Blackhawks welcome Avs to the Windy City

Hockey Betting Lines

03/08/2009 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Blackhawks will kick off a four-game homestand today when they welcome the lowly Colorado Avalanche for a battle at the United Center.

The Blackhawks have taken two of three matchups with the Avalanche this season and have won five of seven and seven of 11 overall in the series. Colorado has also dropped three straight and four of its last five tests in the Windy City.

Chicago head coach Joel Quenneville spent the last three seasons with the Avalanche, but was not brought back following the 2007-08 campaign. He signed on with the Blackhawks as a pro scout prior to this season, but ascended to the head coaching job when Denis Savard was fired on October 16.

The Blackhawks had a two-game winning streak snapped with Saturday's setback in Boston. Mark Recchi scored two goals to lead the Bruins to the 5-3 victory at TD Banknorth Garden.

Jonathan Toews, Kris Versteeg and Patrick Kane scored for Chicago, which fell to 2-3-1 in six games following a four-game win streak. Cristobal Huet allowed four goals on 38 shots in the losing effort.

Chicago is still fourth in the Western Conference with 81 points on the season.

The Blackhawks are 17-5-6 as the host this year and have won two straight and three of their last five home tests.

The Avalanche, who are last in the West with 57 points, have lost their last six games and were handed a 3-2 loss Wednesday against visiting Detroit. Kris Draper scored the eventual game-winner late in the second to help lead the Red Wings to victory at the Pepsi Center.

Milan Hejduk notched a goal and assist for Colorado, which is mired in its longest losing streak of the season. John-Michael Liles also scored for the Avalanche, who got 27 saves from Andrew Raycroft.

Colorado has a dismal 11-21-1 record as the visiting club this season and has dropped five road games in a row.

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL BETTING

NCAA Football Betting

Many fans thought it was the best side in the nation by the end of last season. This year, the polls have built on Georgia's momentum and granted it the No. 1 preseason ranking, followed by Ohio State and USC. (The Associated Press has the Buckeyes at No. 2; USA Today took the Trojans.)

"To have people believing we have one of the best teams in the nation going into this thing, it's exciting for us," Bulldogs coach Mark Richt told the AP. "I don't think anything is guaranteed, but we certainly have put ourselves in position where at least the college football world thinks we're pretty good."

Georgia Bulldogs - 9.5 wins

There's no question they're good, but the Bulldogs have one of the toughest 12-game schedules in the nation, mostly because they play in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference. Away games at No. 15 Arizona State, No. 7 LSU and No. 10 Auburn loom large, with contests between the hedges versus No. 24 Alabama and No. 18 Tennessee as well as the World's Largest Cocktail Party in Jacksonville versus No.5 Florida.

Ohio State Buckeyes - 10 wins

Like the Bulldogs, the Buckeyes also have a number of tough road contests in 2008. After two scrimmages dressed up as real games versus Youngstown State and Ohio, it's off to face USC. Other tough away games include No.13 Wisconsin in October and No. 20 Illinois in November. Granted, it should be pretty easy sledding at the Horseshoe. In fact, the only ranked team that travels to Columbus is No. 22 Penn State, in October.

USC Trojans - 10.5 wins

A similarly light schedule awaits the Trojans of Southern California, which is why the oddsmakers' total is one win more and the over is currently commanding -150 odds. Pete Carroll's troops only play three ranked teams in 2008, and all of those games are at home. After what should be an easy trip to Virginia to start things off on Aug. 30, the Trojans get two weeks to prepare for Ohio State in Los Angeles. Their two other ranked opponents, No. 21 Oregon and No. 15 Arizona State, visit in consecutive weeks to start the month of October. After that, the competition eases up. Of course, this is the same highly-touted school that lost to Stanford in 2007 and Oregon State in 2006. And don't discount the fact that USC plays its biggest rivals, Notre Dame and UCLA, back-to-back to close out the regular season. On paper, the Trojans are far superior, but motivation will be high for the Irish and Bruins, especially if their historic foes are in national-title contention.

Odds to Win the Heisman Trophy

Tim Tebow, Florida - 7/2
He won it last year, so it's no surprise he's the favorite to do it again, making him just the second player to go back-to-back. Ohio State's Archie Griffin turned the trick in 1974 and 1975, and Tebow's coach, Urban Meyer, is pretty sure his star quarterback can match the Buckeyes legend.

"There has never been anyone quite like him," Meyer told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I am very lucky to be his coach."

Chris Wells, Ohio State - 5/1

The man they call "Beanie" was a star recruit out of high school, so it's not like nobody knew who the star tailback was before he rushed for 576 yards as a freshman in 2006 and 1,609 as a sophomore. But perhaps his finest moment came last year versus Michigan when he rumbled for 222 yards and two touchdowns in the Buckeyes' 14-3 victory over the hated Wolverines.

Knowshon Moreno, Georgia - 8/1

If the Bulldogs are to live up to expectations, they'll need a huge effort from their sophomore running back. This might be the last year of college ball for Moreno, who rushed for 1,334 yards and for 14 touchdowns as a freshman, while adding 253 receiving yards on 20 receptions, so expect big things for the man from Belford, N.J.

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