Arsenal vs. Bayern Munich : Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview

by OddsShark

Arsenal is at home but underdogs on the Champions League betting odds menu against Bayern Munich Wednesday.

Arsenal snapped their two match winless streak in their last match by avenging their embarrassing 5-1 loss to Liverpool with a 2-1 win over the Reds in the FA Cup.

However, they are betting underdogs facing a Bayern Munich squad that eliminated them from the Champions League last season.

Bayern Munich won the Champions League last season and they are running away with the Bundesliga title this season. They are undefeated in domestic league play and they have scored the most goals while also conceding the fewest.

Can the Gunners score on a Bayern defense that has conceded only nine goals in 21 league matches?

Midweek, soccer betting lines at most shops had Bayern as the road favorite posted at -133 with Arsenal at +400 and a draw line at +300.

Last season, in the round of 16 of the Champions League, Bayern beat Arsenal 3-1 in England.

While Arsenal came back and beat Bayern 2-0 in Munich in the second leg it was not enough to advance. When asked about that match recently Bayern Munich captain Philipp Lahm stated, "That game is a warning sign to us."

With their 5-1 loss to Liverpool and 0-0 draw facing Manchester United Arsenal has slipped to second in the Premier League table. Their offense has only scored three goals in their last three matches with two coming in their last one.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored in the Gunners last match and he has played well after missing time with an injury. He and Mesut Özil, who the team shelled out big money for this summer, have to play well against a great Bayern midfield.

One big blow for Bayern is that MF Franck Ribery has been ruled out with an injury. However, Toni Kroos still leads a midfield that may be the best in the world both in playing defense and creating chances.

The creative midfield for Bayern is impressive to say the least and in their last match they got two goals from the MF Xherdan Shaqiri, one from DF Dante, and one from FW Claudio Pizarro.

The German giants do not have any big weaknesses and Arsenal will have to play a perfect match to win.

In their last four league matches Bayern has scored 16 goals and have not allowed one.

The Gunners may have to rely on their defense more in this match with Aaron Ramsey (8 goals) and Theo Walcott (4 goals) out with injuries.

Arsenal was down 2-0 after 21 minutes in last season's home loss to Bayern and the Gunners must get off to a good start in this match.

The Gunners also continue their march on the FA Cup odds menu after their win over Liverpool.

Source:- http://www.sbnation.com/odds/2014/2/18/5422098/arsenal-vs-bayern-munich-betting-odds-champions-league-preview

AC Milan v Atletico Madrid: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview

by PA Sport/Eurosport

Clarence Seedorf has named a 19-man squad. Keisuke Honda is cup-tied, while Adel Taarabt and Andrea Petagna are given their shots at a Champions League debut. Ricky Kaka and Ignazio Abate are included despite injury concerns, but Robinho, Stephan El Shaarawy, Cristian Zapata, Valter Birsa and Bryan Cristante are on the treatment table. Riccardo Montolivo and Sulley Muntari are suspended. Milan squad for Atletico Madrid: Abbiati, Ameli, Coppola, Abate, Bonera, Constant, De Sciglio, Mexes, Rami, Zaccardo, De Jong, Emanuelson, Essien, Kakà, Poli, Balotelli, Pazzini, Petagna, Taarabt
Atletico Madrid to follow....
MANAGER QUOTES
Clarence Seedorf: "The team comes into this challenge well, against an opponent that is very well. There are further motivations, it is the Champions League, they are strong, in addition to it being a special evening at San Siro. But there will be so many opportunities in front of us to collect something. Atletico have to be respected greatly, they are a strong team, but they also have their weaknesses, which we will try to exploit. We will try to give our best, looking for the best result. The quality and the understanding will increase over time. The attitude has been the right one, except in the evening with Napoli (a 3-1 defeat). We must try to continue on our way, improving in all aspects. With great humility, the boys are trying to improve.”
Diego Simeone: "Tomorrow it will be an open game where anything could happen. I don’t want to make predictions, but this tie will be important ahead of the second leg.  I expect to see a great Milan and above all I fear their history, which on nights like this can really count. We’ll be facing a great rival. We do not feel like the favourites and must prove our strength on the field. It won’t be easy, because the Italian teams always make the most of their scoring opportunities. We will need intensity and concentration.”
MATCH FACTS
This will be the first competitive meeting between these two sides.
AC Milan have been knocked out in each of their last four Champions League knockout ties against Spanish teams.
AC Milan have only won one of their last 13 Champions League games against Spanish teams (6 draws, 6 defeats), a 2-0 victory against Barcelona in February 2013.
Atletico Madrid have won their last three competitive encounters with Italian teams, in all competitions (8 goals for, 1 against).
AC Milan have been knocked out in the last 16 in four of their last five Champions League campaigns.
AC Milan have won only two of their last 12 Champions League knockout games (3 draws, 7 defeats).
AC Milan have averaged 38.6% of possession in the Champions League this season, the lowest ratio among the 16 remaining teams in the competition.
This is only the third time that Atletico Madrid have reached the knockout stages of the Champions League after 1996/97 (quarter finalists) and 2008/09 (last 16).
This is only the third time that Atletico Madrid have reached the knockout stages of the Champions League after 1996/97 (quarter finalists) and 2008/09 (last 16).
Atletico Madrid have only conceded three goals in the Champions League this season, the best defensive tally alongside Chelsea and Manchester Utd.
Atletico Madrid are one of only three teams still unbeaten in the Champions League this season, alongside Manchester Utd and Real Madrid.
Atletico Madrid have completed 77.1% of their passes in the Champions League this season, the lowest ratio among the last 16 teams remaining in the competition.
None of AC Milan’s last eight Champions League games at San Siro has produced more than two goals. Five of those have ended in draws.
Mario Balotelli has netted seven goals in 27 Champions League games, five of them coming from set-piece (3 penalties, 1 direct free-kick, 1 indirect free-kick).
Diego Costa has scored 4 goals in his last 3 Champions League games.
Raúl García has scored/assisted six of Atletico’s last 10 Champions League goals.
MATCH ODDS
AC Milan (14/5) Atletico Madrid (5/4) Draw (23/10)

Source:- http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/champions-league-matchpack-ac-milan-v-atletico-madrid-173309759--sow.html

Portland Trail Blazers vs Los Angeles Clippers: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview

by Eric Patten

The final game before the All-Star break for the Clippers could hold meaning months from now. Wednesday night at Staples Center is the first of four-straight games against three of the Western Conference’s top teams and arguably one of its hottest. The stretch begins with the Portland Trail Blazers (36-16), who arrived in Los Angeles in the early morning hours after a 98-95 loss to Oklahoma City on Tuesday. They are 5-7 in their last 12 games, including five losses on the road.

For the Clippers (36-18), it’s a chance to move within percentage points of Portland for the No. 3 seed heading into All-Star Weekend and even the season series with the Blazers. After the break, they play a home game against the Spurs before road games against the Grizzlies and Thunder. While it’s only mid-February, the standings could begin to take shape over the next couple of weeks.

NOTEWORTHY MATCHUP

It’s tough to call this a “matchup” considering Lillard won’t guard Paul. The high-scoring first-time All-Star has not in the past. Instead, the Trail Blazers have elected to use Nicolas Batum, Wesley Matthews and others against the Clippers’ superstar. Paul, in his second game back, will guard Lillard, however, and in the past it has been relatively one-sided, including Paul outscoring Lillard, 34-14, on Dec. 26 and holding Lillard to 4-for-12 shooting.

THINGS TO WATCH FOR ON PRIME TICKET

- Even the return of rookie C.J. McCollum, who did not play in the first meeting against the Clippers due to a broken foot, has not done much to improve Portland’s bench. They play the fewest minutes (13.5) and score the fewest points (22.8) in the league among reserve units. It’s a carryover from a year ago when the Blazers also owned the least used bench in the NBA. The Clippers average 31.2 points per game off the bench, a number that is drastically affected by Jamal Crawford’s shift to the starting lineup with J.J. Redick nursing a sore right hip. Crawford scores 17.9 points off the bench (18.4 overall on the season), which is good for 57 percent of the Clippers’ reserve points.

- Paul is 17 points away from scoring 11,000 for his career, considering the way he’s traditionally played in his second game back from injury, that milestone should easily fall against the Blazers. More importantly, though, will be watching how Paul looks in his second game after missing 18 with a separated shoulder. Will he be more comfortable making contact in close quarters? Will his timing be improved? Will he tug at the protective sleeve under his jersey?

- According to Synergy Sports, the Blazers are one of the worst teams in the league in terms of pick-and-roll defense. They allow 0.835 points per possession against pick-and-roll ball handlers (26th in the NBA) and are only slightly better against the roll man (17th in the league in points per possession). The Clippers, according to Synergy, score 22 percent of their points out of pick-and-roll offense, including ranking first in points scored by the pick-and-roll ball-handler. Predominantly that means Paul or Crawford.

NOTES

Griffin is seeking to score 25 points or more in eight consecutive games, which would tie Elton Brand for the most in Los Angeles Clippers history… LaMarcus Aldridge has scored double figures in each of Portland’s first 52 games. He’s the only Trail Blazers player to do so… The Clippers have won three games in a row against Portland at Staples Center… A Portland win would ensure they win the season series over the Clippers. L.A. has not dropped a season series against the Blazers since 2010-11… Portland has the eighth youngest roster in the league (25.4 years old is the average age)… Portland is shooting 38.1 percent from 3-point range as a team (fourth in the league). The Clippers are the No. 1 3-point defense… The Clippers are 22-4 at home…

WHAT THEY’R

Source:- http://www.nba.com/clippers/games/PORLAC-140212

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS VS. MIAMI HEAT: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview

by Randy Chambers

The Miami Heat will look to continue to have road success to when they take on the Golden State Warriors Wednesday night. These teams played one another in early January and the Warriors won 123-114 thanks to 15 three pointers from the Warriors offense.
Golden State heads into this matchup winning four of its last six games. But while the wins are still there, the Warriors offense hasn’t been clicking the way we’re used to seeing. In their last five games they’re shooting just 42.7 percent from the field and averaging 100.8 points. The shooting percentage is a far cry from the 45.9 percent they average on the season. Defensively, though, the Warriors are holding teams to 94 points in their last five, which is also lower than their season average of 98.7 points. Golden State is 23-27-2 ATS and 10-14-2 ATS at home.
The Heat have won four of their last five games and are fresh off of a Tuesday victory over the Phoenix Suns. LeBron James had one of his better games of the season in the win with 37 points, nine rebounds and five steals. During this winning stretch the Heat have allowed only one 100-point performance in their last five games and are shooting 48.7 percent from the field offensively. Against the spread Miami is 21-28 overall and 13-12 on the road.
Miami is 9-4 ATS in its last 13 games played on no days rest and is also 6-2-1 ATS in its last nine meetings in Golden State. The Warriors are 2-5 ATS in their last seven games played against Western Conference teams and has lost seven of their last 10 games against the Heat SU.
The line for this game hasn’t been released yet, so please check for a free pick later on.

Source:- http://sportschatplace.com/nba-picks/2014/02/12/golden-state-warriors-vs-miami-heat

76ers-Jazz Preview: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview

by TAYLOR BECHTOLD

After losing by a total of 88 points on consecutive nights in California, the Philadelphia 76ers would like to forget what happened in the first two games of this brief trip.

However, their recent history in Salt Lake City has been just as forgettable.

The Atlantic Division-worst 76ers hope to avoid yet another rout - and their longest losing streak since 2009 - Wednesday night against the Northwest-worst Utah Jazz.

Following a 123-78 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on Sunday, Philadelphia (15-38) figured it couldn't get much worse than a game in which it trailed by 56 points in the third quarter.

It almost did, though, as the 76ers fell behind by 49 in the fourth en route to a 123-80 defeat at Golden State on Monday.

"You just look up at the scoreboard and see a lot of points. I really don't know," forward Evan Turner said. "We're in the game at one point."

Philadelphia came close to matching the NBA mark for the largest total margin of defeat in consecutive games, recorded when Detroit lost by 95 points combined in November 1966.

Now the 76ers look to avoid the league-record 109-point margin of defeat in a three-game stretch, set by Dallas on the way to an 11-71 record in 1992-93.

Philadelphia, though, has dropped eight straight and 22 of its last 24 visits to Utah.

"Don't anybody feel sorry for us," coach Brett Brown said. "We will wake up and be (OK) tomorrow."

In the finale of this three-game trip, Brown's squad will try to avoid its first eight-game losing streak since a 12-game slide more than five years ago with its first win in Salt Lake City since January 2005.

The Jazz (18-33) seek their first three-game winning streak of the season after a surprising 94-89 victory over visiting Miami on Saturday and a 96-79 road win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday.

They limited the two-time defending champs to 43.3 percent shooting - their fourth-lowest mark this season - before holding the Lakers to 10 second-quarter points and a 38.8 field-goal percentage overall.

Alec Burks led the way with 24 points while making 8 of 11 shots and Gordon Hayward chipped in with 15 points, eight rebounds and seven assists as Utah rallied back from a 15-point first-quarter deficit.

Hayward has been in a bit of a shooting slump, averaging 10.5 points on 32.3 percent shooting in his last six games. But he also scored 15 in a 107-91 home win in the most recent meeting with the 76ers on March 25.

'Tomorrow's going to be a big game," Hayward said. "Obviously, Philadelphia's been beaten pretty handily the past couple of games, so they're going to come out with something to prove."

Although the Jazz have averaged just 87.4 points over their last five games, they should be able to find open looks against a Philadelphia team that has given up 116.9 points per game over its seven straight defeats.

Offensively, the 76ers have totaled 158 points while shooting 31.6 percent - including 5 of 45 (11.1 percent) from 3-point range - in their last two.

Turner has shot 35.4 percent during the losing streak while being held to 10.9 points per game - nearly seven below his team-best 17.4 average.

Michael Carter-Williams broke out of his recent funk with 24 points on 8-of-18 shooting in Monday's loss. The rookie guard had averaged 11.7 points while shooting 30.4 percent in his previous three games.

This will be the first game between Carter-Williams and fellow lottery pick Trey Burke since their Final Four meeting in April. Both struggled in Michigan's 61-56 win over Syracuse, with Burke scoring seven points on 1-of-8 shooting and Carter-Williams two while missing five of six shots

Source:- http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/preview/2014021226/philadelphia-76ers--utah-jazz

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES VS. DENVER NUGGETS: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview

by Peter

A couple of struggling teams meet tonight when the Minnesota Timberwolves host the Denver Nuggets.
The Nuggets have lost five of their last seven and will be hoping to avoid a fourth straight loss after getting absolutely trounced by the Pacers on Monday. Wilson Chandler led the team with 17 points and JJ Hicksons added 12, but this game was over before it began as the Pacers showed no mercy and stormed to a 61-40 halftime lead and didn't slow down in the second half. Denver was without Ty Lawson and Nate Robinson so they never had much of a chances against a Pacers team coming off a tough loss. Denver is now 24-26 overall and 10-15 on the road.
Meanwhile, the Timberwolves have lost six of their last seven and will still be reeling after getting thumped by the Rockets by 107-89 on Monday. With Nikola Pekovic and Kevin Martin both out injured, the Wolves leaned heavily on Kevin Love who poured in 31 points, but he just didn't receive enough support, especially in the fourth quarter where Minnesota managed only 11 points as a team. Coach Rick Adelman wasn't even at the game either because of personal reasons, but he is expected to return tonight.
In ATS trends, the Nuggets are 5-11 ATS in their last 16 games following a loss and 0-4 ATS in their last four games overall, while the Wolves are 1-6 ATS in their last seven games overall and 0-4 ATS in their last four home games.
Head to head, Minnesota has dropped three straight and 23 of 27 against Denver, including two losses back in November of this season. In terms of ATS trends, the Nuggets are 6-1 ATS in the last seven meetings overall and 12-3-1 ATS in the last 16 in Minnesota.
The All-Star break just can't come soon enough for both of these teams who have struggled with their respective injuries. In terms of picking this game, you couldn't be too confident about choosing either side here, but all I know is that Denver has allowed at least 100 points in 13 of its last 14 games so this game looks like it could be another high-scoring affair.

Source:- http://sportschatplace.com/nba-picks/2014/02/12/minnesota-timberwolves-vs-denver-nuggets

MILWAUKEE BUCKS VS. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview

by  Dan

The Milwaukee Bucks play host to Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night.
Head to head, the Pelicans are 5-0 ATS in the last 5 meetings and 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings in Milwaukee while the underdog is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings. The Bucks are 4-1 ATS in the last 5 games overall, but just 6-13 ATS in their last 19 vs. Western Conference and 17-36 ATS in their last 53 home games. The Pelicans on the other hand are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a S.U. loss, 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 vs. Eastern Conference and 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games playing on 1 days rest.
Carlos Delfino, Larry Sanders, John Henson, Caron Butler, O.J. Mayo, Luke Ridnour and Ersan Ilyasova. This isn’t a list of the Milwaukee Bucks top seven players, it’s their injury list heading tonight’s game against the New Orleans Hornets. Of those players I just listed, the first five have been confirmed out while the other two will be game time decisions, which makes it pretty hard for me cap this game. Regardless, I’ll do my best to come up with a winner.
Now the Bucks did suffer a pretty bad 16-point loss at home in their last outing against the Boston Celtics, however, they had covered the spread in their previous four outings, which was their longest streak of the season. They actually played pretty well against the Celtics up until the fourth quarter where they were outscored 32-18. As far as the Pelicans are concerned, they come enter tonight’s contest off the back of two straight road losses in Brooklyn and in Toronto on Monday night. They too have been hamstrung with injuries as they are missing Ryan Anderson, Jrue Holiday and Jason Smith, three of their top offensive players.
I really don’t want to take Milwaukee here, but the last time New Orleans won a road game on the road by seven points or greater was all the way back on the 23rd of December and that was when they had Holiday and Anderson in the line-up. Coming off back-to-back losses, this is a good chance for the Pelicans to get a much needed road win and I think they will get it, but will it be by more than seven points? Anthony Davis should have his way against the depleted front line of Milwaukee, but when in doubt, take the points right? Wouldn’t surprise me in the least to see a blowout in this one, but I simply have to take the points in what is clearly a stay away game....

Source:- http://sportschatplace.com/nba-picks/2014/02/12/milwaukee-bucks-vs-new-orleans-pelicans