Boozer, Jazz try to stay on track at Minnesota

Basketball Betting Lines

02/25/2009 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With one of their top players back in action, the Utah Jazz take aim at their longest winning streak of the season in tonight's clash against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center.

The Jazz won for the fifth straight time and eighth time in nine outings after completing a perfect homestand with Monday's 108-89 victory over Atlanta. Ronnie Brewer led a balanced scoring attack with 19 points as Utah ended its residency with a 5-0 record.

Paul Millsap added 16 points and 12 rebounds and Deron Williams also recorded a double-double for the Jazz, finishing with 15 points and 10 assists.

Utah was also bolstered by the long-awaited return of Carlos Boozer to the lineup. The standout forward, an All-Star selection in each of the past two seasons, had been sidelined since November 19 with an injured left knee that required surgery.

Boozer played a little over 21 minutes on Monday and scored two points while grabbing five rebounds.

The Jazz, who enter tonight's tilt tied for sixth place in the Western Conference standings and three games back of Northwest Division leader Denver, also had a five-game win streak to begin this season. Utah hasn't won six in a row since it ripped off 10 straight victories from January 18-February 6, 2008.

Utah is just 9-17 on the road this season, but one of those wins came at the Target Center back in December.

Minnesota's recent struggles continued Tuesday in Toronto, where Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani each had 26 points as the Raptors posted a 118-110 triumph over the Timberwolves.

Randy Foye and Ryan Gomes scored 25 and 23 points, respectively, for Minnesota, which received a 15-point outing from rookie Kevin Love as well.

The loss was the Timberwolves' third in a row and eighth in their last nine games. Minnesota has also dropped six straight at the Target Center and is a poor 8-19 as the host this season.

Utah has taken three straight meetings with the T-Wolves, two of which took place earlier this season.

Startluckcasino Basketball Betting News

<< Playoff-hopeful Pens host lowly Islanders
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Still outside the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference, the Penguins can't afford to be without Sidney Crosby heading down the stretch. The Pens captain is expected to be on the ice tonight despite a sore groin, as Pitts

<< Mavs open homestand vs. Bucks
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Dallas Mavericks will be hoping to solidify their playoff standing when the team begins an important three-game homestand with tonight's showdown versus the Milwaukee Bucks. Dallas enters tonight's play leadi

<< KryptoNate welcomes Superman to MSG as Knicks host Magic
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The finalists for this year's slam dunk contest will meet again tonight, as Dwight Howard leads the Orlando Magic into the Big Apple to face Nate Robinson and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Robinson bested H

<< Cellar dwellers meet in Indy as Pacers host Grizzlies
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of last-place clubs get together tonight in Indiana, where the Pacers will host the Memphis Grizzlies at Conseco Fieldhouse. Memphis has lost five in a row and opened a short two-game road trip with Tuesday's 94-79

<< Nets hope to build on Harris' miracle as Bulls visit Izod Center
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Devin Harris will try to lead the New Jersey Nets to another victory when they resume a four-game homestand tonight versus the Chicago Bulls at the Izod Center. Harris lifted New Jersey to a last-second 98-96 victory over

Rangers begin Tortorella era in Toronto >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Rangers hope a coaching change can help turn their fortunes around. Tonight, the Rangers will visit the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre in the finale of a home-and-home series and the first game for New

Sharks visit Red Wings for West showdown >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The top two teams in the Western Conference will wrap their season series tonight, when the top-seeded San Jose Sharks visit the Detroit Red Wings and Joe Louis Arena. The Sharks became the first team this season to reach

Slumping Pistons hope to snap skid in New Orleans >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Detroit Pistons' worst season in recent memory appears to have hit its lowest point. The slumping club will attempt to avoid its longest losing streak in 14 years when the Pistons continue their road trip with toni

Hobbling Spurs resume homestand against Portland >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Southwest Division-leading San Antonio Spurs resume a three-game homestand Wednesday, when they welcome the Portland Trail Blazers to the AT&T Center. The Spurs won Tuesday's opener of the residency as Tony Parker

Flyers aim to stay hot versus Kings >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Flyers will shoot for their fifth win in six games when they welcome the Los Angeles Kings for tonight's interconference battle at the Wachovia Center. The Flyers are second in the Atlantic Division and fo

Pacific-10 Conference odds

Teams that should be in: Stanford

Oregon and USC get their tickets punched after taking care of business this weekend. Yes, the Trojans' computer numbers aren't great, but there's no way the third-place team in this league is getting nixed. Grudgingly, I added Arizona after consultation with our Bracketologist. I don't know that Arizona will lose its last three (including a Pac-10 quarterfinal game), and even if the Cats do, I still can't see how they'd be left out, given the overall profile. That said, it bears watching, as three more L's would leave them at 18-12 (9-9) and on a 6-11 skid entering the Dance. It would be nice to see the Wildcats get at least one W in the Bay Area next week, as Cincinnati (albeit without Armein Kirkland and with a worse profile) was axed after a similar slide last season. I just couldn't rationalize having some of the other teams as locks and not having Arizona in that category -- there just aren't enough good teams behind the Cats to threaten their spot, it seems. Stanford has its fate in its own hands with the Arizona schools coming to the Farm to close out the regular season next weekend.

Should be in:

Stanford [17-10 (9-7), RPI: 40, SOS: 21] No shame in not getting a win in L.A., but that makes the home game against Arizona State a must-win ahead of what could be an intriguing meeting with Arizona should the Cats lose at Cal. Getting to 11 Pac-10 wins would make Selection Sunday much more comfortable, but 10's probably more than enough this season. The Cardinal have nonconference wins over Texas Tech and at Virginia to lean on, although they also lost badly to Air Force and Santa Clara at home.

Southeastern Conference odds
Work left to do: Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Mississippi State

It looks more and more possible that no one from the SEC West will make the NCAAs. How weird is that? Tennessee and Vandy move into the locks category after more good work this weekend. Kentucky stays there, although it would be smart for the Cats to handle Georgia at home Wednesday ahead of a trip to the Swamp. Could a disaster scenario (two more L's and a first-round SEC tourney exit) somehow dislodge the Cats despite their incredible computer numbers? Still unlikely, but not worth chancing it.

Work left to do:

Alabama [19-9 (6-8), RPI: 43, SOS: 47] The tough L at Tennessee was understandable, and even created some hope. Unfortunately, that hope was dashed by a home loss to Auburn, which leaves the Tide in some real trouble. There's still no signature win on the profile (no, Kentucky doesn't count), and the computer profile is weakening rapidly. The Tide conceivably could beat Ole Miss and win at Miss. State to get to 8-8 and clinch at least a share of the West crown, but that's probably not enough right now. The Tide will need to do some work in the SEC tourney.

Georgia [16-10 (8-6), RPI: 52, SOS: 23] This is the team with the best chance to make it from this section right now. The Bulldogs rebounded from a terrible performance at Ole Miss to beat down Miss. State. Now they are at Kentucky (king of the RPI 51-100 win) and home to Tennessee. That would be worth a lot of computer points to get both (which is doable), as both teams are in the top 11 in RPI. Finishing at least 9-7 is an absolute must, and I would feel much better about the Dawgs' chances if they got both to get to 10 SEC wins. They also beat Gonzaga, but lost to ACC bubblers Georgia Tech and Clemson.

Mississippi [18-10 (7-7), RPI: 63, SOS: 79] Like everyone else in this division, Ole Miss gacked up a chance to stake a claim, losing by double figures at South Carolina. Even 9-7 likely is not nearly enough with a nonconference profile devoid of anything notable.

Mississippi State [16-11 (7-7), RPI: 66, SOS: 37] With a chance to get in the mix, these Bulldogs were leashed by their Georgia counterparts. Could they get to 9-7? I guess -- although winning at Arkansas, then beating Alabama is no lock -- but would that mean all that much for a team with this overall profile? Probably not. There's nothing of note (on the good side) in the nonconference profile.

For more College Basketball betting lines go to MySportsbook.com

Additional sports lines can be found at: www.Sportsbooks.com

To bet on March Madness games this online sportsbook accepts credit cards.