Lakers' Bynum returns to action

Basketball Betting Lines

04/09/2009 - Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Andrew Bynum is back, and not a second too soon for the Lakers as the playoffs near.

Bynum stepped foot onto the floor in game action during the first quarter of Los Angeles' game against Denver on Thursday. He started the contest in the frontcourt with Pau Gasol and Trevor Ariza.

It was January 31st when Bynum had to be helped off the court early in a win vs. Memphis. The team originally diagnosed the injury as a sprain, however, an MRI exam later revealed the tear and derailed what was shaping up to be the 21-year-old's breakout season in his fourth in LA.

The seven-footer entered that fateful game with a string of five straight double-doubles and was establishing himself as a dangerous compliment to star guard Kobe Bryant. Bynum is averaging 14 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and 1.5 assists in starting each of the 46 games in which he appeared this season.

Bynum was also forced to miss the entire second half of last season and the playoffs after suffering a partially dislocated left kneecap last January -- also against Memphis.

Waskjeeves Basketball Betting News

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SPORTS BETTING

NFL Football Betting Online

In terms of sports wagering, the NFL is "the most popular game in town." The explanation behind that is easy.

It is called the "pointspread."

Many years ago, NFL games, as well as the more popular college games, used straight odds as a vehicle for betting. For example, if the Bears were playing the Giants, and it shaped up as a competitive contest, the Bears might be, say, a 7/5 favorite. If they were playing an also-ran, it might be 10/1. Well, there is a point where a line becomes prohibitive, as far as betting the favorite. And who would waste money betting an underdog that has virtually no chance? Such a setup did not contribute to promoting betting action.

But in modern sports betting, a "pointspread" is used.

A NFL pointspreads are exactly that, a pre-established point difference between the two sides that will, for all intents and purposes, create a handicap that evens things out, and in doing so, produces comparable wagering activity on both sides of that proposition. So in lieu of a odds figure in which to bet the team to win outright, the Bears might be a three-point favorite over the New York Giants, and a 17-point favorite over the also-ran. Now that the team that is the underdog can "get" points, there can be equal action on both sides.

In sportsbooks, this is usually done with efficiency by charging the losing bettors 10% extra - in effect, bettors are laying 11/10 on those games. So they are actually betting $110 to win $100. If they lose, they pay the "vig." If they win, they simply collect.

The establishment of the pointspread as the corner stone around which team sports like football can be wagered upon was truly what brought gridiron betting into the stratosphere for online football betting .

Don't believe it? Just take a look at what happens around the Super Bowl.

Stay with us here as we take you through the best in NFL action on a consistent basis, with advice columns as well as handicapping selections. If you're looking for college football betting, that's in our NCAA section, which you can reach by clicking here. And if you're looking for a different kind of football, such as the Canadian Football League, which we'll deal with occasionally, or the Arena Football League, which we really like, you can find it in our Miscellaneous section by clicking

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