Bruins pick up Seidenberg from Florida

Hockey Betting Lines

03/03/2010 - Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Bruins have acquired defenseman Dennis Seidenberg and a prospect from the Florida Panthers in exchange for forwards Byron Bitz and Craig Weller, as well as a second-round pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

Seidenberg will help offset the loss of Derek Morris, who was traded by the Bruins to Phoenix earlier on Wednesday.

The 28-year-old Seidenberg signed with Florida in September and notched two goals with 21 assists for 23 points in 62 games. He has also played for Philadelphia, Phoenix and Carolina, and has 16 goals with 91 assists for 107 points in 357 regular-season games.

Boston also gains the draft rights to Ohio State defenseman Matt Bartkowski, who was selected by the Panthers in the seventh round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

Bitz is in his second NHL season and in 45 games this year has four goals with five assists. He also played 35 games for Boston last year and posted four goals with three assists.

Weller played in 55 games for Boston's AHL affiliate in Providence this year, scoring four goals with 10 assists. He appeared in 36 games for Minnesota last season and spent 2007-08 with Phoenix. In 95 NHL games, Weller has four goals with 10 assists.

Wordwidegamble Hockey Betting News

<< Alexander set for Burnley return
Burnley, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Burnley midfielder Graham Alexander has declared himself fit after a five-week calf injury absence. The veteran Scotland international has been sidelined since late January but is hoping to make hi

<< Southwest trio ready for war
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Rockets, thanks to general manager Daryl Morey, should be rewarded with a playoff spot for just getting rid of Tracy McGrady's expiring and ungodly contract. Unfortunately they're no such accommodations at this

<< Sabres' Gaustad sidelined with upper-body injury
Buffalo, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said on Wednesday that center Paul Gaustad will miss at least a week of action because of an upper-body injury. Gaustad was hurt in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Penguins d

<< Macclesfield's Alexander dies at 53
Macclesfield, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Macclesfield Town manager Keith Alexander has passed away at the age of 53. He died after returning to his home following his side's 1-0 League Two defeat at Notts County on Tuesday evening.

<< Greece moves into top 10 in FIFA Rankings
Zurich, Switzerland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The latest edition of the FIFA/Coca- Cola Men's Rankings was released on Wednesday, and for the first time since June 2008, Greece has returned to the top 10. The top four teams remain unchanged

Bulls release G Hunter, sign Richard >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Bulls released veteran guard Lindsey Hunter and signed forward Chris Richard to a contract for the rest of the season on Wednesday. The 39-year-old Hunter appeared in 13 games this season an

Mutuel Field early favorite in second Kentucky Derby Future Wager >>
Louisville, KY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The second Kentucky Derby Future Wager of 2010 picks up where the first ended. The mutuel field is the 7-2 morning-line favorite among the 24 betting interests. The pool begins Friday at noon (et) and

Hurricanes trade defenseman Ward to Ducks >>
Raleigh, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hoping to force their way into the Western Conference playoff picture, the Anaheim Ducks have acquired defenseman Aaron Ward from the Carolina Hurricanes. In exchange for the 6-foot-2 defenseman, the

Aurelio suffers another injury setback >>
Liverpool, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Liverpool defender Fabio Aurelio will miss up to three weeks with a thigh injury he picked up during Sunday's 2-1 victory over Blackburn. The 30-year-old Brazilian's season has been blighted by inj

Oilers claim F Ryan Jones off waivers from Preds >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Edmonton Oilers announced on Wednesday that they have claimed forward Ryan Jones off waivers from the Nashville Predators. The 25-year-old Jones had seven goals and four assists in 41 games with the Pred

Betting the NFL preseason

Rule No. 1 in the gamblers' handbook states, "Avoid sports betting on meaningless games."

When you're drowning in a sea of baseball monotony, however, things change. Even a hint of pro football betting can persuade the most disciplined bettor to break a few rules. 

The NFL preseason is around the corner, with a tempting Hall of Fame match kicking off on Sunday. But bettors must stay vigilant. Wagering on NFL exhibition games is an entirely different beast than the regular season. Most fans don't recognize the players on the field because starters get as much action in August as Warcraft fans get on Prom night.

The only certainty about the NFL this time of year is uncertainty – and yet there are some who say betting in August can be a gold mine.

“I actually feel the NFL preseason presents solid profit opportunities for sharp bettors and handicappers,” Sports Expert Steve Merril explains. “My experience has been that the sportsbooks fear the preseason, which is evident by lower limits and massive moves.”

The line moves are attributed to the limited knowledge available regarding playing-time distribution. One team’s top unit out on the field for one more series has an impact on the pointspread. Setting lines in the preseason often is a shot in the dark.

“We base the betting lines mostly on public perception,” Pete Korner, founder of the Sports Club in Las Vegas, says. “It’s very tough to predict, almost a guessing game.”

The preseason is all about figuring out who’s in and for how long.

“It becomes a race between bettors and oddsmakers to find out how long the quarterbacks are going to stay in,” Korner admits. “If a sharp gets the information first, he could exploit an early line. I’m a full believer in moving the line in the preseason if the books find out something late in the week.”

Determining what each team’s motive is can help bettors handicap. To do this you must pay close attention to the philosophies head coaches employ in exhibition play.

“You need to know what a coach is trying to accomplish,” says Covers Expert Bryan Leonard. “Sometimes a new coach will want to instill a winning attitude. Others just want to make sure their starters don’t get hurt."

So how do you distinguish who’s playing scared and who’s playing for keeps?

“Head coaches on the hot seat or new coaches trying to implement a winning attitude usually try harder to win in the preseason,” Merril says.

Cleveland Browns head coach Romeo Crennel fits this criteria. He’s entering his third season as the sideline boss and has yet to lead the Browns to more than six wins.

Cleveland is an enticing bet as well because of the unresolved quarterback situation. General manager Phil Savage sacrificed the Browns’ first-round pick in next year’s draft for Brady Quinn, but the former Notre Dame quarterback hasn’t signed or reported to training camp yet.

Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson split time at QB last season and it looks like either player (or even Quinn) could be the opening-day starter.

“If a team has quarterback depth and the pecking order hasn’t been decided, it’s a big advantage,” Leonard says.

Even in the third week of the preseason when starters generally play the most, the final outcome of the game is in the hands of fringe players. A team's talent, all the way down to the last man on the roster, is something to consider.

The New England Patriots have long been considered one of the deeper teams in the NFL and coach Bill Belichick has said in the past he’s unafraid of stars getting hurt in games with nothing on the line. He shocked his colleagues in 2003 by playing some of his starters on special teams in the preseason.

“We want to have the team ready to play a tough, physical game and preparation has to go into that and I imagine a certain amount of injuries go with it,” Belichick told the Providence Journal in August 2003.

Bettors can only hope to find more teams that share the Pats' business-like approach to the preseason (New England is 17-9-3 against the spread since 2000) and take advantage of teams who detest the exhibition schedule.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on football needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.