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Raptors try and right the ship vs. Clippers

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03/31/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Playing at home hasn't been sweet as of late for the Toronto Raptors, who hope to turn around their recent fortunes at the Air Canada Centre in tonight's meeting with the road-challenged Los Angeles Clippers.

Although the Raptors have compiled a solid 23-13 mark as the host for the season, the playoff hopefuls have lost three straight and six of their last eight games on their home court. Toronto hasn't dropped four in a row at the Air Canada Centre since December 14-31, 2008.

The Raptors' struggles at home have put them on shakier ground in regards to reaching the postseason, but the club does currently lead Chicago by 1 1/2 games for the eighth and final playoff seed in the Eastern Conference with nine remaining in the regular season.

Toronto helped its cause with a big road win its last time out, using a fourth-quarter surge to come through with a 103-101 decision over Charlotte on Monday.

Trailing by six after three quarters, Toronto scored seven straight points to move in front before the teams exchanged lead changes over several minutes. The Raptors claimed a 95-93 advantage on Hedo Turkoglu's three-pointer with 4:22 to go and extended the margin to seven about a minute and a half later, when Jarrett Jack made all three free throws after being fouled from beyond the arc to give his team a 100-93 lead.

The Bobcats got within two in the final minute, but Jack sank two more foul shots with 22.9 seconds left and Toronto held on the rest of the way.

"Hopefully this helps us going forward," said Turkoglu said. "Chicago is right on our tail, so every game is important."

Chris Bosh posted game highs of 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Raptors, while Andrea Bargnani finished with 16 points and nine boards to help his team halt a three-game losing streak.

Toronto will attempt to take advantage of a seemingly favorable sequence of games over the next few days. After taking on the 27-47 Clippers, the Raptors visit Philadelphia (26-48) and host Golden State (21-52) before a showdown with LeBron James and powerhouse Cleveland next Tuesday.

The Clippers started up a three-game road trip with last night's 107-89 defeat to Milwaukee, the 24th loss in the team's last 27 tilts away from home. Los Angeles is a poor 8-30 as the visitor this season.

The Bucks built a comfortable 59-44 lead at intermission and were never seriously threatened in the second half by the Clippers, who shot a woeful 36.8 percent from the field.

"We didn't have it late in the game. We were selfish offensively," said center Chris Kaman, one of three Los Angeles players to record a double-double on the night.

Drew Gooden had 20 points and 11 rebounds for the Clippers, with Kaman contributing 17 points and 10 boards and DeAndre Jordan putting up 11 points and grabbing 13 rebounds.

Los Angeles will be aiming to halt a string of three straight losses in this series, including a 104-89 setback at the Staples Center on November 13. Toronto has won six of the last seven overall encounters between the teams.

<< NHL Draft Watch 2010: Seguin vs. Hall
Toronto, Canada (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Will it be Tyler Seguin or Taylor Hall? As the battle for this year's top hockey prospect rages on, the picture is still unclear. The two stars are all but guaranteed to go one-two at the 2010 NHL entry d

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St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Now back at home, the Saint Louis Billikens will try to even the series with the Virginia Commonwealth Rams in the championship round of the 2010 College Basketball Invitational. The CBI championship series i

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Hempstead, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tim Welsh will be named the new men's basketball coach at Hofstra, according to multiple media reports. The former Providence head coach and current ESPN analyst confirmed the news to ESPN.com on W

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Signed goalie Jon Busch.

Lakers finish road trip vs. Hawks >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Lakers make the final stop on a challenging week-long road trip this evening, when the reigning NBA champions head to Philips Arena to face a test from the formidable Atlanta Hawks. Los Angeles has alternat

Cavs and Bucks clash at the "Q" >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Milwaukee Bucks have surprisingly been one of the NBA's best teams over the second half of this season. The up-and-coming club will get a chance to see just how far it's come when it pays a visit to Cleveland's Quicken Lo

Sixers visit playoff-hopeful Bobcats >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Fresh off a potentially costly home loss, the Charlotte Bobcats will again take the Time Warner Cable Arena court this evening to host the Philadelphia 76ers in a late-season clash. While the Bobcats are in good position t

Red-hot Suns try to keep rolling at expense of Nets >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of teams coming off important wins get together this evening at the Meadowlands, as the Phoenix Suns try to extend the NBA's longest active win streak to nine games when they take on the New Jersey Nets. Phoenix won

Celtics to face test from improved Thunder >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Oklahoma City Thunder are approaching their first playoff appearance since 2004-05 as the Seattle SuperSonics and will resume a three-game road trip Wednesday against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. The Thunder are si

Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value

If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture.  Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).

For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot.  The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win.

TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the  drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.

"While 'Babel' lost several guild awards to 'Sunshine' and 'Departed,'  it still enjoys loyal support, and historically Oscar voters favor dramas with social messages over comedies like 'Sunshine' and violent crime movies like 'Departed'."

"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.

Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash.  Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win. 

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Problem with Bears?

Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.

"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."

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Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.

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