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Blazers seek fifth straight win with matchup vs. WizardsBasketball Betting Lines03/19/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Portland Trail Blazers continue their push to the postseason Friday when they welcome the woeful Washington Wizards to the Rose Garden. The Blazers won their fourth straight game last Sunday against Toronto when Nicolas Batum made 5-of-6 from three-point land, en route to 22 points, leading Portland to a 109-98 win over the Raptors. LaMarcus Aldridge also provided 22 points to go with 12 rebounds and Brandon Roy scored 20 for the Trail Blazers, who have won seven of eight overall and are 3-0 on their current four-game homestand. Andre Miller had another solid all-around game with 13 points, seven rebounds and five assists for the victors. "I think we're just finding our rhythm," Aldridge said. "We've had the same guys in the lineup for a few games. Now we're getting used to having guys in the lineup." Portland currently holds the eighth and final playoff spot in the jumbled Western Conference but is a comfortable 4 1/2 games ahead of ninth-place Houston and just 1 1/2 behind No. 5 Oklahoma City. The Wizards, meanwhile, lost their ninth straight game and fell to 0-2 on a four-game road trip Tuesday in Denver when Carmelo Anthony scored 29 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, as the Nuggets battled back to upend Washington, 97-87. Despite spraining his left ankle, Andray Blatche paced Washington with 23 points and eight boards for the Wizards, who are a miserable 9-23 on the road. Al Thornton scored 16 points, but fouled out in defeat, while Alonzo Gee added career highs of 13 points and 10 boards for the struggling Wizards. "We have to stay positive and try to get the next win," Blatche said. Blatche, who is averaging 24.4 points in 16 games since becoming the focus of the team after Antawn Jamison was traded to Cleveland, will be a game-time decision tonight. The Blazers have won four straight over Washington at the Rose Garden, but came up on the short end of a 97-92 score against the Wizards in the nation's capital back in January. However, both Roy and Batum missed that game with injuries.
<< Jazz, Suns jockey for playoff position at Phoenix
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of Western Conference contenders jockey for playoff position in the desert Friday when the Phoenix Suns play host to the Utah Jazz. Utah is currently the fourth seed in the West, two games ahead of the Suns
<< Wofford and Wisconsin square off in first round of NCAA Tournament
<< Spartans square off with Aggies in Midwest Region's first round
<< Buckeyes battle Gauchos in first-round action in Milwaukee
<< Utah State and Texas A&M meet in South Regional action
Lakers aim to continue mastery of Timberwolves >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Best meets worst in the Western Conference Friday as the defending NBA champion Los Angles Lakers aim for their 10th straight win over the hapless Minnesota Timberwolves. The Lakers won their fourth straight game o
Bucks try to get back on track in Sacramento >>
Roberts out at St. John's >>
Wild aim to get back on track versus Blue Jackets >>
Flames resume postseason push against struggling Sharks >>
COLLEGE FOOTBALL BETTINGNCAA Football BettingMany fans thought it was the best side in the nation by the end of last season. This year, the polls have built on Georgia's momentum and granted it the No. 1 preseason ranking, followed by Ohio State and USC. (The Associated Press has the Buckeyes at No. 2; USA Today took the Trojans.) "To have people believing we have one of the best teams in the nation going into this thing, it's exciting for us," Bulldogs coach Mark Richt told the AP. "I don't think anything is guaranteed, but we certainly have put ourselves in position where at least the college football world thinks we're pretty good." Georgia Bulldogs - 9.5 wins There's no question they're good, but the Bulldogs have one of the toughest 12-game schedules in the nation, mostly because they play in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference. Away games at No. 15 Arizona State, No. 7 LSU and No. 10 Auburn loom large, with contests between the hedges versus No. 24 Alabama and No. 18 Tennessee as well as the World's Largest Cocktail Party in Jacksonville versus No.5 Florida. Ohio State Buckeyes - 10 wins Like the Bulldogs, the Buckeyes also have a number of tough road contests in 2008. After two scrimmages dressed up as real games versus Youngstown State and Ohio, it's off to face USC. Other tough away games include No.13 Wisconsin in October and No. 20 Illinois in November. Granted, it should be pretty easy sledding at the Horseshoe. In fact, the only ranked team that travels to Columbus is No. 22 Penn State, in October. USC Trojans - 10.5 wins A similarly light schedule awaits the Trojans of Southern California, which is why the oddsmakers' total is one win more and the over is currently commanding -150 odds. Pete Carroll's troops only play three ranked teams in 2008, and all of those games are at home. After what should be an easy trip to Virginia to start things off on Aug. 30, the Trojans get two weeks to prepare for Ohio State in Los Angeles. Their two other ranked opponents, No. 21 Oregon and No. 15 Arizona State, visit in consecutive weeks to start the month of October. After that, the competition eases up. Of course, this is the same highly-touted school that lost to Stanford in 2007 and Oregon State in 2006. And don't discount the fact that USC plays its biggest rivals, Notre Dame and UCLA, back-to-back to close out the regular season. On paper, the Trojans are far superior, but motivation will be high for the Irish and Bruins, especially if their historic foes are in national-title contention. Odds to Win the Heisman Trophy Tim Tebow, Florida - 7/2 "There has never been anyone quite like him," Meyer told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I am very lucky to be his coach." Chris Wells, Ohio State - 5/1 The man they call "Beanie" was a star recruit out of high school, so it's not like nobody knew who the star tailback was before he rushed for 576 yards as a freshman in 2006 and 1,609 as a sophomore. But perhaps his finest moment came last year versus Michigan when he rumbled for 222 yards and two touchdowns in the Buckeyes' 14-3 victory over the hated Wolverines. Knowshon Moreno, Georgia - 8/1 If the Bulldogs are to live up to expectations, they'll need a huge effort from their sophomore running back. This might be the last year of college ball for Moreno, who rushed for 1,334 yards and for 14 touchdowns as a freshman, while adding 253 receiving yards on 20 receptions, so expect big things for the man from Belford, N.J. Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting lines . |
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