Miss State Bulldogs slight favorite to beat WVU Mountaineers in NIT Semifinal game | Sports Handicapping - Free Sports Picks - Free Picks

Tuesday, 27 March 2007

The Mississippi State Bulldogs and West Virginia Mountaineers tip off at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the early game of the NIT semifinals in New York City at Madison Square Garden. The winner will play the winner of the Clemson/Air Force game on Thursday, March 29 for the NIT Championship. Oddsmakers at most offshore sportsbooks like the Bulldogs, installing them favorites by a -1 ½ point chalk with a 146 total.

Both Bulldogs and Mountaineers were tough to beat on their home courts this season but struggled on the road. MSU, 16-3 in Humphrey Coliseum in Starkville, were 5-5 on the road. WVU went 17-1 in WVU Coliseum in Morgantown but were 8-8 away from home.The team to emerge the winner from this game will perhaps be the team who feels the most at home in the Garden.

Rick Stansbury’s Bulldogs made it to the NIT Final Four in easy fashion by defeating Mississippi Valley State 82-63 in the first round followed by a 101-72 win over Bradley in round two and Florida State, 86-71 in the tournament quarterfinals. The Bulldogs enjoyed home court advantage in all the earlier rounds. MSU went 2-1, against the spread in its three NIT games cashing for backers as a -5 ½ point favorite versus FSU and as a -8.0 point favorite against Bradley.

Last Updated ( Thursday, 29 March 2007 )

Top 10 NCAA Title Games

Written by WagerWeb Staff

NCAA March Madness betting odds here.

Monday, 12 March 2007

As we get ready to see the 2007 March Madness edition, I’d like to take a look back and rate the 10 best championship games in the history of the NCAA, starting in 1939. Here’s one man’s take on the most exciting final games in history, going David Letterman-style, from No. 10 down to 1.

10. 1975 – UCLA 92, Kentucky 85; 1964 – UCLA 98, Duke 83

You can’t make any type of top-10 list about the NCAA championship game without mentioning the incredible run by UCLA from 1964-1975. Coach John Wooden led the Bruins to an incredible 10 championships in that 12-year span. I’ve selected both the first and last games from that streak and will count them as one entry, because really the team was so dominant that none of its title games were particularly close (5 points being the closest that anyone got to the Bruins – Florida State in 1972).

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 13 March 2007 )

Acc Basketball Notebook

Written by Randy Rosetta

Tuesday, 30 January 2007

By Randy Rosetta, WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

With two straight impressive ACC wins in a row, Florida State takes another shot at knocking off one of the league’s frontrunners tonight when the Seminoles make the long trip north to face Boston College at 7 p.m. EST on Tuesday night.

FSU (14-5, 2-3) notched wins against Virginia Tech and Miami last week to snap a three-game losing streak. Now the ’Noles are looking for their first three-game ACC winning streak since 1994-95.

Florida State has cranked up its offense the last three games, scoring 80 points or more in each – a key number since the Seminoles are 8-1 this year when they hit for 80 or higher.

Hot shooting from all over the floor has been a key for FSU. The Seminoles have connected on 50 percent or higher in eight of 19 games this season, all victories. Florida State has also warmed up from long range, burying 26-of-54 from outside the arc in the last three games, buoyed by a season-best 13 makes in the romp over Miami.

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 31 January 2007 )

Big Ten Basketball Notebook

Written by Sam Story

Tuesday, 30 January 2007

By Sam Story
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

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With each passing day in the Big Ten, it seems more and more likely that only four teams will come out of the 11-school league to make the NCAA Tournament. Ohio State, Wisconsin and Indiana seem to me mortal locks, while Michigan State seems pretty definite. Over the past six years, an average of 5.5 Big Ten teams made it each year. So, it will be difficult for fans of the conference to digest only four teams making it.
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That doesn't mean it can't happen, though. Michigan, Purdue and Illinois have a chance, but they are slipping with each passing game.
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This week in the Big Ten features some huge matchups that could go a long way in figuring out who's in and who's out.
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The week is highlighted by an Indiana visit to Illinois on Tuesday night and concludes Saturday when Illinois goes to Purdue and Michigan State goes to Ohio State.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 31 January 2007 )

Acc Basketball Notebook - Jan 30

Written by Randy Rosetta

Tuesday, 30 January 2007

By Randy Rosetta
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Georgia Tech heads into the meat of the ACC season in need of a boost, and to get the league season jump-started the Yellow Jackets will have to put an end to some notable negative streaks.

Tech (13-7, 2-5) has tumbled to the bottom tier of the standings with three straight double-digit losses – two against the ACC’s hottest teams (North Carolina and Virginia Tech).

To get back on track, the Jackets have to first end their skid against last-place Wake Forest when the teams collide Tuesday night at 8 (EST) in Winston-Salem, N.C.

That may sound like a relatively easy task because the Demon Deacons (9-11, 1-7) haven’t won in 3� weeks. But Georgia Tech is 0-4 on the road this season and has won only once at Wake in the last eight trips.