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02/28/2009 - West Lafayette, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 16th-ranked Purdue Boilermakers will try to avenge an earlier loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes, as the two Big Ten programs clash at Mackey Arena today.
Purdue leads the all-time series with OSU, 79-74, including 52-23 in West Lafayette, but the Buckeyes captured an 80-72 overtime victory in the first meeting of the season on February 3rd. That victory was part a four-game win streak for OSU that was quickly followed with three consecutive losses. The Buckeyes though, put an end to that slide on Tuesday, notching a 73-59 victory over a tough Penn State club. It was a much needed win for OSU, which strengthened its NCAA Tournament resume and now stands at 18-8 overall.
As for Purdue, it took to the road on Thursday and was upset at Michigan, 87-78. The loss not only put an end to the team's four-game win streak, but it also hurt the program's Big Ten title chances. The Boilermakers are now two games behind Michigan State for the top spot, with only three outings left in the regular season.
The Buckeyes made good on 52.0 percent of their chances from the floor and 10- of-22 from three-point land, as they pulled away from Penn State on Tuesday. OSU also went 11-of-14 at the foul line, while holding a 34-25 advantage on the glass. Jeremie Simmons tallied 14 points on 4-of-7 three-pointers to lead the way, and B.J. Mullens and P.J. Hill each scored 13 points. Evan Turner was limited to only six points, but he did have eight assists and six boards. The versatile Turner means so much to the Buckeyes, as he leads them in scoring (16.7 ppg), rebounding (7.3 rpg), assists (3.7 apg) and steals (47) on the season. William Buford follows at 11.5 ppg, and Jon Diebler trails with 11.4 ppg on the strength of 42.7 percent shooting from long range.
The Boilermakers were down by just three points midway through the second half before Michigan ripped off a 19-6 run to come away with the upset victory on Thursday. Purdue, which is holding opponents to a mere 38.4 percent shooting from the floor and 59.0 ppg on the season, allowed Michigan to make 63.0 percent of its field goal attempts en route to 87 points. Robbie Hummel paced the team in the setback with 24 points and six boards, while E'Twaun Moore notched 18 points. Moore currently leads the team in scoring at 14.1 ppg and he is also collecting 4.8 rpg. JaJuan Johnson adds 13.3 ppg and 6.0 rpg to the lineup, while Hummel logs 12.4 ppg and a team-high 6.8 rpg.
<< Sooners visit Red Raiders in Big 12 action
Lubbock, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The third-ranked Oklahoma Sooners have endured
back-to-back defeats, and they will attempt to get back to their winning ways
in today's Big 12 Conference clash with the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
On Monday night,
<< Gonzaga takes aim at perfect WCC ledger
San Diego, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 17th-ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs will try to
complete another perfect West Coast Conference campaign tonight, as they
battle the San Diego Toreros at Jenny Craig Pavilion.
Last week, Gonzaga wrapped up the re
<< Beat Vikings and Bulldogs win outright Horizon League title
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 24th-ranked Butler Bulldogs will try
to wrap up the outright Horizon League title today, as they host the Cleveland
State Vikings at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
With a 78-57 trouncing of Youngstown State on Thu
<< Huskies can claim share of Pac-10 title with win over Wildcats
Seattle, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 21st-ranked Washington Huskies will try to
claim at least a share of the Pac-10 title today, as they welcome the Arizona
Wildcats to Bank of America Arena in Seattle.
The Huskies and Arizona State did battl
Texas battles Oklahoma State in pivotal Big 12 showdown >>
Stillwater, OK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Oklahoma State Cowboys are in desperate
need of a signature win and they will try to get that this evening against the
25th-ranked Texas Longhorns in Big 12 play at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
At 18-9 overall,
Bruins and Bears battle in Berkeley >>
Berkeley, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 22nd-ranked UCLA Bruins and California
Golden Bears will both try to remain in the Pac-10 title race tonight, as they
lock horns in a pivotal matchup at Haas Pavilion.
UCLA and Cal, along with Arizona Stat
Cavaliers seek upset of visiting Demon Deacons >>
Charlottesville, VA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 13th-ranked Wake Forest Demon
Deacons embark on their final road trip of the regular season today, as they
invade Charlottesville to tussle with the Virginia Cavaliers in ACC play at
the John Paul Jone
Sharks make a stop in Montreal >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Jose Sharks will shoot for their sixth win in seven
games when they visit the Montreal Canadiens for tonight's battle at Bell
Centre.
The Sharks are leading the Western Conference with 93 points and are just
three
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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