Jazz open trek against Bulls

Basketball Betting Lines

03/09/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The surging Utah Jazz hope to keep the pressure on Northwest Division-leading Denver when they begin a four-game road trip in the Windy City against a reeling Chicago Bulls team.

Traditionally the Jazz don't perform all that well away from Salt Lake City but things have changed recently and Jerry Sloan's club will be shooting for its ninth win in its past 11 games as the visitor tonight.

Most recently Utah, which is 1 1/2 games south of the Nuggets for the Northwest lead, earned a 107-85 win over the LA Clippers in Salt Lake City on Saturday. Veteran big man Mehmet Okur poured in a game-high 27 in that one as the Jazz continued their dominance over the Clips on their home floor.

Carlos Boozer added 17 points and 17 rebounds for the Jazz, who have won 40 of the last 41 games against the Clippers in Salt Lake City. Deron Williams posted 10 points and 10 assists, while Kyle Korver contributed 12 points in the win.

Wesley Matthews and CJ Miles each had 11 points for Utah, which has won eight of 11 overall.

"(Okur) shot the ball well tonight. I like to see the ball inside first and then the passes kicked out rather than pulling up for three," said Sloan. "I thought we played with a great deal of patience and took the three when we had it."

The Bulls, meanwhile, dropped their fourth in a row on Saturday when Dirk Nowitzki scored 27 points, and the short-handed Dallas Mavericks secured their 11th straight victory, 122-116, over Chicago.

Derrick Rose had 34 points and eight assists for the Bulls, who have lost four in a row and lead Charlotte by just one-half game for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

"It's hard sticking with them," Rose said. "They have a lot of options they can go to, a lot of big-time scorers."

Brad Miller scored 17, while Taj Gibson ended with 10 points and 11 boards for Chicago.

The Bulls' skid has coincided with the absence of defensive stopper Joakim Noah, who has missed all four games in the losing streak with a case of with plantar fasciitis and is expected to miss at least another two weeks.

Utah has lost four of their past five trips to the United Center.

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El Duque expected to throw Tuesday

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.

Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.

El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.

MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds. 

Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.

New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.

Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''

Additional baseball lines and World Series odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

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NFL Football Betting : Odds on NFL Division to Win the Super Bowl

NFL Super Bowl Betting

The AFC South and the NFC East are the favorite divisions to have the next Super Bowl champ among them in the NFL betting odds. But more down to the point, these football odds are in favor of the Indianapolis Colts, by far the strongest team in the AFC South, and the Dallas Cowboys of the NFC East.

Most sports fans would agree that these two teams top the list to win it all before the season even begins. In the BetUS Sportsbook football futures, the Colts are +800 in the odds to win the Super Bowl, while the Cowboys are sitting at +1000 and the Super Bowl XLIV champions New Orleans Saints at +900. In the AFC South, the Colts won the division for five straight years after the 2002 realignment, before the Tennessee Titans won it in 2008. But the Colts came back strong in 2009 to win the division again en route to the Super Bowl. The Cowboys are the favorite to win the NFC East, as well as to advance far into the post season. The Cowboys won the division last season before their horrendous loss in the NFC Divisional playoff to Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings. But the ‘Boys will take that loss humbly and be ready for the playoffs this time around.

The NFC South is also very strong, at +600 in the NFL futures, considering that it is home to the defending Super Bowl champions. However, some predictions have the Atlanta Falcons with possibilities of claiming the divisional title this season in place of the Saints, as no team has won back-to-back division championships since the division realignment took place. Let’s not overlook the AFC North at +500. As TO goes to Cincinnati to join Chad OchoCinco and Adam “Pac-Man” Jones, this team looks to claim the division title again. And it is likely they will do so. The Bengals lost in the AFC Wild Card spot in a hard-fought battle against the New York Jets last season. Lest not forget the Pittsburgh Steelers, the XLII Super Bowl Champions… All these teams present interesting odds and matchups for the upcoming season, but the safest and surest bet seems to be with the Colts in the AFC South and the Cowboys in the NFC East. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.

To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.