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
02/15/2012 - Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Pau Gasol had 20 points, doubling up Kobe Bryant, and the Los Angeles Lakers returned home with an 86-78 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night.
Bryant had 10 points on 5-of-18 shooting without visiting the foul line and Gasol added 13 rebounds for the Lakers, who were coming off a 3-3 road trip while Staples Center was readied for Sunday night's Grammys.
The Lakers have beaten the Hawks six straight times at home and won 19 of the last 22 meetings between the teams in LA.
"Tonight, we had to find a way," said Gasol. "We got some energy going on in the second half and hit some big shots. Any time you hold a team down to 78 points is huge."
Jeff Teague scored 18 points to lead Atlanta while Josh Smith and Joe Johnson had 15 apiece. The Hawks started a five-game road trip with their fifth loss in seven games.
The Lakers trailed by five points early in the third quarter, but turned the game around with a 15-1 run sparked by four straight points by Bryant and a dunk by Metta World Peace.
Bryant scored eight of his 10 points during the burst and Andrew Goudelock ended it with a three, giving the Lakers a 59-50 lead.
Their advantage was 59-51 going into the fourth and reached 17 points on a Gasol three that made it 81-64 with around 3 1/3 minutes remaining.
"We're a very good defensive team," said Bryant. "We did well in transition. We were able to get some steals and turn them into points."
Andrew Bynum had 15 points and 15 rebounds for the Lakers while World Peace and Goudelock scored 10 apiece. LA shot 44 percent from the field and held Atlanta to 34.4 percent.
"We just didn't finish tonight," said Hawks coach Larry Drew.
The Lakers had 17 turnovers -- Atlanta scored 21 points off them -- including 10 in the second half. LA led 27-24 after the first quarter and 42-41 at halftime.
Game Notes
Up next for the Lakers is a home-and-home series with the Phoenix Suns this weekend. They will play in LA on Friday and in Phoenix on Sunday...Atlanta's five-game road trip also includes trips to Phoenix, Portland, Chicago and New York...Bryant's ex-wife, Vanessa, was seen waiting for him outside the locker room after the game.
<< Red Wings set home winning streak record
Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Detroit Red Wings now hold the NHL record
for most consecutive home wins thanks to a 3-1 win over the Dallas Stars at
Joe Louis Arena.
The last loss the Red Wings suffered in front of the home c
<< Afflalo helps Denver dominate Phoenix
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Aaron Afflalo scored 20 points on 7-for-11
shooting, and the Denver Nuggets led wire-to-wire as they knocked off the
Phoenix Suns, 109-92, at Pepsi Center on Tuesday.
Six Nuggets scored in double fi
<< Ohio State downs Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - William Buford had 24 points and Jared
Sullinger chipped in 23 as No. 6 Ohio State downed Minnesota, 78-68, at
Williams Arena on Tuesday.
Buford and Sullinger each added eight rebounds and De
<< Harden lifts Thunder over Jazz
Oklahoma City, OK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - James Harden scored 22 points and dished
out five assists off the bench, and the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the
Utah Jazz, 111-85, at Chesapeake Energy Arena on Tuesday.
Kevin Durant had 21 poi
Russell upsets Young at SAP Open >>
San Jose, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Michael Russell upset seventh-seeded Donald
Young in straight sets Tuesday in the first round of the $531,000 SAP Open.
Russell, 33, knocked off Young in just under 92 minutes with a 6-1, 7-6 (8-6)
victory
Bulls' Thibodeau to coach East All-Stars >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau will
coach the Eastern Conference at the All-Star Game later this month.
The Bulls (24-7) claimed a 121-115 victory over the Kings on Tuesday night to
clinch the con
Golf Course Review - The Greenbrier (Old White TPC) >>
White Sulphur Springs, WV (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - FACTS AND STATS: Course
Architects: Charles Blair Macdonald, with Seth Raynor (1914), Lester George
(2001-06, restoration), PGA Tour Design along with McDonald and Sons (2010-11).
Year Opened: April
Baffert goes after another Southwest at Oaklawn >>
Hot Springs, AR (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Trainer Bob Baffert has decided to start a
pair of three-year-olds in Oaklawn Park's Southwest Stakes on Monday led by a
Breeders' Cup race winner. The $250,000 mile race is part of the track's
Kentuck
Many fans thought it was the best side in the nation by the end of last season. This year, the polls have built on Georgia's momentum and granted it the No. 1 preseason ranking, followed by Ohio State and USC. (The Associated Press has the Buckeyes at No. 2; USA Today took the Trojans.)
"To have people believing we have one of the best teams in the nation going into this thing, it's exciting for us," Bulldogs coach Mark Richt told the AP. "I don't think anything is guaranteed, but we certainly have put ourselves in position where at least the college football world thinks we're pretty good."
Georgia Bulldogs - 9.5 wins
There's no question they're good, but the Bulldogs have one of the toughest 12-game schedules in the nation, mostly because they play in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference. Away games at No. 15 Arizona State, No. 7 LSU and No. 10 Auburn loom large, with contests between the hedges versus No. 24 Alabama and No. 18 Tennessee as well as the World's Largest Cocktail Party in Jacksonville versus No.5 Florida.
Ohio State Buckeyes - 10 wins
Like the Bulldogs, the Buckeyes also have a number of tough road contests in 2008. After two scrimmages dressed up as real games versus Youngstown State and Ohio, it's off to face USC. Other tough away games include No.13 Wisconsin in October and No. 20 Illinois in November. Granted, it should be pretty easy sledding at the Horseshoe. In fact, the only ranked team that travels to Columbus is No. 22 Penn State, in October.
USC Trojans - 10.5 wins
A similarly light schedule awaits the Trojans of Southern California, which is why the oddsmakers' total is one win more and the over is currently commanding -150 odds. Pete Carroll's troops only play three ranked teams in 2008, and all of those games are at home. After what should be an easy trip to Virginia to start things off on Aug. 30, the Trojans get two weeks to prepare for Ohio State in Los Angeles. Their two other ranked opponents, No. 21 Oregon and No. 15 Arizona State, visit in consecutive weeks to start the month of October. After that, the competition eases up. Of course, this is the same highly-touted school that lost to Stanford in 2007 and Oregon State in 2006. And don't discount the fact that USC plays its biggest rivals, Notre Dame and UCLA, back-to-back to close out the regular season. On paper, the Trojans are far superior, but motivation will be high for the Irish and Bruins, especially if their historic foes are in national-title contention.
Odds to Win the Heisman Trophy
Tim Tebow, Florida - 7/2
He won it last year, so it's no surprise he's the favorite to do it again, making him just the second player to go back-to-back. Ohio State's Archie Griffin turned the trick in 1974 and 1975, and Tebow's coach, Urban Meyer, is pretty sure his star quarterback can match the Buckeyes legend.
"There has never been anyone quite like him," Meyer told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I am very lucky to be his coach."
Chris Wells, Ohio State - 5/1
The man they call "Beanie" was a star recruit out of high school, so it's not like nobody knew who the star tailback was before he rushed for 576 yards as a freshman in 2006 and 1,609 as a sophomore. But perhaps his finest moment came last year versus Michigan when he rumbled for 222 yards and two touchdowns in the Buckeyes' 14-3 victory over the hated Wolverines.
Knowshon Moreno, Georgia - 8/1
If the Bulldogs are to live up to expectations, they'll need a huge effort from their sophomore running back. This might be the last year of college ball for Moreno, who rushed for 1,334 yards and for 14 touchdowns as a freshman, while adding 253 receiving yards on 20 receptions, so expect big things for the man from Belford, N.J.
Stay with us here as we take you through the best in NFL action on a consistent basis, with advice columns as well as handicapping selections. If you're looking for college football betting, that's in our NCAA section, which you can reach by clicking here. And if you're looking for a different kind of football, such as the Canadian Football League, which we'll deal with occasionally, or the Arena Football League, which we really like, you can find it in our Miscellaneous section by clicking
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting lines .
To visit this sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs. Mysportsbook.com online sports betting
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.
Get free 2009 Super Bowl Betting from top rated online sportsbook MySportsbook.com. Mysportsbook.com online Super Bowl betting VISA Mastercard
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