No need for Pronger to rush back to Flyers

Hockey Betting Lines

08/19/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In a few weeks time, the importance of NFL training camp will be called into question when Brett Favre starts the regular season under center for the Minnesota Vikings.

At 40 years of age, Favre will get just over three weeks of practice in with his teammates before the start of the 2010 season, and the abbreviated training camp will likely give the legendary quarterback more than enough time to get back into the swing of things.

The Philadelphia Flyers could learn a thing or two from Favre when contemplating the situation concerning their No. 1 defenseman Chris Pronger, who is currently recovering from surgery to his right knee.

Pronger underwent a procedure on July 27 to remove loose bodies from his knee and his recovery time is expected to bleed into the start of training camp. There is also concern that the veteran blueliner will not be ready to play for the defending Eastern Conference champion Flyers when they begin the regular season in Pittsburgh on October 7.

Like Favre, Pronger is a seasoned professional who at this stage of his career needs little time to get prepared for a season. Unlike NFL players, Pronger doesn't even need to study a bulky playbook to get ready for the campaign; he simply needs to be physically fit.

It's no secret that Pronger is an immensely unpopular player amongst NHL fans (unless he suits up for your favorite team, of course), but there are few people who can deny the mammoth defenseman's work ethic and passion for the game of hockey. His current injury and the way he battled through it during the Flyers' run to the Stanley Cup Finals last spring stands as a testament to his determination.

Pronger originally suffered the injury in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against Boston, but the ailment never caused him to miss a game. In fact, Pronger still wound up leading the entire league in ice time during the postseason, averaging just over 29 minutes of action per contest. He even managed to log a whopping 37 minutes and 33 seconds of ice time just six days after hurting the knee.

But, that was the playoffs, the time of the year when players of Pronger's ilk prove what their true value is to an NHL team. There is little doubt that Pronger will do everything in his power to be back for the start of the regular season, but both he and the Flyers know that the former Hart and Norris Trophy winner's overall health is the bigger priority.

"I do not have a time frame. The team knows that," said Pronger last week. "I spoke to the doctor and trainer and it is really just about when my knee feels good and strong again. I don't want to come back early and play a couple of games and then be out of the lineup and then play a few more and be out. I want to come back when the knee is as close to 100 percent as possible so I can play every single game from then on."

The fact that the Flyers have shored up their blueline over the course of this offseason should also be a factor in Pronger taking his time getting back into game shape. Philly acquired Andrej Meszaros and Matt Walker in separate trades with the Tampa Bay Lightning and also signed veteran Sean O'Donnell. That trio, combined with Kimmo Timonen, Matt Carle and Braydon Coburn, could be a solid six-man rotation for the Flyers while the club waits to regain the unique skill set Pronger brings to the ice.

The Flyers should be able to keep their heads above water if Pronger happens to miss the start of the season. After all, unlike the NFL, the regular season in hockey is an 82-game marathon and not a 16-game sprint.

Just as Favre knows the importance of getting on the field in time for the start of the campaign, Pronger has been around long enough to realize that his club can hold on for a couple of weeks before he joins them on their long road to qualify for the playoffs.

It's not an ideal situation for the Flyers and Pronger, but it's also not an issue that should have a big effect on their postseason dreams.

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Super Bowl XLIII Betting - Super Bowl 2009

Super Bowl 2009, the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Let’s take a look at the Super Bowl 2009 betting odds and the betting line and figure out where they’ve been and where they are going to go.

MySportsbook.com put up the Super Bowl 2009 betting odds late on Sunday night with the Pittsburgh Steelers favored by 6.5 points and a total betting line at 47.5 points.

Since then, however, the Super Bowl 2009 betting odds have seen a good deal of movement and you’ll want to be on top of where they are likely to move to make sure you get the best line value for the big game.

Since opening, the Super Bowl 2009 betting lines went to Steelers -7 in the span of roughly 3 hours but were quickly bought back down just minutes later to 6.5 again.

After that is took about 5-6 more hours before the betting line went back to -7 where it has sat for a while now and is likely to remain. The opening betting total of 47.5 was bet down right after the line became available and went to 47 within minutes.

Roughly a day later it has been bet even further down to the 46.5 tally it currently is set at.

Roughly 60% of gamblers seem to be on the Cardinals here so the point spread will be bet down and a 7.5 would not last very long at all with many taking the early 6.5 in hopes of finding a potential middle in the Super Bowl 2009 betting odds.

If you like Arizona and see a 7.5, I’d take it as soon as possible because it’s unlikely to last. For Pittsburgh backers, the -7 might be the best you’ll be able to find but a 6.5 is definitely possible close to game time.

Regarding the Super Bowl 2009 betting odds for the total, most tracked gamblers are already on the over and with those who took the under 47.5 already securing a middle on the over 46.5, the only way I see it moving is back up to 47 so if you like the over, I’d recommend betting now.

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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

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