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03/13/2010 - Cleveland, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Looking to claim their second consecutive Mid-American Conference Tournament title, the third-seeded Akron Zips will take the floor this evening against the ninth-seeded Ohio University Bobcats at the Quicken Loans Arena.
The Bobcats entered this tournament as the ninth seed, but that did not stop them from reaching the title game. Ohio began this event with an 85-77 overtime win over Ball State. The team then followed that victory with an impressive 81-64 victory over the top-seeded Kent State Golden Flashes. With their 54-42 decision over Miami-Ohio on Friday, the Bobcats will know have a shot for their fifth MAC tournament title and their first since 2005.
As for the Zips, they claimed their first-ever MAC tournament championship last year with a 65-53 victory over Buffalo. However, this will be the fourth consecutive year that Akron will partake in this event's title game. This season the Zips finished 12-4 in league action but came into the tournament as the third seed. So far the team's journey to this point has not been easy, as Akron needed double-overtime to defeat Eastern Michigan (97-89) and then needed a last second shot to get past Western Michigan, 66-64, on Friday.
The all-time series is currently tied at 30-30, but the past few years have been dominated by Akron, which has won six of the last seven meetings, including both matchups this season. The last time these two schools collided the Zips grabbed a thrilling, 91-88 double overtime victory over the Bobcats.
The Bobcats put forth a tenacious defensive effort against Miami-Ohio on Friday, as Ohio held the RedHawks to just 12 points on a meager 25.0 percent shooting effort in the first half. Overall, Ohio limited the RedHawks to just 42 points in the matchup and held them to a mere 34.0 percent shooting clip. At the other end of the floor the Bobcats were not exactly solid, but the team did enough to grab the win. Ohio shot just 38.1 percent from the field, but finished 19-of-24 from the foul line. Armon Bassett led the way with 28 points, while DeVaughn Washington added 18 points and seven rebounds. Bassett has been sensational on the season for Ohio, as the guard is netting 16.7 ppg, to go along with 106 assists. Helping in the backcourt has been D.J. Cooper, who is posting 12.8 ppg, to go along with 5.4 rpg and a team-best 199 assists.
The Zips found themselves in the championship game thanks to Chris McKnight's impressive showing against Western Michigan on Friday. The forward scored a team-best 18 points, and that includes the game-winning basket with 6.8 seconds remaining in regulation. Anthony Hitchens added 14 points for Akron, which shot a mediocre 41.4 percent from the floor. Akron, which won the battle on the glass by a 34-28 margin, also won the battle in the paint by outscoring the Broncos by a 30-18 margin. Chris McKnight is only averaging 9.2 ppg on the season, but his brother Brett McKnight is leading the team with 10.2 ppg. Akron comes into this title game averaging 70.6 ppg behind a 43.7 percent shooting effort.
<< Jayhawks and Wildcats collide for Big 12 title
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Bitter rivals meet in this evening's Big 12
Tournament Championship game, as the second-seeded and ninth-ranked Kansas
State Wildcats take aim at the top-seeded and No.1 ranked Kansas Jayhawks at
the Sprint Ce
<< Huskies and Coyotes square off for first-ever Great West title
Orem, UT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - An automatic bid to the Collegeinsider.com
Tournament is on the line tonight as the Huskies of Houston Baptist challenge
the South Dakota Coyotes in the first-annual Great West Conference Tournament
Championship Game
<< Hoyas and Mountaineers square off for Big East crown
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Big East Tournament title is up for grabs
this evening, as the 22nd-ranked Georgetown Hoyas take on the seventh-ranked
West Virginia Mountaineers at famed Madison Square Garden.
The Hoyas were thought to b
<< Rams and Owls square off in A-10 semifinals
Atlantic City, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The top-seeded and 17th-ranked Temple
Owls continue their run for a third straight Atlantic 10 Tournament title
today, as they clash with the fifth-seeded Rhode Island Rams in the semifinals
at Boardwalk Hal
Boilermakers and Golden Gophers meet in Big Ten semifinals >>
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A chance to play in the Big Ten Conference
Tournament championship game will be on the line this afternoon when the
sixth-seeded Minnesota Golden Gophers take on the second-seeded Purdue
Boilermakers in semif
Rebels and Aztecs seek MWC crown in Sin City >>
Las Vegas, NV (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Shooting for their third championship in the
last four years and the fourth overall, the UNLV Runnin' Rebels are into the
title game of the Mountain West Conference Tournament today and will face the
San Diego S
Pac-10 title up for grabs in Los Angeles >>
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Pac-10 Tournament title is up for grabs
this evening, as the top-seeded California Golden Bears face off against the
third-seeded Washington Huskies in the finals at the Staples Center.
California, whic
Spiders attempt to snare Musketeers in A-10 semifinals >>
Atlantic City, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The second-seeded and 24th-ranked Xavier
Musketeers do battle with the third-seeded Richmond Spiders in the semifinal
round of the Atlantic 10 Tournament today at Boardwalk Hall. The winner of
this game will
It's less than a month until the NHL hockey betting season opens at MySportsbook.com and preparations are underway for another battle in the race to hoist Lord Stanley's mug in 2007.
As cup crazy fans prepare to place their bets, one online sportsbook ,MySportsbook.com, is offering hockey betting lines on the 2007/2007 Stanley Cup , who will bring it home this upcoming season.
Despite a poor showing in last season's playoffs and the loss of Steve Yzerman to retirement, the Detroit Red Wings are early favourites at this online sportsbook with wagering odds of 6-1. The Wings will look to offensive powerhouse Pavel Datsyuk and newly appointed captain Nicklas Lidstrom to lead one of the league's most prominent franchises.
Always a threat are the Ottawa Senators, with newly acquired goaltender Martin Gerber from the Stanley Cup champion ,Carolina Hurricanes. The Sens are second best in the rankings at a 7-1 bet, and odds makers at this sportsbook are optimistic that the Ottawa squad will fare better than last season's Eastern Conference semi-final upset to the Buffalo Sabres.
Also worth noting are the defending Stanley Cup champs Carolina Hurricanes, a 10-1 bet to repeat. Behind the Canes are the New Jersey Devils, Calgary Flames, Buffalo Sabres, Philadelphia Flyers, and Anaheim Mighty Ducks all sit at 12-1. In the basement are the Washington Capitals, Chicago Blackhawks, and St. Louis Blues who all have 100-1 odds to win.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your hockey betting needs.
BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
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