Butler and Davidson square off in pivotal non-conference clash

NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

02/21/2009 - Davidson, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The most anticipated Bracketbuster game on the docket takes place in the Tar Heel State this weekend, as the 21st-ranked Butler Bulldogs invade Belk Arena and attempt to get past the always dangerous Davidson Wildcats.

The Bulldogs had been cruising along through their Horizon League schedule, but things have gotten much tighter of late, as Butler has dropped two straight games, with upset losses to Loyola-Chicago (71-67) and most recently, Wisconsin-Milwaukee (63-60). With the setbacks, the team has fallen to 13-3 in league play and 22-4 overall.

The Wildcats are one of the top teams in the Southern Conference, holding a two-game lead in the South Division standings. However, it could have been a four-game lead were it not for a surprising home loss to the Citadel this week, 64-46. With the loss to the Bulldogs, Davidson is now 22-5 overall and 15-2 in-conference.

This game is the first-ever meeting between these two mid-major powers.

The Bulldogs are known for their defensive prowess, as evidenced by the fact that the team is limiting foes to a mere 57.3 ppg this year and well under 40 percent shooting overall (.377). Unfortunately, the team's lack of offensive punch has proved to be problematic of late and could be a real concern going up against Davidson. Matt Howard is the team's best option and comes into the contest leading the Bulldogs in both scoring (14.1 ppg) and rebounding (7.0 rpg). Gordon Hayward is a close second in both categories (13.4 ppg, 6.3 rpg) and is the team's top sharpshooter (.453 from behind the arc, 58 treys). Shelvin Mack (12.2 ppg) adds to the perimeter assault with 50 three-pointers to his credit. Wisconin-Milwaukee seemed to catch a break with the clock towards the end of the game and escaped with a three-point win over Butler. The setback ruined a solid performance by Howard, who finished just shy of a double-double with 20 points and nine rebounds. Mack and Ronald Nored chipped in 11 and 10 points, respectively, but the team shot a mere .412 from the floor overall, including a dreadful .296 in the first half. UWM's bench played an important role in the decision, as the Panthers' reserves outscored Butler's bench 21-6.

The Citadel put on a defensive clinic and held the hometown Wildcats to an ugly .254 shooting, including just .130 from behind the arc (3-of-23) and taking a lopsided decision at Belk Arena as a result. Davidson's lack of offensive punch was certainly caused by the fact that All-American Stephen Curry was not on the floor. The veteran sharpshooter missed his first career game after suffering a sprained ankle last weekend. Andrew Lovedale and Brenan McKillop tried to fill the void with 16 and 15 points, respectively, but without Curry on the floor, the Bulldogs were able to keep the pressure on all game long. When the Wildcats are at full strength, there are few in the SoCon that can stay with them. The team is averaging a robust 78.8 ppg this year, with a good portion of that coming from Curry, who leads the nation in scoring at 29.0 ppg. Curry, who already has 102 three-pointers to his credit this season, is also the team's primary distributor, doling out 152 assists thus far. Lovedale feeds off Curry's perimeter success and is a perfect complement in the low post, averaging 12.4 points and 8.9 rebounds per outing.

Gambbling NCAA Basketball Betting News


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MySportsbook.com Favors Fighting Irish to win College Football betting odds

According to odds makers at MySportsbook.com, on January 8, the Fighting Irish faithful may be toasting their 14th national title in Arizona – Notre Dame’s first national championship in close to 20 years.

Although MySportsbook.com has listed Notre Dame as the 5-1 favorite to win thecollege football College Football betting, fans in Columbus do not need to cancel their tickets to Glendale just yet.  The Ohio State Buckeyes, listed right behind the Irish at 7-1, are also heavy favorites to win college football’s most coveted prize, while West Virginia, USC and the 2007 National Champion Texas Longhorns - all listed at 8-1 – are strong contenders as well.

MySportsbook.com has also posted gambling odds on the conference championships for the ACC, Big 12 and SEC.  In the ACC – it could be anyone’s title, particularly for the two schools from the Sunshine State.  Florida State and Miami, both listed at 2-1, are favored to win the ACC Championship Game odds, with the ‘Noles hoping to finish in the nation’s top 10 for the first time in five years, and the ‘Canes looking to avenge their 10-7 loss against FSU in last year’s ACC Championship betting.

Moving west to the Big 12, MySportsbook.com has betting lines listing Texas as 7-5 favorites to repeat as conference champions, even though the Longhorns lost their national championship-winning quarterback Vince Young to the NFL.  In the south, the Auburn Tigers – led by Heisman-hopeful senior running back Kenny Irons – have been given the best odds to win the SEC Championship odds at 5-2.

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ODDS TO WIN THE BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Notre Dame
Ohio State
West Virginia
Texas
USC
Florida
California
Auburn
Oklahoma
Iowa
Louisville
Florida State
Michigan
Miami (FL)
LSU
Penn State
Virginia Tech
Nebraska
Tennessee
Georgia
Arizona State
Oregon
Clemson
Texas A&M
Texas Tech
Alabama
Arkansas
Boston College
Michigan State
Maryland
South Carolina
Colorado
Purdue
Georgia Tech
TCU
UCLA
Arizona
Pittsburgh
Iowa State
Wisconsin
North Carolina State
Virginia
North Carolina
Fresno State
Hawaii
Northwestern
BYU
Oregon State
UNLV
Field (Any Other Team)
5-1
7-1
8-1
8-1
8-1
12-1
15-1
15-1
18-1
20-1
20-1
20-1
20-1
20-1
25-1
40-1
40-1
50-1
60-1
60-1
60-1
70-1
70-1
100-1
100-1
100-1
100-1
100-1
150-1
200-1
200-1
200-1
200-1
200-1
250-1
250-1
300-1
300-1
300-1
300-1
300-1
300-1
400-1
500-1
500-1
500-1
500-1
1000-1
1000-1
40-1



ODDS TO WIN ACC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Miami (FL)
Florida State
Virginia Tech
Clemson
Georgia Tech
Boston College
Maryland
Virginia
North Carolina State
North Carolina
Wake Forest
Duke
2-1
2-1
3-1
7-1
15-1
15-1
15-1
30-1
30-1
30-1
50-1
500-1



ODDS TO WIN BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Texas
Oklahoma
Nebraska
Texas Tech
Colorado
Iowa State
Texas A&M
Kansas State
Missouri
Kansas
Baylor
Oklahoma State
7-5
9-5
9-2
12-1
14-1
15-1
15-1
30-1
30-1
35-1
100-1
100-1



ODDS TO WIN SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Auburn
Florida
LSU
Georgia
Tennessee
Arkansas
Alabama
Mississippi
South Carolina
Mississippi State
Kentucky
Vanderbilt
5-2
11-4
4-1
6-1
7-1
7-1
9-1
20-1
28-1
75-1
100-1
300-1

For complete NCAA football odds please visit Mysportsbook.com.

Huskers' Lucky hospitalized for undisclosed reason

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nebraska running back Marlon Lucky was hospitalized Monday for undisclosed reasons after Lincoln police responded to a call at his residence.

The Nebraska athletic department said in a release Monday that Lucky was admitted Sunday night.

MySportsbook.com has the Cornhuskers listed at +2500 to win the BCS National Championship odds.

A nursing supervisor at the hospital said all questions about Lucky were being referred to the athletic department. The athletic department said there would be no further comment from the department or Lucky's family.

A Lincoln Police spokesman said officers responded to a call at Lucky's residence 11:30 p.m. Sunday. The spokesman said he didn't know Lucky's condition at the time he was taken to the hospital.

Lucky, from North Hollywood, Calif., started six games last season as a sophomore and was the team's second-leading rusher, with 728 yards and six touchdowns. He also caught 32 passes for 383 yards. He averaged 19.1 yards on eight kickoff returns.

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