Huskies host Golden Eagles in Big East showdown
NCAA Basketball Betting Lines
01/30/2010 - Hartford, CT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two teams with a lot of ground to cover to get back in the Big East race square off in Hartford, as the 19th-ranked Connecticut Huskies welcome the Marquette Golden Eagles to the XL Center this afternoon.
Head coach Jim Calhoun has taken a medical leave of absence from UConn and under the leadership of assistant George Blaney, the Huskies looked rejuvenated with a pair of victories last week against St. John's and former number one ranked Texas. However, Connecticut's struggles on the road resurfaced this week at Providence, as the team fell to an ugly 0-4 in true road games with an 81-66 setback to the Friars. The loss also dropped UConn to 3-4 in league play.
Road woes have also plagued the Golden Eagles, who are an even worse 0-5 as the visitor this season. The team dropped back-to-back games at DePaul and Syracuse last week, but bounced back with an 82-59 drubbing of Rutgers this week.
This is just the fifth all-time meeting between these two teams with the series knotted at two games apiece. Last season's lone matchup took place at Marquette and resulted in an 93-82 win for UConn, marking Calhoun's 800th career victory.
Five Golden Eagles finished in double figures, as Marquette completely blew away Rutgers last time out. Jimmy Butler and Darius Johnson-Odom led the way with 16 points apiece. Maurice Acker added 14 points, followed by Joseph Fulce and Lazar Hayward, who chimed in with 13 and 12 points, respectively. Hayward recorded his fifth double-double of the season with a dozen rebounds. Hayward is the team's top performer, leading the way both in scoring (18.1 ppg) and rebounding (7.7 rpg). Butler is a solid complement at 14.8 points and 6.6 rebounds per outing. Johnson-Odom wraps up the top scoring threats at 12.4 ppg. Marquette has had a great deal of success at the offensive end, averaging 75.6 ppg on a healthy .470 shooting.
After two solid offensive performances under Blaney's watchful eye, the Huskies finally threw a clunker in there against Providence, converting just 38.7 percent from the floor, including a mere .222 from behind the arc (4- of-18), while turning the ball over a costly 19 times. Still, four players finished in double figures, including Kemba Walker and Gavin Edwards, who posted 17 points apiece. Stanley Robinson and Jerome Dyson chipped in with 14 and 12 points, respectively, but the Huskies got beat up on the boards, 53-38 and allowed Providence to score 44 points in the paint. Dyson and Robinson lead the charge for UConn and both have the ability to dominate a game. Dyson is a complete player, showing the ability to score (19.1 ppg), rebound (4.7 rpg) and distribute the ball (98 assists). Robinson has been strong up front, averaging 16.8 ppg and 7.4 rpg. Walker can score as well at 13.4 ppg, but is much better when getting others involved (6.0 apg). Edwards (10.8 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 51 blocks) provides a boost coming off the bench.
Manhattan, KS (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - More than just state bragging rights are on the line in Manhattan this evening, as second-ranked Kansas and 11th-ranked Kansas State square off in a Big 12 showdown at the Bramlage Coliseum. Bill Self's Jayha
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welcome the Louisville Cardinals to Morgantown this afternoon for a Big East
showdown.
After taking a break from Big East play last week, the Mountaineers returned
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Race to Duba
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Zags and Dons square off in San Francisco >>
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Austin, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Top-25 foes meet up in Austin this afternoon, as
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Blue Devils visit Hoyas in Top-10 showdown >>
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Du
Football Betting Lines
The 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds have been released and Denver Broncos' running back Knowshon Moreno has been made the opening favorite.
Moreno was selected in the first round of April's NFL draft and is expected to carry the rushing load for the Broncos this season. And with Jay Cutler now in Chicago, Moreno might be expected to be Denver's entire offense.
Betting Lines from sports betting lines have made Moreno a 5/2 favorite to win this year's Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Fellow running back Chris “Beanie” Wells (Arizona Cardinals) is right behind Moreno at 7/2, while Donald Brown (Indianapolis Colts) and receiver Michael Crabtree (San Francisco 49ers) are 5/1 to win. Quarterbacks Mark Sanchez (New York Jets) and Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions) are 7/1 and 8/1, respectively.
A couple of players who present some value are Josh Freeman, Shonn Green and Darrius Heyward-Bey.
Freeman needs to beat out Byron Leftwich to become the starting quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but if he does, he has a lot or raw talent and could use the weapons around him (i.e. Kellen Winslow Jr. and Antonio Bryant) to be very successful in his first season.
Green enters a crowded backfield in New York, but considering both Thomas Jones and Leon Washington are unhappy about their contract situations and might holdout, the former Iowa product could become the Jets' primary back.
Everyone was shocked when Al Davis took Heyward-Bey with the eighth overall pick in April's draft, but the kid has a tremendous amount of talent and if quarterback JaMarcus Russell takes the next step this year, the former Maryland product could blossom. Plus, Heyward-Bey will be looking to prove the people wrong who said Oakland should have taken Michael Crabtree with the No. 8 pick.
And if you're looking for a deep sleeper, check out Pat White at 30/1. He enters the Miami Dolphins vaunted “Wild Cat” offense and could be a big time playmaker.
For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds, see below.
2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds to Win
Ramses Barden (NYG) 40/1
Andre Brown (NYG) 20/1
Donald Brown (IND) 5/1
Kenny Britt (TEN) 20/1
Glenn Coffee (SFO) 30/1
Chase Coffman (CIN) 50/1
Michael Crabtree (SFO) 5/1
Josh Freeman (TB) 14/1
Shonn Green (NYJ) 14/1
Percy Harvin (MIN) 10/1
Darrius Heyward-Bay (OAK) 18/1
Juaquan Iglesias (CHI) 30/1
Cornelius Ingram (PHI) 50/1
Rashad Jennings (JAC) 30/1
Johnny Knox (CHI) 40/1
Jeremy Maclin (PHI) 18/1
Mohamed Massaquoi (CLE) 30/1
LeSean McCoy (PHI) 12/1
Knowshon Moreno (DEN) 5/2
Hakeem Nicks (NYG) 18/1
Brandon Pettigrew (DET) 30/1
Brian Robiskie (CLE) 20/1
Mark Sanchez (NYJ) 7/1
Matthew Stafford (DET) 8/1
Jason Smith (STL) 40/1
Mike Thomas (JAC) 25/1
Patrick Turner (MIA) 50/1
Mike Wallace (PIT) 50/1
Chris Wells (ARI) 7/2
Pat White (MIA) 30/1
Field (Any Other Player) 9/1
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