Thursday Betting Picks

Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: The Celtics and Lakers renew hostilities, Butler tries to rebound from a defeat, and Lefty tees it up in the Buick Invitational.

Tipping Off in the NBA

If the Celtics are going to keep their lengthy winning streak alive on Thursday night they're going to have to fend off the visiting Lakers. These two teams last met in their Christmas Day matchup, with Los Angeles picking up a 92-83 victory at home. Kobe Bryant led the way with 27 points for the Lakers in that contest, while Kevin Garnett (who is recovering from the flu) had 22 points for the Celtics. The Vegas odds have Boston a seven point favorite at Bodog Life but only laying six at BetUs Sportsbook.

Lakers/Celtics is the opener of the weekly Thursday TNT doubleheader - the nightcap sees the Mavericks in Utah to take on the Jazz. Bookmaker has the Jazz as a three-point home favorite. Utah fell 115-108 to Dallas on January 17, with Dirk Nowitzki pouring in a game-high 39 points. Jazz guard Deron Williams, who had 30 against Dallas in January, is day-to-day with a sore knee. The only other game on the NBA schedule for Thursday night is a 7:00pm ET matchup between the Pacers and Sixers; that games tips off in Philly.

Barney Frank To Push Gambling Decriminalization

Gambling rights activists continue to follow progress in the betting news section. While President Obama has immediately acted on granting rights to terrorists, perhaps even the most heinous off all humans, online gamblers have a chance.

The March to Madness

No. 11 Butler will play on the road against Detroit in college hoops action on Thursday night, and they'll be trying to shake off a 75-66 upset loss versus Wisconsin-Green Bay in their last outing. The Bulldogs fell to 19-2 straight-up and 11-7-1 against-the-spread with that defeat. The Titans beat Youngstown State 68-64 in overtime last time out, and they're at 6-15 SU and 7-12 ATS so far.

The top-ranked college hoops team in action is No. 9 Xavier; they'll host Temple. The Temple-Xavier line has the sportsbooks making the Musketeers an eight-point chalk. As well, it'll be No. 18 Gonzaga vs. Portland, No. 22 Washington vs. California, No. 23 Illinois vs. Wisconsin, No. 24 Arizona State vs. Oregon, and New Mexico State vs. No. 25 Utah State. The Aggies are ranked for the first time in five years.

On ESPNU Georgia Tech is at Florida State with the FSU gang laying nine. The staff of OffshoreInsiders.com is already got the eight o'clock coffee brewing in the Michael Graves coffeemaker and will have all the March Madness betting information.

A Trip Around the Rink

New Senators head coach Cory Clouston will try again for his first NHL victory on Thursday night - but his team will be in tough at home against the conference-leading Bruins. The Sens fell 1-0 to the Kings in Clouston's debut behind the bench on Tuesday night, with goaltender Brian Elliott making 26 saves in the loss. The Bruins picked up a 6-4 win over Ottawa when the teams met January 8.

There are seven other games on the NHL's schedule for Thursday night, including a big Western clash between the Blackhawks and Flames in Calgary. As well, it'll be Los Angeles at Washington, the Islanders at Florida, Anaheim at Nashville, Edmonton at St. Louis, Dallas at Colorado, and Carolina at San Jose.

Rounding Out the Slate

Phil Mickelson struggled in his first PGA Tour event of the season last week, but the Vegas oddsmakers still have him pegged as the 6/1 favorite to grab the win this week in the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines. Padraig Harrington is next at 7/1 odds, followed by Retief Goosen at 12/1, and both Luke Donald and Camilo Villegas at 15/1. Mickelson won this event in both 2000 and 2001, but (injured) Tiger Woods has dominated since then with five victories over the past six years.

Sports Headlines

Pitching legend Sandy Koufax was among those investors on the Madoff client list…They Guy Store gives those who lost out on CoSport Olympic tickets a second chance…Barry Bonds was back in court pleading not guilty to perjury charges…Pitcher Ben Sheets may need flexor tendon surgery…Joe Buck will replace Bob Costas on HBO…The injury reports on Kevin Garnett is that he expected to play for the Celtics against the Lakers on TNT tonight…New Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin decided to give Florida some bulletin board material accusing Urban Myer of cheating and committing recruiting violations.

Political News

From the political betting odds front, Joshua DuBois will head the faith based initiative program under President Barack Obama.