Boilermakers hope to keep pace in Big Ten title race

NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

02/26/2009 - Ann Arbor, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 16th-ranked Purdue Boilermakers continue their push toward the Big Ten Conference regular-season title, and they need to beat the Michigan Wolverines on the road this evening.

Purdue is hot on the heels of the Michigan State Spartans, and the team is an impressive 21-6 overall. The Boilermakers have recorded four consecutive victories to move to 10-4 in Big Ten action, and the most recent triumph came over Indiana on Saturday by an 81-67 final. They beat Michigan State by 18 points last week, and it can be argued that no team in the conference is better than Matt Painter's group right now.

As for Michigan, it owns a 17-11 overall record, and the club hopes to even its 7-8 league mark this evening. The team is 13-3 at home, an obvious reason for confidence. The Wolverines carried a modest two-game win streak into Sunday's road clash with Iowa, and the result was a heartbreaking 70-60 overtime defeat.

Purdue crushed Michigan by a 67-49 final on January 31st, and the Boilermakers own an 80-60 series advantage over the Wolverines.

Looking at the victory over Indiana, Purdue shot 57.1 percent shooting from the floor, including 7-of-13 from three-point range. The Boilermakers also earned an 18-6 edge in points from the foul line, although their 54.5 percent accuracy from the charity stripe wasn't exactly impressive. E'Twaun Moore was outstanding in the triumph, as he posted 26 points on the strength of a 5-of-6 effort from behind the arc. JaJuan Johnson pitched in 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Boilermakers, and he is averaging 13.6 ppg and 6.0 rpg this season to go along with 64 blocked shots. Moore tops the roster with 14.0 ppg, and Robbie Hummel provides 11.9 ppg and 6.9 rpg. Purdue is limiting its opponents to 58.0 ppg on 37.6 percent shooting from the field, as strong defense is clearly the key to the team's success.

Manny Harris is the leading scorer for Michigan this season, as the versatile guard is generating 16.9 ppg to go along with 120 assists and 7.1 rpg. DeShawn Sims is the other half of the club's standout duo, as the forward provides 14.5 ppg and 7.3 rpg. The Wolverines are netting 67.3 ppg overall while limiting foes to 63.4 ppg on 43.4 percent field goal efficiency. In the disappointing loss to Iowa last time out, Michigan shot a dreadful 1-of-10 from the field in overtime. The Wolverines connected on only 32.3 percent of their field goal attempts overall, and they were outscored and outrebounded in the tilt. Stu Douglass led the way in the setback with 14 points, while Sims added 13 points. Harris was 3-of-13 from the floor and tallied nine points.

Socceronlinechance NCAA Basketball Betting News

<< Zags to try and pad stats in clash with Broncos
Santa Clara, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Having already claimed the West Coast Conference regular season title for the ninth consecutive season, the 17th- ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs will attempt to add yet another win to their already impressive record

<< Pac-10 showdown pits Sun Devils against Huskies
Seattle, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 14th-ranked Arizona State Sun Devils are riding a five-game win streak, and they are set for a Pac-10 showdown with the 21st-ranked Washington Huskies in Seattle. Washington owns the top spot in the Pac-10

<< LeBron leads Cavs into Houston
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two teams riding five-game winning streaks square off tonight in Houston, as the Rockets welcome LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Toyota Center. The Cavaliers will open a four-game road trip

<< Hong leads by two in Thailand
Chonburi, Thailand (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jin Joo Hong fired a six-under 66 Thursday to take a two-stroke lead after the first round of the Honda LPGA Thailand. Hong, the 2006 KOLON-Hana Bank Championship winner, leads after one round for the f

<< Que leads by four in Indonesia
Bali, Indonesia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Angelo Que fired an eight-under 64 Thursday to grab a four-stroke lead after one round of the Indonesia Open. Seven players are tied for second place at minus-four. That group includes Simon Dyson, Jamie Do

Bruins try to right ship in clash with Cardinal >>
Stanford, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 22nd-ranked UCLA Bruins will attempt to bounce back from a shocking loss as they take on the Stanford Cardinal tonight in a Pac-10 Conference showdown. UCLA has hit a rough patch, as the team has lost thre

Hawks seek upset of 19th-ranked Musketeers >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 19th-ranked Xavier Musketeers are trying to hold on to first place in the Atlantic 10 Conference standings, and they will take on the Saint Joseph's Hawks tonight at The Palestra in Philadelphia. Xavi

Butler can claim share of Horizon League crown with win >>
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 24th-ranked Butler Bulldogs can clinch at least a share of the Horizon League regular-season title with a win over the Youngstown State Penguins this evening. Youngstown State has won five of its last

Illini welcome Gophers to Champaign >>
Champaign, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Still in the hunt for the Big Ten title, the 20th-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini, welcome the Minnesota Golden Gophers to Champaign this evening, for a key conference clash at Assembly Hall. Bruce Weber's Il

Demon Deacons and Wolfpack meet in ACC clash >>
Winston-Salem, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - One of the oldest rivalries in the ACC adds another chapter this evening, as the NC State Wolfpack invade Winston- Salem to battle the 13th-ranked Wake Forest Demon Deacons in conference action from the Law

Football Betting Lines

The 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds have been released and Denver Broncos' running back Knowshon Moreno has been made the opening favorite.

Bet NFL Sports Lines

Moreno was selected in the first round of April's NFL draft and is expected to carry the rushing load for the Broncos this season. And with Jay Cutler now in Chicago, Moreno might be expected to be Denver's entire offense.

Betting Lines from sports betting lines have made Moreno a 5/2 favorite to win this year's Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Fellow running back Chris “Beanie” Wells (Arizona Cardinals) is right behind Moreno at 7/2, while Donald Brown (Indianapolis Colts) and receiver Michael Crabtree (San Francisco 49ers) are 5/1 to win. Quarterbacks Mark Sanchez (New York Jets) and Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions) are 7/1 and 8/1, respectively.

A couple of players who present some value are Josh Freeman, Shonn Green and Darrius Heyward-Bey.

Freeman needs to beat out Byron Leftwich to become the starting quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but if he does, he has a lot or raw talent and could use the weapons around him (i.e. Kellen Winslow Jr. and Antonio Bryant) to be very successful in his first season.

Green enters a crowded backfield in New York, but considering both Thomas Jones and Leon Washington are unhappy about their contract situations and might holdout, the former Iowa product could become the Jets' primary back.

Everyone was shocked when Al Davis took Heyward-Bey with the eighth overall pick in April's draft, but the kid has a tremendous amount of talent and if quarterback JaMarcus Russell takes the next step this year, the former Maryland product could blossom. Plus, Heyward-Bey will be looking to prove the people wrong who said Oakland should have taken Michael Crabtree with the No. 8 pick.

And if you're looking for a deep sleeper, check out Pat White at 30/1. He enters the Miami Dolphins vaunted “Wild Cat” offense and could be a big time playmaker.

For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds, see below.

2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds to Win

Ramses Barden (NYG) 40/1

Andre Brown (NYG) 20/1

Donald Brown (IND) 5/1

Kenny Britt (TEN) 20/1

Glenn Coffee (SFO) 30/1

Chase Coffman (CIN) 50/1

Michael Crabtree (SFO) 5/1

Josh Freeman (TB) 14/1

Shonn Green (NYJ) 14/1

Percy Harvin (MIN) 10/1

Darrius Heyward-Bay (OAK) 18/1

Juaquan Iglesias (CHI) 30/1

Cornelius Ingram (PHI) 50/1

Rashad Jennings (JAC) 30/1

Johnny Knox (CHI) 40/1

Jeremy Maclin (PHI) 18/1

Mohamed Massaquoi (CLE) 30/1

LeSean McCoy (PHI) 12/1

Knowshon Moreno (DEN) 5/2

Hakeem Nicks (NYG) 18/1

Brandon Pettigrew (DET) 30/1

Brian Robiskie (CLE) 20/1

Mark Sanchez (NYJ) 7/1

Matthew Stafford (DET) 8/1

Jason Smith (STL) 40/1

Mike Thomas (JAC) 25/1

Patrick Turner (MIA) 50/1

Mike Wallace (PIT) 50/1

Chris Wells (ARI) 7/2

Pat White (MIA) 30/1

Field (Any Other Player) 9/1

Betting Line

To visit this sports betting site go to BettingExpress.com for all your football betting lines needs.

For sports betting with credit cards site go to BettingExpress.com as well.

Big East Conference odds

Work left to do: Villanova, Syracuse, DePaul, West Virginia, Providence

Notre Dame and Louisville appear to have done enough to make the move, so we'll make them locks. The Cardinals, despite a modest RPI, are trending way up and have clinched at least a tie for third in the Big East, which should be more than enough with their pair of big road wins. Villanova got back to .500 and gets back to more solid footing. Syracuse got a very important road win and crippled a fellow contender in the process. West Virginia's fate could be in its hands Tuesday at Pitt.

Work left to do:

Villanova [18-9 (7-7), RPI: 21, SOS: 5] Pounded Rutgers to get back to .500. If Cats can get their last two (at UConn, vs. Syracuse), that should be enough with strong computer numbers and a host of wins away from The Pavilion. The Cats have beaten Texas and swept the Big 5 (never easy in Philly), but have a couple of losses to bubble teams (Xavier, Drexel), too. I still think they'll be OK, possibly even at 8-8.

Syracuse [20-8 (9-5), RPI: 53, SOS: 62] History says 10 wins will be plenty, but it might be hard for the Orange to get that last one with a final two vs. G'town, which is trying to win the league title, and at Villanova, which will be desperate for a W. The relative lack of nonconference heft and the weak computer numbers are still concerns, but the Orange have won four in a row and got a very, very big win at Providence on Saturday.

DePaul [16-12 (8-7), RPI: 54, SOS: 18] Beat Cincy and should get past South Florida to get to 9-7, but then what? They have beaten Kansas and Cal (right after the DeVon Hardin injury) earlier this season, but also have lost to Bradley and Purdue, among others. They'll likely need a couple of BE tourney wins, too, but we'll see ...

West Virginia [19-7 (8-6), RPI: 58, SOS: 125] The game at Pitt on Tuesday night could decide the Mountaineers' fate (barring a deep tournament run). They can still get to 9-7 in the Big East without it by beating Cincinnati, but the nine wins would be against UConn, Villanova, St. John's, South Florida, DePaul, Rutgers, Seton Hall twice and the Bearcats. Beating bubble foes is fine, but where's the beef? Outside of beating PG-less UCLA in nonconference play (still a top quality win), there's not a lot to fall back on (besides maybe NC State). WVU vs. Syracuse would be an interesting debate, as the teams don't play in the Big East regular season. WVU has the best win, but Cuse has played the much better schedule.

Providence [17-10 (7-7), RPI: 70, SOS: 33] The Friars likely saw their at-large hopes die at home in the four-point loss to Syracuse, barring an unexpected run to the Big East semis or more. The RPI, bad already, won't be helped by playing St. John's and South Florida in the final two league games.

For more March Madness odds go to MySportsbook.com

For more College Basketball betting lines go to BettingExpress.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.