Stanley Cup betting could be one game away. The Penguins swept Carolina and await the winner of the Red Wings vs Blackhawks odds; at home tonight, Detroit can clinch the series with a win. Will it happen or will the young Hawks take advantage of the Wings’ health woes?

Red Wings vs Blackhawks odds – Game 5 tonight at 7:35 p.m. ET
NHL odds: Red Wings -250, Blackhawks +210

The Chicago Blackhawks went from jubilant to desperate between Games 3 and 4, following an overtime win in Game 3 by getting throttled 6-1 at the United Center. Sure, they were trying to make do without Nikolai Khabibulin in Game 4, but he hasn’t exactly stood on his head in Stanley Cup betting this season and the Wings were even more shorthanded, playing without Pavel Datsyuk, the best two-way forward in the game, and future Hall-of-Famer Nicklas Lidstrom, and they still pounded the Hawks.

Entering Game 5 on the road, the Hawks are a massive online sports book underdog. Khabibulin will be a game-time decision, as will Martin Havlat, who tried to come back in Game 4 but exited early, still feeling the effects of a vicious hit by Niklas Kronwall from Game 3. Lidstrom and Datsyuk will be last-minute calls for the Wings, but Detroit proved it can win without them in a tough building like the United Center, so the Red Wings odds look great tonight. Brad Stuart and Kronwall have more than filled Lidstrom’s void, punishing the speedy Hawks with one bonecrushing hit after another. While Datsyuk is irreplaceable, Detroit still has unmatched depth up front, and role players like Daniel Cleary and Valtteri Filppula have stepped it up throughout the Stanley Cup betting playoffs. Chicago should be commended for taking massive strides this season, but the young guns are facing elimination for the first time this hockey betting season. Winning on the road in that situation is a tall order. Go with the defending champs tonight.

Hockey betting pick: Red Wings -250

Before making your boxing betting  picks for this weekend, the biggest soccer club competition in Europe will crown their champion on Wednesday. Manchester United will try to defend their title against the offensively-gifted side from Barcelona, and Champions League odds have the two in a dead heat ahead of their epic showdown.

Manchester Barcelona Odds  – Wednesday, May 27, 2:45 PM ET

United rolled to the final with a 4-1 aggregate win over English rival Arsenal, and Cristiano Ronaldo sealed the Gunners’ fate with two goals in the second leg. Ronaldo has four goals in the competition, along with Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov in a balanced attack, but the Portuguese winger has the ability to take over a game. United also got some great news as Rio Ferdinand should be returning from injury. Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic have formed the best defensive duo in England all season, and with Edwin Van Der Sar in goal, United are very tough to score on.

Barca snatched a victory out of a certain loss as a 1-1 draw at Chelsea was enough to put them through. Andres Iniesta’s injury-time goal saved the Spanish league champions, and they also received some good news as Iniesta, as well as Thierry Henry, trained on Monday and could be available for the final. Still, with Lionel Messi in the lineup, Barca will feel confident against anyone. The young Argentinian leads the competition with eight goals, and he’s also added five assists as he challenges Ronaldo for the title of “best player” in the world.

Champions League odds  have both teams at +150 to win this contest, but Barca have issues at the back. Fullbacks Dani Alves and Eric Abidal are suspended, while central defender Rafa Marquez is out with a knee injury. This means Barca is without ¾ of their starting back four, and this bodes well for United’s attacking intent. Ferdinand’s return also boosts United’s chances. Barca would love to avenge last year’s semifinal loss to United, and Messi will have to have a much better game as he was shackled by United’s Patrice Evra. While they can score at will, can Barca keep a clean sheet against United?

Bet Online soccer  pick: Manchester United

Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: The Penguins try to close out the Canes, while the Cavaliers will try to avoid sinking into a deeper hole against the Magic. BetED opened the line at a pick, but now BetUs Sportsbook has Cleveland -1.5 with the total at 188 according to Sports Betting Sportsbook.

Political betting odds…

One of the sportsbooks favorites to get the Supreme Court nomination Sonia Sotomayor has been nominated by President Barack Obama to succeed retiring Justice David Souter. Though no official odds have been set for her conformation, Grandmaster sports handicapper Joe Duffy said she is -270 to be confirmed +200 not to.

The entertainment and political betting odds do ask if Sean Hannity will be waterboarded. The conservative commentator was given the challenge by grandstanding left-winger Keith Olbermann. No is -500.

In other political betting news, California‘s Proposition 8 banning of gay marriage has been upheld.

In the entertainment betting Jon & Kate Plus 8 was about the fifth birthday of their sextuplets.

The Magic can go up 3-1 on the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals on Tuesday night if they can pick up a second straight home win over LeBron James and company. Orlando got 24 points and nine rebounds from Dwight Howard on Sunday as they surged to a 99-89 win over Cleveland in Game 3. James had 41 points in the loss for the Cavaliers, but went just 11-of-28 from the field. Orlando was favored by 1.5 points Sunday, and they’re a slim favorite again for Tuesday.

GodsTips has more winners than a icosahedron has faces. Hotter than Heidi Northcutt, it’s been continued and typical mastery for Center of the Handicapping Universe GodsTips. The Nuggets in a rout made it 13-1 with NBA Wise Guy plays. Like we said, the NBA playoffs is mirroring March Madness where Mr. March just got better as the postseason went on.

In addition to a Wise Guy on the Cavs-Magic side, get a rare case of four MLB Wise Guys and two Majors. Click now to purchase

Meeting up on the diamond . . .

Coming off a rare non-win, Royals starter Zack Greinke will return to the mound at home on Tuesday night as his team hosts the Tigers. Greinke took a no-decision against the Indians last time out despite surrendering just two earned runs over six innings of work. The righthander is now 7-1 with an 0.82 ERA on the season, and he picked up a complete-game win over the Tigers back in April. Detroit counters Greinke with Edwin Jackson, who is 4-2 with a 2.55 ERA in 2009.

Also on tap in the American League on Tuesday: Toronto at Baltimore, Tampa Bay at Cleveland, the Yankees at Texas, Boston at Minnesota, Seattle at Oakland, and the White Sox at the Angels. Projected Los Angeles starter Joe Saunders is 6-2 with a 3.17 ERA, and he tossed seven scoreless innings vs. the Mariners last time out. Chicago‘s Bartolo Colon (2-4, 4.23 ERA) is his opponent.

Making up the National League’s full slate for Tuesday: Florida at Philadelphia, Washington at the Mets, Houston at Cincinnati, Pittsburgh at the Cubs, St. Louis at Milwaukee, the Dodgers at Colorado, San Diego at Arizona, and Atlanta at San Francisco. The Giants will turn to ace Tim Lincecum for Tuesday night’s contest; the righthander is 3-1 with a 3.45 ERA this season, but he’s on a streak of three straight no-decisions. Atlanta will go with Kris Medlen (0-1, 15.00 ERA).

Taking a trip around the rink . . .

The Penguins can sweep their way into the Stanley Cup final on Tuesday night when they take on the Hurricanes in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference final in Carolina. Pittsburgh rolled over the Canes 6-2 on the road in Game 3 on Saturday night, with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin combining for three goals and two assists. The oddsmakers like the Penguins’ chances of finishing off this series on Tuesday, as they’ve been pegged as -130 road faves at Bodog Life  (with total at 5.5 at all sportsbooks).