Capitals clinch Southeast Division

Hockey Betting Lines

03/11/2010 - Columbus, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Thanks to Atlanta's 2-1 loss to Columbus on Thursday, the Washington Capitals clinched the Southeast Division crown.

The Capitals had Thursday off, but were able to win the Southeast Division for the third straight year thanks to Atlanta's loss due to their 45-13-9 record, best in the NHL.

Barring a complete collapse, Washington will clinch home-ice advantage in the Eastern Conference as the team currently has a 14-point lead on it's closest competitor, the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Washington also holds a six-point lead over Chicago and San Jose for the top record in the NHL.

Sportsilne Hockey Betting News

<< UC Irvine hoops coach will not return
Irvine, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The University of California-Irvine announced on Thursday that head men's basketball coach Pat Douglass will not return next season. Douglass, who had been at the helm of the Anteaters for the last 13 seaso

<< Bulls' Rose leaves with sprained wrist
Orlando, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chicago Bulls All-Star point guard Derrick Rose left Thursday's game against the Magic with a left wrist injury. Rose was driving the lane in the first quarter and ran into Orlando center Dwight Howard

<< Heat's Wright charged with DUI
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Miami Heat forward Dorell Wright has been charged with driving under the influence and driving with a suspended license. The Miami Herald reported Wright was arrested in South Beach and was stopped early Thurs

<< Report: Calhoun, Huskies close to contract extension
New Haven, CT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The University of Connecticut and men's head basketball coach Jim Calhoun are reportedly close to a contract extension. The New Haven Register, citing a source with knowledge of the situation, stated T

<< Big buzz on Amen Corner: Woods reportedly to return at Masters
Orlando, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Masters truly will be a tradition unlike any other this April, as several media outlets have reported that Tiger Woods will make his highly anticipated return to competitive golf at the season's first m

K-State tops OSU, moves into Big 12 semis >>
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jamar Samuels scored a career-high 27 points, going 7-of-9 from the field, and pulled down 10 rebounds as ninth- ranked Kansas State blew out Oklahoma State, 83-64, in the quarterfinals of the Big

Crawford helps Hawks top Wizards >>
Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jamal Crawford scored a team-high 29 points to lead Atlanta to a tight 105-99 victory over the lowly Wizards. Joe Johnson and Al Horford each netted 18 points for the Hawks, who salvaged a three-game road

Cross resigns at Toldeo >>
Toledo, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Toldeo men's basketball coach Gene Cross has resigned his position, effective immediately, the school announced on THursday. Cross was hired on April 11, 2008 and in his two seasons at the help o

Jets agree to terms with safety Pool >>
Florham Park, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Jets and defensive back Brodney Pool have reached an agreement in principle on a contract on Thursday. Pool was not tendered by the Browns. A second-round draft pick in 2005 who pla

Habs clip Oilers in shootout >>
Montreal, QC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Andrei Kostitsyn scored in the fifth round of the shootout, lifting the Montreal Canadiens to a 5-4 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. Kostitsyn's was the only score of the shootout, and came when h

Big East Conference odds

Work left to do: Villanova, Syracuse, DePaul, West Virginia, Providence

Notre Dame and Louisville appear to have done enough to make the move, so we'll make them locks. The Cardinals, despite a modest RPI, are trending way up and have clinched at least a tie for third in the Big East, which should be more than enough with their pair of big road wins. Villanova got back to .500 and gets back to more solid footing. Syracuse got a very important road win and crippled a fellow contender in the process. West Virginia's fate could be in its hands Tuesday at Pitt.

Work left to do:

Villanova [18-9 (7-7), RPI: 21, SOS: 5] Pounded Rutgers to get back to .500. If Cats can get their last two (at UConn, vs. Syracuse), that should be enough with strong computer numbers and a host of wins away from The Pavilion. The Cats have beaten Texas and swept the Big 5 (never easy in Philly), but have a couple of losses to bubble teams (Xavier, Drexel), too. I still think they'll be OK, possibly even at 8-8.

Syracuse [20-8 (9-5), RPI: 53, SOS: 62] History says 10 wins will be plenty, but it might be hard for the Orange to get that last one with a final two vs. G'town, which is trying to win the league title, and at Villanova, which will be desperate for a W. The relative lack of nonconference heft and the weak computer numbers are still concerns, but the Orange have won four in a row and got a very, very big win at Providence on Saturday.

DePaul [16-12 (8-7), RPI: 54, SOS: 18] Beat Cincy and should get past South Florida to get to 9-7, but then what? They have beaten Kansas and Cal (right after the DeVon Hardin injury) earlier this season, but also have lost to Bradley and Purdue, among others. They'll likely need a couple of BE tourney wins, too, but we'll see ...

West Virginia [19-7 (8-6), RPI: 58, SOS: 125] The game at Pitt on Tuesday night could decide the Mountaineers' fate (barring a deep tournament run). They can still get to 9-7 in the Big East without it by beating Cincinnati, but the nine wins would be against UConn, Villanova, St. John's, South Florida, DePaul, Rutgers, Seton Hall twice and the Bearcats. Beating bubble foes is fine, but where's the beef? Outside of beating PG-less UCLA in nonconference play (still a top quality win), there's not a lot to fall back on (besides maybe NC State). WVU vs. Syracuse would be an interesting debate, as the teams don't play in the Big East regular season. WVU has the best win, but Cuse has played the much better schedule.

Providence [17-10 (7-7), RPI: 70, SOS: 33] The Friars likely saw their at-large hopes die at home in the four-point loss to Syracuse, barring an unexpected run to the Big East semis or more. The RPI, bad already, won't be helped by playing St. John's and South Florida in the final two league games.

For more March Madness odds go to MySportsbook.com

For more College Basketball betting lines go to BettingExpress.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.