Caps aim for consecutive wins in test with Flyers

Hockey Betting Lines

03/12/2009 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Washington Capitals will try to post back-to-back wins for the first time in nearly two weeks when they visit the Philadelphia Flyers for tonight's Eastern Conference showdown at the Wachovia Center.

The Capitals are first in the Southeast Division and third in the East with 88 points, but had lost four straight games prior to Tuesday's overtime victory in Nashville. Washington has a 10-point lead over Carolina for the division lead and is just one point behind New Jersey for the conference's second seed.

After earning a point in Sunday's shootout loss to Pittsburgh, the Caps were able to record a close win two days later in the Music City. Sergei Fedorov's tally 2:20 into OT was the difference, as Washington edged the Predators, 2-1, at Sommet Center.

Nicklas Backstrom scored the regulation goal for the Capitals and Jose Theodore stopped 27-of-28 shots to earn the victory, his 25th of the season.

Alex Ovechkin posted an assist to extend his point streak to eight games. Alexander Semin pushed his point streak to seven games with an assist, but had his goal-scoring run snapped at six.

The Caps are 16-12-4 as the guest this year and have won four straight and five of their last six road games. Washington will head home for Saturday's game against Carolina, but will then head back out on a five-game road trip.

Philadelphia is currently fourth in the East with 82 points and holds a three- point edge over Montreal in the conference standings. The Flyers have won two straight and three of their last four outings and are coming off Tuesday's home win over Buffalo.

Scott Hartnell recorded four points on two goals and two assists, and Jeff Carter also scored twice, as the Flyers used a four-goal third period to best Buffalo, 5-2, at the Wachovia Center.

Mike Richards had the other score and both Joffrey Lupul and Kimmo Timonen contributed two assists for the Flyers. Martin Biron made 27 stops for his 21st win of the season and improved to 5-2-1 against his former team.

The Flyers, who are 20-9-4 as the host this year, are playing the fourth segment of a five-game homestand tonight. Philly will complete the residency Saturday in the opener of a home-and-home series against the rival New York Rangers.

Philadelphia has taken two of three from the Caps this season and tonight's tilt will cap the season series. Washington has won seven of 11 overall in the series, but the Flyers have picked up a win in four of the last seven encounters. Philadelphia also halted a four-game home losing streak in the series with a 7-1 victory on December 20.

Wwwfllottery Hockey Betting News

<< Gainey and Habs try to build momentum against Isles
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A sudden coaching change produced an instant boost for the Montreal Canadiens. The embattled club will now try to build off that encouraging victory when the New York Islanders invade the Bell Centre this evening. Just on

<< Devils welcome Coyotes to Garden State
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The first-place New Jersey Devils will face one of the bottom teams in the Western Conference tonight, as they host the Phoenix Coyotes at Prudential Center. With 89 points, the Devils have a seven-point lead over Philadel

<< Playoff-hopeful Sabres, Panthers clash in Buffalo
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A key battle in the Eastern Conference playoff race is on tap tonight in Buffalo, as the struggling Sabres host the Florida Panthers tonight at HSBC Arena. The Panthers are currently last among the eight playoff seeds in t

<< Lightning slide into Toronto
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Lightning are hoping a matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs will enable them to break out of their current slide. The team aims for its fourth straight win over the Leafs when it visits the Air Canada Centre thi

<< Struggling Bruins aim to snap Sens' win streak
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The struggling Boston Bruins will try to avoid a third consecutive defeat when they host the streaking Ottawa Senators in tonight's Northeast Division battle at TD Banknorth Garden. Boston is coming off consecutive losses

Rangers visit Preds for matchup between playoff hopefuls >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Nashville Predators have crept back into playoff contention on the strength of recent strong play on home ice, while lingering road troubles have the New York Rangers falling back in the postseason race. The Rangers ho

Penguins try for eighth straight win in battle with Blue Jackets >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The scorching Pittsburgh Penguins will shoot for their eighth consecutive victory when they visit the Columbus Blue Jackets for tonight's interconference clash at Nationwide Arena. Pittsburgh is in the midst of its longest

Wild open trip against sliding Avs >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The playoff-hopeful Minnesota Wild begin a three-game road trip tonight with a stop in Denver to take on the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center. The Wild are coming off a 5-4 overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks on Tue

Thrashers shoot for rare win in Edmonton >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Atlanta Thrashers aim for just their second win ever in Edmonton in tonight's battle with the Oilers at Rexall Place. Since joining the NHL as an expansion club prior to the 1999-2000 season, the Thrashers have made fi

Blues face critical test from visiting Sharks >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Victories against the San Jose Sharks have been hard to come by lately for the St. Louis Blues. However, a win over San Jose tonight would give a big boost to St. Louis' playoff chances. The Blues continue their crucial homes

SPORTS BETTING

NFL Football Betting Online

In terms of sports wagering, the NFL is "the most popular game in town." The explanation behind that is easy.

It is called the "pointspread."

Many years ago, NFL games, as well as the more popular college games, used straight odds as a vehicle for betting. For example, if the Bears were playing the Giants, and it shaped up as a competitive contest, the Bears might be, say, a 7/5 favorite. If they were playing an also-ran, it might be 10/1. Well, there is a point where a line becomes prohibitive, as far as betting the favorite. And who would waste money betting an underdog that has virtually no chance? Such a setup did not contribute to promoting betting action.

But in modern sports betting, a "pointspread" is used.

A NFL pointspreads are exactly that, a pre-established point difference between the two sides that will, for all intents and purposes, create a handicap that evens things out, and in doing so, produces comparable wagering activity on both sides of that proposition. So in lieu of a odds figure in which to bet the team to win outright, the Bears might be a three-point favorite over the New York Giants, and a 17-point favorite over the also-ran. Now that the team that is the underdog can "get" points, there can be equal action on both sides.

In sportsbooks, this is usually done with efficiency by charging the losing bettors 10% extra - in effect, bettors are laying 11/10 on those games. So they are actually betting $110 to win $100. If they lose, they pay the "vig." If they win, they simply collect.

The establishment of the pointspread as the corner stone around which team sports like football can be wagered upon was truly what brought gridiron betting into the stratosphere for online football betting .

Don't believe it? Just take a look at what happens around the Super Bowl.

Stay with us here as we take you through the best in NFL action on a consistent basis, with advice columns as well as handicapping selections. If you're looking for college football betting, that's in our NCAA section, which you can reach by clicking here. And if you're looking for a different kind of football, such as the Canadian Football League, which we'll deal with occasionally, or the Arena Football League, which we really like, you can find it in our Miscellaneous section by clicking

Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting odds .
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook betting credit cards

MySportsbook.com and Kentucky Derby Offer Bonuses
The 2008 Kentucky Derby has announced a $1-million bonus for this weekend’s 134th ‘Run for the Roses’ and MySportsbook.com is doing the same.

Well, not quite $1 million, but MySportsbook.com is offering a 75% rebate for Kentucky Derby lines. Check out the exclusive horse racing bonus for all the details.

According to MySportsbook.com, the favorites for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky are: Curlin (+250); Street Sense (+500); Scat Daddy (+700); Circular Quay (+750); and Nobiz Like Shobiz (+800).

Derby organizers announced this week that there will be a $1-million bonus at the 2007 Kentucky Derby odds if the first-place horse wins by more than 6 1/2 lengths – the margin of Barbaro's victory last year. The bonus would be divided Saturday among the winning trainer, jockey, owner and a charity, with each receiving 25 percent. The designated charity is the Barbaro Memorial Fund.

''It's certainly creative, it's certainly fun and it has something for the horsemen, which we always want to embrace,'' Churchill Downs president and chief executive Robert Evans said at a news conference. ''What's really cool is it will force us to remember Barbaro.''
    
Meanwhile, the Derby favorite – Curlin – is going against the odds this year. It's been 125 years since Apollo won after skipping his 2-year-old season, and not since Regret in 1915 has such a lightly seasoned horse worn the blanket of red roses.

Arkansas Derby winner Curlin – unbeaten in three career races – tries to overcome both those obstacles in Saturday's 133rd Derby.

''We're not running against history,'' trainer Steve Asmussen said Monday. ''We're running against who they load up.''

Six other horses have run in the Derby without benefit of 2-year-old races and with three or fewer starts. The best any of them managed was a sixth-place finish by Showing Up last year.
   
Asmussen dismissed suggestions that Curlin's lack of racing experience could keep him from the winner's circle.

”He exudes confidence and he's got a great presence about him,'' the trainer said. ''I feel great about the position we're in. He's not worried about anything, why should you be?''
   
The Kentucky Derby is at 4:04 p.m., ET Saturday.

For complete odds on the Kentucky Derby, visit MySportsbook.com. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.