Blue Devils continue late-season push in clash with Hokies
NCAA Basketball Betting Lines
02/28/2009 - Blacksburg, VA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The seventh-ranked Duke Blue Devils continue their late season run, as they invade the Cassell Coliseum this afternoon, for an ACC showdown with the Virginia Tech Hokies in Blacksburg.
With just three games to play, the Blue Devils trail league-leading North Carolina by just a single games in the standings. Mike Krzyzewski's team has turned things up a notch of late, winning three straight games, including a hard-fought 78-67 decision at Maryland this week. The victory in College Park pushed Duke's league mark to 9-4.
Seth Greenberg's Hokies are a few rungs down the conference ladder at 7-6, but the team did end a three-game slide recently, with an impressive 80-77 victory at nationally-ranked Clemson this week.
Still, Tech has not had much success against Duke over the years, with just seven wins in the 41 previous meetings. The Blue Devils are seeking the regular-season sweep after posting a rather easy 69-44 victory in Durham on January 4th.
Earlier in the season, Duke blew by Maryland (85-44), but this week the outcome was much closer, as the Blue Devils needed some timely shooting down the stretch to earn the victory. Gerald Henderson continued his strong play with 19 points, and was joined in double figures by freshman Elliot Williams (15 pts), Kyle Singler (13 pts) and Jon Scheyer (12 pts). Singler completed a double-double, with 10 rebounds, helping the Blue Devils earn a 39-28 advantage on the glass. One of the top teams in the country, it is no surprise that Duke has flourished at both ends of the floor this season. The team is putting up a healthy 79.1 ppg, while displaying strong defense as well at 64.7 ppg against. Henderson has definitely elevated his game, especially down the stretch, and is now leading Duke in scoring at 16.4 ppg. Singler is a perfect complement with his strong all-around game, averaging 16.0 ppg, while pacing the team in rebounding (7.9 rpg) and steals (46) and also ranking second in assists (74). Scheyer adds 13.8 ppg to the cause and is the team's top distributor (82 assists).
As a whole, Virginia Tech is not quite as explosive at the offensive end, averaging 72.3 ppg. However, the team does possess a potent trio of scorers in Malcolm Delaney, A.D. Vassallo and Jeff Allen. Delaney doesn't shoot the ball particularly well overall (.422), but does have 59 three-pointers to his credit, while leading the team in both scoring (18.8 ppg) and assists (102). Vassallo is another outside threat with a team-high 63 treys to this credit. The veteran is right behind Delaney in scoring at 18.4 ppg. The top player inside is forward Jeff Allen, who adds 14.0 ppg, while leading the way on the boards with nearly nine caroms per outing (8.8). Tech was able to end a three- game slide with a solid defense in the waning moments, earning a tough, three- point decision at Clemson this week. Delaney led the offensive charge with 26 points, followed by Vassallo, who poured in 21. Hank Thorns was the only other Hokie in double figures, adding 10 points.
Tallahassee, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Top-25 foes meet in the Sunshine State today, as the 12th-ranked Clemson Tigers invade the Tucker Center for an ACC clash with the 23rd-ranked Florida State Seminoles. Oliver Purnell's Tigers would like to
<< The fur is sure to fly in SEC showdown between Tigers and Wildcats
Lexington, KY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In what promises to be a tremendous
Southeastern Conference battle, the 18th-ranked LSU Tigers and Kentucky
Wildcats will duke it out this afternoon at Rupp Arena in Lexington.
LSU clinched at least a share o
<< Villanova hosts Georgetown in Big East tussle
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Georgetown Hoyas hope to continue
their recent success over the Villanova Wildcats as the Big East Conference
rivals collide this afternoon in Philadelphia.
Georgetown was expected to be a contender in
<< Tar Heels seek return to win column in clash with Yellow Jackets
Chapel Hill, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets have the
unenviable task of taking on the fourth-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels in
Chapel Hill this afternoon.
Paul Hewitt has achieved great success during his tenure as th
<< Brodeur, Devils host Panthers at the Rock
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Even a near four-month layoff couldn't slow down Martin
Brodeur. Fresh off his 99th career shutout, the New Jersey Devil netminder
will face the Florida Panthers this afternoon at the Prudential Center.
Brodeur returned to
Storrs, CT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The second-ranked Connecticut Huskies continue their quest for a Big East title, as they play their last home game of the season this weekend, welcoming the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to Storrs, for a conference sho
Sun Devils visit Cougars in key Pac-10 contest >>
Pullman, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 14th-ranked Arizona Sun Devils will try to
rebound from a critical loss and remain in the thick of the Pac-10 race this
evening, as they challenge the Washington State Cougars at Friel Court.
In a battle fo
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
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
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
Betting Football
NFL Football Betting OnlineIs there such a thing as a trap game in the NFL?
I once asked that question to Pete Korner, who at the time was office manager and a senior linesmaker for Las Vegas Sports Consultants.
Korner almost ripped my head off. There is no such thing as a trap game, he loudly berated me. It’s a myth. The numbers are made using power ratings, he said.
There are trap games, though. They just might not be what you think. The perception is of a good team, say Philadelphia, laying a small number against New Orleans.
Using the highly-respected power ranking from The Gold Sheet, you’d find the Eagles with a power rating of 4 and the Saints at 8. When you factor the game being played in New Orleans, you could see why the line opened so short at less than a field goal.
For some, this makes it enticing to take the Eagles. That’s not a real trap game, though.
A real trap game, says professional gambler Dave Malinsky, is thinking you’re getting value betting a bad team, which brings us to the Oakland Raiders-Denver Broncos matchup.
The Raiders are +15 in this long-standing division rivalry. Denver is on a short week having dispatched Baltimore Monday. However, the Raiders haven’t covered the spread their last 10 games.
Many bettors don’t trust the Raiders to give a full effort. Few think much of Art Shell and his Oakland’s coaching staff.
So oddsmakers have to do something to make Oakland attractive if they hope to get equal action.
Now Malinsky is a value shopper. But he won’t touch the Raiders even getting more than two touchdowns.
“I try to eliminate the undisciplined, unfocused teams because they’re the ones most likely to suffer the bad beats,” he said.
Near the top of Malinsky’s list of stay-away teams is the Miami Dolphins, who have yet to cover a spread this season.
“Whatever you think of Nick Saban, you have to look at the penalties and turnovers,” Malinsky said.
It’s easy to point out the Dolphins failed to get the money this past week against New England because Olindo Mare missed a field goal and had another field goal blocked. But even though the Dolphins outgained the Patriots, 283-213, they committed eight penalties.
Bad teams not only cost themselves victories, but pointspread covers as well. The Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers are two more examples.
The Cardinals couldn’t have been in a better position this past Sunday, up 14-0 at home against a mediocre Kansas City Chiefs squad. But they couldn’t hold it. The Packers got a push against St. Louis, but also could have won losing by three when Brett Favre fumbled at the St. Louis 11-yard line with 44 seconds left.
“The Packers were in a position to beat Philadelphia, too,” Malinsky said. “But they couldn’t even cover double digits.
“These teams just make mistakes and it costs you … they always will look good from a value standpoint. They really will. But that’s the trap.”
Houston and Tennessee rank among the six-worst teams. Malinsky wouldn’t be afraid to take either of these teams, however, if the price were high enough.
The Texans are bad, Malinsky said, but they have some discipline. The Titans showed they could not only come up with an outstanding game plan, but execute it as well, losing by one to the Colts on the road as an 18 ?-point underdog this past Sunday.
“Jeff Fisher is a worker,” Malinsky said of the Titans coach. “I’m not sure how hard Art Shell wants to work when he gets out of bed.”
Fisher, though, could be out as Tennessee coach after this season. Is he still worth backing in the right spot, with the right price, as a lame duck coach?
“It’s in his nature to keep working hard and not worry about any possible lame duck status,” Malinsky said. “He’s coaching for his resume.”
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting lines.