League Play Big Name Smash For Aggies

NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

Charlottesville, VA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Erick Green scored 15 points, helping Virginia Tech pull out a 47-45 victory over No. 15 Virginia at John Paul Jones Arena. Dorenzo Hudson totaled 12 points, including a three-pointer in the closing moments that made it a two-possession contest and helped the Hokies (12-7, 1-4 ACC) pick up their first conference victory.

 

Mike Scott, Jontel Evans and Joe Harris all had 10 points for the Cavaliers (15-3, 2-2), who were coming off Thursday's victory at Georgia Tech.

 

Texas A&M comes into the matchup with a 11-7 overall record after defeating the Oklahoma Sooners 81-75 in an overtime thriller on Saturday. The victory was the second of the year in league play for the Aggies, as they now carry a 2-4 mark in Big 12 action. Head coach Billy Kennedy has a strong defensive philosophy which have given his team has the worst scoring offense in the conference (62.8 ppg), but the best scoring defense (59.2 ppg). The victory over the Sooners was the second in three games after an 0-3 start to the Big 12 Conference season. The Aggies had only scored more than 80 points twice this year, in their opening two games of the season. A&M is one of just 12 schools in the nation to have made the NCAA Tournament in each of the past six seasons.

 

Kansas comes in with a 16-3 overall record after extending its winning streak on Saturday. The Jayhawks will be protecting their 16-game home winning streak and their perfect 6-0 league record. Head coach Bill Self led his team to its ninth straight win on Saturday as it took down Texas, 69-66. The Jayhawks shot 44.6 percent from the field, but made just 14-of-23 from the charity stripe in the win over the Longhorns. Kansas played well at the defensive end, as it held Texas to 34.4 percent shooting. The Jayhawks' six turnovers was its lowest total since entering Big 12 play. Kansas's +16.0 average scoring margin is the second best in the Big 12.

 

Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Fresh off its first loss of the season, the Syracuse Orange will look to avoid a losing streak as they head to Fifth Third Arena for a Big East battle with the dangerous Cincinnati Bearcats. This will be just the ninth meeting between the Orange and Bearcats. Syracuse holds an 8-2 edge in the series after winning the last three encounters. The Orange handled Cincinnati in last year's contest with a 67-52 decision in a game played at the Carrier Dome.

 

Cincinnati comes in with a 15-5 overall record after its 77-74 overtime loss to West Virginia on Saturday. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak and gave the Bearcats a 5-2 league record, their best start in Big East play yet. Head coach Mark Cronin has won three in a row and six of his last eight against ranked opponents with Cincinnati. Although the Bearcats have the worst field-goal percentage (39.3) in league play, they will attack the Orange's patented 2-3 zone from deep as they have made the second-most three- pointers (57) in Big East action.

 

New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Baylor remained a unanimous choice as the No. 1 team in the Associated Press women's college basketball poll. The Lady Bears received all 40 first-place votes and a total of 1,000 points from a nationwide media panel, earning the undisputed top choice for an eighth consecutive week.

 

Rutgers, after a loss last week at St. John's, dropped four spots from seventh and starts the second 10, which is also comprised of Green Bay, Purdue, Texas A&M, Delaware, Louisville, Georgia, Penn State, Nebraska and Georgetown.

 

The last five teams ranked this week are Texas Tech, Gonzaga, DePaul, BYU and North Carolina. DePaul and BYU are tied for 23rd. Gonzaga and BYU are this week's newcomers, replacing Kansas State and Vanderbilt.

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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.