11/30/2008 - Orlando, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The fifth-ranked Michigan State Spartans conclude play at the Old Spice Classic with a final-round matchup versus the Wichita State Shockers.
Wichita State is 3-2 this season and is fresh off a thrilling 72-70 triumph over Siena. The Shockers were competitive in both of their losses to date, and they fell to Georgetown by eight points on Thursday.
As for Michigan State, it suffered a shocking loss to Maryland on Thursday. The Spartans fully expected to win that game, and the fact that they were blown out by 18 points has caused many fans and analysts to question whether the team deserved its high national ranking. Fortunately, the squad was able to bounce back strong on Friday with a 94-79 decision over Oklahoma State.
Michigan State owns a 4-3 series lead over Wichita State, and the last meeting resulted in a Spartans' victory in 2005.
Wichita State shot just 38.7 percent from the floor in the first half against Siena last time out and trailed by seven points at intermission. Fortunately, the Shockers played much better over the final 20 minutes, as they connected on 64 percent of their field goal attempts, including 6-of-10 three-pointers, and earned the hard-fought victory. A 37-24 rebounding advantage certainly helped Wichita State, which overcame 20 turnovers. Clevin Hannah led the way in defeat for the Shockers with 19 points and six assists, as he shot 4-of-7 from three-point range. As for Toure Murry, he tallied 18 points. Murry is the only player on the roster that is averaging double figures in scoring through five games, as he is netting 11.2 ppg. It should be pointed out, however, that no Shocker is averaging more than 27.4 minutes per contest. Wichita State is generating 65.4 ppg while allowing 58.2 ppg to the opposition.
The Spartans were extremely efficient at the offensive end of the court in the victory over Oklahoma State last time out. Michigan State shot 59.3 percent from the floor, including 5-of-10 from three-point range, and hit a respectable 19-of-26 from the foul line. A total of 18 forced turnovers certainly helped the cause. Raymar Morgan was simply sensational in the win, as he netted 29 points on 9-of-11 shooting from the floor and 11-of-13 accuracy from the foul line. Travis Walton added 16 points for Tom Izzo's team, while both Marquise Gray and Kalin Lucas tallied 12 points. Lucas dished out 10 assists in that contest and committed just one turnover. Overall this season, Michigan State is scoring 81.5 ppg on 51.1 percent shooting from the floor while allowing 70.0 ppg to the opposition. Morgan is only averaging 22 minutes of action per contest, making his 19.0 ppg all the more impressive. Lucas checks in with 12.0 ppg and 6.5 apg.
<< Lone Star State rivals mix it up in Austin
Austin, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The sixth-ranked Texas Longhorns and the Rice
Owls will meet for the 191st time in men's basketball, as the teams collide in
Austin this afternoon.
Rice owns a 2-3 record to date and has rotated losses and wins
<< Top-ranked Tar Heels welcome Bulldogs to Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The top-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels
have been dominant thus far, and they are heavily favored in this evening's
non-conference home clash with the UNC-Asheville Bulldogs.
Since opening the season with t
<< Hoyas and Terps meet in Orlando
Orlando, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 21st-ranked Georgetown Hoyas will take on
the Maryland Terrapins in the third-place game of the Old Spice Classic.
Georgetown opened this new season with three consecutive victories over
lackluster non-leag
<< Wake Forest and Baylor battle for 76 Classic crown
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Baylor Bears try to knock of a second
straight nationally-ranked opponent tonight as they compete against 19th-
ranked Wake Forest in the title game of the 76 Classic at the Anaheim
Convention Center.
The
Stars acquire D Hutchinson from Lightning >>
Frisco, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Dallas Stars acquired defenseman Andrew
Hutchinson from the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday in exchange for former
first-round pick Lauri Tukonen.
Hutchinson, 28, was scoreless through two games wit
Burke takes toughest assignment yet >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brian Burke's new job doesn't leave a
whole lot of room for mistakes.
After all, his tenure as general manager of the Maple Leafs will only be
considered a success if he brings Lord Stanley's Cup back to T
NFL Inactives (Sunday, November 30, 2008) >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The following is a list of inactive
players for today's NFL games.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS, 1:00 P.M. (ET)
Colts - WR Roy Hall, S Bob Sanders, C Jeff Saturday, CB Brandon Foster, LB
Buste
Bills S Whitner out vs. San Fran >>
Orchard Park, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Buffalo Bills starting strong safety Donte
Whitner is inactive for Sunday's game against San Francisco with a separated
shoulder.
Whitner was hurt in the Bills' 26-17 loss to the New York Jets on Novem
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Is 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.
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