Belmont Stakes odds. What? Horse racing? Yeah, what the hell, why not. I figure the entire internet has already talked about Lebron James and NBA odds today.

I’ve been trying to convince myself for some time now to follow horse racing a bit. Most “fans” stick to the Triple Crown races–Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont–and I’m no different, for now at least. It seems the big debate is whether or not Rachel Alexandra is going to run. She won the Preakness, which is absolutely insane since she’s a filly; it was the first time a filly has accomplished the feat in 85 years.

A big key will probably be her jockey. In the Preakness she was jockeyed by Calvin Borel. Borel has had a hell of a year–he actually rode Mine That Bird in the Kentucky Derby and won that. So at least Borel is going for his own personal Triple Crown.

So what’s that all mean for Belmont Stakes betting? Um, I have no clue, to be honest. Either way, I think it comes down to Mine That Bird (who finished second at the Preakness) or Rachel Alexandra (of which Borel said “This is the greatest horse I’ve ever been on in my life”). The key? Borel, of course. Nobody knows who he’s going to ride, but it sounds like if the filly runs–which is no certainty right now–Borel will ride her. Otherwise, it’s Mine That Bird. Either way, I’m betting on Borel… if I even make a bet.

So if you’re going to place a wager at your sports book, what have I taught you here today? Um, probably nothing, actually. Enjoy the weekend.

Put a fucking bullet in my head after last night’s Jays game. I was so pissed after they blew Doc’s lead that I didn’t even bother with extra innings. Needless to say, I wasn’t happy when I found out the lost the game in extras after taking ANOTHER lead. Un. Fucking. Real. Let’s move before I shoot Jesse Carlson in the goddamn face.

I’m pretty stoked for Penguins Red Wings odds, a rematch of last year. Both teams finished with fewer points in the regular season, but they’re both really firing on all cylinders right now, aren’t they? I think it’s going to be a hell of a series.

I think you’ll see a lot of people picking the Pens this year, which is fair for a lot of reasons. Crosby and Malkin are out of this world, while Detroit stars Nik Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk are nursing injuries. But I think a big reason you’ll see people give Pittsburgh the nod is because of goaltending.

Supposedly, the Pens are going to have an edge with Marc-Andre Fleury. If you bet online hockey, you’re well aware that Fleury has enjoyed a very strong postseason (2.62 GAA, .906 save percentage), and by no means am I trying to diminish what he’s done–he’s been great. But honestly, after all these years, why doesn’t Chris Osgood get more respect?

Here are some career stats for four NHL goalies:

Goalie A: 551 wins, 2.50 GAA

Goalie B: 423 wins, 2.92 GAA

Goalie C: 389 wins, 2.47 GAA

Goalie D: 230 wins, 2.57 GAA

Those are all relatively even numbers, right? Pretty tough to choose one over the other, for the most part? Well guess who they belong to–Patricky Roy, Tony Esposito, Chris Osgood and Roberto Louongo, respectively.

Yes hockey betting fans, there are a lot of factors involved and you can pick apart any of their numbers–dead puck era, quality of teammates, length of career and so forth–and I’m not saying Osgood is on the same level as those guys. What I am saying is he deserves a lot more credit than he gets. The guy has played in tons of huge games, he owns two Stanley Cup rings as a starter, and he’s consistently (if not quitely) just got the job done for over a decade. So I’m not so sure the Fleury-Osgood gap is going to be as big as some people think.

Stanley Cup Finals odds should be tight throughout the whole series, and hopefully we get seven games worth of great hockey. I think the series will come down to the health of Lidstrom and Datsyuk, to be honest. Both are excellent defenders and, while the Wings are possibly the deepest team in the NHL, they need those two to slow down Crosby and Malkin. Without them, the high-scoring pair will have much more room to operate with.

At this point, I don’t see it happening. Lidstrom will be fine, but Datsyuk’s 2009 Playoffs are a loss. He’s clearly really uncomfortable right now and has just seven points in 13 games. He’s not the same player he normally is at either end of the rink.

So what’s it all boil down to if you’re going to do the sportsbook online betting thing? Pens in seven.

Ok, there’s two big games in action tonight and I’m going to try to catch them both. There’s a little something out there for both NBA odds and hockey betting fans.

BLACKHAWKS at RED WINGS, 7:30 p.m. - It’s pretty impressive what the Wings are doing, isn’t? Both Lidstrom and Datsyuk are banged up but they just keep ploughing on. And it’s not like they’re scraping by, either; Detroit pounded Chicago 6-1 in Game 5.

Honestly, I’m pretty surprised and disappoitned with Cristobal Huet’s performance in that game. No, he hasn’t been the free agent star they’d hoped for, but you’d think this guy was capable of stepping in and playing well when they really needed it. I guess you could blame nerves but Huet’s been there before. He’s only 5-8 lifetime in the postseason, but that includes a 2.65 GAA and .918 save percentage. Very solid numbers.

Anyway, I think Chicago is broken at this point. Even missing two of their best players, Detroit will walk all over the Hawks and force a Stanley Cup rematch with the Penguins.

NUGGETS at LAKERS, 9 p.m. - Admittedly, I haven’t been following this series as closely as the Cavs-Magic. Sounds like Carmelo Anthony has been pretty impressive, finding ways to score despite some injuries and the flu. Is he ready to make the leap into superstardom? Sure sounds like it.

My sports book money would be on the Lakers tonight, though. I like them at home, plus I think somebody might step up and give Kobe a hand tonight. I’m not a huge fan of No. 24, but I can’t deny he’s a great player. And if somebody actually chips in other than Gasol, look out.

I could talk about NBA odds, and how an exhausted Lebron will probably drop a 40-10-10 on the Magic tonight but it will be all for naught because, right now, Mo Williams couldn’t score with a German hooker. I could talk about hockey betting and how the Pittsburgh Penguins are on the verge of a sweep tonight because the Hurricanes look like, well, Mo Williams. Or I could talk about MLB odds, the Blue Jays and their seven-game losing streak, and how they’re playing so badly they remind me of Mo Williams riding a nuclear bomb into a hospital full of newborns. But I want to talk about Randy Johnson.

Yeah. Randy Johnson. Ugly ass, mullet-sporting, trailer park posterchild Randy Johnson. Considering the Big Unit is in the midst of an ugly 3-4, 6.26 season, what could possibly bring his name to the forefront? This little tidbit, courtesy of Deadspin:

So dominant was Johnson that before a game in 1993, the home plate umpire told Mariners catcher Dave Valle, “They don’t even need you with Randy pitching.”

“What are you talking about?” replied Valle, who would not name the ump.

“He’s so good they don’t need you. Let me call the pitches tonight.”

“I let him call every pitch.” recalls Valle, to whom the umpire whispered pitches under his breath.

An overpowering Johnson went the distance in a Mariners victory.

I’d like to call bullshit on that one, but you know what? Johnson did go 19-8 that year with 308 Ks, and how hard is it to call “fastball, fastball, fastball”? Enjoy tonight’s games.

Weird, Vernon's bat actually made contact with something.

What a meltdown, huh? No, I’m not talking about NBA odds and the Cleveland Cavaliers, although the Cavs are working on a nice little meltdown of their own in the NBA playoffs. I’m talking about the Toronto Blue Jays.

Yes, the magic was bound to wear off eventually–you’re not going to play .600 baseball for very long with a bunch of youngsters and no-namers in the rotation and your No. 3 and 4 hitters batting .260–but it was fun while it lasted, wasn’t it? The Jays defied MLB odds by getting off to their best start in franchise history and sat in first-place in the AL East for most of the season to this point.

Now this house of cards is collapsing faster than Rosie O’Donnell after climbing a flight of stairs, as Toronto has lost six straight heading into today’s contest against the Orioles. The lone advantage of this swift demise is the “band aid” effect. Rather than the Birds tormenting me for the next two months, slowly spiraling into sub-.500 territory but making me think they have a chance to squeak into the postseason before ultimately breaking my heart, they’re going to just hurl themselves out of competition like a bug into a truck windshield. Sigh.

Ok. I know it’s pessimistic, but Toronto’s online sports book odds look all but finished. But I’m not going to give up on the season, especially with Roy Halladay gunning for another Cy Young award. 8-1 with a 2.52 ERA? Hell, let’s just rename the team the Toronto Doc Halladays and get it over with.

Wow. Been awile since I’ve posted. Well, I had a great long weekend but I’ve been swamped at work lately, so tonight I’m looking forward to relaxing and enjoying the tube. No hockey action this evening, but there are some NBA odds on the sked.

I think this Orlando-Cleveland matchup is a pretty big no brainer. To be honest, I think it’s going to be a fast, non-competitive series. However, basketball betting fans can still look forward to LeBron James doing his thing. So far the King has posted 32.9/9.8/6.8. Hopefully we get a Lakers-Cavs Finals so LeBron can ratchet it up one more notch. Cool stuff.

Anyway, if you’re heading to the sportsbook tonight, you’re crazy to be taking anyone but the Cavs. They’re a lock. And a sidenote for those of you north of the border: Game 2 of Jays-Red Sox goes tonight with Cecil taking on Penny. I like the Blue Birds to tie things up at one apiece (total homer pick, I admit it).

The Leafs have been part of a few Game 7 stinkers this decade, and Ed Belfour was prominently involved in all of them.

Well, then. I suppose I overhyped last night’s game a little bit didn’t I, NHL odds fans? Pittsburgh’s 6-2 win over Washington was a bigger letdown than racing fans finding out Mine That Bird is losing her jockey for Preakness odds.

The Capitals shit the bed so badly they’ll have to toss out the mattress, but at least they got me in the mood for a little research. I did some digging around—let’s take a quick gander at the worst Game 7 letdowns in the NHL Playoffs over the past decade.

2008

Bruins vs Canadiens: Montreal creams Boston 5-0, with youngster Carey Price announcing his dominance to the hockey betting world with 25 saves. It didn’t last.

2006

Ducks vs Flames: The Flames can’t finish off the underdog Ducks despite the poor play of goalie JS Giguere. Anaheim gambles and puts Ilya Bryzgalov between the pipes. The move pays off as Bryz responds with two straight wins, including a 3-0 win in Calgary to eliminate the Flames.

2003

Leafs vs Flyers: Leafs goalie Ed Belfour would have been just as effective if he’d sat in his car in the parking lot during the game. Philly shelled Belfour 6-1, including a pair from Mark Recchi, ending Toronto’s postseason run.

Ducks vs Devils: Plucky Anaheim enjoys a nice run to the Stanley Cup Final but, despite pushing the series to the limit, it gets shoved around in Game 7. New Jersey dominates 3-0 and former Duck Jeff Friesen scores a pair of goals. Giguere wins the Conn Smythe as a consolation prize, just the fifth player for a losing team to win the award.

2002

Avalanche vs Red Wings: In a battle between the two best teams in the Western Conference, Detroit completely dismantles Colorado. The 7-0 win is not only embarrassing for Avs fans but utterly shocking, since three previous games in this series went to overtime.

2001

Leafs vs Devils: Toronto jumped to a 1-0 lead midway through the first period, but that would be it for Leafs scoring that day. New Jersey ripped off five straight goals, including two from PatriK Elias, to advance to the next round.

Kings vs Avalanche: The underdog Kings make it an interesting series and appeared on the cusp of a big upset. Los Angeles and Colorado entered the third period deadlocked at one apiece, but the Avalanche exploded for four straight goals in the final frame to crush the Kings.

There’s two more Game 7s on the ice tonight, plus a pair of Game 6s on NBA odds. Hopefully, we get a little more entertainment out of that quartet than the Pens-Caps game delivered.

First of all, thanks Doc Halladay. Last night was a beauty.

Ok, I should probably talk NBA odds but the only game tonight is Dallas-Denver and, to be honest, it’s one of those series I just can’t get into. I think it’s the Mavs. They’re one of those teams that, no matter what, I just have no interest in following or watching. It’s not like they’ve done anything to piss me off; they’re just there.

That’s alright, though, because there’s a FANTASTIC game for hockey betting fans tonight when the Penguins and Capitals hit the ice. If you haven’t been closely following this series, please head to the backyard, find some strong rope and ladder in the shed, scale the tallest tree in the neighborhood, and hang yourself.

So far, the scores have been 3-2, 4-3, 3-2, 5-3, 4-3 and 5-4. Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby have a great hate-on going for each other and they sit atop the playoff scoring ladder with 20 and 18 points, respectively. Everyone in the basketball betting world got hot-to-trot for the wild Celtics-Bulls series. Well, NHL odds have been just as good thanks to this series.

So either watch this game tonight or go find some strong rope.

Crush his windpipe, Doc!

It’s hard to believe Preakness odds will provide us the excitement that hockey and basketball betting are right now. Both NHL games were great stuff last night, and the NBA should get it done tonight with two more games on tap (be sure to check out Orlando vs Boston and Houston vs LA Lakers on NBA odds this evening).

That said, I’d like to get to a bit of baseball betting, since we haven’t broached the subject lately. First, tonight is a huge huge HUGE game for Toronto fans (i.e., me). Not only are the Jays facing the Yanks for the first time this year, not only is Doc Halladay taking the mound, but A.J. Burnett will be his counterpart. Yes, the A.J. Burnett that robbed the Jays of millions of dollars over the past few years before moving on to the Bronx Bombers. Burnett is going to learn a very tough lesson tonight—you do NOT fuck with Roy Halladay.

Secondly, since we’re on the topic of the Yankees, I came across this great little post. If you want to watch Seattle and New York from the best seats in the house at New Yankee, it’ll run you about five grand. But to fly to Seattle (round trip), rent a car for three days, stay in four-star hotel for two nights, eat two top-of-the-line dinners and get two top tickets for TWO Yanks-M’s games in Seattle? A measly $2800.

Fuck the Yankees.

Wow. I don’t know what to say, NBA odds fans. Where do you even begin?

Jon Tesh. The old NBA theme. A $20,000 contest. Rap. Dancing. Mind… can’t… process it. I guess, let’s get to tonight’s games that I won’t be watching, as I’ll be too busy preparing some round-ball rock for Mr. Tesh’s contest.

Celtics vs Magic odds: The series is tied 1-1. Thanks to Rafer Alston’s stupidity, I think it swings 2-1 in Boston’s favor, meaning the  C’s recapture home-court advantage.

Lakers vs Rockets odds: Another 1-1 series. Honestly, I can’t even think logically in this series because I really, really want to see Kobe go down. So let’s say Battier and Artest tear shit up on “D” and No. 24 gets no help from his teammates. 2-1 Rockets.

NHL SPECIAL -  Capitals vs Penguins: Good god, watch this game. I don’t care if you’re Ray Allen’s mom, you should be watching this game instead of basketball tonight. Ovechkin and Crosby have been fun as hell to watch but, now that Malkin seems to have woken up, it should get even better. Bball fans, at least flip to it during commercials. You’ll thank me (oh, and Pens win).