The anticipation is over. And we are not talking UFC 116 Betting.

Less than two weeks ago, Boston Bruins’ center Marc Savard was taken off the ice on a stretcher late in the third period of a 2-1 loss in Pittsburgh, after being taken out with a blindside hit to the head by Penguins’ winger Matt Cooke.

Tonight the teams meet for the first time since the incident.

Savard doesn’t remember what happened on the play, or even in the period after suffering a grade two-concussion that has prematurely ended his season. The Bruins’ star pivot is an integral part of a team locked in a race for the postseason, currently holding the eighth and final playoff spot.

Cooke did not receive a suspension for the hit since according to the league it did not violate any existing rule. The decision was not received well by Boston players who felt that the repeat-offender should have received harsh punishment for succeeding in his attempt to injure the 32-year old.

Although the Bruins’ focus for tonight’s game, which could also be a potential first round playoff contest, will be the pursuit of two points in its quest to clinch a spot in this years postseason, the main storyline will be how the team reacts in the first game between the teams since the incident.

With Shawn Thornton, Steve Begin, and the massive Zdeno Chara all, willing combatants, the sports betting odds say Cooke will be called out.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman will be on hand, a testament to the projected tensions.

This week’s NBA action saw the Boston Celtics drop another humbling defeat, this time to the Memphis Grizzlies - and at home, no less. The Celtics broke a four game winning streak with a loss on the road to Milwaukee on Tuesday night, then headed back to Boston to face the surging Grizzlies at home. The tired Celtics got picked apart by a more confident team in Memphis.

In NHL news, off the ice NHL GMs approved a so-called “blindside head-shot” ban at their recent annual meeting in Boca Raton. In their own words, “A lateral, back pressure or blindside hit to an opponent where the head is targeted and/or the principal point of contact is not permitted. A violation of the above will result in a minor or major penalty and shall be reviewed for possible supplemental discipline.” One can only salivate over just what exactly “supplemental discipline” is. In any event, this was an expected move that would make hits such as the Mike Richards-David Booth monstrosity illegal - next season, that is.

The Pacquiao-Clottey fight is the big combative sports news of the weekend, and while fans are still deprived of the Mayweather bout, Joshua Clottey is a shockingly tough individual, and while boxing odds list him as a prohibitive underdog, expect him to go the distance and possibly even steal a round or two from pac-man.

The NHL trade deadline has passed us by, and to be honest, nothing special happened. The best players were traded before the deadline, and the best available players weren’t moved, which left a bunch of role players to be traded. Exciting, huh? Well, at least there will be no major moves in the NHL odds.

Washington and surprisingly, Phoenix were the busy teams on deadline day, and the Capitals picked up Joe Corvo from Carolina to go on the power play with Mike Green. Milan Jurcina, Eric Belanger and Scott Walker also are headed to Washington, and with their upper-level players like Alex Ovchekin, Alex Semin and Nicklas Backstrom, they don’t really need any stars.

Phoenix, who everyone figured was out of the running after the offseason which almost saw them move to Canada, currently sit in fifth in the Western Conference and may be the biggest surprise of the season. Derek Morris returned to Phoenix from Boston, giving them a big body on the blue line to counter the forwards in San Jose, Chicago and Vancouver. They also acquired Wojtek Wolski from Colorado and Lee Stempniak from Toronto, giving them some more scoring punch. The most intriguing pickup may have been Matheiu Schneider, who has been in Vancouver’s minor-league system, and Schneider could had some championship experience to a young team. Schenider won the Stanley Cup with Montreal back in 1993, and the 40-year-old defenseman has played in 111 playoff games.

The trade deadline and Olympics run right into each other, and Pittsburgh are looking to shore up their team to make a run at back-to-back Stanley Cups. The Penguins made the best move of last year’s deadline, and they’re on the phone to grab another veteran winger to play alongside Sidney Crosby, fresh off his gold-medal winning goal in Vancouver.

The Penguins acquired Bill Guerin last year, and the 39-year-old notched 15 points in 24 games. This year’s target is Carolina’s Ray Whitney, the 37-year-old who is on the market due to the Hurricanes’ terrible season, and Whitney is third on the Hurricanes in points with 48, and he’s also a solid two-way player who is comfortable on the ice in any situation. Whitney scored 15 points in 24 points during Carolina’s 2006 run to the Stanley Cup, and he added 11 points in 18 playoff games last year. The Penguins have all the skill in the world in Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, who won last year’s Conn Smythe Trophy, but it was Guerin who added grit and tenacity in the corners, and his veteran leadership surely rubbed off on Crosby, who played on the same line. Whitney would look good on a line with Malkin, who hasn’t been as dynamic as he was last year, and he could need a boost after a disappointing run in Vancouver. Los Angeles are the frontrunners for Whitney’s services, but don’t be surprised to see Whitney in the Igloo (as known as Mellon Arena) after Wednesday’s deadline.

There was some further moving and shaking in projected NCAA tournament outcomes this week, however, the real fun hasn’t even started yet. The Purdue Boilermakers held off disaster on Wednesday night to win a nail-biter against Minnesota, keeping their no. 3 national ranking as well as top spot in the Big Ten after jumping usurping Duke. Boilermaker Keaton Grant hit a jumper with just 7.7 seconds left on the clock to give his team the win, after star Robbie Hummel injured his knee in the first half, and had to be helped from the court. The severity of the injury is unknown, but Purdue coach Matt Painter said Hummel would be examined again on Thursday. An extended absence - or end to the season for Hummel could prove unfortunate for the Boilermakers, but it’s unclear the extent his absence might impact Purdue in the playoffs.

In other happenings, the University of Connecticut is back in the field after a very strong week including a win over West Virginia. They are still on the bubble but based on brand name, they could get into the field of 64.

Meanwhile, Charlotte is out after dropping three in a row, and Wake Forrest falls big to an 8 seed. Memphis and Minnesota are also back in the picture after a series of strong performances. As the brackets continue to shake up and out and March draws closer, fans of sports betting are salivating at the prospect of the greatest tournament in college athletics (and of course, dominating their office pool).

Canada thought that they had already passed the hot-goaltender test after Swiss netminder Jonas Hiller stunned the Canadians on Thursday; when he held them to a shootout win. Olympic hockey betting followers know that on the re-test on Sunday night, the Canadians were foiled when Ryan Miller stood on his head for the American team, in a 5-3 win, stopping 42 of 45 shots.

Boasting some of the top scorers in the league, Canada has struggled to find the back of the net after an 8-0 bashing of Norway. Scoring just five goals in two games on 92 shots, they need to find a way to finish on their numerous chances.

Outshooting their opponents by 45-23 (USA), 47-23 (SWI), and 42-15 (NOR) it is clear that the Canadians have outplayed teams; they just have been unable to find the success that will be needed to get a medal.

The back-end has also been a real problem for Canada. Thought of as a strong area, having two great goaltenders to choose from, they have given up seven goals on 46 shots in their past two games. While two of the goals deflected in off of skates, it is still not good enough.

The one good thing about the qualifier round is it is another easy game in before heading to the quarter-finals where they will most likely meet up with an offensive juggernaut in Russia. Their next game should allow Canada to get its offence back on track as they plays Germany who have been outscored 12-3 and have two goaltenders with a combined save percentage of .844.

The San Antonio Spurs make a visit Friday to the that city famous for brotherly love, cheese steaks, and restrained, respectful sports fans.

They do have awesome cheese steaks, anyway.

Tim Duncan and the Spurs will look to continue on the winning track after winning in their first outing after the all star break by a razor thin margin against Indiana. The Spurs, victorious in three of their last four, look to turn the history books on their proverbial heads on Friday, and defeat the 76ers at home. No easy task, as San Antonio have won just twice since 1999 – losing the other seven times in nine contests.

Philadelphia, on the other hand, look to turn things back around, after dropping two following a season high five game win streak. A big win at home over a tough team like San Antonio could just give the 76ers the spark they need to get things back on track. Also, look for Allen Iverson to make an impression as he returns to the starting lineup after being out to look after his ill daughter. Iverson has proven particularly effective against the Spurs historically, averaging 28.8 points per game over 25 games.

Despite Philly’s X-factor (and their often extremely intimidating fanbase), look for San Antonio to grab just their third win since 1999 in Philadelphia. Tim Duncan will be looking to prove a point after his disastrous scoring performance on Wednesday, and, even if his scoring is still off, will be effective in other facets, holding the game 76ers at bay. Expect a relatively even contest, with the sportsbook favorite San Antonio Spurs pulling away and sealing the deal in the second half.

This year’s Super Bowl odds are focused around the two quarterbacks of the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees. Manning won the MVP race, but is he really the better quarterback?

Manning won his record fourth MVP award during the regular season, and he may have had his best season ever after a slew of changes. His favorite target, Marvin Harrison, was let go by the team, Tony Dungy left and Jim Caldwell took over as the coach, Anthony Gonzalez got hurt in the first game of the season, and the Colts haven’t got a ground game to speak of. Manning took control of the team and led them to 14 straight wins before the starters were rested, and then two more in the playoffs.

Brees finished second to Manning in the MVP race, but he was the highest-rated passer during the regular season and the Saints had the best offense in the league. Brees isn’t a physical specimen like Manning as he’s very small for an NFL quarterback, but his offensive line is great at giving Brees lanes to see downfield, and he’s as accurate as any quarterback in the NFL.

The Colts are 4.5-point favorites in this contest, and you have to give the edge to Manning, if not for anything else but his experience. Manning has been here before, leading the Colts to the Super Bowl and winning the game’s MVP award four years ago, also in Miami. Brees may struggle under the bright lights of his team’s first appearance in the Super Bowl, so we’ll be wearing the No.18 Indianapolis jersey on Sunday.

Super Bowl prop betting is one of the most exciting things about the big game, and the biggest prop may be the MVP award. This year’s favorites are no surprise as the two quarterbacks lead the way.

Indy’s Peyton Manning is the favorite at -250, and the four-time regular-season MVP also won the Super Bowl MVP when the Colts won four years ago. He beat out New Orleans’ Drew Brees for the regular-season MVP, and the Saints’ pivot is listed at +300. These are two of the most explosive offenses in the league, and Manning and Brees will be at the center of everything that happens on Sunday. Gameplans are being formulated to stop them, and tape is being watched to figure out how to get pressure on them. The difference is experience, and Manning has been here before. He also sees his chance to move up into the upper echelon of all-time quarterbacks, if he isn’t there already. Manning has more control of his offense than anyone in the NFL, and that’s not to say that Brees doesn’t have control of the Saints. But it would be a bigger difference if you took Manning away from the Colts, and he’s the reason they’ll win this game.

Super Bowl MVP pick: Peyton Manning -250

Saints vs Colts odds – Sunday, February 7, 6:20 PM ET

The Saints were the top seed in the NFC, and they’re led by Drew Brees, the top-rated passer who finished a distant second to Indy’s Peyton Manning in the NFL’s MVP race. The x-factor may be the versatile Reggie Bush (who you may know as Mr. Kim Kardashian), who was the key in a rout of Arizona two weeks ago.

The Colts have Manning, the four-time MVP who also won the Super Bowl MVP when Indy won it all four years ago. Manning has complete control of this offense, and the defense is very underrated, and they have the speed to keep up with a fast New Orleans offense.

The Colts are 5.5-point favorites in this contest, and they have yet to lose a game in which they were at 100% (their two losses late in the season came when they decided to rest their starters). The Saints showed some holes in their armor against the Vikings, and the Colts will capitalize.

NFL picks: Colts -5.5