Bruins aim for consecutive wins in test with Islanders

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03/14/2009 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Eastern Conference-leading Boston Bruins will try to win consecutive games for the first time in over two weeks while also extending their winning streak over the New York Islanders today at TD Banknorth Garden.

Boston is still tops in the East with 97 points despite going just 5-8-3 since February 7. However, the Bruins' recent struggles have allowed New Jersey to pull within six points for the top mark in the East, while Detroit is now even with Boston in the race for the Presidents' Trophy.

The Bruins, who haven't won two straight since February 24 and 26, bounced back from consecutive defeats to the New York Rangers and Columbus with Thursday's 5-3 victory over Ottawa.

Phil Kessel scored twice to leave him just one goal shy of his first-career 30-goal campaign in what is his third NHL season. P.J. Azelsson also scored and added an assist, while Aaron Ward and Chuck Kobasew tallied for Boston as well.

Tim Thomas stopped 25-of-28 shots in helping the Bruins improve to 23-6-5 at home this year.

Boston, which leads Montreal by 17 points for first in the Northeast Division, has won four straight overall versus the Islanders, including a 7-2 home win back on November 28. That victory increased the Bruins' home winning streak over New York to four straight.

The Islanders, though, have won five of their last seven games and ended a seven-game road losing streak on Thursday with a 3-2 overtime win over the Canadiens.

Kyle Okposo netted the game-winner just 26 seconds into OT, marking his fourth straight game with a goal. The 20-year-old and seventh overall pick of the 2006 draft is now tied with the traded Bill Guerin for the club lead in goals with 16.

Mike Iggulden scored his first NHL goal in fourth career game, while Frans Nielsen also tallied for the Islanders, who are still just 7-23-3 on the road this season. Yann Danis stopped 24-of-26 shots for the Islanders.

Blake Comeau had two assists for his second multi-point game on what is now a six-game point streak. Comeau has three goals and five helpers over the run.

New York plays the third test of a season-long six-game road trip.

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL BETTING

NCAA Football Betting

Many fans thought it was the best side in the nation by the end of last season. This year, the polls have built on Georgia's momentum and granted it the No. 1 preseason ranking, followed by Ohio State and USC. (The Associated Press has the Buckeyes at No. 2; USA Today took the Trojans.)

"To have people believing we have one of the best teams in the nation going into this thing, it's exciting for us," Bulldogs coach Mark Richt told the AP. "I don't think anything is guaranteed, but we certainly have put ourselves in position where at least the college football world thinks we're pretty good."

Georgia Bulldogs - 9.5 wins

There's no question they're good, but the Bulldogs have one of the toughest 12-game schedules in the nation, mostly because they play in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference. Away games at No. 15 Arizona State, No. 7 LSU and No. 10 Auburn loom large, with contests between the hedges versus No. 24 Alabama and No. 18 Tennessee as well as the World's Largest Cocktail Party in Jacksonville versus No.5 Florida.

Ohio State Buckeyes - 10 wins

Like the Bulldogs, the Buckeyes also have a number of tough road contests in 2008. After two scrimmages dressed up as real games versus Youngstown State and Ohio, it's off to face USC. Other tough away games include No.13 Wisconsin in October and No. 20 Illinois in November. Granted, it should be pretty easy sledding at the Horseshoe. In fact, the only ranked team that travels to Columbus is No. 22 Penn State, in October.

USC Trojans - 10.5 wins

A similarly light schedule awaits the Trojans of Southern California, which is why the oddsmakers' total is one win more and the over is currently commanding -150 odds. Pete Carroll's troops only play three ranked teams in 2008, and all of those games are at home. After what should be an easy trip to Virginia to start things off on Aug. 30, the Trojans get two weeks to prepare for Ohio State in Los Angeles. Their two other ranked opponents, No. 21 Oregon and No. 15 Arizona State, visit in consecutive weeks to start the month of October. After that, the competition eases up. Of course, this is the same highly-touted school that lost to Stanford in 2007 and Oregon State in 2006. And don't discount the fact that USC plays its biggest rivals, Notre Dame and UCLA, back-to-back to close out the regular season. On paper, the Trojans are far superior, but motivation will be high for the Irish and Bruins, especially if their historic foes are in national-title contention.

Odds to Win the Heisman Trophy

Tim Tebow, Florida - 7/2
He won it last year, so it's no surprise he's the favorite to do it again, making him just the second player to go back-to-back. Ohio State's Archie Griffin turned the trick in 1974 and 1975, and Tebow's coach, Urban Meyer, is pretty sure his star quarterback can match the Buckeyes legend.

"There has never been anyone quite like him," Meyer told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I am very lucky to be his coach."

Chris Wells, Ohio State - 5/1

The man they call "Beanie" was a star recruit out of high school, so it's not like nobody knew who the star tailback was before he rushed for 576 yards as a freshman in 2006 and 1,609 as a sophomore. But perhaps his finest moment came last year versus Michigan when he rumbled for 222 yards and two touchdowns in the Buckeyes' 14-3 victory over the hated Wolverines.

Knowshon Moreno, Georgia - 8/1

If the Bulldogs are to live up to expectations, they'll need a huge effort from their sophomore running back. This might be the last year of college ball for Moreno, who rushed for 1,334 yards and for 14 touchdowns as a freshman, while adding 253 receiving yards on 20 receptions, so expect big things for the man from Belford, N.J.

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