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03/17/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - An Indiana Pacers team that's had its share of troubles on the road will face another tough challenge in tonight's visit to Quicken Loans Arena for a bout with the NBA-best Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Pacers have lost eight in a row as the visitor since a 125-115 decision over Houston on February 20 and own a poor 7-29 road record for the season. Indiana's winless drought has been even longer in Cleveland, where the club hasn't bested the Central Division-rival Cavs since a double-overtime triumph on November 3, 2004.
Cleveland has downed the Pacers nine straight times at Quicken Loans Arena and has taken three straight and 12 of the last 13 overall matchups between the teams as well. Two of those wins took place in Indianapolis earlier this season.
The Cavaliers also boast one of the league's top home marks at 29-4 and enter tonight's tilt on a four-game winning streak following Tuesday's 113-101 victory at Detroit, which pushed Cleveland's lead over Orlando for the top spot in the Eastern Conference to a comfortable six games.
As usual, LeBron James led the way for the Cavs, with the reigning NBA MVP amassing 29 points, 12 assists and 12 rebounds for his 28th career triple- double. Mo Williams chipped in 20 points in the win, while Antawn Jamison posted 15 points and 10 rebounds.
"A [triple-double] means you're doing everything that needs to be done to win a basketball game," James said. "It's one of the best things that you can have as an individual."
Cleveland trailed by a point entering the fourth quarter, but outscored the Pistons by a 38-25 margin in the final period to pull away. The Cavaliers made 5-of-9 shots from three-point range over that stretch.
The Pacers head to "The Q" on a somewhat positive note after holding on for a 99-94 win over visiting Charlotte last night. Danny Granger led the charge with 26 points and eight rebounds, but the standout forward was elbowed in the cheek in the final minute and is expected to sit out tonight's clash.
Indiana also received 16 points and 13 rebounds out of Troy Murphy in snapping a two-game slide, while Mike Dunleavy netted 15 points in only the team's second win in its last eight outings.
The Pacers entered the fourth quarter holding a 78-67 advantage, and the margin eventually swelled to 15 points on a Dunleavy triple near the midway point of the frame. The Bobcats would make a late comeback attempt, though, using a 9-0 run to pull within 97-94 with under a minute to go, but missed a pair of three-point tries in the waning seconds.
"Good win against a good basketball team," Pacers head coach Jim O'Brien said. We didn't execute down the stretch against pressure, but we'll take the W."
<< Basement brawl: Woeful Nets visit lowly Sixers
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The bottom two teams of the Atlantic Division will go head-
to-head for the final time of the 2009-10 campaign this evening at the
Wachovia Center, where the homestanding 76ers aim for a season sweep of the
dismal
<< Spurs finish Florida trip in Orlando
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - An intriguing interconference matchup is on tap tonight in
central Florida, where the San Antonio Spurs take on the playoff-bound Orlando
Magic at Amway Arena.
San Antonio is still trying to solidify a postseason spot in t
<< Knicks make a stop in Boston for St. Patrick's Day
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Celtics are closing in on their third straight
Atlantic Division title and will face another inferior opponent tonight on St.
Patrick's Day against the New York Knicks at TD Garden.
Boston rebounded from a loss
<< Thunder kick off road trip in Charlotte
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - There's still plenty of wiggle room left for the Oklahoma
City Thunder to move up in the Western Conference standings. A lengthy winning
streak usually helps, as the Thunder shoot for a sixth straight win tonight
against the
Rockets to host Grizzlies in key conference clash >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It's a virtual must-win situation for a pair of Western
Conference teams in desperation mode tonight as the Houston Rockets host the
Memphis Grizzlies at the Toyota Center.
Historically the Grizzlies haven't had a lot of s
Jazz seeking to extend Timberwolves' season-long misery >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In a potential mismatch on the NBA docket, the Western
Conference power Utah Jazz welcome the lowly Minnesota Timberwolves to Salt
Lake City tonight.
The Jazz, who are currently the fourth seed in the West, snapped a rare
Hornets resume important trip with bout against Warriors >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New Orleans Hornets resume a five-game road trip in
Oakland tonight, aiming for a season sweep of the woeful Golden State
Warriors.
New Orleans has already topped the Warriors three times this season and will
be aimin
Scorching Bucks try to take down reeling Clippers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The red-hot Milwaukee Bucks aim for their longest winning
streak in eight seasons tonight, when they face off with the reeling Los
Angeles Clippers at Staples Center.
The Bucks, who are kicking off a three-game road trip 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."
To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your college football betting needs.
The 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds have been released and Denver Broncos' running back Knowshon Moreno has been made the opening favorite.
Moreno was selected in the first round of April's NFL draft and is expected to carry the rushing load for the Broncos this season. And with Jay Cutler now in Chicago, Moreno might be expected to be Denver's entire offense.
Betting Lines from sports betting lines have made Moreno a 5/2 favorite to win this year's Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Fellow running back Chris “Beanie” Wells (Arizona Cardinals) is right behind Moreno at 7/2, while Donald Brown (Indianapolis Colts) and receiver Michael Crabtree (San Francisco 49ers) are 5/1 to win. Quarterbacks Mark Sanchez (New York Jets) and Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions) are 7/1 and 8/1, respectively.
A couple of players who present some value are Josh Freeman, Shonn Green and Darrius Heyward-Bey.
Freeman needs to beat out Byron Leftwich to become the starting quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but if he does, he has a lot or raw talent and could use the weapons around him (i.e. Kellen Winslow Jr. and Antonio Bryant) to be very successful in his first season.
Green enters a crowded backfield in New York, but considering both Thomas Jones and Leon Washington are unhappy about their contract situations and might holdout, the former Iowa product could become the Jets' primary back.
Everyone was shocked when Al Davis took Heyward-Bey with the eighth overall pick in April's draft, but the kid has a tremendous amount of talent and if quarterback JaMarcus Russell takes the next step this year, the former Maryland product could blossom. Plus, Heyward-Bey will be looking to prove the people wrong who said Oakland should have taken Michael Crabtree with the No. 8 pick.
And if you're looking for a deep sleeper, check out Pat White at 30/1. He enters the Miami Dolphins vaunted “Wild Cat” offense and could be a big time playmaker.
For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds, see below.
2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds to Win
Ramses Barden (NYG) 40/1
Andre Brown (NYG) 20/1
Donald Brown (IND) 5/1
Kenny Britt (TEN) 20/1
Glenn Coffee (SFO) 30/1
Chase Coffman (CIN) 50/1
Michael Crabtree (SFO) 5/1
Josh Freeman (TB) 14/1
Shonn Green (NYJ) 14/1
Percy Harvin (MIN) 10/1
Darrius Heyward-Bay (OAK) 18/1
Juaquan Iglesias (CHI) 30/1
Cornelius Ingram (PHI) 50/1
Rashad Jennings (JAC) 30/1
Johnny Knox (CHI) 40/1
Jeremy Maclin (PHI) 18/1
Mohamed Massaquoi (CLE) 30/1
LeSean McCoy (PHI) 12/1
Knowshon Moreno (DEN) 5/2
Hakeem Nicks (NYG) 18/1
Brandon Pettigrew (DET) 30/1
Brian Robiskie (CLE) 20/1
Mark Sanchez (NYJ) 7/1
Matthew Stafford (DET) 8/1
Jason Smith (STL) 40/1
Mike Thomas (JAC) 25/1
Patrick Turner (MIA) 50/1
Mike Wallace (PIT) 50/1
Chris Wells (ARI) 7/2
Pat White (MIA) 30/1
Field (Any Other Player) 9/1
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