Sports Betting News: NFL Team History | NFL Football Betting | College Football Betting | Baseball Betting | Basketball Betting | College Basketball Betting | Hockey Betting | Golf Betting | Tennis Betting | Auto Racing Betting | Horse Racing Betting | Soccer Betting
05/16/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The top two seeds in the West will begin their battle for the conference title today, when the San Jose Sharks host the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals at HP Pavilion.
The top-seeded Sharks enter this best-of-seven series after an impressive performance in Round 2. San Jose ousted two-time defending conference champion Detroit in five games to deny the Red Wings a fourth straight trip to the West finals.
San Jose, which also beat Colorado in the opening round of this year's playoffs, is in the conference finals for just the second time in club history. The Sharks lost at this stage to Calgary in the 2004 Western Conference finals.
The Blackhawks, meanwhile, are participating in their second straight conference finals and are hoping to make their first Stanley Cup Finals since 1992. Chicago lost in five games to Detroit in last year's West finals.
Chicago needed six games to defeat each of its opponents in this year's postseason. The Blackhawks sent Nashville packing in Round 1 before ousting Vancouver in the conference semifinals for the second straight year.
After allowing the likes of Joe Pavelski and Devin Setoguchi to carry the offensive load in Round 1, the Sharks formidable top line of Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Dany Heatley dominated the Red Wings in the conference semifinals. This was especially true of the centerman Thornton, who had just three assists against the Avalanche, but rebounded with three goals and five assists in the Detroit series.
Marleau had two goals and two assists in Round 2 to give him seven points (3 goals, 4 assists) in these playoffs. Heatley has 11 points (2g, 9a) in the 2010 postseason after notching two goals and five helpers in the West semis.
Still, Pavelski is leading all Sharks this postseason in goals (9), points (15) and plus-minus (7).
Although players like Thornton, Heatley, Marleau and Pavelski have grabbed the headlines for San Jose this spring, the club has really shined defensively and in goal during these playoffs. In fact, with an average of 2.54 goals surrendered per game (28 goals in 11 games), the Sharks have been the hardest team to score against in this postseason.
Credit for San Jose's stingy play is shared between goaltender Evgeni Nabokov and a solid defensive corps that includes steady veterans like Dan Boyle and Rob Blake.
After going 2-4 with a 2.82 goals-against average and a dreadful .890 save percentage in last year's embarrassing first-round exit against Anaheim, Nabokov has rebounded nicely in the spring of 2010. The Russian backstop is 8-3 with a 2.43 GAA and .907 save percentage and was excellent in the Detroit series, playing a key role in all four of his team's wins -- each of which came by just one goal.
One of the primary strengths of Chicago is the club's ability to get scoring from all over its roster. The Blackhawks have four players with double-digit point totals during the 12 games in this postseason and 14 different skaters have scored at least one goal for Joel Quenneville's club.
Chicago's top line may not be as heralded as San Jose's trio of Thornton, Heatley and Marleau, but Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Dustin Byfuglien still make up one of the league's most-feared units.
Toews, Chicago's 22-year-old captain, is having a fantastic postseason with an NHL-leading 20 points (6g, 14a). Although primarily known as a playmaking centerman, Toews showed his goal-scoring skills with a hat trick in Game 4 against the Canucks. He enters the conference finals with points in his last nine games.
Kane is leading the Blackhawks with seven goals in the playoffs and is second to Toews with 15 points.
Chicago's second line features a pair of double-digit playoff scorers in Patrick Sharp and Marian Hossa, who have notched 14 and 10 points, respectively. Of course, Hossa has been on the losing team in each of the last two Stanley Cup Finals, skating with Pittsburgh in 2008 and Detroit in '09.
The Blackhawks also boast tremendous defensive depth with Team Canada members Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook leading the way at the back end.
Seabrook is leading all Chicago blueliners with eight points (2g, 6a) in the postseason, while Keith, who has a goal and five assists, is averaging a team- high 27 minutes, 2 seconds of ice time per game. Keith is also one of three finalists for this year's Norris Trophy.
Niklas Hjalmarsson, Brian Campbell and Brent Sopel also see considerable ice time on the Chicago blue line.
The Blackhawks' main concern still seems to be in net, but Antti Niemi has gone a long way towards correcting that perception during this postseason.
Niemi entered the 2009-10 season with just three games at the NHL level, but still outplayed Cristobal Huet for the No. 1 job. The Finnish netminder has been able to carry that success into the playoffs so far, going 8-4 with a 2.57 GAA and .909 save percentage in 12 games.
This series will mark the first-ever playoff meeting between the Sharks and Blackhawks, but Chicago had the upper hand in the 2009-10 season series, taking three out of four from San Jose.
Keith had the most points out of any player on either team during the season series between Chicago and the Sharks, posting seven assists. Hossa, Brouwer and Kane each had five points over the four games. Pavelski and Heatley led the Sharks with five points apiece, while Thornton added four.
Huet started all four games against San Jose this year, while Niemi has never seen action against the Sharks. Nabokov was 1-1 with a lofty 3.78 GAA against Chicago this year, but is 14-6-3 with two ties in 26 career appearances against the Blackhawks.
The Sharks have been excellent on home ice all year long, going 5-1 as the host in the playoffs and 27-6-8 at the Shark Tank during the regular season.
Chicago has been better on the road than at home in the postseason, going 5-1 as the guest compared to a 3-3 mark at United Center. The Blackhawks were 23-14-4 away from the Windy City in the regular season.
Game 2 of this series is scheduled for Tuesday in San Jose.
<< Blue Jays go for fourth consecutive win in finale with Rangers
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sporting the longest current win streak in the American
League, the Toronto Blue Jays try to make it four in a row this afternoon as
they entertain the Texas Rangers in the finale of a three-game set at the
Rogers Centre.
<< Celtics and Magic kick off East finals in Orlando
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Celtics were able to put the NBA's best player,
LeBron James, in the rear view mirror and are now moving on to the Eastern
Conference finals for the second time in three years.
Things don't figure to get any eas
<< Triesman set to leave 2018 World Cup post
London, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Reports claim Lord Triesman is set to step
down as chairman of the England 2018 World Cup bid following his suggestion
that Spain were attempting to bribe referees at this summer's World Cup.
In comment
<< Capello commits future to England
London, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Head coach Fabio Capello has committed his
future to England until after the next European Championship in 2012.
Under the terms of the contract the Italian signed in December 2007, Capello
or the Footba
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
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
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.
Rays close out series with Mariners >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The top team in the American League tries to put some more
distance between itself and the rest of the AL East today as the Tampa Bay
Rays settle in for the finale of a three-game set against the Seattle Mariners
at Tropicana
MySportsbook.com Week 1 odds:
Saints +6 @ Colts -6
Falcons @ Vikings (pick ‘em)
Panthers @ Rams (pick ‘em)
Broncos -3.5 @ Bills +3.5
Chiefs -1 @ Texans +1
Dolphins +3 @ Redskins -3
Patriots -5 @ Jets +5
Eagles -3.5 @ Packers +3.5
Steelers -4 @ Browns +4
Titans +6 @ Jaguars -6
Bears +6 @ Chargers -6
Lions +3 @ Raiders -3
Bucs +6.5 @ Seahawks -6.5
Giants +4 @ Cowboys -4
Ravens +3 @ Bengals -3
Cardinals +3 @ 49ers -3
Super Bowl line (2008)
NFC +6.5 vs. AFC -6.5
MySportsbook is a large, publicly traded company with strong financial backing. You will find their customer service is second to none and their web site is extremely user friendly and easy-to-use. All major professional sports games are available. Once you signup with MySportsbook, you may never use another online sportsbook again.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football sportsbook needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.
BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
Sports Betting News: NFL Team History | NFL Football Betting | College Football Betting | Baseball Betting | Basketball Betting | College Basketball Betting | Hockey Betting | Golf Betting | Tennis Betting | Auto Racing Betting | Horse Racing Betting | Soccer Betting