Sharks re-sign Nichol, Wallin

Hockey Betting Lines

06/26/2010 - San Jose, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Jose Sharks have re-signed center Scott Nichol and defenseman Niclas Wallin to one-year contracts.

They were due to become un-restricted free agents July 1, when the free agency period begins. Financial terms of the deals were not disclosed.

Nichol, 35, set career highs in assists (15), points (19) and games played (79) last season, his first with San Jose. He also led the league in faceoff percentage (60.6) and was 12th in hits (226).

"We knew when we brought Scott in last season that he was ultra-competitive," said Sharks general manager Doug Wilson. "Not only did he meet that expectation, but he also brought a very business-like mentality to the rink each night, stepping up as a leader and an important centerman for us."

In 496 career games over parts of 10 seasons with San Jose, Nashville, Chicago, Calgary and Buffalo, Nichol has recorded 48 goals and 63 assists.

Wallin, 35, was acquired by San Jose in a February trade with Carolina, where he had spent the first eight-plus seasons of his career and won a Stanley Cup in 2006.

In 70 games between the Hurricanes and Sharks this past season, Wallin posted seven assists and 49 penalty minutes. In 540 career contests, he has recorded 18 goals, 53 assists and 414 penalty minutes.

"Niclas is a physical veteran presence and will help solidify our blueline," Wilson said. "We were proud of the way he battled through a tough injury during the playoffs and are looking forward to having him at full health."

The Sharks have also re-signed center Andrew Desjardins to a one-year contract. Desjardins, 23, spent last season with San Jose's AHL affiliate in Worcester and had 19 goals and 27 assists.

Flslottery Hockey Betting News

<< Kerr cruising at LPGA Championship
Pittsford, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Cristie Kerr posted a three-under 69 on Saturday to take an eye-opening eight-shot lead after the third round of the LPGA Championship, the second major of the season on the LPGA Tour. Kerr finished

<< Nadal, Soderling reach fourth round at Wimbledon
Wimbledon, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former champion Rafael Nadal was pushed to five sets, while two-time French Open runner-up Robin Soderling was an easy third-round winner Saturday at Wimbledon. The world No. 1, yet second-seeded, Nada

<< Union to open PPL Park vs. Seattle
Chester, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Union open their soccer- specific stadium - PPL Park - on Sunday when they host the Seattle Sounders FC as both teams conclude their two-week FIFA World Cup break. The Union played thei

<< Theft arrests for 3 incoming UCLA football players
LOS ANGELES (AP) -Three incoming UCLA football players have been arrested on suspicion of felony theft.Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department records show Joshua Shirley, Shaquille Richardson and Paul Richardson - all 18-year-old freshmen - were ar

<< Serena will face Sharapova in fourth round at Big W
Wimbledon, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In a rematch of the 2004 final here, reigning world No. 1 Serena Williams will face former top-ranked star Maria Sharapova in the fourth round at Wimbledon 2010. Williams, who swatted 19 aces o

Pavano pitches Twins past Mets >>
Flushing, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Carl Pavano tossed his second straight complete game, allowing only three hits, as the Minnesota Twins handled the New York Mets, 6-0, in the second of a three-game interleague series at Citi Field.

Tubert wins U.S. Women's Publinx >>
South Bend, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Emily Tubert defeated Lisa McCloskey, 3 & 2, in Saturday's 36-hole final to win the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship. Tubert, 18, used an amazing run on the front nine during the firs

Nadal, Murray, Soderling reach fourth round at Wimbledon >>
Wimbledon, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former champion Rafael Nadal was pushed to five sets, while heavy British favorite Andy Murray and two-time French Open runner-up Robin Soderling were easy third-round winners Saturday at Wimbledon. T

Forsman leads Dick's Sporting Goods Open >>
Endicott, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dan Forsman fired his second consecutive six- under 66 on Saturday to move in front after the second round of the Dick's Sporting Goods Open. Forsman finished 36 holes at 12-under 132 and is one stroke

Gyan goal propels Ghana past USA to WC quarters >>
Rustenburg, South Africa (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Asamoah Gyan scored the game winner just three minutes into extra time as Ghana topped the United States 2-1 in their FIFA World Cup round of 16 match at Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Saturda

Betting the NFL preseason

Rule No. 1 in the gamblers' handbook states, "Avoid sports betting on meaningless games."

When you're drowning in a sea of baseball monotony, however, things change. Even a hint of pro football betting can persuade the most disciplined bettor to break a few rules. 

The NFL preseason is around the corner, with a tempting Hall of Fame match kicking off on Sunday. But bettors must stay vigilant. Wagering on NFL exhibition games is an entirely different beast than the regular season. Most fans don't recognize the players on the field because starters get as much action in August as Warcraft fans get on Prom night.

The only certainty about the NFL this time of year is uncertainty – and yet there are some who say betting in August can be a gold mine.

“I actually feel the NFL preseason presents solid profit opportunities for sharp bettors and handicappers,” Sports Expert Steve Merril explains. “My experience has been that the sportsbooks fear the preseason, which is evident by lower limits and massive moves.”

The line moves are attributed to the limited knowledge available regarding playing-time distribution. One team’s top unit out on the field for one more series has an impact on the pointspread. Setting lines in the preseason often is a shot in the dark.

“We base the betting lines mostly on public perception,” Pete Korner, founder of the Sports Club in Las Vegas, says. “It’s very tough to predict, almost a guessing game.”

The preseason is all about figuring out who’s in and for how long.

“It becomes a race between bettors and oddsmakers to find out how long the quarterbacks are going to stay in,” Korner admits. “If a sharp gets the information first, he could exploit an early line. I’m a full believer in moving the line in the preseason if the books find out something late in the week.”

Determining what each team’s motive is can help bettors handicap. To do this you must pay close attention to the philosophies head coaches employ in exhibition play.

“You need to know what a coach is trying to accomplish,” says Covers Expert Bryan Leonard. “Sometimes a new coach will want to instill a winning attitude. Others just want to make sure their starters don’t get hurt."

So how do you distinguish who’s playing scared and who’s playing for keeps?

“Head coaches on the hot seat or new coaches trying to implement a winning attitude usually try harder to win in the preseason,” Merril says.

Cleveland Browns head coach Romeo Crennel fits this criteria. He’s entering his third season as the sideline boss and has yet to lead the Browns to more than six wins.

Cleveland is an enticing bet as well because of the unresolved quarterback situation. General manager Phil Savage sacrificed the Browns’ first-round pick in next year’s draft for Brady Quinn, but the former Notre Dame quarterback hasn’t signed or reported to training camp yet.

Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson split time at QB last season and it looks like either player (or even Quinn) could be the opening-day starter.

“If a team has quarterback depth and the pecking order hasn’t been decided, it’s a big advantage,” Leonard says.

Even in the third week of the preseason when starters generally play the most, the final outcome of the game is in the hands of fringe players. A team's talent, all the way down to the last man on the roster, is something to consider.

The New England Patriots have long been considered one of the deeper teams in the NFL and coach Bill Belichick has said in the past he’s unafraid of stars getting hurt in games with nothing on the line. He shocked his colleagues in 2003 by playing some of his starters on special teams in the preseason.

“We want to have the team ready to play a tough, physical game and preparation has to go into that and I imagine a certain amount of injuries go with it,” Belichick told the Providence Journal in August 2003.

Bettors can only hope to find more teams that share the Pats' business-like approach to the preseason (New England is 17-9-3 against the spread since 2000) and take advantage of teams who detest the exhibition schedule.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on football needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.