Celtics to begin title defense against James, Cavaliers
Basketball Betting Lines
08/07/2008 -
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Celtics will begin their title
defense on Tuesday, October 28 at home against LeBron James and the
Cleveland Cavaliers.
The contest is the first of two featured on the NBA's 2008-09 schedule, which
was released on Wednesday. The second contest of the opening night
doubleheader, which will be broadcast on TNT, will feature the top overall
selection in the 2007 NBA Draft, Greg Oden, and the Portland Trail Blazers as
they visit reigning league MVP Kobe Bryant and the defending Western
Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers.
The Boston-Cleveland matchup will also feature a ceremony before the game
where Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and company will receive their
championship rings.
ESPN will then take over the following night with a doubleheader of its own.
First, the San Antonio Spurs will host the Phoenix Suns and the nightcap
will feature an intra-city battle as the new-look Los Angeles Clippers, led by
Baron Davis, host the Lakers.
Other highlighted matchups of opening week, titled "NBA Tip-Off 08" include
Houston taking on in-state rival Dallas on Thursday, while 2008 No. 1 overall
pick Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls travel to take on the world champion
Celtics on Friday.
For the first time, the NBA's three national television partners -- ABC, ESPN
and TNT -- will each televise games on Christmas Day.
The action tips off on ESPN at 12 p.m. (et) when Orlando and All-Star Dwight
Howard play host to the New Orleans Hornets and dynamic point guard Chris
Paul.
ABC follows with a doubleheader, featuring the Suns and Spurs in Phoenix and a
rematch of last year's NBA Finals when Boston visits the Staples Center and
the Lakers. TNT finishes the day with a doubleheader of its own, headlined by
the Washington Wizards traveling to Cleveland to face James and the Cavaliers.
and Portland hosting the Dallas Mavericks.
ABC will exclusively broadcast the NBA Finals for a sixth straight season in
June.
<< Favre traded to Jets
Green Bay, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Green Bay Packers reached an
agreement to trade quarterback Brett Favre to the New York Jets late
Wednesday night.
Though the Packers did not release terms of the trade, the Gree
<< Ellsbury, Red Sox blast Royals
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jacoby Ellsbury went 3-for-4 with a three-
run homer and scored twice as the Boston Red Sox routed the Kansas City
Royals, 8-2, in the rubber match of a three-game set.
Tim Wakefield (7-8) pitched s
<< Fish, Safin advance in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Fifth-seeded Russian Marat Safin and
sixth-seeded American Mardy Fish advanced, while second-seeded Spaniard
Fernando Verdasco fell in Wednesday's second-round action at the $475,000
Country
<< Youkilis leaves game with injured hand
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Boston Red Sox first baseman Kevin
Youkilis left in the first inning of Wednesday's game against the Kansas City
Royals with a right hand injury after being hit by a pitch.
The injury is listed a
<< Rockies reinstate Francis from DL
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Colorado Rockies pitcher Jeff Francis was
activated from the 15-day disabled list on Wednesday.
The 27-year-old lefty had been sidelined for over a month with inflammation in
his left shoulder. He w
Self inks 10-year deal with Kansas >>
Lawrence, KS (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kansas has rewarded men's basketball coach
Bill Self with a new 10-year contract worth $3 million per season.
Self guided the Jayhawks to the national championship this past spring and has
a record of 142-
Yankees place Chamberlain on DL >>
Arlington, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Yankees placed star pitcher
Joba Chamberlain on the 15-day disabled list with a stiff right shoulder
Wednesday.
Chamberlain underwent an MRI on the shoulder on Tuesday in New York, b
Veteran D Hill headed to Switzerland >>
St. Paul, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former NHL defenseman Sean Hill signed a one-
year contract to play for Biel of the EHC Swiss hockey league on Thursday.
Hill played in 35 games for the Minnesota Wild last season, scoring twice with
seven as
Favre officially joins Jets >>
Cleveland, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brett Favre officially joined the New
York Jets Thursday in a press conference before the team's preseason game in
Cleveland.
Favre was traded to the Jets for a 2009 conditional draft pick. Acc
Red Sox minor leaguer suspended >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Major League Baseball suspended Boston Red
Sox minor leaguer Victor De La Cruz 50 games after the pitcher tested positive
for Stanozolol, a performance-enhancing substance, in violation of the Minor
League
NFL Office Pool Sheets
MySportsbook.com is considered one of the finest online sportsbook according to several surveys performed by independent industry analysts considering such factors as payout accuracy and timeliness, overall quality of website, and bettor satisfaction.
MySportsbook is offering a free printable NFL football office pool sheets. Run your own NFL Football Office Pool. Create your own pool, invite your friends to join. Compete with your with co-workers, friends or family for bragging rights every week. Exchange some hard hits without risk of injury. Trash Talk with your fellow co-workers.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your nfl football pool sheets needs.
Numerous College Basketball teams take final big step to March Madness betting
So, what turned on the lock spigot? Well, after what felt like weeks of teams treading water and slipping back into the bubble muck, a bunch of them finally decided to say "to heck with parity" and won games that should put them into the Big Dance.
Disagree with some of these? Then here's the challenge. Take all of the "should be ins" and make a legit case that each should be ahead of the team that's a lock. Then find 10 more teams that also should be placed in the bracket ahead of that lock team. Not so easy, is it?
If you want more evidence that these locks should be good to go, check out what our research department dug up. Since the NCAA Tournament went to 64 teams in 1985, only six teams from a "big six" conference have had a record of 10-6 or better in conference play and not been selected: Colorado (2004) and Nebraska (1999) from the Big 12, Boston College and Seton Hall (both 2003) from the Big East, Indiana (2005) from the Big Ten and UCLA, which somehow went 12-6 in the Pac-10 in 1988 and still missed out. (Note: Five teams went 11-7 and didn't get in, the latest being last season's Stanford team, which had a brutal nonconference run.)
Yes, 10 conference wins doesn't always mean what it used to because of unbalanced schedules, but this season, it should be plenty good in all but the extreme cases (see: Iowa).
In a way, this is a welcome development, because this is a bubble watch, not a lock watch. We can finally be done with teams like Maryland and Virginia Tech and start really bearing down on at-large battles such as Syracuse-West Virginia and Appalachian State-Georgia Tech.
Interestingly, all the shifting of teams into lock status appears to be more administrative than impactful. The number of remaining available at-larges didn't change one iota. The only difference is that teams on the bubble now have a clearer idea of which team(s) they are competing with for those precious bids.
As always, I've tried to be as inclusive as possible while only including teams that would have a reasonable chance of at least being discussed if this were Selection Sunday. If your team's not on here, there's probably a good reason (or three) -- start with the RPI and SOS numbers and work your way down.
(Please remember, per selection committee criteria, that records displayed are Division I only. Next update: Feb. 28)
If you have a legitimate grievance, or just like talking bubble, send an e-mail. Polite ones with fact-based arguments have a much better chance of receiving a response. I apologize in advance if I can't get back to all of you.
Atlantic Coast Conference
Work left to do: Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech
The ACC moves to six locks as BC, Va Tech and Virginia all got their 10th ACC wins, which should be more than enough this season, and Maryland rallied past North Carolina to get the final piece the Terps needed. After that? It could end there unless FSU, Ga Tech or Clemson picks things up in a hurry.
Work left to do:
Clemson [19-9 (5-9), RPI: 41, SOS: 42] The Tigers are closer to locking up the collapse of the year award (in a good battle with OK State) than they are to grabbing an at-large. Clemson's been very competitive, but there's no really positive way you can spin nine losses in 11 games. They now cannot get to .500 in ACC play and still must head to Virginia Tech in the season finale (after hosting Miami). Unless the Tigers win both and/or do some serious work in the ACC tourney, they very well could be left out. There are no great nonconference wins, but ODU, App State, Miss. State, South Carolina and Georgia are all respectable W's.
Florida State [18-11 (6-9), RPI: 48, SOS: 14] The Noles got thrashed at Maryland to run their losing streak to five, but then pounded NC State at home to set the table for what likely is an elimination game at Miami. You can at least make a case for the Seminoles at 7-9 in ACC play (and some work in the ACC tourney), but 6-10 is not going to cut it. Wins at Duke and over Florida will resonate, but the computer numbers remain questionable. Beyond Florida, FSU thrashed bubble buddy Providence, but there's not a ton beyond those two games that will help. They didn't show well in big-time opportunities against Pitt and Wisconsin (before the Florida win).
Georgia Tech [18-10 (6-8), RPI: 51, SOS: 46] The Jackets beat Wake on Wednesday but couldn't get it done at UVa on Saturday, which could be a crucial loss with UNC and BC (both at home) remaining and 8-8 almost a certain need for at-large consideration. A nonconference win over Memphis helps, but the RPI and SOS are not at-large quality right now; if you combine those with a sub-.500 ACC mark, that could spell NIT for GT.
For more College Basketball betting lines go to MySportsbook.com
Additional basketball lines can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.
|