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03/18/2010 - 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 on either eighth-seeded Texas or ninth- seeded Wake Forest in the second round.
ETSU enters this event on a major roll, as it has won its last six games and recently captured the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament championship. The Bucs, who are 20-14 overall, are making their ninth NCAA Tournament appearance. They own a 2-9 record in the "Big Dance", and while no 16 seed has ever beaten a top seed, ETSU came as close as anyone has in 1989, losing to Oklahoma by one point.
As for Kentucky, it is making its record 50th NCAA Tournament appearance after capturing its 26th SEC Tournament title with a dramatic win over Mississippi State. The Wildcats, who are 32-2 overall, are led by many newcomers to the program, including first-year head coach John Calipari and a tremendous trio of freshmen. The No. 1 seed is the 10th in school history for Kentucky, and the squad has its 12th 30-win campaign. The 'Cats are 98-44 all-time in the NCAA Tournament and happy to be back in the "Big Dance" after appearing in the NIT a year ago.
Kentucky beat East Tennessee State in both previous meetings between the two programs, the most recent of which took place in 1985.
While ETSU is averaging 69.2 ppg this season, the team is limiting its opponents to 66.5 ppg on 41.5 percent shooting from the field. There are three double-digit scorers in the fold, and Tommy Hubbard leads the way with 14.1 ppg. In addition to his offensive ability, Hubbard also paces the squad with 8.3 rpg and 54 steals. Micah Williams checks in with 12.5 ppg, and Justin Tubbs provides 12.0 ppg. Tubbs scored 18 points to lead the way for his team in the A-Sun title game against Mercer, a contest that resulted in a six-point win. Prior to that tilt, Williams had led his team in scoring in three straight outings. The last time Hubbard paced the squad in scoring was 10 games ago, and he is the only player on the roster that has started all 34 games.
There is a wealth of offensive talent in the fold for Kentucky, which is averaging 79.2 ppg on 47.9 percent shooting from the floor. Fortunately, the team also excels at the defensive end, limiting foes to 65.3 ppg on 38.1 percent shooting. Point guard John Wall recently became just the second freshman in SEC history to earn that league's Playe of the Year award. He is averaging 16.9 ppg and has dished out 210 assists in the 33 games that he has played. Wall also has 60 steals to his credit and may only get one shot to win the national title if he answers the early call from the NBA. The same can be said of DeMarcus Cousins, a prototype power forward who provides 15.3 ppg and 10.1 rpg. Cousins, the 2009-10 SEC Freshman of the Year, has also blocked 62 shots for the Wildcats, and he gets help inside from junior Patrick Patterson, who brings 14.7 ppg and 7.3 rpg to the floor. Eric Bledsoe, the third standout freshman, adds 10.8 ppg to the mix.
<< Hoyas and Bobcats clash in Midwest Regional
Providence, RI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 14th-seeded Ohio University Bobcats are
out to continue their magical run tonight, as they lock up with the third-
seeded Georgetown Hoyas in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at the
Dunkin' Donuts Cen
<< Irish and Monarchs open tournament play in New Orleans
New Orleans, LA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Thanks to a late run down the stretch, the
Notre Dame Fighting Irish earned the six seed in the South Region and will
open the NCAA Tournament with a first round meeting against the 11th-seeded
Old Dominion Mo
<< Coyotes shoot for historic win in Florida
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Phoenix Coyotes set their sights on a history-making
win when the surprising playoff contenders skate into the BankAtlantic Center
this evening to take on the Florida Panthers.
One of the NHL's great success stories of
<< Flyers vie to end 13-year winless drought in Dallas
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Flyers have goaltender Michael Leighton to
thank for keeping them alive in the postseason race. However, the team will be
without its waiver-wire gem when it goes for its first win at Dallas in over
13 years
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
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
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
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
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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