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03/07/2010 - East Lansing, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Raymar Morgan led all scorers with 22 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, as 11th-ranked Michigan State claimed a share of the Big Ten regular-season title with a 64-48 rout of conference rival Michigan at the Breslin Center.
Kalin Lucas and Delvin Roe each finished with 10 points for Michigan State (24-7, 14-4 Big Ten), which split the title with Purdue and Ohio State but will be the third seed in the upcoming Big Ten Tournament due to tiebreakers. The Spartans, who shot 45.3 percent from the field, have won three straight and five of their last six after a three-game slide.
Zack Gibson ended with a team-best 10 points for Michigan (14-16, 7-11), which have dropped four of its last five. DeShawn Sims had nine points and nine rebounds in defeat.
Michigan State took the suspense out of this one right from the start, as Morgan's layup put the Spartans ahead 25-8 with 8:23 left in the first half. Layups by Lucas and Roe and a three-point play from Morgan closed the stanza to give the hosts a 32-14 advantage heading into the locker room.
The Spartans then scored the first 10 points to start the second half and go up by an insurmountable 42-14 score. MSU would hold a double-digit lead for the remainder of the contest.
Game Notes
Despite the loss, Michigan still owns a 91-74 advantage in the all-time series with Michigan State, but the Spartans have won 18 of the last 21 meetings, including 11 straight in East Lansing...The Wolverines shot 34.9 percent from the field and only 4-of-21 from three-point range...MSU improved to 15-2 at home this season.
<< Magic survive Kobe, Lakers to win fifth straight
Orlando, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Vince Carter scored a team-high 25 points, and
Dwight Howard added 15 points and 16 rebounds, as the Orlando Magic escaped
with a 96-94 win over the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers in a rematch
of last
<< Iginla's hat trick helps Flames beat Wild
St. Paul, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jarome Iginla recorded his second hat trick of
the season, as the Calgary Flames handled the Minnesota Wild, 5-2, in a battle
between Northwest Division foes at the XCel Energy Center.
Iginla also dished out a
<< Villegas earns five-shot win at Honda Classic
Palm Beach Gardens, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Camilo Villegas captured his third
PGA Tour win on Sunday, leaving the rest of the field in the dust with a
closing two-under 68 at the Honda Classic.
The 28-year-old Colombian posted a 13-
<< Pens down Bruins, who lose Savard
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Evgeni Malkin scored early in the third
period to lift the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 2-1 win over the Boston Bruins at
Mellon Arena.
Pascal Dupuis also tallied for the Penguins, who have won four straig
Browns add LB Fujita, OL Pashos >>
Cleveland, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cleveland Browns added a pair of free
agents in linebacker Scott Fujita and offensive lineman Tony Pashos on Sunday,
signing both to multi-year contracts.
Fujita played last year for the Super Bow
Lavender leads Ohio State to Big Ten title >>
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jantel Lavender posted 35 points and 10
rebounds, leading 10th-ranked Ohio State to the Big Ten Tournament title with
a 66-64 win over Iowa.
Lavender went 14-of-25 from the field and was named the
Couples gets second Champions Tour win >>
Newport Beach, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Fred Couples captured his second
Champions Tour win Sunday at the Toshiba Classic, just three weeks after
breaking through for his first.
Three starts, two wins. It's been an explosive debut on the over-5
Pavlyuchenkova downs Hantuchova to win at Monterrey >>
Monterrey, Mexico (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Third-seeded Russian Anastasia
Pavlyuchenkova won her second match of the day on Sunday to capture the title
at the $220,000 Monterrey Open.
Pavlyuchenkova rallied from a first-set loss t
Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.
NFL Betting
After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
Patriots made him their franchise player, meaning his salary for this season will be about $15 million.
New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
"I go out there each and every day with that focus that I'm the starter," Cassel said during a June minicamp. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
In his only sustained action since his teens, he hit 349 of 555 passes for 3,949 yards at New England. He had 23 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as the Patriots, who had gone unbeaten through the regular season the year before, finished 11-5 and out of the playoffs.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."
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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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