Daily Sports Roundup
Friday, February 12
Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: The NBA heads into its All-Star break, while West Virginia meets Pittsburgh, and the Penguins get a visit from the Rangers.
Tipping off on the hardwood . . .
There are no NBA games on the schedule for Friday as the league begins its All-Star break. The night instead features a pair of events: the All-Star Celebrity Game, and the Rookie Challenge. Saturday will then have the H.O.R.S.E. competition and the Skills Challenge, with the game itself all set for Sunday night.
That means the highlight hoops action on the Friday schedule is the only college basketball game of the night involving ranked teams: No. 5 West Virginia at No. 25 Pittsburgh. The Mountaineers (19-4 SU, 9-13 ATS) will be looking to bounce back from an 82-75 loss to Villanova in their last game. Darryl Bryant scored 15 points for West Virginia in that home contest, while Kevin Jones had 11 points and eight rebounds. The Panthers (18-6 SU, 11-8-2 ATS) cruised to a 77-53 win over Robert Morris last time out, with Ashton Gibbs scoring 20 points on the night.
Taking a trip around the rink . . .
As well, there are seven games on the NHL's schedule for Friday, with Montreal at Philadelphia, Nashville at New Jersey, Vancouver at Columbus, Toronto at St. Louis, Atlanta at Minnesota, Phoenix at Colorado, and the Rangers at Pittsburgh. The rival Rangers and Penguins last met on January 25, with Pittsburgh picking up a 4-2 road victory. Minor-league callup Chris Conner had two goals for the Pens in that win, Evgeni Malkin and Pascal Dupuis had one goal apiece, and Marc-Andre Fleury made 28 saves. Artem Anisimov scored twice for the Rangers.
Today's Wagering Tips
Friday, February 12
Lines off the board
Nashville Predators at New Jersey Devils – Zach Parise (upper body) missed Wednesday’s game and is probable. Bryce Salvador (upper body) left last game but is expected to play. Marcel Goc (upper body) missed the last two games and is questionable.
New York Rangers at Pittsburgh Penguins – Marian Gaboric (leg) was cut by a skate during Tuesday’s practice and is doubtful. Marc Staal (flu) is questionable. Maxime Talbot (groin) has missed the last two games and is questionable.
Line to keep an eye on
The Rookie-Sophomore game spread and total have both increased a half point at some shops since opening. The Sophs opened as 11.5-point faves, currently 12, and the total was posted at 245 and now sits at 245.5
Weather to watch
There is a 30 percent chance of showers in the morning for the second round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. Very mild wind is expected and the sun is expected to come out from behind the clouds around noon.
Who’s hot
The Sophomores have won seven straight versus the Rookies and are 8-2 SU in the series since 1999.
Cornell has won nine of its last 10 games and is 5-2 ATS during that stretch.
Who’s not
Dartmouth has dropped five consecutive games and four straight ATS.
The Rangers have lost eight of their last 10 games.
Key stat
250.6 – Total points per game averaged during the last three Rookie Challenge matchups. The Sophomores haven’t scored fewer than 122 points in the last seven games of this event.
Injury that shouldn’t be overlooked
Derrick Rose has been excused from the Rookie Challenge game during All-Star Weekend because he is already participating in the Skills Challenge and the actual All-Star game. Rose only managed four points in last year’s game on 1-of-5 shooting with seven assists. Rose’s replacement for the game will be Golden State Warrior Anthony Morrow, who led the league in 3-point percentage last year and is averaging 12.3 ppg this season.
Game of the day
West Virginia Mountaineers at Pittsburgh Panthers (+1.5, 126.5)
Notable quotable
“I’ll do what I always do All-Star weekend: chill out.”
-- Said Lakers forward Lamar Odom, who has never been selected as an All-Star during his 11-year NBA career.
Tips and notes
- When the Lakers come back from the All-Star break, they might have a new starting five. Phil Jackson is contemplating starting Lamar Odom over Andrew Bynum as assistants are “pushing” him in that direction. Odom has averaged 17.0 points and 14.3 rebounds in Bynum’s absence and said that starting wouldn’t matter to him.
- Nine of the 15 MVPs in the Rookies-Sophomes game have been guards. Only one true center, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, has won the award. Swingman Michael Beasley is the favorite to win in 2010 at +400 odds while rookie Tyreke Evans comes in as the runner-up at +450. Jason Richardson was the last rookie to win the award in 2002.
- The United State has collected the second-most Winter Olympic medals with 216 total. The U.S. is getting +465 odds to win the medal count at this year’s Games. Germany has won 160 medals and is the favorite to take the most at +135 while Canada (119 all-time medals) has been given +225 odds.
- America won nine gold medals at the 2006 Winter Games. The USA’s over/under total of 9.5 gold medals for this year has incurred heavy action on the under and sits at -210. The swing could be attributed to the injury of skier Lindsey Vonn who aimed to earn five medals but was injured last week and may not particpate.