|
Sports News
|
|
Written by Scott Burgess
|
|
Tuesday, 16 February 2010
|
Hockey great Wayne Gretzky may have lit the Olympic flame, but it’s Canada's Sidney Crosby & Co who are expected to ignite these Winter Games and a nation. The puck drops on Men’s Olympic Hockey today as Team Canada goes for gold on home soil, while others look for the unbelievable. Olympic oddsmakers at SPORTSBOOK.com have Canada as -200 moneyline favorites to win Gold . Be sure to get your 2010 Winter Olympics: Men’s Gold Medal Ice Hockey Predictions in now at SPORTSBOOK.com
 Canada – is currently ranked second in the IIHF World Ranking. They haven’t won gold since the 2002 Winter Olympics, in Salt Lake City, Utah. But, now they’re on home soil where nothing but gold will do. With Sidney Crosby, Jarome Iginla, Rick Nash, Joe Thornton and Jonathan Toews they’ll be expected to wrinkle the net every chance they get. The goaltending duties will be split between Roberto Luongo and three time Olympian Martin Brodeur. Brodeur was in net during their gold medal win in 2002 and he likely be seen in net throughout the games. Brodeur is arguably the top goaltender in the world. He has a World Cup win in 2004 and had another strong performance at the 2005 IIHF World hockey championships. He's the game's best puck-handling goaltender. Brodeur was selected as Team Canada's starter in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. He started in 4 of 6 games, but Canada failed to win a medal after losing to Russia in the quarterfinals. Canada’s toughest challenge will come from Russia or Sweden.
Russia – are currently rated number one in IIHF World Rankings and it’s not hard to see why. With Alexander Ovechkin, Pavel Datsyuk, and Evgeni Malkin they’ll have the skill to kill. These three above mentioned were all nominees for the 2009 Hart Memorial Trophy (the most valuable player award in the National Hockey League). In 2006 Russia failed to medal losing to Finland, in the semi-finals, and then the Czech Republic in the Bronze Medal game. Their best finish in the Olympics was in 1998 where they won silver and in 2002 they won bronze. Russia is listed as +200 moneyline underdog to win gold .
Sweden – the IIHF currently ranks them third in the world. At the 2006 Winter Olympics they won the gold medal after a thrilling final against Finland, with the score 3-2. At the 2006 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships, Sweden won the final against the Czech Republic and thus became the first hockey team ever to win at both the Winter Olympics and the World Championships in the same year. Their roster is packed with talent. Daniel and Henrik Sedin, Henrik Zetterberg, Nicklas LidströmDaniel Alfredsson, Nicklas Bäckström and Olympic veteran Peter Forsberg will be a force to reckon with. Sweden is listed as +600 moneyline underdog to win gold .
USA – are ranked fifth in the IIHF World Rankings and will have a fresh youth squad heading into these Olympics. Their 2006 Olympic Team finished a disappointing 8th place. The United States now has five hockey teams that are reigning international champions. By comparison, Canada has one. "In years before, USA Hockey teams were going into tournaments hoping to win," said defenceman Jack Johnson of the Los Angeles Kings and the 2010 Olympic men's team. "Now, they go in expecting to win." Current young talents like Patrick Kane, Dustin Brown, Zach Parise, Phil Kessel, Mike Komisarek, Blake Wheeler, Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan Callahan, and Ryan Miller have hockey analysts listing the United States as a potential medal contender for 2010. The United States won the silver medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics, and the gold medal at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey. Their most recent medal at the World Championships came in 2004. The American ice hockey team's greatest success was the "Miracle on Ice" at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. They’ll need another "Miracle on Ice" to win gold. USA is listed as +600 moneyline underdog to win gold .
Odds to win gold:
Czech Republic +1200
Finland +1800
Slovakia +4000
The Field (any other country besides above mentioned) +1000
Point-Spreads.com 2010 Winter Olympics: Men’s Gold Medal Ice Hockey Predictions
The Bottom Line: It’s a tough call but you must go with Canada on home soil. Be sure to get your 2010 Winter Olympics: Men’s Gold Medal Ice Hockey Predictions in now at SPORTSBOOK.com and get a 50% Deposit Bonus and $25 Free Bet at SPORTSBOOK.com, simply use promo code WIN100 and start winning today! |
|
Last Updated ( Monday, 22 February 2010 )
|
|
Sports News
|
|
Written by Tommy Watson
|
|
Tuesday, 16 February 2010
|
|
Kentucky at Mississippi State - College Basketball Odds & Predictions: The Kentucky Wildcats, ranked No. 2 in both the Associated Press and USA Today/ESPN mens college basketball polls, will defend their ranking by heading into dangerous territory of Humphrey Coliseum at Starkville, Miss., to play the pesky Mississippi State Bulldogs in a Super Tuesday ESPN SEC matchup (9 pm Eastern).  College basketball oddsmakers at online sportsbook SPORTSBETTING.com list Kentucky as 3 1/2-chalk road favorites versus Mississippi State with a 142 1/2 total. Bulldogs backers are getting +140 odds as a home underdog while the Cats are giving -160.
While the Wildcats, winners of five in a row, upended Alabama and Tennessee, the Bulldogs rallied against Ole Miss and Auburn to move into a tie for first place in the Western Division with Arkansas.
Against the Tigers, State overcame a 14-point deficit, its largest of the year in a victory, to claim an 85-75 overtime win. Sophomore point guard Dee Bost led the Bulldogs with a career-high 32 points, while draining seven 3-pointers, one shy of the school record of eight set by four different players.
It was also a big night for senior All-SEC forward Jarvis Varnado, who recorded his fifth-straight double-double and the 15th this season and 30th of his career. Yet, his crowning moment was becoming the third player in school history to total 1,000 rebounds for a career as he grabbed 12 to go along with his 10 points. He also blocked five shots to give him 519 for his career, leaving him 17 shy of the NCAA record.
Kentucky is led in scoring by freshmen standouts John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins at 17.0 and 15.9 points, respectively. Cousins is also tops with 10.2 boards an outing and tied with Varnado for the most double-doubles in the SEC this season at 15. College Basketball Predictions: Its true that Kentucky has lost three straight to the Bulldogs, but that was last year. Kentucky could struggle at Humphrey Coliseum and it would be understandable; however, the Bulldogs can't match the talented Wildcats underneath or in the backcourt. If Kentucky has a weakness its in their maturity. They are starting three true freshmen and talented as they are, they are still freshmen. If Kentucky brings its game they will get past the Bulldogs and cover the spread. Cash in with sign-up bonuses, weekly reload bonuses and free payouts at SPORTSBETTING.com, where betting is safe, secure and easy. |
|
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 16 February 2010 )
|
|
Sports News
|
|
Written by Tommy Watson
|
|
Tuesday, 16 February 2010
|
|
Mavericks at Thunder - NBA Picks, February 16, 2010: The Dallas Mavericks (32-20) head north up I-35 to Oklahoma City to take on the Thunder (30-21) as NBA regular season play resumes Tuesday night (8:05 pm Eastern). One difference fans will see is the addition of Caron Butler and Brendon Haywood, acquired from the Wizards prior to the All-Star game. Dallas will welcome the new additions, especially those of Butler, a player who can put points on the board.
 NBA picks oddsmakers at Sportsbook.com list the Thunder as 4 1/2-chalk favorites versus the Mavericks with a 195 total. Mavericks backers are getting +170 odds on the Sportsbook moneyline while Oklahoma City is giving -200. Prior to the All-Star break, the Thunder were on a roll winning six straight games and covering against the spread in five of them. Dallas has been terrible since the new year arrived having lost 15 of their last 20 games and have failed to cover the betting spread in nine of their last 11.
In spite of the Maverick recent losing trends, public gamblers still stupport them. For today's game 98 per cent of early moneyline bets are on the Mavericks while 52 per cent back the Mavs ATS. The OVER 195 posted total is supported by 91 percent of gamblers. NBA Predictions: The Mavericks have some fresh talent arriving to help but it will take a few days for Caron Butler to work into the Mavs scheme. We like the Thunder to win and cover Tuesday night. Get a 50% Deposit Bonus and $25 free bet at Sportsbook.com, simply use promo code WIN100 and start winning today. |
|
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 16 February 2010 )
|
|
