Duke, Big East highlight South

NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

03/15/2010 - Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hours after winning their record 18th ACC Tournament title on Sunday, the Duke Blue Devils were awarded the No. 1 seed in the South Region in the 2010 NCAA Tournament.

Duke (29-5), backed by the triumvirate of Jon Scheyer, Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith, is the top seed for an 11th time and will face the winner of the opening-round game between Big South champion Winthrop and SWAC winner Arkansas-Pine Bluff, which had started its season with 11 straight losses. Those two teams will tangle in Dayton on Tuesday for the right to advance to Jacksonville.

"For our senior class I am so happy," said Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski. "Not many teams in my 30 years in the ACC have won both the regular season and the [ACC] Tournament, and I think because they did it, and we played such a tough schedule, these kids were rewarded with a No. 1 seed."

The Blue Devils, whose only loss in the past 13 games came at Maryland on March 3rd, may face one of the three Big East teams slated in their portion of the bracket if they get past Friday's first-round matchup, as either Louisville or California will be waiting in the round of 32.

Also on Friday, the Cardinals (20-12), the No. 9 seed and the only team that defeated Big East regular season champion Syracuse twice this season, will face the Pac-10's Golden Bears (23-10), who were given the No. 8 seed after falling to Washington in the conference finale.

Villanova (24-7), despite losing five of its last seven games, is seeded second in the South thanks to a strong showing in Big East play and a veteran club that reached last year's Final Four. In the first round on Thursday, the Wildcats meet Northeast Conference champion Robert Morris (23-11), which is seeded 15th in the Big Dance for a second straight year.

The third seed was given to Baylor (25-7), which fell short of appearing in its first Big 12 title game with a loss to Kansas State in the semis of the conference tourney. Nevertheless, the Bears, led by LaceDarius Dunn (19.4 ppg), were given a high seed and will face No. 14 Sam Houston State (25-7), the Southland Conference champion.

"Sam Houston is very well coached. They have done very well against Big 12 schools teams in the past few years and we know we will have our hands full," Baylor head coach Scott Drew said after learning of Thursday's first-round matchup.

Purdue (27-5) picked up a No. 4 seed after there was speculation it might steal a coveted No. 1 slot just three weeks ago. The Boilermakers have dropped just two games since, but they more importantly lost the services of star forward Robbie Hummel to a knee injury.

"I felt we would be a 1-3 [seed]. Our resume says we're a two or three," proclaimed Purdue head coach Matt Painter, who admitted Hummel's injury caused his team's stock to slip. "I don't begrudge the committee for putting us as a four seed. They did what they felt was best. I think it can serve as motivation for our guys to play better."

On the heels of its 69-42 loss to Minnesota in the Big Ten semifinals, which included an embarrassing 11-point first half, Purdue gets a stiff first-round test on Friday against No. 13 seed Siena (27-6), fresh of its third consecutive Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title. The Saints have advanced to the second round in each of the past two seasons, including an upset of Vanderbilt as a No. 13 seed in 2008.

The always interesting 5-12 matchup on Friday pits Aggies vs. Aggies, as Texas A&M (23-9), the ninth seed, battles Utah State (27-7). Texas A&M ended its season on a nice run, winning nine of its last 12 games, though two loses came against Kansas, the current No. 1 team in the nation. Utah State, meanwhile, had won 17 in a row before being upset by New Mexico State in the Western Athletic Conference title game on Saturday.

The final Big East team in this part of the bracket is Notre Dame (23-11), which used a late-season run to earn the No. 6 seed. The Fighting Irish changed up their style of play to win six straight before losing a heartbreaking decision to eventual tourney champ West Virginia in the semis.

Waiting for the Irish in the first round on Thursday is No. 11 seed and Colonial Athletic Association champion Old Dominion (26-8), making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2005.

Rounding out the South Regional is a battle between schools in mid-major conferences, as No. 7 Richmond takes on No. 10 Saint Mary's on Thursday. The Spiders (26-8) held their own in a surprisingly competitive Atlantic 10 Conference, winning 12 of 13 games before losing a 56-52 decision to Temple in the title game on Sunday. The Gaels (26-5) also made the finale in their conference but toppled nationally-ranked Gonzaga to win the West Coast Conference.

The region's Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games will be played at Houston's Reliant Stadium on Friday and Sunday, March 26 and 28.

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Eastern Conference Playoff Betting Trends

We all know by now that the “public” loves to put their money on the FAVORITES and the OVERS.  Just by taking a quick glance at Sportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends” it appears as is this tendency will continue as far as the Eastern Conference games are concerned.  For the inaugural games of the first round, 69% of the early money is on Toronto -4.5; 59% of bettors prefer Chicago -4.5; 84% are backing Detroit -9; and 56% think Cleveland -11.5 is the way to go.  As far as TOTALS are concerned, the only UNDER the “public” is backing is the Cleveland/ Washington game in which 83% are pounding the UNDER (190).  Remember, there is no better way to predict a possible line change than by monitoring MySportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends”.   By determining who the “public” is backing, you can get the most ideal line for your bet.  For example, if you are siding with the public you better place your bet before the line moves in the wrong direction.  On the other side of the coin, if you prefer the team that the “public” is betting against; you might be able to get and extra ½ or even more by placing your bet a bit later.  Under the “Betting Trends” section, Sportsbook.com also provides plenty of statistical data and trends in order for the bettor to make the most informed pick.  Below are some extremely important trends for the first round opponents of the Eastern Conference match-ups, more can be found at MySportsbook.com

New Jersey Nets vs. Toronto Raptors

Toronto was the most reliable covering team this season with a 48-33-1 ATS record but covered the OVER only 41.5% of the time.
The last 20 times these teams have played, the TOTAL has gone UNDER 16 times.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Toronto is 33-19 ATS including 17-9 at home.
 New Jersey has covered four games in a row while Toronto has failed to cover their last four games.
When playing a team with a winning record during the second half of the season, New Jersey was just 5-13 ATS this season.
After scoring 105 points or more, Toronto has covered the OVER only 28% of the time this season. 
 
Miami Heat @ Chicago Bulls

Miami has failed to cover their last 7 games whereas Chicago has covered 6 out of their last 8 games.
Miami has covered the UNDER in four of their last five games whereas Chicago has covered the UNDER in five out of their last six.
When playing on Saturdays, Miami covered 80% of their games this season.
Away from home, Chicago is just 16-25 ATS this season.
At home, Miami covered the UNDER about 66% of the time whereas Chicago covered the UNDER about 61% of the time.
The last 13 times these teams have played each other, Chicago has covered 9 times.
In Miami’s last 11 road games, the UNDER covered 9 times. 
 
Orlando Magic @ Detroit Pistons

Detroit has covered 5 out of their last 6 games.
Away from home, Detroit is 28-13 ATS but just 14-26-1 ATS at home.
At home, Orlando covered the UNDER 64% of the time while Detroit covered the UNDER in 63% of their away games.
The last five times these teams have played in Detroit, the OVER covered each time.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Detroit is 8-17-1 ATS at home but 17-9 ATS away.
Detroit covered the spread 5 out of the last 6 times they played Orlando.
After a Division game, Orlando covered the UNDER 87% of the time this season. 
 
Washington Wizards @ Cleveland Cavaliers

In a home game where the TOTAL is between 190 and 194.5 points, Cleveland is 9-1 ATS this season.
Washington has covered the UNDER in their last 6 games and in 8 of their last 9 games.
The last 6 times these teams have played each other, the UNDER covered each time.
When playing on 3 or more days of rest, Washington is just 18-37 ATS since 1996.
Since 1996, Washington is 28-16 ATS versus Cleveland including 11-5 over the last 3 seasons.
In their last 7 road games, Washington is 6-1 ATS.
Versus Eastern Conference teams at home, Washington is just 6-18-2 ATS. 
 
For even more betting trends for not just the NBA but for all of the major sports, log on to Sportsbook.com and click on “Trends”.  With only two months left in the NBA betting season it is important to be as well informed as possible in order to maximize your profit.  Also for all of you poker players, check out MySportsbook.com’s “WSOP Low Bid Auction”. You could be on your way to Vegas to play against the world’s best poker players for under a buck.

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