Mavericks' Mbenga has surgery

Basketball Betting Lines

02/21/2007 - Dallas, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dallas Mavericks center D.J. Mbenga underwent surgery Tuesday to repair a torn right anterior cruciate ligament.

The 7-foot Mbenga, who suffered the injury in the team's 113-97 win over Memphis on February 7, will be out the rest of the season. He averaged 0.8 points over 21 games.

Wwimustlotto Basketball Betting News

<< Browns' Wright signs one-year extension
Berea, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cleveland Browns signed running back Jason Wright to a one-year contract extension Tuesday. He is now signed through the 2008 season. Last year he carried the ball 62 times for a total of 189 yards and

<< Cowboys make Garrett offensive coordinator
Irving, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jason Garrett, who was added to the coaching staff of the Dallas Cowboys last month, was named the team's offensive coordinator on Tuesday. Garrett, who had spent the previous two seasons as the qu

<< Tampa Devil Rays
Agreed to terms with pitchers Tim Corcoran, Edwin Jackson, Jeff Ridgway, Chris Seddon, Brian Stokes, Jon Switzer and Mitch Talboton, outfielder Elijah Dukes, and catcher Dioner Navarro on one-year contracts.

<< Phillips signs long-term deal with Chargers
San Diego, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Diego Chargers signed linebacker Shaun Phillips to a six-year contract on Tuesday. Phillips, in his third year with the Chargers and first as a full-time starter, recorded a career-high

<< Zambrano, Cubs agree to one-year deal
Mesa, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Cubs and starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract worth a reported $12.4 million on Tuesday. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the deal w

Haas, Fish cruise in first round at Memphis >>
Memphis, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Second-seeded German Tommy Has and fourth- seeded American Mardy Fish had no trouble in their first round matches at the $665,000 Regions Morgan Keegan Championships. Haas, who defeated Swede Robin Soderl

Horna upsets Nalbandian in Buenos Aires >>
Buenos Aires, Argentina (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Peru's Luis Horna, who came into this week ranked 50th in the world, picked off top seed David Nalbandian in his home country at the $445,000 Copa Telmex tennis event. Horna scored a 6-4, 6-3

Oh, what a Neitzel: MSU upsets No. 1 Wisconsin >>
East Lansing, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Drew Neitzel scored 11 of his 28 points during a game-clinching run in the final minutes, as Michigan State downed top-ranked Wisconsin, 64-55, at the Breslin Center. Neitzel, who hit 10-of-17 shot

Providence knocks off No. 22 West Virginia >>
Providence, RI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Joe Alexander missed a wide open three for a tie with 14.5 seconds left then Herbert Hill iced the tournament resume- building victory with a breakaway slam, as Providence downed No. 22 West Virgini

Thrashers storm past Hurricanes >>
Raleigh, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Johan Hedberg made 33 saves to lead the Atlanta Thrashers to a 3-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes in a big Southeast Division battle at RBC Center. Marian Hossa had a goal and an assist and Ilya

NFL Football Betting


BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES

It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.

BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES

All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.

COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES

Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.

TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES

Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.

RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES

Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.

PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES

Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.

JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES

Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.

SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES

I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.

VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES

Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.

DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES

Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.

SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES

I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.

BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES

Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.

BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES

Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.

RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES

A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.

PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers

Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.

Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.