ACC matchup pits top-25 foes in Chapel Hill
NCAA Basketball Betting Lines
02/11/2012 -
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 key ACC clash at the Smith Center.
It will be interesting to see if there are any lingering effects from
Wednesday's 85-84 loss to arch rival Duke. The loss halted a five-game win
streak for North Carolina and ended a 31-game homecourt winning streak as
well. It dropped Roy William's squad to 7-2 in conference play, now tied with
Duke and Florida State atop the standings.
Tony Bennett's Cavaliers are one of the surprise teams in the ACC this year.
The team is just a game out of first place at 6-3, thanks to wins in four of
its last five games, including a lopsided 68-44 win over Wake Forest on
Wednesday.
UNC holds a sizeable 125-49 advantage in the all-time series with Virginia,
including wins in six of the last seven meetings overall. The Tar Heels are
63-6 in the series in Chapel Hill, including a 21-3 mark at the Smith Center.
The Cavaliers will need to slow down the explosive Tar Heels, something they
have done effectively in most games this season. Virginia ranks second
nationally in scoring defense (51.1 ppg), holding opponents to a mere .391
shooting. Mike Scott is one of the conference's top frontcourt performers,
shooting an impressive .603 from the field overall, while pacing the Cavaliers
in both scoring (17.0 ppg) and rebounding (8.3 rpg). Guards Joe Harris (12.7
ppg) and Sammy Zeglinski (8.5 ppg) provide perimeter balance. The pair have
combined for 81 of the team's 117 three-pointers to date.
The Cavs were once again at their defensive best in the 24-point win over the
Demon Deacons, holding Wake to a mere .341 shooting, while forcing 17
turnovers. The team got a balanced scoring effort with five double-digit
scorers. Scott led the way with 19 points. Harris added 11, while Jontel
Evans, Akil Mitchell and Malcolm Brogdon chipped in 10 points each.
Duke's star freshman Austin Rivers stuck a dagger in the hearts of the Chapel
Hill faithful, as his three-pointer gave the Blue Devils the win at the Smith
Center on Wednesday. The loss certainly spoiled terrific performances by
Harrison Barnes and Tyler Zeller, who combined for 48 points. Barnes finished
with 25 point, while Zeller posted a double-double with 23 points and 11
rebounds. John Henson also recorded a double-double with 12 points and 17
rebounds, while Kendall Marshall almost made it a trifecta, registering 14
points and eight assists.
That formula has worked to UNC's advantage for the most part this season, as
the Tar Heels are fueled by a dominant frontcourt. Barnes has the ability to
score both inside and out, averaging a team-high 17.7 ppg. Zeller (15.6 ppg,
9.7 rpg) and Henson (14.2 ppg, 10.3 rpg) are a lethal duo in the paint.
Marshall isn't much of a scorer (6.8 ppg) but is charged with running the
nation's top scoring team (84.1 ppg), which he does to near perfection with
almost 10 assists per game.
<< Second-ranked Orange host Huskies in Big East affair
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 st
<< 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
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
Avs, Blues collide in St. Louis >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Colorado Avalanche will try to boost their playoff
chances against a tough opponent, as they visit the St. Louis Blues for
tonight's clash at Scottrade Center.
The Avalanche enter today tied with Dallas for the ninth s
Chiefs' Treen Green out for Sunday's game
How long Trent Green will remain sidelined is unknown. Coach Herm Edwards said Monday he will miss a second straight start Sunday when the Chiefs host the San Francisco 49ers.
A two-time Pro Bowler, Green was going into a feet-first hook slide when he was knocked unconscious by a thunderous, head-snapping hit from Cincinnati's Robert Geathers.
Oddsmakers at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com currently have the Chiefs listed as 7-point favorites versus the 49ers.
The 49ers got beat by Philadelphia 38-24 as a 6.5-point underdog last week. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (42.5).
Alex Smith completed 27-of-46 passes for 293 yards with a touchdown. Michael Robinson rushed for 29 yards and a pair of touchdowns on five carries.
The Chiefs lost 9-6 to Denver last week as an 11-point underdog. The combined score was well UNDER the posted over/under total (38).
Larry Johnson rushed for 126 yards on 27 carries. Damon Huard completed 17-of-23 passes for 133 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.
To visit this online sports book got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.
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