Bruins extend D Boychuk

Hockey Betting Lines

06/24/2010 - Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Bruins have signed defenseman Johnny Boychuk to a two-year contract extension.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Boychuk recorded five goals and 10 assists in 51 games this past season, his first full-time season in the NHL.

He added a pair of goals and four helpers in 13 playoff games.

The Colorado Avalanche made Boychuk a second round selection in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft and he appeared in four games for them during the 2007-08 season before being dealt to Boston after that season.

Cowboycasion Hockey Betting News

<< Nadal, Murray, Soderling reach third round at Big W
Wimbledon, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former champion Rafael Nadal, heavy British crowd favorite Andy Murray and French Open runner-up Robin Soderling highlighted some of the second-round winners at Wimbledon, which enjoyed its first visit

<< Fiorentina loans Nsereko to 1860 Munich
Florence, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Fiorentina has allowed midfielder Savio Nsereko to join 1860 Munich on a season-long loan agreement. The 20-year-old started his career at Brescia but has since struggled during spells with West Ham U

<< Blackhawks sell high on Byfuglien
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - For a few weeks during the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs, some folks were calling Dustin Byfuglien the best power forward in the NHL. It's unlikely Chicago Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman agreed entirel

<< Astros place Paulino on DL
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Astros placed right-handed pitcher Felipe Paulino on the 15-day disabled list Thursday with shoulder tendinitis. On the season, his third in the majors, he is just 1-8 with a 4.40 earned run ave

<< Dredge, Whiteford share lead in Germany
Munich, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Bradley Dredge and Peter Whiteford both fired eight-under 64s Thursday to share the lead after the opening round of the BMW International Open. Dredge is a two-time winner on the European Tour, while

Thrashers tab Ramsay next head coach >>
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Atlanta Thrashers are expected to name Craig Ramsay their next head coach at a 4 p.m. press conference Thursday. Ramsay was an assistant coach for Boston the last three seasons and previously served a

Kings extend GM Lombardi, head coach Murray >>
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Kings have announced two- year contract extensions for a large contingent of its front office personnel, including president and general manager Dean Lombardi and head coach Terry Murray.

Bedard could make Seattle season debut July 6 >>
SEATTLE (AP) -Left-hander Erik Bedard could make his season debut as early as July 6 if he is able to get through the next week without any injury setbacks.Seattle manager Don Wakamatsu said Thursday that Bedard will throw for the Mariners' team in

Thrashers pick Ramsay as coach >>
ATLANTA (AP) -Craig Ramsay is the fifth coach in Atlanta Thrashers' history.General manager Rick Dudley says the 59-year-old Ramsay has been hired as the team's coach. He replaces John Anderson.Ramsay was an assistant with the Boston Bruins from 200

Angry Swiss ready for group finale against Honduras >>
Bloemfontein, South Africa (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Switzerland defender Steve Von Bergen admitted the team was "angry" after a loss to Chile on Monday, when a red card to Valon Behrami proved too much for the Swiss to overcome. Switzerland h

Numerous College Basketball teams take final big step to March Madness betting

So, what turned on the lock spigot? Well, after what felt like weeks of teams treading water and slipping back into the bubble muck, a bunch of them finally decided to say "to heck with parity" and won games that should put them into the Big Dance.

Disagree with some of these? Then here's the challenge. Take all of the "should be ins" and make a legit case that each should be ahead of the team that's a lock. Then find 10 more teams that also should be placed in the bracket ahead of that lock team. Not so easy, is it?

If you want more evidence that these locks should be good to go, check out what our research department dug up. Since the NCAA Tournament went to 64 teams in 1985, only six teams from a "big six" conference have had a record of 10-6 or better in conference play and not been selected: Colorado (2004) and Nebraska (1999) from the Big 12, Boston College and Seton Hall (both 2003) from the Big East, Indiana (2005) from the Big Ten and UCLA, which somehow went 12-6 in the Pac-10 in 1988 and still missed out. (Note: Five teams went 11-7 and didn't get in, the latest being last season's Stanford team, which had a brutal nonconference run.)

Yes, 10 conference wins doesn't always mean what it used to because of unbalanced schedules, but this season, it should be plenty good in all but the extreme cases (see: Iowa).

In a way, this is a welcome development, because this is a bubble watch, not a lock watch. We can finally be done with teams like Maryland and Virginia Tech and start really bearing down on at-large battles such as Syracuse-West Virginia and Appalachian State-Georgia Tech.

Interestingly, all the shifting of teams into lock status appears to be more administrative than impactful. The number of remaining available at-larges didn't change one iota. The only difference is that teams on the bubble now have a clearer idea of which team(s) they are competing with for those precious bids.

The Bubble Breakdown
CONFERENCE LOCKS SHOULD BE INS AT-LARGES TAKEN
(assuming no auto bid outlier)
ACC Betting Odds 6 0 5
Big East Betting Odds 5 0 4
Big Ten Betting Odds 2 2 3
Big 12 Betting Odds 3 0 2
Pac-10 Betting Odds 5 1 5
SEC Betting Odds 4 0 3
MVC Betting Odds 1 1 1
MWC Betting Odds 2 1 2
TOTAL 28 5 25

As always, I've tried to be as inclusive as possible while only including teams that would have a reasonable chance of at least being discussed if this were Selection Sunday. If your team's not on here, there's probably a good reason (or three) -- start with the RPI and SOS numbers and work your way down.

(Please remember, per selection committee criteria, that records displayed are Division I only. Next update: Feb. 28)

If you have a legitimate grievance, or just like talking bubble, send an e-mail. Polite ones with fact-based arguments have a much better chance of receiving a response. I apologize in advance if I can't get back to all of you.

Atlantic Coast Conference

Work left to do: Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech

The ACC moves to six locks as BC, Va Tech and Virginia all got their 10th ACC wins, which should be more than enough this season, and Maryland rallied past North Carolina to get the final piece the Terps needed. After that? It could end there unless FSU, Ga Tech or Clemson picks things up in a hurry.

 

Work left to do:

Clemson [19-9 (5-9), RPI: 41, SOS: 42] The Tigers are closer to locking up the collapse of the year award (in a good battle with OK State) than they are to grabbing an at-large. Clemson's been very competitive, but there's no really positive way you can spin nine losses in 11 games. They now cannot get to .500 in ACC play and still must head to Virginia Tech in the season finale (after hosting Miami). Unless the Tigers win both and/or do some serious work in the ACC tourney, they very well could be left out. There are no great nonconference wins, but ODU, App State, Miss. State, South Carolina and Georgia are all respectable W's.

Florida State [18-11 (6-9), RPI: 48, SOS: 14] The Noles got thrashed at Maryland to run their losing streak to five, but then pounded NC State at home to set the table for what likely is an elimination game at Miami. You can at least make a case for the Seminoles at 7-9 in ACC play (and some work in the ACC tourney), but 6-10 is not going to cut it. Wins at Duke and over Florida will resonate, but the computer numbers remain questionable. Beyond Florida, FSU thrashed bubble buddy Providence, but there's not a ton beyond those two games that will help. They didn't show well in big-time opportunities against Pitt and Wisconsin (before the Florida win).

Georgia Tech [18-10 (6-8), RPI: 51, SOS: 46] The Jackets beat Wake on Wednesday but couldn't get it done at UVa on Saturday, which could be a crucial loss with UNC and BC (both at home) remaining and 8-8 almost a certain need for at-large consideration. A nonconference win over Memphis helps, but the RPI and SOS are not at-large quality right now; if you combine those with a sub-.500 ACC mark, that could spell NIT for GT.

For more College Basketball betting lines go to MySportsbook.com

Additional basketball lines can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.