NHL: Five burning Central Division questions
Hockey Betting Lines
08/30/2010 -
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With training camps opening Sept. 12,
there is no better time than the present to begin asking the single-most
important question for each of the 30 NHL teams.
The first of six installments begins in the Western Conference, with the
Central Division. Let's jump right into the fray with quite possibly the number
one question of the entire league: Can Marty Turco effectively replace Antti
Niemi and lead the Blackhawks back to the Stanley Cup Finals?
Turco comes to Chicago on the cheap after spending nine seasons in Dallas. The
Ontario native has seen his skills decline in recent years to the point where
he is not even considered one of the elite goaltenders in the league. In fact,
one could argue the change in style of play since the lockout has highlighted
his gargantuan failures.
Prior to 2005, Turco's career goals-against average stood at 1.91. Since then,
it is more than one half-goal higher at 2.53. In addition, his overall save
percentage has dropped dramatically since the lockout, from .922 down to .905.
It is true the defense in front of him this season will be a thousand times
better than the one that skated in Dallas, but that fact was lost on Cristobal
Huet, who came into Chicago with a career .918 save percentage and couldn't
hold down the number-one spot in either of his two seasons as a Hawk.
It is also interesting to note that Kari Lehtonen recorded a 2.81 GAA and a
.911 save percentage for Dallas after playing in only four minor league games
the entire year. Meanwhile, Turco's 2.72 and .913 numbers were extremely
similar even though he was healthy for most of the season, save for missing
three games with the flu.
The Blackhawks, forced to cut ties with Niemi due to salary cap restrictions,
could find themselves in a similar situation as last year if Turco struggles,
so do not be shocked if backup Corey Crawford winds up leading the reigning
champions back into the playoffs.
CAN JIMMY HOWARD DUPLICATE HIS 2009-10 CAMPAIGN?
Detroit is poised to bring the Stanley Cup back to Hockeytown after a two-year
drought. All the pieces are in place offensively as well as defensively.
However, one area must remain strong, and that's between the pipes.
Jimmy Howard was spectacular during the regular season, allowing four goals or
more just 11 times in 63 games. Unfortunately, the 26-year-old could not find
his groove in the playoffs, giving up four or more six times in only 12 starts.
With Chris Osgood as his backup, Howard will once again get the bulk of the
starts to prove his first full season (37 wins, 2.26 GAA, .924 save percentage)
was not a fluke. His development will decide Detroit's fate once the postseason
begins.
WILL NASHVILLE IMPROVE ENOUGH DEFENSIVELY?
Dan Hamhuis was a major contributor to the Predators defense for six solid
seasons. The defenseman will now ply his trade with the Vancouver Canucks after
signing a six-year deal this past July 1.
Nashville relied heavily on its top four defensemen more so than any other team
in the league, as all four ranked in the top 50 players in terms of even-
strength minutes. The loss of Hamhuis could have a ripple effect on the rest of
the unit, particularly since only Ryan Parent was brought in as a replacement.
Furthermore, restricted free agent Cody Franson remains unsigned. If the
second-year defenseman and the team fail to reach an agreement on a new deal,
it could be a long season for the Predators.
CAN THE BLUES REJUVENATE THEIR OFFENSE?
Contrary to popular opinion, the Blues' season will not revolve around newcomer
Jaroslav Halak. The goaltender that lifted the Canadiens to the Eastern
Conference Finals should have little problems adapting to the new conference
considering he holds a 12-4 lifetime record against the West.
The main question concerning St. Louis comes from an offense that struggled to
find the back of the net. Only four Western Conference teams scored fewer goals
than the Blues and all four failed to make the postseason.
Not only did the forwards combine for just 192 goals, but nine of the top 12
produced a lower goals-per-game mark than the year before. Moreover, Brad Boyes
and David Backes could not even reach half of their 67 goal total from 2008-09,
picking up only 31 goals a season ago.
One problem is the lack of a true puck-carrying defenseman outside of Erik
Johnson. If Alex Pietrangelo is ready for full-time duty with the big club, his
passing skills will help open up the ice for the young forwards in their quest
for more offense.
WILL COLUMBUS IMPROVE ON THE ROAD?
Only one team won fewer road games than the Blue Jackets last season and that
was the Edmonton Oilers, who wound up with the worst record in the entire
league. Columbus finished the year 12-23-6 away from home, with an abysmal
6-19-5 mark over its final 30 games. The Jackets scored four goals or more just
four times over that span after reaching the total six times in their first 11.
Two seasons ago, Columbus reached the playoffs for the first time in team
history partly due to its 16-18-7 road mark - the club's finest winning
percentage away from home. If the Blue Jackets cannot improve their play on the
road, expect another season without a trip to the playoffs.
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American Idol Betting Season 6 Strategies
It's that time of year folks. Betting on American Idol Season 9. And we have plenty of American Idol Season 6 strategies appearing below. With the Top 24 finalists revealed, online gambling sites will be offering betting odds on each of them, including MySportsbook.com.
No other “event” has been growing as fast as wagering on American Idol. It has turned into a huge betting event with reasonably high limits and all sorts of profit-making potential for sharp bettors. Last year, MySportsbook.com experienced unprecedented traffic as a result of the American Idol betting craze.
Every week there will be odds to win American Idol, various elimination props and contestant versus contestant match-ups at the MySportsbook.com website.
Whether a fan of America’s top-rated show or watching only because of a wife or girlfriend, here are some of basic strategies to use when betting American Idol.
Odds to Win
There are a few things to consider when looking for the right win bet. First off, remember that this bet is for the long haul. Many people make the mistake of picking the performer who sang the best the previous week. This strategy leads to an underlay situation – betting a price, which is less than what it should be.
All Idol contestants struggle at some point in the competition, so you should always look for value. In last year’s competition alone, two performers who had some of the best performances early in the series were subsequently bet down to low prices - Lisa Tucker and Ace Young. After just a few weeks, Tucker had already been eliminated, while Young quickly became a huge long shot to win America’s largest talent search.
A better strategy is to look for performers who don’t necessarily get the praise from the judges, but show flashes of the talent necessary to go the distance.
Another important thing to remember when betting any contestant to win is the demographic breakdown of the voters, the viewing public and potential future CD purchasers. Unlike sporting events, American Idol is not decided on the field of play – it’s decided by the American public under the guiding influence of the shows producers.
Understand that the great state of Alabama has a mighty edge when it comes to American Idol.
Therefore, to be successful betting on American Idol, put any personal opinions or prejudices aside and think like the majority of the voting public. Remember that the typical voter is young, female and quite often, Southern.
If a contestant cannot appeal to this demographic, no matter how much talent he or she possesses, they’ll struggle for votes. Looks, demeanor and charisma are extremely important. And it’s no coincidence that every Idol winner so far has hailed from a Southern state.
Elimination Props
Every week MySportsbook.com anticipates offering a prop on who’ll be eliminated from the show each Wednesday night. A suggestion to handicap this is to gauge an overall feel for who’s the least popular contestant left in the competition. Generally the least popular performers have recently appeared in the bottom three and will have been the target of repeated criticism from the judges.
Last year, resources included dialidol.com and votefortheworst.com. Dialidol.com measures the volume of each contestant’s voting line. While by no means a perfect science, it does give a good indication of who is generating votes and who isn’t. Meanwhile, votefortheworst.com is a site that attempts to build support for the worst competitor to keep them in the competition for ‘entertainment’ value. The site has a proven track record of keeping performers around who most feel should have been voted off a long time ago.
Contestant vs. Contestant Match-ups
The best strategy for doing well on match-ups is to assess how close either of the contestants is to being eliminated. If neither is expected to be voted off of the show in the coming weeks, the value is almost always on the underdog. If both are expecting an imminent exit in the near future, the favorite in the match-up might offer value.
Watch for American Idol betting odds on each of the contestants shortly and good luck with these American Idol betting strategies.
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Bonds nearly hits HR 751, SF wins
4 and drove in
a pair of runs, and Barry Bonds nearly hit homer No. 751 as San Francisco beat
1, in the middle contest of three at AT&T Park.
6) allowed five hits and one run over 6 2/3 innings, fanning
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Bonds, who came within five homers of Hank Aaron's record on Friday, went
1 with three walks, an RBI double and scored twice. The double ...
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