Pistons, Heat set for South Beach battle

Basketball Betting Lines

03/02/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - An Eastern Conference Finals rematch is on tap tonight at AmericanAirlines Arena, as the defending world champion Miami Heat welcome the Detroit Pistons.

Detroit has won five of six and seven of its last nine at Miami. The Pistons have also won three in a row against the Heat overall, including an 87-85 win over the squad on November 30.

Those games don't include last season's conference finals, when Miami knocked off Detroit in six games en route to its first-ever NBA title.

It is Detroit, however, that is doing a better job duplicating success this season. The Pistons are a conference-best 17-9 on the road this season and lead the Central Division by 4 1/2 games over Cleveland.

Miami is one game under .500 at 28-29 and trails Washington by 3 1/2 games for the top spot in the Southeast standings. The club is seventh overall in the East though.

The Pistons have been out of action since Sunday, when they edged the Chicago Bulls, 95-93. Richard Hamilton poured in 22 points, but it was Chris Webber's tip-in with 2.2 seconds left in regulation that lifted Detroit over Chicago.

Webber, who finished with 21 points and nine rebounds, got a hold of the ball and scored the deciding basket after Chauncey Billups put up a jumper. With one last chance for the win, Chicago's Ben Gordon missed a three-pointer from the left wing to end the game.

Billups ended with 15 points and dished out nine assists, while Tayshaun Prince added 14 points and grabbed nine boards for the Pistons, who have won four in a row.

The game marked the return of former Piston Ben Wallace to Detroit. The four- time Defensive Player of the Year, who was booed each time he touched the ball, finished with six points and eight rebounds.

The Heat made up some ground in their division last time out when they downed the Wizards, 92-83. Shaquille O'Neal scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the victory.

Jason Williams added 23 points for Miami, which improved to 2-2 since star guard Dwyane Wade suffered a dislocated left shoulder. Wade remains out indefinitely.

Tonight's game opens a six-game homestand for the Heat, who are 16-10 as the host this season. Atlanta, Chicago, Minnesota, Washington and Utah will all make visits to AmericanAirlines Arena during the stand.

Wwwbetandwin Basketball Betting News

<< Red Wings begin homestand against hapless Blackhawks
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Detroit Red Wings open a five-game homestand this evening, when they welcome the Chicago Blackhawks to Joe Louis Arena. The Red Wings last played Tuesday evening against the Blackhawks and posted a 4-1 road vic

<< Surging Senators, struggling Thrashers set to face off
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The red-hot Ottawa Senators will try for their ninth win in 10 games this evening, when they visit the Atlanta Thrashers at Philips Arena. The Senators have gained a point in nine straight games (8-0-1) and are fourth in

<< Magic pay a visit to San Antonio
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Having temporarily fallen out of the playoff picture, the Orlando Magic will try to rebound tonight when they visit the San Antonio Spurs at AT&T Center. The Magic have lost five of their last six and are now one

<< Hawks, Wizards square off in D.C.
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Washington Wizards will try and stop a four-game losing streak tonight when they resume their homestand against the division-rival Atlanta Hawks at the Verizon Center. Washington, which owns a 3 1/2-game lead

<< Hornets buzz into Windy City
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Bulls play the finale of a three-game homestand, as they welcome the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets tonight to the United Center. This is the second and final meeting of the season between

Suns host Pacers in the desert >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Phoenix Suns try to get back on the winning track, as they host the slumping Indiana Pacers tonight at US Airways Center. Phoenix, which returns home after going 3-1 on a four-game road trip, opens a five-game home

Knicks host Warriors at MSG >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Golden State Warriors aim to stop a four-game losing streak this evening when they battle the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Golden State has lost the first two games of its current five-game r

Rockets aim to burn Nuggets >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Denver Nuggets attempt to extend their winning streak to three games when they welcome the Houston Rockets tonight to the Pepsi Center. Denver plays the middle contest of a three-game homestand. All-Star gu

Salukis begin defense of MVC Tournament title >>
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The top-seeded and 11th-ranked Southern Illinois Salukis begin defense of their Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title today, as they take on the ninth-seeded Drake Bulldogs in the quar

Big West: Lakers, Kings to battle in LA >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Pacific Division rivals battle tonight, as the streaking Los Angeles Lakers welcome the Sacramento Kings to the Staples Center. This is the second of four meetings between the clubs this season. On January 4th, supers

Super Bowl XLIV Odds

Super Bowl XLIII isn't even a week old yet and oddsmakers have already released Super Bowl XLIV odds.

Despite the Pittsburgh Steelers winning Super Bowl 43, the New England Patriots are 8/1 favorites to win Super Bowl 44.

Bet Super Bowl XLIV Future Odds

With their 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, the Steelers became the latest NFL champion. But believe it or not, oddsmakers from online sports book MySportsbook.com don't have the Steelers the favorites to win Super Bowl XLIV next season.

That honor belongs to the New England Patriots, who are 8/1 favorites to win despite not even qualify for the postseason in 2008. The Pats also have a major decision to make regarding what to do with Matt Cassel, who played well in Tom Brady's (knee surgery) absence last year but is also a free agent this offseason.

Ironically, the Steelers aren't even oddsmakers second choice to win Super Bowl 44, as the Dallas Cowboys are listed right behind the Patriots at 9/1 despite not making the playoffs themselves. Clearly oddsmakers think the public will hop back on the Cowboys' bandwagon considering the immense talent they have and the opening of a brand new stadium.

After Dallas, then comes Pittsburgh at 10/1, but they share those odds with the New York Giants, who won Super Bowl XLII. The Indianapolis Colts and San Diego Chargers round out the top six teams at 12/1, while the Baltimore Ravens (14/1), Tennessee Titans (16/1), Carolina Panthers (18/1) and Philadelphia Eagles (18/1) complete the top 10.

The NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals got no love from oddsmakers as they were established as a 30/1 long shot to win next year's Super Bowl. They share those same odds with the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers – two teams that didn't even qualify for the postseason. Other long shots are the Kansas City Chiefs (100/1), Detroit Lions (100/1), St. Louis Rams (75/1) and Oakland Raiders (75/1).

To see a complete list of all the team's odds to win Super Bowl XLIV, check below.

NFL TEAM FUTURE ODDS TO WIN SUPER BOWL XLIV

New England Patriots 8/1

Dallas Cowboys 9/1

New York Giants 10/1

Pittsburgh Steelers 10/1

Indianapolis Colts 12/1

San Diego Chargers 12/1

Baltimore Ravens 14/1

Tennessee Titans 16/1

Carolina Panthers 18/1

Philadelphia Eagles 18/1

New Orleans Saints 20/1

Atlanta Falcons 25/1

Denver Broncos 25/1

Green Bay Packers 25/1

Jacksonville Jaguars 25/1

Minnesota Vikings 25/1

New York Jets 25/1

Arizona Cardinals 30/1

Chicago BearS 30/1

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30/1

Buffalo Bills 35/1

Houston TexaNS 35/1

Miami Dolphins 35/1

Washington Redskins 35/1

Seattle SeahawkS 50/1

Cleveland Browns 55/1

Cincinnati Bengals 60/1

San Francisco 49ers 60/1

Oakland Raiders 75/1

St. Louis Rams 75/1

Detroit Lions 100/1

Kansas City Chiefs 100/1

Odds as of: 2/2/09

Bet Super Bowl XLIV Future Odds

To visit this online sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.