Blazers take G Armon Johnson with No. 34 pick

Basketball Betting Lines

06/24/2010 -

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -The Portland Trail Blazers have selected Nevada guard Armon Johnson with the 34th pick in the NBA draft.

Johnson averaged 15.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 5.6 assists with the Wolf Pack last season as a junior.

Johnson was the second Nevada player to figure in the Blazers' draft Thursday night. Portland also acquired Nevada shooter Luke Babbitt, the 16th overall pick, and veteran Ryan Gomes from Minnesota for forward Martell Webster, a person with knowledge of the trade told The Associated Press. The person requested anonymity because the trade had not been officially announced.

The Trail Blazers selected Memphis swingman Elliot Williams with the 22nd pick.

The moves come amid a report that the Blazers had fired general manager Kevin Pritchard less than an hour before the start of the draft.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

Casino--sportsbook Basketball Betting News

<< Jazz take Hayward at No. 9 in NBA draft
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -The Utah Jazz have selected Butler forward Gordon Hayward with the ninth overall pick in the NBA draft.Hayward helped lead Butler on its run to the NCAA championship game this spring, which included a win in Salt Lake City that

<< D'Antoni: 'Our big date is circled as July 1'
GREENBURGH, N.Y. (AP) -Draft day is a bit anticlimactic for Mike D'Antoni.``Our big date is circled as July 1,'' the New York Knicks coach said Thursday, not exactly revealing a franchise secret.For two years team president Donnie Walsh has maneuver

<< Morrow, Wells shine as Blue Jays blank Cardinals
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brandon Morrow pitched eight strong innings, and Vernon Wells slugged a pair of home runs, as Toronto avoided a three-game sweep by the Cardinals with a 5-0 win. Morrow (5-5) allowed just five hits, walke

<< Nets take G Crawford with No. 27th pick in draft
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -The New Jersey Nets have selected guard Jordan Crawford with the 27th pick in the NBA draft.The pick was the Nets' second in the first round and was acquired from Dallas in the deal that sent Jason Kidd to the Mavericks.C

<< Washington's Pondexter headed to Hornets
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -University of Washington swingman Quincy Pondexter is headed to New Orleans after being taken with the No. 26 pick in the NBA draft.Pondexter was drafted by the Oklahoma City Thunder but will go to the Hornets in a trade that net

Tomasulo leads suspended Mexico Open >>
Leon, Mexico (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Peter Tomasulo fired an eight-under 64 on Thursday to take a one-shot lead during the first round of the suspended Mexico Open. Tomasulo had two eagles, six birdies and two bogeys on the 7,700-yard El Bosque

Mavs get Dominique Jones from Grizzlies >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Dallas Mavericks acquired guard Dominique Jones from Memphis in exchange for cash considerations during Thursday night's NBA Draft. Jones, who played at South Florida, was selected at No. 25 by the Memphis

Tigers edge Mets to avoid sweep >>
Flushing, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Magglio Ordonez clubbed a two-run homer and Ryan Raburn added a solo blast, as the Detroit Tigers fended off the New York Mets, 6-5, in the finale of a three-game interleague series at Citi Field. Raburn

Hornets trade Aldrich, Peterson to Thunder >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New Orleans Hornets traded their first- round pick center Cole Aldrich along with guard Morris Peterson to the Oklahoma City Thunder for a pair of lower first-round picks. The swap was reported by multipl

Wolves acquire Webster from Blazers >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Minnesota Timberwolves acquired swingman Martell Webster from Portland in a draft-night deal. Going to the Trail Blazers were veteran forward Ryan Gomes and Luke Babbitt, a power forward from Nevada who wa

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

Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value

If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture.  Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).

For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot.  The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win.

TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the  drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.

"While 'Babel' lost several guild awards to 'Sunshine' and 'Departed,'  it still enjoys loyal support, and historically Oscar voters favor dramas with social messages over comedies like 'Sunshine' and violent crime movies like 'Departed'."

"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.

Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash.  Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win. 

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts Visa needs.