It?s Conference Championship weekend and we?re all over both NFL playoff games. First, the New Orleans Saints try and continue their Cinderella season when they take on the Chicago Bears Sunday afternoon in Chicago. Then, the heated rivalry between the New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts will add a new chapter when the Patriots battle the Colts in Indianapolis. We also have Detroit at Minnesota and Cleveland at Denver in the NBA, and Detroit at Columbus and Anaheim at Calgary in the NHL. In Hot Props, place a bet on Beckham.
Trivia
In the early days of the NFL, the league champion was determined by end-of-season standings. What year did the NFL switch over to a post-season playoff system?
A.1928
B.1933
C.1947
D.1954
Answer at bottom
NFL
Sunday
NEW ORLEANS @ CHICAGO
3 pm ET, FOX
The fans at Soldier Field will be treated to a contest between the New Orleans Saints and the Chicago Bears when they take their seats on Sunday for the NFC Championship Game. The Saints hung on for a 27-24 win over the Philadelphia Eagles as they march into the NFC Championship Game. New Orleans failed to cover the 5.5-point spread in the win, but the final score made it OVER the posted total of 49. The Bears edged Seattle 27-24 as a 9-point favorite last week. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (37).
During the regular season, New Orleans was 10-6 SU, 10-6 ATS, 8-8 OU, is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games, and is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing Chicago. Chicago was 13-3 SU, 10-6 ATS, 11-4-1 OU, is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games, and is 13-3 SU in its last 16 games at home.
betED Line: Bears (-1.5) (+100) Total: U(43)(-110)
Bet this game!
Sunday
NEW ENGLAND @ INDIANAPOLIS
6:30 pm ET, CBS
The New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts will both be gunning for a victory on Sunday afternoon when they meet at the RCA Dome for the AFC Championship Game. The Patriots defeated San Diego 24-21 as a 4.5-point underdog last week. The combined score fell UNDER the posted over/under total (46). Adam Vinatieri booted five field goals as the Colts defeated the Baltimore Ravens 15-6 Saturday to advance to the AFC Championship Game. Indianapolis won the game as a 4-point road underdog and the final score fell well UNDER the posted total of 41.5.
During the regular season, New England was 12-4 SU, 9-7 ATS, 6-10 OU, is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games, and is 14-4 SU in its last 18 games when playing Indianapolis. Indianapolis was 12-4 SU, 8-8 ATS, 8-8 OU, is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games at home, and is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against New England.
betED Line: Colts (-155) (-3)(-110) Total: U(47.5)(-110)
Bet this game!
NBA
Friday
DETROIT @ MINNESOTA
8:00 PM ESPN
The Detroit Pistons take on the Minnesota Timberwolves Friday night at the Target Center in Minnesota. The teams last met on Jan. 15, 2007 when the Timberwolves beat the Pistons 94-90.
The Pistons are 21-16 SU, 17-20 ATS, 17-18-2 OU, and are 11-8 ATS on the road and 7-12 OU on the road. The Timberwolves are 20-17 SU, 22-15 ATS, 20-16-1 OU, and are 11-8 ATS at home and 14-5 OU at home.
betED Line: Timberwolves +1.5(-115) Total: 187.5
Bet this game!
Friday
CLEVELAND @ DENVER
10:30 PM ESPN
The Cleveland Cavaliers face the Denver Nuggets Friday night at the Pepsi Center in Denver. The teams last met on Jan. 18, 2006 when Denver edged Cleveland 90-89.
The Cavaliers are 23-15 SU, 15-22-1 ATS, 17-21 OU, and are 7-12-1 on the road and 8-12 OU on the road. The Nuggets are 18-17 SU, 18-17 ATS, 17-15-3 OU, and are 9-11 ATS at home and 9-9-2 OU at home.
betED Line: Nuggets -1.5(-110) Total: 195
Bet this game!
NHL
Friday
DETROIT @ COLUMBUS
7:00 PM FOX DET
The Detroit Red Wings battle the Columbus Blue Jackets Friday night at Nationwide Arena in Columbus. The teams last met on Dec. 28, 2006 when the Red Wings beat the Blue Jackets 7-4.
The Red Wings are 30-12-5 SU and are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games. Detroit is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing on the road against Columbus. The Blue Jackets are 17-24-5 SU, and are 1-4-1 SU in their last 6 games. Columbus is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing Detroit.
betED Line: Blue Jackets +1.5(-170) Total: 5.5
Bet this game!
Friday
ANAHEIM @ CALGARY
9:00 PM PRLA
The suddenly struggling Anaheim Ducks face the Calgary Flames Friday night at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary. The teams last met on Dec. 18, 2006 when the Ducks beat the Flames 4-1.
The Ducks are 30-10-8 SU, 22-21-5 OU and 16-32 Puckline. They are still without star defenseman Chris Pronger who is out indefinitely with a broken foot. The Flames are 24-17-4 SU, 19-19-7 OU and 18-27 Puckline. They are without star forward Jarome Iginla who is out indefinitely with a sprained knee.
betED Line: Flames -140 Total: 5.5
Bet this game!
HOT PROPS
There?s not much question that David Beckham?s arrival in Major League Soccer will increase interest, including wagering, in the sport in North America. But why wait until Beckham makes his debut with the MLS Los Angeles Galaxy in the spring? You can place a bet on Beckham right now at www.betED.com.
There are odds on two different Prop bets involving the British soccer star. One is: What will happen in Beckham?s MLS regular-season debut? Go to www.betED.com to see the choices and place a bet.
The other is: How many goals will Beckham score in his 1st season?
A. 11 or more (+200)
B. 6-10 (-200)
C. 5 or less (+200).
TRIVIA ANSWER
B. 1933
Until 1933, the NFL champion was determined by end-of-season standings.
Trivia
In the early days of the NFL, the league champion was determined by end-of-season standings. What year did the NFL switch over to a post-season playoff system?
A.1928
B.1933
C.1947
D.1954
Answer at bottom
NFL
Sunday
NEW ORLEANS @ CHICAGO
3 pm ET, FOX
The fans at Soldier Field will be treated to a contest between the New Orleans Saints and the Chicago Bears when they take their seats on Sunday for the NFC Championship Game. The Saints hung on for a 27-24 win over the Philadelphia Eagles as they march into the NFC Championship Game. New Orleans failed to cover the 5.5-point spread in the win, but the final score made it OVER the posted total of 49. The Bears edged Seattle 27-24 as a 9-point favorite last week. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (37).
During the regular season, New Orleans was 10-6 SU, 10-6 ATS, 8-8 OU, is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games, and is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing Chicago. Chicago was 13-3 SU, 10-6 ATS, 11-4-1 OU, is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games, and is 13-3 SU in its last 16 games at home.
betED Line: Bears (-1.5) (+100) Total: U(43)(-110)
Bet this game!
Sunday
NEW ENGLAND @ INDIANAPOLIS
6:30 pm ET, CBS
The New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts will both be gunning for a victory on Sunday afternoon when they meet at the RCA Dome for the AFC Championship Game. The Patriots defeated San Diego 24-21 as a 4.5-point underdog last week. The combined score fell UNDER the posted over/under total (46). Adam Vinatieri booted five field goals as the Colts defeated the Baltimore Ravens 15-6 Saturday to advance to the AFC Championship Game. Indianapolis won the game as a 4-point road underdog and the final score fell well UNDER the posted total of 41.5.
During the regular season, New England was 12-4 SU, 9-7 ATS, 6-10 OU, is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games, and is 14-4 SU in its last 18 games when playing Indianapolis. Indianapolis was 12-4 SU, 8-8 ATS, 8-8 OU, is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games at home, and is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against New England.
betED Line: Colts (-155) (-3)(-110) Total: U(47.5)(-110)
Bet this game!
NBA
Friday
DETROIT @ MINNESOTA
8:00 PM ESPN
The Detroit Pistons take on the Minnesota Timberwolves Friday night at the Target Center in Minnesota. The teams last met on Jan. 15, 2007 when the Timberwolves beat the Pistons 94-90.
The Pistons are 21-16 SU, 17-20 ATS, 17-18-2 OU, and are 11-8 ATS on the road and 7-12 OU on the road. The Timberwolves are 20-17 SU, 22-15 ATS, 20-16-1 OU, and are 11-8 ATS at home and 14-5 OU at home.
betED Line: Timberwolves +1.5(-115) Total: 187.5
Bet this game!
Friday
CLEVELAND @ DENVER
10:30 PM ESPN
The Cleveland Cavaliers face the Denver Nuggets Friday night at the Pepsi Center in Denver. The teams last met on Jan. 18, 2006 when Denver edged Cleveland 90-89.
The Cavaliers are 23-15 SU, 15-22-1 ATS, 17-21 OU, and are 7-12-1 on the road and 8-12 OU on the road. The Nuggets are 18-17 SU, 18-17 ATS, 17-15-3 OU, and are 9-11 ATS at home and 9-9-2 OU at home.
betED Line: Nuggets -1.5(-110) Total: 195
Bet this game!
NHL
Friday
DETROIT @ COLUMBUS
7:00 PM FOX DET
The Detroit Red Wings battle the Columbus Blue Jackets Friday night at Nationwide Arena in Columbus. The teams last met on Dec. 28, 2006 when the Red Wings beat the Blue Jackets 7-4.
The Red Wings are 30-12-5 SU and are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games. Detroit is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing on the road against Columbus. The Blue Jackets are 17-24-5 SU, and are 1-4-1 SU in their last 6 games. Columbus is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing Detroit.
betED Line: Blue Jackets +1.5(-170) Total: 5.5
Bet this game!
Friday
ANAHEIM @ CALGARY
9:00 PM PRLA
The suddenly struggling Anaheim Ducks face the Calgary Flames Friday night at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary. The teams last met on Dec. 18, 2006 when the Ducks beat the Flames 4-1.
The Ducks are 30-10-8 SU, 22-21-5 OU and 16-32 Puckline. They are still without star defenseman Chris Pronger who is out indefinitely with a broken foot. The Flames are 24-17-4 SU, 19-19-7 OU and 18-27 Puckline. They are without star forward Jarome Iginla who is out indefinitely with a sprained knee.
betED Line: Flames -140 Total: 5.5
Bet this game!
HOT PROPS
There?s not much question that David Beckham?s arrival in Major League Soccer will increase interest, including wagering, in the sport in North America. But why wait until Beckham makes his debut with the MLS Los Angeles Galaxy in the spring? You can place a bet on Beckham right now at www.betED.com.
There are odds on two different Prop bets involving the British soccer star. One is: What will happen in Beckham?s MLS regular-season debut? Go to www.betED.com to see the choices and place a bet.
The other is: How many goals will Beckham score in his 1st season?
A. 11 or more (+200)
B. 6-10 (-200)
C. 5 or less (+200).
TRIVIA ANSWER
B. 1933
Until 1933, the NFL champion was determined by end-of-season standings.
