Bulls try to inch closer to final playoff spot against Celtics

Basketball Betting Lines

04/13/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A win over Toronto north of the border this past weekend ensured that the Chicago Bulls would control their own destiny for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Bulls now must close the NBA season with two wins in two nights to guarantee a trip to the postseason starting tonight when Vinny Del Negro's club welcomes the playoff-bound Boston Celtics to the Windy City.

Derrick Rose dropped in a game-high 26 points and handed out seven assists on Sunday, leading the Bulls to a thorough 104-88 drubbing of the Raptors. Joakim Noah scored 18 points to go with 19 rebounds, while Luol Deng added 14 and seven for Chicago.

"We control our own destiny. We've got two more to go," Noah said.

At the time, the lopsided win gave the Bulls a one-game lead over Toronto for the No. 8 seed, though the Raptors hold the tiebreaker by winning the season series, 2-1. Toronto tightened things even further by bouncing back and defeating the Detroit Pistons on Monday, climbing to within one-half game of the Bulls.

Chicago, which closes the regular season in Charlotte on Wednesday, could also make the playoffs by winning one of its final two games and hoping the Raptors lose to the New York Knicks in Toronto during their regular season finale on Wednesday.

The Celtics, meanwhile, are relegated to the No. 4 seed in the East after Atlanta secured the third spot by topping Milwaukee on Monday night. Boston will face either Miami or the Bucks in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.

The Heat have moved a game ahead of the Bucks for fifth spot, but Milwaukee could still catch the Heat since they won the season series between the two teams. The Heat conclude their season at home against New Jersey on Wednesday, while the Bucks play at Boston the same night.

In their most recent affair, the Celtics crushed the Bucks, 105-90, in Milwaukee on Saturday. Paul Pierce had 24 points to lead Boston in that one.

Ray Allen sank 11-of-11 free throws and ended with 21 points, while Rajon Rondo added 15 points and 10 assists as Boston rebounded from Friday's home loss to Washington. Star forward Kevin Garnett was given the night off to rest.

"The only way you're going to beat Milwaukee is matching their energy, because they're going to bring it," said Boston head coach Doc Rivers. "And if you don't match it, they'll beat you."

The Celtics beat Chicago in seven games during last year's opening round of the playoffs in an epic series that included seven overtimes. The Bulls forced the deciding Game 7 with a 128-127 triple-overtime thriller at the United Center, but Boston bounced back to clinch the series in Beantown.

This season the Celtics have taken two of three from Chicago.

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Mens NCAA Basketball Tournament odds  
As of February 9, MySportsbook.com has released its coveted 2007 Mens NCAA Basketball Tournament betting odds. “March Madness betting ” only a month away, the top ranked Florida Gators are favorite at 7-2 to win it all. The defending champs have not disappointed at all this season and currently have a 22-2 record and are undefeated (9-0) in SEC play. The Gators’ thrive off of their extremely balanced, experienced and versatile attack. All five starters started in last seasons National Championship game. What is most impressive with this group is their balance; the five starters all average between 10.7 and 13.6 PPG. The Gators have been on an absolute roll having won 15 straight by an average of 16.4 PPG.

Right behind the Gators are the 5th ranked UNC Tar Heels at 9-2. The Heels (21-3, 7-2) are absolutely loaded with top notch talent and are as deep as any team in the country. A concern for the Tar Heels might be inexperience. Of their top four scorers/ minute earners, three are freshmen and the other is a sophomore. The rest of the regular season, the Tar Heels play only one team that is currently ranked (Duke). Their remaining opponents do combine for an impressive 107-58 record though.

Other teams that the MySportsbook.com members seem to believe will win it all include the west coasts’ top team #2 UCLA (6-1), #3 OSU behind man-child Greg Oden (8-1), and #4 Wisconsin (10-1) behind their defense which has given up 70+ points only three times all season.

Below is a list of some of the favorites to win the 2007 Men’s NCAA Basketball Championship lines. For the full list of teams and March Madness odds be sure to log onto MySportsbook.com. If you want to use your credit card to bet on college hoops or any other event, MySportsbook.com has the highest credit card acceptance rate in the industry.

Arizona 20-1

Butler 20-1

Duke 30-1

Florida 7-2

Georgetown 30-1

Indiana 35-1

Kansas 15-1

Marquette 25-1

Maryland 40-1

Memphis 50-1

Nevada 50-1

UNC 9-2

OSU 8-1

Oregon 30-1

Pittsburgh 15-1

Texas 30-1

Texas A&M 18-1

UCLA 6-1

Wisconsin 10-1

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook betting needs.

SPORTS BETTING

NFL Football Betting Online

In terms of sports wagering, the NFL is "the most popular game in town." The explanation behind that is easy.

It is called the "pointspread."

Many years ago, NFL games, as well as the more popular college games, used straight odds as a vehicle for betting. For example, if the Bears were playing the Giants, and it shaped up as a competitive contest, the Bears might be, say, a 7/5 favorite. If they were playing an also-ran, it might be 10/1. Well, there is a point where a line becomes prohibitive, as far as betting the favorite. And who would waste money betting an underdog that has virtually no chance? Such a setup did not contribute to promoting betting action.

But in modern sports betting, a "pointspread" is used.

A NFL pointspreads are exactly that, a pre-established point difference between the two sides that will, for all intents and purposes, create a handicap that evens things out, and in doing so, produces comparable wagering activity on both sides of that proposition. So in lieu of a odds figure in which to bet the team to win outright, the Bears might be a three-point favorite over the New York Giants, and a 17-point favorite over the also-ran. Now that the team that is the underdog can "get" points, there can be equal action on both sides.

In sportsbooks, this is usually done with efficiency by charging the losing bettors 10% extra - in effect, bettors are laying 11/10 on those games. So they are actually betting $110 to win $100. If they lose, they pay the "vig." If they win, they simply collect.

The establishment of the pointspread as the corner stone around which team sports like football can be wagered upon was truly what brought gridiron betting into the stratosphere for online football betting .

Don't believe it? Just take a look at what happens around the Super Bowl.

Stay with us here as we take you through the best in NFL action on a consistent basis, with advice columns as well as handicapping selections. If you're looking for college football betting, that's in our NCAA section, which you can reach by clicking here. And if you're looking for a different kind of football, such as the Canadian Football League, which we'll deal with occasionally, or the Arena Football League, which we really like, you can find it in our Miscellaneous section by clicking

Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting odds .
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook betting credit cards