The first game of the TNT doubleheader features the Atlantic Division-leading Celtics (33-9 SU, 22-20 ATS) facing the Southeast-leading Magic (33-8 SU, 28-12-1 ATS). Orlando is easily the hotter of the two teams, going 6-0 SU and ATS and beating the Lakers on the road. The Celtics tried to do that on Christmas Day and failed; they\u2019re 6-6 SU and 5-7 ATS since, against mostly substandard competition. Kendrick Perkins (shoulder) sat out the last four games and would desperately be missed against Dwight Howard on Thursday. Howard is scorching hot with 21.8 points and 15.2 rebounds per game this month.<\/p>\n
2. NCAAB: Clemson at North Carolina (Wednesday, 9:00 p.m.)<\/strong><\/p>\n The Tar Heels (16-2 SU, 7-9 ATS) are still one of the most talented teams in Division I, even with those losses to Boston College (+23) and Wake Forest (+6.5). Nobody\u2019s going to make it out of the ACC this year without a few scratches. Wake also handed the Tigers (16-1 SU, 6-5-1 ATS) their first defeat of the season on Saturday, a 78-68 final with Clemson favored by 2.5 at home. Roy Williams has North Carolina running at a very fast pace without turning the ball over, a combination that makes the Heels the most efficient offense in college hoops. Clemson thrives on generating turnovers; the Tigers are No. 7 in the nation in steal percentage (14.2 percent) and No. 5 in blocks (17.6 percent). Those extra possessions won\u2019t be so easy to come by in Chapel Hill.<\/p>\n 3. NHL: 57th NHL All-Star Game (Sunday, 6:00 p.m.)<\/strong><\/p>\n The NHL generated a ton of positive publicity with their latest Winter Classic; now they\u2019ll get a chance to show off their product during the NFL\u2019s bye week. This year\u2019s All-Star Game follows the East vs. West format for the fifth time in a row. The West won this matchup in 2003 and 2007, while the East prevailed in 2004 and 2008 (there were no games in 2005-06). This year\u2019s contest is being held at the Bell Centre in Montreal, so the East will enjoy a decided home-ice advantage. Four Habs \u2013 including goaltender Carey Price \u2013 are in the starting Eastern lineup. They\u2019ll be playing with a little more zeal as the Canadiens use the event to showcase their 100 years of existence.<\/p>\n 4. MMA: Fedor Emelianenko vs. Andrei Arlovski (Saturday, PPV at 9:00 p.m.)<\/strong><\/p>\n This Affliction PPV may be sandwiched between two UFC events, but the smaller promotion has the better heavyweight division, starting with Emelianenko as the best fighter anywhere. He\u2019s only been taken to the second round once in his past six bouts, crushing former UFC champion Tim Sylvia in 36 seconds at the last Affliction event. Arlovski also held the UFC heavyweight strap back in 2005 and, like Emelianenko, has a background in Sambo. But Arlovski\u2019s last two losses were both to Sylvia in 2006, and he\u2019s a dubious pick at +300 on Saturday despite standing three inches taller than the 6-foot Emelianenko.<\/p>\n 5. Boxing: Antonio Margarito vs. Shane Mosley (Saturday, PPV at 10:00 p.m.)<\/strong><\/p>\n This fight is for Margarito\u2019s WBA welterweight title, and the champion is a \u2013500 favorite versus his more famous opponent. Mosley (+325) is coming off a 12th-round KO over Ricardo Mayorga in September; he\u2019s the No. 3-ranked welterweight according to The Ring, but Margarito is ranked as the No. 6 pound-for-pound fighter in the world. Margarito is also seven years younger at age 30 and two inches taller at 5-foot-11. His last bout was an 11th-round TKO over previously undefeated Miguel Angel Cotto to take the WBA strap. NBA<\/strong>: Phoenix at N.Y. Knicks (Friday, 8:00 p.m.)College basketball betting in the Bodog Sportsbook.<\/h3>\n
NHL odds in the Bodog Sportsbook.<\/h3>\n
MMA lines in from Bodog Sportsbook.<\/h3>\n
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\nHonorable Mentions<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nNCAAB<\/strong>: Purdue at Minnesota (Wednesday, 12:00 p.m.)
\nNHL<\/strong>: Vancouver at San Jose (Tuesday, 10:30 p.m.)
\nSoccer<\/strong>: Boca Juniors at River Plate \u2013 Copa Torneo de Verano (Saturday, 7:10 p.m.)
\nMMA<\/strong>: Matt Lindland vs. Vitor Belfort (Saturday, PPV at 9:00 p.m.)
\nTennis<\/strong>: Early-round Australian Open action, all week.<\/p>\n
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