11/19/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Oklahoma City Thunder are having a miserable start to their inaugural season and will resume a three-game homestand this evening versus the just-as-lowly Los Angeles Clippers at the Ford Center.
Oklahoma City is only 1-10 on the season and has dropped eight in a row since its only win on November 2 versus Minnesota. In Monday's 100-89 loss to the Houston Rockets in the opener of the residency, reigning Rookie of the Year Kevin Durant poured in a game-high 29 points, grabbed seven boards and dished out four assists for the Thunder.
Jeff Green added 16 points and Russell Westbrook netted 14 off the bench in a losing cause for Oklahoma City, which will also host the New Orleans Hornets. The Thunder are just 1-5 as the host this season.
On the injury front for the Thunder, forward Chris Wilcox is probable for Wednesday's game with a sprained right knee.
Los Angeles is just as bad with a 1-9 record this season and will kick off a three-game road trip Wednesday at Oklahoma City.
The Clippers have dropped three in a row after winning their first game of the season on November 9 versus Dallas. They suffered an 86-83 setback at the hands of the San Antonio Spurs on Monday at the Staples Center, as Cuttino Mobley scored a team-high 18 points while Chris Kaman chipped in 17 points and 13 boards in defeat.
Baron Davis ended with 11 points and eight assists for the Clippers, who will also visit Philadelphia and New Jersey on the trek. LA is 0-2 on the road in 2008-09.
Los Angeles went 2-1 against Seattle/Oklahoma City last season and has won four of the past six matchups.
The Clippers have lost 20 of 26 as the visitor in this series.
<< Caps head west for showdown with Ducks
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Washington Capitals will try to get back in the win
column tonight when they continue their five-game road trip with a stop at the
Honda Center to face the Anaheim Ducks.
The Capitals had a five-game winning streak hal
<< Rangers, Canucks clash in NYC
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Eastern Conference-leading New York Rangers will shoot
for a fourth consecutive victory tonight, when they welcome the Vancouver
Canucks for a matchup at Madison Square Garden.
The Rangers are leading the East with 30
<< Surging Bruins welcome Sabres to Beantown
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Bruins will aim for their seventh victory in
eight games when they welcome the Buffalo Sabres for tonight's Northeast
Division clash at TD Banknorth Garden.
Boston, which leads the Northeast with 26 points, had
<< Top-20 showdown in Big East pits Panthers against Bearcats
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of Top 20 programs with Big East
title aspirations clash at Nippert Stadium this weekend, as the 20th-ranked
Pittsburgh Panthers square off against the 19th-ranked Cincinnati Bearcats.
The Bearcats en
Villanova seeks 3-0 start as Niagara comes to the Main Line >>
Villanova, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 23rd-ranked Villanova Wildcats hope to
score their third consecutive victory to open this new season as they host the
Niagara Purple Eagles as part of the Philly Hoop Group Classic.
Niagara began the seas
Spartans visits Mastodons in obvious mismatch >>
Fort Wayne, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The IUPU-Fort Wayne Mastodons have the
privilege of hosting the nation's fifth-ranked team this evening, as the
Michigan State Spartans of the Big Ten come to town.
Michigan State began its season on Sunday
No. 20 Wake Forest hosts UNC-Wilmington >>
Winston-Salem, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 20th-ranked Wake Forest Demon Deacons
welcome the UNC-Wilmington Seahawks to Winston-Salem this evening for a in-
state battle at the Lawrence Joel Coliseum.
The Demon Deacons successfully opened thei
Spartans visit Mastodons in obvious mismatch >>
Fort Wayne, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The IUPU-Fort Wayne Mastodons have the
privilege of hosting the nation's fifth-ranked team this evening, as the
Michigan State Spartans of the Big Ten come to town.
Michigan State began its season on Sunday
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 SPORTS TRASH TALK
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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