Kentucky Derby odds and Predictions

The Kentucky Derby odds. The Super Bowl of horse race betting. The big event is finally here and it happens to fall during an already packed sports betting weekend that includes the Pacquiao vs Hatton odds in boxing betting. Not too shabby.

The biggest news in Kentucky Derby betting this week was the loss of Quality Road, arguably one of the top four contenders, from the field. If you’re wondering why many of the Kentucky Derby lines have been taken down across various racebooks, it probably happened because Quality Road was just removed from the race after suffering a crack in his right front hoof. That leaves the door open for some hot racebook sleepers to join the fray.

Before we dig for the underdog picks, though, let’s discuss the big names. I Want Revenge is a runaway favorite at the racebook right now at about 3 to 1. He’s the complete package, with a great Tomlinson Distance Rating and Beyer Speed Figure. All that stands in his way is experience, as he’s new to Churchill Downs. Could that be the tiny crack in the door that lets another horse in?

Friesan Fire Is almost on his own as the No. 2 Kentucky Derby odds favorite. He’s a strong horse and looked great at the Louisiana Derby. The knock on his odds to win the Kentucky Derby? He hasn’t raced in seven weeks. No horse has won the Derby after a seven-week layoff since 1956.

Dunkirk and Pioneerof the Nile are also right in the thick of this horse race betting affair. Dunkirk is nicely suited to this distance while Pioneer has a great trainer in Bob Baffert and has looked very good in drills this week.

Among the sleepers, stablemates Desert Party and Regal Ransom are generating a bit of buzz. Party seems to be the more popular pick but Ransom deserves more respect, as he bested his buddy Party at the UAE Derby.

Like a team on a winning streak in basketball betting, horses with momentum entering the Kentucky Derby odds can’t be ignored either. Both Chocolate Candy and Papa Clem are on fire of late, with Candy winning four of six races while Clem won the Arkansas Derby and hung with the big boys with second-place finishes in his last two races.

The most exciting racebook pick for those betting online this week may be General Quarters. His trainer is a former high-school principal and teacher in Louisville, so a win for this hometown tandem would touch horse race betting fans’ hearts. It’s tempting to take a flier on this guy, isn’t it?

Manchester United vs. Arsenal Bettting Odds and Stats

The rivalry between Manchester United and Arsenal lost luster in recent years as the Gunners were left behind in the struggle for the major trophies.

That scenario could change when the teams are the faces at Old Trafford on Wednesday in a duel of English clubs in the first leg of the semifinals of the Champions League.

United has more pressure because it is the team to beat, said zaguero Arsenal Kolo Toure. United won the title last season, but we will go to do their best playing carefree and passing the ball.

We know that Manchester United have a problem when playing against us.

United showed their power when they picked up a 2-0 against in the second half and crushed 5-2 at Tottenham on Saturday in the Premier League with two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and another pair of Wayne Rooney.

Arsenal has a focus on Christian, who scored a goal in the final of the last campaign, and hinted that the Touré wheel of 19 years Kieran Gibbs could be a personal best on the Portuguese end.

Let him play (to Gibbs), said Toure. It is a good player and very intelligent. It came at a difficult time when we have to play with the big teams and I think we showed a lot of personality.

Rooney and Cristiano holders are almost safe from Arsenal, which won 2-0 at Middlesbrough on Sunday with two targets of the Spanish Cesc Fábregas.

The coach of United, Alex Ferguson, has used the Bulgarian Dimitar Berbatov as the third attacker in the Champions League at the expense of the Argentine Carlos Tevez.

Tevez was a crucial figure in Saturday's comeback against Tottenham, and Argentina has said that perhaps it will leave the team when his loan expires at the end of the season by the lack of play in matches.

Although its front gets scared, the defending United is the big question.

In the first half (against Tottenham) is not very well defended. In the supplement we defended much better and so we have to play against Arsenal or any other equipment, said the central Nemanja Vidic.

The zaguero felt that the constant rotation of players in multiple tournaments dispute that the club can be part of the problem that afflicts the defense.

The first game is at home, so we need a good result. We have to write goals, and especially we need to improve what has not been good in recent games, said the Serbian. It is important not to award a goal, but we have players who can score.

United's defense will have to contain the striker Emmanuel Adebayor, the letter of the Gunners goal.

It is a great player and has the ability to record, said Vidic. It's big and strong, and in that sense you can expect a difficult game.

Boxing odds – Pacquiao vs Hatton Preview

Boxing odds have desperately needed a shot in the arm to remain a legitimately popular North American sport and they’ve just gotten it twofold. First, UFC betting flopped when Anderson Silva’s title fight against Thales Leites put viewers to sleep; now, legendary, world-renowned fighters Manny Pacquiao (48-3-2) and Tommy Hatton (45-1) clash in the umpteenth “fight to save boxing” this weekend and the timing couldn’t be better.

On the line will be Hatton’s two belts – the IBO and The Ring Magazine’s light welterweight (super lightweight) championship.

Any boxing betting fan would be pretty hard-pressed to find anything wrong with Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao at this stage of his career. The Filipino fighter has become somewhat of a legend killer in recent years, having destroyed Erik Morales (twice) and Oscar De La Hoya, among several other revered fighters. Pacquiao has proven himself to truly be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, having held belts in five different divisions. His speed and power have both stayed with him regardless of his weight class, as he proved when he knocked out the bigger De La Hoya in his last fight.

Now, Pacquiao faces another larger fighter in the equally loved Rick Hatton, a hero among British boxing odds followers. He’s flirted with all-time greatness, known for his relentless, punishing offensive attacks, but anyone betting online has reservations entering the Pacquiao vs Hatton odds, for several reasons. First of all, Hatton couldn’t handle the speedy Floyd Mayweather Jr. in his last fight, a devastating loss that reportedly left Hatton heartbroken and depressed for months. Since Pacquiao brings similar speed to the table, Hatton looks to be in trouble again on paper.

Now, he’s training with Floyd Mayweather Sr. and reportedly working on his defense. Will a new Hatton achieve a new career height or is it too late to teach an old dog new tricks?

Pacquiao is currently a -280 favorite and it’s tough to argue against those boxing odds; he has power, even against a bigger fighter, and the type of speed that has given Hatton lots of trouble in the past. Hatton will be hungry to avenge his last loss, but Pacquiao should be just as hungry, as many boxing betting sharps believe Mayweather Jr. will come out of retirement to fight Pacquiao should he win this bout. If you’re confident in Hatton’s training and mental game entering this fight, you could take a flier on him at +220, but the smart money is on Manny Pacquiao this Saturday.

Bayern Fired Klinsmann

Victim of poor performance, was dismissed today Juergen Klinsmann's Bayern Munich as a coach, not even meet one years at the helm of the club's most important German football.

Klinsmann, who guided the selection of Germany's World Cup in 2006, was told by team officials that his dismissal came into effect immediately.

The club announced that the coach Jupp Heynckes would arrange the equipment to be interim until the end of the season.

The fate of the helmsman of 44 years old, was cast by the poor recent results, including a defeat to win 4-0 to Barcelona in the quarterfinals of the Champions League on April 8.

That pressure became unsustainable after the Bayern 1-0 on Saturday succumb to Schalke, which left the reigning champion in third place in the rankings of the Bundesliga. Revalidate the national title is the only thing it serves to save the season for Bayern.

Assistants Klinsmann, Martin Vasquez and the Mexican Nich Theslof, also left the team.

"This has been a very difficult decision to make, said the club president, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

But the results of recent weeks were the way and, above all, being five dates for the end of the season, we were forced to take responsibility for the club, "he added.

Rummenigge said that for now, the team is not on the table the name of a technician to assume the post on a permanent basis.

Klinsmann earned his reputation as a coach to renew the national team, which took home the third place in the World 2006. Under his baton, the picture was characterized by a German attack game.

Your position at Bayern, the most victorious team in Germany and who signed for two seasons, was his first in front of a club.

But was never able to meet the high expectations after replacing Ottmar Hitzfeld, who last year led to the double of league and tournament crown.

The Bayern game was marked by its monotony, particularly after the winter break.

The news of the dismissal caught by surprise to Klinsmann, who perhaps believed that the defeat of the leader on Sunday, Wolfsburg had delayed the decision of dismissal.

"Of course I'm very disappointed at this time," said Klinsmann, who thanked the club, fans and employees for a cycle memorable.

Klinsmann did not want to refer to his future plans. When I took charge of Bayern, he left his residence in California to return to Germany.

Dallas taking a 3-1 Advantage

Tony Parker came to court as promised aggressive and going straight to the basket rival.

However, a spectacular and a half late emergence Parker could not prevent San Antonio was on the brink of elimination in the postseason before the Dallas Mavericks.

Josh Howard scored 28 points yesterday, including seven in an attack early in the second half that led the Mavericks to a 99-90 victory by the Spurs, taking a 3-1 advantage in their Western Conference series.

Parker had 31 of his 43 points in the first half, matching the franchise record of George Gervin units in a half postseason. Achieved the feat after he was limited to 12 points in the third game when the Spurs lost by 88-67 in the lowest output in a postseason game in its history.

The fifth meeting will be Tuesday night in San Antonio.

New Orleans Hornets and Miami Heat also managed to win yesterday, before the Denver Nuggets and Atlanta Hawks, respectively.

Chris Paul became the spark that led to the triumph of the Hornets 95-93 and avoided the third consecutive victory of the Nuggets.

Paul scored 32 points and added 12 assists and five rebounds to lead the Hornets to victory in a challenge of great intensity and strong physical contact along the four-sided.

The Nuggets lead the series 2-1, which will continue tomorrow.

In Miami, the Heat appalled the Hawks 107-78, especially Dwyane Wade, Jermaine O'Neal and Mario Chalmers.

Wade reached 29 so, seven rebounds, eight assists and four blocks, while O'Neal double digits in scoring (22) and rebounds (10), like Chalmers, who scored 15 points and got the ball four interceptions.

Valencia Stops Barcelona

French striker Thierry Henry scored in the final four minutes and avoided the first defeat in eight games leading Barcelona to the Spanish league match with Valencia 2-2 yesterday.

Barca went ahead with a goal from Argentine star Lionel Messi (24 '), but the issue of Valencia in two minutes gave the round to score so many of Hedwig Maduro (43') and Pablo Hernandez (45 ').

If Real Madrid beats Sevilla hoyr, the distance was cut to four points, which will return the excitement to the league a week before the Super Classic next Saturday at the Bernabéu.

When five remaining dates to complete the championship, the 82 units have Barcelona and Real, with one game remaining, the escort with 75. Valencia ended up with 56 units, one less than the Seville, the fourth position.

In the other two parties developed, Malaga matched with 1-1 Deportivo de la Coruña and Almeria won 2-1 at Numancia.

Albert Luque 33 'Malága put forward, but Sergio Gonzalez tied at 50. Kalu Uche (6 ') and Fernando Soriano (42') scored the many Almeria Numancia and discounted Goiri Asier (81 ').

NHL Betting – Sharks, Flyers Try To Fend Off Elimination

With a staggered schedule of games on Saturday, NHL betting fans will have a full day’s worth of NHL excitement. While the Philadelphia Flyers and San Jose Sharks will try to push their series to one more game, the Calgary Flames and Chicago Blackhawks will fight for control of their 2-2 series deadlock. Here’s a preview of Saturday’s action:

Penguins vs Flyers odds: Flyers -140

The Pittsburgh Penguins have opened up a door for the Philadelphia Flyers but with a 3-2 series lead, they’ll have two opportunities to slam that door shut.

The Penguins have been in control throughout most of their first-round series with the Philadelphia Flyers but they don’t have their special teams to thank for it. The Penguins are just 1-for-16 on the power play in their last three games and just 4-for-29 on the series.

The Pittsburgh Penguins franchise has won only 29 games in Philadelphia all-time (including playoffs) so sealing the deal might have to wait one more game. Expect a tightly contested Game 6 but the Penguins should be the team that advances past the first round.

Ducks vs Sharks odds: Sharks -210

The San Jose Sharks are developing quite the reputation as choke artists. The Sharks, who won the Presidents’ Trophy and were everyone’s sexy Stanley Cup pick, have played with little desperation in the series, which will lead to another unexpected, early exit unless they turn things around quickly.

The Ducks are on fire right now, particularly goaltender Jonas Hiller, who recorded his second shutout of the series in Game 4.

Look for the Sharks to extend the series by one more game, although the pressure of playing in front of their home crowd might hurt their home ice advantage.

Flames vs Blackhawks odds: Blackhawks -155

The young Chicago Blackhawks will have to face some adversity now as their 2-0 series lead has now been rendered irrelevant. The Flames have won two straight games to grasp momentum in this series, which should give them some confidence heading out on the road.

The Flames have been very physical with the Blackhawks, who are getting their first taste of playoff hockey.

The Blackhawks won all four regular season games against the Flames and the first two in this series, so look for them to get back to what works.

Real Madrid's Pepe Suspended For Ten Matches

The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) today announced the suspension Friday for ten matches of the Portuguese defense Pepe of Real Madrid for his violent attitude during the league match against Getafe (3-2) last Tuesday.

The Real Madrid central defender is lost and the rest of the season, while his club second in the league, trying to discount points to his eternal rival, Barcelona, leading to six advantage.

Pepe will be lost on the classic Spanish football between your computer and the "Barça", the next week at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, which could be crucial in the fight for the title.

The penalty announced by the RFEF on their website is one of the most serious ever applied by the competition committee, said the Spaniards.

Pepe, a cornerstone of defense Madrid, completely lost control after having committed a criminal obvious that he was punished and earned a direct red card.

The player has a pair of kicks to the front and back legs opposite Javier Casquero, who was on the ground in the area, and then gave an accurate punch at Getafe's Uruguayan striker Juan Albín insulted and finished fourth official.

"I am very sad and destroyed (...) I apologize to the players, their families, their fans and my peers," said Pepe after these events in the sports daily Marca.

"I did not recognize at that time. I lost control for a few minutes, "said the Portuguese, before you apply the tough sanctions, which said it would accept.

The loss of Pepe is terrible news for Real Madrid and Dutch midfield deprived of Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder, injured and missing for two to three weeks and one month respectively.

Inter Say Good Bye to the Italy Cup

The last champion Inter was eliminated Thursday from Italy World Cup would be enough to Sampdoria 1-0 victory.

Inter lost 3-0 way the duel of the semifinal and could not overcome the margin of goals against. Sampdoria advanced to the finals, which will dispute with Lazio on May 13 at the Olympic stadium in Rome.

The nerazzurri achieved the victory with a goal from Swedish Zlatan Ibrahimovic to 27 minutes after receiving the ball from the Argentinian Julio Ricardo Cruz.

Eight minutes later, Ibrahimovic was able to record the second when his shot hit the stick of the bow of Sampdoria.

When you were playing extra time of the first 45 minutes, was crossed with a header that could increase the loot and retire to rest with a 2-0.

The coach José Mourinho made the team owner about trying to overcome the 3-0.

Sampdoria together in the San Siro stadium in Milan for more than 15,000 tifosi, was devoted only to defend themselves.

Ibrahimovic the best player on the court, sought a goal from long range, to 47 minutes, shot his way close to the arch enemy.

Mourinho made two changes for 55 minutes, sending to the stadium to the Argentine Hernan Crespo and Esteban Cambiasso, Cruz, to replace Patrick Vieira and the French.

However, Sampdoria also had a great chance when his shot was stopped by the Brazilian defender Maxwell in the line of the arch, when Julio Cesar was defeated.

MLS will Receive $ 10 Million Extension by Beckham Loan

The MLS will receive U.S. $ 10 million for his agreement to extend the loan of David Beckham to Milan until the end of the Italian season, said league commissioner Don Garber.

The English went flying to Milan on loan in January from Los Angeles Galaxy, he signed with the team in July 2007. The loan will expire on March 8, but the parties agreed to extend until the end of the campaign in the Serie A.

Beckham will return to the Galaxy on July 1.

NFL Draft Betting – Where Will The Players Land?

The 2009 NFL Draft is rapidly approaching and as the Detroit Lions step up to the podium to make the first selection this Saturday, there is a lot of speculation as to how the chips will fall.

NFL Draft betting will be our first, unofficial taste of football betting since the Super Bowl so it should be a fun event.

The first question of the day is whether or not the Detroit Lions have settled on Matthew Stafford. One of the first NFL Draft odds we see posted is “who will draft the former Georgia stud quarterback?”

There is some speculation that the Lions are already negotiating with the quarterback but there are also plenty of trade winds swirling, suggesting that the Lions might be willing to move down in the draft.

If the Lions are stuck at No. 1, they do have some other options outside of quarterback. Fans are clamoring for the team to draft Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry but, after acquiring Julian Peterson in the offseason, the Lions aren’t likely to go down that road.

Look for the Lions to stick with Stafford and give their franchise a new face.

If Stafford comes off the board at No. 1, expect USC’s quarterback Mark Sanchez to become the second-hottest commodity.

While the draft is deep at running back, offensive tackle and defensive back, there is a real drought on quarterbacks.

Sanchez is the second-best option at the position and he will be a very sought-after asset. NFL Draft betting experts predict he could go as early as the top five. The Seattle Seahawks are interested, potentially as an heir apparent to Matt Hasselbeck, while the Cleveland Browns could also use a fresh start at quarterback.

Further down, the San Francisco 49ers seem like a good shoe-in for the California boy, if he falls that far, and the unusual suspect is the Washington Redskins, who have been seen courting Sanchez on several occasions. They currently sit at No.13 but might be interested in moving up.

As usual, NFL Draft betting handicappers are wondering what the Oakland Raiders might be up to with the seventh pick overall in the draft. It’s likely that they will aim to get JaMarcus Russell a weapon, but will it be Texas Tech’s Michael Crabtree or Missouri’s Jeremy Maclin?

While Crabtree is the player who is rated higher on most boards, Raiders owner Al Davis loves his speed and could pull a big surprise by drafting Maclin ahead of Crabtree.

There’s a lot of suspense building in the top 10 so make sure you’re paying attention this Saturday at 12:00 PM ET as the 2009 NFL Draft gets underway.

NBA Playoffs Betting – Tuesday Night Picks

Game 2: Detroit Pistons @ Cleveland Cavaliers – Tuesday, 8:05 PM ET

Pistons vs Cavaliers odds: Cavaliers -11

The Detroit Pistons need to find some answers very quickly or they will be in trouble.

They need to find some answers on the defensive end after letting LeBron James tally 38 points on 53 per cent shooting in Game 1. The Pistons, who were once known for their stifling defense, also allowed four other Cavaliers to reach double figures.

The Pistons also need answers on the offensive end, where the team finished with just 39 points in the second half of Game 1.

Considering the Pistons don’t have any real adjustments they can make for Game 2, they can expect the result to be similar to Game 1.

Pick: Cavaliers -11

Game 2: Houston Rockets @ Portland Trail Blazers – Tuesday, 10:05 PM ET

Rockets vs Trail Blazers odds: Trail Blazers -5.5

On Sunday, the Portland Trail Blazers blew their home court advantage in Game 1 of their Western Conference Quarter-Final against the Houston Rockets. On Tuesday, they’ll try to protect their home court and – for all intents and purposes – stay alive in their seven-game series.

Playoff experience proved to be the difference as many of the Trail Blazers who were making their playoff debuts played nervously. The Rockets starters outscored the Trail Blazers starters 94-43 en route to the Trail Blazers’ biggest loss of the season (108-81).

After benching his starters for the fourth quarter, Nate McMillan – and NBA betting fans – will be expecting a much more poised performance from the Blazers in Game 2.

The Blazers won 34 of 41 home games in the regular season so don’t expect them to lose two in a row at home in the playoffs.

Pick: Trail Blazers -5.5

Game 2: Utah Jazz @ Los Angeles Lakers – Tuesday, 10:35 PM ET

Jazz vs Lakers odds: Lakers -11.5

Even though the Utah Jazz are down just 1-0 in their Western Conference Quarter-Final against the Los Angeles Lakers, the fat lady is already beginning to sing. And she’s not singing jazz music.

The Jazz found themselves down once again at halftime to the Los Angeles Lakers, this time trailing by 22 points en route to a 13-point loss in Game 1.

The Jazz trailed by 13 points at halftime in Game 1 last year against the Lakers and were down by 15 points at the end of the first quarter in Game 2. In a meeting earlier this season, the Jazz were also down by 17 points after the first quarter.

The bigger problem for the Jazz is that they have lost eight of their last 10 games overall and are coming apart at the seams at the worst possible time of the season. Hoops betting fans know that the Jazz just don’t have it this year.

Phil Jackson’s teams are 41-0 after winning Game 1, which is a foreboding sign for the Jazz as they start to face the music.

Pick: Lakers -11.5

Rome Continues to Fight for Champions League Rank

At the time of their captain Francesco Totti, Roma won 3-2 at Lecce on Sunday and revived their ambitions of reaching the fourth place of the Italian League.

As the Scudetto virtually in the hands of Inter, the Italian championship in the fight being waged by the other posts for European cups.

Rome benefited from trips to Genoa and Fiorentina, both defeated at the weekend, approaching the fourth site that gives the last ticket to Italy in the next Champions League.

Genoa succumbed 1-0 to Lazio on Saturday, while Fiorentina lost 3-1 at Udinese on Sunday. Genoa remains fourth with 57 points, followed by Fiorentina (55) and Rome (52).

The 32nd time on Saturday started with a 1-1 tie between Inter and Juventus, a result that benefits the former. When six days remaining, Inter leads the table with 74 points, 10 more than Juventus. The Milan, third with 61, later playing with Torino.

Playing at home, at the Olympic Stadium, Rome was a 2-0 in their favor, but was able to go back Lecce 2-2. A penalty discuss terms for tipping the balance locally.

Totti was the author of a doublet. Scored the first three minutes following a free kick earned by the Brazilian Julio Baptista and then scored a penalty 60 penalty. The criminal was charged for an alleged failure to Baptista, although it was questionable. Matteo Brighi (13) made the other goal Romans.

Gianni Munari (30) and the Greek Dimitrios Papadopoulos (54) converted to Lecce, who played with a man from the 72 least for the expulsion of a violent Luca Ariatti lack the Chilean midfielder David Pizarro.

The Udinese, with the Chilean Alexis Sanchez and Mauritius Island as owners beat Fiorentina to reach the half of the table of positions. The goals were the work of Ghanaian Kwadwo Asamoah (10) and Gaetano DAgostino a doublet (47 and 70, criminal). Dario Daineli (66) deducted for Fiorentina (66).

With a goal of the attacker's Uruguayan Jorge Martinez (48), to deflect a ball to two steps of the arch, Catania won 2-0 at Sampdoria. Martinez has four goals in this tournament. Giuseppe Mascara (39) scored the first penalty.

The Brazilian attacker Jeda (5) headache scored the first goal in the triumph of Cagliari 2-0 to Napoli. Andrea Lazzari (90) became final figures.

Golea Palermo 4-1 at Bologna. The attacker Edinson Cavani of Uruguay (90) got the fourth in the table Sicilian, while Manuel Belleri (7), the Danish Simon Kjaer (44) and Davide Succi (63) were the other Marco Di Vaio (85) scored both of the Bologna .

With a doublet Sergio Pellissier (23 and 48), Chievo won 2-0 at home to Siena.

Reggina won 1-0 at Atalanta with a goal by Fabio Ceravolo (43).

In the last three places, which would be the teams that fall to Serie B, are 23 points with Reggina, Lecce Bologna 26 and 24.

New Orleans Hornets vs. Denver Nuggets NBA Playoffs Betting Spread

Sports Betting blog reports: Oddsmakers currently have the Nuggets listed as 6-point favorites versus the Hornets, while the game's total is sitting at 194½.

A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of New Orleans's last 5 games on the road

New Orleans is 7-2 ATS in its last 9 games when playing on the road against Denver

The total has gone UNDER in 14 of New Orleans's last 19 games

New Orleans is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Denver

Denver is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home

Denver is 14-3 SU in its last 17 games

Denver is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games at home

The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Denver's last 12 games

The New Orleans Hornets and the Denver Nuggets will both be gunning for a victory on Sunday when they meet at Pepsi Center in the opening game of their first-round playoff series.

Team records:
New Orleans: 49-33 SU, 35-45-2 ATS

Denver: 54-28 SU, 45-36-1 ATS

David West had a team-high 34 points in the Hornets' 105-98 overtime loss to the Spurs on Wednesday night.

The Spurs failed to cover the 9-point spread at home in that contest, while the combined score went OVER the night's posted total (176).

The Nuggets were pounded 104-76 by the Trail Blazers last time out, as 7.5-point underdogs. The combined score fell UNDER the posted total of 199.

Nene Hilario had 10 points and nine rebounds in the loss.

New Orleans most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 5-5

Before playing Denver are 8-2

After playing San Antonio are 5-5

After a loss are 5-5

Denver most recently:
When playing on Sunday are 6-4

Before playing New Orleans are 6-4

After playing Portland are 6-4

After a loss are 5-5

Next up:
New Orleans at Denver, Wednesday, April 22

Denver home to New Orleans, Wednesday, April 22

St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs Betting Odds and Stats

The St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs will meet on the field at Wrigley Field on Sunday in a battle of division rivals.

A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 5 of St. Louis's last 5 games on the road

The total has gone OVER in 5 of St. Louis's last 5 games

The total has gone OVER in 6 of St. Louis's last 8 games when playing on the road against Chi Cubs

St. Louis is 14-5 SU in its last 19 games

Chi Cubs are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games when playing St. Louis

Chi Cubs are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games when playing at home against St. Louis

The total has gone OVER in 6 of Chi Cubs's last 8 games when playing at home against St. Louis

The total has gone OVER in 5 of Chi Cubs's last 7 games at home

The Cardinals will pin their hopes on the pitching of righthander Todd Wellemeyer in this game. Wellemeyer has a 1-1 record and a 4.50 ERA this season.

Team records:
St. Louis: 8-5 SU

Chicago: 7-4 SU

Wellemeyer's opponent in this one will be Ted Lilly. The Cubs lefthander has a 3.86 ERA to go along with a 2-0 record this season.

Sports Betting blog reports: Oddsmakers currently have the Cubs listed as 140-moneyline favorites versus the Cardinals, while the game's total is sitting at 8.

Aramis Ramirez homered to center in the 11th inning to give Chicago a 7-5 win over St. Louis on Saturday afternoon.

The Cubs won as -132 home favorites, while the final score played OVER the day's posted total of 9.5.

Ryan Ludwick had two hits and two RBIs for the +122 underdog Cards, while Dennys Reyes was tagged with the loss.

Current streak:
St. Louis has lost 2 straight games.

Chicago has won 2 straight games.

St. Louis most recently:

When playing on Sunday are 5-5

Before playing NY Mets are 6-4

After playing Chi Cubs are 1-9

After a loss are 5-5

Chicago most recently:

When playing on Sunday are 7-3

Before playing Cincinnati are 7-3

After playing St. Louis are 10-0

After a win are 4-6

Next up:
St. Louis home to NY Mets, Tuesday, April 21

Chi Cubs home to Cincinnati, Tuesday, April 21

Germany and Ukraine UEFA Fight

Quarter results for the UEFA Cup semifinal Thursday a determined German (Hamburg-Werder Bremen) and Ukraine (Dynamo, Shakhtar Donetsk) from the competition, in which the big losers were the French club.

In Marseilles the Vélodrome stadium, beat Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 to Marseilles and was classified, because it had won the first leg 2-0.

In Kiev, the Paris Saint Germain fell 3-0 to the Dynamo local, being out of competition after having tied without goals in the first leg in the French capital.

The other semifinal will be completely German, pitting teams of the two major port cities of northern Germany: Hamburg and Werder Bremen.

Hamburg ranked up despite falling 2-1 in English his visit to Manchester City, because the meeting was defeated by 3-1 trip.

Meanwhile, in Udine, with the owner of a double play Brazilian Diego (28 'and 60'), another goal of the Peruvian Claudio Pizarro (73), Werder Bremen drew 3-3 with Udinense (round: 3-1) beyond the round. For the Italians scored the Swiss Gokhan Inler (15 ') and a doublet Fabio Quagliarella (30' & 38 ').

The resort will be the following April 30 and May 7 next.

NBA Betting Preview – Postseason Finally gets Underway

Basketball betting players, fresh off the NCAA Tournament, can get their fill of NBA betting action now that the playoffs are here. Here’s a look at the first-round series in both conferences, and the sportsbook favorites should be able to advance to the next round.

Cavaliers vs Pistons odds (Cavs -4000)

Detroit will be lucky to get a win, and it’ll definitely come at home, as the Cavs were an NBA-best 39-2 in their building. (BSNblog betting pick: Cavs in four)

Celtics vs Bulls odds (Celtics -550)

Celtics odds dropped when it was announced that Kevin Garnett could miss the entire playoffs, but Boston still has enough to get by the Bulls, who will make it interesting with their guard-oriented offense. (NBA betting pick: Celtics in five)

Magic vs 76ers odds (Magic -900)

The Magic have some injury concerns about Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu, but the 76ers have no answer for Dwight Howard on either end of the floor. (NBA betting pick: Magic in five)

Hawks vs Heat odds (Hawks -140)

The Hawks have far too much balance and depth for the one-man Heat, although Michael Beasley finally lived up to his billing in the last month of the season. Dwyane Wade has very good reason to look forward to next year. (NBA betting pick: Hawks in six)

Lakers vs Jazz odds (Lakers -2500)

The Lakers have been in cruise control for the last month of the season, while the Jazz slumped into the playoffs. Still, Utah’s play at home will give them a small glimmer of hope. (NBA betting pick: Lakers in five)

Nuggets vs Hornets odds (Nuggets -230)

This is probably the best matchup New Orleans could have hoped for, but it always seems like Denver is one game away from combusting, despite the influence of Chauncey Billups. This will go the distance. (NBA betting pick: Denver in seven)

Spurs vs Mavericks odds (Spurs -140)

Tony Parker’s ability to penetrate at will against Jason Kidd will be Dallas’ downfall in this Lone Star showdown, and Gregg Popovich will steal at least one game. (NBA betting pick: San Antonio in six)

Trailblazers vs Rockets odds (Trailblazers -135)

Neither team can win consistently on the road, which is why this series will go to seven games. However, Portland has a game-changer in Brandon Roy, and LaMarcus Alridge should be able to have his way in the post. (NBA betting pick: Portland in seven)

MMA Betting – Silva, Liddell Favored in UFC 97 Odds

Those going over their UFC betting odds for this weekend will see two of the biggest MMA names on the planet in action, as Anderson Silva and Chick Liddell headline UFC 97: Redemption, to be held in Montreal, QC on Saturday, April 18.

Silva is obviously the favorite in these Silva vs Leites odds, as he is defending his middleweight title against fellow Brazilian Thales Leites. Silva (23-4) has won his last nine fights, three of his last five have come by TKO, and there were a couple of submissions thrown in for good measure.

Leites (14-1) hasn’t fought many big-name fighters, and he definitely hasn’t faced anyone half as good as the “Spider.” Leites has some solid ground game, but Silva is just as good on his back as he is standing up. Anderson Silva should be an easy UFC betting pick with odds of -500.

Chuck Liddell (21-6), the former light-heavyweight champion and one of the most popular fighters in UFC, will be a -175 favorite against Brazilian Mauricio Rua (17-3). The “Iceman” has lost three of his last four fights, and he was knocked out by Rashad Evans in his last bout. Rua, who has a nickname of “Shogun,” has won five of his last six fights, and three of those have come via strikes.

Rua will stand up with Liddell, and sportsbook players should expect an exciting fight that could very well end in the first round. Rua is one of the top fighters in the world when he is motivated, but so far he’s been less than impressive in two UFC fights, losing his debut to Forrest Griffin by submission and, while he knocked out Mark Coleman, that fight should have never gone to the third round.

Meanwhile, Liddell desperately needs a win to keep his dreams of another title shot alive, and he’s been working with other camps to try and become a well-rounded fighter. However, he’s looked sluggish in his most recent fights, and Rua has the motivation of putting another nail in the coffin of an MMA legend. Take Mauricio Rua in a UFC betting upset this weekend.

Chelsea Suffered More than Expected

Chelsea suffered more than expected to seal its ticket to the semifinals of the Champions League of Europe, after 4-4 draw with Liverpool at Stamford Bridge stadium, in yesterday's game return to the quarterfinals, where Londoners had won 3-1 in the first leg.

The wards of Guus Hiddink started as clear favorite after his great victory at Anfield, but Liverpool made up the final battle in the final minutes and came close to an epic comeback, until his opponent scored the final four goals to tie.

The party met with increased expectations and was full of such alternatives and emotion, between two of the Big Four British, who staged a thrilling clash.

The visitors started strong set in the first half and was ahead by 2 to 0, thanks to the many Brazilian Fabio Aurelio (19 minutes) and Spanish Xabi Alonso (28 'penalty), leaving them temporarily to a only goal of achieving the feat.

In the second, the Chelsea left back and achieved more accurate thanks to the Ivorian Didier Drogba (51 '), the Brazilian Alex (57' of free-kick) and Frank Lampard (76 ').

When the tie seemed over, Liverpool react again and stood with an advantage of 4 to 3, after goals from Brazilian Lucas Leiva (81 ') and the Dutchman Dirk Kuyt (82'), being somewhat new to the semifinals.

The tension lasted seven minutes, until Lampard scored the fourth and placed them in the semifinals, where the opponent will be Barcelona, which drew 1-1 in Munich against Bayern after 4-0 in the first leg, the previous week.

"Of course we fear. When you lose by 2 to 0 in your house is normal to be afraid. You can be afraid, but what counts is to react like men. Before the Barcelona, will be a final for us and we will work hard, "said Drogba.

Liverpool, which won its last continental title in 2005, is dismissed from the competition with a good image with four field goals in Chelsea and at times touching a comeback that seemed impossible, even by lower ranked players His star Steven Gerrard, with disease in the groin.

For his part, Chelsea, who lost the last final of the Champions in the jails before the Manchester United in Moscow, continuing its sweet time to the bench following the arrival of Hiddink and the progress of the Brazilian Luiz Felipe Scolari.

Manchester United faces the Elimination againts Porto

Manchester United, current champion of the Champions League soccer on Wednesday to face Porto in the round of the quarterfinals of the tournament, with the threat of elimination after 2-2 tie in the return encounter England.

The 'Red Devils', which started as a clear favorite at the junction with the Portuguese champions, are now in a delicate situation.

Alex Ferguson of pupils are required to check at the Dragon. In addition, it will surely win, unless the match 2-2 to play longer, or push for more goals, in which case seal their ticket to the semifinals by many more marked in stage rival.

The psychological advantage is now for Oporto, to recall that in 2004 eliminated Manchester United in the second round of the Champions League champions and finished with a machine that glowed on the lawn Deco and José Mourinho was the bench.

Among the great offensive of the Portuguese duo is formed by the Argentine Lisandro Lopez and Brazilian Givanildo Vieira de Souza 'Hulk', assisted by another of the figures of the team, also Argentinian Lucho Gonzalez.

"We can look in the eyes and play as equals," Hulk told. His partner Lopez is also the third top scorer of the current Champions League, with six so.

However, the Oporto's weakness could be the defensive side, where it is capable of big mistakes in important moments, such as those committed by the Brazilian goalkeeper Helton at Atletico Madrid in the round or Bruno Alves in the first leg in Manchester.

Manchester United is also engaged in a tough battle in the Premier League, which leads to Liverpool and has just one point, and Chelsea (3) to four.

In recent weeks, the 'savior' of the English champion, European and world has been the Italian Federico Machede couple, both of which marked the victory before the Aston Villa (3-2) and Sunderland (2-1), the it confirms one of the great promise of European football.

The stars of Old Trafford club does not seem to scare Oporto, grown after recent results. "Cristiano Ronaldo as I defend against any other opponent is like the others," said the young French of Senegalese origin Aly Cissokho.

Manchester United had signed so far, a good record in the competition, surpassing the group of the first round next to Villarreal, ahead of the Danish Aalborg Glasgow Celtic and Scots. Eighth, had left out the Italian champions, Inter Milan.

With the grand finale of Rome on the horizon, both sets a promise attractive clash for a place in the penultimate round, where the winner will be with Arsenal or Villarreal, who also play on Wednesday.

Chelsea Advances to semifinals after epic duel with Liverpool

Chelsea suffered an ordeal to qualify for the semifinals on Tuesday in the Champions League to settle a 4-4 tie at Liverpool.

Down 3-2 in the absence of a quarter of an hour, not Liverpool threw in the towel and gave it back to the scoreboard with a pair of goals in a jiffy at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea's fiefdom. If Liverpool had scored the same, the balance had tilted in favor of the Reds.

But Frank Lampard finally ordered to halt the impetus of the Liverpool 89 minutes to convert his second goal of the night and set the final score 7-5 overall.

Previously, Didier Drogba and Brazilian Alex had marked for a Chelsea to Liverpool until he left the skin for a heroic comeback in the stadium outside.

Liverpool, which lost 3-1 at home shock return, it seemed that would result in London when the epic was ahead 2-0 before the half hour.

Brazilian Fabio Aurelio, the 19 minutes, Xabi Alonso and Spanish, from criminal to 28, which resurrected a tie believed sentenced after the collapse of last week at Anfield.

But Hiddink led by left plugged in for the second time and leveled with a pair of goals in a span of six minutes.

The first fell to 51 when the Ivorian Drogba hit a soft center of Nicolas Anelka. Alex scored the second at 57, when the Brazilian got to the bottom of the networks charge a missile at a free kick from 30 meters. Lampard invoiced to the third 76.

Everything sung? Nothing to do with a really crazy party. Far from shy, Brazilian Lucas Leiva scored two to 81 and after the Dutchman Dirk Kuyt gave Liverpool for fourth.

The last minutes were full of drama, sometimes with a goal in each arc, until its conquest Lampard managed to end the ordeal.

In the semifinals, Chelsea will be in Barcelona in Spain to seek re-match for the title after last year lost to the criminal by Manchester United in Moscow. Barcelona progressed after 1-1 tie with visiting Bayern Munich, in sealing a 5-1 overall.

Liverpool got the urge to compete in his fourth semifinal of the European Cup in five years.

Final will be May 27 at the Olympic Stadium in Rome.

Ferguson blamed Cristiano Ronaldo

Manchester United Coach, Sir Alex Ferguson, yesterday blamed his star midfielder Cristiano Ronaldo to expect the referees to protect him from the game hard.

"He has always felt that the referees do not protect you, sometimes it's true, but not always," said Ferguson.

"It is difficult for a player who likes to move forward with the ball, to accept that things do not always go in your favor. But things sometimes, "he said.

Cristiano Ronaldo is unprotected by the arbitrators, advocates and opponents believe that you are missing many times. The English public would have believed that because Tirri is pulled too much and complains to the referees.

"It is frustrating when the referee does not signal a need to have done. I think mainly caused injury to himself, "said Ferguson.

Against Aston Villa (match ended with 2-1 victory), and against Porto in the Champions League (2-2), lost a ball in the Portuguese led to a goal of the opponent, which irritated Ferguson.

Hiddink will not be DT for Chelsea anymore, says leader

The Chelsea manager said Monday the interim technical Guus Hiddink will not continue in office, despite the good run of results from the English club.

Hiddink, while technical selection Russia, was contracted until the end of the season in February following the dismissal of Brazilian Luiz Felipe Scolari.

"There has been much speculation about whether there is, especially for his excellent work. That is not going to happen," said Bruce Buck.

Dutchman Hiddink has kept Chelsea in the race for the title on three fronts: the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.

According to Buck, the club has begun the process to hire a new coach. The only thing out is a return of the Portuguese José Mourinho, now coach of Inter Milan. Buck said that the cycle of Mourinho at Chelsea "has already gone."

Barcelona and Chelsea to seal his move to the Semifinals of the Champions League

Barcelona and Chelsea start as clear favorites on Tuesday to qualify for the semifinals of the Champions League football after winning the duels trip to Bayern Munich (4-0 in the Nou Camp) and Liverpool (3-1 at Anfield) respectively.

In case you fulfill the predictions, the two teams will face in the next round of the major continental club competition, although their rivals rooms, two 'big' in Europe, try to break the script and planned to achieve an epic comeback.

"This party has to deal seriously and with respect for the competition and Bayern Munich because he has the ability to make goals," said Barcelona's technical secretary, Txiki Begiristain, the Monday before departing to the Bavarian capital.

FC Barcelona, which his coach 'Pep' Guardiola will see from the stands after being ejected by penalty in the first leg, travels with a comfortable advantage at the Allianz Arena and should have no problems in maintaining and possibly expanding, despite warnings .

"The Germans do not stop fighting until it is finished the match and secure the Bayern will give us hard," said goalkeeper Victor Valdes, whose goal has remained unbeaten in the last five matches of the club azulgrana.

The defensive shortcomings that have appeared Barça seem to have remedied in recent matches but still has difficulty in playing the ball to stop, that could mean one of Bayern's resources to try to become the first team in history of European competitions in lift a 4-0.

In Munich, Guardiola is likely to keep their front three, but could break the Argentine Leo Messi, leaving the responsibility to the Cameroonian Samuel Eto'o, Thierry Henry and the French Andres Iniesta.

Behind them would stand Yaya Touré, the brain of the computer Hernandez Xavi, Sergio Busquets.

In the rear, Guardiola put Gerard Piqué and Carles Puyol, as central, with Dani Alves on the right, but on the left, missing the Mexican Rafa Marquez for punishment, could act Uruguayan Martin Caceres, but also have potential Sylvinho and Eric Abidal.

For his part, Chelsea, in a sweet moment of the season, will try to complete a round before his audience that he has very expensive thanks to its 3-1 in the mythical stadium of Liverpool.

The statistics are not positive for the 'Reds', and that 98% of the teams that have won 3-1 away from home in a knockout competition for the main European clubs have been ranked at the end of the shock back.

The big question for the coach Rafael Benitez is in the physical state of Steven Gerrard, whose participation is in doubt because of the problems that dragged on for days. "We lost 3-1 and we know that everything can change if we play well and to Steven," said Liverpool's Spanish coach.

The team will, yes, with the return of Argentine Javier Mascherano, suspended in the return encounter.

In memory of Liverpool on Thursday that will also fulfill the twentieth anniversary of the Hillsborough tragedy, in which 96 football fans' reds' were killed in an avalanche.

NHL betting – First-round Playoff Preview

It’s time for the second season in the NHL as the 82-game schedule has passed and now the field has been narrowed to the Sweet 16.

Do the Detroit Red Wings have the goaltending to repeat as Champions? Are the San Jose Sharks mentally strong enough to get past their recent playoff failures? Does the Carolina Hurricanes’ hot finish mean they’re a good bet to factor in the Stanley Cup odds?

There are plenty of questions as we head to the playoffs and the answers will come over the next two months. Here is a preview of all 16 first-round series:

Western Conference Series NHL betting:

No. 1 San Jose Sharks vs No. 8 Anaheim Ducks

The San Jose Sharks won the Presidents’ Trophy after finishing 53 wins and 117 points – both franchise records. The Anaheim Ducks might look dangerous given their pedigree and their past, but this team doesn’t have the magic. The Ducks don’t have the scoring or defensive depth to match. Look for the Sharks to get by in a gritty series.

No. 2 Detroit Red Wings vs No. 7 Columbus Blue Jackets

The Columbus Blue Jackets are in the playoffs for the first time in franchise history and they couldn’t have drawn a more experienced, veteran franchise if they tried. The Wings won the season series (3-2-1) and shouldn’t have much problem moving past the Blue Jackets in the first round.

No. 3 Vancouver Canucks vs No. 6 St. Louis Blues

The Vancouver Canucks caught a break when the St. Louis Blues finished in sixth courtesy of some last-minute Western Conference jockeying for position. The Blues will have trouble with the Canucks stingy defense, which will be the difference in the series.

No. 4 Chicago Blackhawks vs No. 5 Calgary Flames

In what should be one of the more intriguing first-round matchups, the Calgary Flames and Chicago Blackhawks are both happy with their draw. The Flames, who struggle mightily on the road, might be able to use their experience to get past the young, inexperienced Blackhawks. On the other hand, the Blackhawks, whose young roster doesn’t have a ton of playoff work under their belt, gets to face a middle-of-the-road team that can’t seem to win on the road. Look for experience to be the difference in this series as the Flames advance.

Eastern Conference Series NHL betting:

No. 1 Boston Bruins vs No. 8 Montreal Canadiens

It’s time for a little role reversal as both teams head in to the playoffs in completely opposite shape from last season. The Bruins, then the No. 8 seed, gave the top-seeded Canadiens all they could handle in seven games. The Bruins haven’t won a series since 1999 but that will change after the first round.

No. 2 Washington Capitals vs No. 7 New York Rangers

The Washington Capitals offense should outweigh the New York Rangers stingy defense in this battle but the main question will be Caps goalie Jose Theodore. He has been solid since the Caps signed him but also inconsistent at times. If he’s shaky in the playoffs, the Caps won’t go far.

No. 3 New Jersey Devils vs No. 6 Carolina Hurricanes

The New Jersey Devils finished up this season just like 2007, which means many people aren’t certain how they’ll do in the first round of the playoffs. The Devils, who had a stretch from December 27th to March 17th where they were 26-9, finished the season with just four wins in their last 11 games. The Canes were 3-0 against the Devils this season with Cam Ward between the pipes, which could be a telling sign for this series.

No. 4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs No. 5 Philadelphia Flyers

The Philadelphia Flyers are out for revenge after the Pittsburgh Penguins eliminated them from the playoffs last season in humiliating fashion but they might have to another year to get it. The Flyers finished the season 3-4-1 while the Penguins finished 13-4-1 down the stretch. The Penguins, led by their trio of deadly centers, should outlast the Flyers.

Stanley Cup odds pick: San Jose Sharks

NBA Betting – Cavs, Celtics clash in Eastern showdown

Sunday is a busy day, as you can go over your Masters odds in the morning, and then in the afternoon, there is a massive NBA betting matchup in Cleveland as the Cavaliers, who are trying to wrap up the No.1 seed in the East, take on Boston, who is trying to get healthy in time to defend its title.

Celtics vs Cavaliers odds – Sunday, April 12, 3:30 PM EST.

As of Thursday, the Celtics had won five in a row, and they’ll be boosted by a return to form from Rajon Rondo, who had struggled with an ankle injury. A healthy Rondo is essential to Boston’s NBA betting chances, because the Stephon Marbury experiment isn’t working out at all. It’s not that Marbury’s been a distraction; he’s just been unproductive. The Celtics are also waiting for Kevin Garnett to be healthy again, as he still hasn’t returned from a knee injury. He could be back for this game, and it’ll be interesting to see if he’s the intense KG we all know.

The Cavaliers are coasting towards the top seed in the East, and a win over the Celtics would seal it, if they haven’t done it by Sunday. Cleveland has no injuries to speak of outside of Ben Wallace, and the Anderson Varejao/Drew Gooden duo can compensate for that. And, of course, the Cavs have LeBron James, who looks to be the NBA betting favorite for the MVP award. James has had a phenomenal season, and he’s only getting better, which is frightening.

Celtics vs Cavaliers odds should favor Cleveland, who is a ridiculous 38-1 at home this year. The Celtics have won two of their three meetings with the Cavaliers this year, and the home team has won all three games between the two Eastern powers this season. The Cavaliers will be looking to make a statement heading into the playoffs, and a big win over the Celtics would do it. If Garnett is healthy enough to be in the Boston lineup, look for the Cavaliers to test him early and often. With the Cavaliers’ dominance at home this year, you have to make Cleveland your NBA betting pick on Sunday.