Online Sportsbooks Overview

With the NHL trade deadline completed, the Leafs had made some interesting moves. Veteran defenseman Keith Aulie was traded to Tampa Bay for forward Carter Ashton. To fill in for Aulie, the Leafs later picked up defenseman Mark Fraser from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for forward Dale Mitchell. But that really wasn’t a trade to replace Aulie because Fraser will spend most of the rest of this season in the AHL with the Toronto Marlies. So what did Toronto accomplish on trade deadline day? They gave up two experienced players to get two prospects. It looks like the Leafs are building for the future, but that has fans wondering if Toronto is giving up on the rest of this season.

The price per head sports experts are fairly impressed with the trade deadline move that the Chicago Blackhawks made. Chicago gave up a couple of 2013 draft picks to get rugged defenseman Johnny Oduya from the Winnipeg Jets. In an ironic twist, Oduya adds defensive muscle that the Blackhawks lost when it allowed Dustin Byfuglein to go to the Jets a couple of years ago. With a badly needed roster upgrade on defense, the Blackhawks come into Toronto to try and grab two points that Chicago desperately needs to stay in the hunt for a Western Conference playoff spot.

Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs really thought it had the goaltending situation solved with the emergence of James Reimer. But as the March Madness odds keep on shifting around, the Leafs are taking a closer look at its goaltending situation and not liking what it sees. Toronto is in the top half of the NHL in goals scored and goals against. That is one of the reasons why the trade of Aulie is a little confusing. Aulie is an NHL veteran that is effective at keeping players out from in front of the Toronto net. Without Aulie, the complexion of the Toronto defense will be much more different. A team that is already having problems in goal and playing defense just created an even deeper problem for itself. What does not help is that the Chicago Blackhawks are one of the highest scoring teams in the league.

Chicago Blackhawks

The addition of Oduya shows that the Blackhawks acknowledge that it needs some strength on defense. While Oduya is just one player, he is a good start. A sportsbook review of the Chicago situation in the Western Conference standings shows that the Blackhawks have climbed back into sixth place in the conference, but Chicago has also lost its last three games in a row. Moving up to fifth place may be a challenge, but the Blackhawks only have a three-point lead for their playoff spot and need to get back on the winning track.

The Bottom Line

The Leafs depleted its roster a bit at the trade deadline and the Blackhawks improved its roster. Unfortunately for Toronto, the hit to its defensive corps is going to be keenly felt in this matchup with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Pick: Chicago Blackhawks

College basketball betting is starting to heat up as the final week of the regular season winds down, but that is just a part of this week’s wagering action as there is also some NHL action and of course, the NBA as it returns from the All-Star break.

Monday

Notre Dame Georgetown Odds (7:00 PM ET): The No.20 Fighting Irish head to the nation’s

capital to take on the No.11 Hoyas after having their winning streak stopped at nine at St. John’s. Seeding is at a premium for the Big East tournament, so this game is going to be huge as both look to position themselves for a good spot.

Tuesday

Senators Bruins Odds (7:00 PM ET): Authors of an NHL trade deadline blog will be back to

normal on Tuesday after another uneventful deadline on Monday, and they’ll have their eye on a matchup from the Eastern Conference as Ottawa looks to end their jinx at the hands of Boston, who have won the past eight meetings between these two. The Bruins defeated the Senators 5-3 on the road on Saturday night, and Ottawa will be out to avoid another loss at the hands of the team led by former Senator Zdeno Chara.

Wednesday

Ohio State Northwestern Odds (8:30 PM ET): Those betting March Madness odds should be on the lookout for this contest as the Wildcats need a big win to boost their NCAA Tournament resume, and they’ll be facing the No.10 Buckeyes, who were beaten at home by Wisconsin and don’t look anything like the team many thought would be a lock for the Final Four. A win for Northwestern here would be massive ahead of the Big Ten tournament.

Thursday

Thunder Magic Odds (8:00 PM ET): Sportsbook reviews of the All-Star game on Sunday would show that Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant led the West to a win over the East with a 36-point performance, and he ended up with the MVP award. He’ll return to Orlando on Thursday night to kick off the weekly TNT doubleheader against the Magic, who are still dealing with the Dwight Howard “will he stay or will he go” drama.

Friday

Kings Lakers Odds (10:30 PM ET): In that same All-Star Game, Kobe Bryant had his nose broken by Miami’s Dwyane Wade and managed to break Michael Jordan’s record for points at the All-Star games. Broken nose and all, expect Bryant to be on the floor on Friday against the Kings, who just learned that they’re going to stay in Sacramento as they sorted out an arena deal. Bryant has played through worse injuries, so the Lakers won’t fall much in the eyes of those that purchase pay per head services.

The 2012 NHL trade deadline comes on Monday, but there is still plenty of time for that. The UFC heads back to Japan for the first since UFC 29 in December 2000, and instead of five fights on the main card, there will be seven as the company trots out a number of Japanese fighters. However, none of them are in the top three fights of the night, and here is a look at those bouts.

Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson – 155 Pounds (Lightweight)

Edgar is a -130 favorite to retain his lightweight belt, while Henderson comes in at +110, and this is going to be fought at a frantic pace (2012 March Madness betting players should compare this to two Missouri teams going against each other). Both are brown belts in jiu-jitsu, while Henderson may be the best escaper of submissions in the game and Edgar’s boxing gives him the edge in the stand-up battle. Both are also exceptional wrestlers, but the deciding factor may be will and heart. This isn’t a knock against Henderson, but we’ve Edgar battle back from the brink of defeat on multiple occasions, and he’ll take control in the later rounds.

Quinton Jackson vs. Ryan Bader – 205 Pounds (Light Heavyweight)

“Rampage” is favored at -245 as he returns to Japan, and a BetOnline.com review would state that he was a beloved star in Pride, known for his vicious power slams and willingness to stand and trade with whoever his opponent was, even though it may not have been the smartest decision (losses to Wanderlei Silva and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua prove this). Bader is listed at +205 as he aims to move back up the light-heavyweight rankings; a win over Jason Brilz was a step in the right direction, but Brilz is no Jackson, who can knock out anyone with one punch. Bader’s wrestling could come in handy, but Jackson has some of the best takedown defense in the UFC and unless Bader turns this into a wrestling match, he is in trouble. Experienced players that use pay head systems will likely side with Jackson, and you should as well.

Cheick Kongo vs. Mark Hunt – 265-Pound Limit (Heavyweight)

This could be the “Fight of the Night” as Kongo is favored at -310, while Hunt is rated at +260. Hunt is dangerous because like Jackson, he is a favorite in Japan because of his time in Pride, where he scored massive wins over Wanderlei Silva and Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic. These two are kickboxing specialists with backgrounds in Muay Thai (Kong) and boxing (Hunt), and their chins are spectacular. But Kongo has an edge grappling and that could wear down Hunt, who doesn’t have the best cardio in the world. Take Kongo in a tough decision victory at sportsbooks such as Bodog.

Online Sportsbook Overview

If the sports experts had said during the NHL preseason that a game in February between the Boston Bruins and the St. Louis Blues could be a Stanley Cup finals preview, they would have received strange looks. Most people could see the Bruins getting back to the finals to defend its Stanley Cup title. But the St. Louis Blues just seem to be an unlikely opponent. But the price per head sports experts have been impressed with what new head coach Ken Hitchcock has been able to do with the team and turn St. Louis into a playoff contender. Now the Blues to get gauge how far it has developed when it takes on the Bruins in this game.

The Bruins looked almost unbeatable as the All-Star break approached, but Boston has hit a bit of a bump in the road that is costing it points and is on the verge of costing it the lead in the Northeast Division as well. Many hockey fans in Boston are not paying much attention to the 2012 March Madness betting activity because they are becoming increasingly concerned with the play of the Bruins. Boston was keeping pace with the New York Rangers for the Eastern Conference lead, but the Rangers have pulled away and Boston is left to try and put its game back together as the final push for the playoffs is just around the corner.

St. Louis Blues

The St. Louis Blues is 7-3-0 in the last 10 games and trying to keep pace with the Detroit Red Wings for the lead in the Central Division and the Western Conference. One of the glaring weaknesses the Blues have is on the road where the team is 10-13-3. Ken Hitchcock knows that his team is not going very far in the playoffs if it cannot win on the road. But this game is being played in St. Louis where the Blues are an impressive 26-3-4. A 5 dimes review of the NHL standings shows that the Blues have the second-best home record in the league and are only one win behind the Red Wings in that department. The Blues are an extremely strong home team and that is not what the Bruins need to hear.

Boston Bruins

The Boston Bruins is 4-6-0 in the last 10 games and currently riding a two-game losing streak. But Boston still plays one of the more solid styles of team defense in the league which is backed up by Vezina-winning goaltender Tim Thomas. Boston can also score goals and have actually outscored the Blues this season by a substantial margin of 190 to 150. But the Blues also play a shut down style of defense that can stifle a physical team like Boston. This game will be a good test to see if the Bruins is ready to come out of its slump yet, or if the tough luck will continue.

The Bottom Line

Neither one of these teams is looking to make a move at the NHL trade deadline 2012. But both of these teams would like some momentum to go into the stretch run before the playoffs. St. Louis is an extremely tough defensive team, but the Bruins will try to pound its way past the Blues’ defense and grab a win.

Pick: Boston Bruins

NBA Pay Head News: Linsanity Heads To South Beach Before All Star Break

With Linsanity peaking this past weekend in the New York Knicks’ 104-97 win over the defending NBA champion Dallas Mavericks, the team will face one more tough challenge before the All Star break in the form of the team that the Mavericks beat for their title. Jeremy Lin merchandise is flying off the shelves across the entire country, and now he will make his debut as a starter against Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, and the Miami Heat on Thursday. How Lin responds against Miami will be a good test for how far along he has come in such a short time, and it will also be a good indication of how the Knicks match up with the defending Eastern conference champions, especially if Carmelo Anthony is back on the floor. Thursday night’s games will also feature Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers visiting Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder, while the surging San Antonio Spurs will clash with the Denver Nuggets on the final night before the All Star Break.

NHL Betting News: Red Wings Look To Extend Record Run Thursday Versus Canucks

The Detroit Red Wings have risen to the top of the NHL standings on the heels of a league record 23 straight home wins, but they will face their toughest test to date when they host the defending Western conference champion Vancouver Canucks on Thursday. Even with Detroit’s incredible run the Canucks are just two points back of the Red Wings for first place heading in to this week, making this game a potential Western conference finals preview. The one thing that will be in Detroit’s favor heading in to this game is that Jimmy Howard will be back between the pipes starting opposite of Roberto Luongo after missing some time with a broken finger.

NCAA Basketball Betting News: Tigers Look For Revenge Tuesday Versus Wildcats

The No. 3 Missouri Tigers have reeled off seven-straight wins to put themselves in excellent position to take the No. 5 Kansas Jayhawks down to the wire for the top spot in the Big 12, but in order for them to keep that roll going they will need to do something that they haven’t done so far this season, which is beating the Kansas State Wildcats. The Wildcats cruised to a 75-59 win when these teams met at the Coliseum back in January, one of only two losses on the Tigers’ schedule all year. Missouri is hoping to reverse that final in front of their home fans, highlighting an exciting slate of action on a night that will also feature the top-ranked Kentucky Wildcats travelling to take on the No. 23 Mississippi State Bulldogs, as well as the No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes looking to bounce back from a tough loss to Michigan when they host unranked Illinois.

Golf Betonline News: Best In The World Converge In California Wednesday

Luke Donald will be on hand at the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championships beginning on Wednesday as he looks to defend his title and compete for the $8.5 million purse. Donald finished tied for 57^th at the Northern Trust Open this past weekend, finishing at seven-under, 14 strokes back of the three players that went to a playoff to decide it, including eventual winner Bill Haas.

Most UFC fans will remember the Pride promotion, which was set in Japan and home to some of the most violent MMA action in the world, but once Pride folded, a few of their stars migrated to the UFC; Wanderlei Silva and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, just to name a few. Jackson will on the card for UFC 144 in Saitama, and here is a look at a few lines for the event.

Frankie Edgar (14-1-1) vs. Benson Henderson (15-2) – Lightweight Championship Bout

Edgar, the champion, is a slight -130 favorite over Henderson at +105, but sportsbook reviews should show that you can find value for this fight if you shop around. It should be a close fight between two extremely technical fighters on the mat and standing up, and both are former standout wrestlers. Edgar has never been a huge favorite as a champion, and he was still the underdog in his rematch with B.J. Penn, so this line isn’t a surprise.

Quinton Jackson (32-9) vs. Ryan Bader (13-2) – Light Heavyweight

“Rampage” is a huge -240 favorite in this tilt with Bader, who is listed at +200, and again, this line shouldn’t shock anyone as Jackson is a hero in Japan for his time in Japan. He is also a former UFC champion at 205 pounds and has much more experience than Bader, who has lost two of his last three fights, although he did bounce back from back-to-back losses with a big knockout win of Jason Brilz. Some players that use price per head services, however, may take a flier on Bader, who has to use his wrestling in this fight because he can’t stand up with Jackson, who has some of the best takedown defense in MMA.

Cheick Kongo (17-6-2) vs. Mark Hunt (17-7) – Heavyweight

The Frenchman, Kongo, is another -240 favorite as he takes on New Zealand’s Hunt, who is listed at +210 after two straight wins, but his victory over Ben Rothwell wasn’t very convincing. To be fair, both men were wiped after fighting for 15 minutes in Denver and many are now calling for no more heavyweight fights in high altitude, but Hunt has a chance to redeem himself. Knowledgeable users that work with that pay head systems know that Kongo is one of the toughest heavyweights out there, and his fights are usually entertaining; with two kickboxers in the octagon, there could be fireworks here.

Anthony Pettis (14-2) vs. Joe Lauzon (21-6) – Lightweight

Pettis is a huge -260 favorite over Lauzon at +220, and this line is a little surprising, even though Pettis is a former WEC champion (which he won, ironically, over Henderson). He hasn’t looked sharp in two UFC fights, a decision loss and a split-decision win, while Lauzon is a submission specialist who won as a massive underdog against Melvin Guillard. If you’re looking for an upset on this card, this is the match to watch in your sports betting book.

Sportsbooks Overview

If anyone would have said that a game in February between the Ottawa Senators and Florida Panthers would be a battle of two playoff powerhouses, most price per head sports experts would have called that statement crazy. But the Panthers are the top team in the Southeast Division and the Senators have been battling for the fifth and sixth playoff spots for most of the season. The Florida Panthers are the only team in the Southeast Division currently in the playoff hunt. Things have turned a bit upside down in the NHL and now we have a game where both teams need the points to stay in the thick of the playoff race.

The 2012 March Madness betting is in full swing in the state of Florida and the only Florida NHL franchise currently in a playoff spot is the Florida Panthers. While the Panthers are taking advantage of a weak Southeast Division, it should be noted that Florida would still have a playoff spot even if it was not the division leader. The Senators are clinging to a playoff spot in a Northeast Division that has seen the re-emergence of the Buffalo Sabres and the Montreal Canadiens. When you factor in the Toronto Maple Leafs who are right on the Senators’ heels, then you get a congested playoff race in the Eastern Conference.

Ottawa Senators

The Senators have not been doing itself any favors lately. The team is 2-6-2 in the last 10 games and has fallen to seventh place in the Eastern Conference. The sportsbook reviews on the Ottawa season have shown that the team has been wildly inconsistent behind the spotty goaltending of Craig Anderson. The Senators cannot play great team defense, so it relies on Anderson to hold down the fort. Sometimes Anderson comes through, other times he does not. When Anderson has a bad night, the Senators have a bad night and that has been happening a lot lately. With the rest of the Northeast Division starting to pick up its game, the Senators need to get back on the winning path if it wants to stay in the playoff hunt.

Florida Panthers

The Panthers have been on a roll lately with a 6-3-1 record in the last 10 games. The Panthers are still riding that thin line between playing good defense and allowing way too many shots on goal. Scott Clemmensen has been the goaltending hero as of late in Florida, but that job has shifted a lot this season. The Panthers may try and use the NHL trade deadline 2012 to bring in a new goalie, but that would be like putting a band-aid on a broken arm at this point. Florida needs to keep playing its grinding style and make its own offensive opportunities to win games.

The Bottom Line

Florida is a good home team and Ottawa plays well on the road. But Ottawa has been taking a beating on the ice lately and the Panthers are on too much of a roll to stop now.

Pick: Florida Panthers

If you read an NBA blog, you’ll have a busy week ahead as NBA action takes over the spotlight, while the UFC and college hoops claim supporting roles.

Syracuse Louisville Odds – Monday, 7:00 PM ET

The No.2 Orangemen are 3-point favorites at Bet Online on the road against the No.19 Cardinals, who have won seven in a row overall over Syracuse, so this should be an intriguing matchup for college hoops betting fans. Both teams love to force turnovers, and that could be the deciding point in this massive Big East matchup.

Heat Pacers Odds – Tuesday, 7:00 PM ET

Miami are the prohibitive favorites win the NBA title among those that purchase pay per head software, but Indiana has been a pleasant surprise and they’ve racked up some big wins so far this season. The Pacers also may have an advantage as the Heat will be in action in Milwaukee on Monday night and the Bucks have had Miami’s number with wins in both meetings, so Indiana will hope that Milwaukee can tire Miami out to soften them up for Tuesday.

UFC on Fuel Odds – Wednesday, 8:00 PM ET

The UFC continues to grow, and on Wednesday Fuel TV will host their first television card to be headlined by Jake Ellenberger and Diego Sanchez, a pair of welterweights that know how to put on an impressive and exciting fight. Ellenberger is a big -325 favorite, but Sanchez won’t back down from the heavy hands of the “Juggernaut. In the heavyweight division, 6’11” submission specialist Stefan Struve will look to avoid the violent striking of Dave Herman.

Celtics Bulls Odds – Thursday, 8:00 PM ET

If you’re an experienced player that uses pay head services, you should have your eye on this contest as these are two of the top challengers to Miami in the East. The Celtics beat the Bulls on Sunday in Boston, and Chicago would love to return the favor in the Windy City. The Bulls were also missing reigning MVP Derrick Rose, who has an ailing back and will visit a specialist on Monday.

Heat Cavaliers Odds – Friday, 7:30 PM ET

The league shook when LeBron James made his “Decision” to leave Cleveland, which is nearby to his hometown of Akron, for the sandy beaches of Miami to join forces with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, and this edition of a “Big Three” reached the NBA Finals in their first season together and as we said before, they’re favored to finish the job this year. It’s always an occasion when James returns to Cleveland, where he is 1-1 in two trips, and the Heat should be the favorites if you’re going to bet on sports on Friday night.

NBA fans will be treated to an exciting week on the hardwood next week, and it is bookended by the Miami Heat, who are the current favorites to win the title. In other action, two Eastern Conference contenders clash in the NHL, while one of the March Madness favorites face a tricky road test.

Monday

Heat Bucks Odds (8:00 PM ET): Miami has lost seven times as of Friday, but sportsbook reviews of their season would also show that two of those losses have come against Milwaukee, who seem to have an idea of how to handle the Heat. Miami’s “Big Three” of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh will try to end their Milwaukee jinx on Monday night.

Tuesday

Rangers Bruins Odds (7:00 PM ET): Players that purchase price per head sportsbook services know that the road to the Eastern Conference final is likely going to go through New York (no, not the Islanders) or the defending Stanley Cup champions from Boston, and it is always fun when two teams from these markets get together, regardless of the sport. The Bruins could attempt to exact a little revenge of their football cousins from New England, who lost to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl.

Wednesday

North Carolina Miami Odds (8:00 PM ET): The Tar Heels are a favorite of many March Madness betting players, but they’ve shown an inability to bear down when the going gets tough and that may scare form players away. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes have a big win at Duke under their belt and a victory over the Tar Heels would be a huge boost to their chances to make the NCAA Tournament.

Thursday

Celtics Bulls Odds (8:00 PM ET): While Miami figures to lead the way in the East, Chicago has pole position on the second spot, but the experienced veterans in Boston aren’t going to back down and they’re starting to get healthy. The Celtics aren’t concerned with records; they just need to get to the playoffs, but you know they look at games against teams like Chicago and know they have to put forth a strong effort.

Friday

Heat Cavaliers Odds (7:30 PM ET): Cleveland has played much better than anyone would have expected this season, but this game is bigger than records as James returns to Cleveland for the third time since taking his talents to South Beach, and these games will likely get a lot of attention as long as James plays in the NBA. This game won’t have much effect on the standings, but there should be plenty of intrigue (as well as a few available props) from players wagering at online betting sites.

Betting Sites Overview

The Chicago Blackhawks were riding high in the weeks leading up to the All-Star break. At one point, Chicago sat on top of the league as the best team with the most points. The Blackhawks fans were ready for their own version of 2012 March Madness betting as they were getting ready to cheer their team on to another run at the Stanley Cup. But as the All-Star break approached, it all started to go horribly wrong. The Blackhawks had been living a dangerous lifestyle of high-flying offense and no defense. Goaltender Corey Crawford was playing well, but the team was still giving up goals by the boatload. At some point, the lack of defense was going to catch up to the Blackhawks. It finally has, and Chicago has tumbled from first in the Western Conference all the way down to sixth and showing no signs of coming back to life.

The San Jose Sharks were following a different path before the All-Star break. After a very shaky start, the Sharks were finally getting their game together and had moved into first place in the Pacific Division. The price per head sports experts expected a battle for the Pacific Division lead between the Sharks and the Los Angeles Kings, and that is exactly what they have now. But the Sharks have hit a bit of a rough patch as of late that has included losing an important Western Conference game to a hungry Calgary Flames team. The Sharks were hoping that former Stanley Cup winning goaltender Antti Niemi would be the answer in goal. While Niemi has shown signs of brilliance at times, he has been inconsistent and that is starting to hurt the Sharks.

Chicago Blackhawks

When the Blackhawks had their “fire sale” after winning the Stanley Cup two years ago, it let go good defensive players such as Ben Eager and Dustin Byfuglein. Sportsbook reviews of each of those players’ seasons show that both are still dominant on defense and playing at a high level. The Blackhawks gambled that the young defense it had after the Cup win would be able to support the team and help get the team back to the playoffs. While Chicago has been able to get back to the playoffs, it is one of the worst defensive teams in the league. Offense may sell tickets, but defense wins championships. The lack of defense is really starting to show in Chicago at this point in the season.

San Jose Sharks

Sharks’ goalie Antti Niemi is 2-3-0 in his last five starts. He has been wildly inconsistent since he joined San Jose. But when Niemi is on, he is really on. The Sharks just need to find a way to bridge the gaps between stints of good play by its goalie. One thing the NHL fans in San Jose know is that their team can score goals. Coming up against a weak defensive team like Chicago, who has a 10-12-3 road record, may be exactly what the Sharks need to grab an important Western Conference win.

The Bottom Line

The high-flying Blackhawks meet the unpredictable Sharks in a game that both teams desperately need. The Sharks only have a two-point lead over the Los Angeles Kings in the Pacific Division and the Blackhawks are holding on to sixth place by three points. This will be a fun game to watch, but it should go to the favor of the Sharks.

Pick: San Jose Sharks