Blue Jackets hope for another dominating effort vs. Red Wings

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03/15/2009 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Blue Jackets' current winning streak began with a big victory over Detroit a week ago. Playoff-hopeful Columbus will try to extend that run to five games with another win over the Red Wings this evening at Nationwide Arena.

Columbus has matched its longest winning streak of the season and its current string of four straight wins began with an 8-2 victory over Detroit on February 7. The Blue Jackets set franchise records for most goals and margin of victory in that contest.

They haven't slowed down since, as Friday's 5-3 triumph in Chicago was the Blue Jackets' 36th of the year, a single-season franchise record. Antoine Vermette scored twice to give him three goals and three assists in four games since coming over from Ottawa in a trade.

Raffi Torres, Kristian Huselius and Rick Nash each lit the lamp for the Blue Jackets, who haven't won five in a row since December 2-12, 2006. Wade Dubielewicz made 27 saves in the win, his first with Columbus.

Nash has been key as Columbus tries to make the postseason for the first time in club history. He has six goals in his last five games, including a hat trick versus Detroit last weekend. Both of Nash's three-goal games this year have come versus Detroit and his most recent was the first unassisted hat trick since Montreal's Maurice "Rocket" Richard turned the trick on March 16, 1948.

Nash also has 18 points over his last 14 games for the Blue Jackets, who are sixth overall in the Western Conference, one point behind Vancouver.

Columbus plays the first of back-to-back home games tonight and has won three straight and seven of its last nine at Nationwide Arena. The club is 22-10-2 as the host this year.

The Blue Jackets' success versus the Red Wings this year has helped its playoff chances. Columbus has won three straight over Detroit since losing five in a row to the club and has also defeated the Red Wings in four of the last five played in Ohio.

Columbus will likely have to face Marian Hossa today, as he returned to Detroit's lineup on Saturday in the club's 5-2 win over St. Louis. It was his first action since leaving a contest on March 3 on a stretcher after crashing head-first into the boards.

Hossa, who leads the Red Wings with 36 goals and has scored 10 times in 10 meetings with Columbus, had missed the last four games due to a stiff neck/back and bruised knee, but was able to skate in just over 15 minutes of action.

Pavel Datsyuk scored twice and he combined with scorers Tomas Kopecky and Brett Lebda to net three Red Wings' goals in the span of 46 seconds in the second period. Henrik Zetterberg also scored and Chris Osgood made 30 saves for his 300th win with Detroit, which has won four of its last six and leads the Western Conference with 99 points.

That is one up on San Jose and is also even with Boston in the race for the Presidents' Trophy. All three teams are in action today.

Detroit has won three straight on the road and is 20-10-5 as the guest this year.

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Football Betting: Defensive Rookie of the Year Awards

Oddsmakers have released the odds for the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and Seattle Seahawks linebacker Aaron Curry has been made the opening favorite.

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Seattle took Curry with the fourth overall pick in April's NFL draft and plan on inserting him into its starting lineup right away. The Hawks traded linebacker Julian Peterson in the offseason, so Curry is expected to have a significant role in Seattle's defense next year and that's one of the primary reasons he is the favorite to win the NFL ROY Award.

Oddsmakers from online sportsbook MySportsbook.com have made Curry a 5/1 favorite to win this year's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. Given that he was the best defensive prospect in this year's draft and how he'll have plenty of opportunities to make plays in '09, Curry offers a ton of value at 5/1.

Another thing working for Curry is the position he plays. A linebacker has won the defensive ROY award six straight times and eight of the last nine years. Jerod Mayo, Patrick Willis, DeMeco Ryans, Shawne Merriman, Jonathan Vilma, Terrell Suggs, Kendrell Bell and Brian Urlacher were the most recent linebackers to take home the award.

Following Curry at 5/1 are Tyson Jackson (Chiefs) at 7/1, James Laurinaitas (Rams) at 8/1, Brian Orakpo (Redskins) at 10/1, Rey Maualuga (Bengals) at 10/1 and Jerry Peria (Falcons) at 10/1.

All the players mentioned above are expected to start for their respective teams, but Jackson and Peria are going to have a tough time being recognized on a national level given they're both defensive linemen. D-linemen rarely put up the numbers that it takes to win an individual award like the ROY.

A couple of players with some value are Clay Matthews (Packers) at 12/1 and Larry English (Chargers) at 15/1. Matthews is expected to start at outside linebacker in Green Bay's new 3-4 defense and could rack up a ton of tackles. English, who was an impressive player at Northern Illinois, is expected to be a situational pass rusher for the Chargers and could rack up a ton of sacks.

For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, see below. And for complete odds for the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, click the link provided.

2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award

Robert Ayers (DEN) 12/1

Ron Brace (NE) 25/1

Everette Brown (CAR) 16/1

Darius Butler (NE) 40/1

Patrick Chung (NE) 30/1

Aaron Curry (SEA) 5/1

Brian Cushing (HOU) 12/1

Vontae Davis (MIA) 30/1

Louis Delmas (DET) 30/1

Larry English (SD) 15/1

Evander Hood (PIT) 25/1

Tyson Jackson (KC) 7/1

Malcolm Jenkins (NO) 25/1

Paul Kruger (BAL) 50/1

James Laurinaitas (STL) 8/1

Sen'Derrick Marks (TEN) 20/1

Clay Matthews (GB) 12/1

Aaron Maybin (BUF) 15/1

Rey Maualuga (CIN) 10/1

Roy Miller (TB) 20/1

Michael Mitchell (OAK) 45/1

Fili Moala (IND) 30/1

Brian Orakpo (WAS) 10/1

Jerry Peria (ATL) 10/1

B J Raji (GB) 7/1

Clint Sintim (NYG) 35/1

Alphonso Smith (DEN) 40/1

David Verkune (CLE) 20/1

Jason Williams (DAL) 30/1

Field (Any Other Player) 6/1

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To visit this internet sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.

Huskers' Lucky hospitalized for undisclosed reason

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nebraska running back Marlon Lucky was hospitalized Monday for undisclosed reasons after Lincoln police responded to a call at his residence.

The Nebraska athletic department said in a release Monday that Lucky was admitted Sunday night.

MySportsbook.com has the Cornhuskers listed at +2500 to win the BCS National Championship odds.

A nursing supervisor at the hospital said all questions about Lucky were being referred to the athletic department. The athletic department said there would be no further comment from the department or Lucky's family.

A Lincoln Police spokesman said officers responded to a call at Lucky's residence 11:30 p.m. Sunday. The spokesman said he didn't know Lucky's condition at the time he was taken to the hospital.

Lucky, from North Hollywood, Calif., started six games last season as a sophomore and was the team's second-leading rusher, with 728 yards and six touchdowns. He also caught 32 passes for 383 yards. He averaged 19.1 yards on eight kickoff returns.

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