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The biggest Belmont Stakes odds news of the weekend: Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra isn’t running in the race. The filly’s co-owner Jess Jackson explained that the horse “needs a vacation” after a busy season that included four graded stakes races (all of which she won). What does that mean for the rest of the field? Let’s look at a few horses to consider in Belmont Stakes betting. MINE THAT BIRD The Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes odds favorite from the start just got a whole lot more appealing. Not only does he not have to compete against Rachel Alexandra, he gets his jockey back. Calvin Borel rode Mine That Bird in the Kentucky Derby, then switched to Rachel Alexandra to win the Preakness. Now, he returns to Mine That Bird in his attempt to win the jockey’s Triple Crown. Given Mine That Bird’s style—running off the pace and making a late charge—the Belmont Stakes odds are perfectly suited to him, as the track is the longest of the three Triple Crown races. CHARITABLE MAN Could he be the top alternative pick for anyone lacking confidence in Mine That Bird? His win at MINER‘S ESCAPE Hall-of-Fame owner? Check. Hall-of-Fame trainer? Check. Owner/trainer tandem won the Belmont Stakes odds last year with their horse Da‘ |
Stanley Cup Game 3 Pick
Stanley Cup betting rages on and the Penguins are in trouble. After two games of bad bounces, screen shots, heckling and brawls, the Penguins left Penguins vs Red Wings odds: Game 3 tonight, 8:00 p.m. at Mellon Arena Looking at Games 1 and 2, the Penguins didn’t actually play horrible hockey; they outshot Detroit in both games and—excluding the last minute mini-brawl in Game 2 — the Pens took just one minor penalty in each game. The losses were thus more about what After a fluky bankshot goal in game 1, the Wings seemed set to shoot from everywhere in Game 2; they terrorized Marc-Andre Fleury by (a) shooting from strange angles and (b) always having traffic in front of Fleury to set up screenshots. They even used the Penguin defensemen as screens when their own guys weren’t parked in front, as Justin Abdelkader did on his “knucklepuck” goal. While it’s hard to ask a defenseman to fully “get out of the way” and let his opponent take shots on his goalie, the Pens’ blueliners can at least help their cause tonight by clearing Wings forwards from the crease. The Wings have also done an amazing job keeping Sidney Crosby (0 points) and Evgeni Malkin (2 points) off the scoresheet in the Stanley Cup Final odds so far. Henrik Zetterberg in particular has done a great job shadowing Sid the Kid and won’t let up. So far in the series, the Red Wings are winning the goaltending battle; Conn Smythe candidate Chris Osgood has been rock-solid while Marc-Andre Fleury got spooked by fluky shots and may have let the NHL betting pick: Penguins -145 |
Boxing Betting
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Impatiently waiting for the French Open odds clash between Federer and Nadal? Don’t worry—there’s lots of fun boxing betting to do this weekend. Check out these intriguing matchups. Andre Berto (24-0) vs Juan Urango (23-1-1) Can tough guy Juan Urango take the next step forward in his boxing betting career? He’s certainly an exciting fighter—a street brawler type who walks forward and opts for flurries of heavy punches instead of calculated strikes. He may be biting off more than he can chew against the polished Berto, though. Berto is a disciplined, technically sound fighter who simply doesn’t make many mistakes. While he may not have faced anyone as aggressive as Urango before, he can adapt and wait for his openings. Urango has the power to catch Berto, but that probably won’t happen. Sportsbook online pick: Berto -350 Nikolay Valuev (50-1-1) vs Ruslan Chagaev (25-0-1) In a battle for the undisputed WBA heavyweight title, seven-footer Nikolay Valuev faces the only man to ever beat him, Ruslan Chagaev. Given the 11-inch height difference between the fighters, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out each guy’s strengths and weaknesses. Valuev has immense power and dominates when he corners smaller opponents, but he’s slow as molasses. Chagaev is quick and flashy and does have power, but he’ll be hard pressed to really hurt a man of Valuev’s stature. There’s one crucial difference from the first Valuev/Chagaev fight that could tip the boxing odds in the big guy’s favor; Chagaev is one fight removed from completely tearing his Achilles, so it remains to be seen if he’ll have the same quickness as before (and he didn’t look great in his first fight back).Valuev may capitalize and bludgeon Chagaev with body shots and uppercuts. Sportsbook online pick: Valuev -115 |
Penguins-Red Wings, Cavs-Magic Top Betting Games Saturday
Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: The Magic try again to finish off the Cavs, while the Pens skate into
Tipping off on the hardwood . . .
The Cavaliers will try to tie up their best-of-seven series with the Magic on Saturday night when the Eastern Conference Finals shifts back to
Superstar Stevie Vincent is ready for today’s card to say the least. The Cleveland/Orlando game side is a Level 3, the over/under a Level 4. The Great One has Level 4 and 5 plays in pro baseball. This season, the founder of forensic sports handicapping has hit 13 of his 16 pro baseball Level 5 plays. He has hit a stunning 36-of-60 Level 4 and 5 plays in pro basketball. Get all four winners up now. Click now to purchase Stevie’s picks now.
Meeting up on the diamond . . .
White Sox ace Mark Buehrle gets the ball on Saturday as his team continues its road series in
Elsewhere around the American League on Saturday it’ll be
Over in the National League on Saturday it’ll be Florida at the Mets, Atlanta at Arizona, the Dodgers at the Cubs, Houston at Pittsburgh, Washington at Philadelphia, Cincinnati at Milwaukee, San Diego at Colorado, and St. Louis at San Francisco. Cardinals starter Chris Carpenter is 2-0 through four starts and hasn’t given up an earned run this season (through 23 innings pitched). Giants counterpart Barry Zito has now lost three in a row and sits at 1-5 with a 4.02 ERA.
Taking a trip around the rink . . .
It’ll be Penguins vs. Red Wings once again in the Stanley Cup final this season, with
White Sox-Royals Odds Preview
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The Kansas City Royals will be fighting to snap a losing streak on Saturday when they take on the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium.
The White Sox will give the ball to ace starter
Meanwhile, it’ll be ace
Odds aren’t yet posted for this game, so check back later for the opening line and total.
The White Sox scored six runs in the sixth inning to earn a 11-2 victory over the Royals on Friday, as a +110 underdog. The 13 runs sailed OVER the posted over/under (9).
Current streak:
Team records:
Kansas City: 23-25 SU Chicago most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 4-6 Before playing Kansas City are 4-6 After playing Kansas City are 3-7 After a win are 3-7 Kansas City most recently: A few trends to consider:
Chi White Sox are 5-2 SU in their last 7 games Chi White Sox are 4-11 SU in their last 15 games on the road Chi White Sox are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games when playing Kansas City Kansas City is 4-1 SU in their last 5 games when playing Chi White Sox Kansas City is 2-7 SU in its last 9 games Kansas City is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games at home Next up:
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Twins-Rays Odds Preview
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The Minnesota Twins and the Tampa Bay Rays will both be gunning for a victory on Saturday when they meet at Tropicana Field.
Ace lefthander
It’ll be
Oddsmakers currently have the
Current streak:
Team records:
Minnesota most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 5-5 Before playing Tampa Bay are 3-7 After playing Tampa Bay are 5-5 After a loss are 4-6 Tampa Bay most recently: A few trends to consider:
Minnesota is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games Minnesota is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Tampa Bay Minnesota is 1-10 SU in its last 11 games on the road Tampa Bay is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games at home Tampa Bay is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Minnesota Tampa Bay is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games Next up:
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Braves-Diamondbacks Odds Preview
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The Atlanta Braves and the Arizona Diamondbacks will both be trying to pick up a win on Saturday when they battle at
Starting this game for the Diamondbacks will be
Oddsmakers currently have the Braves listed as 120-moneyline favorites versus the Diamondbacks, while the game’s total has not yet been posted.
The Braves scored nine runs over two innings and earned a 10-6 victory over the Diamondbacks on Fiday, as -125 favorites. That game’s 16 runs sailed OVER the posted over/under (9).
Chad Tracy hit a three-run homer and collected four runs for the Diamondbacks, ho were +105 underdogs.
Team records:
Arizona: 21-28 SU Atlanta most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 3-7 Before playing Arizona are 6-4 After playing Arizona are 4-6 After a win are 6-4 Arizona most recently: A few trends to consider:
Atlanta is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Arizona Atlanta is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games when playing Arizona Atlanta is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road Atlanta is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games Arizona is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games when playing Atlanta Arizona is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games Arizona is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Atlanta Arizona is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games at home Next up:
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Dodgers-Cubs Lines Preview
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The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs will both be trying to pick up a win on Saturday when they battle at Wrigley Field.
The Dodgers will trot
Stults’s opponent in this one will be
Oddsmakers currently have the Cubs listed as 145-moneyline favorites versus the Dodgers, while the game’s total has not yet been posted.
The Cubs scored twice in the seventh inning and held on for a 2-1 victory over the Dodgers on Friday, at EVEN odds. That game’s three runs went UNDER the day’s posted over/under (8).
Koyie Hill belted a solo home run, and
Team records:
When playing on Saturday are 6-4 Before playing Chi Cubs are 6-4 After playing Chi Cubs are 5-5 After a loss are 7-3
A few trends to consider:
LA Dodgers are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games on the road LA Dodgers are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games when playing Chi Cubs LA Dodgers are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games Chi Cubs are 11-4 SU in their last 15 games at home Chi Cubs are 3-9 SU in their last 12 games Chi Cubs are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games when playing LA Dodgers Next up:
Chi Cubs home to LA Dodgers, Sunday, May 31 |
Red Sox-Blue Jays Lines Preview
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The Florida Marlins and the New York Mets will both be trying to pick up a win on Saturday when they battle at Citi Field.
The Marlins will pin their hopes on the pitching of righthander
Meanwhile, it’ll be
Odds aren’t yet posted for this game, so check back later for the opening line and total.
Omir Santos drove in the winning run in the 11th inning to give the Mets a 2-1 victory over the Marlins on Friday, as -180 favorites. The team’s played UNDER the posted over/under (9).
Current streak:
Team records:
Florida most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 7-3 Before playing NY Mets are 6-4 After playing NY Mets are 7-3 After a loss are 4-6 New York most recently: A few trends to consider:
NY Mets are 6-1 SU in its last 7 games NY Mets are 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home Next up:
NY Mets home to The Marlins will pin their hopes on the pitching of righthander
Meanwhile, it’ll be
Odds aren’t yet posted for this game, so check back later for the opening line and total.
Omir Santos drove in the winning run in the 11th inning to give the Mets a 2-1 victory over the Marlins on Friday, as -180 favorites. The team’s played UNDER the posted over/under (9).
Current streak:
Team records:
Florida most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 7-3 Before playing NY Mets are 6-4 After playing NY Mets are 7-3 After a loss are 4-6 New York most recently: A few trends to consider:
NY Mets are 6-1 SU in its last 7 games NY Mets are 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home Next up:
NY Mets home to |
Cavaliers-Magic Odds Preview
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The Cleveland Cavaliers and the Orlando Magic will both be trying to pick up a win on Saturday when they battle at Amway Arena.
Oddsmakers currently have the Magic listed as 2½-point favorites versus the Cavaliers, while the game’s total has not yet been posted.
The Cavaliers covered the 7.5-point spread, while the 214 points sailed OVER the posted total of 197.
Team records:
Orlando: 59-23 SU, 49-32-1 ATS Cleveland most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 6-4 After playing Orlando are 7-3 After a win are 7-3 Orlando most recently: A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Cleveland’s last 6 games on the road The total has gone OVER in 5 of Cleveland’s last 6 games when playing Orlando The total has gone OVER in 4 of Cleveland’s last 5 games Cleveland is 15-4 SU in its last 19 games Orlando is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Cleveland Orlando is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Cleveland Orlando is 9-1 ATS in its last 10 games when playing Cleveland Orlando is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games |