Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: The Red Sox meet the Rays, the Phillies battle the Braves, and the NBA and NHL head into their league’s home stretches.
Tipping off on the hardwood . . .
The NBA takes back the basketball spotlight from the NCAA Tournament on Tuesday, with nine games set for the pro hardwood. The Bobcats will be looking to keep their slim playoff hopes alive on Tuesday by getting past the Sixers in Charlotte. The Bobcats enter play this week on a three-game losing streak, and they’re three games back of the Bulls and the Pistons for eighth place in the East.
The Bulls will host New York on Tuesday, while it’ll also be Atlanta at Toronto, New Orleans at Miami, Portland at Memphis, the Lakers at Sacramento, Minnesota at the Clippers, San Antonio at Oklahoma City, and Orlando at Houston. The Spurs are just a half-game ahead of the Rockets in the Southwest Division standings heading into Tuesday night, with the Hornets two games back.
Masters Calcutta betting…
The 2009 Masters odds are up. The world’s top sportsbooks all have their own proposition bets. Don’t be a blind pilot before placing those bets.
Our Bet Online reporter says whether it’s Masters 2009 Calcutta betting or in the individual matchups, there are some legitimate long shots to consider.
Meeting up on the diamond . . .
The Braves will be looking to knock off the defending-champion Phillies for the second straight game on Tuesday night when they continue their season-opening series in Philadelphia. Atlanta got a strong pitching performance from Derek Lowe on Sunday as they won their opener by a score of 4-1. Righthander Jair Jurrjens (13-10, 3.68 ERA in 2008) will take to the mound for Atlanta on Tuesday; the Phillies will counter with lefthander Jamie Moyer (16-7, 3.71 ERA).
The other National League matchups on Tuesday: Milwaukee at San Francisco, Washington at Florida, the Cubs at Houston, Pittsburgh at St. Louis, the Dodgers at San Diego, and Colorado at Arizona. The Rockies will go with righthander Ubaldo Jimenez on Tuesday; he was 12-12 with a 3.99 ERA last season. The D-Backs counter Jimenez with Dan Haren, who was 16-8 with a 3.33 ERA in 2008.
Over in the American League, the Red Sox and Rays will try to get their season started in Boston; their Monday matchup was called off due to the threat of rain. Boston’s Josh Beckett (12-10, 4.03 ERA in 2008) will take on Tampa Bay’s James Shields (14-8, 3.56 ERA), weather permitting. Also on the AL slate: Kansas City at the White Sox, Detroit at Toronto, Seattle at Minnesota, and Oakland at the Angels. Jered Weaver (11-10, 4.33 ERA) will get the call for L.A.
Today’s best bets…
What a shock! The best in the business, Grandmaster sports handicapper Joe Duffy is who to bet with today. GodsTips closes out the NCAA Tournament with North Carolina and the over, another sweep. They finish the Big Dance on a 10-2 tear. Atlanta +120 Sunday and Pittsburgh +155 yesterday makes GodsTips a perfect 2-0 in MLB so far.
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Taking a trip around the rink . . .
The Panthers and Rangers will continue their respective quests for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference on Tuesday night, with Florida in Philadelphia and New York hosting Montreal. The Panthers picked up a big win at home against the Penguins on Sunday, which moved them into a tie with the Rangers at 89 points through 79 games. New York fell to the Bruins on Saturday.
A busy Tuesday night schedule in the National Hockey League has 11 other games on tap, including the Islanders at Carolina, Toronto at New Jersey, Washington at Atlanta, Boston at Ottawa, Pittsburgh at Tampa Bay, Dallas at Minnesota, Chicago at Nashville, Los Angeles at Edmonton, St. Louis at Phoenix, and Colorado at San Jose. As well, the Flames will be in Vancouver to take on the Canucks, with both teams looking to end in top spot in the Northwest.
Other odds…
Wow, Adam Lambert is a prohibitive favorite in the latest American Idol betting lines and odds. Meanwhile Hu Lia is the favorite to win the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize according to Irish sportsbook Paddy Power. However, as the award has become more and more political and left leaning, Barack Obama at 18-1 seems like a fantastic long shot. Paddy Power lists the odds as “noble prize”.