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Wake Forest and Texas do battle in 2010 NCAA TournamentNCAA Basketball Betting Lines03/18/2010 - New Orleans, LA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The East Region of the 2010 NCAA Tournament features a first-round matchup between the eighth-seeded Texas Longhorns and the ninth-seeded Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Awaiting the winner of this tilt is a second-round matchup with either top- seeded Kentucky or 16th-seeded East Tennessee State. Wake Forest is making its 22nd NCAA Tournament appearance and second in a row under third-year head coach Dino Gaudio. The Demon Deacons, who are 27-21 at this event all-time, earned an at-large bid after compiling a 19-10 record through the close of the ACC Tournament. They own six wins over the RPI top-50 teams and certainly have the talent to challenge the Longhorns. Texas was the nation's top-ranked team for two weeks in January, and the fact that the club fell completely out of the Top-25 in March tells the tale of a rapid decline. The Longhorns, who are 24-9 overall, have lost nine of their last 16 games. They have 28 previous NCAA Tournament appearances to their credit and own a 33-30 record at the event. They were knocked out in the second round a year ago and continue to be led by long-time head coach Rick Barnes. Wake Forest owns a 3-1 series lead over Texas, and one of those three victories for the Demon Deacons came in the second round of the 1996 NCAA Tournament. The strength of the Wake Forest team is its play at the defensive end of the court, as it is limiting opponents to 68.4 ppg on 38.3 percent shooting from the field, including 28.9 percent from three-point range. Offensively, the club is generating 73.0 ppg. Al-Farouq Aminu is the top performer for the Demon Deacons with 15.7 ppg and 10.7 rpg, and the Second-Team All-ACC performer is the only player in the conference to average a double-double this year. Aminu also paces the club in blocks (44) and is second in steals (43). The leader in steals is Ishmael Smith with 52, and he is netting 13.3 ppg to complement an impressive total of 173 assists. C.J. Harris rounds out the double-digit scorers with 10.0 ppg for Wake, which is outrebounding foes by 4.5 rpg. Turnovers have been a problem for the Deacs this season, as they have give the ball away approximately 15 times per outing. The best player on the Texas roster is clearly Damion James, an athletic forward who was recently selected as a First-Team All-Big 12 performer. James has started all 33 games this season and is scoring 18.0 ppg on 50.9 percent shooting from the floor, including 40.2 percent from three-point range. More than just a scorer, he is ripping down 10.4 rpg to go with 54 steals and 39 blocked shots. Avery Bradley provides 11.7 ppg for the 'Horns, and Dexter Pittman adds 10.6 ppg and 5.8 rpg to the mix. Texas is generating 81.2 ppg while limiting opponents to 69.7 ppg on 40.2 percent shooting from the floor. The club is outrebounding opponents by 6.8 rpg, but all of those positive numbers were considerably more impressive at the midway point of the season.
<< Spiders and Gaels meet in South Region's first round
Providence, RI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - First-round action in the South Region will take place this afternoon at the Dunkin' Donuts Center when the seventh-seeded Richmond Spiders take on the 10th-seeded Saint Mary's Gaels. The Gaels are participa
<< Midwest Regional affair pits Panthers against Rebels
<< Upset-minded Racers open tournament play against Commodores
<< Cougars and Gators collide in West Regional action
<< Top-seeded Kansas opens tournament play against Lehigh
Washington and Marquette meet in first round of 2010 NCAA Tournament >>
San Jose, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The sixth-seeded Marquette Golden Eagles and the 11th-seeded Washington Huskies will meet in the first round of the NCAA Tournament's East Region. Up next for the winner of this contest is a second-round clash
Second-seeded Villanova takes on Robert Morris in first-round action >>
Bears and Bearkats collide in South Regional action >>
Vols set sights on Aztecs in first-round action >>
West Regional action features Bulldogs against Miners >>
Football Betting: Defensive Rookie of the Year AwardsOddsmakers have released the odds for the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and Seattle Seahawks linebacker Aaron Curry has been made the opening favorite. Seattle took Curry with the fourth overall pick in April's NFL draft and plan on inserting him into its starting lineup right away. The Hawks traded linebacker Julian Peterson in the offseason, so Curry is expected to have a significant role in Seattle's defense next year and that's one of the primary reasons he is the favorite to win the NFL ROY Award. Oddsmakers from online sportsbook MySportsbook.com have made Curry a 5/1 favorite to win this year's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. Given that he was the best defensive prospect in this year's draft and how he'll have plenty of opportunities to make plays in '09, Curry offers a ton of value at 5/1. Another thing working for Curry is the position he plays. A linebacker has won the defensive ROY award six straight times and eight of the last nine years. Jerod Mayo, Patrick Willis, DeMeco Ryans, Shawne Merriman, Jonathan Vilma, Terrell Suggs, Kendrell Bell and Brian Urlacher were the most recent linebackers to take home the award. Following Curry at 5/1 are Tyson Jackson (Chiefs) at 7/1, James Laurinaitas (Rams) at 8/1, Brian Orakpo (Redskins) at 10/1, Rey Maualuga (Bengals) at 10/1 and Jerry Peria (Falcons) at 10/1. All the players mentioned above are expected to start for their respective teams, but Jackson and Peria are going to have a tough time being recognized on a national level given they're both defensive linemen. D-linemen rarely put up the numbers that it takes to win an individual award like the ROY. A couple of players with some value are Clay Matthews (Packers) at 12/1 and Larry English (Chargers) at 15/1. Matthews is expected to start at outside linebacker in Green Bay's new 3-4 defense and could rack up a ton of tackles. English, who was an impressive player at Northern Illinois, is expected to be a situational pass rusher for the Chargers and could rack up a ton of sacks. For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, see below. And for complete odds for the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, click the link provided. 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award Robert Ayers (DEN) 12/1 Ron Brace (NE) 25/1 Everette Brown (CAR) 16/1 Darius Butler (NE) 40/1 Patrick Chung (NE) 30/1 Aaron Curry (SEA) 5/1 Brian Cushing (HOU) 12/1 Vontae Davis (MIA) 30/1 Louis Delmas (DET) 30/1 Larry English (SD) 15/1 Evander Hood (PIT) 25/1 Tyson Jackson (KC) 7/1 Malcolm Jenkins (NO) 25/1 Paul Kruger (BAL) 50/1 James Laurinaitas (STL) 8/1 Sen'Derrick Marks (TEN) 20/1 Clay Matthews (GB) 12/1 Aaron Maybin (BUF) 15/1 Rey Maualuga (CIN) 10/1 Roy Miller (TB) 20/1 Michael Mitchell (OAK) 45/1 Fili Moala (IND) 30/1 Brian Orakpo (WAS) 10/1 Jerry Peria (ATL) 10/1 B J Raji (GB) 7/1 Clint Sintim (NYG) 35/1 Alphonso Smith (DEN) 40/1 David Verkune (CLE) 20/1 Jason Williams (DAL) 30/1 Field (Any Other Player) 6/1 To visit this internet sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs. |
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