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Teams on the clock in deep NHL draftHockey Betting Lines05/24/2010 - Toronto, Canada (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The NHL Entry Draft, set to take place June 25 in Los Angeles, provides both players and general managers the opportunity to take the next step towards success. While top prospects Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin have garnered most of the attention among this year's group of prospects, the following three players also offer a unique skill set that will help make for compelling drama among those vying for their services next month. EMERSON ETEM, C, Medicine Hat Tigers The allure of drafting a homegrown athlete is often too tempting to pass up, especially if that talent is a hockey player from the sunny state of California. That is the position the Anaheim Ducks find themselves in heading into the draft. Long Beach native Emerson Etem of the Western Hockey League's (WHL) Medicine Hat Tigers is likely on the radar of the Ducks, who own the 12th and 16th picks of the first round. Aside from his California roots, Etem's ability to play right wing or center will be an attractive ingredient for the Ducks who will need to replenish an aging crop of secondary scorers, with Jason Blake (36), Teemu Selanne (39) and Saku Koivu (35) all in the twilight of their careers. NHL Central Scouting currently ranks Etem eighth among North American skaters, while various mock drafts have him going anywhere from eighth to 18th. At 6'0", 194 pounds, Etem is an explosive skater who handles the puck well at full speed. In his first WHL season, Etem compiled 37 goals and 65 points in 72 games while also chipping in another seven goals in 12 playoff games. Prior to his WHL debut, Etem honed his skills in the U.S. Under-17 National Team Development Program (USNTDP) in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he racked up 45 (23-22) points in 50 games. JACK CAMPBELL, G - USNTDP Another product of the USNTDP that will have GM's licking their chops is 6'2" goaltender Jack Campbell. Campbell, who has committed to play for the Ontario Hockey League's (OHL) Windsor Spitfires next season, is the definition of a big-game goalie. His golden resume includes a stellar performance at the 2010 World Junior Championship and back-to-back World Under-18 Championships, where he earned the best goalkeeper award last month in Minsk, Belarus, posting a 0.83 GAA and .965 save percentage in six games, including three shutouts. While there is a lot of speculation as to where Campbell will be drafted, a scout at McKeen's Hockey believes that with his international accomplishments and budding athleticism, the Michigan native will be scooped up within the first five picks. If Campbell is indeed taken in the top five, it will make him the first goalie from the USNTDP selected in the first round. One potential suitor for Campbell's services could very well be the New York Islanders (fifth pick), who drafted oft-injured goaltender Rick DiPietro No. 1 overall in the 2000 draft. Although they have DiPietro under contract until 2021, nagging knee and hip injuries have limited the 29-year old to 13 games over the last two seasons. With a solid group of prospects up front and some potential defensive studs in Calvin de Haan and Travis Hamonic coming up through the junior ranks, the Islanders could very well take another shot at securing a franchise goaltender. If the Islanders decide to pass on Campbell, the Tampa Bay Lightning (sixth pick) or the St. Louis Blues (14t) would make an optimal match, as both teams are in desperate need of help in goal. JEFF SKINNER, C, Kitchener Rangers Unlike the state of the global economy, one player who has seen his stock rise at a rapid rate is Kitchener Rangers forward Jeff Skinner. The Markham, Ont. native was the 47th-ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting in their mid-term report, but jumped 13 spots by the time they released their final rankings. After his performance in the OHL playoffs this past spring, the skilled sniper has likely put himself in position to land in the top 15. Skinner was an offensive dynamo for the Rangers this past season, netting 50 goals and 90 points in the regular season while torching opposing goalies for another 20 in the postseason. At 5'10" and 187 pounds, Skinner has a solid base and low center of gravity, which makes him difficult to knock off the puck. He also possess a high compete level and tenacity that has made him a fan favorite in Kitchener and an enemy in opposing rinks. Despite being a former nationally-ranked figure skater, his lack of foot speed is considered his biggest downfall. But with an acute hockey sense and a deft touch around the net, Skinner is undeniably one of the most highly skilled forwards in the draft. Every team could use a forward as talented as Skinner, but where he will be drafted is a hotly contested topic. Some mock drafts have him going as high as eighth while others don't even have him ranked in the first round. Based on his skill set, there are several teams sprinkled throughout the draft that would love to acquire Skinner's services. Within the top 10, the Atlanta Thrashers and New York Rangers could be a good fit for Skinner's offensive prowess. With the loss of Ilya Kovalchuk, the Thrashers will be looking to add another scoring forward to complement last year's fourth overall pick, Evander Kane, while the Rangers could use some future insurance with the glass-like Marian Gaborik ranking as their only scoring threat. Where Skinner ends up will be an interesting storyline to follow on draft day, as the underrated 50-goal scorer could be the steal of the draft.
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Numerous College Basketball teams take final big step to March Madness betting So, what turned on the lock spigot? Well, after what felt like weeks of teams treading water and slipping back into the bubble muck, a bunch of them finally decided to say "to heck with parity" and won games that should put them into the Big Dance. Disagree with some of these? Then here's the challenge. Take all of the "should be ins" and make a legit case that each should be ahead of the team that's a lock. Then find 10 more teams that also should be placed in the bracket ahead of that lock team. Not so easy, is it? If you want more evidence that these locks should be good to go, check out what our research department dug up. Since the NCAA Tournament went to 64 teams in 1985, only six teams from a "big six" conference have had a record of 10-6 or better in conference play and not been selected: Colorado (2004) and Nebraska (1999) from the Big 12, Boston College and Seton Hall (both 2003) from the Big East, Indiana (2005) from the Big Ten and UCLA, which somehow went 12-6 in the Pac-10 in 1988 and still missed out. (Note: Five teams went 11-7 and didn't get in, the latest being last season's Stanford team, which had a brutal nonconference run.) Yes, 10 conference wins doesn't always mean what it used to because of unbalanced schedules, but this season, it should be plenty good in all but the extreme cases (see: Iowa). In a way, this is a welcome development, because this is a bubble watch, not a lock watch. We can finally be done with teams like Maryland and Virginia Tech and start really bearing down on at-large battles such as Syracuse-West Virginia and Appalachian State-Georgia Tech. Interestingly, all the shifting of teams into lock status appears to be more administrative than impactful. The number of remaining available at-larges didn't change one iota. The only difference is that teams on the bubble now have a clearer idea of which team(s) they are competing with for those precious bids.
As always, I've tried to be as inclusive as possible while only including teams that would have a reasonable chance of at least being discussed if this were Selection Sunday. If your team's not on here, there's probably a good reason (or three) -- start with the RPI and SOS numbers and work your way down. (Please remember, per selection committee criteria, that records displayed are Division I only. Next update: Feb. 28) If you have a legitimate grievance, or just like talking bubble, send an e-mail. Polite ones with fact-based arguments have a much better chance of receiving a response. I apologize in advance if I can't get back to all of you. Atlantic Coast Conference Work left to do: Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech
Work left to do: Clemson [19-9 (5-9), RPI: 41, SOS: 42] The Tigers are closer to locking up the collapse of the year award (in a good battle with OK State) than they are to grabbing an at-large. Clemson's been very competitive, but there's no really positive way you can spin nine losses in 11 games. They now cannot get to .500 in ACC play and still must head to Virginia Tech in the season finale (after hosting Miami). Unless the Tigers win both and/or do some serious work in the ACC tourney, they very well could be left out. There are no great nonconference wins, but ODU, App State, Miss. State, South Carolina and Georgia are all respectable W's. Florida State [18-11 (6-9), RPI: 48, SOS: 14] The Noles got thrashed at Maryland to run their losing streak to five, but then pounded NC State at home to set the table for what likely is an elimination game at Miami. You can at least make a case for the Seminoles at 7-9 in ACC play (and some work in the ACC tourney), but 6-10 is not going to cut it. Wins at Duke and over Florida will resonate, but the computer numbers remain questionable. Beyond Florida, FSU thrashed bubble buddy Providence, but there's not a ton beyond those two games that will help. They didn't show well in big-time opportunities against Pitt and Wisconsin (before the Florida win). Georgia Tech [18-10 (6-8), RPI: 51, SOS: 46] The Jackets beat Wake on Wednesday but couldn't get it done at UVa on Saturday, which could be a crucial loss with UNC and BC (both at home) remaining and 8-8 almost a certain need for at-large consideration. A nonconference win over Memphis helps, but the RPI and SOS are not at-large quality right now; if you combine those with a sub-.500 ACC mark, that could spell NIT for GT. For more College Basketball betting lines go to MySportsbook.com Additional basketball lines can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.
Sportsbook betting odds favor Europe in Ryder Cup September 19, – Despite holding a decided edge in the all-time series, with 24 wins, 2 ties and 10 losses, Team USA is the underdog again heading into the Ryder Cup in Kidare, Ireland this weekend, according to MySportsbook.com. The Europeans have captured four of the past five editions, including their largest victory ever, an 18 ½ to 9 ½ thumping in Michigan in 2004. Current Ryder Cup betting odds favor the Europeans to continue their winning ways; they are a 4-5 bet to take the title, compared to 6-5 for the Americans. Despite being knocked out in the first round of World Match play by Shaun Micheel, Tiger Woods is predicted to lead the US charge and be their highest point scorer for the week, with odds listed at 9-4 that he outpoints all other American players, including Jim Furyk, Phil Mickelson and Chris DiMarco to name a few. Team USA has four relatively unknown players on the roster but all four are 2007 tournament winners and have posted some of season’s best performances, each earning over $1.5 million on the PGA TOUR. They include Zach Johnson, Vaughan Taylor, JJ Henry and Brett Wetterich. The experienced European squad includes the likes of Luke Donald, Sergio Garcia, Padraig Harrington, Jose Maria Olazabal and Darren Clarke, who’s emotions will be tested after the passing of his wife to a battle with cancer. Donald and Garcia are in particularly good form and each is a 5-1 bet to lead the European squad in the points race. Donald has proven he can go head to head with Woods at a major event after a run for the $1.2 million purse at the PGA Championship. Garcia’s Ryder Cup credentials prove he’s ready for battle too. To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your golf sportsbook needs. Ryder Cup Odds
Ryder Cup Top US point scorer
Ryder Cup Top European scorer
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