Magic try to rebound against Hornets
Basketball Betting Lines
01/27/2012 -
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - For three quarters last night it appeared the Orlando Magic
had erased all the memories of their worst shooting performance in franchise
history in a rematch with the Boston Celtics.
But a lousy final period sent the Magic back into the loss column, where they
have been three times in the last five games. Orlando hopes its recent trend
of alternating wins and losses goes back into its favor Friday in the Big
Easy against the New Orleans Hornets.
The Magic set new franchise lows for fewest points scored in a game, in a half
and lowest field goal percentage in a game in an 87-56 loss at Boston on
Monday. Orlando shot a franchise-low 24.6 percent from the floor, going just
16-of-65, and committed a season-high 25 turnovers. It then rebounded the
following evening with a 102-83 win at Indiana.
Boston was on the docket again Thursday in central Florida and the Magic
suffered a 91-83 setback. They did a little better shooting with a 38-percent
clip but were done in by a 27-8 margin in the fourth stanza. Dwight Howard had
16 points and 16 rebounds, while Ryan Anderson and Jameer Nelson scored 12 and
11 points, respectively, for Orlando, which has alternated wins and losses
over its last six games.
"We got frustrated with the physical play ... and got totally out of our
game," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said after his team blew a 21-point halftime
lead.
Howard notched his 14th double-double of the season in defeat. The Magic are
6-3 on the road this season and one game off the lead in the Southeast
Division.
New Orleans is mired in a season-high nine-game losing streak and has dropped
15 of 16 games since opening the compressed 2011-12 season with two straight
wins. It is trying to avoid losing 10 in a row for the first time since Dec.
17, 2004-Jan. 7, 2005.
The Hornets will play two straight and three of their next four games at home,
where they have dropped nine in a row and are 1-9 on the season. In a 101-91
loss at Oklahoma City on Wednesday, Jarrett Jack ended with 20 points and five
assists for the Hornets, who are last in the Southwest Division.
"The first half they scored 60 points and the second half they scored 41. We
just had the tale of two halves -- the turnovers just hurt us in the second
half," said Hornets coach Monty Williams. "They take advantage of it when you
turn it over and they run right down your chest."
Gustavo Ayon had 16 points and Carl Landry added 15 points for New Orleans,
which shot 46.7 percent for the game.
New Orleans swept a home-and-home set with the Magic a season ago and has won
three straight and four of the last five meetings. Orlando is winless in its
last three games as the visitor in this series and is 31-36 all-time against
the Hornets.
<< Wizards try to pick up road victory in Houston
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Washington Wizards have had trouble the past two
seasons playing well on the road and look to avoid an 0-8 start as the guest
tonight against the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center.
The Wizards will play two straight
<< Hawks resume road trip in Detroit
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Atlanta Hawks hope to bounce back from a miserable
showing their last time out tonight when they continue a five-game road trip
against the Detroit Pistons at the Palace in Auburn Hills.
Atlanta seemed lost at times on
<< Villanova promotes Crocker to defensive coordinator
Villanova, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Villanova head football coach Andy Talley
announced Friday the promotion of Billy Crocker from linebackers coach to
defensive coordinator.
Talley also announced the hiring of Roc Bellantoni as defensive line
<< Tiger two behind Olesen in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tiger Woods posted a three-
under 69 Friday to move within two strokes of the lead after two rounds of the
Abu Dhabi Championship.
Woods, who is playing this event for the first time, had f
<< Djokovic rallies past Murray to reach Aussie Open final
Melbourne, Australia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Novak Djokovic will play for a second
straight Australian Open title after rallying for a thrilling five-set
semifinal win over Andy Murray in a rematch of last year's final.
Djokovic blitzed Murray in
Improved Pacers try to pass another test in Boston >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Indiana Pacers try to follow up their biggest win of
the season tonight when they head to Boston to face the Celtics at TD Garden.
Indiana picked up a big win over the Eastern Conference-leading Chicago Bulls
on Wednes
Thunder, Warriors collide in Oakland >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Western Conference-leading Thunder will kick off a
three-game road trip tonight when they visit Oakland to take on the Golden
State Warriors.
The Thunder (15-3) won their third straight game and for the 11th
Blazers welcome Suns to Rip City >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Blazers haven't been much of a threat away from Rip
City this season but things have been far different when they are hitting the
hardwood in the Pacific Northwest.
Portland will shoot for its sixth straight win a
Nuggets aim to stay hot vs. Raptors >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The streaking Denver Nuggets aim for a sixth straight win
tonight when they host a Toronto team that expects to be without leading
scorer Andrea Bargnani.
The Nuggets are fresh off a brilliant 5-0 road trip tha
Mavs hope to rebound with Jazz in town >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Celebrations don't seem to be agreeing with the Dallas
Mavericks and the reigning NBA champs are probably glad they can put the
ceremonies in the rearview mirror as they get ready to host the Utah Jazz.
The Mav
Super Bowl 2009 Betting propositions
Underdog bettors love the Super Bowl and, history suggests, the underdogs love them back. And the big dogs bite harder.
Even so, there is a warning in store for Super Bowl gamblers who must love dogs: The Arizona Cardinals Super Bowl betting lines might not be enough of a Cinderella to make it worth your while.
Although the Cardinals were widely panned as one of the worst division winners and least playoff-worthy teams in recent memory, their trip to Super Bowl XLIII Jan. 31 in Tampa against the Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl betting lines comes with a little more respect from the oddsmakers than you might imagine. They are a 7-point underdog at most sports books.
If you count yourself among those who covet the big dog in the big game, this isn’t exactly great news. You should have been hoping for more points. This is because the facts show that the bigger the dog, the better the bet in the Super Bowl.
Case in point: Over the past 13 seasons, double-figure underdogs in the Super Bowl are 4-0-1 ATS and have won the past three outright. In fact, the last double-digit chalk to do the deed for bettors was the 1995 San Francisco 49ers, who managed to beat the astounding 19-point spot afforded backers of the San Diego Chargers in the 49-26 romp in Super Bowl XXIX.
By contrast, 7-point favorites are 2-1-1 ATS in the same span, the last such contest resulting a cover grinded out by the Colts in their 29-17 win over the Bears two seasons ago in Super Bowl XLI.
In 2004, the Patriots failed to cover the number in their 32-29 triumph over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl props while the Rams and Titans gave everyone a refund in 2000 after the Rams posted a 23-16 win as a seven-point favorite.
So while Arizona’s run has included impressive upsets as a 10-point road underdog to the Carolina Panthers and Sunday’s 32-25 win in the NFC championship game to the 4-point favored Philadelphia Eagles, their long-shot story lacks a bit of the David vs. Goliath storyline of past Super Bowl underdogs.
While the seven-point spread represents a significant gap in the perception of strength between the two teams, it is far from monumental. For example, last season the Giants were the wild-card afterthought turned road-warrior buzzsaw, with stunning wins over the Buccaneers, Cowboys and Packers to earn their place in the Super Bowl.
There, they played spoiler to New England’s bid to become the first 19-0 team in NFL history and cemented their place in sports betting lore with a 17-14 win as a 12.5-point underdog.
In other words, the Cardinals appear to have their work cut out for them as a mid-range underdog. But in homage to the spread beaters who have come before them, here is a brief look back at recent colossal upsets in the Super Bowl:
SB XLII -- 2008 -- New York Giants 17, New England Patriots 14 (Giants +12.5) – Eli Manning’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress in the final minute clinched the historic upset for the Giants, who used a masterful defensive plan to slow down Tom Brady and the previously undefeated New England Patriots.
XXXVI -- 2002 -- Patriots 20, Rams 17 (Patriots +14) – This was the coming out party for the aforementioned Brady, who went from obscure sixth-round draft pick to Super Bowl hero in one fell swoop. He led the game-winning drive in the final minute – eschewing analyst John Madden’s advice to take a knee and play for overtime – leading to Adam Vinatieri’s memorable 48-yard field goal that split the uprights as time expired.
XXXII 1998 Broncos 31, Packers 24 (Denver +12) – The first of John Elway’s two consecutive Super Bowl titles to put an end to his Hall of Fame career was an upset for the ages. The Broncos used the determination of Elway and a 157-yard, three-touchdown performance from Terrell Davis to turn back Brett Favre and the heavily favored Packers.
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