Wwceltics Basketball Betting News

<< BoSox make slew of roster moves before interleague set
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Red Sox made a quartet of roster moves on Friday, prior to the club's interleague series against the Philadelphia Phillies. The Sox activated pitcher Jonathan Papelbon from the bereav

<< A-Rod MRI reveals hip tendinitis
Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez had an MRI exam Friday that revealed tendinitis is in his surgically repaired right hip. Rodriguez is out of Friday's lineup to begin a three-game interleague set with the

<< A's place C Suzuki on bereavement list
San Francisco, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Oakland Athletics have placed catcher Kurt Suzuki on the bereavement list. Suzuki is batting .274 with a team-best eight home runs and 29 runs batted in over 41 games this season. The 23-year-old

<< France held to scoreless draw by Uruguay
Cape Town, South Africa (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - France tied Uruguay 0-0 on Friday in its FIFA World Cup opener at Green Point Stadium, the third straight time France has failed to score in its tournament opener. France won the World Cup in 1

Boise State joins Mountain West Conference >>
Colorado Springs, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Mountain West Conference announced Friday that Boise State has accepted an invitation to join the conference beginning July 1, 2011. Boise State moves on from the Western Athletic Conference a

Penguins' Orpik has successful surgery >>
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik underwent successful sports hernia surgery Friday, the club announced. The procedure was performed in Boston by Dr. David Berger. General manager Ray Sh

Pierzynski, Peavy help White Sox clobber Cubs >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A.J. Pierzynski finished 4-for-5 with a homer and three RBI as the Chicago White Sox blitzed the Chicago Cubs, 10-5, in the opener of this three-game interleague series from Wrigley Field. Alex Rios was 4-

Kurt Busch captures Michigan pole >>
Brooklyn, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kurt Busch edged Jamie McMurray in Friday's qualifying to take the pole position for the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400 at Michigan International Speedway. Qualifying was delayed briefly due to a shower

SPORTS BETTING

In terms of sports wagering, the NFL is "the most popular game in town." The explanation behind that is easy.

It is called the "pointspread."

Many years ago, NFL games, as well as the more popular college games, used straight odds as a vehicle for betting. For example, if the Bears were playing the Giants, and it shaped up as a competitive contest, the Bears might be, say, a 7/5 favorite. If they were playing an also-ran, it might be 10/1. Well, there is a point where a line becomes prohibitive, as far as betting the favorite. And who would waste money betting an underdog that has virtually no chance? Such a setup did not contribute to promoting betting action.

But in modern sports betting, a "pointspread" is used.

A NFL pointspreads are exactly that, a pre-established point difference between the two sides that will, for all intents and purposes, create a handicap that evens things out, and in doing so, produces comparable wagering activity on both sides of that proposition. So in lieu of a odds figure in which to bet the team to win outright, the Bears might be a three-point favorite over the New York Giants, and a 17-point favorite over the also-ran. Now that the team that is the underdog can "get" points, there can be equal action on both sides.

In sportsbooks, this is usually done with efficiency by charging the losing bettors 10% extra - in effect, bettors are laying 11/10 on those games. So they are actually betting $110 to win $100. If they lose, they pay the "vig." If they win, they simply collect.

The establishment of the pointspread as the corner stone around which team sports like football can be wagered upon was truly what brought gridiron betting into the stratosphere for online football betting .

Don't believe it? Just take a look at what happens around the Super Bowl.

Stay with us here as we take you through the best in NFL action on a consistent basis, with advice columns as well as handicapping selections. If you're looking for college football betting, that's in our NCAA section, which you can reach by clicking here. And if you're looking for a different kind of football, such as the Canadian Football League, which we'll deal with occasionally, or the Arena Football League, which we really like, you can find it in our Miscellaneous section by clicking

Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting odds .
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook betting credit cards

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

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.