My Sports News Digest

The eight-point run by Gary Johnson which started the overtime period, helped 22^nd ranked Texas to defeat 16th-ranked Illinois by 90-84, on Thursday. This victory has delighted all the Texas supporters and March Madness betting fans across the world.

The Longhorns have reserved a place in the 2K Sports Classic championship game benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer. The team will next play against 4^th ranked Pittsburgh for the tournament title, in Madison Square Garden, on Friday.

Texas was leading with nine-points early in the second half and Cory Joseph’s jumper helped the Longhorns to lead by two with just 25 seconds remaining in regulation. But Jereme Richmond made a layup while 13 seconds remaining, forcing to overtime.

With this victory, Texas has also improved its NCAA championship odds.

March Madness Betting Guide

The NCAA basketball tournament, popularly known as March Madness, is the most coveted title in college basketball. For the March Madness betting fans, however, betting is a sport of its own. In their annual attempt at glory and endeavoring to win huge payouts, Americans nationwide will begin poring over March Madness bracket. The tournament is aptly called March Madness, as everyone is crazy about picking the winner, some will go by the numbers, picking the team in each matchup with the best ranking or seed, while others use intuition, sports knowledge, favorite colors, mascot preferences and others.

With 64 games to determine the ultimate winner of the big dance, sports betting enthusiasts hope for the big prize. Moreover, as there are 64 games and just two possible outcomes, i.e.  a win or a loss, the opportunity and number is enormous. Although the March Madness odds seem out of this world, there is a way to score some points. Experienced sports bettors will tell you that the number one seeds are most likely to make it to the Final Four, and following this will get you closer to the win. However, you should not forget that the chances of correctly picking all the brackets in the tournament randomly are rare.

March Madness Betting Guide

The No. 17 Butler easily overpowered Florida Southern 90-70 in an exhibition match played on Saturday. The hero of the win was Matt Howard who was at his best throughout the match. He had 19 points and seven rebounds in 23 minutes. This was No. 17 Butler’s first game since their memorable run in the NCAA tournament. The March Madness betting lines of the team are likely to improve after this win.

In their first match in front of a Hinkle Fieldhouse crowd since winning the Horizon League tournament there in March, Butler were clinical right from the start of the match. Coach Brad Stevens started 6-11 sophomore Andrew Smith along with 6-8 senior Matt Howard, and the two had 28 points and 11 rebounds in collective 36 minutes.

Point guard Ronald Nored had 14 points and five assists whereas Shawn Vanzant scored 11 points. Vanzant was the only other Butler player to reach double figures.

Bulldogs have definitely raised the expectations of the fans with this win. Fans will now be keeping a close look at March Madness sportsbook and expect Butler to do well in their upcoming matches as well.

March Madness Betting Guide

Much to the disappointment of the betting fans, Purdue forward Robbie Hummel is injured again. According to an announcement made by Purdue, Hummel will be missing the upcoming season as the versatile forward tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during the practice session on Saturday. March Madness betting odds will surely be affected.

Apparently, Hummel injured the same knee that forced him to miss the rest of the last season after he injured it on Feb. 24 against Minnesota.  Hummel even underwent a surgery in March and was supposed to be ready for his senior season. With 15.7 points and 6.9 rebounds a game, Hummel was second on the team last season. The Boilermakers, who were ranked No. 3 in the nation when Hummel injured, stumbled initially in his absence last season. However, they managed to reach the round of 16 in the NCAA tournament later on. This is a major blow for Purdue, that is considered to be a Final Four contender, and their March Madness lines will be affected badly.

March Madness Betting Guide

According to the MRI reports of Kelvin Love of Minnesota Timberwolves, there is no major damage caused to his right knee. This is good news for all the team supports and betting enthusiasts as his absence from the matches could have adversely affected the team’s NBA lines.

The player was sent for an MRI test on Tuesday because of swelling in his right knee. After the test he returned to the floor on Wednesday night.

This is Love’s third year with Minnesota. In the last season he had scored an average of 14.0 points along with 11.0 rebounds in 60 games, which also included 22 starts. He has a career average score of 12.3 points along with 9.9 rebounds, in 141 matches.

The college basketball teams on the other hand are also getting ready for the upcoming march madness season and are taking care that all their important players are fit to play. Especially, the teams are ensuring that their senior players are all set for the matches as the absence of these players can negatively affect the March Madness lines of the teams.

NBA Betting Guide

It’s a great time to be a sports fan.

There is no avoiding the madness this weekend! The NCAA tournament first round slams into action this Thursday, March 18^th.  You have until 10.59 AM EST that day to complete your March Madness Brackets. All you die hards hoop fans can check out all the March Madness betting odds at LinesMaker.

The 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is back in action after a week off and heads to Bristol Motor Speedway for the Food City 500. LinesMaker has favored Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin with odds of 7/1 to win. Bristol is a track that demands skill and concentration promising high-octane excitement for drivers, spectators and bettors alike.

For those like prefer to take things a little more slowly the PGA Transition Championship commences on Thursday at Palm Harbor, Florida. No. 2 ranked Steve Stricker is 15/1 favorite to win but he’s up against a very competitive field including Padraig Harrington (20/1), Ian Poulter (25/1), and Vijay Singh (25/1).

After the completion of the conference tournaments on Sunday the Kansas Jayhawks are the top No. 1 seed and the NCAA committee’s 65-team bracket is complete.

Three other teams that won their conferences making the No 1 seed spots are Kentucky, Duke and Syracuse. As America’s biggest office pool commences today you can make your picks in the LinesMaker’s free Bracket Buster Contest with $112,000 in prize money up for grabs.  The opening round starts in Tuesday with Arkansas-Pine Buff and Winthrop and the tournament will be in full swing on Thursday.

In the conferences the Big East has brought eight teams to the tournament for the third time, the Big 12 has seven and only two from the ailing Pac-10.  For the first time since 1966 five of the big-name school did not make the tournament – UCLA, Indiana, Connecticut and Arizona defending titleholders North Carolina.

Favorites Kansas (32-2), with odds of 2/1 at LinesMaker to win the NCAA tournament, open on Thursday against No.16 Lehigh in the Midwest regional.  Other first-round games in the Midwest are: No. 8 UNLV vs. No. 9 Northern Iowa; No. 5 Michigan State vs. No. 12 New Mexico State; No. 4 Maryland vs. No. 13 Houston; No. 2 Ohio State against No. 15 UC-Santa Barbara; No. 7 Oklahoma State vs. No. 10 Georgia Tech; No. 3 Georgetown vs. No. 14 Ohio; and No. 6 Tennessee vs. No. 11 San Diego State.

LinesMaker members can play in our free March Madness Bracket Buster and take a shot at $100k as well as get in on all the betting action from the first tip off to the crowning of the national champion.

As the college basketball pace picks up this week in the conference tournament, here’s a round up of how the top ranked teams are performing.

No. 1 Syracuse was knocked from the top spot when they lost to the Cardinals at Louisville on Saturday. They had spent five days at the top of the poll and it was the first time Syracuse (28-3) had been ranked No. 1 in the regular-season for 20 years. This is their was the Orange’s second loss to Louisville in two weeks but they have already won the Big East regular-season title. Syracuse could be a great choice for bettors with odds at LinesMaker of 7-2 to win the NCAA Championships. Kansas are the favorites at 2-1.

No. 2 Kansas (29-2) beat Missouri on Saturday and they could be reclaiming the top ready for them to reclaim after the Syracuse loss. After finishing first in the Big 12 Kansas is has secured the position of overall top seed in the NCAA tournament. The Jayhawks had slipped from No 1. after falling to Oklahoma last week.

No 3 Kentucky’s Darius Miller and Eric Bledsoe had 14 points each to help fend off a comeback from Florida. Kentucky beat the Gators 74-66 victory in Lexington yesterday. Kentucky has completed an 18-0 home season and could be on its way to securing a top seed in the NCAA tournament. They have odds of 7-2 to win the NCAA Championship at LinesMaker along with Syracuse. The Wild Cats (29-2) have won the Southeastern Conference title after Vanderbilt lost to South Carolina on Saturday.