12/03/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - There are only two teams in the NBA that are undefeated at home this season and the Cleveland Cavaliers are one of them. Tonight they will try to set a franchise record with their 10th straight home win to start a season versus the New York Knicks at Quicken Loans Arena.
The Cavaliers have started 9-0 at home on three separate occasions, including back in 1976-77 and again in 1991-92. They are averaging 107.4 points per contest as the host this season and have won five straight overall and 13 of 14, including Saturday's 97-85 victory over Milwaukee at the Bradley Center.
Superstar LeBron James scored 32 points, grabbed seven rebounds and dished out five assists while Zydrunas Ilgauskas contributed a season-high 23 points and 17 rebounds for the Cavs, who are 14-3 so far in 2008-09.
Portland is the other undefeated team at home this season (7-0). The Cavs will kick off a short two-game residency Wednesday versus New York and Indiana.
New York has been struggling lately, losing three of four and six of its last eight games. In Tuesday's 104-97 setback to the Portland Trail Blazers at Madison Square Garden, Chris Duhon scored a season-high 23 points and dished out 13 assists for the Knicks.
David Lee had 19 points and 12 boards, and Al Harrington finished with 16 points in defeat. The Knicks will try to stop a three-game slide as the visitor tonight in the opener of a short two-game trek and are 2-5 away from Madison Square Garden this season.
The Knicks will also take on the Atlanta Hawks down south. In injury news for New York, guard Nate Robinson is doubtful against Cleveland because of a strained right groin muscle.
Cleveland posted a 119-101 victory over the Knicks at MSG on November 25, as James led seven players in double figures with 26 points. The Cavs have won two straight, three of four and six of the past nine meetings.
New York has lost two in a row and 10 of the previous 13 games as the guest in this series.
<< Magic host T-Wolves in Orlando
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Orlando Magic will try to right the ship tonight when
they welcome the Minnesota Timberwolves to Amway Arena.
Orlando had a four-game winning streak come to an end with Monday's 107-88
loss to the defending champion Bo
<< Lakers aim to bounce back from first road loss vs. Sixers
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Lakers will try to rebound from their first
road loss of the season tonight when they resume a three-game trek against the
Philadelphia 76ers at the Wachovia Center.
Los Angeles is coming off a tough 118-11
<< Georgia Tech staying home for bowl season
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Georgia Tech won't be traveling anywhere for a
bowl game this year, instead it will remain home to play in the Chick-Fil-A
Bowl at the Georgia Dome.
The Yellow Jackets (9-3) have accepted a bid to play
<< Thornton, Sharks crush Leafs
San Jose, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Joe Thornton registered a goal and three
assists to lead San Jose to a 5-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs at the
Shark Tank.
Devin Setoguchi, Dan Boyle, Joe Pavelski and Marc-Edouard Vlasic also
No. 10 Tennessee hosts UNC-Asheville >>
Knoxville, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 10th-ranked Tennessee Volunteers are
heavy favorites in tonight's non-conference home clash with the UNC-Asheville
Bulldogs.
UNC-Asheville opened the season with three straight victories, all by double
f
Tigers standing in way of 7-0 start for Musketeers >>
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 14th-ranked Xavier Musketeers resume
their three-game homestand tonight, as they welcome the Auburn Tigers to the
Cintas Center for a non-league affair.
The Musketeers kicked of their home swing on Satur
Dukes challenge Panthers in clash of Steel City rivals >>
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The third-ranked Pittsburgh Panthers seek
their eighth straight win to begin the 2008-09 season, when they welcome local
rival Duquesne to the Petersen Events Center this evening for non-conference
action.
Hoosiers visit undefeated Demon Deacons >>
Winston-Salem, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 15th-ranked Wake Forest Demon Deacons
will play host to the Indiana Hoosiers as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge
the evening from Lawrence Joel Coliseum.
The Demon Deacons return home to Winston-Sale
BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers SPORTS TRASH TALK
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
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