Lobos head to San Diego to take on 13th-ranked Aztecs
NCAA Basketball Betting Lines
02/15/2012 - 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 Mexico Lobos at Viejas Arena.
Both teams have identical overall records at 20-4 and their 6-2 MWC marks matched that of UNLV which took on TCU Tuesday night at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum in Fort Worth and was stunned by the Horned Frogs in overtime, 102-97, which means this matchup is for the exclusive rights to first place in the standings, at least for the time being.
New Mexico is the hottest team in the conference right now with five straight victories, following the back-to-back defeats versus SDSU and UNLV last month. Most recently, head coach Steve Alford led his squad to a 48-38 defensive win versus Wyoming at home on Saturday afternoon. Considering the Lobos were just 2-2 after their first four games of the season, they've come a long way in an effort to clog up the MWC standings.
Meanwhile, the Aztecs are where UNM was during the first few weeks of the campaign, dealing with a split over the last four outings. On Saturday, SDSU had the much-anticipated showdown against UNLV at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas and it certainly lived up to the billing as the Runnin' Rebels slipped by in a 65-63 final. San Diego State has avoided back-to-back defeats since January 2010, so at least the team has that working in its favor tonight.
The Lobos lead the all-time series between the teams by a count of 38-32, but SDSU won the first meeting of the season last month by a score of 75-70 and is threatening to sweep the season series for the second straight year. The Aztecs have won five of the last six meetings between these two teams at Viejas Arena, including three in a row.
It was bound to be a defensive battle against Wyoming last week, seeing as how the Cowboys are one of the top teams in the country when it comes to holding down the opposition, but few expected UNM to limit the Pokes to just 38 points. The fewest points given up by the Lobos since the team captured a 62-32 win over Weber State two days before Christmas in 2007, Kendall Williams was the only UNM player to score in double figures as he dropped in 10 points, while Drew Gordon came up with seven points and a game-high 13 rebounds as the team survived 17 turnovers. Williams, who has at least held a share of the scoring lead for the Lobos in the last three games, is the top scorer for the group in conference play with his 13.4 ppg. Gordon checks in with 10.3 ppg and 9.6 rpg in those outings, but as was the case over the weekend, it really is the defense that is taking care of business for the Lobos as they limit conference opponents to just 56.5 ppg, those team shooting a mere 38.4 percent from the floor and 29.7 percent behind the three-point line.
In front of a sold-out crowd at the Thomas & Mack, San Diego State fought all the way back from a 13-point second-half deficit and actually took the lead against UNLV in the final two minutes, but the Aztecs couldn't keep control of the ball and ended up with the two-point setback. Chase Tapley offered up 22 points for the visitors, followed by Jamaal Franklin who accounted for 15 points and eight rebounds, but he was also responsible for five of the unit's 17 turnovers which proved to be crucial in the close call. Tapley and Jamaal Franklin are at the top of the scoring list for the Aztecs after 24 games, posting 16.2 and 16.0 ppg, respectively, the former taking care of business out on the perimeter with his 44.1 percent three-point shooting and the latter clearing 7.3 rpg to take the lead in that department. But like New Mexico, the main focus of the Aztecs is to control the pace and limit scoring opportunities and that has held opponents to just 61.8 ppg based on 39.3 percent shooting from the floor and 32.4 percent behind the three-point line.
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
<< Panthers give D Strachan one-year extension
Sunrise, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Florida Panthers signed defenseman Tyson
Strachan to a one-year contract extension on Wednesday.
Strachan has one goal and two assists in eight games this season for the
Panthers.
The 27-year-o
<< Magic welcome 76ers to Amway Center
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Orlando Magic eye a third straight win this evening
when they welcome the Philadelphia 76ers to Amway Center.
Orlando has started to play its best basketball of the season, yet the last
two games it hasn't had
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
ACC showdown pits Heels against 'Canes >>
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 Hurri
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
Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl Odds
Will he or won't he? Now that the Dallas Cowboys have a new head coach in Wade Phillips, the big question will be: Does Terrell Owens stay with the team.
Jerry Jones continues to suggest that Terrell Owens will remain with the team.
"I've said that he's back, he's here, he's under contract," Jones said. "In the interviews I've just been through (to hire a new coach), it was very clear to me how highly he's thought of and how much of an impact he had on our offensive success."
Just to be sure though, Terrell Owens cleared out his locker and removed his name plate.
Terrell Owens was among the Cowboys most productive players this past season, catching 85 passes for 1,180 yards and a league-best 13 touchdowns.
But T.O. is due a $3 million roster bonus in June, then a $5 million salary this season. Cutting him before then would save a lot of money and headaches.
Aside from the questions surrounding Terrell Owens, the oddsmakers at MySportsbook.com have concerns over starting quarterback Tony Romo's state of mind and whether he will remain a starting quarterback. It is also not known how players will adjust to new head coach, Wade Phillips.
Here are the football odds as seen at MySportsbook.com and subject to change after February 10, 2007 if not locked in prior to that date.
Arizona Cardinals 60-1
Atlanta Falcons 50-1
Baltimore Ravens 15-1
Buffalo Bills 50-1
Carolina Panthers 18-1
Chicago Bears 10-1
Cincinnati Bengals 15-1
Cleveland Browns 100-1
Dallas Cowboys 15-1
Denver Broncos 15-1
Detroit Lions 100-1
Green Bay Packers 50-1
Houston Texans 100-1
Indianapolis Colts 6-1
Jacksonville Jaguars 30-1
Kansas City Chiefs 30-1
Miami Dolphins 40-1
Minnesota Vikings 75-1
New England Patriots 10-1
New Orleans Saints 18-1
New York Giants 20-1
New York Jets 30-1
Oakland Raiders 100-1
Philadelphia Eagles 18-1
Pittsburgh Steelers 10-1
Saint Louis Rams 60-1
San Diego Chargers 6-1
San Francisco 49ers 75-1
Seattle Seahawks 20-1
Tampa Bay Buccanneers 75-1
Tennessee Titans 40-1
Washington Redskins 50-1
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook credit cards needs.
Marlins could start season without No. 2 starter Johnson
JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.
Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.
MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .
''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''
Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.
He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.
''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''
Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.
Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.
With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.
Additional basbeall odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com
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