Second-ranked Orange host Huskies in Big East affair

NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

02/11/2012 - Syracuse, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With their sights still set on a Big East crown, the second-ranked Syracuse Orange welcome the defending national champion Connecticut Huskies to the Carrier Dome this afternoon.

The Orange won their fourth straight game with a thrilling 64-61 overtime decision against 14th-ranked Georgetown this week. The win was Jim Boeheim's 880th career win, moving him past Dean Smith and into sole possession of third place on the all-time wins list. The victory also pushed the team's record to 24-1, matching the best start in school history (2009-10).

The defending champs better flip a switch fast if they are to even make it into the Big Dance this year. The Huskies have lost five of their last six games, including a humbling 80-59 loss at Louisville this week. To make matters worse, head coach Jim Calhoun has taken a leave of absence for medical reasons, leaving the team in the hands of associate head coach George Blaney.

The Orange hold a 51-36 edge in the series with the Huskies including wins in three of the last four meetings. However, it was UConn that earned a 76-71 victory in the last matchup in the 2011 Big East Tournament.

The Huskies have paid the price for their youth this season, as a pair of sophomores and a pair of freshmen reside in the starting five. Sophomore guards Jeremy Lamb (17.2 ppg) and Shabazz Napier (13.1 ppg) are the top two scorers on the roster and are a dangerous backcourt tandem. Lamb leads the team with 49 three-pointers, while Napier heads the group in assists (5.5 apg). Freshman guard Ryan Boatright (10.4 ppg) has been in and out of the lineup due to eligibility issues, but has settled in of late. Freshman big man Andre Drummond (9.7 ppg, 7.5 rpg) has shown flashes of brilliance in the middle.

Not much went right for UConn at Louisville this week, as the team shot a poor .351 from the field, weighed down by a 3-of-14 showing from three-point range. In addition, the Huskies were outrebounded 45-36 and turned the ball over 15 times. Boatright led the way in defeat with 18 points. Alex Oriakhi and Roscoe Smith added 11 and 10 points, respectively, but Lamb and Napier combined for just 16 points.

Kris Joseph hit six three-pointers, en route to a career-high 29 points in the win over the Hoyas. The see-saw battle had 15 ties and 18 lead changes, before Syracuse outlasted Georgetown. The newly returned Fab Melo was instrumental in the win as well, finishing with 11 points, seven rebounds and six blocked shots.

The performance by Joseph was a little out of the ordinary, although the senior does lead the team in scoring at 14.3 ppg. Dion Waiters is the only other double-digit threat at this time at 12.2 ppg. A complete team effort this week, scoring depth is found in Brandon Triche (9.8 ppg), C.J. Fair (8.4 ppg), Scoop Jardine (8.2 ppg) and Melo (7.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 68 blocks). An efficient team, Syracuse is shooting .477 from the floor overall and averaging a healthy 77.6 ppg. The defensive effort has been stellar, with opponents averaging just 60.8 ppg and being held well under 40 percent shooting (.383).

Wwwlasvegashotpicks NCAA Basketball Betting News

<< SEC action pits Gators against Vols
Gainesville, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The eighth-ranked Florida Gators return to Gainesville looking to regain their swagger, as they play host to the Tennessee Volunteers in SEC action at the O'Connell Center. Billy Donovan's Gators headed int

<< Jayhawks clash with Cowboys in Big 12 action
Lawrence, KS (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The seventh-ranked Kansas Jayhawks return to Lawrence following a two-game road trip, as they play host to the Oklahoma State Cowboys in Big 12 action from the Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas has been a model of cons

<< Mountain West showdown pits Aztecs against Rebels
Las Vegas, NV (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The second half of the Mountain West Conference schedule kicks off today with a clash of the titans in the desert, as the 14th-ranked UNLV Runnin' Rebels play host to the 13th-ranked San Diego State Aztecs at th

<< Wichita State visits Creighton in MVC showdown
Omaha, NE (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The top two teams in the Missouri Valley Conference square off in Omaha this evening, as the Wichita State Shockers have come calling on the 17th-ranked Creighton Bluejays. Both teams are 21-4 on the year, with W

<< Mavs host Blazers in Big D
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dallas will kick off a three-game homestand tonight by welcoming the Portland Trail Blazers to American Airlines Center. The reigning NBA champion Mavericks have won two straight after an uncharacteristic three-game skid,

ACC matchup pits top-25 foes in Chapel Hill >>
Chapel Hill, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Coming off a deflating last second loss to rival Duke, the fifth-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels seek a quick turnaround, as the welcome the 19th-ranked Virginia Cavaliers to Chapel Hill this afternoon for a k

Gaels seek redemption in WCC clash with Broncos >>
Moraga, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two teams at opposite ends of the West Coast Conference spectrum meet in Moraga, California tonight, as the Santa Clara Broncos have come to challenge the 16th-ranked Saint Mary's-CA Gaels. Santa Clara has had a

Americans again stun Federer-led Swiss for Davis Cup win >>
Fribourg, Switzerland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The United States Davis Cup team clinched a stunning first-round win against Switzerland on Saturday when the doubles tandem of Mike Bryan and Mardy Fish notched a four-set victory over the Swi

Sabres try to stay hot against visiting Bolts >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The surging Buffalo Sabres will try to post their longest winning streak of the season tonight, when they host the Tampa Bay Lightning at First Niagara Center. Buffalo has notched wins in its last three outings and is one

Leafs to honor Sundin before hosting Habs >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - One of the best rivalries in professional sports will be rekindled tonight in Toronto, as the Maple Leafs welcome the Montreal Canadiens for a Northeast Division clash at Air Canada Centre. Before the old Original Six foes

MySportsbook.com refunds all bets on Oakland, Green Bay and Tampa Bay from NFL week one.

(September 14) – Week one of NFL action saw three teams go scoreless for the first time since 1977.  Another four were unable to get a touchdown and almost half of the underdogs covered the spread. Those three teams saved bettors at MySportsbook.com from losing out completely, thanks to the company’s unique NFL Shutout Rule -- which ensures that if the team you backed goes scoreless, your wager is refunded.

Sportsbook refunded tens of thousands of dollars to customers who bet on Oakland, Green Bay and Tampa Bay, the three teams that stunk up the field so badly that their fans and backers never had a chance to get up from their couches and cheer.  In the spirit of the low scoring start to the season, odds makers at the world’s largest online sportsbook and casino have set odds on how many total shutouts there will be this season. 

MySportsbook.com has posted updated sports betting lines for week two of the season.  Ben Roethlisberger’s health status is still questionable, so Willie Parker will try to lead Pittsburgh again as they travel to Jacksonville as a one point favorite.  After beating up on his little brother last week, Peyton Manning will look to lead the Colts to victory against Houston. Indianapolis is a whopping 13.5 favorite in the match-up.

Seattle, last year’s highest scoring team, showed the power of their defense with their gritty 9-6 win in Motown over the ravenous Lions.  They take their act back home to the comforts of Qwest Field where they will face the resurgent Arizona Cardinals.  The Seahawks are favored by a touchdown. 

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts Visa needs.