BEHIND THE LINES: Lakers get great odds to win it all

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BEHIND THE LINES

Lakers get great odds to win it all

After late regular-season surge, the Lakers are listed at 2-1 at VegasInsider.com and 3-1 by Bodoglife.com to win NBA title heading into playoffs. Only the Boston Celtics have been given better odds.

By Lonnie White
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

April 18, 2008

Despite the uncertainty over injured center Andrew Bynum, the Lakers are given great odds to win this season's NBA championship, according to Las Vegas oddsmakers.

Sparked by a late regular-season surge that gave them the best record in the Western Conference, the Lakers are listed at 2-1 by VegasInsider.com and 3-1 by Bodoglife.com.

Only the Boston Celtics (with the best overall record in the league) have been given better odds than the Lakers, considered longshots before the start of the season when they were listed at 30-1.

After Boston and the Lakers, the next two teams with the best odds to win it are the San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons, who both are listed at 7-2 by VegasInsider.com. But Bodoglife.com has the Spurs' numbers at 11-2 and the Pistons at 13-2.

When it comes to odds on possible matchups for the NBA Finals, Lakers vs. Celtics leads the way at 7-2, followed by Celtics vs. Spurs at 5-1.

The least likely matchup? Denver Nuggets vs. Atlanta Hawks at 1,000-1.

Last NBA playoff add: In the battle for the Western Conference title, Bodoglife.com has the Lakers down as the main favorite at 7-4, followed by the Spurs at 3-1.

Pro football

With the recent release of next season's NFL schedule, Las Vegas oddsmakers have already created point spreads for the first week.

Starting with the Thursday season opener that has the New York Giants favored by four points over Washington with the over/under combined point total at 40 1/2 , here are several other lines listed at Las Vegas Hilton sportsbook:

New England 15 1/2 points over Kansas City (48 1/2 over/under total); Buffalo two points over Buffalo (39 over/under total); New Orleans three points over Tampa Bay (43 1/2 over/under total); Dallas three points over Cleveland (49 1/2 over/under total); and Denver two points over Oakland (40 1/2 over/under total).

The unveiling of next season's schedule also opened the door for 2008 NFL proposition bets. Here are two listed at Bodoglife.com:

What will be the lowest-rated televised "Monday Night Football" game? San Francisco at Arizona (3-2), Cleveland at Buffalo (2-1), Tampa Bay at Carolina (9-2), Minnesota at New Orleans (5-1), Jacksonville at Houston (6-1), Other (9-4).

When will New England lose its first game of the season? Week 1-Kansas City (14-1), Week 2-New York Jets (4-1), Week 3-Miami (35-1), Week 5-San Francisco (9-2), Week 6-San Diego (2-1), Week 7-Denver (16-1), Week 8-St. Louis (20-1), Week 9-Indianapolis (4-1), Week 10-Buffalo (40-1).



Pro hockey

After registering the best regular season record in the NHL, the Detroit Red Wings find themselves tied, 2-2, in their first-round matchup with the Nashville Predators.

The Red Wings are favored (-265) to defeat the Predators (+245) in tonight's Game 5 at Joe Louis Arena.