Ducks' Lupul has blood infection, will miss start of season

Hockey Betting Lines

08/24/2010 - Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Anaheim Ducks forward Joffrey Lupul is expected to miss all of training camp and will not be ready for the start of the regular season due to a blood infection.

The Orange County Register reported on Tuesday that Lupul had a recurrence of the condition approximately one month ago and was forced to stop his conditioning for the season. Results of blood tests taken recently confirmed the return of the infection.

The paper also revealed that Lupul will have to take antibiotics for the next month and cannot undertake any physical activity. He will be reevaluated on September 20, just after the Ducks start training camp.

Lupul, who had surgery a week before Christmas to repair a herniated disc in his back, tallied 10 goals and 14 points in 23 games for Anaheim.

The blood infection was originally discovered during a second procedure on his back, and Ducks general manager Bob Murray said in late January that he believed the infection was finally under control.

However, the 26-year-old did not suit up for the remainder of the year.

Anaheim begins its 2010-11 regular season on October 8 at Detroit.

Horswracing Hockey Betting News

<< Portland gets first pick in expansion draft
Portland, OR (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Portland Timbers have the first pick in the 2011 Major League Soccer Expansion Draft, it was decided on Monday as a result of the Expansion Priority Draft with Vancouver Whitecaps FC. The Timbers an

<< Blackhawks make it official with Pisani
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Blackhawks officially brought in free-agent forward Fernando Pisani, signing him to a one-year deal on Tuesday. Terms of the contract were not released, but TSN of Canada reported

<< Report: Bobcats sign Kwame Brown
Charlotte, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Charlotte Bobcats have reportedly reunited former No. 1 pick Kwame Brown and new team owner Michael Jordan. The Charlotte Observer reports the Bobcats have brought in Brown on a one- year, $1

<< Mets to face Marlins ace in divisional clash
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Florida Marlins ace Josh Johnson will try to win consecutive starts for the first time in over a month when he takes the mound tonight in the opener of a three-game road series versus the New York Mets. Johnson was 0-2 wit

<< Padres return home to battle Diamondbacks
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Diego Padres will try to pad their lead atop the National League West standings when they open a three-game series versus the division-rival Arizona Diamondbacks tonight from Petco Park. San Diego is 5 1/2 games in

Wolfsburg's Friedrich needs back surgery >>
Wolfsburg, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Wolfsburg and Germany defender Arne Friedrich will have back surgery to correct a slipped disc Thursday, at which time it will be determined how long the 31-year-old will be sidelined. Friedrich st

Oregon State OL Thomas arrested, dismissed from team >>
Corvallis, OR (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Oregon State offensive lineman Tyler Patrick Thomas has reportedly been dismissed from the team following an early Sunday morning arrest. The Gazette Times reported that Corvallis police were calle

Bucs bring back Jevan Snead >>
Tampa, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have re-signed quarterback Jevan Snead in light of Josh Freeman's injury over the weekend. Snead was originally signed as an undrafted free agent in April after a standou

Lyon acquires Gourcuff from Bordeaux >>
Lyon, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Lyon acquired France playmaker Yoann Gourcuff from Bordeaux on Monday night for a fee that could reach $33.5 million. Lyon and Bordeaux agreed on the transfer for an initial fee of just under $28 million and

Sevilla acquires Alexis from Valencia >>
Sevilla, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sevilla signed defender Alexis Ruano from Valencia on Tuesday to replace Sebastien Squillaci, who is set to join English side Arsenal. Squillaci has yet to finalize his move to Arsenal, but is expected to

Betting Football

NFL Football Betting Online

Is there such a thing as a trap game in the NFL?

I once asked that question to Pete Korner, who at the time was office manager and a senior linesmaker for Las Vegas Sports Consultants.

Korner almost ripped my head off. There is no such thing as a trap game, he loudly berated me. It’s a myth. The numbers are made using power ratings, he said.

There are trap games, though. They just might not be what you think. The perception is of a good team, say Philadelphia, laying a small number against New Orleans.

Using the highly-respected power ranking from The Gold Sheet, you’d find the Eagles with a power rating of 4 and the Saints at 8. When you factor the game being played in New Orleans, you could see why the line opened so short at less than a field goal.

For some, this makes it enticing to take the Eagles. That’s not a real trap game, though.

A real trap game, says professional gambler Dave Malinsky, is thinking you’re getting value betting a bad team, which brings us to the Oakland Raiders-Denver Broncos matchup.

The Raiders are +15 in this long-standing division rivalry. Denver is on a short week having dispatched Baltimore Monday. However, the Raiders haven’t covered the spread their last 10 games.

Many bettors don’t trust the Raiders to give a full effort. Few think much of Art Shell and his Oakland’s coaching staff.

So oddsmakers have to do something to make Oakland attractive if they hope to get equal action.

Now Malinsky is a value shopper. But he won’t touch the Raiders even getting more than two touchdowns.

“I try to eliminate the undisciplined, unfocused teams because they’re the ones most likely to suffer the bad beats,” he said.

Near the top of Malinsky’s list of stay-away teams is the Miami Dolphins, who have yet to cover a spread this season.

“Whatever you think of Nick Saban, you have to look at the penalties and turnovers,” Malinsky said.

It’s easy to point out the Dolphins failed to get the money this past week against New England because Olindo Mare missed a field goal and had another field goal blocked. But even though the Dolphins outgained the Patriots, 283-213, they committed eight penalties.

Bad teams not only cost themselves victories, but pointspread covers as well. The Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers are two more examples.

The Cardinals couldn’t have been in a better position this past Sunday, up 14-0 at home against a mediocre Kansas City Chiefs squad. But they couldn’t hold it. The Packers got a push against St. Louis, but also could have won losing by three when Brett Favre fumbled at the St. Louis 11-yard line with 44 seconds left.

“The Packers were in a position to beat Philadelphia, too,” Malinsky said. “But they couldn’t even cover double digits.

“These teams just make mistakes and it costs you … they always will look good from a value standpoint. They really will. But that’s the trap.”

Houston and Tennessee rank among the six-worst teams. Malinsky wouldn’t be afraid to take either of these teams, however, if the price were high enough.

The Texans are bad, Malinsky said, but they have some discipline. The Titans showed they could not only come up with an outstanding game plan, but execute it as well, losing by one to the Colts on the road as an 18 ?-point underdog this past Sunday.

“Jeff Fisher is a worker,” Malinsky said of the Titans coach. “I’m not sure how hard Art Shell wants to work when he gets out of bed.”

Fisher, though, could be out as Tennessee coach after this season. Is he still worth backing in the right spot, with the right price, as a lame duck coach?

“It’s in his nature to keep working hard and not worry about any possible lame duck status,” Malinsky said. “He’s coaching for his resume.”

Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting lines.

American Idol odds : Blake Lewis the Early Standout

An important American Idol betting lines recap from February 20 Guys episode. The 12 men came out flat overall with Blake Lewis appearing to have the early edge after the first hour and a half.

Rudy - was quite good singing "Free Ride" to start off.  Randy was not impressed though.  Paula thought he started off fantastic.  "Never had anyone stop off so lively" said Paula but Simon (who does not like Rudy) does not feel he has a distinct voice and was not impressed either. 

Brandon was a little pitchy according to Randy and Paula agreed.  Simon said he was a good singer but the song was "too safe" and he needs to make an impact.  He was listed at +1200 odds or $1200 paid out on a $100 bet should he win the competition. 

Big favorite Sundance came in with a flat version of "Knights in White Satin" and the judges let him have it, including Paula.  Randy claimed the song was out of pitch throughout.

Korean American - and a Jenny Woo favorite - Paul Kim was up next.  Another pitchy flat one but Randy said he still liked his potential.  Kim at +3000 odds was said to have sung a "third rate version of that (George Michael) song" according to Simon Cowell.  He sang "Careless Whisper".

22 year old Chris Richardson was up next.  He was listed with +1100 odds coming in.  He got the best response from the judges though Simon did not believe the vocal was that great. 

Nick was boring and pitchy.  Simon didn't think he was that bad though and predicted he would be back next week.  Nick Pedro was a big +3000 dog coming into this competition. 

Beat boxer Blake Lewis was listed with early +1000 odds or $1000 payout on a $100 bet if he were to become the next American Idol winner odds .  These of course were the early odds.  He was considered original for picking an "odd song".  He did not beat box and the judges felt it was the best vocal of the night. 

Sanjaya came in as the second biggest favorite after Chris Sligh but his performance Tuesday night was not very good. 

Chris Sleigh was the early favorite at +450 odds.  Great voice and a great sense of humor.  He's a real standout.  Randy felt it was on point but maybe ahead of the chorus a little bit.  Simon Cowell said he felt like he was in some "sort of weird student gig". 

Jared Cotter followed.  He was listed with +2000 odds early on to win the competition.  The judges felt he needs to take more risks but looked good. 

22-year old AJ Talbado, who has tried out for American Idol five times, was up next.  "Kind of a theme park performance" said Simon.  Though the judges felt he performed okay.  Simon did feel AJ might be better than he originally thought.

Phil - this season's military favorite - came into this competition with +1200 odds to win the competition.  He was the last to perform.  He was certainly strong enough to get through this stage of the competition and perhaps the best one after a shaky start. 

Tomorrow night, the ladies perform and I sure hope they do a better job than the boys.  Check out all the American Idol betting odds here.

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