |
| MIDWEST | ||
| Arizona | 50-1 | 30-1 |
| Butler | 40-1 | 30-1 |
| Davidson | 300-1 | |
| Florida | 4-1 | 4-5 |
| Georgia Tech | 75-1 | 25-1 |
| Jackson State | 1000-1 | |
| Maryland | 30-1 | 6-1 |
| Miami-OH | 300-1 | |
| Notre Dame | 100-1 | 20-1 |
| ODU | 500-1 | 100-1 |
| Oregon | 40-1 | 6-1 |
| Purdue | 300-1 | 60-1 |
| Texas A&M CC | 1000-1 | |
| UNLV | 100-1 | 30-1 |
| Winthrop | 500-1 | 100-1 |
| Wisconsin | 15-1 | 7-2 |
| SOUTH | ||
| Albany | 200-1 | |
| BYU | 200-1 | 40-1 |
| Central CT St. | 1000-1 | |
| Creighton | 100-1 | 35-1 |
| Long Beach St. | 500-1 | 200-1 |
| Louisville | 40-1 | 10-1 |
| Memphis | 30-1 | 4-1 |
| Nevada | 75-1 | 35-1 |
| North Texas | 500-1 | |
| Ohio State | 7-1 | 6-5 |
| Penn | 500-1 | |
| Stanford | 200-1 | 50-1 |
| Tennessee | 100-1 | 20-1 |
| Texas A&M | 12-1 | 11-5 |
| Virginia | 75-1 | 18-1 |
| Xavier | 100-1 | 40-1 |
About MySportsbook.com MySportsbook.com is the largest sportsbook and casino on the planet, where millions of adult Americans bet on sports, play poker and enjoy blackjack and other casino games online in a regulated and licensed jurisdiction. Named the "Best US Sports Book" by the industry's top magazine, eGaming Review, MySportsbook.com has been leading the online gaming industry since 1996. Dwarfing its nearest competitors in the US, MySportsbook.com has been the first to achieve every significant industry milestone, from record turnover to active users to number of bets--achieving a peak of fifteen bets per second. As the US online gaming leader, the firm and it's products have been featured on CBS 60 Minutes, CNN, ESPN, Wall Street Journal, Barrons, Financial Times, USA Today and in every major newspaper in the US.
To bet on March Madness games this online sportsbook accepts credit cards.
Rule No. 1 in the gamblers' handbook states, "Avoid sports betting on meaningless games."
When you're drowning in a sea of baseball monotony, however, things change. Even a hint of pro football betting can persuade the most disciplined bettor to break a few rules.
The NFL preseason is around the corner, with a tempting Hall of Fame match kicking off on Sunday. But bettors must stay vigilant. Wagering on NFL exhibition games is an entirely different beast than the regular season. Most fans don't recognize the players on the field because starters get as much action in August as Warcraft fans get on Prom night.
The only certainty about the NFL this time of year is uncertainty – and yet there are some who say betting in August can be a gold mine.
“I actually feel the NFL preseason presents solid profit opportunities for sharp bettors and handicappers,” Sports Expert Steve Merril explains. “My experience has been that the sportsbooks fear the preseason, which is evident by lower limits and massive moves.”
The line moves are attributed to the limited knowledge available regarding playing-time distribution. One team’s top unit out on the field for one more series has an impact on the pointspread. Setting lines in the preseason often is a shot in the dark.
“We base the betting lines mostly on public perception,” Pete Korner, founder of the Sports Club in Las Vegas, says. “It’s very tough to predict, almost a guessing game.”
The preseason is all about figuring out who’s in and for how long.
“It becomes a race between bettors and oddsmakers to find out how long the quarterbacks are going to stay in,” Korner admits. “If a sharp gets the information first, he could exploit an early line. I’m a full believer in moving the line in the preseason if the books find out something late in the week.”
Determining what each team’s motive is can help bettors handicap. To do this you must pay close attention to the philosophies head coaches employ in exhibition play.
“You need to know what a coach is trying to accomplish,” says Covers Expert Bryan Leonard. “Sometimes a new coach will want to instill a winning attitude. Others just want to make sure their starters don’t get hurt."
So how do you distinguish who’s playing scared and who’s playing for keeps?
“Head coaches on the hot seat or new coaches trying to implement a winning attitude usually try harder to win in the preseason,” Merril says.
Cleveland Browns head coach Romeo Crennel fits this criteria. He’s entering his third season as the sideline boss and has yet to lead the Browns to more than six wins.
Cleveland is an enticing bet as well because of the unresolved quarterback situation. General manager Phil Savage sacrificed the Browns’ first-round pick in next year’s draft for Brady Quinn, but the former Notre Dame quarterback hasn’t signed or reported to training camp yet.
Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson split time at QB last season and it looks like either player (or even Quinn) could be the opening-day starter.
“If a team has quarterback depth and the pecking order hasn’t been decided, it’s a big advantage,” Leonard says.
Even in the third week of the preseason when starters generally play the most, the final outcome of the game is in the hands of fringe players. A team's talent, all the way down to the last man on the roster, is something to consider.
The New England Patriots have long been considered one of the deeper teams in the NFL and coach Bill Belichick has said in the past he’s unafraid of stars getting hurt in games with nothing on the line. He shocked his colleagues in 2003 by playing some of his starters on special teams in the preseason.
“We want to have the team ready to play a tough, physical game and preparation has to go into that and I imagine a certain amount of injuries go with it,” Belichick told the Providence Journal in August 2003.
Bettors can only hope to find more teams that share the Pats' business-like approach to the preseason (New England is 17-9-3 against the spread since 2000) and take advantage of teams who detest the exhibition schedule.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on football needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.
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