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03/08/2009 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of clubs battling for a spot in the playoffs will meet tonight in Anaheim, as the Ducks welcome the Minnesota Wild for a clash at Honda Center.
Anaheim is currently 10th in the Western Conference with 68 points and is two behind Edmonton, Dallas and Nashville -- the trio of teams currently tied for the West's final two postseason berths. Minnesota, meanwhile, is just one point in back of the Ducks.
The Ducks have lost their last two games and are coming off Friday's home setback against Dallas. Loui Eriksson scored twice to lead the Stars to the 3-2 win at Honda Center.
Bobby Ryan and newly acquired James Wisniewski found the net for the Ducks, who have also lost three of their last four games. Jean-Sebastien Giguere stopped just 13 shots in defeat.
Today's game marks the second segment of a five-game homestand for the Ducks, who are 15-14-3 as the host this year. Anaheim, which last won at home on February 11 against Calgary, will try to break a three-game home losing streak in Orange County.
Minnesota has lost five of its last six games and was handed a setback Saturday in Los Angeles. Kyle Quincey had a goal and an assist as the Kings slipped past the Wild, 4-3, at Staples Center.
Owen Nolan, Stephane Veilleux and Eric Belanger all lit the lamp for the Wild. Niklas Backstrom started in net, but was pulled after allowing three goals on 13 shots. Josh Harding finished the game between the pipes and stopped 10- of-11 shots.
The Wild, who are 13-17-0 as the guest this season, are just 1-4-0 on six-game road trip that will come to a close today.
Anaheim has taken two of three meetings with the Wild this year and tonight's test will be the final regular-season encounter between the clubs. Minnesota has taken five of the last eight meetings overall, but the Wild have dropped four of six at Honda Center.
<< Beantown brawl: Celtics welcome Magic to town
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two of the best teams in the Eastern Conference get
together Sunday for an afternoon affair, as the Boston Celtics welcome the
Orlando Magic to TD Banknorth Garden.
Boston has beaten the Magic twice already
<< Spurs resume homestand versus Suns
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Southwest Division-leading San Antonio Spurs will
resume a four-game homestand Sunday versus the Phoenix Suns at the AT&T
Center.
The Spurs, who are two games ahead of both New Orleans and Houston
<< Knicks, Nets square off at Meadowlands
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of teams fighting for a playoff spot get together
this evening at the Meadowlands, as the New Jersey Nets play host to the rival
New York Knicks.
New Jersey is just 1 1/2 games off the eighth and final playoff
<< Blackhawks welcome Avs to the Windy City
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Blackhawks will kick off a four-game homestand
today when they welcome the lowly Colorado Avalanche for a battle at the
United Center.
The Blackhawks have taken two of three matchups with the Avalanche this sea
Rockets try to extend home winning streak vs. Memphis >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Rockets will shoot for their 12th straight home
win tonight when the Memphis Grizzlies pay a visit to the Toyota Center.
Houston, which is tied with New Orleans at two games behind San Antonio for
the top s
Nuggets pay a visit to Kings >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Denver Nuggets will try to stay atop the Northwest
Division standings when they close out a brief two-game road trip Sunday
against the Sacramento Kings at ARCO Arena.
Denver is just a half game ahead of
76ers take on Thunder at Ford Center >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia 76ers will try stay in playoff contention
when they wrap up a quick two-game road trip Sunday against the Oklahoma City
Thunder from the Ford Center.
The Sixers are currently seventh in the Eastern Co
Nadal propels Spain into Davis Cup quarters >>
Benidorm, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - World No. 1 Rafael Nadal doused third-
ranked Novak Djokovic in straight sets to send reigning champion Spain into
the 2009 Davis Cup quarterfinals. Nadal gave the Spaniards and insurmountable
3-1 le
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.
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