Big East Match-up Features #8 Marquette at Cincinnati


The #8-ranked Marquette Golden Eagles (24-5, 13-3 Big East) head into a rematch tonight on the road against the Cincinnati Bearcats (20-9, 10-6 Big East) at Fifth Third Arena at 7:00 PM ET in Cincinnati, Ohio.

While Marquette has already locked in a double-bye for the upcoming Big East Tournament ahead, the Golden Eagles still have accomplishments to make in what has been an outstanding campaign, and they’ll no doubt be under an increasing spotlight as they wrap up their season with tonight’s game and a tough home battle against #11 Georgetown on Saturday. No doubt a sweep of the season series with Cincinnati, combined with earning a #2 seed in the competitive Big East conference would give Marquette a huge leg-up in the NCAA tournament bracket selection, and also plenty of confidence heading back home for what should be an even greater challenge against the Hoyas. Winning 12 of their last 13 games, and 5 of 6 against Cincinnati specifically, Marquette has to like it’s chances tonight especially if they’re talented offense can have similar success against the Bearcats like they did earlier in the month. Once again, keys to a Marquette win will hedge on their two talented leading scorers and veteran leaders, Darius Johnson-Odom (18.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg) and Jae Crowder (17.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg). With the two putting up 23 points apiece in the win over Cincy two and a half weeks ago, once again they’ll be called on to lead the scoring attack for the Eagles tonight. Helping the team to shoot an impressive %56.7 against a tough Bearcats defense that averages just 60.8 points to opposing offenses, in a game where you can expect Cincy to have a much better defensive plan, Marquette’s leading scorers must have another top shooting night on the road in order to avoid becoming the 2nd Top-25 team in a week to fall against the Bearcats.

After being thoroughly trounced in all aspects of the game in the last match-up with the Golden Eagles, a 95-78 loss, the Bearcats have a lot of mistakes to correct if they’re to pull down a key Big East win at home before the conference tournament. The correction starts with getting back to a solid level of defensive play, which they have done in the last three games, allowing less than 57 points per game. Looking at the statistical information from the last match-up between Cincinnati and Marquette though, a couple of key areas of necessary improvement stand out; first, the Bearcats surrendered twice as many turnovers (14:7), and secondly, they were out-shot in every possible aspect of the game (field goal, 3-pt and free throw %). To address the first issue, Cincinnati has to do a better job with ball handling, as both Cashmere Wright (11.1 ppg, 4.5 apg) and reserve Justin Jackson (5.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg) combined for 4 turnovers apiece, collectively more than the entire Marquette team had in the Feb. 11th meeting. Those 14 total turnovers created 25 points for the Eagles, and Marquette further was able to dominate in fast breaks, outscoring Cincy 31-10 in that category. The Bearcats can’t expect to win if Marquette is able to run with the ball and avoid Cincy’s set defensive schemes, so avoiding the costly turnovers as much as possible and keeping the ball away from opportunistic hands will be essential tonight at home for Cincinnati to maintain a good pace for the game.

Secondly, shooting has to get better for the ‘Cats, especially around the perimeter. While Marquette can’t be expected to produce the same school record-setting shooting night they had in this year’s first meeting with Cincinnati, with the form the Eagles are currently in heading into tournament play, the Bearcats have to step up their game to take higher percentage shots, and also limit the amount of high percentage shots they are giving up. Cincy shot just 34 percent from the floor in the loss against USF on Sunday that snapped a 3-game winning streak, and that performance is troubling especially as they already aren’t a great shooting team at 42 percent for the year (252nd in the nation). To stand a shot at keeping pace with a Marquette side that shoots at a solid %46.4 for the year, Cincinnati’s leading scorer Sean Kilpatrick (14.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg) has to set an example and personally improve upon his awful 7 point performance in the Feb 11th game (2-6 shooting), which saw him frustrated all night by a hounding Marquette defense. Along with Kilpatrick, who should see most of the defensive attention again, senior guard Dion Dixon (13.2 ppg) also has to set a better standard tonight; he’s shooting just 37 percent from the floor on the year, and his percentages in shooting from the floor and from 3-pt range have fallen by 45 and 72 points respectively year-on-year. With Dixon, Kilpatrick and Cashmere Wright combining for 77 percent of the Bearcat’s three-point efforts, Dixon has to be the one to step up big tonight, as he’s not shot above 35 percent in the last 4 games, and seeing him drop a few bombs in from deep should certainly boost the confidence of Cincinnati as a whole.

While Cincinnati was dominant in the paint during the last game pulling down 39 rebounds, 18 of those on offense (vs. 28 and 7 for Marquette), mainly due to their significant height advantage over the Eagles, Marquette’s smaller size and speed was shown to almost erase the advantages Cincy has in their inside game. Thus, Marquette will once again try to push the ball as much as possible, and utilize their efficient passing game (17.3 assists/game, 7th in the NCAA) to get the ball to players moving off screens and penetrating the base line. Jae Crowder has to be a go-to guy for Marquette tonight once again, as he’s averaging an astonishing 26.3 points over his last 4 games, but getting the ball to him will fall to the likes of Vander Blue (8.6 ppg, 3.0 apg) and Junior Cadougan (6.5 ppg, 5.5 apg), who have been the main distributors for the Eagles this season. Marquette has to keep pushing the ball into the interior and avoid being suppressed with defense around the outside, where their shooting hasn’t been as good (34.6 percent from 3-pt range). If they can keep the ball moving and keep Cincy guessing, they’ll be able to once again overcome their size deficiencies and frustrate the Bearcat’s defense. A frustrated Bearcats team on defense is usually one that struggles on offense, as we’ve seen over recent years.

Betting Lines for #8 Marquette vs. Cincinnati at Betonline Sportsbook

For this featured Big East match-up tonight, we head down to the betting lines at Betonline Sportsbook, one of the best online sportsbooks reviewed here.

Starting with the straight up wagers for the money line, this game is looking to be a tight one, with Cincinnati at a slight favorite to win with -115 odds, while Marquette trails only just with -105 odds.

Against the spread, it’s an almost-negligible difference of 1 point, with Marquette getting +1 at -110 odds, and the host Cincinnati Bearcats getting -1 points at -110 odds.

The over/under on total points stands at 139 points, however in what should be more of a defensive match-up on Cincinnati’s home court, I expect the Golden Eagles to not have the same success running the ball, and for the Bearcats to be much more effective on defense. Look for scoring in the high 60’s for both teams to push the over/under, but eventually fall just short.

Our Pick To Win:

As I continue to incorrectly back high-ranked teams in road games against opponents that play their best basketball at home, this game again has me second-guessing my judgment, especially after Michigan State’s awful performance in a road loss to an Indiana team that simply wanted the game more. However, in sportsbook betting, going with the initial, gut reaction is never something you want to question, and as such, I’m backing Marquette to win this game on the road in a close one. While Cincinnati is going to put on a much better defensive effort and should improve drastically off their poor performance against USF over the weekend, in the end, Marquette’s better shooting, better ball control, and better efforts at the free-throw line are going to carry them through the contest at Fifth Third this evening. While they were given a big test at West Virginia in light of a number of players getting benched for half the game, I expect those guys, including leading scorer Darius Johnson-Odom to come out swinging right away tonight, and put on a solid effort that earns them the second seed in the Big East. Marquette 67, Cincinnati 64.

Midweek Wagers on NCAA, NBA Hoops, NHL Hockey at Betonline.com

If there is ever a time to get excited about the end of a regular season for a sports league, right now is it! As the NCAA basketball season surges forward into March with excitement and surprises to come amidst the end of the regular season, the journey into the conference tournaments and the pinnacle of the season being the NCAA Tournament to come, for today there’s all kinds of activity within each of the major conferences throughout the league as teams look to secure titles and/or boost their positioning for upcoming Conference tournaments in the days to come. While the online sports betting action today is spread well across a number of sports ranging from hockey to pro Basketball and even some soccer matches to boot, the focus remains on College hoops to be the main source of betting action, especially with plenty of ranked teams in action, and lots on the line in terms of tournament play to come. It’s always been a favorite time for scoping out the years’ Cinderella stories for March Madness, as the lesser-known squads come out of the woodwork and into the national spotlight, so if you’re a fan of basketball, there’s no doubt you should be securing some wagers today, and throughout the month even, at one of the best online sports betting sites reviewed here. For today, we’re pushing bets onto the table at one of the tried and true sports betting websites, at the Betonline Sportsbook. A staple in our rounds of weekly sports betting, Betonline offers one of the simplest and easiest sports betting platforms around, and with our history of over 4 years wagering on this site with only good things to say, you can rest assured it’s a safe place to put your hard-earned cash to work for you.

Starting out the betting ticket for Wednesday, turn to the top games in the NCAA this evening, including a few great conference match-ups featuring top 25 teams, and more specifically those looking to secure a conference title ahead of the conference championships. First up in the ACC, #6 North Carolina plays host to Maryland, and while the Tar Heels should be in for a win at home tonight via their more physical, more talented roster, the Terps should make this an interesting game, as they’ve played conference foes well this season. Next up in the Big East, a great match-up finds #7 Marquette headed into a game with upset potential, paying a visit to Cincinnati. While both teams are clearly in the NCAA Tournament picture, you can rest assured this will be a much closer game than the Feb. 11th meeting between the two teams (A 95-78 victory for the Golden Eagles), as Cincinnati seeks it’s second defeat of a top 25 team in the last week, and would certainly help to bump them up in the brackets for March Madness. Other interesting match-ups to check out tonight include #8 Missouri hosting the always-pesky Iowa State Cyclones in a Big 12 showdown, #11 Ohio State gets into a road battle with conference foes Northwestern, a team very much in the tournament picture still, and lastly #18 Louisville tries to fend off South Florida in Big East play, with the Bulls very much needing a win to push up in the seeding for the Big East tournament to come.

Heading towards sports betting choices for the NBA tonight, check out the surging Chicago Bulls who hit the road against the San Antonio Spurs, in what should be the marquee match-up of the evening for betting on sports at one of the top online sportsbooks found here . Make sure to also catch another huge match-up as the Oklahoma City Thunder head Northeast to take on the Philadelphia 76ers, and watch for the Memphis Grizzlies to give the Dallas Mavericks a tough go of it down in Graceland tonight. Other great match-ups for betting on sports include the Portland Trail Blazers at the Denver Nuggets, the Los Angeles Lakers hosting the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Utah Jazz thankful to be back home to take on the Houston Rockets. As the second half of the NBA season gets underway with only around 30 games left for each team in play, make sure that you constantly browse the best betting lines for NBA Basketball day-in and day-out, and take advantage of the best match-ups for your most profitable outcomes on this great sports.

Lastly today, we’re checking out the NHL Hockey action slated for this evening, as the season has quickly entered playoff mode, with many teams fighting for seeding and/or the final spots in the conference playoff races. For the 4 games scheduled tonight, there’s plenty of good bets to be had as the Dallas Stars host the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Chicago Blackhawks bring in the Toronto Maple Leafs, and two clashes out west include the Anaheim Ducks vs. the Buffalo Sabres and the Edmonton Oilers take on tough and defensively-stingy St. Louis Blues. It’s another great day for sports, sports fans, and online sportsbook betting, so check out any of these great match-ups and more at Betonline sportsbook today, and good luck as always!

Big Ten Battle Pits #5 Michigan State Against #18 Indiana


The 5th-ranked Michigan State Spartans (24-5, 13-3 Big Ten) head into the first of two tough games to close out the 2011-12 NCAA Basketball season, matching up tonight with the #18 Indiana Hoosiers (22-7, 9-7 Big Ten) at 7:00 PM ET at Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana.

Though Michigan State has already secured a share of the Big Ten Title this season by virtue of their two game lead over Ohio State, knowing the MSU program and the competitiveness of head coach Tom Izzo, there’s plenty still left to play for in tonight’s game against a tough Hoosiers’ team that will be looking for another quality win at home against a highly-ranked opponent ahead of the NCAA Tournament bracket selection. The Spartans game plan this season has revolved whole-heartedly around suffocating defense, with MSU allowing just 57.8 points/game on the year, and down the home stretch where they’ve now won 9 of their last 10 games, Michigan State is playing even better defense allowing just 52.3 points per contest in those 10 outings. What’s even better for MSU fans is the fact that 3 wins during their stretch of 7 straight victories have come against ranked teams (Ohio State, Wisconsin and Michigan), all in their conference. With a second win on the season against Indiana, and their 7th straight overall, Michigan State will be in good position to grab a coveted #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, setting themselves up for another potentially historic run for the NCAA Championship.

For Indiana head coach and former Tom Izzo assistant Tom Crean, tonight’s match-up on home court is a golden opportunity for the apprentice to finally conquer his mentor, provided the fast-paced, high scoring Hoosiers can find a way to break through a stingy MSU defense. In order for that to happen the Hoosiers are going to have to find a way to be successful shooting the ball while getting contributions from their entire roster. Most notable from the last meeting between these two teams was the lack of presence from Indiana’s leading scorer Cody Zeller (15.4 points/game, 6.5 rebounds/game), who produced just 4 points and 3 rebounds due to persistent foul trouble, and Indiana found themselves unable to contend in an 80-65 rout on the road. This is again an area where the game can be won or lost for the Hoosiers, as without the big freshman’s contributions under the basket against a very physical Michigan State group, Indiana will be forced to fire away from 3-pt range, leaving the games’ outcome decided by their ability or inability to knock down clutch shots. While fellow IU forward Christian Watford (11.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg) certainly tried to pick up the slack for Zeller’s absence against MSU last time out (26 points, 10 rebounds), it’s evident that for tonight’s game to be close, both Watford and Zeller are going to have to stay clear of foul trouble, and have great efforts against the likes of the Spartans’ Draymond Green (15.6 ppg, 10.3 rpg), who is one of the nation’s most physical, talented and experienced big men, despite only occupying a 6’7″ frame. Michigan State is tops in the Big Ten on the offensive boards, excels at winning second chance opportunities, and dominates games with their points in the paint (34/game). Therefore, Indiana’s big men must step up tonight both on offense and on defense in order to give themselves a legitimate shot at winning at home tonight.

Michigan State’s offense may not blow the competition out of the water with their 72.5 points/game average, however their consistency of play across the board is what makes them a true contender this year heading into the NCAA tournament. The Spartans are big on the glass, ranking 19th in the NCAA in rebounds (39.1/game), 22nd in assists (15.7), and shoot the ball well at %47.6 from the floor (25th in the NCAA). While just two players on their roster shoot in double figures (the aforementioned Green, and Keith Appling, 11.7 ppg), and just 5 players are above 7.0 points/game, their ability to get big performances from their two biggest scorers night after night is what is driving MSU down the home stretch. For instance, in the last game against Indiana, the Spartans shot lights out at home with 54.7 percent from the floor, but it was the big effort by Keith Appling, who scored 25 points, 7 assists and 6 rebounds, that truly put the game out of reach. Rather than hedge on getting a lot of scorers active in the game, Michigan State constantly pushes the ball to the most favorable match-ups on the court, which are frequently those facing Appling and Green. While there’s veteran support for the Spartans’ top players by way of junior center Derrick Nix (7.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg) and senior guard Brandon Wood (8.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg), the Spartans need to have both Green and Appling score big tonight against an Indiana team that will be trying to push the ball at home, and could be in for a much better shooting night which could give them an advantage.

Where Michigan State relies on their defense and their two biggest scorers to determine basketball games, Indiana lives and dies by its ability to score on every possession. Indiana shoots at a fantastic %49 from the floor (7th in the NCAA), and puts up 77.6 points/game, but when they struggle to consistently score each time down the court, they can be exposed especially against good defenses. A very interesting note picked out by ESPN for this game; In games in which Indiana is held below 1 point per possession, they are 0-5. That means that in games where they are better than a point per possession, they are 22-2. The first team to hold them under that 1 point/possession mark this year? Michigan State. That seems to point to the fact that Indiana needs to be selective with its shots around the perimeter even despite the fact that they shoot at an impressive %42.6 beyond the arc, and also work to push the ball inside to higher-percentage looks as much as they can. While Draymond Green will certainly be an imposing figure for Zeller, Watford and Victor Oladipo (11.2 pgg, 5.4 rpg) down low, Indiana has to push the ball into the paint, be physical and try to draw fouls, and draw the defense inside to free up shooters around the perimeters. Without forcing Michigan State to collapse into the paint, there’s going to be too much defensive pressure applied around the perimeter for Indiana, lowering their chances of getting off good looking shots from outside.

Betting Lines for #5 Michigan State at #18 Indiana at TopBet Sportsbook

With two very different styles of team play clashing tonight, it will be interesting to see if Indiana can get Michigan State to play their type of basketball, much like the Spartans did to the Hoosiers in the last battle between these two teams back on December 28th. For that to happen, Indiana has to push the ball down the court, and keep Michigan State from setting up on defense. The bookmakers at TopBet Sportsbook certainly have Indiana pegged to put down a much better effort tonight at home, with the Hoosiers getting +125 odds as a slight underdog on home court. Michigan State marches into Assembly Hall carrying strong recent form, thus it’s not a surprise that the Spartans get the favorite in this match-up even on the road, with -145 odds on the money line.

Against the spread, this game stays tight with a slight favorite going to Michigan State with -2.5 points at -110 odds. Indiana gets 2.5 points to play with, with the same -110 odds tonight.

Where the game gets interesting on the betting lines is the over/under, which sits at 138.5 points. With the last meeting accumulating 145 points at Michigan State, and with Indiana not able to break out their scoring attack in that game, a better showing for the Hoosiers at home could once again see the over bet be the best pick for the contest tonight. That said, if Michigan State repeats its repressive defensive performance against Indiana, and controls the tempo of the game on the road, a low-scoring game will unfold giving the under total points pickers the best option.

Our Pick to Win:

Indiana has been outstanding at home this season, especially against top-ranked teams. Looking to become one of only 4 teams in the past 10 years to defeat 3 top-5 teams in the same season, and also holding a 16-1 record on home court this year, this game should be Indiana’s to win or lose. That said, one thing outside of the actual on-court game still has me leaning towards Michigan State tonight; The mentor is still better than the student. Tom Izzo will draw up a game plan that works to keep Indiana shooters outside, frustrate the younger Hoosiers in the paint, and slow down the game to make each possession that much more important. If Indiana coach Tom Crean can find a way to keep his players working on fast breaks, avoid costly turnovers, and keep the shooting focused on high-percentage shots, Indiana could very well walk out with a win. However, with Michigan State’s defense playing at its best on the season down the home stretch, I don’t see Indiana being able to score like they want, and that in turn will be the difference in the game. Look for the older, more experienced team, with the more experienced head coach to complete the season sweep of the Hoosiers on the road, with Michigan State winning at Assembly Hall to secure the outright Big Ten title by a score of 70-66.

NBA Basketball Back on Betting Lines at TopBet Sportsbook

After waiting anxiously for the resumption of the NBA Basketball second half of play, finally on Tuesday that moment is upon us, as tonight’s basketball schedule features a full offering of 9 contests for betting on sports from coast-to-coast. Though the first half of the season has certainly been exciting, as teams have had to play grueling schedules with back-to-back-to-back games in some circumstances, the sloppier play due to the reduced time in training camp and team practice with new players is something we can all hope will be improved upon in the second-half, as teams make the push down the last couple months of regular season play. Heading into tonight’s play, while there isn’t a multitude of great match-ups available, with most games looking a bit lopsided, nonetheless there is always some great betting lines to take advantage of regardless of which teams are going head to head. TopBet Sportsbook is the featured online sports betting destination of our choice for tonight’s NBA contests, so join us at this relatively new addition to the best online sportsbooks reviewed here for a peek at just what an online sportsbook should be; clean, easy to use, competitive, and backed by superb customer support.

For the first wagering options of the day, I’m looking to the West Coast as the Los Angeles Clippers play host to the Minnesota Timberwolves at Staples Center tonight. Lob City looks to return to its dominating form on home court, where they sport a solid record of 12-4 on the year thus far, but will have to contend with an improving T-Wolves team that ended the first half winning 4 of their last 5 games, with their only loss coming by 2 points in overtime at Denver. Minnesota simply has to keep this game within reach tonight on the road, and as a 6.5 point underdog against the spread tonight in the first contest back from break, I’m going with Kevin Love and the visitors to keep this one relatively interesting, despite expectations of an eventual Clippers win behind a deeper scoring offense. Next on tap we find an interesting match-up between the Sacramento Kings and the Utah Jazz, which despite the Kings awful overall record, should actually make for a good contest tonight considering Utah’s poor road form, and the likelihood that defense will go out the window. With the over/under on total points set at 202 tonight and Sacramento giving up 102 points/game at home while averaging north of 105 points on offense in their last 4 games, look for a break out of the over total points as this fast-paced game should see both offenses scoring north of 100 points.

Meanwhile, the Dallas Mavericks seek their 12th straight home victory against the visiting New Jersey Nets, in a game which shouldn’t give the former NBA champs much trouble. With greatly improved defense that ranks 4th in the NBA at just 90.8 points given up per contest, Dallas should be able to contain the Nets in a low-scoring outing, keeping the 188 points on the over/under out of reach, and we’ll spot another decent betting option taking Dallas to cover the 10 1/2 points at home with plenty of rest built up for their veteran scorers and a low-shooting percentage Nets team coming in. Catch a number of other NBA games in action tonight as the Cleveland Cavaliers host the Boston Celtics, the Philadelphia 76ers try to get back to .500 ball on the road if they can win at Detroit, the Chicago Bulls should have no issues dismantling the New Orleans Hornets, and the Indiana Pacers try to continue their promising season start with a second half-opening win at home against Golden State. Definitely make sure to get back on the NBA Basketball bandwagon today, as the second half of the season will no doubt feature plenty of fast-paced, high-intensity action for a few months to come.

Rounding out the online sports betting wagers today at TopBet Sportsbook, we peruse the options for wagering on NCAA Basketball, with a couple of choice match-ups worth taking a look at. In our featured NCAA hoops showdown, #5 Michigan State heads into a tough road match-up against #18 Indiana, with the hopes that the Spartans can wrap up the Big Ten with a victory in this game. As MSU is starting to peak at just the right time winning 9 of their last 10 games, and Indiana shoots for their 6th straight win at home, this should be without a doubt a highly-contested match-up well worth a wager today. However, with the Spartans playing some of the best defense in the country and under the leadership of Tom Izzo, one of the most clutch and well-poised head coaches in the nation, look for Michigan State to walk out with a win as Indiana is unable to shoot at a high enough percentage to overcome at home. Other good NCAA basketball games include a game with upset potential as #16 Florida heads to face Vanderbilt, #4 Duke vs. Wake Forest in ACC play, and #15 Wisconsin in action at home against the slumping Minnesota Golden Gophers. Lastly for you NHL hockey fans, make sure to check out the top match-ups of the evening as great contests take place between the Boston Bruins and Ottawa Senators, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers, the Philadelphia Flyers and San Jose Sharks, and the Vancouver Canucks and Phoenix Coyotes. It’s a great day for betting on sports at one of the top reviewed sportsbooks found here, so jump down to the TopBet Sportsbook, drop your best bets down, and get set for a solid night of sports action ahead!

Big East Monday Night Match-up: #11 Georgetown vs. #20 Notre Dame


Though not much is at stake between two of the best teams in NCAA Basketball tonight, as both the #11 Georgetown Hoyas (21-6, 11-5 Big East) and the visiting #20 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (20-9, 12-4 Big East) have secured a spot in the NCAA Tournament and can’t win the Big East title this year, the battle at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. set for 7:00 PM ET is nonetheless a perfect opportunity on a slow day of sports to watch two of the best basketball programs in the country face off in one of the last remaining Top 25 match-ups left in the College Basketball regular season. With a potential double-bye still available to one of the two teams ahead of the Big East tournament starting up in just over a weeks’ time, you can be sure that a scrappy battle is set to ensue, making for an even better reason to head on down to one of the best online sportsbooks reviewed here, for a look over the best betting lines on tonight’s featured clash.

While Notre Dame has struggled to find their form on the road this season, sitting on a record of 5-4 away from the Joyce Center in South Bend, tonight’s match-up should give the Fighting Irish something to prove, especially as they come off a tough road loss to St. John’s, their first defeat to another Big East team in the last 9 conference match-ups. The biggest challenge Notre Dame will face tonight, is how to recover from a tough shooting night (%37.3 vs. St. John’s on Saturday), against a Georgetown team that is the most defensively stingy in the Big East, allowing just 58.7 points/game. Though neither team is particularly impressive on the scoring lines, with both teams averaging under 70 points per contest (ND 68 ppg, GU 69.6 ppg), both sides have been good at limiting opposing shooters and holding the points total down especially at home, where the two teams play their best basketball. Georgetown is certainly tough on their home court where the two teams meet tonight, generating a 14-1 record there, so the Irish must immediately see a better shooting performance from their top scorers. While Jack Cooley (12.4 ppg, 9.3 rpg) continues to be a leader for Notre Dame on the court, and has accumulated an impressive %62.8 shooting average from the floor this year in place of Tim Abromaitis (out for the season with a knee injury after just two games), the rest of the Irish have struggled to have consistency shooting the basketball, with no one amongst the top 7 scorers (aside from Cooley) shooting better than %41.6 from the floor). With a team average of just %43.7, Notre Dame has to at least get to that mark tonight, if not better, in order to overcome the Hoyas on home court.

Georgetown on the other hand is looking to upend the Irish tonight, a team that has bested them three straight times dating back to 2008. As Georgetown’s program was arguably not at the same level it is now while losing against the Irish in those 3 games (with the 2 previous games resulting in 14 point losses to Notre Dame), tonight is a perfect opportunity for a second-straight victory and their 6th in a row at home. What’s promising for Georgetown fans tonight is the fact that the Hoyas have held 4 of their last 6 visitors to just 50 points or less, and in their last meeting they held the Villanova Wildcats to just %28.0 shooting from the floor. Adding to that, they’ve shot better than their opponents by at least 9 percent in their last 4 home games, something that would go a long way towards a victory should that trend be continued tonight. Even more reason for the Hoyas to play their best ball on defense tonight is the fact that Notre Dame has, in 3 of its last 4 losses, been held to under %37.3 shooting, and in all 4 losses, the Irish haven’t shot better than 35 percent from the 3-pt line. Notre Dame likes to run with a small offense that does it’s damage shooting from outside the paint more so than relying on inside play and put backs, so getting good containment around the outside against Irish ball movers Eric Atkins (12.7 ppg, 4.0 apg), Jerian Grant (12.7 ppg, 4.4 apg) is job #1 for the Georgetown defense. While keeping ND’s bigger players including Scott Martin (9.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg) and Pat Connaughton (7.1 ppg, 4.4 rpg) will also be key, the perimeter game should be the area of focus for the Hoyas, as they are bigger and more athletic than the Irish coming into tonight’s match-up.

Georgetown will also look to its bigger players on offense to make a difference at home tonight, and that puts the scoring onus on the shoulders of center Henry Sims (11.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg), Hollis Thompson (13.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg) and freshman Otto Porter (8.8 ppg, 6.7 rpg). While Jason Clark (14.5 ppg) leads the team around the perimeter, it’s been the combined efforts of Georgetown’s top shooters that has them prevailing in close games, getting good shooting across their top 6 highest scorers (averaging %45.5 or better from the floor). Again, this is a big difference between these two relatively low-scoring offenses; While Notre Dame has struggled to find shooting form against good teams and/or on the road as they lean on their outside game more often in the face of good defense, Georgetown has been able to hold their shooters at a higher standard by pressing the ball in low, and allowing their bigger guys to work towards the hoop. While the Hoyas don’t pass the ball incredibly well averaging just 13.8 assists, they do a good job getting the ball to the appropriate spot on the floor and letting the player with the rock make his move towards the basket. Georgetown, which will face a pretty stiff defensive challenge from the Irish tonight, will have to get good individual scoring efforts, which could be easier to come by in the face of a smaller Notre Dame squad in opposition.

Betting Lines for #11 Georgetown vs. #20 Notre Dame at Bookmaker Sportsbook

Bookmaker Sportsbook is our featured online sports betting website of the day, so naturally we’ll peruse their betting lines for tonight’s featured NCAA Basketball match-up to come.

Straight up wagers on the money line will find the Georgetown Hoyas securing the favorite for tonight’s Big East match-up, getting -260 odds to win. Notre Dame as underdog sits at +220 odds.

Against the spread, the Hoyas must win by 6 points (-110 odds), while Notre Dame will have a +6 cushion to work with as an underdog.
The over/under tonight sits at a low 122 1/2 points, banking on a slow-paced game between two good defensive sides.

Our Pick to Win:

While both teams are looking to improve off recent losses, the Hoyas find themselves in a good position at home to pick up a win, banking on the Fighting Irish’s less-than-stellar road form, and their ability to hold teams to lower shooting percentages on their home court. I like Notre Dame to make this a closer game than the spread suggests, as the Irish have shown that they will not give up in any game and have a good cast of dedicated players this season, but facing a bigger, better defense tonight on the road, the odds are stacked against them to pull out an upset road victory. Nonetheless, this match-up looks primed to come down to the wire, with the last few minutes deciding the games’ outcome. However, in the end I like the bigger inside presence of the Hoyas to help win the shooting percentage and rebounding battles, and consequently win the ball game. Georgetown 64, Notre Dame 60.

New Week Brings on College Hoops, NHL Hockey Action, NBA Basketball Ahead

After an exciting weekend full of fanfare around the NBA All-Star break, this week turns our attention fully back to basketball, as the final week of regular season play for NCAA College hoops gets underway, and the second half of a hectic and increasingly more interesting NBA campaign has us setting sights for a great finish to the lockout-shortened season. Though we’ll have to wait another day for the NBA to get back off the ground again, there is already a host of betting options back on the table for Tuesday night’s games, and to start off today’s online sportsbook betting, I’m headed to Bookmaker Sportsbook for a couple of picks on tomorrow’s games, along with some College Basketball wagers and a couple of marks put down for tonight’s slate of NHL Hockey contests. Bookmaker Sportsbook continues to be one of the best online sportsbooks we’ve reviewed over the past few years here on our website, so join me in betting with confidence at a tried and thoroughly tested sportsbook like the one at Bookmaker.

Aside from NBA Basketball action set up for tomorrow, looking at today’s featured betting options finds some time remaining for the delayed running of the Daytona 500, the start of NASCAR’s exciting Sprint Cup Series. With heavy rain calling off the start of the race yesterday, the action taking place tonight could make for an even more exciting affair, with the race getting the national spotlight on a day with little else on the docket. On a day of historic proportions as the 53-year old race has always been run on a Sunday and the day it was scheduled for, and with the race now under lights and in primetime television, this should be a great race to pick a driver in, as it should be a once-in-a-blue-moon opportunity to catch the Daytona 500 in an unfamiliar setting. With Tony Stewart heading the betting lines for the odds-on winner tonight, Dale Earnhardt Jr. also picked highly to finally break his streak of 129 races without a win, and both Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick getting top odds, there’s plenty of good drivers to place a wager on, in the hopes of making a small bet pay big dividends if you can pick the right horse. Make sure though to scout out the best wagers across the fleet of top sportsbooks reviewed here though, as the betting lines for the Daytona 500 are very wide ranging, and have vastly different odds on drivers depending on which sportsbook you choose. Check out all of the best online sportsbooks reviewed here and hone in on the best odds for your pick to win tonight’s big race.

For you basketball fans today, even though the NBA remains a day off, there’s still some great competition getting underway in College hoops tonight, with a solid Big East showdown between the #12 Georgetown Hoyas and the visiting #19 Notre Dame Fighting Irish. With two of the nation’s most solid defenses in battle, this should be a low-scoring contest tonight, with big stakes on hand as the winner could secure a double-bye in the conference tournament quickly coming up. While Notre Dame looks to bounce back from a tough road loss at St. John’s over the weekend, and hasn’t played exceedingly well away from home (5-4 on the road), the Hoyas should find themselves in a good position to pull in a tough win at home tonight. That said, if the Fighting Irish can recapture their impressive shooting form, and overcome the Big East’s top defensive unit that is allowing just 58.7 points per game, it will be another marquee win for a Notre Dame program that is looking to stay elite well into the future, and will give the squad great confidence heading into the NCAA tournament ahead. No matter which way you wager on tonight’s featured NCAA Basketball contest, it’s sure to be a good one for everyone to watch two of the best-coached, most exciting programs in the country.

Looking out for just a few more wagering opportunities set up for Monday, check out 5 games on tap for NHL Hockey, as the trade deadline pulls ever closer and teams make their final deals of the season to make a push for the playoffs, or simply shed some cap space ahead of next year’s campaign. Check out the Los Angeles Kings vs. Nashville Predators in a game featuring one newly traded player, Jeff Carter, who joins the Kings from the Columbus Blue Jackets with the hope of adding shooting presence to a struggling LA scoring offense. While we’ll have to wait a few games most likely to determine if Carter could be an answer to the Kings’ run towards the postseason, tonight’s contest should be a great game between two very defensive-minded teams, where the under wager on total goals looks to be a tasty bet. Catch other great games in play tonight as the New York Rangers host the New Jersey Devils, as the visiting Devils look to sneak out a win on the road to move a spot up in the Eastern Conference playoff race, the Anaheim Ducks take on the Colorado Avalanche in what is increasingly becoming a packed race for the final spot in the Western Conference, and lastly the Calgary Flames host the St. Louis Blues with the Blues looking for their 3rd straight win while Calgary tries to snap a string of 3 straight losses. While there’s no as much on the betting lines at Bookmaker Sportsbook tonight, the action that is there is certainly worth checking into, so head on down to this top sportsbook today, and find a taste of the top action available right now!

Sunday Sports Bets at Oddsmaker Features NBA All-Star, Daytona 500 and More

Though the weekend has come and is all but gone in such short fashion, with great sporting events ranging from NCAA Basketball, NHL Hockey, and soccer available across Europe, Sunday works out to be another great day for sports fans, and for betting on sports at one of the best online sportsbooks reviewed right here. For Sunday, the day gets underway by looking into a few wagering possibilities at the Oddsmaker Sportsbook one of the top sportsbooks you can find anywhere on the internet today. After an exciting day in NCAA hoops saw #3 Kansas erase a 19 point second half deficit to beat #4 Missouri in overtime in the last Big 12 meeting between the two schools, #11 Florida falling to Georgia, #13 Michigan lose at home for the first time this season to Purdue and #18 Notre Dame defeated by St. John’s, we’ll have to continue the excitement of wagering on College hoops ahead of March Madness, as some of the most fun action occurs for sports betting fans at this time of the year, in NCAA Basketball. Starting off the bets today without further adieu, look towards key match-ups including Pittsburgh trying to be another upset candidate as they take on #127 Louisville, Miami hosting #16 Florida State in what should be an interesting ACC clash, and #9 Ohio State bringing on #15 Wisconsin in another exciting Big Ten showdown at Value Center Arena in Columbus, OH. As we enter the last full week of NCAA Basketball regular season play before March Madness fully sets in, conference tournaments begin, and Selection Sunday approaches for lining up this year’s NCAA Hoops brackets, take time to squeeze in a few remaining wagers on the top teams in play and hopefully end a great season on a high note.

With the NBA All-Star game getting underway tonight from Orlando, we have to pull out at least one or two wagers on the star-studded event, even if it’ll be difficult to determine who will win, or what will be the contributing factors. Do you side with the East because of their proximity to the game, their starting center Dwight Howard at home on his own court, and the full package of Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Derrick Rose? Or do you go with the more youthful pack of stars including Andrew Bynum, Blake Griffin, Chris Paul and Kevin Durant? Either way you look at it, one thing is for certain is that there is going to be a tidal wave of points scored, as defense, like in any All-Star competition, goes completely out the window. While against the spread the points are relatively tight, with the Eastern Conference players getting a -4 point favorite, the over/under is ridiculous, sitting at a 284 point mark. That mark has only been hit twice in the last 5 All-Star games, so while it should be expected that both sides are capable of putting up enough points to meet their share of the over/under, in a contest where laziness and a desire to play at a level much under 100 percent should be ever-present after a hectic first half schedule of play, we should see a more subdued total points output, and thus my wager on the under total points at Oddsmaker Sportsbook today. Interestingly enough, the two teams have traded wins and losses for the past 5 years, and with the East winning last year, it might be a worthy wager taking the West to come up victorious this season.

Onto additional betting options available at Oddsmaker today, turn to the NHL which features another 8 great games on ice, including match-ups like the Dallas Stars vs. Vancouver Canucks, the San Jose Sharks vs. the Minnesota Wild and the Chicago Blackhawks at the Anaheim Ducks. Though being rain delayed this morning, the Daytona 500, kicking off the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for 2012 should be an exciting first crack at auto racing today, and with time left still to wager on the race, make sure to take a gander over the odds on the drivers in the pack today, and get involved in one of the most historic NASCAR events of the year. Have a great remainder of the weekend, and hopefully for all of us, Sunday will bring plenty of luck for all the exciting sports action in store for the day. As always, thank you once again for using our website for reviews and further action on the best online sportsbooks the internet has to offer!

College Basketball Action Leads Online Sports Betting at Betonline.com

It’s another full-plate of games set up for College Basketball on one of the last weekends of regular season play before the conference championships and the NCAA Tournament begins, so with the NBA Basketball schedule still on hold due to the All-Star weekend upon us, we’ll crank out today’s wagers centered on a massive pile of options for NCAA hoops today at Betonline Sportsbook. Wasting no time, as the more time that passes the more games go offline, we’ll bust into the top options for betting on basketball today, and hope to add in just a few of the top NHL hockey match-ups as well into the betting ticket at Betonline Sportsbook. Betonline, for you newcomers, is by far and away one of the top sports betting destinations on the web, which we love for it’s clean design, proper customer service channels, great bonus opportunities, and long-standing presence as a leader among online sportsbook betting. Whichever way you choose to wager today, give a try out at Betonline Sportsbook right now!

Heading into the mass of NCAA games on tap, we start with the featured match-up of the day featuring the #4 Kansas Jayhawks hosting the #3 Missouri Tigers in the final game of a historic 105 year rivalry. With the Jayhawks anxious to repay Missouri for the loss they suffered three weeks ago, you can bet that this contest between two of the top teams in the country is more than worth a look at the betting lines today. Kansas is a heavy favorite at home, and should be able to overcome with their bigger, more physical play on home court, but expect this one to be an exciting match-up down to the final minutes as no doubt both sides want to win the final Big 12 meeting between the two teams before Mizzou ducks out for the SEC next season. In the next match-up to check out today, I’m looking to #6 Michigan State to mash Nebraska at home, scoring enough points against the Huskers to beat the 127 1/2 points against the spread. Over in an interesting ACC clash, defensive-minded Virginia hosts #7 North Carolina, and with UNC pulling out an 18 point victory at home against the Cavaliers just two weeks ago, I definitely like them as 4 point favorites to beat the spread in tonight’s match-up, despite Virginia’s solid form at home. Look for a Big Ten showdown between #11 Michigan and Purdue to be a potentially interesting, if not low scoring game tonight, catch #2 Syracuse intent on busting up their rivals the UConn Huskies on the road in Big East play, and I’m going in on one of my favorite mid-major teams coming into the NCAA tournament, the #18 New Mexico Lobos to cover the points (7 1/2) on the road against TCU. Find tons of other great match-ups in NCAA Basketball as the night moves on, and with only a handful of games left for each team before the start of the conference championships, you’ll want to get into the action each and every day for college hoops, as there’s rarely a more exciting time in the season than the run up to March Madness!

Checking out a couple more options for betting on sports with a full plate of NHL Hockey on tap today and tonight, spot some key games with playoff implications around the league, including the Hockey Night in Canada game between the Boston Bruins and the hosting Ottawa Senators, the Toronto Maple Leafs bringing on the Washington Capitals, and the New York Rangers trying to bounce back against the Buffalo Sabres after a rough 4-3 shoot-out loss last night to the Islanders. the Detroit Red Wings will try to regain their home form after seeing the 23-game winning streak there snapped in a shoot-out be the Canucks, but things won’t be any easier with the solid and improving Colorado Avalanche coming to town. In two later games this evening, find a great battle in Calgary as the Flames host the Philadelphia Flyers, and down in Nashville the Predators host the San Jose Sharks, in what could easily be a playoff match-up to come. With great options across NCAA Basketball and NHL Hockey today, as well as some fun wagers to be had on the NBA All-Star festivities taking place this weekend, jump into the action at Betonline Sportsbook today, one of the top sports betting destinations found on the web!

Big 12 Saturday Showdown: #4 Kansas hosts #3 Missouri


There are big games on the NCAA College Basketball schedule, and then there are big games that define an entire season of college hoops action. For Saturday, one of the longest-standing rivalries in all of college sports gets underway between two of the top teams in the country as the #4 Kansas Jayhawks (23-5, 13-2 Big 12) host the Missouri Tigers (25-3, 12-3 Big 12) at 4:00PM ET at Phog Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas.

After playing each other each year since 1907, this match-up marks the finality of a 105 years of competition between these two basketball programs, as next year’s conference realignment will find the Missouri Tigers headed towards the SEC. There really couldn’t be a better way to send this historic rivalry off, than with a meeting between the two teams at their best combined form in recent memory for the Boarder War. What’s at stake tonight, despite just parting shots in the final conference match-up over a 100+ year span, is the Big 12 conference title, of which Kansas is shooting to win or share an 8th straight, and an NCAA-record 55th title season title overall. Also for the Jayhawks, it’s an opportunity for redemption on home court, after a stinging 74-71 loss suffered at the hands of Missouri last month. In order to do that tonight, they’ll need to focus in on their defensive play, and take some lessons from from their in-state foes Kansas State, who have handed the Tigers 2 of their 3 losses on the season, mainly by holding the Tigers well under their season scoring average of 79.5 points (9th in NCAA Basketball).

Where the Jayhawks have been their best is on the defensive side of the basketball, allowing just 60.4 points/game to opposing offenses, but as was evident in the February 4th loss at Missouri, Kansas will need to do a better job at dictating the pace of the basketball game, and not allowing solid rhythm to develop between the Tigers’ impressive cast of scoring characters. Key figures for the Jayhawks to play better against include Mizzou’s leading scorer Marcus Denmon (17.8 points, 5.1 rebounds/game), who went bonkers on the ‘Hawks putting up 29 points on 6-of-9 shooting from 3-pt range. While Kansas played solid lockdown defense against Ricardo Ratliffe (13.5 ppg, 7.2 rpg) inside the paint, holding him to just 6 points in 20 minutes of foul-troubled play, Kim English (14.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg) and leading bench contributor Michael Dixon (12.9 ppg) both were very successful in adding 18 and 15 points respectively to compliment Marcus Denmon’s efforts. The Tigers shot an outstanding %52.1 from the floor and %45.5 from beyond the arc; if Kansas expects its offense to keep pace tonight, those figures have to drop drastically to keep this game from becoming too fast, and too likely that a last minute effort with clutch shooting determines the outcome of the game. Remember, Missouri is ranked 3rd in the nation hitting almost 50 percent of their shots (%49.8). Their game is built around lots of scoring and scoring efficiency, so job #1 towards a KU win has to be around smothering defense and contested shots at every Tigers’ scoring opportunity.

Fortunately for the Jayhawks, they should be well prepared and blooming with confidence at home in the face of their Tiger foes today. Kansas has ripped off 5 wins in a row since that loss 3 weeks ago, tromping over then-#6 Baylor by 14 points (at Baylor no less), and beating the two teams that have bested Missouri this year, Oklahoma State and Kansas State. Holding their opponents to less than 58 points in the last 3 contests, Bill Self’s team will look to continue using its height advantage in the paint, helmed by the 7-foot Jeff Withey (9.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg) and the 6’10” leading scorer Thomas Robinson (17.4 ppg, 11.9 rpg), to hold down the less physically vertical Tigers, who have shown that they can be beat by good play under the basket. Kansas holds a more than 5 rebounds/game advantage over their rivals today, and using that to their advantage is a must. One very big difference in today’s match-up could be the added presence of Withey, who was completely shut down at Columbus, Mo last time out, scoring 0 points in 23 minutes of work. Since that game though, he’s averaged over 16 points, 10 rebounds and 5.5 blocked shots in 5 games, including two straight games where he was just shy of triple-double territory. With a big contribution from Withey under the rim tonight like he has been putting up over the last three weeks, the 8 point deficit that Missouri was able to shed in the closing minutes of the February 4th match-up seems a lot less likely to occur.

On the Missouri side of the ball, getting to 70 points once again against a tough Jayhawks defense is essential, especially with Kansas’ Tyshawn Taylor, (16.5 ppg, 5.0 assists/game) determined to lead his team into a better all-around performance in today’s match-up. Keep in mind, Kansas is best in conference allowing opposing teams to shoot just 38.1 percent from the field, and with no doubt a better showing coming tonight from the ‘Hawks on defense, the Tigers are going to have to have lots of clutch contributions from their smaller, speedier players. Marcus Denmon once again has to be the leader on the points line, especially in a game where we can expect Kansas’ floor leading Taylor to come up big as well. Denmon, like Taylor, is a defensive assignment difficulty, and for the Tigers they need to get him in the open around the perimeter and let him shoot away as much as possible, or use his speed to penetrate into the lanes against the bigger but slower Kansas big men. Alongside him, Kim English has to have another solid shooting day around the outside. While Missouri once again won’t likely be able to win the battle underneath the basket grabbing rebounds and getting putbacks, they have an advantage working from the perimeter in towards the hoop, and getting good ball rotation to English and Denmon could once again see Missouri hanging close enough to strike late against Kansas at home. Lastly, Ricardo Ratliffe has to avoid foul trouble and help to take some of the defensive weight off English, Denmon and Michael Dixon. While Ratliffe is an incredible shooter, Kansas certainly knows that too, and the added pressure on him with put even more pressure on Missouri’s other shooters to come up big.

Betting Lines for #4 Kansas vs. #3 Missouri at Betonline Sportsbook

Looking at the best betting lines across the best online sportsbooks reviewed here, we’re choosing Betonline Sportsbook as the sports bettig destination of choice on today’s key Big 12 match-up.

For Kansas at home, they walk in as solid favorites to win on the money line, getting -385 odds to emerge victorious on straight up money. The visiting Missouri Tigers are a +325 underdog on the money, as they walk into one of the toughest houses in all of NCAA Basketball.

Ironically, Kansas is favored to win by exactly the same amount of points that they blew in the 74-71 loss to Missouri three weeks ago. Kansas is a -8 against the spread at -115 odds, while Missouri is a +8 underdog with -105 odds.

On the over/under, this is where things could get tricky. On the one hand, we have two of the highest shooting percentage teams in the nation. On the other, we have a Kansas team hell-bent on retribution, looking for their defense to be the X factor in tonight’s game. With the over/under on total points set at 144 1/2 points, both sides have to essentially play to the same points total as they did in the first game of the season (175). With both sides shooting over 50 percent in that game, you would expect some sort of fall off in tonight’s game, but that might even be outweighed if a fast-paced game plays out tonight.

Our Pick to Win:

Kansas, bottom line, shouldn’t have lost in Columbus 3 weeks ago. Walking out of that building after dropping an 8 point lead essentially due to Marcus Denmon’s 9-0 run against Kansas in the closing minutes definitely has the Jayhawks anxious to prove they are the better team in this match-up. And I think they are just that. The dominant inside presence of Thomas Robinson is going to show up once again, and he’ll be a 20 and 10 figure in points and rebounds tonight. Kansas’s Jeff Withey we can also expect to be on his game as well. While the guard play of both teams stands just about equal in my book on both sides of the ball, Kansas’ presence down underneath the hoop will eventually be the difference in this game as they outrebound, get more points in the paint, and get to the line more easily than Missouri does. While I expect Missouri to be well prepared with a good game plan that plays to their speed and ability to penetrate towards the basket, it’s going to be a drop in their shooting percentage around the perimeter and a tougher time getting to the hoop on drives that keeps them from a road win at Phog Allen. Kansas prevails 78-72 over Missouri to hold on to the lead in the Big 12 conference, and part this historic rivalry with a big victory at home.

Short Schedule for Sports Betting on Friday Night at Sportbetting.ag

With the NBA Basketball season on hiatus over the All-Star weekend, sports fans get so slim pickings for betting options at the best online sportsbooks reviewed here, but nonetheless with the week coming to a close and excitement over a couple days’ off from the grind, we’ll jump into whatever we can get our hands on at the Sportsbetting Sportsbook, our featured top sports betting destination for Friday.

Staring quickly with the pair of decent betting options in NCAA Basketball tonight, and as a teaser for the myriad options to come tomorrow as the biggest day in college hoops gets underway, I’m looking first to the Big East match-up between #10 Marquette and West Virginia, in a crucial game for both teams. For the hosting Mountaineers, head coach Bob Huggins is going to have his hands full getting his players’ heads straightened out after 3 straight losses at home, with the added pressure of dealing with a Golden Eagles’ team that will be intent on nabbing their first road win at Morgantown. Ever. The trends in this match-up however tells more of a tale than history does, as Marquette seeks its fifth win in a row while isitting on a potential double-bye situation for the Big East tournament, and West Virginia is on 6 losses in 8 games while coming off a slaughtering at the Joyce Center against Notre Dame. In college hoops, confidence routinely plays dividends for younger players, and without it, games can get out of their control quickly. I admit being almost shocked to see Marquette as an underdog in this match-up even if just slightly, getting +105 odds on the money line at -110 odds for +1.5 points against the spread, and while there has to be some caution in a game where a team hasn’t ever won on their opponent’s court, Marquette time and time again has proven they are the real deal behind star senior guard Darius Johnson-Odom (18.3 points/game), who should be the leader in a win for the Eagles tonight. Outside of this match-up tonight, there’s only really one other game worth checking into for betting on sports, as a Horizon conference showdown between Butler and Valparaiso should be a great competition for two quality mid-major teams. On a slow night like tonight however, I’m jumping all over this match-up taking Valpo, who has been very tough at home under the court leadership of Ryan Broekhoff (15.1 ppg, 8.4 rpg.).

Lastly for wagers at Sportsbetting Sportsbook today, check out the limited options in NHL Hockey tonight, as 6 match-ups get set for face-off in just a short while. Starting with my Vancouver Canucks, who come off a huge win at Detroit becoming the first team in 23 tries to beat the Red Wings at the Joe, they’ll have to take on the New Jersey Devils this evening in what should be an excellent West Coast vs. East Coast showdown. Next up for a classic battle between city-island rivals, the New York Islanders host the New York Rangers, and the Rangers will be looking to get back on scoring track after Tuesday’s shutout loss at Pittsburgh, and with the best record on the road in the NHL, I’ll back the Rangers to cover the spread at -1.5 goals tonight in this contest. Rounding out the night, check out an intriguing match-up as the Washington Capitals bring on the Montreal Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres host the Boston Bruins. If you’re a hockey fan, right now is a great time to jump on the bandwagon as the NBA remains inactive for the most part until Sunday’s All-Star game and the subsequent restart to the second half of the season doesn’t kick up until Tuesday. But for basketball fans, tide yourself over with a couple of teaser bets tonight before a hefty dose of College Basketball action as we head into one of the final games of the regular season. From us here at CR, enjoy your weekend, good luck in your wagers, and catch us again tomorrow for more updates on all the top wagers at the top online sportsbooks reviewed here!