There?s lots of exciting playoff action this weekend, in both the NBA and the NHL. In the NBA, the Miami Heat host the Atlanta Hawks in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series Friday, and the Chicago Bulls visit the Boston Celtics for Game 7 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series Saturday. In the NHL, the last two Stanley Cup champions clash in the opening game of their Western Conference semifinal series when the Anaheim Ducks face the Red Wings in Detroit Friday. And the Carolina Hurricanes visit the Boston Bruins for Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series, also Friday. In Hot Props, bet on Saturday?s 135th running of the Kentucky Derby.
TRIVIA:
Which two teams were in the Eastern Conference Final of the 2008 NHL Playoffs?
1. Pittsburgh and New York Rangers
2. Pittsburgh and Montreal
3. Pittsburgh and Philadelphia
4. Detroit and Pittsburgh
ANSWER AT BOTTOM
NBA PLAYOFFS:
Friday
ATLANTA HAWKS @ MIAMI HEAT
8:05 pm ET, ESPN
The Miami Heat face elimination from the NBA Playoffs when they host the Atlanta Hawks in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series Friday.
The Hawks beat the Heat 106-91 in Game 5 on Wednesday to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series. The Hawks covered the 6.5-point spread, while the 197 points went over the total of 180.
Despite that game going over, there is a strong under trend between these teams. The total has gone under in five of the past six meetings in Miami, in seven of the past nine meetings overall, and in five of Atlanta?s past seven overall.
Atlanta is 5-2 SU in the past seven meetings, but Miami is 21-4 SU in the past 25 meetings at home.
betED Line: Heat (-5)(-110) (-235) Total: 182.5
Bet this Game!
Saturday
CHICAGO BULLS @ BOSTON CELTICS
8:05 pm ET, TNT
One team will advance to the second round and one team will have an early summer when the Chicago Bulls visit the Boston Celtics for Game 7 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series Saturday.
The Bulls evened the series at 3-3 with a thrilling 128-127 win in triple-overtime in Game 6 Thursday. The Bulls failed to cover the 3-point home spread and the score went well over the total of 195.5.
Chicago is 4-9 SU in the past 13 meetings and 1-6 SU in the past seven meetings in Boston. The total has gone over in six of the past seven meetings in Boston.
betED Line: Celtics (-6.5)(-110) Total: 196.5
Bet this Game!
NHL PLAYOFFS:
Friday
ANAHEIM DUCKS @ DETROIT RED WINGS
7 pm ET, VERSUS, CBC
The last two Stanley Cup champions clash in the opener of their Western Conference semifinal series when the Anaheim Ducks face the Red Wings in Detroit Friday.
The Ducks upset the heavily favored San Jose Sharks in the first round, winning the best-of-seven Western Conference quarterfinal in six games. Detroit swept the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-0.
Anaheim won the Stanley Cup in 2007 while Detroit is the defending champion.
The teams last met on Feb. 20, when Detroit won 5-2 as a -300 home favorite.
Each has won five of the past 10 meetings. The over/under is 5-4-1 in the past 10 meetings.
betED Line: Red Wings (-1.5)(+125) (-250) Total: 5.5
Bet this Game!
Friday
CAROLINA HURRICANES @ BOSTON BRUINS
7:35 pm ET, VERSUS, NESN
The Carolina Hurricanes visit the Boston Bruins for Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series Friday.
Carolina upset the favored New Jersey Devils in the first round, winning the best-of-seven series in seven games. The Bruins, the No. 1 seed in the East, swept the Montreal Canadiens four straight.
Carolina and Boston last met on Feb. 17 with the Bruins winning 5-1 on the road.
Boston is 6-4 SU over the past 10 meetings. Seven of the past 10 meetings have gone over the total.
betED Line: Bruins (-1.5)(+155) (-210) Total: 5.5
Bet this Game!
Hot Props:
The 135th Kentucky Derby ? also known as the ?Run for the Roses? and the ?Fastest Two Minutes in Sports? ? takes place Saturday at Churchill Downs.
Who will win the 2009 Kentucky Derby?
1. I Want Revenge +300
2. Dunkirk +425
3. Friesan Fire +450
4. Pioneer of the Nile +550
5. Chocolate Candy +1100
6. Desert Party +1100
Bet the Kentucky Derby
TRIVIA ANSWER:
3. Pittsburgh and Philadelphia
The Eastern Conference Final of the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs was the battle of Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh went on to lose the Stanley Cup final to Detroit.
TRIVIA:
Which two teams were in the Eastern Conference Final of the 2008 NHL Playoffs?
1. Pittsburgh and New York Rangers
2. Pittsburgh and Montreal
3. Pittsburgh and Philadelphia
4. Detroit and Pittsburgh
ANSWER AT BOTTOM
NBA PLAYOFFS:
Friday
ATLANTA HAWKS @ MIAMI HEAT
8:05 pm ET, ESPN
The Miami Heat face elimination from the NBA Playoffs when they host the Atlanta Hawks in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series Friday.
The Hawks beat the Heat 106-91 in Game 5 on Wednesday to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series. The Hawks covered the 6.5-point spread, while the 197 points went over the total of 180.
Despite that game going over, there is a strong under trend between these teams. The total has gone under in five of the past six meetings in Miami, in seven of the past nine meetings overall, and in five of Atlanta?s past seven overall.
Atlanta is 5-2 SU in the past seven meetings, but Miami is 21-4 SU in the past 25 meetings at home.
betED Line: Heat (-5)(-110) (-235) Total: 182.5
Bet this Game!
Saturday
CHICAGO BULLS @ BOSTON CELTICS
8:05 pm ET, TNT
One team will advance to the second round and one team will have an early summer when the Chicago Bulls visit the Boston Celtics for Game 7 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series Saturday.
The Bulls evened the series at 3-3 with a thrilling 128-127 win in triple-overtime in Game 6 Thursday. The Bulls failed to cover the 3-point home spread and the score went well over the total of 195.5.
Chicago is 4-9 SU in the past 13 meetings and 1-6 SU in the past seven meetings in Boston. The total has gone over in six of the past seven meetings in Boston.
betED Line: Celtics (-6.5)(-110) Total: 196.5
Bet this Game!
NHL PLAYOFFS:
Friday
ANAHEIM DUCKS @ DETROIT RED WINGS
7 pm ET, VERSUS, CBC
The last two Stanley Cup champions clash in the opener of their Western Conference semifinal series when the Anaheim Ducks face the Red Wings in Detroit Friday.
The Ducks upset the heavily favored San Jose Sharks in the first round, winning the best-of-seven Western Conference quarterfinal in six games. Detroit swept the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-0.
Anaheim won the Stanley Cup in 2007 while Detroit is the defending champion.
The teams last met on Feb. 20, when Detroit won 5-2 as a -300 home favorite.
Each has won five of the past 10 meetings. The over/under is 5-4-1 in the past 10 meetings.
betED Line: Red Wings (-1.5)(+125) (-250) Total: 5.5
Bet this Game!
Friday
CAROLINA HURRICANES @ BOSTON BRUINS
7:35 pm ET, VERSUS, NESN
The Carolina Hurricanes visit the Boston Bruins for Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series Friday.
Carolina upset the favored New Jersey Devils in the first round, winning the best-of-seven series in seven games. The Bruins, the No. 1 seed in the East, swept the Montreal Canadiens four straight.
Carolina and Boston last met on Feb. 17 with the Bruins winning 5-1 on the road.
Boston is 6-4 SU over the past 10 meetings. Seven of the past 10 meetings have gone over the total.
betED Line: Bruins (-1.5)(+155) (-210) Total: 5.5
Bet this Game!
Hot Props:
The 135th Kentucky Derby ? also known as the ?Run for the Roses? and the ?Fastest Two Minutes in Sports? ? takes place Saturday at Churchill Downs.
Who will win the 2009 Kentucky Derby?
1. I Want Revenge +300
2. Dunkirk +425
3. Friesan Fire +450
4. Pioneer of the Nile +550
5. Chocolate Candy +1100
6. Desert Party +1100
Bet the Kentucky Derby
TRIVIA ANSWER:
3. Pittsburgh and Philadelphia
The Eastern Conference Final of the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs was the battle of Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh went on to lose the Stanley Cup final to Detroit.
