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03/13/2010 - Bossier City, LA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament Championship game will take place this evening at the CenturyTel Center, when the second-seeded Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions battle the fifth-seeded Texas Southern Tigers.
The Tigers opened the tournament with a 66-49 victory over Prairie View A&M, and followed that victory with a 60-57 decision over Grambling State on Friday. Texas Southern, which has won this tournament on four different occasions, heads into this title game with a five-game winning streak.
As for the Golden Lions, they began this tournament with a 69-66 victory over Mississippi Valley State, and on Friday the team slipped past Alabama State by a slim, 46-44 margin. Arkansas-Pine Bluff has been red-hot, winning 10 of its last 11 matchups.
The Tigers overcame a 19-turnover performance on Friday against Grambling State by shooting a respectable 46.7 percent from the floor in the win. Junior Treasure led the way with 21 points in the win, while Deandre Hall finished with 20 points, six rebounds and four assists. Hall comes into this title matchup averaging 16.5 ppg for Texas Southern, but the guard has 103 turnovers compared to just 86 assists. Treasure is contributing 14.6 ppg on the season, while Travele Jones is posting 14.0 ppg, to go along with 5.8 rpg. As a whole the Tigers come into this contest producing a mediocre 68.8 ppg, behind a healthy 47.1 percent shooting effort.
The Golden Lions used a tenacious defensive approach in their semifinal victory over Alabama State, as UAPB held the Hornets to just 44 points on a 33.3 percent shooting effort. While the defensive play was impressive, the real hero of the matchup was Terrance Calvin, who connected on a jump shot in the final seconds of regulation to give the Golden Lions the thrilling victory. Calvin finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds, while Savalance Townsend tallied 11 points. Calvin has been the best player on the floor for UAPB for most of the season and comes into this contest averaging 10.6 ppg and 5.2 rpg.
<< 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
<< 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
<< 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
<< Bears set sights on Bulldogs in MEAC title game
Winston-Salem, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Back in the title game of the Mid-Eastern
Athletic Conference Tournament for the third straight year, the Morgan State
Bears try to repeat as champions this afternoon as they tangle with South
Carolina State
49ers aim for record fifth Big West title against top-seeded Gauchos >>
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Long Beach State tries to raise its total of
Big West Conference Tournament titles to a record five, as the 49ers clash
with the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos in the championship round of the 35th-annual
event at Anahe
Lumberjacks look to cut down Bearkats in Southland title game >>
Katy, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With an NCAA Tournament bid on the line, the top-
seeded Sam Houston State Bearkats will battle the second-seeded Stephen F.
Austin Lumberjacks in the Southland Conference Tournament championship game at
the Merrell
Maple Leafs host Oilers in matchup of last place clubs >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A battle between the bottom two teams in the NHL is on tap
tonight in Toronto, pitting the Maple Leafs against the Edmonton Oilers at Air
Canada Centre.
Despite having won two straight and three of their last four, the Map
Rockets kick off homestand vs. Nets >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The chances of the Houston Rockets making the playoffs seem
to fade by the day. Tonight they'll have to get past the woeful New Jersey
Nets at the Toyota Center in the opener of a four-game homestand and hope for
some help ar
Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.
NFL Betting
After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
Patriots made him their franchise player, meaning his salary for this season will be about $15 million.
New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
"I go out there each and every day with that focus that I'm the starter," Cassel said during a June minicamp. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
In his only sustained action since his teens, he hit 349 of 555 passes for 3,949 yards at New England. He had 23 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as the Patriots, who had gone unbeaten through the regular season the year before, finished 11-5 and out of the playoffs.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."
To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your college football 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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