Revamped Coyotes host Avs in key Western showdown

Hockey Betting Lines

03/04/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Poised to make their first trip to the playoffs since 2002, the Phoenix Coyotes weren't taking any chances.

One day after making an astonishing seven trades, Phoenix will try to avoid a season-high fourth loss in a row tonight versus a Colorado Avalanche squad whose trade with the Coyotes on Wednesday has already paid dividends.

Even though they have lost three straight games in regulation for the first time this year -- and three in a row overall for just the second time this season -- the Coyotes are still fifth overall in the Western Conference and own a 10-point advantage over the ninth-seeded Calgary Flames.

Still, Tuesday's 5-2 home setback to the St. Louis Blues at Jobing.com Arena must have left a sour taste in Don Maloney's mouth, as he was the most active general manager at the trade deadline. When all was said and done, Maloney had added five players to his NHL roster while losing just two.

Phoenix was involved in some of the biggest trades of the day, getting forward Wojtek Wolski from Colorado for forwards Peter Mueller and Kevin Porter, as well as defenseman Derek Morris from Boston. Center Petteri Nokelainen (from Anaheim), defenseman Mathieu Schneider (Vancouver) and forward Lee Stempniak (Toronto) were also acquired during a busy Wednesday.

"There's no question we are night and day from where we were 24 hours ago in regards to skill, experience and grit," Maloney told Phoenix's Web site. "Our defense is now as good as anybody's, in my mind. But now we have to get the chemistry right and we have to play as a team and a group, and if we do that then we're going to be much harder (to play against)."

Morris, Wolski and Nokelainen all arrived in Phoenix on Wednesday and are expected to play tonight. Schneider and Stempniak aren't expected to arrive until later Thursday, leaving their status in doubt.

Wolski should be especially motivated to face his former club. He had 17 goals and 30 assists with Colorado this season and led the club with a plus-15 rating. His 47 points already matches Shane Doan for the most on Phoenix's roster.

The Coyotes went 0-for-6 on the power play in Tuesday's loss and haven't scored on their last 25 chances with the man advantage. Goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov also struggled in the setback, allowing five goals on 22 shots through two periods before being replaced in the third by Jason LaBarbera.

Mueller hadn't scored in his last eight games with Phoenix, but it took him just one contest to light the lamp with his new club. Mueller had a goal in his Colorado debut last night, while Chris Stewart added a goal and two assists in a 4-3 win over Anaheim.

"Obviously things didn't work out with Phoenix, but I'm coming to a great team in Colorado," said Mueller, who had just four goals and 17 points in 54 games with Phoenix. "I am very excited to be a part of it -- there is such great tradition here. To lead it off with a goal and a big [win], it definitely doesn't get better than that."

Colorado is hoping Mueller can flash some of his rookie form, when he scored 22 goals and 54 points in 2007-08.

Matt Duchene ended with a goal and one assist while Paul Stastny added three helpers for the Avs, who rebounded from Monday's loss to Detroit and have won five of their last seven. T.J. Galiardi also scored, while Craig Anderson made 31 saves.

The win, which snapped a three-game road slide, allowed the Avalanche to remain two points behind Vancouver for first place in the Northwest Division. Colorado is also just a point behind Phoenix in the West standings.

The Avalanche own a pair of home wins over the Coyotes this year, but have lost two straight and three of their last four at Jobing.com Arena.

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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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