2009 Pac-10 Conference Tournament Preview

NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

03/10/2009 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - All 10 members of the Pac-10 Conference will compete for the league's tournament title and a bid to the NCAA Tournament in a four-day event that begins on March 11th in Los Angeles.

The teams seeded seventh through 10th will have to participate in the opening round, while the six highest-seeded teams will begin action in Thursday's quarterfinals. Washington, the regular season champion, has earned the top seed to the surprise of many. The Huskies will not have an easy road to a tourney title, as second-seeded UCLA, third-seeded California and four-seeded Arizona State are all loaded with talent. Fifth-seeded Arizona has more Pac-10 Tournament titles than any other league member (five), and the club has played its best ball over the past month. USC is seeded sixth and has plenty of talent, but the Trojans have been painfully inconsistent. Of the bottom four seeds, none seem to be a legitimate contender for the tourney title, but we have learned over the years that a team can get hot in a hurry in March. Last season, UCLA beat Stanford to claim the championship.

The first of two opening-round games on Wednesday pits the eighth-seeded Oregon State Beavers against the ninth-seeded Stanford Cardinal. Stanford won its only Pac-10 tourney title back in 2004, while Oregon State is still in search of its first crown. The Beavers won both regular season meetings with the Cardinal, so expect them to play with plenty of confidence. Oregon State is ninth in the conference in scoring at just 59.7 ppg and struggles in the rebounding department as well. Still, the team plays strong defense. As for Stanford, it has struggled somewhat defensively, allowing foes to shoot 48.1 percent from the field. Anthony Goods averages 15.7 ppg to pace the club.

The second opening-round matchup features the seventh-seeded Washington State Cougars and the 10th-seeded Oregon Ducks. Washington State has never won this event and is just 4-9 in Pac-10 Tournament games. The Cougars are last in the league in scoring offense, as they are generating a lowly 59.4 ppg. Fortunately, they are tops in scoring defense, holding foes to 55.2 ppg. Washington State is the top free-throw shooting team in the conference and is second in blocked shots. As for the Ducks, they have two titles to their credit, the most recent of which came two years ago. Oregon is the worst defensive team in the Pac-10, as it is permitting opponents to score 76.6 ppg on 49.2 percent field goal efficiency. The Ducks are also last in rebounding margin.

Moving to the quarterfinal round, a much-anticipated battle between fourth- seeded Arizona State and fifth-seeded Arizona will ensue. As mentioned, Arizona's four titles are the most among all league members, but the Wildcats haven't earned a championship in this event since 2002. Jordan Hill, Chase Budinger and Nic Wise rank second, fourth and ninth, respectively, on the conference's scoring list. Hill provides 18.5 ppg and is second in rebounding (11.0 rpg) as well. Budinger checks in with 18.2 ppg, and Wise provides 15.0 ppg and 4.6 apg. As for Arizona State, it is 3-10 all-time in the tournament and has yet to claim a championship. James Harden is the man to watch for the Sun Devils, as the explosive guard leads the league in scoring at 20.8 ppg while also pulling down 5.1 rpg and dishing out 4.1 apg. Opponents are only scoring 59.8 ppg against ASU, which prides itself on strong defense.

The second quarterfinal game will pit the top-seeded Washington Huskies against either Stanford or Oregon State. Washington has split its 18 Pac-10 Tournament games and won its only championship back in 2005. The Huskies lead the conference in scoring with 79.2 ppg, and they are tops in scoring margin as well. The trio of Isaiah Thomas, Justin Dentmon and Jon Brockman is most responsible for the team's success this season. Thomas, a freshman, is netting 15.4 ppg, while Dentmon checks in at 15.3 ppg. Brockman provides 14.8 ppg, and the rugged forward is also ripping down a Pac-10-leading 11.5 rpg.

Third-seeded California and sixth-seeded USC will collide on Thursday, and both begin their quest for their first Pac-10 Tournament crown. Cal's Jerome Randle has dished out more assists than any other player in the conference, and he is scoring 18.4 ppg to place third. Patrick Christopher (14.6 ppg) is a solid second scoring option for the Golden Bears, who are generating 75.0 ppg while allowing 68.0 ppg. They are shooting a staggering 43.8 percent from three-point range to lead the league by a wide margin, and both Randle and Christopher are dangerous perimeter shooters. As for USC, it is led by Taj Gibson and Dwight Lewis, who are scoring 14.4 ppg and 14.2 ppg, respectively. Gibson grabs 9.3 rpg while shooting 58.8 percent from the floor for the Trojans, who are the worst three-point shooting team in the conference.

Lastly, the quarterfinal round ends with the winner of the Oregon/Washington State game taking on the second-seeded UCLA Bruins. UCLA has won this event in two of the last three years and is 13-8 in the tournament all-time. The Bruins lead the Pac-10 in scoring margin, as they are a +13.5 ppg in that department. The Bruins are shooting 50.6 percent from the floor, tops in the league, and they are also first in assists, steals and turnover margin. Darren Collison, the team's point guard, is the league's top free throw shooter at 92.3 percent. He is second in assists (5.0 apg) and 10th in scoring (14.8 ppg).

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NFL Football Betting


BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES

It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.

BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES

All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.

COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES

Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.

TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES

Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.

RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES

Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.

PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES

Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.

JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES

Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.

SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES

I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.

VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES

Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.

DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES

Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.

SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES

I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.

BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES

Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.

BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES

Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.

RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES

A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.

PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers

Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.

Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.