Second-seeded Villanova takes on Robert Morris in first-round action
NCAA Basketball Betting Lines
03/18/2010 - 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' Donuts Center.
The Colonials will be making their second straight appearance in the Big Dance and the seventh overall in school history, which is the most by any team in Northeast Conference history. However, in the past NCAA Tournaments for Robert Morris the team is just 1-7. This season the Colonials tallied 23 overall victories and claimed their second straight NEC Tournament title.
The Wildcats will be making their sixth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament, which is one off the school mark of seven straight showings set from 1980 to 1986. This will be the 31st overall showing in the tournament for Villanova, which is 48-30 all-time. Last season the Wildcats made a tremendous run in the Big Dance, advancing to the Final Four before falling to eventual champ North Carolina, 83-69. Villanova enters this contest with a 24-7 ledger, but the team dropped five of its last seven matchups.
This will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools on the hardwood, and the winner of this contest will move on to the second round to battle either Richmond or Saint Mary's.
The success this season for Robert Morris can be attributed to the team's play at the defensive end of the floor, as the Colonials are limiting opponents to just 65.7 ppg. Teams are shooting 40.9 percent against the Colonials this season, but the team has done a solid job defending against the three-point shot, as opponents are connecting on just 32.3 percent from long range. Unfortunately at the other end of the floor, the team has faltered a bit. In fact, Robert Morris possesses just one player averaging double figures, and that is Karon Abraham, who comes into this game netting 13.4 ppg. Abraham is a dangerous weapon from behind the arc, and has connected on a sensational 44.2 percent of his three-point attempts (80-of-181). Rob Robinson is contributing 9.9 ppg and a team-high 5.5 rpg, but the scoring pool dries up after that, with the team producing just 68.5 ppg on the season.
The Wildcats have been one of the most dangerous scoring teams in the country from the start this year, and they possess a sensational guard tandem in Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher. Reynolds is one of the best guards in the country, and is a proven leader on the floor, coming into this matchup leading the Wildcats with 18.5 ppg. Reynolds, who is shooting 39.9 percent from behind the arc, has also dished out 103 assists on the season. As for Fisher, he is very similar to Reynolds in the aspect of being a quick guard that can score a multiple of ways. Fisher, who is averaging 13.7 ppg on the year, has also distributed a team-best 125 assists on the year, while committing just 65 turnovers. Taking care of business down low has been Antonio Pena, who is chipping in 10.9 ppg, to go along with a team-high 7.4 rpg for Villanova, which as a whole is producing a healthy 82.5 ppg, behind a respectable 46.5 percent shooting effort.
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
<< 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
<< 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
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
<< Upset-minded Racers open tournament play against Commodores
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 Tourn
New Orleans, LA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Playing in their second NCAA Tournament in the last three seasons, the Baylor Bears will tangle with the Sam Houston State Bearkats in first round action of the South Region at New Orleans Arena this afternoon
Vols set sights on Aztecs in first-round action >>
Providence, RI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In search of their first-ever NCAA
Tournament win, the 11th-seeded San Diego State Aztecs take aim at the sixth-
seeded Tennessee Volunteers in the first round at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.
The survivor of this
West Regional action features Bulldogs against Miners >>
San Jose, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Appearing in the NCAA Tournament for the
fourth consecutive year, the Butler Bulldogs kick off first-round action of
the 72nd annual event this afternoon against the Miners of Texas-El Paso at HP
Pavilion in San
Back injury forces Singh to withdraw >>
Palm Harbor, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Vijay Singh withdrew from the Transitions
Championship before Thursday's first round because of a back injury.
Singh was set to tee off with defending champion Retief Goosen and reigning
U.S. Open winn
Slumping Sharks try to bounce back against Canucks >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - While the San Jose Sharks are coming off their most
lopsided defeat of the season, the Vancouver Canucks are dealing with the loss
of one of their biggest weapons.
San Jose will try to halt a three-game slide this evening
Pro Football Odds : NFC SOUTH BETTING ODDS
NFL betting action is back! At MySportsbook, all of the pro football odds are posted for the NFC North. Check out how we see the four teams in this cloudy division stacking up this year in the chase for the playoffs! Green Bay Packers (+125) - With QB Aaron Rodgers leading the offense and DC Dom Capers working his magic on defense, the Packers are a real force to be reckoned with.
Virtually nothing changed on this offense for Green Bay from last year to this year, save for the addition of rookie OT Brian Bulaga to the bunch. Expect more huge numbers from the Pack, and a relatively favorable schedule should get them over the hump and into the playoffs once again this season. My NFL Betting Predictions: 11-5, 1st place in NFC North Minnesota Vikings (+130) - There are still too many unknowns about the Vikes this year. There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not.
There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.
Chicago Bears (+350) - The Bears are probably a bit of an overhyped team once again this year.No, we don't think it is plausible for QB Jay Cutler to have as bad of a season as he did last year, and we do think the additions of RB Chester Taylor and DE Julius Peppers are going to help immensely, but there's still something in the water in the Windy City that we aren't so sure about. Maybe Chicago finds its way to .500... but then again, maybe it doesn't. If Favre comes back, Cutler might be the worst quarterback in this division this year.
Detroit Lions (+1500) - The Lions are probably once again going to be the whipping boys for the rest of the teams in the NFC North, but they aren't just going to roll over and die once again. There is some real talent amassing on this team offensively, as the combination of QB Matt Stafford, RB Jahvid Best, WR Calvin Johnson, and TE Brandon Pettigrew should put a bunch of points on the board if the offensive line can even remotely hold up. The questions really lie on defense, where it feels like DT Ndamukong Suh is going to be trying to stop opposing teams all by himself. This year should show some marked improvement in the Motor City.
The Patriots will make NFL betting fans a lot of money this season, get in early and enjoy the cash.
To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.