Magic welcome Bobcats to Orlando

Basketball Betting Lines

02/17/2009 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of Southeast Division members will renew acquaintances tonight at Orlando's Amway Arena, where the first-place Magic host the improving Charlotte Bobcats in the first game for both teams following the All-Star break.

Although they hold a comfortable 7 1/2-game lead on Atlanta for the top spot in the division, Orlando hasn't been playing its best ball as of late. The club lost three of its final five contests prior to the breather and struggled mightily on the offensive end in last Wednesday's 82-73 home setback to Denver.

Orlando shot a season-worst 30.4 percent from the field against the Nuggets and turned the ball over 24 times, the most the Magic have committed in a game this year.

All-Star Dwight Howard compiled 16 points and 15 rebounds in a losing cause. Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu scored 12 and 11 points, respectively, for Orlando, although the duo combined to make just 6-of-25 shots.

The Bobcats ended a five-game losing streak by beating a pair of the NBA's doormats in their final two outings before the break. After besting the Los Angeles Clippers by a 94-73 count in Charlotte on Febuary 9, the Bobcats came through with a 101-89 home decision over Washington last Wednesday.

D.J. Augustin led the way with 24 points against the Wizards, while newly- acquired Vladimir Radmanovic netted 21 while making 5-of-10 three-point attempts. Emeka Okafor posted a double-double in the win, finishing with 16 points and 13 rebounds.

Charlotte currently stands 3 1/2 games out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, although the team will likely have to improve on its 6-17 road record to earn the first postseason appearance in franchise history. The Bobcats have lost four straight as the visitor.

The Bobcats have also had their struggles playing in Orlando in recent years. Charlotte has dropped six straight meetings with the Magic at Amway Arena and is just 1-7 all-time in Orlando. The Magic have won four of the last five overall matchups in this series as well, including a 90-85 triumph in Charlotte on November 16.

Charlotte is expected to get two key players back for tonight's tilt, however. Swingman Gerald Wallace, who's averaging 16.4 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, is set to play for the first time since suffering a collapsed lung and broken rib in a January 27 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Raja Bell is also slated to return from a groin injury that kept the veteran guard out for the last three games.

Betting-express Basketball Betting News

<< Sixers, Pacers square off at Conseco Fieldhouse
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia 76ers will be hoping to pick up right where they left off before the All-Star break when the resurgent club returns to action tonight against the Indiana Pacers at Conseco Fieldhouse. The 76ers won their f

<< Peer responds to denial of Visa in Dubai
St. Petersburg, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Israeli tennis pro Shahar Peer responded Tuesday after being denied a visa over the weekend that would allow her to play in the Dubai Tennis Championships in the United Arab Emirates. "In response t

<< Pirates, McLouth agree to extension
Bradenton, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Pittsburgh Pirates and All-Star outfielder Nate McLouth avoided arbitration on Tuesday, as the two sides agreed to a three-year contract extension. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette first con

<< Christensen caps wild affair in SO as Atlanta edges LA
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Erik Christensen's goal in the fourth round of a shootout lifted Atlanta to a wild 7-6 win over the Los Angeles Kings. Ilya Kovalchuk continued his strong play, registering two goals and an assist in Atlan

<< Roloson backstops Oilers over Coyotes
Glendale, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dwayne Roloson stopped 28-of-29 shots and Ales Hemsky notched a goal and an assist as Edmonton defeated a slumping Phoenix Coyotes team, 3-1. Sheldon Souray scored on the power play, and Shawn Horcoff adde

Wizards host Wolves at Verizon Center >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Seeking to put forgettable first halves of the season behind them, the Washington Wizards and Minnesota Timberwolves begin their post-All Star break schedules with a matchup tonight from the Verizon Center. Washington, a t

Golden Eagles and Pirates meet in Milwaukee >>
Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 10th-ranked Marquette Golden Eagles will try to add to their 16-game home winning streak tonight, as they welcome the Seton Hall Pirates to the Bradley Center for a Big East affair. The Golden Eagles cont

Clemson hosts Maryland in ACC action >>
Clemson, SC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 13th-ranked Clemson Tigers have played inconsistent ball lately, and they will take on the Maryland Terrapins this evening in an ACC affair. Maryland has won its last two outings to even its ACC record at 5

Big Ten showdown pits Spartans against Boilermakers >>
West Lafayette, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The sixth-ranked Michigan State Spartans continue their quest for the Big Ten Conference regular-season title, and a win over the 19th-ranked Purdue Boilermakers on the road tonight would certainly help the

Suns open Gentry era at home vs. Clippers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The glitz and glamour of NBA All-Star Weekend has died down in the Valley of the Sun and a Phoenix team in transition will now get back to work by welcoming the Los Angeles Clippers to town. On the floor, Suns veteran

FOOTBALL BETTING

Sportsbook Betting

After all the trouble that’s ensued since Braylon Edwards allegedly punched one of LeBron James’ homeboys in the face at a club, the Cleveland Browns have sent away their last remaining player of worth to the New York Jets. This is a great move for Dirty Sanchez and all, but it’s even better for the Knicks. Now Donnie Walsh can say, “You get to haunt Braylon Edwards with your posse if you sign here!” next summer.

Putting that aside for a moment, the move is a clear indication that the new-look Jets are gunning for the Super Bowl this year. I don’t think that New York thought that Dirty Sanchez was going to be such a rock star. With a 75.2 passer rating that was killed against the Jets, Sanchez is doing an admirable job of managing games and putting the Jets in a position to win. The defense has been the major story in New York thus far, but the acquisition of Braylon Edwards makes this offense loaded with talent that can dent any defense…as long as Dirty Sanchez continues his meteoric rise.

Thus far, Edwards has been a non-factor in the NFL piling up just 139 receiving yards on 10 catches. He has yet to find the endzone, and with the Browns mired in the most unsexy quarterback controversy of all time (Anderson vs. Quinn...yawn), there going nowhere fast. Edwards is two seasons removed from a career year which saw him catch 80 passes for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns when the Browns were the spread killing monsters of 2007. In 2008, injuries slowed the receiver down to just 873 yards and three touchdowns though he played in all 16 games.

So that being said, we really don’t know if Braylon Edwards is just a flash in the pan, or a legit threat. At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, he is a prototypical receiver. But he’s also shown a strange, and unwarranted, talent for dropping passes. Lining up opposite Jericho Cotchery, a speed demon with 23 catches, 356 yards and a single touchdown, may give Braylon the open looks he needs. A change of scenery may also rejuvenate the star receiver.

In return, the Browns will receive Chansi Stuckey, online football betting a special teams player you’ve never heard of and a pair of draft picks. That’s a tall order for a guy whose only real value right now is in his name, and it shows no promise to the Browns that they can rebuild around those acquisitions. Braylon was the only reason to hope for the Browns to go 3-14 SU this year. Without him, they don’t have a single guy on offense that can scare any team.

For the Jets, it’s a response to the pounding that they took at the hand of the Saints. Thomas Jones and Leon Washington have averaged around 4.0 yards per carry each on the ground, but striking a fair balance between the passing and rushing attacks in New York has been a struggle. You have to believe that the trio of Dustin Keller, Jericho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards will give Sanchez the weapons he needs to unleash through the air. Theoretically, that would open up holes for the rushing game. But the proposed public option health care plan works in theory too. We need to see the proof in the pudding before we start loading up mega bucks on the New York Jets to take the AFC.

The one wrinkle in this whole thing is that Braylon could very well be suspended by the league for disciplinary action due to his “brawl” with LeBron’s friend. If that’s the case, the Jets may have to bench him for a few games leaving them with a somewhat depleted receiving corps for a few games. Also, this is a guy who gets in fights with people at clubs. New York may not be the best place for him. Just sayin’.

The Jets have a long week before they meet the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football Betting in a virtual pick ‘em game. Braylon’s excess baggage may be a distraction, and his curiously low production may be what we should be expecting of him overall, but for the Jets, taking a chance to strike gold is well worth it. At the end of the year, they can simply just blame it on their rookie quarterback.

NFL Betting Lines

To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your college football betting needs.

MySportsbook.com is one of the most efficient and professional online sportsbook today. While some sportsbooks only excel during the busiest seasons, MySportsbook is an excellent choice for the player who wants year-round quality. From their baseball true dime line to their interactive wagering, MySportsbook makes sure their clients would miss them if they went elsewhere.

Players won’t find any novelties at this sportsbook. The site is clean and simple and most importantly, fast. Customer Service handles matters in an expedient manner and accounting does everything possible to assure players that they have full control of their funds. The online banking center is open 24/7 in which time Neteller payouts are processed.

Management’s background and understanding of sports gambling has helped make them pioneers in the online betting market. MySportsbook was the first betting site to offer sports wagering in the best form. Interactive wagering was first offered in 1997. Players who don’t stop wagering when the game begins consider this sportsbook a true asset.

Players who are looking for outstanding value, extensive wagering options and inexpensive payouts will appreciate what MySportsbook.com offers. Those who are looking for perks and high bonuses would be best suited in a sportsbook geared towards the regular player.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your sports betting needs.