Baseball Betting

Orlando Magic 2010 Draft Preview

Basketball Betting Lines

06/21/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Magic are clearly one of the most skilled teams in the NBA but seem to lack the requisite toughness to get over the top.

I'm not sure you can correct that in the draft and you certainly can't do it at No. 29, where Orlando will be selecting.

Dwight Howard is the key and needs to start intimidating more since players like Vince Carter and Rashard Lewis are never going to knock people around. Carter, meanwhile, is also no longer the feared scorer he was in Toronto so the Magic need to start developing a plan for his eventual replacement.

UConn's Stanley Robinson, a 6-foot-8, 220-pound small forward has a nasty streak and can run the floor and finish, although he lacks a top-tier jumper Gani Lawal, the Georgia Tech power forward, could also help improve the team's toughness.

Players under contract: C Dwight Howard; G Vince Carter; C Marcin Gortat; F Rashard Lewis; G Jameer Nelson; F Mickael Pietrus; F Brandon Bass; F Ryan Anderson; F Matt Barnes.

Free agents: G J.J. Redick (restricted); G Anthony Johnson (unrestricted)

Draft picks: 1st round (29th overall); 2nd round (59th overall)


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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. 

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