Second-seeded Villanova takes on Robert Morris in first-round action

NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

03/18/2010 - Providence, RI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 15th-seeded Robert Morris Colonials will have a tough task this afternoon in the South Region, as they take on the second-seeded Villanova Wildcats in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.

The Colonials will be making their second straight appearance in the Big Dance and the seventh overall in school history, which is the most by any team in Northeast Conference history. However, in the past NCAA Tournaments for Robert Morris the team is just 1-7. This season the Colonials tallied 23 overall victories and claimed their second straight NEC Tournament title.

The Wildcats will be making their sixth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament, which is one off the school mark of seven straight showings set from 1980 to 1986. This will be the 31st overall showing in the tournament for Villanova, which is 48-30 all-time. Last season the Wildcats made a tremendous run in the Big Dance, advancing to the Final Four before falling to eventual champ North Carolina, 83-69. Villanova enters this contest with a 24-7 ledger, but the team dropped five of its last seven matchups.

This will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools on the hardwood, and the winner of this contest will move on to the second round to battle either Richmond or Saint Mary's.

The success this season for Robert Morris can be attributed to the team's play at the defensive end of the floor, as the Colonials are limiting opponents to just 65.7 ppg. Teams are shooting 40.9 percent against the Colonials this season, but the team has done a solid job defending against the three-point shot, as opponents are connecting on just 32.3 percent from long range. Unfortunately at the other end of the floor, the team has faltered a bit. In fact, Robert Morris possesses just one player averaging double figures, and that is Karon Abraham, who comes into this game netting 13.4 ppg. Abraham is a dangerous weapon from behind the arc, and has connected on a sensational 44.2 percent of his three-point attempts (80-of-181). Rob Robinson is contributing 9.9 ppg and a team-high 5.5 rpg, but the scoring pool dries up after that, with the team producing just 68.5 ppg on the season.

The Wildcats have been one of the most dangerous scoring teams in the country from the start this year, and they possess a sensational guard tandem in Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher. Reynolds is one of the best guards in the country, and is a proven leader on the floor, coming into this matchup leading the Wildcats with 18.5 ppg. Reynolds, who is shooting 39.9 percent from behind the arc, has also dished out 103 assists on the season. As for Fisher, he is very similar to Reynolds in the aspect of being a quick guard that can score a multiple of ways. Fisher, who is averaging 13.7 ppg on the year, has also distributed a team-best 125 assists on the year, while committing just 65 turnovers. Taking care of business down low has been Antonio Pena, who is chipping in 10.9 ppg, to go along with a team-high 7.4 rpg for Villanova, which as a whole is producing a healthy 82.5 ppg, behind a respectable 46.5 percent shooting effort.

Wwwsouthbeachdiet NCAA Basketball Betting News

<< Washington and Marquette meet in first round of 2010 NCAA Tournament
San Jose, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The sixth-seeded Marquette Golden Eagles and the 11th-seeded Washington Huskies will meet in the first round of the NCAA Tournament's East Region. Up next for the winner of this contest is a second-round clash

<< Wake Forest and Texas do battle in 2010 NCAA Tournament
New Orleans, LA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The East Region of the 2010 NCAA Tournament features a first-round matchup between the eighth-seeded Texas Longhorns and the ninth-seeded Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Awaiting the winner of this tilt is a sec

<< Spiders and Gaels meet in South Region's first round
Providence, RI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - First-round action in the South Region will take place this afternoon at the Dunkin' Donuts Center when the seventh-seeded Richmond Spiders take on the 10th-seeded Saint Mary's Gaels. The Gaels are participa

<< Midwest Regional affair pits Panthers against Rebels
Oklahoma City, OK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The ninth-seeded Northern Iowa Panthers mix it up with the eighth-seeded UNLV Runnin' Rebels in the first round of the NCAA Tournament's Midwest Regional tonight at the Ford Center. The winner of this game w

<< Upset-minded Racers open tournament play against Commodores
San Jose, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The first team in Division I to reach 30 wins this season, the Murray State Racers now have their sights set on number 31 as they take on the Vanderbilt Commodores in the first round of the 72nd annual NCAA Tourn

Bears and Bearkats collide in South Regional action >>
New Orleans, LA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Playing in their second NCAA Tournament in the last three seasons, the Baylor Bears will tangle with the Sam Houston State Bearkats in first round action of the South Region at New Orleans Arena this afternoon

Vols set sights on Aztecs in first-round action >>
Providence, RI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In search of their first-ever NCAA Tournament win, the 11th-seeded San Diego State Aztecs take aim at the sixth- seeded Tennessee Volunteers in the first round at the Dunkin' Donuts Center. The survivor of this

West Regional action features Bulldogs against Miners >>
San Jose, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Appearing in the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive year, the Butler Bulldogs kick off first-round action of the 72nd annual event this afternoon against the Miners of Texas-El Paso at HP Pavilion in San

Back injury forces Singh to withdraw >>
Palm Harbor, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Vijay Singh withdrew from the Transitions Championship before Thursday's first round because of a back injury. Singh was set to tee off with defending champion Retief Goosen and reigning U.S. Open winn

Slumping Sharks try to bounce back against Canucks >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - While the San Jose Sharks are coming off their most lopsided defeat of the season, the Vancouver Canucks are dealing with the loss of one of their biggest weapons. San Jose will try to halt a three-game slide this evening

Super Bowl XLIV Odds

Super Bowl XLIII isn't even a week old yet and oddsmakers have already released Super Bowl XLIV odds.

Despite the Pittsburgh Steelers winning Super Bowl 43, the New England Patriots are 8/1 favorites to win Super Bowl 44.

Bet Super Bowl XLIV Future Odds

With their 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, the Steelers became the latest NFL champion. But believe it or not, oddsmakers from online sports book MySportsbook.com don't have the Steelers the favorites to win Super Bowl XLIV next season.

That honor belongs to the New England Patriots, who are 8/1 favorites to win despite not even qualify for the postseason in 2008. The Pats also have a major decision to make regarding what to do with Matt Cassel, who played well in Tom Brady's (knee surgery) absence last year but is also a free agent this offseason.

Ironically, the Steelers aren't even oddsmakers second choice to win Super Bowl 44, as the Dallas Cowboys are listed right behind the Patriots at 9/1 despite not making the playoffs themselves. Clearly oddsmakers think the public will hop back on the Cowboys' bandwagon considering the immense talent they have and the opening of a brand new stadium.

After Dallas, then comes Pittsburgh at 10/1, but they share those odds with the New York Giants, who won Super Bowl XLII. The Indianapolis Colts and San Diego Chargers round out the top six teams at 12/1, while the Baltimore Ravens (14/1), Tennessee Titans (16/1), Carolina Panthers (18/1) and Philadelphia Eagles (18/1) complete the top 10.

The NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals got no love from oddsmakers as they were established as a 30/1 long shot to win next year's Super Bowl. They share those same odds with the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers – two teams that didn't even qualify for the postseason. Other long shots are the Kansas City Chiefs (100/1), Detroit Lions (100/1), St. Louis Rams (75/1) and Oakland Raiders (75/1).

To see a complete list of all the team's odds to win Super Bowl XLIV, check below.

NFL TEAM FUTURE ODDS TO WIN SUPER BOWL XLIV

New England Patriots 8/1

Dallas Cowboys 9/1

New York Giants 10/1

Pittsburgh Steelers 10/1

Indianapolis Colts 12/1

San Diego Chargers 12/1

Baltimore Ravens 14/1

Tennessee Titans 16/1

Carolina Panthers 18/1

Philadelphia Eagles 18/1

New Orleans Saints 20/1

Atlanta Falcons 25/1

Denver Broncos 25/1

Green Bay Packers 25/1

Jacksonville Jaguars 25/1

Minnesota Vikings 25/1

New York Jets 25/1

Arizona Cardinals 30/1

Chicago BearS 30/1

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30/1

Buffalo Bills 35/1

Houston TexaNS 35/1

Miami Dolphins 35/1

Washington Redskins 35/1

Seattle SeahawkS 50/1

Cleveland Browns 55/1

Cincinnati Bengals 60/1

San Francisco 49ers 60/1

Oakland Raiders 75/1

St. Louis Rams 75/1

Detroit Lions 100/1

Kansas City Chiefs 100/1

Odds as of: 2/2/09

Bet Super Bowl XLIV Future Odds

To visit this online sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.