Playoff-hopeful Flames, Red Wings square off in key battle

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03/15/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The last time the Flames took on the Red Wings, they walked away with two points and the eighth spot in the Western Conference.

Calgary will hope for similar results tonight at Pengrowth Saddledome versus Detroit, which will by aiming to hold onto the conference's final playoff position in the opener of a three-game tour of Western Canada.

The Flames visited the Red Wings last Tuesday and rallied for a 4-2 victory as Rene Bourque assisted on the tying goal early in the third period before netting the game-winner with 12:44 to play in the frame. An empty-net goal by Christopher Higgins sealed Calgary's win and moved the club a point up on Detroit in the standings.

However, after both teams picked up victories on Thursday, the Red Wings jumped back ahead of the Flames for the eighth spot with a 3-2 overtime victory on Saturday, giving them 78 points to Calgary's 77. The Flames then failed to alter the standings again on Sunday, dropping a 3-1 decision in Vancouver to remain a point back of the Red Wings.

Brian Rafalski, who had a pair of assists for the Red Wings last week versus the Flames, made sure Detroit walked away with two points on Saturday as he scored an overtime power-play goal 31 seconds into the frame. The defenseman one-timed a Nicklas Lidstrom feed through a screen from the left circle.

"Every point is crucial right here," Rafalski said. "Obviously, going into Calgary on Monday could decide the playoffs. We wanted to make sure we got the two [points] here."

Pavel Datsyuk and Patrick Eaves each had a goal for the Red Wings, who blew an early two-goal lead but have won five of seven since the Olympic break. Jimmy Howard made 24 stops for Detroit.

Knowing the Red Wings had moved past them in the standings, the Flames carried a four-game winning streak into Vancouver on Sunday. However, Calgary yielded three first-period goals and never recovered in the two-tally deficit.

Miikka Kiprusoff stopped 17-of-20 shots faced in the first period before being lifted and Vesa Toskala halted all eight shots fired his way in the second. Calgary did not allow a shot in the third frame, but only managed one goal by Robyn Regehr in the period.

"We spotted them three goals. It could have been more in the first period," Jarome Iginla said. "After that we played a lot better. We take our own blame, but you also have to give them credit."

Calgary won both meetings in Detroit this season but did drop a 3-1 decision at home to the Red Wings back on Oct. 31. Tonight marks the final regular- season meeting between the clubs.

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MySportsbook.com Favors Fighting Irish to win College Football betting odds

According to odds makers at MySportsbook.com, on January 8, the Fighting Irish faithful may be toasting their 14th national title in Arizona – Notre Dame’s first national championship in close to 20 years.

Although MySportsbook.com has listed Notre Dame as the 5-1 favorite to win thecollege football College Football betting, fans in Columbus do not need to cancel their tickets to Glendale just yet.  The Ohio State Buckeyes, listed right behind the Irish at 7-1, are also heavy favorites to win college football’s most coveted prize, while West Virginia, USC and the 2007 National Champion Texas Longhorns - all listed at 8-1 – are strong contenders as well.

MySportsbook.com has also posted gambling odds on the conference championships for the ACC, Big 12 and SEC.  In the ACC – it could be anyone’s title, particularly for the two schools from the Sunshine State.  Florida State and Miami, both listed at 2-1, are favored to win the ACC Championship Game odds, with the ‘Noles hoping to finish in the nation’s top 10 for the first time in five years, and the ‘Canes looking to avenge their 10-7 loss against FSU in last year’s ACC Championship betting.

Moving west to the Big 12, MySportsbook.com has betting lines listing Texas as 7-5 favorites to repeat as conference champions, even though the Longhorns lost their national championship-winning quarterback Vince Young to the NFL.  In the south, the Auburn Tigers – led by Heisman-hopeful senior running back Kenny Irons – have been given the best odds to win the SEC Championship odds at 5-2.

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


ODDS TO WIN THE BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Notre Dame
Ohio State
West Virginia
Texas
USC
Florida
California
Auburn
Oklahoma
Iowa
Louisville
Florida State
Michigan
Miami (FL)
LSU
Penn State
Virginia Tech
Nebraska
Tennessee
Georgia
Arizona State
Oregon
Clemson
Texas A&M
Texas Tech
Alabama
Arkansas
Boston College
Michigan State
Maryland
South Carolina
Colorado
Purdue
Georgia Tech
TCU
UCLA
Arizona
Pittsburgh
Iowa State
Wisconsin
North Carolina State
Virginia
North Carolina
Fresno State
Hawaii
Northwestern
BYU
Oregon State
UNLV
Field (Any Other Team)
5-1
7-1
8-1
8-1
8-1
12-1
15-1
15-1
18-1
20-1
20-1
20-1
20-1
20-1
25-1
40-1
40-1
50-1
60-1
60-1
60-1
70-1
70-1
100-1
100-1
100-1
100-1
100-1
150-1
200-1
200-1
200-1
200-1
200-1
250-1
250-1
300-1
300-1
300-1
300-1
300-1
300-1
400-1
500-1
500-1
500-1
500-1
1000-1
1000-1
40-1



ODDS TO WIN ACC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Miami (FL)
Florida State
Virginia Tech
Clemson
Georgia Tech
Boston College
Maryland
Virginia
North Carolina State
North Carolina
Wake Forest
Duke
2-1
2-1
3-1
7-1
15-1
15-1
15-1
30-1
30-1
30-1
50-1
500-1



ODDS TO WIN BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Texas
Oklahoma
Nebraska
Texas Tech
Colorado
Iowa State
Texas A&M
Kansas State
Missouri
Kansas
Baylor
Oklahoma State
7-5
9-5
9-2
12-1
14-1
15-1
15-1
30-1
30-1
35-1
100-1
100-1



ODDS TO WIN SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Auburn
Florida
LSU
Georgia
Tennessee
Arkansas
Alabama
Mississippi
South Carolina
Mississippi State
Kentucky
Vanderbilt
5-2
11-4
4-1
6-1
7-1
7-1
9-1
20-1
28-1
75-1
100-1
300-1

For complete NCAA football odds please visit Mysportsbook.com.