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04/17/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Eastern Conference quarterfinals matchup between the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks kicks off in Dixie late Saturday afternoon.
Improvement has been the mantra for the third-seeded Hawks under head coach Mike Woodson.
Two years after ending a lengthy playoff drought, Atlanta compiled its best record (53-29) since notching 50 victories in the 1997-98 season, and now looks like a serious contender in the East. In fact, the Hawks have won more games than the year before for five straight seasons, a feat topped only by Minnesota doing it for six years from 1992-98.
Atlanta captured the eighth seed in the East two years ago with a less-than- stellar 37-45 mark and faced the veteran-laden Boston Celtics in the opening round of the playoffs. Woodson's club took the eventual NBA champions to seven games in that series. Last season, the Hawks vaulted to the fourth spot in the East and earned a first round win over Miami before succumbing to the mighty Cleveland Cavaliers. A similar step forward this season would have Atlanta toiling in the Eastern Conference finals.
"This is where it gets exciting," Atlanta forward Marvin Williams said of the upcoming postseason. "We've worked hard all season for this moment and we have to make it count."
Woodson's team is a year older and wiser this time around and is led once again by talented shooting guard Joe Johnson. Johnson led the Hawks in points (21.3) and assists (4.9), while young stars Josh Smith and Al Horford contributed their skills to the improvement of the franchise. Meanwhile, veteran point guard Mike Bibby remains a steady floor leader that seems to bury big shots in key moments.
Hawks super-sub Jamal Crawford, the leading candidate for the NBA's sixth man award, will be toiling in a playoff game for the first time. Crawford has played in 676 regular season games over his 10-year career.
The Bucks make their return to the postseason for the first time in four seasons thanks in large part to the play of dynamic rookie guard Brandon Jennings, along with the improvement of center Andrew Bogut.
Unfortunately for Scott Skiles' club, Bogut suffered a broken right hand after falling awkwardly to the floor following a dunk against Phoenix back on April 3. Bogut underwent surgery a day later and is expected to be out up to six weeks, meaning he'll likely miss the playoffs, even if Milwaukee can muster a significant run.
That's a serious blow since Bogut has developed into one of the best pivot men in the game. The former No. 1 overall pick was the Bucks' leading rebounder at 10.2 per game, and also averaged a career-high 15.9 points in 69 contests this season. Veteran Kurt Thomas, 37, will start in place of Bogut.
Atlanta went 2-1 against Milwaukee in the regular season, including a 104-96 win in Milwaukee on Monday. The two clubs met three times in the postseason back in the 1980s, with the Bucks taking two of the sets in '83-84 and '88-89. The Hawks lone win came in the '87-88 season.
"Did you see the game we played against them last week?" Crawford told NBA.com. "That was one of the best games of the year. It was a playoff game. It was non-stop, back and forth action from both teams. That's what you see when two good teams lock up and get it on."
<< Yang takes lead at China Open
Suzhou, China (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Y.E. Yang shot a four-under 68 Saturday to
take a one-stroke lead after three rounds at the China Open.
Yang, the reigning PGA Champion, completed 54 holes at 14-under-par 202.
Mikko Ilonen also carded a 68
<< Sharks tie game late, win in overtime to even series
San Jose, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Joe Pavelski scored with 31.3 seconds left in
regulation to send the game to overtime, and Devin Setoguchi scored on the
power play 5:22 into the extra session to lift San Jose to a much-needed 6-5
win ove
<< Gutierrez, Hernandez power Mariners over Tigers
Seattle, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Franklin Gutierrez racked up three RBI and
Felix Hernandez tossed a solid 6 2/3 innings as the Mariners used a big fifth
inning to take down the Tigers, 11-3, in the first of a three-game set at
Safeco
<< Ethier fuels Dodgers' outburst over Giants
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Andre Ethier hit a solo homer in the first
inning and added a grand slam in the second, as the Los Angeles Dodgers jumped
on the San Francisco Giants early en route to a 10-8 victory in the opener of
a three
Nuggets host banged-up Jazz in Game 1 of West quarters >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The only Western Conference tilt on the first day of the
NBA playoffs takes place in the Rocky Mountains as the Northwest champion
Denver Nuggets welcome division rival Utah to the Pepsi Center for Game 1 of
the West quarterf
Miller, Sabres aim for 2-0 lead against Bruins >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ryan Miller and the third-seeded Buffalo Sabres will try to
grab a 2-0 series lead today, when they host the Boston Bruins for Game 2 of
the Eastern Conference quarterfinals at HSBC Arena.
The Northeast Division champions
Schiavone cruises over Vinci in Barcelona final >>
Barcelona, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Top-seeded Francesca Schiavone needed
only about an hour to defeat Roberta Vinci in an all-Italian final Saturday
at the $220,000 Barcelona Ladies Open.
Schiavone took the 6-1, 6-1 win to record h
Top-seeded Caps try to rebound in Game 2 vs. Habs >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Washington Capitals were the best team in the NHL
during the regular season, but tonight they will try to avoid falling in a 2-0
series hole when they host the eighth-seeded Montreal Canadiens at Verizon
Center for Game 2
Super Bowl XLIII is now set, the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers will meet each other on February 1st in Tampa's Raymond James Stadium to battle it out for the coveted Lombardi Trophy. The game kicks off at 6:00pm ET on NBC with announcers Al Michaels and John Madden covering the on-field action. Super Bowl XLIII betting odds at online bookmaker MySportsbook.com have the Steelers listed as an early -6.5 against the spread favorite.Super Bowl XLIII Betting Odds
Pittsburgh earned their passage to the big game by beating their division rival, the Baltimore Ravens, 23-14 in yesterday's AFC Championship Game. The Steelers jumped on Baltimore early, building a 13-0 first half lead, and never let up on their way to a fairly easy win. Although the Ravens did close to within two points in the fourth quarter, it never appeared as if they had enough offense to pull off the upset.
The Steelers dominating defense held Baltimore to a total of 198 yards while allowing them to convert just three third downs in 13 attempts. Pittsburgh also forced quarterback Joe Flacco into three interceptions, one of which safety Troy Polamalu returned fourty yards for a touchdown.
The Cardinals, by far the playoff team with the longest odds to reach Super Bowl XLIII, did so yesterday with a 32-25 upset of the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship. Arizona charged out of the gates and built a 24-6 halftime lead that had the Eagles venerable defense reeling. Quarterback Kurt Warner and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald did most of the damage, connecting on three first half touchdowns.
Arizona, however, could not sustain their momentum and the Eagles took a 25-24 with 10:45 left to play in the fourth. The Cardinals, with the franchise's first Super Bowl appearance hanging in the balance, mounted a fourteen play, 72 yard touchdown drive that consumed 7:52 off the clock. Warner hit running back Tim Hightower on a short screen for the go-ahead, game clinching score that will forever live in Cardinal infamy.
MySportsbook.com's Super Bowl XLIII Betting Odds:
Pittsburgh Steelers -6.5 (-110), Over 46.5 (-110), -260 (Money line)
Arizona Cardinals +6.5 (-110), Under 46.5 (-110), +220 (Money line)
Matt Foust won both of his conference championship plays yesterday and he is ready to serve up plenty of Super Bowl action. Each individual play costs $15.00, however, MySportsbook.com recommends purchasing Matt's NFL Playoff Package which includes all of Matt's Super Bowl props and picks from just $45.00.
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American Idol odds : Blake Lewis the Early Standout
An important American Idol betting lines recap from February 20 Guys episode. The 12 men came out flat overall with Blake Lewis appearing to have the early edge after the first hour and a half.
Rudy - was quite good singing "Free Ride" to start off. Randy was not impressed though. Paula thought he started off fantastic. "Never had anyone stop off so lively" said Paula but Simon (who does not like Rudy) does not feel he has a distinct voice and was not impressed either.
Brandon was a little pitchy according to Randy and Paula agreed. Simon said he was a good singer but the song was "too safe" and he needs to make an impact. He was listed at +1200 odds or $1200 paid out on a $100 bet should he win the competition.
Big favorite Sundance came in with a flat version of "Knights in White Satin" and the judges let him have it, including Paula. Randy claimed the song was out of pitch throughout.
Korean American - and a Jenny Woo favorite - Paul Kim was up next. Another pitchy flat one but Randy said he still liked his potential. Kim at +3000 odds was said to have sung a "third rate version of that (George Michael) song" according to Simon Cowell. He sang "Careless Whisper".
22 year old Chris Richardson was up next. He was listed with +1100 odds coming in. He got the best response from the judges though Simon did not believe the vocal was that great.
Nick was boring and pitchy. Simon didn't think he was that bad though and predicted he would be back next week. Nick Pedro was a big +3000 dog coming into this competition.
Beat boxer Blake Lewis was listed with early +1000 odds or $1000 payout on a $100 bet if he were to become the next American Idol winner odds . These of course were the early odds. He was considered original for picking an "odd song". He did not beat box and the judges felt it was the best vocal of the night.
Sanjaya came in as the second biggest favorite after Chris Sligh but his performance Tuesday night was not very good.
Chris Sleigh was the early favorite at +450 odds. Great voice and a great sense of humor. He's a real standout. Randy felt it was on point but maybe ahead of the chorus a little bit. Simon Cowell said he felt like he was in some "sort of weird student gig".
Jared Cotter followed. He was listed with +2000 odds early on to win the competition. The judges felt he needs to take more risks but looked good.
22-year old AJ Talbado, who has tried out for American Idol five times, was up next. "Kind of a theme park performance" said Simon. Though the judges felt he performed okay. Simon did feel AJ might be better than he originally thought.
Phil - this season's military favorite - came into this competition with +1200 odds to win the competition. He was the last to perform. He was certainly strong enough to get through this stage of the competition and perhaps the best one after a shaky start.
Tomorrow night, the ladies perform and I sure hope they do a better job than the boys. Check out all the American Idol betting odds here.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.
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