Atlantic 10 supremacy at stake at Cintas Center
NCAA Basketball Betting Lines
02/28/2010 -
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two teams competing for the Atlantic 10
title hook up at the Cintas Center today, as the 23rd-ranked Richmond Spiders
battle the Xavier Musketeers.
Coming into the day, Richmond and Xavier, along with Temple, are all tied for
first place in the A-10 standings at 11-2. With the season winding down, this
is obviously a crucial game for both squads.
The Spiders are the hottest team in the conference, as they have won eight
straight and 10 of their last 11 bouts. Richmond, which has been ranked in
consecutive weeks for the first time since the 1957-58 season, has had plenty
of time to prepare for this game, last participating in a 74-70 triumph of
George Washington on February 20th. Now at 22-6 overall, the Spiders are out
for their first nine-game winning streak since the 1990-91 season.
As for the Musketeers, the are streaking as well, notching four straight
victories and eight in their past nine contests. Xavier edged Saint Louis,
73-71, on Wednesday, giving the program its fifth straight 20-win season. The
Musketeers now return back home, where they have won 30 consecutive games in
A-10 play.
Xavier leads the head-to-head series with Richmond, 10-3, but the Spiders
knocked off the 17th-ranked Musketeers, 80-75, in last season's meeting.
The Spiders have been tough on defense this season, holding opponents to just
38.7 percent shooting from the floor while forcing 15.5 turnovers per game.
Kevin Anderson has gotten the job done at both ends for Richmond, as he tops
the roster in scoring (17.5 ppg) as well as steals (55). David Gonzalvez
follows with 13.6 ppg and 49 steals, while Justin Harper chips in with 10.4
ppg. In the team's prior outing, Anderson tallied 24 points and seven assists
to lift the Spiders past George Washington. Gonzalvez and Harper both had 10
points for Richmond, which went 20-of-29 at the foul line and forced 16
turnovers.
Xavier shot 47.6 percent from the floor and dominated the boards, 42-28, as it
escaped Saint Louis with a 73-71 win on Wednesday. Jordan Crawford led the
charge with 26 points and five boards, while Jason Love had 21 points and nine
rebounds. On the season, Crawford averages a healthy 20.0 ppg to pace the
Musketeers and he also turns in 4.7 rpg and 3.0 apg. Love adds 11.8 ppg and a
team-high 8.4 rpg to the mix, while Terrell Holloway contributes 10.9 ppg and
a team-best 4.0 apg. Overall, the Musketeers are tallying a hardy 79.4 ppg
and converting on 47.1 percent of their attempts from the field and 38.2
percent from downtown.
<< Temple seeks first perfect Big 5 mark since 1987-88
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favored in today's Atlantic 10 Conference clash with Philadelphia rival La
Salle.
Temple enters this tilt riding a four-game win streak and came into the
weekend ti
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to see how the team responds in today's critical Big Ten Conference showdown
with the 14th
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continue their quest for the ACC regular season title and top seed in the NCAA
Tournament, but they must avoid an upset tonight as they take on the Virginia
Cavaliers at J
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Streaking Suns visit shaky Spurs in San Antonio >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of Western Conference contenders jockey for playoff
position in south Texas this afternoon when the Phoenix Suns visit the San
Antonio Spurs.
The streaking Suns, who are fifth in the conference, 1 1/2 games behind U
Western powers meet in LA as Lakers host Nuggets >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The two top teams in the Western Conference clash Sunday
when the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers host the Northwest
Division-leading Denver Nuggets at Staples Center.
While it's still early, LA and Denver certai
Salmons, Bucks shoot for another road win in Atlanta >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - John Salmons has been quite the tonic for a Milwaukee Bucks
team hoping to continue an amazing run on the road when they visit Dixie to
take on the Atlanta Hawks tonight.
The Bucks improved to 6-0 since acquiring Salmons f
Reeling Heat visit Magic in Orlando >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It's expected that Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade will opt out
of his contract this offseason and test the free agency waters.
Life without Wade isn't a scenario most in Miami want to contemplate but they
have gotten a taste
Raptors, Thunder clash in Oklahoma City >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The ever-improving Oklahoma City Thunder get back to work
on Sunday by hosting a Toronto Raptors team minus star forward Chris Bosh.
The Thunder got back to their winning ways on Friday when Kevin Durant led
seven Thunder
Pacific-10 Conference odds
Teams that should be in: Stanford
 Oregon and USC get their tickets punched after taking care of business this weekend. Yes, the Trojans' computer numbers aren't great, but there's no way the third-place team in this league is getting nixed. Grudgingly, I added Arizona after consultation with our Bracketologist. I don't know that Arizona will lose its last three (including a Pac-10 quarterfinal game), and even if the Cats do, I still can't see how they'd be left out, given the overall profile. That said, it bears watching, as three more L's would leave them at 18-12 (9-9) and on a 6-11 skid entering the Dance. It would be nice to see the Wildcats get at least one W in the Bay Area next week, as Cincinnati (albeit without Armein Kirkland and with a worse profile) was axed after a similar slide last season. I just couldn't rationalize having some of the other teams as locks and not having Arizona in that category -- there just aren't enough good teams behind the Cats to threaten their spot, it seems. Stanford has its fate in its own hands with the Arizona schools coming to the Farm to close out the regular season next weekend.
Should be in:
Stanford [17-10 (9-7), RPI: 40, SOS: 21] No shame in not getting a win in L.A., but that makes the home game against Arizona State a must-win ahead of what could be an intriguing meeting with Arizona should the Cats lose at Cal. Getting to 11 Pac-10 wins would make Selection Sunday much more comfortable, but 10's probably more than enough this season. The Cardinal have nonconference wins over Texas Tech and at Virginia to lean on, although they also lost badly to Air Force and Santa Clara at home.
| Southeastern Conference odds |
Work left to do: Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Mississippi State
 It looks more and more possible that no one from the SEC West will make the NCAAs. How weird is that? Tennessee and Vandy move into the locks category after more good work this weekend. Kentucky stays there, although it would be smart for the Cats to handle Georgia at home Wednesday ahead of a trip to the Swamp. Could a disaster scenario (two more L's and a first-round SEC tourney exit) somehow dislodge the Cats despite their incredible computer numbers? Still unlikely, but not worth chancing it.
Work left to do:
Alabama [19-9 (6-8), RPI: 43, SOS: 47] The tough L at Tennessee was understandable, and even created some hope. Unfortunately, that hope was dashed by a home loss to Auburn, which leaves the Tide in some real trouble. There's still no signature win on the profile (no, Kentucky doesn't count), and the computer profile is weakening rapidly. The Tide conceivably could beat Ole Miss and win at Miss. State to get to 8-8 and clinch at least a share of the West crown, but that's probably not enough right now. The Tide will need to do some work in the SEC tourney.
Georgia [16-10 (8-6), RPI: 52, SOS: 23] This is the team with the best chance to make it from this section right now. The Bulldogs rebounded from a terrible performance at Ole Miss to beat down Miss. State. Now they are at Kentucky (king of the RPI 51-100 win) and home to Tennessee. That would be worth a lot of computer points to get both (which is doable), as both teams are in the top 11 in RPI. Finishing at least 9-7 is an absolute must, and I would feel much better about the Dawgs' chances if they got both to get to 10 SEC wins. They also beat Gonzaga, but lost to ACC bubblers Georgia Tech and Clemson.
Mississippi [18-10 (7-7), RPI: 63, SOS: 79] Like everyone else in this division, Ole Miss gacked up a chance to stake a claim, losing by double figures at South Carolina. Even 9-7 likely is not nearly enough with a nonconference profile devoid of anything notable.
Mississippi State [16-11 (7-7), RPI: 66, SOS: 37] With a chance to get in the mix, these Bulldogs were leashed by their Georgia counterparts. Could they get to 9-7? I guess -- although winning at Arkansas, then beating Alabama is no lock -- but would that mean all that much for a team with this overall profile? Probably not. There's nothing of note (on the good side) in the nonconference profile. |
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