Illinois Fighting Illini, Purdue Boilermakers open NCAAB doubleheader on ESPN

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Feb 282011

March Madness is here and the final week of the College Basketball regular season features some key conference matchups, including the Illinois Fighting Illini battling the No. 6 Purdue Boilermakers in Big Ten action Tuesday (7 pm ET, ESPN).

NCAAB Odds and Basketball Picks have Purdue as an 8.5-point favorite and the over/under total is 136.5.

Illinois (18-11 SU, 13-13-1 ATS, 8-8 Big Ten) has been on a six-week slide after starting the season with just three losses in its first 16 games. The Fighting Illini have now lost eight of their past 13 since mid-January.

Conversely, Purdue (24-5 SU, 18-7 ATS, 13-3 Big Ten) is one of the hottest teams in College Basketball. The Boilermakers have six straight wins and have covered the spread in all six matches.

Head-to-head, Purdue is 4-0 SU and 3-1 ATS in the past four meetings, and beat the Illini 81-70 on Feb. 13, cashing as a 2.5-point road favorite.

The second nationally televised game Tuesday has SEC foes No. 20 Vanderbilt Commodores and No. 23 Kentucky Wildcats squaring off at Rupp Arena (9 pm ET, ESPN).

Vanderbilt will be taking on a Kentucky team that will be looking for a school record 34th straight win at home.

The Commodores (21-7 SU, 14-7-1 ATS, 9-5 SEC) have won six of their past seven. The Wildcats (20-8 SU, 10-12-1 ATS, 8-6 SEC) have won three of their past four.

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Notre Dame Fighting Irish look to clinch double-bye in Big East Tournament

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Feb 272011

NBA Odds and Basketball Picks sets up the No. 9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish looking to lock up a coveted double-bye in next week’s Big East Tournament with a win against the No. 14 Villanova Wildcats when the conference foes square off Monday at the Joyce Center (7 pm ET, ESPN).

And the way Villanova (21-8 SU, 12-14 ATS, 9-7 Big East) has been playing lately, the Irish would have to basically not show up to not get a win.

A preseason No. 6 in the ESPN/USA Today rankings, Villanova stormed out to a 16-1 SU start but started spiraling downward in mid-January. The numbers since then are downright ugly: five wins in their past 12 games, four in their past 10 and two in the last six games.

Conversely, Notre Dame (23-5 SU, 14-10 ATS, 12-4 Big East) has just a lone loss in its past 10, and after entering the season unranked, is pushing the No. 6 Pittsburgh Panthers for first place in the Big East. The Irish are 1.5 games back.

Villanova’s latest setback came Saturday against a team that is headed in the opposite direction, the  St. John’s Red Storm. The No. 25 Red Storm jumped out to an 18-4 lead en route to an 81-68 win. St. John’s cashed as a 6.5-point road underdog.

Notre Dame won its second-straight Saturday, beating the Seton Hall Pirates 60-48 and covering as a 9.5-point home favorite. Notre Dame is a perfect 16-0 SU at home this season.

Villanova is 6-4 SU and 4-5-1 ATS in the past 10 meetings, and won the last clash between the teams 90-72 last season as an 11-point home favorite.

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New York Knicks visit LeBron James and Miami Heat on ESPN

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Feb 262011

NBA Betting fans have a matchup on tap Sunday that features the two most improved teams in the Eastern Conference this season, as the new-look New York Knicks square off against LeBron James and the Miami Heat at the American Airlines Arena (8 pm ET, ESPN).

NBA Odds and Basketball Picks have the Heat as an 8.5-point favorite and the total at 215.

New York (29-27 SU, 33-21-2 ATS), sixth place in the East, started the roster overhaul last summer with the acquisition of Amare Stoudemire.  The Knicks then completed a trade last week that brought Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups from the Denver Nuggets.

Miami (43-16 SU, 29-29-1 ATS) is battling the Boston Celtics for top spot in the conference, thanks to winning the LeBron James sweepstakes last summer and also adding free agent Chris Bosh to form the Big 3 along with Dwyane Wade.

New York was on a three-game winning streak until running into unexpected obstacle Friday, when they took the lowly Cleveland Cavaliers too lightly and lost 115-109 as an 8-point road favorite.  The score went over the total of 221.

Stoudemire led the Knicks with 31 points and 11 rebounds, while Anthony had 27 points and eight boards. Billups was right behind with 26 points.

Miami bounced back from Thursday’s loss against the Chicago Bulls with a 121-113 win over the Washington Wizards on Friday, but failed to cash as 15.5-point home favorite. The score sailed over the total of 203.

Miami is 7-3 SU and 6-4 ATS in the past 10 meetings, and had won seven straight against New York before losing 93-88 in their last meeting Jan. 27. Miami failed to cash as a 3.5-point road favorite.

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No. 20 Syracuse Orange, No. 11 Georgetown Hoyas kick off College Basketball tripleheader on CBS

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Feb 252011

The No. 20 Syracuse Orange take on the No. 11 Georgetown Hoyas in a Big East battle on Saturday at the Verizon Center, one of three key nationally televised College Basketball matchups (12 pm ET, CBS).

NCAAB Odds and Basketball Picks have the Hoyas as a 1-point favorite and the over/under total at 134.5.

Syracuse (23-6 SU, 9-16 ATS, 10-6 Big East) beat the Villanova Wildcats 69-64 on Monday, covering the spread as a 3.5-point road underdog.

Georgetown (21-7 SU, 14-12 ATS, 10-6 Big East) was upset 58-46 by the Cincinnati Bearcats on Wednesday as a 6.5-point home favorite.

The Orange will be looking for revenge after losing to Georgetown 64-56 at the Carrier Dome on Feb. 9.

Another key NCAA Basketball tilt Saturday has the No. 7 Brigham Young Cougars visiting the  No. 4 San Diego State Aztecs in a battle for top spot in the MWC (2 pm ET, CBS).

BYU (26-2 SU, 12-1 MWC) beat the Colorado State Rams 84-76 at home on Wednesday. San Diego State (27-1 SU, 12-1 MWC) beat the Air Force Falcons 70-58 on the road last Saturday.

And finally, the No. 13 Florida Gators and the No. 22 Kentucky Wildcats square off in an SEC East matchup at Rupp Arena (4 pm ET, CBS).

Florida (22-5 SU, 9-13 ATS, 11-2 SEC) beat the Georgia Bulldogs 71-62 at home on Thursday, with Kenny Boynton scoring 18 points. Kentucky (19-8 SU, 10-12 ATS, 7-6 SEC) were edged 77-76 by the Arkansas Razorbacks in overtime on Wednesday. Brandon Knight led Kentucky with 26 points.

The Gators won the previous meeting this season, beating the then-No. 11 Wildcats 70-68 at home on Feb. 5.

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Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic open ESPN doubleheader

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Feb 242011

The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Orlando Magic are featured in the first game of an ESPN doubleheader at the Amway Center Friday night (8:05 pm ET, ESPN).

Orlando (36-22 SU, 25-31-2 ATS) has proven to be an enigma this season, winning one then losing one. Two weeks ago, the Magic beat the Los Angeles Lakers by 14 points. On Wednesday, they lost to one of the worst road teams in the NBA, the Sacramento Kings, as a 14-point home favorite.

Oklahoma City (36-20 SU, 29-27 ATS) has a four-game lead over the Denver Nuggets in the Northwest division.

Orlando is 8-2 SU and 6-4 ATS in the past 10 meetings, but the Thunder won 125-124 in the teams’ previous meeting Jan. 13 in Oklahoma City. The score was a push with Orlando a 1-point road favorite.

The Thunder lost 109-105 to the NBA-best San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday. Oklahoma City covered as a 7-point road underdog and the score went over the total of 205.5.

Oklahoma City is 4-2 SU in its last six games on the road and Orlando is 12-4 SU in its last 16 games at home.

The second tilt has the Nuggets taking on the Portland Trail Blazers at the Rose Garden (10:30 pm ET, ESPN).

Denver hosted the Boston Celtics on NBA on TNT Thursday and in the Nuggets previous game Tuesday, they beat the Memphis Grizzlies 120-107, cashing as a 1-point home favorite.

Portland lost 106-101 to the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday and failed to cover as a 3-point home underdog.

The Nuggets are 6-4 SU and ATS in the past 10 head-to-head meetings, and this is the third meeting of the season, with Denver holding a 2-1 SU and ATS edge.

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Miami Heat visit Chicago Bulls on NBA on TNT Thursday

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Feb 232011

NBA Betting fans will be treated to what should be a great showdown between two of the top teams in the NBA’s Eastern Conference when the Miami Heat visit the Chicago Bulls in the first game of an NBA on TNT Thursday doubleheader at the United Center (8 pm ET, TNT).

The Heat are a 1-point favorite and the over/under total is 192 in NBA Odds and NBA Picks.

Miami (42-15 SU, 28-28-1 ATS) is pushing the Boston Celtics for first place in the conference and has won three straight. Chicago (38-16 SU, 33-20-1 ATS), third in the East, has gone 22-8 SU in its past 30 games despite not having Joakim Noah in the lineup.

Noah missed 30 games after thumb surgery but returned Wednesday when the Bulls faced the Raptors in Toronto. In what was no doubt a look-ahead game, the Bulls dropped a 118-113 decision, snapping a five-game winning streak.

Miami is 7-3 SU and 6-4 ATS in the past 10 head-to-head meetings. In the teams’ previous meeting this season, the Bulls won 99-96 on Jan. 15 and cashed as a 2.5-point home favorite. The score went over the total of 187.5.

Miami routed the Sacramento Kings 117-97 on Tuesday, cashing as a 12.5-point home favorite. The score went over the total of 204. Miami’s ‘Big 3’ came up big, as LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh scored 76 of the Heat’s 117 points.

The Bulls were particularly impressive in their last game before the All-Star break, beating the NBA-leading San Antonio Spurs 109-99 and cashing as a 2-point home favorite.

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No. 24 Temple Owls visit No. 1 Duke Blue Devils on ESPN2

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Feb 222011

The No. 24 Temple Owls will have their hands full when they take on the No. 1 Duke Blue Devils at the Cameron Indoor Stadium on Wednesday (7 pm ET, ESPN2).

Basketball Picks and College Basketball Odds have Duke as a 14-point favorite and the over/under total at 138.

The Owls (21-5 SU, 13-10 ATS, 11-2 Atlantic 10) have been red-hot recently, winning eight in a row to move up to second in the Atlantic 10 conference.  The Blue Devils (25-2 SU, 14-11 ATS, 12-1 ACC) are back at No. 1 in the polls after all of the top four teams lost last week. Duke leads the North Carolina Tar Heels by 1.5 games atop the Atlantic Coast Conference.

The Blue Devils are 5-0 SU and 2-3 ATS in the past five head-to-head. This is the first meeting in three seasons, since Duke beat Temple 74-64 on Jan. 9, 2008.

A late game Wednesday has the Baylor Bears facing the No. 21 Missouri Tigers in a Big 12 matchup at the Mizzou Arena (9 pm ET, ESPN2).

Baylor (17-9 SU, 6-12 ATS, 6-6 Big 12) has been sliding and is now down to 7th in the conference, five games back of the leading No. 5 Texas Longhorns. Missouri (21-6 SU, 10-10 ATS, 7-5 Big 12) is now in 4th place in the Big 12.

Mizzou is 6-4 SU and 3-7 ATS in the past 10 head-to-head meetings. This is the first meeting this season. Baylor won 64-62 in the teams’ only meeting last season but failed to cash as a 4-point home favorite.

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Illinois Fighting Illini take on No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes on ESPN

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Feb 212011

The slumping Illinois Fighting Illini take on the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes in Big Ten action at the Value City Arena on Tuesday (7 pm ET, ESPN).

NCAAB Odds and Basketball Picks have the Buckeyes as a 10.5-point favorite and the over/under total is 135.

Ohio State is 8-2 SU and 6-4 ATS in the past 10 head-to-head. The Buckeyes beat Illinois 73-68 in their first meeting on Jan. 22, cashing as a 3.5-point road favorite.

Illinois (17-10 SU, 12-12-1 ATS, 7-7 Big Ten) started out with just three losses in its first 16 games but has tanked since then, dropping seven of its past 11.

Ohio State (25-2 SU, 11-13 ATS, 12-2 Big Ten) is in first place in the Big Ten, but the Buckeyes lead is down to just one game over the streaking No. 8 Purdue Boilermakers.

And a later game on ESPN has the Tennessee Volunteers in an SEC matchup against the No. 18 Vanderbilt Commodores at Memorial Gym (9 pm ET, ESPN).

Vanderbilt is a 6.5-point favorite in College Basketball Betting.

The Volunteers beat the Commodores 67-64 in the teams’ last meeting on Jan. 15, cashing as a 1.5-point home favorite. Tennessee is 6-4 SU and ATS in the past 10 head-to-head meetings.

Tennessee lost 69-63 to the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday, failing to cover as a 5-point road underdog. Vanderbilt won its fifth-straight with a 77-60 victory over the Auburn Tigers on Saturday. The Commodores cashed as an 11-point road favorite.

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No. 20 Syracuse Orange battle No. 14 Villanova Wildcats in Big East clash on ESPN

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Feb 202011

The No. 20 Syracuse Orange take on the No. 14 Villanova Wildcats in a Big East battle at the Villanova Pavilion on Monday (7 pm ET, ESPN).

NCAAB Odds and College Basketball Betting for this matchup will be available at online sportsbooks.

Syracuse (22-6 SU, 8-16 ATS, 9-6 Big East) has won two straight after a terrible four-week slump that saw the Orange lose six of eight. Villanova (21-6 SU, 11-12 ATS, 9-5 Big East) has also won two in a row and also went through a similar rough patch, dropping five of its previous eight.

Head-to-head, the Wildcats are 7-3 SU and 6-4 ATS in the past 10 meetings. The teams have met once previously this season, when Syracuse blew out Villanova 95-77 on Jan. 22. The Orange covered as a 5.5-point home favorite and the score went over the total of 143.

Syracuse beat the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 84-80 in overtime on Saturday. The Orange could not cover as a 12-point home favorite and the score easily cleared the total of 132.

Kris Joseph led the Orange with 21 points, including six in OT. Syracuse converted more than 72 per cent of its free throws (34 of 47).

Villanova needed some last-minute heroics and overtime to defeat the DePaul Blue Demons 77-75 on Saturday. The Wildcats failed to cash as an 11.5-point road favorite and the score went over the total of 141.

Villanova senior guard Corey Fisher scored a career-high 34 points, including a tying 3-pointer, to pace the Wildcats. Maalik Wayns added 17 points and Mouphtaou Yarou pulled down 15 rebounds.

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No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes face Big Ten rival No. 11 Purdue Boilermakers on CBS

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Feb 192011

College Basketball Betting fans have a huge Big Ten matchup on tap Sunday when the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes battle the No. 11 Purdue Boilermakers at Mackey Arena (1 pm ET, CBS).

NCAAB Odds and Basketball Picks have the Boilermakers as a 2-point favorite and the over/under total at 136.

Purdue will be looking for revenge after getting blown out in the teams’ first meeting this season. Ohio State cruised to an 87-64 win at home on Jan. 25.

The Boilermakers (21-5 SU, 10-3 Big Ten) can also pull to within one game of the first-place Buckeyes in the conference standings. Should the Buckeyes (25-1 SU, 12-1 Big Ten) beat the Boilermakers, they would lead the conference by three games with four games left in the season.

Among a number of battles within the battle Sunday is Ohio State’s Jared Sullinger, a -foot-9, 280-pound freshman, going up against Purdue’s JaJuan Johnson, a 6-10 senior.

Both are front runners for Big Ten player of the year honors, with Sullinger averaging 17.8 PPG and 10.0 RPG, and Johnson, averaging 20.7 PPG and 7.8 RPG rebounds per game.

And both teams have players who could reach record numbers on Sunday, with Boilermakers guard E’Twaun Moore in line to become the fifth Purdue player to get to 2,000 career points, and OSU’s Jon Diebler needing one more three-pointer to tie the Big Ten record set by Penn State’s Pete Lisicky from 1994-1998.

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