Bulls draw closer to playoffs with thumping of Philadelphia

Basketball Betting Lines

04/09/2009 - Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tyrus Thomas and Ben Gordon each scored 24 points as Chicago inched closer to a playoff berth with a 113-99 victory over slumping Philadelphia.

Derrick Rose added 16 points and eight assists, Brad Miller scored 15 points with six assists off the bench and John Salmons donated 14 points for the Bulls, who currently sit seventh in the Eastern Conference and can clinch a playoff spot with a Charlotte loss on Friday night in Oklahoma City.

Andre Miller led the Sixers with 20 points, Andre Iguodala added 19 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds and Lou Williams gave instant offense off the bench with 16 points. The Sixers have already made the playoffs but have lost three straight and five of eight overall.

Philadelphia clamped down defensively and spurted out to a 29-22 lead after one quarter following a Miller jumper and Green reverse layup to conclude the scoring. The Bulls deep bench and renewed defensive intensity flipped the momentum in the second stanza.

The Sixers held three 10-point edges in the period, but the Bulls took a two- point lead at 48-46 following 10 straight points in just over two minutes. Rose's slam and transition layup off a turnover bookended a scoring stretch that also included a Miller hook shot and a pair of Gordon threes.

The teams went into the locker in a 50-50 dead heat.

Philadelphia scored seven of the first nine points out of the locker room for a 57-52 margin but the Bulls charged back with a 13-4 stretch that included seven straight points at one point. A Gordon three followed by four points from Thomas opened the 65-61 advantage.

Chicago kept its foot on the accelerator, using some long-distance shooting from Salmons then inside buckets from Joakim Noah and Thomas to hold a 74-65 edge with 3:07 left in the period. Thomas calmly sank four free throws later in the quarter to make the difference 78-67 and the Bulls took an 82-72 lead into the final 12 minutes of game action.

Chicago ramped up its energy even higher and extended an already double-digit lead to 20 points at 105-85 on a Rose jumper that capped off a 14-3 stretch. The Bulls never looked back from there.

Game Notes

The Bulls shot 52.4 percent from the floor and made all 19 of their free-throw attempts...The Sixers connected on 52.1 percent of their shots, but made only 16-of-27 free throws...The clubs split four meetings this season.

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SPORTS BETTING

NFL Football Betting Online

In terms of sports wagering, the NFL is "the most popular game in town." The explanation behind that is easy.

It is called the "pointspread."

Many years ago, NFL games, as well as the more popular college games, used straight odds as a vehicle for betting. For example, if the Bears were playing the Giants, and it shaped up as a competitive contest, the Bears might be, say, a 7/5 favorite. If they were playing an also-ran, it might be 10/1. Well, there is a point where a line becomes prohibitive, as far as betting the favorite. And who would waste money betting an underdog that has virtually no chance? Such a setup did not contribute to promoting betting action.

But in modern sports betting, a "pointspread" is used.

A NFL pointspreads are exactly that, a pre-established point difference between the two sides that will, for all intents and purposes, create a handicap that evens things out, and in doing so, produces comparable wagering activity on both sides of that proposition. So in lieu of a odds figure in which to bet the team to win outright, the Bears might be a three-point favorite over the New York Giants, and a 17-point favorite over the also-ran. Now that the team that is the underdog can "get" points, there can be equal action on both sides.

In sportsbooks, this is usually done with efficiency by charging the losing bettors 10% extra - in effect, bettors are laying 11/10 on those games. So they are actually betting $110 to win $100. If they lose, they pay the "vig." If they win, they simply collect.

The establishment of the pointspread as the corner stone around which team sports like football can be wagered upon was truly what brought gridiron betting into the stratosphere for online football betting .

Don't believe it? Just take a look at what happens around the Super Bowl.

Stay with us here as we take you through the best in NFL action on a consistent basis, with advice columns as well as handicapping selections. If you're looking for college football betting, that's in our NCAA section, which you can reach by clicking here. And if you're looking for a different kind of football, such as the Canadian Football League, which we'll deal with occasionally, or the Arena Football League, which we really like, you can find it in our Miscellaneous section by clicking

Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting odds .
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook betting credit cards

It's less than a month until the NHL hockey betting season opens at MySportsbook.com and preparations are underway for another battle in the race to hoist Lord Stanley's mug in 2007.

As cup crazy fans prepare to place their bets, one online sportsbook ,MySportsbook.com, is offering hockey betting lines on the 2007/2007 Stanley Cup , who will bring it home this upcoming season.

Despite a poor showing in last season's playoffs and the loss of Steve Yzerman to retirement, the Detroit Red Wings are early favourites at this online sportsbook with wagering odds of 6-1. The Wings will look to offensive powerhouse Pavel Datsyuk and newly appointed captain Nicklas Lidstrom to lead one of the league's most prominent franchises.

Always a threat are the Ottawa Senators, with newly acquired goaltender Martin Gerber from the Stanley Cup champion ,Carolina Hurricanes. The Sens are second best in the rankings at a 7-1 bet, and odds makers at this sportsbook are optimistic that the Ottawa squad will fare better than last season's Eastern Conference semi-final upset to the Buffalo Sabres.

Also worth noting are the defending Stanley Cup champs Carolina Hurricanes, a 10-1 bet to repeat. Behind the Canes are the New Jersey Devils, Calgary Flames, Buffalo Sabres, Philadelphia Flyers, and Anaheim Mighty Ducks all sit at 12-1. In the basement are the Washington Capitals, Chicago Blackhawks, and St. Louis Blues who all have 100-1 odds to win.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your hockey betting needs.