Florida visits LSU in pivotal SEC showdown

NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

02/24/2009 - Baton Rouge, LA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 18th-ranked LSU Tigers have run away with the SEC West Division, and they are set to host a Florida squad that is tied for first place in the league's East Division.

Florida is 21-6 overall, and its 8-4 conference record ties the team with South Carolina and Kentucky atop the standings. The Gators have won their last two outings, including an 82-68 decision over Vanderbilt on Saturday. They are just 2-5 in true road games this season, a record they will attempt to improve tonight.

Doing so won't be easy, however, as the Tigers are 18-1 at home this season. LSU is four games better than Mississippi State with four to play and can clinch at least a share of the overall SEC title with a win this evening. They have captured 11 consecutive league victories since losing the opener, and the 23-4 overall record exceeds all expectations for Trent Johnson's team.

LSU owns a 59-37 series advantage over Florida, which includes consecutive wins over the Gators.

There is no doubt that Nick Calathes is the best player on the Florida roster and one of the top players in the SEC. A versatile performer, Calathes brings 18.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 174 assists and 59 steals to the floor tonight. He gets some help from Alex Tyus, who provides 12.4 ppg and 6.0 rpg. Chandler Parsons is scoring 10.0 ppg for the Gators, who are racking up 79.3 ppg while limiting foes to 67.5 ppg. In the 14-point win over Vanderbilt on Saturday, Ervin Walker led a balanced offensive attack with 17 points off the bench. Calathes added 14 points, and Walter Hodge provided 12. Dan Werner and Tyus contributed 11 and 10 rebounds, respectively, for the Gators, who connected on 61.2 percent of their field goal attempts, including a 10-of-19 showing from three- point range.

All five starters reached double figures for LSU in the 79-72 victory over Auburn on Saturday. Marcus Thornton was sensational as usual, as the star guard tallied 25 points to continue his push for SEC Player of the Year honors. Tasmin Mitchell and Bo Spencer scored 14 points apiece for the Tigers, who got 12 points from both Chris Johnson and Garrett Temple. Johnson had eight rebounds and four blocks from his center position, while Temple handed out six assists. A 41-29 rebounding advantage and a 21-of-22 effort from the foul line were keys to the win for LSU, which is holding opponents to 39.6 percent shooting and 64.7 ppg at the defensive end this season. Thornton is racking up 20.5 ppg, and he has played his best ball against SEC opposition. Mitchell adds 16.8 ppg and 7.3 rpg to the mix, and Spencer rounds out an impressive trio with 11.7 ppg.

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Football Betting: Defensive Rookie of the Year Awards

Oddsmakers have released the odds for the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and Seattle Seahawks linebacker Aaron Curry has been made the opening favorite.

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Seattle took Curry with the fourth overall pick in April's NFL draft and plan on inserting him into its starting lineup right away. The Hawks traded linebacker Julian Peterson in the offseason, so Curry is expected to have a significant role in Seattle's defense next year and that's one of the primary reasons he is the favorite to win the NFL ROY Award.

Oddsmakers from online sportsbook MySportsbook.com have made Curry a 5/1 favorite to win this year's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. Given that he was the best defensive prospect in this year's draft and how he'll have plenty of opportunities to make plays in '09, Curry offers a ton of value at 5/1.

Another thing working for Curry is the position he plays. A linebacker has won the defensive ROY award six straight times and eight of the last nine years. Jerod Mayo, Patrick Willis, DeMeco Ryans, Shawne Merriman, Jonathan Vilma, Terrell Suggs, Kendrell Bell and Brian Urlacher were the most recent linebackers to take home the award.

Following Curry at 5/1 are Tyson Jackson (Chiefs) at 7/1, James Laurinaitas (Rams) at 8/1, Brian Orakpo (Redskins) at 10/1, Rey Maualuga (Bengals) at 10/1 and Jerry Peria (Falcons) at 10/1.

All the players mentioned above are expected to start for their respective teams, but Jackson and Peria are going to have a tough time being recognized on a national level given they're both defensive linemen. D-linemen rarely put up the numbers that it takes to win an individual award like the ROY.

A couple of players with some value are Clay Matthews (Packers) at 12/1 and Larry English (Chargers) at 15/1. Matthews is expected to start at outside linebacker in Green Bay's new 3-4 defense and could rack up a ton of tackles. English, who was an impressive player at Northern Illinois, is expected to be a situational pass rusher for the Chargers and could rack up a ton of sacks.

For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, see below. And for complete odds for the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, click the link provided.

2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award

Robert Ayers (DEN) 12/1

Ron Brace (NE) 25/1

Everette Brown (CAR) 16/1

Darius Butler (NE) 40/1

Patrick Chung (NE) 30/1

Aaron Curry (SEA) 5/1

Brian Cushing (HOU) 12/1

Vontae Davis (MIA) 30/1

Louis Delmas (DET) 30/1

Larry English (SD) 15/1

Evander Hood (PIT) 25/1

Tyson Jackson (KC) 7/1

Malcolm Jenkins (NO) 25/1

Paul Kruger (BAL) 50/1

James Laurinaitas (STL) 8/1

Sen'Derrick Marks (TEN) 20/1

Clay Matthews (GB) 12/1

Aaron Maybin (BUF) 15/1

Rey Maualuga (CIN) 10/1

Roy Miller (TB) 20/1

Michael Mitchell (OAK) 45/1

Fili Moala (IND) 30/1

Brian Orakpo (WAS) 10/1

Jerry Peria (ATL) 10/1

B J Raji (GB) 7/1

Clint Sintim (NYG) 35/1

Alphonso Smith (DEN) 40/1

David Verkune (CLE) 20/1

Jason Williams (DAL) 30/1

Field (Any Other Player) 6/1

NFL football gambling

To visit this internet sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.