ST. John Acquires PPG Against Michigan

NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

Lawrence, KS (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tyshawn Taylor had 28 points and six assists as No. 7 Kansas downed previously unbeaten No. 3 Baylor, 92-74, in Big 12 action. Thomas Robinson had 27 points and 14 rebounds, Elijah Johnson and Travis Releford each added 11 points while Jeff Withey had 10 points and 10 boards for the Jayhawks (15-3, 5-0 Big 12), who have won eight straight.

 

Syracuse and Murray State remain the only unbeaten schools in Division I basketball.

 

"I chose St. John's because I think it's a perfect fit for me," said Branch in a statement from St. John's. "They have a great coaching staff who I feel can help me a lot with my game. Those guys are like teachers in a classroom, but teachers of the game. They know so much about the game. We have a really great team and I think we could compete with anyone in the future."

 

, (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 20th-ranked Michigan Wolverines try to remain perfect at home, as they host in-state and Big Ten Conference rival Michigan State, which enters play as the ninth-ranked team in the country. Michigan, which along with Michigan State make up two of the five teams from the Big Ten Conference that are currently ranked, has won 11 straight decision at home this season, and 12 consecutive at Crisler Arena overall dating back to last season. However, the team's most recent outing over the weekend took place at Iowa and the Wolverines failed to find any magic at Carver-Hawkeye Arena as they stumbled in an awkward 75-59 final. The setback was the second in the last four games and dropped Michigan to 4-2 in league play as a result.

 

As for the Spartans, already 3-2 against ranked foes in 2011-12, they are coming off a loss of their own on Saturday as they bowed to Northwestern on the road in an 81-74 final. The defeat was just the third of the year for a program that had won 15 in a row since falling to top-ranked North Carolina in the season opener and then sixth-ranked Duke four days later.

 

Michigan State led by as many as nine points in the first half at Welsh-Ryan Arena versus Northwestern over the weekend, but in the final minutes of the period the momentum swung in favor of the Wildcats who eventually claimed the seven-point win. Keith Appling scored a team-best 17 points in 36 minutes for the visitors, but he shot just 4-of-13 from the floor and missed all five of his three-point tries. Draymond Green, accurate on 4-of-5 from three-point range, tallied 14 points and also made an impact in the paint with 14 rebounds as well. In addition to proving himself a worthy perimeter shooter at 40.7 percent, Green has forced opposing defenses to pick their poison because he is also leading the Spartans on the glass with 10.1 rpg as well. Scoring 15.8 ppg Green, who is second on the unit with 61 assists and paces MSU in both blocks (21) and steals (27), is one of only a few players in the nation who is averaging a double-double. Appling checks in with 12.9 ppg and is the only one ahead of Green in the passing department with his 69 dishes through 18 games.

 

Lexington, KY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The second-ranked Kentucky Wildcats will try to extend their winning streak to 10 games in a row tonight as they host the Arkansas Razorbacks in a Southeastern Conference battle at Rupp Arena. This will be the 33rd meeting between Arkansas and Kentucky. The Wildcats hold a 24-8 advantage in the rivalry. The Razorbacks ended a 10-game losing streak to Kentucky last season with an overtime victory, but have gone just 2-11 in Lexington all-time with their last victory in Rupp Arena coming during the 1993-1994 season.

 

John Calipari has won 45 straight at Rupp Arena since taking over the helm, which is the longest home-winning streak in the nation. Kentucky survived a close call with Tennessee its last time out, as it won 65-62 to make its overall record 17-1 and its SEC mark a perfect 3-0. Kentucky has outscored its opponents by a league-best 20.4 ppg this season, The Wildcats' high-powered offense is ranked second in the league with an average of 79.3 ppg, on a conference leading 48.3 percent shooting from the field. Kentucky is atop the SEC standings in rebounding margin and blocked shots as well.

 

Rosemont, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 10th-ranked Georgetown Hoyas continue their road swing with a visit to Allstate Arena for a Big East showdown with the DePaul Blue Demons this evening. Tonight will be the 26th meeting in the all-time series. The Hoyas hold a 19-6 advantage in the rivalry and have won all encounters since the Blue Demons entered the conference.

 

Georgetown snapped a two-game losing slide its last time out with a 69-49 victory over St. John's. The Hoyas played very well defensively, as the Red Storm managed to make just 31.5 percent of their field goals and went 0-of-10 from beyond the arc. The Blue and Gray have been very good at stopping opponents this year and have allowed just 57.5 ppg in their last 10 outings. Prior to their recently ended losing streak, the Hoyas had won 11-straight, which including victories over three-conference foes and four ranked programs. Head coach John Thompson III has led his team to a 14-3 overall record and a 4-2 Big East record to this point.

 

Cleveland Melvin and Brandon Young combine to make one of the top scoring duos in the Big East. Each have scored at least 20 points on five different occasions and they combined to average 35.7 ppg heading into the Louisville game. Against the Cardinals, Young scored 14 and Melvin finished with just eight points. The team's third leading scorer, Jeremiah Kelly, has been in a funk as of late. Kelly has made just 8-of-26 attempts from the field in his last three outings combined.

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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. 

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