Bruins get Horton, Campbell from Florida

Hockey Betting Lines

06/22/2010 - Sunrise, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Bruins have acquired forwards Nathan Horton and Gregory Campbell from the Florida Panthers in exchange for defenseman Dennis Wideman, the Bruins' first-round pick in 2010 and a third- round selection in 2011.

The Bruins add a consistent scorer in Horton, who has recorded at least 20 in each of the last five seasons. The right winger tallied a career best 31 in 2006-07 and wound up with 62 points in 82 games. He matched his points total again the next year with 27 goals and 35 assists over another full 82-game slate.

The 25-year-old Horton was taken third overall by the Panthers in the 2003 draft and has tallied 142 goals with 153 assists in 422 games since. He notched 20 goals and added 37 assists over 65 games this past season.

Campbell, a centerman, had two goals and 15 assists in 60 games last year. The 26-year-old had also spent his entire pro career in Florida after being selected in the third round in 2002. Campbell is just two years removed from setting career bests in goals (13) and assists (19) in 77 games.

Wideman, 27, just finished up his third full season in Boston and recorded six goals and 24 assists in 76 games with a minus-14 rating. He too set career marks in 2008-09 with 13 goals, 37 assists and a plus-32 rating over 79 games.

In 378 career games, including parts of two seasons with the Blues, Wideman has 46 goals, 119 assists and a minus-12 rating.

The Panthers will get a chance to bolster their roster in the near future with the 15th overall pick in this year's draft, which kicks off Friday from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Betosports Hockey Betting News

<< Orioles demote Tillman; designate Meredith for assignment
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Baltimore Orioles have optioned pitcher Chris Tillman back to Triple-A Norfolk and have designated pitcher Cla Meredith for assignment. Baltimore had to clear room on the 40-man roster for util

<< Rollins returns; Ruiz placed on DL
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Phillies have activated shortstop Jimmy Rollins off the 15-day disabled list and have placed catcher Carlos Ruiz on the DL. Rollins had been sidelined since May 22 with a calf strain

<< Northern Iowa adds trio of coaches
Cedar Falls, IA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - University of Northern Iowa head football coach Mark Farley has added three assistant coaches for the 2010 season. Matt Entz worked with the team during spring practices and will be the defensive line coach

<< Athletics send Fox to Baltimore
Oakland, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Oakland Athletics have traded utilityman Jake Fox to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for minor league pitcher Ross Wolf and cash considerations. Fox was designated for assignment by the Athletic

<< Quinn moves into front office, Renney named new Oilers coach
Edmonton, AB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Edmonton Oilers announced Tuesday that Pat Quinn will step down as head coach and take over as a senior hockey advisor and Tom Renney will be the team's new head coach. Quinn guided the Oilers

Coen to coach Brown quarterbacks >>
Providence, RI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brown University football coach Phil Estes announced Tuesday that he has selected former Massachusetts standout quarterback Liam Coen to be the Bears' quarterbacks coach. Coen enjoyed a successful four-year

Mine That Bird 2010 debut getting closer >>
Louisville, KY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Although no race has been confirmed, trainer D. Wayne Lukas is actively preparing 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird for the gelding's first start of the year. The four-year-old had a six- furlong

Draft takes back seat to free agency >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The annual NBA draft, the unofficial kickoff to the NBA offseason, takes place Thursday at Madison Square Garden's WaMu Theater. What happens on draft day usually molds a team's plan for the future but the

This Week in Auto Racing June 25 - 27 >>
Loudon, NH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The race to make the championship Chase in the Sprint Cup Series heats up this weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Meanwhile, Danica Patrick makes her return to the Nationwide Series at New Hampshi

Ciccarelli, Cammi Granato among 2010 Hall of Fame inductees >>
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dino Ciccarelli, Cammi Granato and Angela James were selected for induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame's class of 2010 Tuesday from among a healthy group of player candidates. Also to be honored among

Betting the NFL preseason

Rule No. 1 in the gamblers' handbook states, "Avoid sports betting on meaningless games."

When you're drowning in a sea of baseball monotony, however, things change. Even a hint of pro football betting can persuade the most disciplined bettor to break a few rules. 

The NFL preseason is around the corner, with a tempting Hall of Fame match kicking off on Sunday. But bettors must stay vigilant. Wagering on NFL exhibition games is an entirely different beast than the regular season. Most fans don't recognize the players on the field because starters get as much action in August as Warcraft fans get on Prom night.

The only certainty about the NFL this time of year is uncertainty – and yet there are some who say betting in August can be a gold mine.

“I actually feel the NFL preseason presents solid profit opportunities for sharp bettors and handicappers,” Sports Expert Steve Merril explains. “My experience has been that the sportsbooks fear the preseason, which is evident by lower limits and massive moves.”

The line moves are attributed to the limited knowledge available regarding playing-time distribution. One team’s top unit out on the field for one more series has an impact on the pointspread. Setting lines in the preseason often is a shot in the dark.

“We base the betting lines mostly on public perception,” Pete Korner, founder of the Sports Club in Las Vegas, says. “It’s very tough to predict, almost a guessing game.”

The preseason is all about figuring out who’s in and for how long.

“It becomes a race between bettors and oddsmakers to find out how long the quarterbacks are going to stay in,” Korner admits. “If a sharp gets the information first, he could exploit an early line. I’m a full believer in moving the line in the preseason if the books find out something late in the week.”

Determining what each team’s motive is can help bettors handicap. To do this you must pay close attention to the philosophies head coaches employ in exhibition play.

“You need to know what a coach is trying to accomplish,” says Covers Expert Bryan Leonard. “Sometimes a new coach will want to instill a winning attitude. Others just want to make sure their starters don’t get hurt."

So how do you distinguish who’s playing scared and who’s playing for keeps?

“Head coaches on the hot seat or new coaches trying to implement a winning attitude usually try harder to win in the preseason,” Merril says.

Cleveland Browns head coach Romeo Crennel fits this criteria. He’s entering his third season as the sideline boss and has yet to lead the Browns to more than six wins.

Cleveland is an enticing bet as well because of the unresolved quarterback situation. General manager Phil Savage sacrificed the Browns’ first-round pick in next year’s draft for Brady Quinn, but the former Notre Dame quarterback hasn’t signed or reported to training camp yet.

Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson split time at QB last season and it looks like either player (or even Quinn) could be the opening-day starter.

“If a team has quarterback depth and the pecking order hasn’t been decided, it’s a big advantage,” Leonard says.

Even in the third week of the preseason when starters generally play the most, the final outcome of the game is in the hands of fringe players. A team's talent, all the way down to the last man on the roster, is something to consider.

The New England Patriots have long been considered one of the deeper teams in the NFL and coach Bill Belichick has said in the past he’s unafraid of stars getting hurt in games with nothing on the line. He shocked his colleagues in 2003 by playing some of his starters on special teams in the preseason.

“We want to have the team ready to play a tough, physical game and preparation has to go into that and I imagine a certain amount of injuries go with it,” Belichick told the Providence Journal in August 2003.

Bettors can only hope to find more teams that share the Pats' business-like approach to the preseason (New England is 17-9-3 against the spread since 2000) and take advantage of teams who detest the exhibition schedule.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on football needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.

American Idol odds : Blake Lewis the Early Standout

An important American Idol betting lines recap from February 20 Guys episode. The 12 men came out flat overall with Blake Lewis appearing to have the early edge after the first hour and a half.

Rudy - was quite good singing "Free Ride" to start off.  Randy was not impressed though.  Paula thought he started off fantastic.  "Never had anyone stop off so lively" said Paula but Simon (who does not like Rudy) does not feel he has a distinct voice and was not impressed either. 

Brandon was a little pitchy according to Randy and Paula agreed.  Simon said he was a good singer but the song was "too safe" and he needs to make an impact.  He was listed at +1200 odds or $1200 paid out on a $100 bet should he win the competition. 

Big favorite Sundance came in with a flat version of "Knights in White Satin" and the judges let him have it, including Paula.  Randy claimed the song was out of pitch throughout.

Korean American - and a Jenny Woo favorite - Paul Kim was up next.  Another pitchy flat one but Randy said he still liked his potential.  Kim at +3000 odds was said to have sung a "third rate version of that (George Michael) song" according to Simon Cowell.  He sang "Careless Whisper".

22 year old Chris Richardson was up next.  He was listed with +1100 odds coming in.  He got the best response from the judges though Simon did not believe the vocal was that great. 

Nick was boring and pitchy.  Simon didn't think he was that bad though and predicted he would be back next week.  Nick Pedro was a big +3000 dog coming into this competition. 

Beat boxer Blake Lewis was listed with early +1000 odds or $1000 payout on a $100 bet if he were to become the next American Idol winner odds .  These of course were the early odds.  He was considered original for picking an "odd song".  He did not beat box and the judges felt it was the best vocal of the night. 

Sanjaya came in as the second biggest favorite after Chris Sligh but his performance Tuesday night was not very good. 

Chris Sleigh was the early favorite at +450 odds.  Great voice and a great sense of humor.  He's a real standout.  Randy felt it was on point but maybe ahead of the chorus a little bit.  Simon Cowell said he felt like he was in some "sort of weird student gig". 

Jared Cotter followed.  He was listed with +2000 odds early on to win the competition.  The judges felt he needs to take more risks but looked good. 

22-year old AJ Talbado, who has tried out for American Idol five times, was up next.  "Kind of a theme park performance" said Simon.  Though the judges felt he performed okay.  Simon did feel AJ might be better than he originally thought.

Phil - this season's military favorite - came into this competition with +1200 odds to win the competition.  He was the last to perform.  He was certainly strong enough to get through this stage of the competition and perhaps the best one after a shaky start. 

Tomorrow night, the ladies perform and I sure hope they do a better job than the boys.  Check out all the American Idol betting odds here.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.