Sports Betting Overview

If you like grudge matches, then you won’t want to miss this hockey game. When the Washington Capitals visited the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, NY last week, the team was still trying to adjust to the style of new head coach Dale Hunter. The team was also trying to slow its free fall in the standings as it now sits in third place in the Southeast Division, according to the price per head bookie experts. A team is a reflection of its coach, and Dale Hunter is remembered as one of the premier cheap shot artists in the history of the game. Hunter will always be remembered as the guy that seriously injured Pierre Turgeon after Turgeon had scored an important goal in the playoffs against the Capitals. Hunter was known more for his sneak attacks than his motivation and determination, which is why he is an interesting choice for the head coach of any NHL team.

The Buffalo Sabres are drowning as well. After new owner Terry Pegula all but promised Sabres fans the Stanley Cup when he bought the team, the price per head bookmaking stats show the Sabres currently out of the playoff race and falling fast. But the last time Buffalo played Washington, the Sabres were in complete control of the game for the first period and the third period. It frustrated the Capitals so much that they started taking Dale Hunter-like cheap shots at the Sabres’ players. The biggest offender was team captain Alex Ovechkin. Now the Sabres get a chance to address Ovechkin’s actions in the rematch. It could be that, or the Capitals get to avenge their loss to the Sabres last week. With these two teams, you never know.

Buffalo Sabres

There is nothing consistent about the Buffalo Sabres except for fan disappointment. The Sabres continue to lose games in bunches while throwing in the occasional win here and there. The Sabres’ defense is porous and the goaltending is indecisive. A betonline.com review of the Sabres’ record in the last 10 games shows a pathetic 3-5-2. It is hard to say what can turn this team around, but there are rumors floating around that changes could be in the air in Buffalo. The only problem is that there are so many issues to address that no one can guess as to what the changes will actually be.

Washington Capitals

The Caps look like they just don’t care. The players have already gotten one coach fired and look determined to get a second coach fired before the season is out. The NHL fans in Washington see the disinterested play of the team and that makes the fans disinterested. Dale Hunter was supposed to use his feistiness and energy to revitalize the team. The problem is that you can cheap shot a team into playing better. It requires real coaching skills.

The Bottom Line

These two teams have scores to settle and they both desperately need wins. The Capitals have been through change and it has not had any effect on its play. The Sabres know change is coming, but no one seems concerned. This could very well be the game that wakes both of these teams up.

Pick: Washington Capitals

Sports Betting Overview

The Washington Capitals are in trouble. As most people expected, firing head coach Bruce Boudreau and replacing him with rookie NHL head coach Dale Hunter was not the answer to the Capitals’ woes. The pay per head sportsbook experts do not seem phased by the recent challenges facing the Capitals as Washington is still a 6 ½ to 1 favorite to win the Stanley Cup this season. But anyone that has been watching the Capitals play lately has seen signs that this team is far from being a Stanley Cup contender. Team captain Alex Ovechkin is taking dumb penalties out of frustration and the Caps’ goaltending situation is not as stable as the team once thought. Tomas Vokoun is doing just fine, but Michal Neuvirth is not playing well at all. Vokoun cannot play every game this season, so Neuvirth is going to need to step up his game or get replaced.

By contrast, everyone has been able to see the Rangers play as of late thanks to the HBO series “24/7” that has been following the Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers as each team gets ready to compete in the 2012 Winter Classic. The thing that has been impressing the price per head sports experts about the Rangers is the consistency with which the Rangers play. The Rangers are tied for the lead in the Eastern Conference with those same Philadelphia Flyers mostly because the Rangers are a very well-balanced hockey team. The defense is steady and able to join in the offensive rush once in a while, and the offense is spreading the scoring around. When you back all of that up with goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, then you have a very potent hockey team.

Washington Capitals

A betonline.com review of the Capitals’ last 10 games shows a record of 5-4-1. But it is the Caps’ overall road record that is raising eyebrows throughout the league. The Caps are 6-10-1 on the road and it looks like a completely different team when it is away from Washington, DC. At home, the Caps are 11-5-1 and play a completely different brand of hockey. The Caps score a lot of goals but it also gives up a lot of goals as well. If Washington wants to maintain its status as a Stanley Cup contender, then it will need to start playing better defense. This game against the Rangers is a chance for Washington to show that it can play the defense it needs to play to compete.

New York Rangers

The Rangers are riding a five-game winning streak and look like a John Tortorella coached team. They are aggressive but smart and always able to cover their mistakes in their own end. The Rangers have that level of discipline that the Capitals need. But the Rangers get their discipline from their coach. Henrik Lundqvist is having an all-star season and has to be considered an early candidate for the Vezina Trophy. But the Rangers are also getting some good play from backup Martin Biron as well. This is a very balanced hockey team that is able to lift itself up when it is having a bad night. It is up to the challenge of going into Washington and facing a good home team.

The Bottom Line

NHL fans in Washington really thought that they had a Cup contender on their hands the past few years. But now the frustration is starting to show on the players and the fans in Washington. This game is not going to help the demeanor of the hockey fans and players in Washington, DC.

Pick: New York Rangers

NBA Pay Head News: NBA Back In Full Swing This Week

With Christmas day, came a Christmas present to NBA fans that couldn’t wait to see their favorite superstars get back on the hardwood and show off their skill, and it didn’t disappoint. Carmelo Anthony put on a clinic in the clutch to help the New York Knicks knock off the Boston Celtics, while Derrick Rose was back in MVP-form as the Chicago Bulls squeezed past the Los Angeles Lakers. Meanwhile, Lebron James and the Miami Heat destroyed the Dallas Mavericks in the moments after the defending NBA champions lifted their title banner, and for as small of a consolation prize as that might be it was nice to see them show some tenacity. Looking forward to the rest of the week and it should be another great game when the Heat return to Miami for their home opener against the Celtics on Wednesday, before traveling to Charlotte the next night. Meanwhile, the Lakers are back home on Thursday to host the Knicks, with the Mavericks continuing their home span on Friday against the Toronto Raptors to close out the opening week.

NHL Betting News: Canadiens Look To Find Identity As Road Trip Continues

With controversy ripping at the team from every angle, the Montreal Canadiens will look to quiet their critics somewhat as they continue their six-game road trip against the Ottawa Senators Tuesday, and then the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday. The Canadiens lost five straight games heading in to the Christmas break and are now on the outside looking in for the Eastern conference playoff race. Montreal needs to break out of its funk and start winning games this week, and if they don’t it could spell the end for interim coach Randy Cunneyworth even before the Canadiens return home next week. Other key matchups for this week include a rematch of last year’s Western conference final between the Vancouver Canucks and San Jose Sharks on Thursday, and a battle of two teams that could replace them in this year’s conference finals as the Detroit Red Wings play the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday.

NCAAF Betonline News: Belk Bowl Among Most Interesting This Week

Although neither the Louisville Cardinals or North Carolina State Wolfpack qualified for a BCS bowl, they both finished their respective years on fire and will fight one another in the upcoming Belk Bowl. Both teams have a ton of offensive flare and are red-hot, and it should make for an exciting and close contest. A couple of other key matchups include the North Carolina Tar Heels and Missouri Tigers in the Independence Bowl on Monday, and the California Golden Bears and Texas Longhorns in the Holiday Bowl on Wednesday.

NFL Sports Betting News: Looking Ahead To The Final NFL Sunday

With several playoff spots still open across the NFL heading in to the final weekend of the regular season, the setup for New Years day could not be more exciting. In the AFC, the Denver Broncos have lost two in a row, but could still clinch the West with a win over the Kansas City Chiefs at home on the final day. Meanwhile, the Oakland Raiders are tied with them at 8-7, but host the San Diego Chargers and need a Broncos’ loss to pass them. If Denver doesn’t lose, then the Raiders still have hope in terms of a Wild Card spot, with the New York Jets and Tennessee Titans also still trying to catch the Cincinnati Bengals. Meanwhile in the NFC, it will be down to one game as the Dallas Cowboys face the New York Giants with the NFC East on the line.

UFC 141 closes out what has been an extremely exciting and captivating year for the company, and the main event features two of the largest men to ever step into the octagon. Here is a look at the odds for the main card.

Brock Lesnar (5-2) vs. Alistair Overeem (35-11, 1 NC) – Heavyweight

Overeem is a -145 favorite at BetOnline, but he opened at -160 as Lesnar is gaining support from the sportsbooks at +125. It is also likely because of Lesnar’s stature in the company as a former champion and the public knows him from his time in the WWE, while Overeem is well known to diehard MMA fans, but not to the casual player who would wager on this bout. The winner gets a shot at current champ Junior Dos Santos, who may need knee surgery.

Nate Diaz (14-7) vs. Donald Cerrone (17-3, 1 NC) – Lightweight

In a match that price per head companies that help set lines would have at the top of the list when it comes to “Fight of the Night” contenders, Cerrone is a -255 favorite against the younger Diaz brother, who comes in at +215. Diaz has seven UFC fight bonuses to his name, while Cerrone has only three, but he has had only four UFC fights and he has a number from the WEC. Cerrone has ended his last two fights in the first round, so that may be a reason while sportsbooks have him as such a big favorite.

Jon Fitch (23-3) vs. Johny Hendricks (11-1) – Welterweight

Fitch enters this match as a -220 favorite, while Hendricks is rated at +190 and the winner could get a shot at the interim 170-pound title, which will be won by either Nick Diaz or Carlos Condit in February. Fitch is coming off shoulder surgery, but that hasn’t scared off the linesmakers and those who use price per head services, but he’ll have his hands full with Hendricks; this will be a match for the wrestling fan as both excelled in the sport in university.

Vladimir Matyushenko (26-5) vs. Alexander Gustafsson (12-1) – Light Heavyweight

Gustafsson is a massive -335 favorite, while Matyushenko is listed at +280 in a fight that was originally supposed to take place in August, but Matyushenko was injured and Gustafsson instead sent Matt Hamill into retirement. Only once in his career has Gustafsson gone the distance and that was a two-round fight in Poland. He is extremely explosive and can knock you out as well as submit you, which is why he is such a large favorite, but Matyushenko is a veteran with a lot of experience and he could be valuable to sports betting players on December 30^th.

Sports Betting Overview

The Montreal Canadiens were warned that small forwards combined with a big and slow defense is not going to win a lot of games. The Canadiens thought that it had a team structured much like the Philadelphia Flyers. But Montreal forgot that the Flyers’ defensemen can skate and some of the forwards that play for Philadelphia are pretty huge. According to the pay per head sportsbook experts, the Canadiens’ organization decided that head coach Jacques Martin was the problem, so they fired him and replaced him with Randy Cunneyworth. Unfortunately, a different pilot is not getting better results with the same aircraft. The Canadiens is still losing and do not look any closer to improving its situation.

According to the price per head bookie experts, the Chicago Blackhawks are the top team in the NHL. The Blackhawks are riding a five-game winning streak that is part of a stretch in the last 10 games that has seen the team go 8-1-1. But teams all over the league keep waiting for the bottom to fall out on the Blackhawks as the Blackhawks are among the worst teams in the league in playing defense. At this point, the Blackhawks have allowed 98 goals against, which is one of the highest totals in the league. To counteract that defensive weakness, the Blackhawks have scored 111 goals this season, which is tied for second-best in the league. Chicago keeps rolling along and exploiting teams that are set up just like the Montreal Canadiens.

Montreal Canadiens

A betonline.com review of the Canadiens shows that firing the head coach was not the answer to the team’s problems. New head coach Randy Cunneyworth has come in and lead the Canadiens to a three-game losing streak. The fans in Montreal are not happy when the team sinks to the bottom of the division and conference standings. Coaching in Montreal is one of the toughest jobs in hockey. With a team that shows little to no chance of showing significant improvement in the near future, the job could be a short one for Randy Cunneyworth.

Chicago Blackhawks

The NHL fans in Chicago are loving the way that the Chicago Blackhawks are playing hockey, but it has to drive head coach Joel Quenneville crazy. The Chicago defense is made up of players that think they are wingers. When the play moves up the ice, the Chicago defense continually finds itself out of position. But goaltender Corey Crawford is just good enough to keep the Blackhawks in most of the games they play. It is a dangerous way to win hockey games, but the Blackhawks will keep using this game plan until it backfires on them.

The Bottom Line

Put simply, the Montreal Canadiens will not be able to withstand the offensive pressure that the Chicago Blackhawks will be putting on in this game. With the Chicago defensemen continually getting involved in the offensive zone, it will make it very difficult for the slower Montreal defense to keep up.

Pick: Chicago Blackhawks

UFC fans don’t have anything coming up until next week, but this week, there is plenty to keep them occupied as there are a pair of NFL games, while there is action from the college football and hoops worlds. The week wraps up with some NHL action as well.

Monday – NFL Betting

Steelers 49ers Odds (8:30 PM ET): San Francisco is a 2.5-point favorite at home in this Monday night affair, and it isn’t a BetOnline scam that you haven’t seen the odds until early on Monday as the Steelers revealed that Ben Roethlisberger will be a game-time decision because of his ankle. Baltimore lost on Sunday, so a win would be a huge boost to Pittsburgh’s postseason hopes. However, the 49ers have been struggling and need a win themselves.

Tuesday – NCAA Football Betting

Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl Odds (8:00 PM ET): Florida International is a 4-point favorite at the former St. Petersburg Bowl over Marshall, who played well down the stretch to make it to the postseason. In the Conference-USA East, Marshall finished behind Southern Miss, who is already familiar to those who run a price per head service because of their upset of Houston in the conference title game; the Thundering Herd are looking for the same thing, but look for FIU to have the edge in crowd support.

Wednesday – NCAA Basketball Betting

Texas North Carolina Odds (7:00 PM ET): The No.6 Tar Heels should be the home favorites in this matchup of national powerhouses, and the Longhorns can create matchup problems for North Carolina because Texas is a team that will attack you offensively. The Tar Heels are the favorites for the national championship among those who buy price per head software, but they’ve been struggling defensively and Texas has the ability to come out on top in a shootout at Chapel Hill.

Thursday – NFL Betting

Texans Colts Odds (8:20 PM ET): Houston is favored by six points to get their first win in 10 tries at Indianapolis, and they need a strong performance after getting manhandled in a loss against Carolina in Week 15. The Colts are coming off their first win of the season as they defeated Tennessee, but now they have to bring that same intensity on a short week, especially on defense; they have to slow down Houston’s ground game.

Friday – NHL Betting

Flyers Rangers Odds (7:00 PM ET): It’s always an occasion when these Atlantic Division rivals meet for the second time this season, and the Rangers should be the favorites at Madison Square Garden, where they blanked the Flyers 2-0 on November 26^th. Both teams have been dealing with injuries to important players as of late, but Philadelphia and New York will still give maximum effort in what should be a hard-hitting contest in your online sports book.

While Toronto Raptors fans are awaiting the beginning of the NBA season, which is on Christmas Day, but there is plenty on the slate to keep players occupied next week and here is a preview of the matchups you should consider.

Monday

Steelers 49ers Odds (8:30 PM ET): This line is off the board right now as Pittsburgh’s Bet Online odds have to be evaluated once Ben Roethlisberger’s status is released, and this is a chance for San Francisco to show they belong among the elite in the NFL.

Tuesday

Blackhawks Penguins Odds (7:30 PM ET): These two teams are favored by those that purchase price per head bookie software to win the Stanley Cup and both teams have won the Cup in recent years. The Penguins have been hit with injuries and of course, Sidney Crosby is back on the shelf with his concussion problems, and they’ll have their hands full against the Blackhawks, who are battling with Detroit at the top of the Central Division.

Wednesday

Poinsettia Bowl Odds (8:00 PM ET): The No.18 Horned Frogs are 10-point favorites in San Diego against Louisiana Tech, who have won seven in a row heading into this bowl matchup. TCU has also won seven in a row and only an overtime loss against SMU is holding them out of, at least, consideration for a BCS bowl and they’re familiar among those who use pay head services after their upset of Wisconsin in last year’s Rose Bowl, albeit with a different cast.

Thursday

Texans Colts Odds (8:20 PM ET): Houston is a 7.5-point favorite in Indianapolis, and the Colts could be still searching for their first win of the season. It has been revealed that head coach Jim Caldwell will likely be fired if the Colts go 0-16, so this will be a test of the Colts’ mental strength and whether or not they’re willing to fight for their coach in the face of a trying season.

Friday

West Virginia Baylor Odds (9:00 PM ET): Some think the Bears have a good chance to be a darkhorse in the NCAA Tournament in March, and now that forward Perry Jones is back in the lineup, that could be a very good bet to make. But the Bears will be hosting a West Virginia team that is going to give them all they can handle, and being coached by Bob Huggins, you know that the Mountaineers are a tough, hard-nosed team that isn’t going to back down from the Bears, even in Waco. It’s these types of games that will make a team stronger and a win for Baylor would give them some credit among NCAA basketball betting players.

Online Wagering Overview

That sound everyone hears coming from Pittsburgh is the air being let out of the Penguins’ balloon. For 12 games, the Pittsburgh Penguins had their captain Sidney Crosby back and Crosby instantly went on a point streak that had him averaging a point a game or better. After 12 games, Crosby was out of action again with another concussion. Now the Penguins have to try and win hockey games without their captain and with the looming possibility that, at 24 years old, Crosby’s NHL career may already be over. The Penguins have won without Crosby in the past, but the added weight of the potential reality of his condition is obviously starting to wear on the Penguins. Pittsburgh has plummeted from first to third in the Atlanta Division and keeps losing ground in the standings with every game.

The pay per head sportsbook experts did not recognize the Ottawa Senators team that started the 2011-2012 season. At the beginning of the season, the Senators were one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference and were playing some very good hockey. In the last few weeks, the Senators have started the downward spiral to the familiar basement of the Eastern Conference and are desperately battling to stay in contention for a playoff spot. The big difference between the Senators this year versus last year is that the team seems to have some weapons to rely on to try and keep playoff hopes alive. But the goaltending in Ottawa is still suspect and that has some NHL fans in Ottawa worried.

Pittsburgh Penguins

The bookie software actually has the Penguins tied with Rangers for second place in the Atlantic Division in points. But tie-breakers put the Penguins in third place. Pittsburgh has way too much talent to stay down. The team was one of the top contenders for the first quarter of the season without Crosby, and it will rebound to be a contender again. The problem was that the Penguins got used to having Crosby available again and started to game plan as though he would be there. For the first few games after his injury, it was tough to adjust. But the Penguins are a talented and determined hockey team with good coaching. This is a team that will bounce back.

Ottawa Senators

The Ottawa Senators are a different story than the Penguins. Early season enthusiasm carried Ottawa to the top of the Eastern Conference standings. But reality started to sink back in and the Senators started to lose games. A 5 dimes review of the Senators’ last ten games shows a record of 4-4-2. The Senators are barely playing .500 hockey and it is struggling to keep that pace up. Ottawa needs consistent goaltending if it is going to win games and right now, the Senators’ goaltending is anything but consistent.

The Bottom Line

The Ottawa Senators could be just what the Pittsburgh Penguins need to start getting back on the winning track. Ottawa is average at home and is average on the road. It does not matter where this game would be played, the Senators are just serving themselves up to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Pick: Pittsburgh Penguins

Sports Betting Overview

Anyone who would have made the prediction that the Chicago Blackhawks and Minnesota Wild would be battling it out to see who is the best team in the league on into the middle of December would have been laughed at by the price per head bookie crowd. There was absolutely nothing going on with either team that would have indicated that such a drastic turnaround was possible. The Wild missed the playoffs by a wide margin last season and the Blackhawks barely made it into the post season. There weren’t any major roster changes to either team that indicated potential success and the coaches are the same as well.

One of the things that happened to the Minnesota Wild is the emergence of goaltender Niklas Backstrom. According to the price per head services statistics, Backstrom has a record of 11-5-2 this season. He has a 2.08 goals against average, a .932 save percentage and has recorded two shutouts. The Blackhawks discovered that Corey Crawford can be their starting goaltender, but Chicago also picked up veteran goalie Ray Emery for insurance. Emery is 6-1-2 in his starts this year and had been the defensive boost that the Blackhawks needed. Now both the Chicago Blackhawks and Minnesota Wild are the top two teams in the NHL. When these two teams get together, you can imagine that goals will be at a premium.

Chicago Blackhawks

There are two significant differences between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Minnesota Wild. The first difference is that the Blackhawks can score goals while the Wild rely more on defense to win games. Chicago is the second-highest scoring team in the league with 99 goals. That is only two goals behind the Philadelphia Flyers. A 5 dimes review of the Blackhawks’ roster shows that the scoring is pretty balanced between the forwards and the defensemen. Chicago is not afraid to bring its defensemen into the offensive play.

The other significant difference between the Blackhawks and the Wild is that the Wild does not allow nearly as many goals per game as the Blackhawks. The Blackhawks have given up 92 goals this season while the Wild have only given up 64 goals. That is a significant difference in philosophy.

Minnesota Wild

The NHL fans in Minnesota love a winner and they appreciate a team that works hard. The Wild falls into both categories. Minnesota grinds out wins and focuses more on efficient defense than flashy offense. With a quality goaltender to back up a solid defense, the Wild are hoping that it has the formula it needs for playoff success.

The Bottom Line

The Wild will grind down the Blackhawks and frustrate the Chicago scorers on a regular basis. This will not be a very high-scoring game, but it will be a fun game to watch if you enjoy hard-hitting hockey and world-class goaltending. But the Wild will find a way to neutralize the Chicago scoring attack which will shut the Blackhawks down completely.

Pick: Minnesota Wild

NHL Betting News: Crosby Will Miss Game Versus Red Wings; Out Indefinitely

Following a brief return to the NHL, Pittsburgh Penguins’ captain Sidney Crosby will be out indefinitely as concussion-like symptoms have crept back in to play over the past couple of days. Crosby missed the Penguins’ road trip this past weekend after taking a pair of big hits in his first couple of games back, but said that the symptoms didn’t begin creeping in until practice Monday, at which time he decided to shut things down. The Penguins currently sit in fifth place in the Eastern conference with 38 points, but will face a couple of tough tests with a game against the Detroit Red Wings Tuesday, before taking on the Ottawa Senators Friday.

NFL Sports Betting News: Falcons Look To Tame Jaguars Thursday

After throwing for a career-high four touchdowns in a comeback win over the Carolina Panthers this past Sunday, it will be interesting to see what Atlanta Falcons’ quarterback Matt Ryan has in store for us this week as they prepare to host the Jacksonville Jaguars. Atlanta has won three of four, but actually trailed by nine at the break against Carolina before unleashing 24 straight points in a huge comeback win that was crucial in the NFC Wild Card race. The Jaguars meanwhile turned some heads in a 41-14 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but you have to wonder if we will see more of the same this week, or if they will revert to their same form from their previous primetime appearance when they lost by 24 to the San Diego Chargers on Monday Night Football two weeks ago.

NCAAB Pay Head News: Buckeyes Look To Bounce Back Versus USC Upstate Wednesday

While the top-ranked Syracuse Orange won’t be back on the court until this Saturday, Jared Sullinger and the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes will be in action on Wednesday when they host USC Upstate as they look to bounce back from their first loss of the season. The Buckeyes managed to remain at No. 2 despite the loss with the previously No. 1 ranked Kentucky Wildcats also losing this past weekend, marking the first time since 2010 that the top two teams in college basketball lost on the same day. Kansas meanwhile, will also have the week off following their big win, as well as the rest of the top-five teams.

NBA Betonline News: Paul Could Be On The Move Soon; Howard Next?

While the league’s handling of the original Chris Paul trade to the Los Angeles Lakers was absolutely brutal, it appears as though they are ready to allow him to be moved to the Los Angeles Clippers this week, in exchange for a package that includes both Chris Kaman and Eric Gordon. With the Lakers failing to land Paul, it is possible that they could be preparing a package to acquire Dwight Howard from the Orlando Magic this week, a move that might actually work out in better favor for Los Angeles after it is all said and done.