Upset-minded Racers open tournament play against Commodores

NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

03/18/2010 - San Jose, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The first team in Division I to reach 30 wins this season, the Murray State Racers now have their sights set on number 31 as they take on the Vanderbilt Commodores in the first round of the 72nd annual NCAA Tournament at HP Pavilion in San Jose, California.

The Racers, the 13th seed in the West Regional, are in the NCAA Tournament for the 14th times, but the squad has just a single win to show for its efforts, thanks to a 78-75 triumph over NC State back in 1988. Other than that lone win, MSU has known nothing but disappointment in the event with a record of just 1-13 over the years.

In terms of 2009-10, Murray State lost just once in the last 22 games as it almost ran the table in the Ohio Valley Conference (17-1), capturing the regular-season title and the conference tournament crown with a 62-51 win over Morehead State.

Meanwhile, the fourth-seeded Commodores recorded a 12-4 mark against the rest of the SEC this season, and were 24-8 overall on the campaign. The team closed out the regular season with a 77-73 loss to South Carolina, but rebounded to log a 78-66 win over Georgia in the SEC Tournament six days later. The happiness was short-lived however, with Vandy suffering a 62-52 setback against Mississippi State on March 13th.

Vanderbilt has a record of 3-1 in the series with the Racers, the most recent of those victories coming in 1988 by a score of 74-57. The winner of today's contest will be back in action in the second round on Saturday and will face the winner of the Butler/UTEP meeting.

In what has to be considered one of the most well-balanced scoring attacks in college basketball this season, the Racers generated a lofty 77.5 ppg, yet not a single player scored even 11 ppg on the average. What makes this group so well-rounded is that there are five players scoring at least 10.0 ppg at this stage of the campaign. Ivan Aska is responsible for 10.6 ppg, stemming from his lofty 59.2 percent shooting from the floor, followed by B.J. Jenkins (10.5 ppg), Danero Thomas (10.4 ppg) and Tony Easley (10.4 ppg), while Isaiah Canaan came up with his 10.3 ppg as he shot almost 50 percent from the floor and 45.7 percent behind the three-point line. With as many as four players pulling down an average of four rebounds per game, it should come as little surprise that the balance struck in that department allowed the program to beat foes on the glass by six rebounds per game this season. By holding opponents to just 60.5 ppg, Murray State has outscored the competition by 17 ppg.

Jermaine Beal, the only player to average more than 27 minutes per game for the Commodores with his 32.2 minutes per outing this season, led the squad in scoring with 14.7 ppg, thanks in large part to 70 three-point baskets. More than just a scorer, Beal also stepped up to deliver a team-best 101 assists over the course of 32 games as well. A.J. Ogilvy was responsible for 13.4 ppg, as was Jeffery Taylor, the former shooting 50.7 percent from the floor and settling into the paint to secure a team-high 6.2 rpg. Despite starting only six games this season and averaging less than 23 minutes per outing, John Jenkins used his time wisely in order to arrive at 10.9 ppg. Jenkins matched Beal for the most three-point baskets this season, but in his case he shot an outstanding 47.9 percent out on the perimeter, which far exceeded the team's overall accuracy of 36.9 percent. The free-throw line has been a huge advantage for Vandy this season, the team averaging almost 26 visits per game and outscoring the opposition by 181 points.

Wwwinsidetheweb NCAA Basketball Betting News

<< Cougars and Gators collide in West Regional action
Oklahoma City, OK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Back in the NCAA Tournament after a two- year absence, the Florida Gators open first-round play of the 72nd annual event this afternoon as they tangle with the BYU Cougars in the West Regional at the Ford Ce

<< Top-seeded Kansas opens tournament play against Lehigh
Oklahoma City, OK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The top-seeded Kansas Jayhawks begin their quest for a national title tonight, as they take on the 16th-seeded Lehigh Mountain Hawks in the first round of the NCAA Tournament's Midwest Regional at the Ford C

<< Grizzlies battle Lobos in first round of 2010 NCAA Tournament
San Jose, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The first round of the 2010 NCAA Tournament's East Region features a matchup between the third-seeded New Mexico Lobos and the 14th-seeded Montana Grizzlies. The winner of this tilt will battle either sixth-se

<< No. 1 seed Kentucky opens NCAA Tournament against 16th-seeded ETSU
New Orleans, LA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The top-seeded Kentucky Wildcats begin play in the 2010 NCAA Tournament with first-round clash against the 16th-seeded East Tennessee State Buccaneers in the East Region. The winner of this clash will take

<< No. 2 seed Kansas State begins tournament play against North Texas
Oklahoma City, OK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Expecting big things in the 72nd NCAA Tournament, the Kansas State Wildcats begin play in their 24th appearance in the event as they tangle with the North Texas Mean Green at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City

Midwest Regional affair pits Panthers against Rebels >>
Oklahoma City, OK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The ninth-seeded Northern Iowa Panthers mix it up with the eighth-seeded UNLV Runnin' Rebels in the first round of the NCAA Tournament's Midwest Regional tonight at the Ford Center. The winner of this game w

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

Wake Forest and Texas do battle in 2010 NCAA Tournament >>
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 sec

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 >>
Providence, RI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 15th-seeded Robert Morris Colonials will have a tough task this afternoon in the South Region, as they take on the second-seeded Villanova Wildcats in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at the Dunkin' D

Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value

If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture.  Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).

For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot.  The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win.

TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the  drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.

"While 'Babel' lost several guild awards to 'Sunshine' and 'Departed,'  it still enjoys loyal support, and historically Oscar voters favor dramas with social messages over comedies like 'Sunshine' and violent crime movies like 'Departed'."

"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.

Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash.  Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win. 

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts Visa needs.

Will Ohio State continue to run the table in College Football betting odds?
MySportsbook.com favors Buckeyes, Fighting Irish and Golden Bears in this weekend's big games.

NEW YORK, NY, Sept. 21 - My Sportsbook NCAA football fans: things are beginning to get really interesting on college football's national stage. Following last weekend's "Separation Saturday", which included five teams ranked in the top 15 dropping games, the BCS Championship picture is beginning to take shape - with Ohio State leading the charge. And, according to odds makers at MySportsbook.com, the number-one-ranked Buckeyes will continue their winning ways this weekend.

Revenge will be the name of the game in Columbus this Saturday, as Ohio State looks to even the score following last season's loss to Joe Paterno's Nittany Lions. Although Penn State are listed as 16.5 point underdogs, they are 11-10 all-time versus the Buckeyes. Paterno and the Lions, however, will have to shut down Heisman Trophy favorite Troy Smith who has thrown for 769 yards and seven touchdowns this season.

Speaking of revenge, Notre Dame will be out for some against Michigan State, following last year's 44 - 41 overtime loss to the Spartans in South Bend. The thirteenth-ranked Irish, listed as a 3-point favorite, will also be looking to avenge last Saturday's thrashing from the Michigan Wolverines. The Spartans, meanwhile, have won seven of the last nine match-ups against Notre Dame and are coming off an impressive 38-23 victory over Pittsburgh.

Out west, 22nd-ranked Arizona State will be battling for their first victory over 21st-ranked California since 2000. Although the Golden Bears are listed as 7.5-point favorites, the Sun Devils are 3-0, lead the nation in sacks with 18 and possess the Pac-10's leading passer in sophomore quarterback Rudy Carpenter.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts Visa needs.

NCAA Football betting lines (home team in CAPS)
--------------------------------------------------

Date Favorite Opponent Point Spread
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sept 21 GEORGIA TECH Virginia 17
Sept 22 NEVADA Northwestern 6.5
Sept 23 MICHIGAN Wisconsin 14
Sept 23 Minnesota PURDUE 3
Sept 23 SYRACUSE Miami (Ohio) 6.5
Sept 23 MISSOURI Ohio 21.5
Sept 23 Louisville KANSAS STATE 14
Sept 23 TENNESSEE Marshall 22
Sept 23 CLEMSON North Carolina 16.5
Sept 23 FLORIDA Kentucky 24
Sept 23 Iowa ILLINOIS 20.5
Sept 23 FLORIDA STATE Rice 30.5
Sept 23 AUBURN Buffalo 41.5
Sept 23 BOWLING GREEN Kent 7
Sept 23 NAVY Tulsa 4.5
Sept 23 VIRGINIA TECH Cincinnati 27
Sept 23 BYU Utah State 29
Sept 23 OHIO STATE Penn State 16.5
Sept 23 TEXAS Iowa State 25
Sept 23 Washington State STANFORD 10
Sept 23 CALIFORNIA Arizona State 7.5
Sept 23 UCLA WASHINGTON 3
Sept 23 INDIANA Connecticut 1.5
Sept 23 Central Michigan EASTERN MICHIGAN 4
Sept 23 WYOMING Air Force 1
Sept 23 UTEP NEW MEXICO 9.5
Sept 23 West Virginia EAST CAROLINA 21
Sept 23 Boston College NORTH CAROLINA STATE 7
Sept 23 GEORGIA Colorado 27
Sept 23 ARKANSAS Alabama 1.5
Sept 23 BAYLOR Army 11
Sept 23 WESTERN MICHIGAN Temple 28
Sept 23 MISSISSIPPI Wake Forest 2.5
Sept 23 KANSAS South Florida 5.5
Sept 23 TEXAS A&amp;M Louisiana Tech 23.5
Sept 23 UAB Mississippi State 9.5
Sept 23 LSU Tulane 36
Sept 23 Utah SAN DIEGO STATE 6.5
Sept 23 BOISE STATE Hawaii 15
Sept 23 Notre Dame MICHIGAN STATE 3
Sept 23 USC ARIZONA U 22
Sept 23 Oklahoma State HOUSTON 1
Sept 23 OREGON STATE Idaho 23
Sept 23 OKLAHOMA Middle Tennessee State 29
Sept 23 MARYLAND Florida International 18.5
Sept 23 AKRON North Texas 17.5
Sept 23 SOUTH CAROLINA Florida Atlantic 29.5
Sept 23 NEBRASKA Troy 23
Sept 23 SMU Arkansas State 6

For complete NCAA football odds and World Series odds please visit MySportsbook.com