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02/28/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Even with Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson on their roster, the Denver Nuggets are battling just to qualify for the playoffs in the Western Conference.
Denver is a disappointing 27-28 and trail the first place Utah Jazz by a distant 9 1/2 games in the Northwest Division. The Nuggets are No. 7 in the Western Conference playoff race, one-half game ahead of the eighth-seeded Clippers and just one game ahead of No. 9 New Orleans/Oklahoma City.
The Orlando Magic play the second of a tough four-game road trip when they visit the Nuggets on Wednesday at the Pepsi Center. It is the second and final meeting of the campaign between the clubs. On November 15th, Keyon Dooling scored a career-high 25 points to lead the Magic past Denver, 108-99, at TD Waterhouse Centre.
Orlando has lost three straight after winning its last six at Denver.
Denver plays the opener of a three-game homestand against the Magic. Anthony scored 33 points and Iverson netted 25 and dished out nine assists, as the Nuggets halted a four-game losing streak with a 111-107 win over the Memphis Grizzlies at the FedExForum.
Nene posted a career-high tying 27 points and nine rebounds in the win over Memphis for the Nuggets, who improved to 13-13 on the road. Marcus Camby added eight points and 13 boards for Denver.
The Nuggets are 14-15 at home this season. They are scheduled to host the Houston Rockets on Friday and the Hornets on March 6th.
Iverson, who was acquired in a blockbuster trade from the Philadelphia 76ers on December 19th, has scored more than 20 points in three straight contests and is averaging 28.0 points and 6.0 assists during that span. The Georgetown product has posted 26.2 points and 7.5 assists in 24 games in a Denver uniform.
Since the acquisition of Iverson, the Nuggets have recorded a 13-19 record. Denver will play 15 of its final 27 games of the regular season on the road.
<< Buck-ing the trend
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Milwaukee Bucks finally put the brakes on a season-long
losing streak and have a healthy dose of home games on the horizon.
The Bucks were mired in a seven-game skid and the return of star guard
Michael Redd w
<< Hawks fail to hang with the big boys
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The only saving grace for the Hawks' recent string of
games was that they came into them well rested after the All-Star break.
Otherwise, it could have been a lot worse.
Atlanta recently wrapped a string of five games ove
<< Breaking down a busy deadline day
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Keeping track of all the activity at the
NHL's trade deadline is kind of like trying to follow a tennis match on fast
forward.
When the dust finally cleared, there were 25 trades on Tuesday and those
deal
<< Steelers, Smith officially agree to extension
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Pittsburgh Steelers signed defensive
end Aaron Smith to a four-year contract extension Wednesday.
Financial terms of the deal were not released, but the deal, which will keep
him with the team thr
Federer rolls; Nadal barely reaches Dubai QFs >>
Dubai, United Arab Emirates (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Three-time champion Roger
Federer was a straight-set second-round winner, while reigning titlist Rafael
Nadal went the distance to advance on Day 3 at the $1.5 million Dubai Tennis
Championshi
Nationwide Tour adds new event >>
Columbus, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Nationwide Tour has announced a new event
for this season, adding the Children's Hospital Invitational to the schedule.
The event will be played July 9-15 on the Scarlet Course of the Ohio State
Unive
Sharks load up for playoffs >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Doug Wilson must quickly be moving up Joe Thornton's
Christmas card list.
Not only did San Jose's executive vice president and general manager rescue
Thornton from hockey purgatory last season, also known as Boston, but W
Durant, Oden among Oscar Robertson Trophy finalists >>
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Freshmen Kevin Durant of Texas and Greg Oden
of Ohio State are among five finalists for the Oscar Robertson Trophy,
presented annually to the nation's player of the year by the United States
Basketb
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.
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