Bruins aim for first win in St. Louis since 1995

Hockey Betting Lines

12/21/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Bruins are one of the top home teams in the NHL this year but will close out 2008 on a five-game road trip. They begin that swing this evening in St. Louis, where they take on the Blues at Scottrade Center.

St. Louis wouldn't be Boston's first choice to start a lengthy swing, as it hasn't won there since the 1995 season, having dropped seven in a row (0-2-5) since a 7-4 victory on October 17 of that year.

The Bruins have also lost seven straight overall versus the Blues, with their last win in the series coming at home on January 30, 2001. St. Louis is 12-1 with a pair of ties in its last 15 versus the Bruins.

Boston knocked off Carolina, 4-2, on Saturday night for its fourth straight win overall and ninth in the last 10 games. It was also the Bruins' 13th straight victory at home, where they are 13-1-1 this season. It is their longest winning run as the host since a 16-game burst during the 1975-76 season.

The club is also a solid 10-4-3 as the road team, having won three of their last four games as the visitor. Boston will also visit New Jersey, Carolina, Atlanta and Pittsburgh on the swing and won't return home until New Year's Day.

David Krejci and Shawn Thornton scored third-period goals to lift the Bruins over the Hurricanes at TD Banknorth Garden. Marc Savard also scored and Stephane Yelle added an empty-net goal, while Manny Fernandez stopped 32 shots in the victory, which gave the Bruins an Eastern Conference-best 50 points on the season.

Phil Kessel had a goal waived off due to a high stick, but managed an assist to extend his points streak to an NHL-best 17 games. He has 14 goals and 12 assists on the streak, which ties Ray Bourque for the fifth-longest in team history and is the longest for the Bruins since Adam Oates' 20-game streak in 1997.

However, after again placing Marco Strum on injured reserve due to a lower- body injury Saturday, Patrick Bergeron left the game in the second period due to head injury following an open-ice collision. Bergeron, who has four goals and 14 assists in 31 games this year, missed all but 10 games a season ago due to a head injury.

Sparked by the return of Manny Legace, the Blues avoided matching their longest losing streak of the season with a 4-2 win versus Minnesota. Returning from a four-game absence due to a concussion, Legace halted 24 shots in the victory.

Roman Polak registered a goal -- his first in the NHL -- and an assist, while Patrik Berglund and David Backes also scored for the Blues, who halted a five- game skid. Jay McClement scored an empty-net marker in the waning seconds to seal the win.

St. Louis fell one loss shy of matching a six-game skid from October 30- November 12 and will aim for back-to-back wins for the first time since December 6-8.

The Blues have now three of their last four at home and are 8-6-2 as the host this year. Following a visit to Detroit on Tuesday, St. Louis will close out 2008 with a three-game homestand.

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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

American Idol Betting Odds: Season 6  

The online gambling websites are in the process of deciphering each American Idol contestant and his or her chances of winning Season 6 to come up with the early American Idol betting lines.

Tim Dalton of MySportsbook.com has been locked away in a soundproof room coming up with all the latest tallies, we are told. "American Idol has become one of the most significant betting events of the year," claims Jack Black of MySportsbook.com.  "Last year, millions were bet during the season across the globe, not just in America.

It's tough early on since we really do not have a glimpse as to how well each of these individuals will perform solo on a week-to-week basis.  It's like Week 1 of the NFL.  Pre-season means nada!

We do know the 24 finalists however.

Sanjaya Malakar is the young man whose sister failed to make it into the Top 24.  He's very low key but - unless he totally flubs - will probably win over the young girlie vote for a few weeks anyway.  He's too young to go all the way, according to Payton O'Brien. 

Brandon Rogers - Who?

Phil Stacy is the military guy who missed his daughter's birth because of the Memphis audition.  He should go a good distance.

Chris Sligh - He's got the humor and in many ways he's the Anti-American Idol much like last year's winner Taylor Hicks was.  And this is why he'll probably get pretty far in this competition.  He's chubby, white with a big curly afro....but more importantly, a great voice!  People love "real", not "real cute" to go all the way. 

"Blake Lewis should go far because of his uniqueness and looks.  He's the boy next store with a twist - he beat boxes.  But on top of this, he's a great singer, and I adore him," Payton O'Brien relayed.

A talented beat-boxer Blake Lewis was a hit during the group sing in Hollywood but Simon explained that this is a singing contest just before he told him he was “in.”

Paul Kim has caught our own roving reporter, Jenny Woo's eyes. 

"I love the fact that there is a Korean American on the show and he is bound to get more Asians tuning into the show," Woo said from her Miami Beach estate.  "There has never been a major presence of Asian-Americans on American Idol in the past.  He's a hottie with a nice voice so that should help to take him far.  Expect heavy betting action from the Asian community."

Sundance Head - He's not perfect, but he's got the personality that will take him through a few weeks, plus he's got the lineage (son of Roy Head - whose 1965 single, "Treat Her Right," hit No. 5 in the charts) 

And the others:

Rudy Cardinas
AJ Tabaldo - the 5th time is the charm
Nicolas Pedro
Chris Richardson
Jared Cotter

The girls

"Melinda Doolittle has one of the best voices," says MySportsbook.com Reporter and an acclaimed dancer in her own right, Destiney Lewis.  "It is great to see a back up singer step out like she has.  The girl needs to gain more confidence but that can also be a positive.  I think she will go far."

Alena Alexander - Those tears (she never seems to stop bawling) should get her far.

"Single mom Lakisha Jones I suspect will be a pretty big favorite entering Week 1 of the competition," says Destiny Williams.  Jones is an excellent singer and down to earth.  "She'll have a wide appeal," echoed O'Brien.

Nicole Trellis - Seems to exert confidence.

Amy Krebs - a powerful singer.

Antonella Barba
Gina Glocksen
Hailey Scanardo
Jordan Sparks
Stephanie Edwards
Leslie Hunt
Sabrina Sloan

MySportsbook.com is offering a 20% signup bonus with an initial deposit (i.e. open your American Idol betting account with $300, receive another $60 in which to bet with). 

Last two contestants will be?

1 Male/1 Female +100 (a $10 bet pays $10 plus your initial $10)

2 Males +170 (a $10 bet pays $17 plus your initial $17)

2 Females +130 (a $10 bet pays $13 plus your initial $10)

MySportsbook.com is an online sportsbook accepts Visa Credit Cards and online sportsbook accepts Mastercard Credit Cards for easy American Idol betting lines.