Top-seeded Sharks begin playoffs against Avs

Hockey Betting Lines

04/14/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Jose Sharks will try to get off to a quick start in the postseason when they host the eighth-seeded Colorado Avalanche at HP Pavilion for Game 1 of the best-of-seven Western Conference quarterfinals.

For the second season in a row, the Sharks head into the playoffs as the Western Conference's top seed. Make no mistake, though, the Sharks do not want history to repeat itself.

The reason for that is simple; last year, the Sharks entered the playoffs fresh off a 117-point season that netted them the Presidents' Trophy and high expectations. To say San Jose ended up underachieving is putting it nicely. The Sharks were eliminated in the first round by the Anaheim Ducks in six games, not the way head coach Todd McLellan wanted to begin his tenure with San Jose in his postseason debut.

Unlike last season, the Sharks do have some momentum this time around. They went 5-4-1 in their final 10 games a year ago, but wrapped up 2009-10 with a four-game winning streak and an 8-1-1 mark in their last 10.

Similar to last season, the Sharks have the tools for a deep run in what is their sixth straight appearance in the postseason. However, just one of those has gone past the semifinals, a 2004 Western Conference finals loss to Calgary.

Goaltender Evgeni Nabokov finished second in the NHL with 44 wins and the Sharks boast potentially one of the top lines in the game with Joe Thornton centering wingers Patrick Marleau and Dany Heatley. Thornton finished second in the league with 69 assists and eighth with 89 points, while Marleau was fourth with 44 goals. Heatley, in his first season with San Jose, wasn't far back with 39 goals.

Offense won't only come from up front for the Sharks. Defenseman Dan Boyle was fourth on the club with 58 points -- fourth highest among NHL defenders -- while Rob Blake ended with 30. Those two tied for second in scoring during San Jose's short run in last year's playoffs with four points each, one behind Thornton.

Nabokov could be under the biggest spotlight, outside of maybe Thornton. The 34-year-old is 32-31 in the postseason with a 2.23 goals-against average, but posted a 2.82 GAA and .890 save percentage in last year's first-round exit.

While, the Sharks were among the preseason favorites to win it all, nobody expected much from the Avalanche. Colorado's youth movement pushed the fast- forward button in 2009-10, as the club posted an 11-win turnaround to grab the eighth seed one season after finishing last in the Western Conference with 69 points. That gave the Avs their third playoff appearance in five seasons since the lockout.

Seven of Colorado's top nine scorers this year are under 24, giving Rocky Mountain fans some hope for long-term success. However, those seven skaters also have just 22 games of playoff experience between them. Nine of those games have been played by leading scorer Paul Stastny, with defenseman Kyle Quincey possessing the other 13.

Inexperience doesn't stop at the net, as goaltender Craig Anderson makes his playoff debut. Colorado signed Anderson to be its No. 1 goaltender this past offseason and he responded with a 38-25-7 record with seven shutouts and a 2.64 goals-against average in 71 starts.

The Avalanche will hope that their lack of playoff experience doesn't hurt them in this series, but keep in mind this will also be head coach Joe Sacco's playoff debut as well.

After being limited to 45 games a season ago, Stastny turned in a career year, setting a new personal best with 79 points off of 20 goals and a career-high 59 assists.

At 24, Stastny is the elder statesman among 22-year-old Chris Stewart and 19- year-old rookie Matt Duchene. Stewart, a 2006 first round pick, was second on the club with 64 points, including a team-high 28 goals, while 2009 third overall pick Duchene put together a Calder Trophy-worthy season with 24 goals and freshman-leading 55 points.

Duchene was slowed by a torso injury late in the season but should be okay for this series. Peter Mueller, however, will not be in the lineup tonight after suffering a concussion on April 4 versus the Sharks on a hit by San Jose's Blake. Mueller revived his young career after getting traded from Phoenix to Colorado at the deadline, posting nine goals and 20 points in 15 games after the trade as opposed to four goals and 17 points in 54 games before it.

The Avalanche will try to become the third eight seed in five seasons to knock off the top-seeded club. However, the Sharks had the better of the season series, going 2-1-1 and winning both games in San Jose. However, the Sharks were actually outscored by the Avalanche, 14-13, in this year's season series, showing just how close this matchup could end up being.

These two clubs will meet in the postseason for the fourth time, with the last coming in 2004. The Sharks won that series, 4-2, in the semifinals before losing in six games to the Flames in the conference finals.

Game 2 of this set is scheduled for Friday night at the Shark Tank.

Wwwnelottery Hockey Betting News


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MySportsbook.com Favors Fighting Irish to win College Football betting odds

According to odds makers at MySportsbook.com, on January 8, the Fighting Irish faithful may be toasting their 14th national title in Arizona – Notre Dame’s first national championship in close to 20 years.

Although MySportsbook.com has listed Notre Dame as the 5-1 favorite to win thecollege football College Football betting, fans in Columbus do not need to cancel their tickets to Glendale just yet.  The Ohio State Buckeyes, listed right behind the Irish at 7-1, are also heavy favorites to win college football’s most coveted prize, while West Virginia, USC and the 2007 National Champion Texas Longhorns - all listed at 8-1 – are strong contenders as well.

MySportsbook.com has also posted gambling odds on the conference championships for the ACC, Big 12 and SEC.  In the ACC – it could be anyone’s title, particularly for the two schools from the Sunshine State.  Florida State and Miami, both listed at 2-1, are favored to win the ACC Championship Game odds, with the ‘Noles hoping to finish in the nation’s top 10 for the first time in five years, and the ‘Canes looking to avenge their 10-7 loss against FSU in last year’s ACC Championship betting.

Moving west to the Big 12, MySportsbook.com has betting lines listing Texas as 7-5 favorites to repeat as conference champions, even though the Longhorns lost their national championship-winning quarterback Vince Young to the NFL.  In the south, the Auburn Tigers – led by Heisman-hopeful senior running back Kenny Irons – have been given the best odds to win the SEC Championship odds at 5-2.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts Visa needs.


ODDS TO WIN THE BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Notre Dame
Ohio State
West Virginia
Texas
USC
Florida
California
Auburn
Oklahoma
Iowa
Louisville
Florida State
Michigan
Miami (FL)
LSU
Penn State
Virginia Tech
Nebraska
Tennessee
Georgia
Arizona State
Oregon
Clemson
Texas A&M
Texas Tech
Alabama
Arkansas
Boston College
Michigan State
Maryland
South Carolina
Colorado
Purdue
Georgia Tech
TCU
UCLA
Arizona
Pittsburgh
Iowa State
Wisconsin
North Carolina State
Virginia
North Carolina
Fresno State
Hawaii
Northwestern
BYU
Oregon State
UNLV
Field (Any Other Team)
5-1
7-1
8-1
8-1
8-1
12-1
15-1
15-1
18-1
20-1
20-1
20-1
20-1
20-1
25-1
40-1
40-1
50-1
60-1
60-1
60-1
70-1
70-1
100-1
100-1
100-1
100-1
100-1
150-1
200-1
200-1
200-1
200-1
200-1
250-1
250-1
300-1
300-1
300-1
300-1
300-1
300-1
400-1
500-1
500-1
500-1
500-1
1000-1
1000-1
40-1



ODDS TO WIN ACC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Miami (FL)
Florida State
Virginia Tech
Clemson
Georgia Tech
Boston College
Maryland
Virginia
North Carolina State
North Carolina
Wake Forest
Duke
2-1
2-1
3-1
7-1
15-1
15-1
15-1
30-1
30-1
30-1
50-1
500-1



ODDS TO WIN BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Texas
Oklahoma
Nebraska
Texas Tech
Colorado
Iowa State
Texas A&M
Kansas State
Missouri
Kansas
Baylor
Oklahoma State
7-5
9-5
9-2
12-1
14-1
15-1
15-1
30-1
30-1
35-1
100-1
100-1



ODDS TO WIN SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Auburn
Florida
LSU
Georgia
Tennessee
Arkansas
Alabama
Mississippi
South Carolina
Mississippi State
Kentucky
Vanderbilt
5-2
11-4
4-1
6-1
7-1
7-1
9-1
20-1
28-1
75-1
100-1
300-1

For complete NCAA football odds please visit Mysportsbook.com.

Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl Odds

Will he or won't he?  Now that the Dallas Cowboys have a new head coach in Wade Phillips, the big question will be: Does Terrell Owens stay with the team.

Jerry Jones continues to suggest that Terrell Owens will remain with the team.

"I've said that he's back, he's here, he's under contract," Jones said. "In the interviews I've just been through (to hire a new coach), it was very clear to me how highly he's thought of and how much of an impact he had on our offensive success."

Just to be sure though, Terrell Owens cleared out his locker and removed his name plate.

Terrell Owens was among the Cowboys most productive players this past season, catching 85 passes for 1,180 yards and a league-best 13 touchdowns.

But T.O. is due a $3 million roster bonus in June, then a $5 million salary this season. Cutting him before then would save a lot of money and headaches.

Aside from the questions surrounding Terrell Owens, the oddsmakers at MySportsbook.com have concerns over starting quarterback Tony Romo's state of mind and whether he will remain a starting quarterback.  It is also not known how players will adjust to new head coach, Wade Phillips.

Here are the football odds as seen at MySportsbook.com and subject to change after February 10, 2007 if not locked in prior to that date.
Arizona Cardinals 60-1


Atlanta Falcons 50-1


Baltimore Ravens 15-1


Buffalo Bills 50-1


Carolina Panthers 18-1


Chicago Bears 10-1


Cincinnati Bengals 15-1


Cleveland Browns 100-1


Dallas Cowboys 15-1


Denver Broncos 15-1


Detroit Lions 100-1


Green Bay Packers 50-1


Houston Texans 100-1


Indianapolis Colts 6-1


Jacksonville Jaguars 30-1


Kansas City Chiefs 30-1


Miami Dolphins 40-1


Minnesota Vikings 75-1


New England Patriots 10-1


New Orleans Saints 18-1


New York Giants 20-1


New York Jets 30-1


Oakland Raiders 100-1


Philadelphia Eagles 18-1


Pittsburgh Steelers 10-1


Saint Louis Rams 60-1


San Diego Chargers 6-1


San Francisco 49ers 75-1


Seattle Seahawks 20-1


Tampa Bay Buccanneers 75-1


Tennessee Titans 40-1


Washington Redskins 50-1

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