Blazers try to extend home win streak vs. Clippers

Basketball Betting Lines

02/22/2009 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Portland Trail Blazers will shoot for their eighth straight home win tonight when they close out a three-game residency versus the Los Angeles Clippers from the Rose Garden.

Portland has won the first two tests of the homestand and improved to 22-5 as the host following Friday's 108-98 victory over the Atlanta Hawks. Star guard Brandon Roy finished with 27 points, seven rebounds and five assists in leading the Blazers to victory.

LaMarcus Aldridge added 24 points and 11 rebounds for Portland, which has won four of its last five overall contests and got 19 points off the bench from Rudy Fernandez. The Trail Blazers are currently 2 1/2 games behind Denver for the top spot in the Northwest standings.

Center Greg Oden missed Friday's game with a chip fracture in his left patella and is questionable versus the Clippers.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles has dropped two in a row and three of its last four games, including Wednesday's 142-119 decision to the Phoenix Suns in the back end of a home-and-home series at Staples Center.

Al Thornton scored a team-high 33 points for the Clippers, who were without Zach Randolph. Randolph was suspended for two games after punching Phoenix' Louis Amundson on Tuesday. Eric Gordon had 23 points and Baron Davis contributed 14 in defeat.

Davis (leg) and Thornton (foot) are probable for Sunday's game and center Marcus Camby is listed as questionable against Portland because of an inner ear infection. The Clippers are 7-21 as the guest in 2008-09.

The 2008-09 season series between LA and Portland is tied at a game apiece, while the Clippers have won eight of the last 13 meetings between the clubs. The Clips, however, have lost 14 of 18 and 26 of their last 31 trips to the Rose City.

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American Idol Betting Odds: Season 6  

The online gambling websites are in the process of deciphering each American Idol contestant and his or her chances of winning Season 6 to come up with the early American Idol betting lines.

Tim Dalton of MySportsbook.com has been locked away in a soundproof room coming up with all the latest tallies, we are told. "American Idol has become one of the most significant betting events of the year," claims Jack Black of MySportsbook.com.  "Last year, millions were bet during the season across the globe, not just in America.

It's tough early on since we really do not have a glimpse as to how well each of these individuals will perform solo on a week-to-week basis.  It's like Week 1 of the NFL.  Pre-season means nada!

We do know the 24 finalists however.

Sanjaya Malakar is the young man whose sister failed to make it into the Top 24.  He's very low key but - unless he totally flubs - will probably win over the young girlie vote for a few weeks anyway.  He's too young to go all the way, according to Payton O'Brien. 

Brandon Rogers - Who?

Phil Stacy is the military guy who missed his daughter's birth because of the Memphis audition.  He should go a good distance.

Chris Sligh - He's got the humor and in many ways he's the Anti-American Idol much like last year's winner Taylor Hicks was.  And this is why he'll probably get pretty far in this competition.  He's chubby, white with a big curly afro....but more importantly, a great voice!  People love "real", not "real cute" to go all the way. 

"Blake Lewis should go far because of his uniqueness and looks.  He's the boy next store with a twist - he beat boxes.  But on top of this, he's a great singer, and I adore him," Payton O'Brien relayed.

A talented beat-boxer Blake Lewis was a hit during the group sing in Hollywood but Simon explained that this is a singing contest just before he told him he was “in.”

Paul Kim has caught our own roving reporter, Jenny Woo's eyes. 

"I love the fact that there is a Korean American on the show and he is bound to get more Asians tuning into the show," Woo said from her Miami Beach estate.  "There has never been a major presence of Asian-Americans on American Idol in the past.  He's a hottie with a nice voice so that should help to take him far.  Expect heavy betting action from the Asian community."

Sundance Head - He's not perfect, but he's got the personality that will take him through a few weeks, plus he's got the lineage (son of Roy Head - whose 1965 single, "Treat Her Right," hit No. 5 in the charts) 

And the others:

Rudy Cardinas
AJ Tabaldo - the 5th time is the charm
Nicolas Pedro
Chris Richardson
Jared Cotter

The girls

"Melinda Doolittle has one of the best voices," says MySportsbook.com Reporter and an acclaimed dancer in her own right, Destiney Lewis.  "It is great to see a back up singer step out like she has.  The girl needs to gain more confidence but that can also be a positive.  I think she will go far."

Alena Alexander - Those tears (she never seems to stop bawling) should get her far.

"Single mom Lakisha Jones I suspect will be a pretty big favorite entering Week 1 of the competition," says Destiny Williams.  Jones is an excellent singer and down to earth.  "She'll have a wide appeal," echoed O'Brien.

Nicole Trellis - Seems to exert confidence.

Amy Krebs - a powerful singer.

Antonella Barba
Gina Glocksen
Hailey Scanardo
Jordan Sparks
Stephanie Edwards
Leslie Hunt
Sabrina Sloan

MySportsbook.com is offering a 20% signup bonus with an initial deposit (i.e. open your American Idol betting account with $300, receive another $60 in which to bet with). 

Last two contestants will be?

1 Male/1 Female +100 (a $10 bet pays $10 plus your initial $10)

2 Males +170 (a $10 bet pays $17 plus your initial $17)

2 Females +130 (a $10 bet pays $13 plus your initial $10)

MySportsbook.com is an online sportsbook accepts Visa Credit Cards and online sportsbook accepts Mastercard Credit Cards for easy American Idol betting lines.