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
02/08/2012 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The much-improved Timberwolves will aim to win for the second time in as many nights without All-Star Kevin Love when they take on the Grizzlies in Memphis tonight.
Love, who leads the Wolves in both scoring (25.0 ppg) and rebounding (13.7), missed Tuesday's 86-84 win over Sacramento after being suspended two games for stomping on Houston's Luis Scola during the third quarter of Saturday's 100-91 win.
Nikola Pekovic stepped up in Love's absence, recording a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds to lead Minnesota as it defeated Sacramento, 86-84, at Target Center.
"Every time out there he brings out new moves," said Minnesota's Derrick Williams about Pekovic's game. "I think he's the strongest player in the NBA. He's quick off his feet, too. He's really agile and just quick. He's one of a kind with his strength."
Michael Beasley added his own double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds for the Wolves, who have now won three straight overall. Williams, starting in place of Love, added 14 points and pulled down eight boards.
Minnesota hasn't won four consecutive contests since Jan. 29-Feb. 6, 2010.
The Grizzlies, meanwhile, have dropped three straight, including the opener of a five-game homestand to San Antonio on Monday.
Marc Gasol had 22 points and nine rebounds while Mike Conley finished with 19 points, eight assists and six rebounds in the 89-84 setback for Memphis, which is now 7-4 at FedEx Forum and will finish its residency with games against Indiana, Utah and Houston.
"We made some shots and got some stops. Then in the fourth quarter, we just couldn't make a shot anymore. They (Spurs) were hurting us in the pick-and- roll and just kept getting what they needed. It was a close game. We just couldn't get the stop and when we got the ball, we just couldn't finish on the offensive end," Memphis head coach Lionel Hollins said.
The Grizzlies have won four straight on Beale Street over Minnesota and eight of nine overall, including a 90-86 win in the Twin Cities back on Jan. 4. Memphis is unbeaten in its last five contests in this series.
<< Bulls hope to have Rose in New Orleans
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The best from the NBA's Eastern Conference meets the worst
from the West when the Chicago Bulls resume their grueling nine-game road trip
against the lowly Hornets in New Orleans.
The Bulls won their third straight con
<< Pistons and Nets kick off home-and-home set in Jersey
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Only one of Detroit's six wins this season has come on the
road and the Pistons would like to change that as early as tonight, when they
pay a visit to the New Jersey Nets in the opener of a home-and-home set.
The Pistons
<< Blue Jackets sign Prospal for another season
Columbus, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Columbus Blue Jackets signed veteran
forward Vinny Prospal to a one-year contract extension on Wednesday.
Prospal, who turns 37 later this month, leads the team with 24 assists and
ranks second w
<< Heat and Magic battle for Sunshine State bragging rights
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Since their heart-to-heart meeting among players and
coaches following a loss at Milwaukee last week, the Miami Heat haven't
suffered defeat and hope to continue that trend tonight against the Orlando
Magic in the opener of a
Portland tries to bounce back at home vs. Rockets >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Portland will seek to rebound from a rare loss in Rip City
when it hosts the Houston Rockets at the Rose Garden tonight.
Russell Westbrook blocked Nicolas Batum's drive to the hoop in the closing
seconds of regulatio
Pacers seek another road win in Atlanta >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Indiana Pacers target their fourth straight win on the
road when they take on the Atlanta Hawks tonight at Philips Arena.
Indiana is 10-5 as the visitor this season and will also visit Memphis on its
quick two-game roa
Isles reward Nielsen with 4-year extension >>
Uniondale, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Islanders offically signed
center Frans Nielsen to a four-year contract extension on Wednesday.
No financial terms were disclosed, but multiple outlets reported it is worth
$11 million.
Dartmouth going prime time again >>
Hanover, NH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dartmouth College football is drawing off the
success of the first night game at Memorial Field last season with its 2012
opener against Butler.
The Big Green will host the Bulldogs from the Pioneer Football Le
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