Erat to miss four weeks
Hockey Betting Lines
03/14/2007 - Nashville, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Nashville Predators forward Martin Erat is expected to miss four weeks after being diagnosed with a sprained knee.
Erat collided with teammate Jason Arnott in the third period of Nashville's 5-2 loss to Detroit. The 25-year-old Czech winger lay flat on the ice for a number of seconds before being helped off the ice. Erat's 16 goals and 41 assists currently ranks third on the club in scoring.
"I started heading into the zone and he was coming across the blue line to straddle the blue line," Arnott said, recounting the collision after Tuesday's game. "He was looking back and I kind of was looking in at the puck and I looked up and he was right there in front of me. We just collided. I mean, it was one of those accidental things but unfortunately it didn't work out very well."
Manchester, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chelsea moved to within six points of league-leaders Manchester United with a 1-0 win at Manchester City on Wednesday. Frank Lampard scored the lone goal of the match from the penalty spo
<< Rangers' Young has surgery for cut on ear
Surprise, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Texas Rangers shortstop Michael Young is
expected to miss at least a week of action after undergoing a minor procedure
on his left ear to close a cut.
Young suffered the injury during Tuesday's sprin
<< Bucks' Bogut fined for obscene gesture
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Milwaukee Bucks center Andrew Bogut was fined
$25,000 for directing an obscene gesture toward fans in the fourth period of
the Bucks' loss to Toronto on Monday.
The incident occurred with less than a minu
<< Stotts fired in Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Milwaukee Bucks fired head coach Terry
Stotts on Wednesday.
In his second season as head coach, the Bucks have posted a 23-41 this year.
Last season Milwaukee went 40-42, qualifying for the postseas
<< U.S. blanks Denmark to capture Algarve Cup
Algarve, Portugal (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The United States Women's National Team
captured its fifth Algarve Cup title with a 2-0 win against Denmark on
Wednesday.
Kristine Lilly opened the scoring in the 14th minute and tournament MVP
Tempe, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Arizona Cardinals re-signed linebacker Monty Beisel to a two-year contract on Wednesday. Per team policy, financial terms were not disclosed. Beisel joined the Cardinals after he was released by the
Browns release FB Smith >>
Berea, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cleveland Browns released fullback
Terrelle Smith on Wednesday.
Smith appeared in all 48 games during three seasons with the Browns and was
used primarily as a blocking back. He did rush for 32 yar
Rose said he bet on Reds "every night" >>
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Pete Rose told a radio show that he bet on
the Reds "every night" while he was the manager at Cincinnati.
"I made a big mistake. It's my fault, it's nobody else's fault," Rose told
ESPN Radio. "Still,
Browns sign OL McKinney, release FB Smith >>
Berea, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cleveland Browns made a couple of moves on
Wednesday, signing offensive lineman Seth McKinney to a one-year contract and
releasing fullback Terrelle Smith.
McKinney missed all of last season due to su
Howard, Magic down Jazz >>
Orlando, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dwight Howard posted 31 points and 15 rebounds,
including some key plays late in the contest, to guide Orlando past the Utah
Jazz, 101-90, at Amway Arena.
Hedo Turkoglu donated 22 points and eight boards w
NFL Football Betting
BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.