Wake Forest and Texas do battle in 2010 NCAA Tournament

NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

03/18/2010 - 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 second-round matchup with either top- seeded Kentucky or 16th-seeded East Tennessee State.

Wake Forest is making its 22nd NCAA Tournament appearance and second in a row under third-year head coach Dino Gaudio. The Demon Deacons, who are 27-21 at this event all-time, earned an at-large bid after compiling a 19-10 record through the close of the ACC Tournament. They own six wins over the RPI top-50 teams and certainly have the talent to challenge the Longhorns.

Texas was the nation's top-ranked team for two weeks in January, and the fact that the club fell completely out of the Top-25 in March tells the tale of a rapid decline. The Longhorns, who are 24-9 overall, have lost nine of their last 16 games. They have 28 previous NCAA Tournament appearances to their credit and own a 33-30 record at the event. They were knocked out in the second round a year ago and continue to be led by long-time head coach Rick Barnes.

Wake Forest owns a 3-1 series lead over Texas, and one of those three victories for the Demon Deacons came in the second round of the 1996 NCAA Tournament.

The strength of the Wake Forest team is its play at the defensive end of the court, as it is limiting opponents to 68.4 ppg on 38.3 percent shooting from the field, including 28.9 percent from three-point range. Offensively, the club is generating 73.0 ppg. Al-Farouq Aminu is the top performer for the Demon Deacons with 15.7 ppg and 10.7 rpg, and the Second-Team All-ACC performer is the only player in the conference to average a double-double this year. Aminu also paces the club in blocks (44) and is second in steals (43). The leader in steals is Ishmael Smith with 52, and he is netting 13.3 ppg to complement an impressive total of 173 assists. C.J. Harris rounds out the double-digit scorers with 10.0 ppg for Wake, which is outrebounding foes by 4.5 rpg. Turnovers have been a problem for the Deacs this season, as they have give the ball away approximately 15 times per outing.

The best player on the Texas roster is clearly Damion James, an athletic forward who was recently selected as a First-Team All-Big 12 performer. James has started all 33 games this season and is scoring 18.0 ppg on 50.9 percent shooting from the floor, including 40.2 percent from three-point range. More than just a scorer, he is ripping down 10.4 rpg to go with 54 steals and 39 blocked shots. Avery Bradley provides 11.7 ppg for the 'Horns, and Dexter Pittman adds 10.6 ppg and 5.8 rpg to the mix. Texas is generating 81.2 ppg while limiting opponents to 69.7 ppg on 40.2 percent shooting from the floor. The club is outrebounding opponents by 6.8 rpg, but all of those positive numbers were considerably more impressive at the midway point of the season.

Wwwtom NCAA Basketball Betting News

<< 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

<< 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

<< 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

Washington and Marquette meet in first round of 2010 NCAA Tournament >>
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

Second-seeded Villanova takes on Robert Morris in first-round action >>
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' D

Bears and Bearkats collide in South Regional action >>
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

Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value

If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture.  Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).

For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot.  The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win.

TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the  drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.

"While 'Babel' lost several guild awards to 'Sunshine' and 'Departed,'  it still enjoys loyal support, and historically Oscar voters favor dramas with social messages over comedies like 'Sunshine' and violent crime movies like 'Departed'."

"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.

Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash.  Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win. 

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts Visa needs.