McIver, 25, had a goal and four assists with 109 penalty minutes in 44 games
for the AHL's Manitoba Moose last season. He has skated in 36 career NHL games
over parts of three seasons for Anaheim and Vancouver during which time he
totaled one assist and a minus-nine rating.
The 30-year-old Schaefer spent last season with HC CSKA Moscow of the
Kontinental Hockey League. In 22 appearances for Moscow, he went 6-10-1 with a
2.66 goals against average. He appeared in seven games for the Sharks during
the 2005-06 seasons and was 5-1-0 with a shutout and 1.88 GAA.
<< Molson to become next Canadiens president, CEO
Montreal, QC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Board of Directors of CH Group, which owns
the Montreal Canadiens, have announced that Geoff Molson will become the next
president and chief executive officer of the team.
Pierre Boivin, the current pre
<< No. 1s ran tables at wacky '10 Wimbledon
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In one of the wackiest Wimbledon
tournaments ever staged, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams came out on the top
when all the smoke cleared at the storied All England Club.
Oddly enough, one constant through
<< Cubs recall P Berg, option Stevens
Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Cubs called up right-hander Justin
Berg from Triple-A Iowa and sent right-handed pitcher Jeff Stevens to the same
club on Monday.
Berg, 26, made the Cubs opening day roster out of spring training
<< South Florida extends hoops coach Heath
Tampa, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The University of South Florida has extended the
contract of men's basketball coach Stan Heath through the 2014-15 season.
Heath has guided the Bulls to a record of 41-51 in three seasons, which
included
<< Saborio earns another MLS Player of the Week award
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Real Salt Lake forward Alvaro Saborio was
voted Major League Soccer Player of the Week for Week 14 of the 2010 MLS
season on Monday.
Saborio tallied two goals in Salt Lake's 5-0 win over the
Former Brewers OF Jenkins set to retire >>
Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Geoff
Jenkins has decided to retire, the club announced Monday.
The official announcement is scheduled to take place at a press conference at
Miller Park on Friday.
Dent exits Newport >>
Newport, RI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former champion Taylor Dent was an opening-
round loser Monday at the grass-court Hall of Fame Tennis Championships.
The eighth-seeded Dent was ousted by Japan's Go Soeda 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 on Day 1
at the Internati
Inge helps Tigers outlast Orioles >>
Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brandon Inge went 3-for-4 with four RBI as the
Detroit Tigers downed the Baltimore Orioles, 12-9, in the opener of a three-
game set.
Carlos Guillen went 3-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored while M
Mets' Tatis lands on DL >>
Flushing, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Mets' Fernando Tatis was placed on the
15-day disabled list Monday with a right shoulder AC joint sprain.
Tatis is to undergo further testing at New York's Hospital for Special Surgery
on Tuesday.
T
Lightning sign D Clark >>
Tampa, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Lightning signed defenseman Brett
Clark to a two-year contract on Monday.
Clark spent the previous six seasons with Colorado and last season he had
three goals and 20 points with a plus-six o
Super Bowl 2009 Betting propositions
Underdog bettors love the Super Bowl and, history suggests, the underdogs love them back. And the big dogs bite harder.
Even so, there is a warning in store for Super Bowl gamblers who must love dogs: The Arizona Cardinals Super Bowl betting lines might not be enough of a Cinderella to make it worth your while.
Although the Cardinals were widely panned as one of the worst division winners and least playoff-worthy teams in recent memory, their trip to Super Bowl XLIII Jan. 31 in Tampa against the Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl betting lines comes with a little more respect from the oddsmakers than you might imagine. They are a 7-point underdog at most sports books.
If you count yourself among those who covet the big dog in the big game, this isn’t exactly great news. You should have been hoping for more points. This is because the facts show that the bigger the dog, the better the bet in the Super Bowl.
Case in point: Over the past 13 seasons, double-figure underdogs in the Super Bowl are 4-0-1 ATS and have won the past three outright. In fact, the last double-digit chalk to do the deed for bettors was the 1995 San Francisco 49ers, who managed to beat the astounding 19-point spot afforded backers of the San Diego Chargers in the 49-26 romp in Super Bowl XXIX.
By contrast, 7-point favorites are 2-1-1 ATS in the same span, the last such contest resulting a cover grinded out by the Colts in their 29-17 win over the Bears two seasons ago in Super Bowl XLI.
In 2004, the Patriots failed to cover the number in their 32-29 triumph over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl props while the Rams and Titans gave everyone a refund in 2000 after the Rams posted a 23-16 win as a seven-point favorite.
So while Arizona’s run has included impressive upsets as a 10-point road underdog to the Carolina Panthers and Sunday’s 32-25 win in the NFC championship game to the 4-point favored Philadelphia Eagles, their long-shot story lacks a bit of the David vs. Goliath storyline of past Super Bowl underdogs.
While the seven-point spread represents a significant gap in the perception of strength between the two teams, it is far from monumental. For example, last season the Giants were the wild-card afterthought turned road-warrior buzzsaw, with stunning wins over the Buccaneers, Cowboys and Packers to earn their place in the Super Bowl.
There, they played spoiler to New England’s bid to become the first 19-0 team in NFL history and cemented their place in sports betting lore with a 17-14 win as a 12.5-point underdog.
In other words, the Cardinals appear to have their work cut out for them as a mid-range underdog. But in homage to the spread beaters who have come before them, here is a brief look back at recent colossal upsets in the Super Bowl:
SB XLII -- 2008 -- New York Giants 17, New England Patriots 14 (Giants +12.5) – Eli Manning’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress in the final minute clinched the historic upset for the Giants, who used a masterful defensive plan to slow down Tom Brady and the previously undefeated New England Patriots.
XXXVI -- 2002 -- Patriots 20, Rams 17 (Patriots +14) – This was the coming out party for the aforementioned Brady, who went from obscure sixth-round draft pick to Super Bowl hero in one fell swoop. He led the game-winning drive in the final minute – eschewing analyst John Madden’s advice to take a knee and play for overtime – leading to Adam Vinatieri’s memorable 48-yard field goal that split the uprights as time expired.
XXXII 1998 Broncos 31, Packers 24 (Denver +12) – The first of John Elway’s two consecutive Super Bowl titles to put an end to his Hall of Fame career was an upset for the ages. The Broncos used the determination of Elway and a 157-yard, three-touchdown performance from Terrell Davis to turn back Brett Favre and the heavily favored Packers.
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