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.

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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.

MySportsbook.com and Kentucky Derby Offer Bonuses
The 2008 Kentucky Derby has announced a $1-million bonus for this weekend’s 134th ‘Run for the Roses’ and MySportsbook.com is doing the same.

Well, not quite $1 million, but MySportsbook.com is offering a 75% rebate for Kentucky Derby lines. Check out the exclusive horse racing bonus for all the details.

According to MySportsbook.com, the favorites for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky are: Curlin (+250); Street Sense (+500); Scat Daddy (+700); Circular Quay (+750); and Nobiz Like Shobiz (+800).

Derby organizers announced this week that there will be a $1-million bonus at the 2007 Kentucky Derby odds if the first-place horse wins by more than 6 1/2 lengths – the margin of Barbaro's victory last year. The bonus would be divided Saturday among the winning trainer, jockey, owner and a charity, with each receiving 25 percent. The designated charity is the Barbaro Memorial Fund.

''It's certainly creative, it's certainly fun and it has something for the horsemen, which we always want to embrace,'' Churchill Downs president and chief executive Robert Evans said at a news conference. ''What's really cool is it will force us to remember Barbaro.''
    
Meanwhile, the Derby favorite – Curlin – is going against the odds this year. It's been 125 years since Apollo won after skipping his 2-year-old season, and not since Regret in 1915 has such a lightly seasoned horse worn the blanket of red roses.

Arkansas Derby winner Curlin – unbeaten in three career races – tries to overcome both those obstacles in Saturday's 133rd Derby.

''We're not running against history,'' trainer Steve Asmussen said Monday. ''We're running against who they load up.''

Six other horses have run in the Derby without benefit of 2-year-old races and with three or fewer starts. The best any of them managed was a sixth-place finish by Showing Up last year.
   
Asmussen dismissed suggestions that Curlin's lack of racing experience could keep him from the winner's circle.

”He exudes confidence and he's got a great presence about him,'' the trainer said. ''I feel great about the position we're in. He's not worried about anything, why should you be?''
   
The Kentucky Derby is at 4:04 p.m., ET Saturday.

For complete odds on the Kentucky Derby, visit MySportsbook.com. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.