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NASCAR Saturday: The Dan Lowry 400 at Richmond International Raceway
Posted on May 1, 2008 | 8:33 AM ET Filed under:The only NASCAR race on the Sprint Cup schedule named after an essay winner takes place this Saturday at Richmond, where two-time defending Cup champion Jimmie Johnson is the favorite at +500. Johnson swept both races at Richmond last year and finished in the Top 4 in three of his last four events this year, including his first win of the season in Phoenix. Both Phoenix and Richmond are short tracks; the RIR track is especially tiny at three-quarters of a mile.
NASCAR: Aaron's 499, Talladega Superspeedway
Posted on April 24, 2008 | 9:27 AM ET Filed under:Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is having a much better year on the NASCAR Sprint Cup circuit now that he’s with Hendrick Motorsport. But he still hasn’t taken the checkered flag after eight Cup races. That could all end this Sunday afternoon at Talladega, where Earnhardt is the +400 favorite to take the Aaron’s 499.
NBA Playoffs: Boston at Atlanta, Game 3
Posted on April 24, 2008 | 9:27 AM ET Filed under:There’s little doubt in anyone’s mind that the Boston Celtics are going to sweep the Atlanta Hawks out of the first round of the NBA playoffs. Boston took the first two games of their best-of-seven series at the Garden, easily covering the 15-point spread in both cases. Odds had yet to be posted at press time for Saturday’s Game 3, but the C’s should remain overwhelming favorites in Atlanta.
NBA Playoffs: L.A. Lakers at Denver, Game 3
Posted on April 24, 2008 | 9:27 AM ET Filed under:Being the top seed in the Western Conference isn’t nearly as much of an advantage this year. But the No. 8 Denver Nuggets are still down two games to none going back to Mile High for Saturday’s Game 3. Kobe Bryant had 49 points and 10 assists for the Los Angeles Lakers Wednesday night in a 122-107 victory. L.A. covered as an 8.5-point chalk for the second game in a row.
NBA East Championship Futures
Posted on April 17, 2008 | 9:08 AM ET Filed under:The Eastern Conference still plays second fiddle to the West, but the exodus of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to the Boston Celtics has tipped the balance a little closer to the East. The Celtics have the best record in the NBA at 66-16, and they’re the heavy favorites to win the conference at –350. The 8-seed Atlanta Hawks (37-45) are little competition in the first round at +6500.
NBA West Championship Futures
Posted on April 17, 2008 | 9:08 AM ET Filed under:The NBA’s Western Conference has delivered eight 50-win teams, each with a legitimate chance to make it to the Finals. But the race doesn’t look quite as close on the futures market.
Saturday MLB: Mets vs. Phillies, 3:55 p.m. ET
Posted on April 17, 2008 | 9:08 AM ET Filed under:In 2007, the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies went down to the wire before the Phillies clinched the National League East crown by a single game. Neither team is doing too well in 2008; New York is 7-6, and Philadelphia is 7-8. They’ll take turns beating on each other starting Friday at Citizens Bank Park.
NBA Sunday: San Antonio at L.A. Lakers, 3:30 p.m. ET
Posted on April 9, 2008 | 11:29 PM ET Filed under:The NBA playoffs are only a few games away. These are anxious times for handicappers; teams who have clinched their playoff seeds or are missing the postseason altogether are more likely to rest their starters, while other clubs are giving it all they have.
NASCAR Saturday: Subway Fresh Fit 500, 8 p.m. ET
Posted on April 9, 2008 | 11:29 PM ET Filed under:The 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup is certainly a lot more competitive than last year’s Hendrick Motorsports parade to the finish line. But the former Car of Tomorrow is not winning very many fans today. Carl Edwards won a very bland race last Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway, his third checkered flag in three events on intermediate ovals.
MLB Saturday: Yankees at Red Sox, 3:30 p.m. ET
Posted on April 9, 2008 | 11:29 PM ET Filed under:The best rivalry in the majors continues this weekend when the New York Yankees (4-5) and Boston Red Sox (4-5) renew acquaintances at historic Fenway Park. The first two weeks of the 2008 season have been iffy for both clubs: Boston was swept by the Blue Jays, while the Yankees have had trouble with both Tampa Bay and Kansas City.
Kansas Jayhawks vs. Memphis Tigers (-1, 145)
Posted on April 6, 2008 | 8:02 AM ET Filed under:Playing at the top of their respective games, Kansas (36-3, 22-15 ATS) and Memphis (38-1, 18-19-2 ATS) will go head to head for the national championship on Monday night in San Antonio.
NCAAB Final Four: Kansas vs. North Carolina
Posted on April 3, 2008 | 8:40 AM ET Filed under:The Final Four nightcap on Saturday night pits the No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks (35-3 straight up, 21-15 against the spread) against the No. 1 North Carolina Tar Heels (36-2 SU, 24-11 ATS). North Carolina is 4-0 ATS at the big dance, winning by double digits every time, while Kansas is 3-1 ATS after squeaking by Davidson (+9.5) in the Elite Eight.
NCAAB Final Four: Memphis vs. UCLA
Posted on April 3, 2008 | 8:40 AM ET Filed under:Saturday’s semifinal round of the men’s college basketball Tournament starts with the No. 1 Memphis Tigers (37-1 straight up, 17-19-2 against the spread) facing the No. 1 UCLA Bruins (35-3 SU, 21-14-2 ATS). Although the Tigers have the weaker ATS record, they were dominant against both Michigan State (+5.5) in the Sweet 16 and Texas (+3.5) in the Elite Eight.
March Madness: Elite 8
Posted on March 29, 2008 | 8:36 AM ET Filed under:The Elite 8 kicks off Saturday with the West Regional final in Phoenix where No. 3 Xavier (30-6, 16-16 ATS) will take on No. 1 UCLA (34-3, 20-14-2 ATS). The favored Bruins will lean on freshman Kevin Love, who dropped 29 points in UCLA’s 88-78 Sweet 16 payday over No. 12 Western Kentucky. Xavier will face its first big test of the Tournament after SU and ATS wins over Georgia, Purdue, and West Virginia.
NBA: Houston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs
Posted on March 27, 2008 | 8:48 AM ET Filed under:The Houston Rockets (49-23, 41-30-1 ATS) look for their third victory in four games against the San Antonio Spurs (49-23, 32-38-2 ATS) when the Southwest Division rivals meet on Sunday afternoon at the SBC Center.
Major League Baseball: Atlanta at Washington
Posted on March 27, 2008 | 8:48 AM ET Filed under:The Washington Nationals (73-89) look to start things on the right foot in their new stadium when they host the Atlanta Braves (84-78) on Sunday Night Baseball.
