Big Ten quarterfinal-round action pits Illini against Badgers
NCAA Basketball Betting Lines
03/12/2010 - Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Quarterfinal action in the Big Ten Tournament will take place this afternoon when the fifth-seeded Illinois Fighting Illini take on the fourth-seeded Wisconsin Badgers at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
The Illini earned 18 victories this season, but finished with a mediocre 10-8 mark in conference. Illinois, which last won this tournament in 2005, stumbled toward the end of the season, losing five of its last six games, including three in a row.
As for the Badgers, the closed out the regular season with seven wins in their final nine games, including four straight. Wisconsin, which is currently ranked 13th in the nation, has won this tournament twice, the most recent crown coming in 2008.
The Illini and Badgers closed out the regular season against each other, and that matchup was claimed by Wisconsin, 72-57. However, earlier in the season the Illini defeated the Badgers and overall, Illinois holds a 108-75 edge over Wisconsin in the all-time series.
The Fighting Illini have not been overwhelming at the offensive end this season, but the team has done enough to earn its share of victories. Illinois opens this tournament averaging 70.5 ppg behind a 44.9 percent shooting effort. Demetri McCamey leads the team with 14.9 ppg, and he is also dishing out 6.8 apg. Mike Tisdale and Mike Davis have been a dangerous duo in the frontcourt, as Tisdale is posting 11.6 ppg and 6.1 rpg, and Davis nets 10.3 ppg to go along with a team-best 8.8 rpg. D.J. Richardson chips in 10.3 ppg as well for Illinois, which is holding teams to just 66.5 ppg on 39.9 percent field goal efficiency.
Wisconsin's success this season can be attributed to its tenacious defensive play, as the Badgers are yielding just 56.1 ppg. Opponents are shooting a mere 41.5 percent from the floor, and the Badgers are holding them to a mere 32.7 percent effort from long range. At the other end of the floor, UW is being paced by Trevon Hughes with his 15.4 ppg, and he had handed out 81 assists and averages 4.7 rpg to go with 49 steals. Jason Bohannon contributes 12.0 ppg, while Jordan Taylor posts 10.2 ppg and dish out a team-best 109 assists. As a whole however, the Badgers are only producing 67.9 ppg, despite shooting a respectable 45.1 percent from the field.
Atlantic City, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In-state rivals clash for the third time this season as the 24th-ranked Xavier Musketeers and the Dayton Flyers take part in the quarterfinals of the 2010 Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament at Boardwalk Hall
<< Aggies to try and knock top-ranked Jayhawks from lofty perch
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The top-ranked Kansas Jayhawks and the
23rd-ranked Texas A&M Aggies are slated to do battle in the semifinal round of
the 2010 Big 12 Conference Tournament.
The winner of this contest will advance to Sa
<< Vols and Rebels duke it out in SEC Tournament
Nashville, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The quarterfinal round of the 2010 SEC
Tournament pits the Ole Miss Rebels against the Tennessee Volunteers, the
nation's 15th-ranked team.
The winner of this game will take on either Kentucky or Alabama in S
<< Bulldogs face tall task in SEC tourney tilt with Commodores
Nashville, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Quarterfinal-round action of the 2010 SEC
Tournament pits the 20th ranked Vanderbilt Commodores against the darkhorse
Georgia Bulldogs.
The winner will move into the semifinals for a clash with either Mississ
<< UNLV battles BYU in MWC Tournament semifinals
Las Vegas, NV (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In search of revenge for a devastating loss
in the last meeting between the two programs, the 14th-ranked BYU Cougars
clash with the UNLV Runnin' Rebels tonight in the semifinals of the 11th
annual Mountain West
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Big Ten regular season champion Ohio State Buckeyes will open tournament play in a quarterfinal showdown against the eighth-seeded Michigan Wolverines this afternoon in Indianapolis. The Wolverines mov
Gophers and Spatans tee it up in Big Ten Tournament tilt >>
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Michigan State will begin play in the Big
Ten Conference Tournament when the third-seeded Spartans battle the sixth-
seeded Minnesota Golden Gophers in the quarterfinal round at Conseco
Fieldhouse.
The Go
Boilermakers seek revenge in Big Ten Tournament clash with Wildcats >>
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The second-seeded Purdue Boilermakers will
take on the seventh-seeded Northwestern Wildcats this evening in quarterfinal
action of the Big Ten Conference Tournament at Conseco Fieldhouse.
The Wildcats bega
Yellow Jackets and Terrapins square off in ACC Tournament action >>
Greensboro, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The second-seeded and 19th-ranked Maryland
Terrapins will try to continue their winning ways tonight, as they tangle with
the seventh-seeded Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the quarterfinals of the ACC
Tournamen
Georgetown and Marquette meet in Big East semis >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two teams that shook up the Big East
Tournament yesterday come together in the semifinals tonight, as the eighth-
seeded and 22nd-ranked Georgetown Hoyas battle the fifth-seeded Marquette
Golden Eagles at Madison
Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value
If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture. Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).
For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot. The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win.
TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.
"While 'Babel' lost several guild awards to 'Sunshine' and 'Departed,' it still enjoys loyal support, and historically Oscar voters favor dramas with social messages over comedies like 'Sunshine' and violent crime movies like 'Departed'."
"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.
Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash. Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win.
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Will Ohio State continue to run the table in College Football betting odds?
MySportsbook.com favors Buckeyes, Fighting Irish and Golden Bears in this weekend's big games.
NEW YORK, NY, Sept. 21 - My Sportsbook NCAA football fans: things are beginning to get really interesting on college football's national stage. Following last weekend's "Separation Saturday", which included five teams ranked in the top 15 dropping games, the BCS Championship picture is beginning to take shape - with Ohio State leading the charge. And, according to odds makers at MySportsbook.com, the number-one-ranked Buckeyes will continue their winning ways this weekend.
Revenge will be the name of the game in Columbus this Saturday, as Ohio State looks to even the score following last season's loss to Joe Paterno's Nittany Lions. Although Penn State are listed as 16.5 point underdogs, they are 11-10 all-time versus the Buckeyes. Paterno and the Lions, however, will have to shut down Heisman Trophy favorite Troy Smith who has thrown for 769 yards and seven touchdowns this season.
Speaking of revenge, Notre Dame will be out for some against Michigan State, following last year's 44 - 41 overtime loss to the Spartans in South Bend. The thirteenth-ranked Irish, listed as a 3-point favorite, will also be looking to avenge last Saturday's thrashing from the Michigan Wolverines. The Spartans, meanwhile, have won seven of the last nine match-ups against Notre Dame and are coming off an impressive 38-23 victory over Pittsburgh.
Out west, 22nd-ranked Arizona State will be battling for their first victory over 21st-ranked California since 2000. Although the Golden Bears are listed as 7.5-point favorites, the Sun Devils are 3-0, lead the nation in sacks with 18 and possess the Pac-10's leading passer in sophomore quarterback Rudy Carpenter.
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NCAA Football betting lines (home team in CAPS)
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Date Favorite Opponent Point Spread
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Sept 21 GEORGIA TECH Virginia 17
Sept 22 NEVADA Northwestern 6.5
Sept 23 MICHIGAN Wisconsin 14
Sept 23 Minnesota PURDUE 3
Sept 23 SYRACUSE Miami (Ohio) 6.5
Sept 23 MISSOURI Ohio 21.5
Sept 23 Louisville KANSAS STATE 14
Sept 23 TENNESSEE Marshall 22
Sept 23 CLEMSON North Carolina 16.5
Sept 23 FLORIDA Kentucky 24
Sept 23 Iowa ILLINOIS 20.5
Sept 23 FLORIDA STATE Rice 30.5
Sept 23 AUBURN Buffalo 41.5
Sept 23 BOWLING GREEN Kent 7
Sept 23 NAVY Tulsa 4.5
Sept 23 VIRGINIA TECH Cincinnati 27
Sept 23 BYU Utah State 29
Sept 23 OHIO STATE Penn State 16.5
Sept 23 TEXAS Iowa State 25
Sept 23 Washington State STANFORD 10
Sept 23 CALIFORNIA Arizona State 7.5
Sept 23 UCLA WASHINGTON 3
Sept 23 INDIANA Connecticut 1.5
Sept 23 Central Michigan EASTERN MICHIGAN 4
Sept 23 WYOMING Air Force 1
Sept 23 UTEP NEW MEXICO 9.5
Sept 23 West Virginia EAST CAROLINA 21
Sept 23 Boston College NORTH CAROLINA STATE 7
Sept 23 GEORGIA Colorado 27
Sept 23 ARKANSAS Alabama 1.5
Sept 23 BAYLOR Army 11
Sept 23 WESTERN MICHIGAN Temple 28
Sept 23 MISSISSIPPI Wake Forest 2.5
Sept 23 KANSAS South Florida 5.5
Sept 23 TEXAS A&M Louisiana Tech 23.5
Sept 23 UAB Mississippi State 9.5
Sept 23 LSU Tulane 36
Sept 23 Utah SAN DIEGO STATE 6.5
Sept 23 BOISE STATE Hawaii 15
Sept 23 Notre Dame MICHIGAN STATE 3
Sept 23 USC ARIZONA U 22
Sept 23 Oklahoma State HOUSTON 1
Sept 23 OREGON STATE Idaho 23
Sept 23 OKLAHOMA Middle Tennessee State 29
Sept 23 MARYLAND Florida International 18.5
Sept 23 AKRON North Texas 17.5
Sept 23 SOUTH CAROLINA Florida Atlantic 29.5
Sept 23 NEBRASKA Troy 23
Sept 23 SMU Arkansas State 6
For complete NCAA football odds and World Series odds please visit MySportsbook.com