Howard, Magic visit Deron and the Nets

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02/22/2012 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Orlando Magic will try to continue their mastery of the New Jersey Nets when the two clubs clash tonight from the Prudential Center.

Orlando has won eight in a row and 12 of the past 13 matchups between the teams, and recorded a 94-78 victory at home back on Dec. 29 this season. Dwight Howard was a force in that one with 16 points and 24 rebounds for the Magic, who are unbeaten in the previous four games in the Garden State.

The Magic will resume their five-game road trip tonight and are coming off Monday's 93-90 triumph in Milwaukee thanks to another big night from Howard, who recorded 28 points and 16 rebounds. Jameer Nelson had 15 points and Hedu Turkoglu added 13 for Orlando, which is 1-1 on the trek and 9-6 away from home this season. Orlando improved to 9-3 this month.

"Both teams played hard, but we were just able to close it out," Howard said on the team's site. "We stayed with it and stayed together and got a good win."

Orlando will also visit the Hawks and Wizards on the road swing and sits five games behind Miami for the Southeast lead. In injury news for the Magic, guards Jason Richardson (chest/ribs) and Quentin Richardson (quad) are listed as questionable for tonight. Jason Richardson has missed the last two games and is averaging 12.2 points this season. Quentin Richardson played just 4:10 against the Bucks.

New Jersey will try to string back-to-back wins together for only the second time this season (Jan. 25-27) and has prevailed in two of three games since an eight-game losing streak.

Deron Williams and the Nets deciphered the bomb that is Jeremy Lin and the New York Knicks with a 100-92 victory on Monday at Madison Square Garden. Williams lit up Lin and the New York defense for a season-high 38 points and knocked down a career-best eight three-pointers. Kris Humphries added a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds for New Jersey, which got 18 points from MarShon Brooks and 11 out of DeShawn Stevenson.

"We definitely had this one circled, you know I think the whole team did," said Williams. "I know I personally did 'cause it was stuck in my mind, you know, this [Linsanity] all started with me."

The Nets will try to halt a six-game home losing streak tonight and are just 3-12 at the Rock this season. After hosting Orlando, New Jersey will return to the road for a four-game trek against Dallas, Boston, Charlotte and Miami.

New Jersey announced this week that forward Shawne Williams will undergo surgery on February 22 to remove a bone fragment from his left foot. The surgery will be performed by Dr. Martin O'Malley and Nets team physician Dr. Riley Williams III at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan. A timetable for Williams' return will be decided following the operation. The former first-round pick has appeared in 25 contests this season, starting six, and is averaging 4.5 points and 2.7 rebounds per game.

Nets center Brook Lopez (foot) did not play at New York after making his season debut in a loss to Milwaukee on Sunday, scoring nine points in 22 minutes. He is probable for tonight and missed the first 32 games of the season because of a broken foot suffered in the preseason.

Humphries, however, will sit out tonight with a strained left calf.

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FOOTBALL BETTING : Cassel Signs Contract

Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.

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After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
Patriots made him their franchise player, meaning his salary for this season will be about $15 million.
New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
"I go out there each and every day with that focus that I'm the starter," Cassel said during a June minicamp. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
In his only sustained action since his teens, he hit 349 of 555 passes for 3,949 yards at New England. He had 23 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as the Patriots, who had gone unbeaten through the regular season the year before, finished 11-5 and out of the playoffs.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."

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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. 

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