Rockets rout Nets as Carter rumors arise

Basketball Betting Lines

02/17/2009 - Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Yao Ming scored 20 points and pulled down 12 rebounds, as the Houston Rockets downed the New Jersey Nets, 114-88, at the Toyota Center.

Shane Battier netted a season-high 19 points and pulled down nine rebounds for the Rockets, who also received 19 points from Von Wafer and 18 from Ron Artest. Luis Scola totaled 10 points and 11 boards, while Rafer Alston chipped in nine points and 11 assists, as Houston started the post All-Star break with its second consecutive victory.

The Rockets overcame the absence of star Tracy McGrady (left knee) to beat the Nets for the sixth straight time. Houston set a season-high by making 15 three-point shots and they had 27 assists, another season-best. Houston also outrebounded the Nets, 56-30.

Vince Carter had 30 points for New Jersey, which has lost three in a row following a four-game win streak. Brook Lopez ended with 21 points, nine rebounds and four blocks for the Nets.

The teams played just two days prior to the NBA trading deadline, and reports earlier Tuesday indicated the Nets were shopping Carter, possibly to the Rockets or Trail Blazers.

The Rockets scored 12 in a row during the opening quarter to grab a 22-16 lead with Artest's layup capping the burst. An Artest three-ball provided a 27-17 margin going into the second.

A jumper from Lopez had the Nets within 30-25, but the Rockets pulled away with an ensuing 18-5 flurry. Artest's three-pointer ended that push with nearly three minutes left in the half, and the Rockets headed to the locker room with a 56-40 advantage.

Houston continued to pull away in the third, moving to an 84-65 cushion heading to the fourth. Nearly everything was falling for the Rockets, even on errant plays. In one instance, Scola's entry pass to Yao went off the center's hands and into the basket, even though the Chinese superstar had his back to the bucket.

A three-pointer from Brent Barry expanded the lead to 105-80 with three minutes remaining.

Game Notes

Houston finished 15-of-29 from three-point range...Houston held a 16-2 edge in offensive rebounds...Rockets guard Carl Landry exited the game late in the second quarter with a sprained right ankle...Battier went 5-of-7 from beyond the arc, while Yao finished 9-of-15 from the field....Devin Harris scored 10 for the Nets...New Jersey shot 40 percent from the floor, compared to 45.5 percent for Houston.

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NCAA Football Betting

Many fans thought it was the best side in the nation by the end of last season. This year, the polls have built on Georgia's momentum and granted it the No. 1 preseason ranking, followed by Ohio State and USC. (The Associated Press has the Buckeyes at No. 2; USA Today took the Trojans.)

"To have people believing we have one of the best teams in the nation going into this thing, it's exciting for us," Bulldogs coach Mark Richt told the AP. "I don't think anything is guaranteed, but we certainly have put ourselves in position where at least the college football world thinks we're pretty good."

Georgia Bulldogs - 9.5 wins

There's no question they're good, but the Bulldogs have one of the toughest 12-game schedules in the nation, mostly because they play in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference. Away games at No. 15 Arizona State, No. 7 LSU and No. 10 Auburn loom large, with contests between the hedges versus No. 24 Alabama and No. 18 Tennessee as well as the World's Largest Cocktail Party in Jacksonville versus No.5 Florida.

Ohio State Buckeyes - 10 wins

Like the Bulldogs, the Buckeyes also have a number of tough road contests in 2008. After two scrimmages dressed up as real games versus Youngstown State and Ohio, it's off to face USC. Other tough away games include No.13 Wisconsin in October and No. 20 Illinois in November. Granted, it should be pretty easy sledding at the Horseshoe. In fact, the only ranked team that travels to Columbus is No. 22 Penn State, in October.

USC Trojans - 10.5 wins

A similarly light schedule awaits the Trojans of Southern California, which is why the oddsmakers' total is one win more and the over is currently commanding -150 odds. Pete Carroll's troops only play three ranked teams in 2008, and all of those games are at home. After what should be an easy trip to Virginia to start things off on Aug. 30, the Trojans get two weeks to prepare for Ohio State in Los Angeles. Their two other ranked opponents, No. 21 Oregon and No. 15 Arizona State, visit in consecutive weeks to start the month of October. After that, the competition eases up. Of course, this is the same highly-touted school that lost to Stanford in 2007 and Oregon State in 2006. And don't discount the fact that USC plays its biggest rivals, Notre Dame and UCLA, back-to-back to close out the regular season. On paper, the Trojans are far superior, but motivation will be high for the Irish and Bruins, especially if their historic foes are in national-title contention.

Odds to Win the Heisman Trophy

Tim Tebow, Florida - 7/2
He won it last year, so it's no surprise he's the favorite to do it again, making him just the second player to go back-to-back. Ohio State's Archie Griffin turned the trick in 1974 and 1975, and Tebow's coach, Urban Meyer, is pretty sure his star quarterback can match the Buckeyes legend.

"There has never been anyone quite like him," Meyer told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I am very lucky to be his coach."

Chris Wells, Ohio State - 5/1

The man they call "Beanie" was a star recruit out of high school, so it's not like nobody knew who the star tailback was before he rushed for 576 yards as a freshman in 2006 and 1,609 as a sophomore. But perhaps his finest moment came last year versus Michigan when he rumbled for 222 yards and two touchdowns in the Buckeyes' 14-3 victory over the hated Wolverines.

Knowshon Moreno, Georgia - 8/1

If the Bulldogs are to live up to expectations, they'll need a huge effort from their sophomore running back. This might be the last year of college ball for Moreno, who rushed for 1,334 yards and for 14 touchdowns as a freshman, while adding 253 receiving yards on 20 receptions, so expect big things for the man from Belford, N.J.

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