ACC showdown pits Heels against 'Canes
NCAA Basketball Betting Lines
02/15/2012 -
Coral Gables, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The eighth-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels
take to the road in search of their fourth straight ACC win away from Chapel
Hill, as they invade the BankUnited Center to take on the dangerous Miami-
Florida Hurricanes.
Roy Williams' squad dropped a crucial 85-84 decision to arch rival Duke last
week, but bounced back with an impressive 70-52 win over nationally-ranked
Virginia this past weekend to move to 8-2 in league play, good for a first-
place tie with both Duke and Florida State in the standings.
Jim Larranaga's first season with the Hurricanes has been mildly successful.
Miami is making a push for NCAA Tournament consideration, highlighted by a
huge win over Duke in Durham. However, the momentum gained by a recent five-
game win streak, was halted by last weekend's 64-59 road loss at rival Florida
State.
The Tar Heels own a 17-2 advantage in the all-time series with the Hurricanes
and have won the last nine meetings, including a 73-56 decision in Chapel Hill
back on January 10th.
Virginia held North Carolina well under its season average, but it didn't
matter, as the Tar Heels still won the game by 18 points this past weekend at
the Smith Center. It was once again UNC's frontcourt that made the difference,
headlined by Tyler Zeller. The 7-0 senior just missed a double-double with 25
points and nine rebounds. Forwards Harrison Barnes and John Henson however,
were able to pull off the feat. Barnes finished the game with 14 points and 11
rebounds, while Henson tallied 10 points and 10 boards for North Carolina,
which outrebounded the Cavaliers, 52-32.
Fueled by the nation's premier frontcourt, North Carolina leads the country in
scoring (83.5 ppg). Barnes has the ability to score both inside and out and is
averaging a team-best 17.5 ppg (second in the ACC). Zeller isn't far behind at
16.0 ppg (fifth in the conference), while Henson pours in 14.0 ppg (ninth in
the league). Henson and Zeller make up quite the rebounding tandem as well.
Henson leads the ACC with 10.3 rpg, followed closely by Zeller's 9.6 rpg
(third in the ACC). Point guard Kendall Marshall is charged with running the
offense and although he isn't much of a scorer (6.8 ppg), he ranks first in
the ACC and second nationally in assists (9.6 apg).
When compared to UNC's offensive proficiency, Miami lags pretty far behind.
The Hurricanes are averaging a modest 71.5 ppg this year, doing so on .438
shooting. Still, there is scoring depth, as four of the team's five starters
are averaging double figures. Kenny Kadji and Durand Scott share the team-lead
with 12.6 ppg apiece. Malcolm Grant (12.1 ppg) provides support along the
perimeter, while Reggie Johnson (11.4 ppg, team-high 6.9 rpg) does the same up
front.
The Hurricanes struggled to find their range against the defensively-gifted
Seminoles last time out, shooting a mere 41.4 percent from the floor,
including an ugly 27.3 percent from three-point range (5-of-22). Kadji led the
way at the offensive end with 14 points. Scott finished with 12 points, while
Grant added nine. Johnson however, was neutralized in the game, finishing with
a mere four points in the loss.
<< Oklahoma State and Missouri battle in Big 12 brawl
Columbia, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The third-ranked Missouri Tigers continue
their quest for a Big 12 regular season crown, as they welcome the Oklahoma
State Cowboys to Columbia this evening, for a conference showdown at Mizzou
Arena.
Frank H
<< Lobos head to San Diego to take on 13th-ranked Aztecs
San Diego, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Entering the week there were three teams tied
atop the Mountain West Conference standings and two of those programs go up
against each other tonight, as the 13th-ranked San Diego State Aztecs
entertain the New M
<< Lions visit Gaels in pivotal WCC clash
Moraga, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 21st-ranked Saint Mary's-CA Gaels put their
perfect home record on the line for the final time this season, as they
entertain the Lions of Loyola Marymount in a West Coast Conference clash
tonight at McKeon Pav
<< Wildcats and Hoosiers mix it up in Big Ten action
Bloomington, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Big Ten Conference rivals square off in
Bloomington this evening, as the Northwestern Wildcats have come calling on
the 18th-ranked Indiana Hoosiers.
Northwestern comes in sporting a 15-9 overall record, wh
<< Cavs resume lengthy homestand vs. reeling Pacers
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cleveland Cavaliers will play their fourth game on a
lengthy nine-game homestand tonight, when they entertain the Central Division-
rival Indiana Pacers from Quicken Loans Arena.
Cleveland is in the midst of the longes
Missouri State comes calling on No. 24 Wichita State >>
Wichita, KS (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 24th-ranked Wichita State Shockers put
their new-found status as Missouri Valley Conference front-runner on the line
Wednesday as Missouri State comes to town for a league showdown at Charles
Koch Arena.
W
Rutgers hits road seeking upset of No. 23 Notre Dame >>
South Bend, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Notre Dame looks to continue its surge up
the conference standings Wednesday when the 23rd-ranked Fighting Irish welcome
Rutgers to the Joyce Center for a Big East Conference clash.
Notre Dame made it six st
Racers and Redhawks duke it out in OVC action >>
Cape Giradeau, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 16th-ranked Murray State Racers head
to the Show Me Center for a rematch with the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks
in what could be another Ohio Valley Conference thriller.
The Racers and Redhawks al
Zambia cracks top 50 in FIFA Rankings >>
Zurich, Switzerland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - For the first time since February 2001
Zambia finds itself in the top 50 in the latest edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola
Men's World Rankings.
The African Cup of Nations had a big impact on the ranking
Cavs' Irving cleared to return >>
Cleveland, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Cleveland Cavaliers rookie point guard Kyrie
Irving was cleared to return to action.
Cavs team physician Dr. A.J. Cianflocco gave the first-overall pick the go-
ahead on Wednesday, hours before Cleveland
Super Bowl XLIII, the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Super Bowl XLIII is now set, the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers will meet each other on February 1st in Tampa's Raymond James Stadium to battle it out for the coveted Lombardi Trophy. The game kicks off at 6:00pm ET on NBC with announcers Al Michaels and John Madden covering the on-field action. Super Bowl XLIII betting odds at online bookmaker MySportsbook.com have the Steelers listed as an early -6.5 against the spread favorite.Super Bowl XLIII Betting Odds
Pittsburgh earned their passage to the big game by beating their division rival, the Baltimore Ravens, 23-14 in yesterday's AFC Championship Game. The Steelers jumped on Baltimore early, building a 13-0 first half lead, and never let up on their way to a fairly easy win. Although the Ravens did close to within two points in the fourth quarter, it never appeared as if they had enough offense to pull off the upset.
The Steelers dominating defense held Baltimore to a total of 198 yards while allowing them to convert just three third downs in 13 attempts. Pittsburgh also forced quarterback Joe Flacco into three interceptions, one of which safety Troy Polamalu returned fourty yards for a touchdown.
The Cardinals, by far the playoff team with the longest odds to reach Super Bowl XLIII, did so yesterday with a 32-25 upset of the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship. Arizona charged out of the gates and built a 24-6 halftime lead that had the Eagles venerable defense reeling. Quarterback Kurt Warner and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald did most of the damage, connecting on three first half touchdowns.
Arizona, however, could not sustain their momentum and the Eagles took a 25-24 with 10:45 left to play in the fourth. The Cardinals, with the franchise's first Super Bowl appearance hanging in the balance, mounted a fourteen play, 72 yard touchdown drive that consumed 7:52 off the clock. Warner hit running back Tim Hightower on a short screen for the go-ahead, game clinching score that will forever live in Cardinal infamy.
MySportsbook.com's Super Bowl XLIII Betting Odds:
Pittsburgh Steelers -6.5 (-110), Over 46.5 (-110), -260 (Money line)
Arizona Cardinals +6.5 (-110), Under 46.5 (-110), +220 (Money line)
Matt Foust won both of his conference championship plays yesterday and he is ready to serve up plenty of Super Bowl action. Each individual play costs $15.00, however, MySportsbook.com recommends purchasing Matt's NFL Playoff Package which includes all of Matt's Super Bowl props and picks from just $45.00.
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