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03/14/2010 - Greensboro, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The top-seeded and fourth-ranked Duke Blue Devils go for their record 18th ACC Tournament title today, as they take on the seventh-seeded Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the finals at Greensboro Coliseum.
The Blue Devils are not only trying to establish a new record with an 18th championship in this event, but they are also gunning for their second straight title. Duke made its way to the finals by defeating ninth-seeded Virginia, 57-46, in the quarterfinals and nipping 12th-seeded Miami-Florida, 77-74, in the semifinals yesterday. The Blue Devils have now won a record 86 games in this event, and could secure a No.1 seed in the NCAA Tournament with a win today.
As for the Yellow Jackets, they entered the postseason knowing they needed to do some work to ensure a spot in the Big Dance. Tech certainly stepped up to the challenge and took care of business with a 62-58 win over 10th-seeded North Carolina in the first round before upsetting second-seeded and nationally-ranked Maryland, 69-64, in the quarterfinals. The team continued its run yesterday with a 57-54 besting of 11th-seeded NC State. Tech is now in its first championship game since losing to Duke back in 2005.
The Yellow Jackets held NC State to a dismal 30.6 percent shooting from the floor and survived a three-pointer in the closing seconds for a 57-54 win yesterday. Tech missed 13 free throws and turned the ball over 16 times in the game, allowing NC State to rally before hanging on for the win. Derrick Favors had 17 points and eight boards to lead the way, while Gani Lawal registered a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. The ACC Freshman of the Year, Favors has scored in double figures in each postseason game and is averaging 12.2 ppg and 8.5 rpg for the season. He ranks second on the team to Lawal, who puts forth 13.3 ppg and 8.8 rpg. Iman Shumpert is in charge of setting up the duo, handing out a team-high 3.7 apg, and he also chips in with 10.0 ppg.
Duke used a 15-0 run in the second half to take control and it hung on down the stretch for a 77-74 win over Miami yesterday. The Blue Devils shot 48.1 percent from the field and dominated the boards, 38-24. Kyle Singler, who had a team-high 18 points in the quarterfinals, led the charge once again with 27 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Jon Scheyer added 16 points and six boards, while Nolan Smith chipped in with 12 points. The trio have carried Duke all season long, and Scheyer paces the team with 18.7 ppg and 5.1 apg. Singler produces 17.5 ppg and a team-best 7.0 rpg, while Smith averages a healthy 17.4 ppg.
<< Buckeyes battle streaking Golden Gophers for Big Ten title
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - An unlikely matchup will take place at
Conseco Fieldhouse, as the sixth-seeded Minnesota Golden Gophers will battle
the top-seeded Ohio State Buckeyes in the championship game of the Big Ten
Conference Tourna
<< A-10 title up for grabs as Owls take on Spiders
Atlantic City, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Gunning for their ninth Atlantic 10
Conference Tournament title, the third in as many seasons, the 17th-ranked and
top-seeded Temple Owls take the floor at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City this
afternoon agai
<< Blues wrap road trip versus Wild
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The St. Louis Blues conclude a six-game road trip this
evening that has kept them in the playoff race. They do so against one of the
better home teams in the league, the Minnesota Wild, at Xcel Energy Center.
The Blues hav
<< Lightning play host to Penguins
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Lightning are coming off a big win over the Eastern
Conference's top team. They wouldn't mind posting another one versus arguably
the East's second-best team.
Tampa Bay will try to record just its third win in its last
Thrashers shoot for rare victory over Coyotes >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Thrashers couldn't have picked a worse time to post
their second-longest losing streak of the season. A visit from the Coyotes on
Sunday could extend the winless drought by another game.
Atlanta will try to snap a five
Sharks visit Ducks aiming for season series sweep >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After three straight come-from-behind victories, the Sharks
finally ran out of magic on Saturday. Good thing they haven't need much when
facing the Ducks this year.
San Jose kicks off a six-game road trip this evening vers
Heat host hapless Sixers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Miami Heat continue their push toward a postseason
berth when they host the lowly Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday.
The Heat are coming off a huge win over Chicago on Friday in which Quentin
Richardson made 7-of-11 three-p
Magic shoot for 9th straight win; host Bobcats >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Charlotte Bobcats continue their push for the
franchise's first postseason berth tonight against a streaking Orlando team in
search of its ninth straight win.
The Magic, who are currently the second seed in the Eastern
BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
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