Wildcats and Bulldogs square off for SEC crown

NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

03/14/2010 - Nashville, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The championship game of the SEC Tournament pits the second-ranked Kentucky Wildcats against the Mississippi State Bulldogs, the top-seeded teams from the league's East and West Divisions, respectively.

Mississippi State is the defending champion of this event, as it defeated Tennessee by a 64-61 final in the 2009 title game, and the program has three titles to its credit. The Bulldogs, who are 23-10 overall, opened play at this event with a 75-69 decision over Florida in Friday's semifinal round. Yesterday, the Bulldogs knocked off Vanderbilt by a 62-52 final.

As for the Wildcats, they have won this event 25 times and own a 113-22 record in SEC Tournament games. Still, they haven't cut down the nets since 2004 and haven't reached the title game since 2005. Kentucky barely got by Alabama in the quarterfinals, but the team was impressive in a 74-45 romp over nationally-ranked Tennessee on Saturday. The Wildcats are 31-2 overall and figure to be a number one seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament regardless of today's outcome.

Kentucky beat Mississippi State by an 81-75 final in overtime during the regular season, and the Wildcats own an 85-20 mark in the all-time series between the teams.

The man to watch for Mississippi State is forward/center Jarvis Varnado, the three-time defending SEC Defensive Player of the Year. Not only does Varnado lead the Bulldogs with 13.4 ppg on 58.3 percent shooting from the floor, he is also ripping down 10.4 rpg to go along with 158 blocks. Ravern Johnson is close behind offensively with 13.3 ppg, and Dee Bost provides 12.7 ppg and 173 assists. Barry Stewart is the program's all-time leader in three-pointers made and he is posting 11.8 ppg. MSU is generating 72.5 ppg, while surrendering 64.2 ppg on 38.4 percent shooting. The Bulldogs played tremendous defense against Vanderbilt yesterday, as they limited the Commodores to 34.6 percent shooting from the field. MSU committed just nine turnovers and got 14 points and eight rebounds. Varnado, Bost and Phil Turner all added 11 points in the triumph.

Like Mississippi State, Kentucky has four double-digit scorers in the fold, three of which are freshman. Star rookie John Wall was recently named the SEC Player of the Year, and he is netting 16.9 ppg to go along with 6.3 apg. DeMarcus Cousins, the SEC Freshman of the Year, provides 15.5 ppg and 10.2 rpg, and he is tops on the roster with 60 blocks. Veteran Patrick Patterson checks in with 14.7 ppg and 7.4 rpg, while Eric Bledsoe is scoring 10.6 ppg. The Wildcats are generating 79.4 ppg, while permitting just 65.0 ppg to opponents on 38 percent shooting. Kentucky is outrebounding opponents by 8.3 rpg, key to the success. In the 29-point win over Tennessee yesterday, the Wildcats played tremendously at the defensive end, limiting the Vols to 30.9 percent shooting, including 2-of-15 from three-point range. Kentucky, which earned a 44-29 rebounding advantage, shot 52.1 percent from the floor and was led by a 19-point, 15-rebound effort from Cousins.

Supersportsbook NCAA Basketball Betting News

<< Buckeyes battle streaking Golden Gophers for Big Ten title
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - An unlikely matchup will take place at Conseco Fieldhouse, as the sixth-seeded Minnesota Golden Gophers will battle the top-seeded Ohio State Buckeyes in the championship game of the Big Ten Conference Tourna

<< A-10 title up for grabs as Owls take on Spiders
Atlantic City, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Gunning for their ninth Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament title, the third in as many seasons, the 17th-ranked and top-seeded Temple Owls take the floor at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City this afternoon agai

<< Blues wrap road trip versus Wild
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The St. Louis Blues conclude a six-game road trip this evening that has kept them in the playoff race. They do so against one of the better home teams in the league, the Minnesota Wild, at Xcel Energy Center. The Blues hav

<< Lightning play host to Penguins
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Lightning are coming off a big win over the Eastern Conference's top team. They wouldn't mind posting another one versus arguably the East's second-best team. Tampa Bay will try to record just its third win in its last

<< Maple Leafs try to push win streak to four games versus Islanders
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Toronto Maple Leafs will try to stretch their longest winning streak of the season to four games this evening when they visit the New York Islanders in a matchup of the two bottom teams in the Eastern Conference. Toro

ACC title game pits Blue Devils against Yellow Jackets >>
Greensboro, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The top-seeded and fourth-ranked Duke Blue Devils go for their record 18th ACC Tournament title today, as they take on the seventh-seeded Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the finals at Greensboro Coliseum. Th

Surging Bucks shoot for season sweep of Pacers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The red-hot Milwaukee Bucks continue their push to the postseason Sunday when they attempt to sweep Central Division rival Indiana for the first time in nearly 30 years. The Bucks have already beaten the Pacers three times

Thrashers shoot for rare victory over Coyotes >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Thrashers couldn't have picked a worse time to post their second-longest losing streak of the season. A visit from the Coyotes on Sunday could extend the winless drought by another game. Atlanta will try to snap a five

Sharks visit Ducks aiming for season series sweep >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After three straight come-from-behind victories, the Sharks finally ran out of magic on Saturday. Good thing they haven't need much when facing the Ducks this year. San Jose kicks off a six-game road trip this evening vers

Heat host hapless Sixers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Miami Heat continue their push toward a postseason berth when they host the lowly Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday. The Heat are coming off a huge win over Chicago on Friday in which Quentin Richardson made 7-of-11 three-p

American Idol Betting Odds: Season 6  

The online gambling websites are in the process of deciphering each American Idol contestant and his or her chances of winning Season 6 to come up with the early American Idol betting lines.

Tim Dalton of MySportsbook.com has been locked away in a soundproof room coming up with all the latest tallies, we are told. "American Idol has become one of the most significant betting events of the year," claims Jack Black of MySportsbook.com.  "Last year, millions were bet during the season across the globe, not just in America.

It's tough early on since we really do not have a glimpse as to how well each of these individuals will perform solo on a week-to-week basis.  It's like Week 1 of the NFL.  Pre-season means nada!

We do know the 24 finalists however.

Sanjaya Malakar is the young man whose sister failed to make it into the Top 24.  He's very low key but - unless he totally flubs - will probably win over the young girlie vote for a few weeks anyway.  He's too young to go all the way, according to Payton O'Brien. 

Brandon Rogers - Who?

Phil Stacy is the military guy who missed his daughter's birth because of the Memphis audition.  He should go a good distance.

Chris Sligh - He's got the humor and in many ways he's the Anti-American Idol much like last year's winner Taylor Hicks was.  And this is why he'll probably get pretty far in this competition.  He's chubby, white with a big curly afro....but more importantly, a great voice!  People love "real", not "real cute" to go all the way. 

"Blake Lewis should go far because of his uniqueness and looks.  He's the boy next store with a twist - he beat boxes.  But on top of this, he's a great singer, and I adore him," Payton O'Brien relayed.

A talented beat-boxer Blake Lewis was a hit during the group sing in Hollywood but Simon explained that this is a singing contest just before he told him he was “in.”

Paul Kim has caught our own roving reporter, Jenny Woo's eyes. 

"I love the fact that there is a Korean American on the show and he is bound to get more Asians tuning into the show," Woo said from her Miami Beach estate.  "There has never been a major presence of Asian-Americans on American Idol in the past.  He's a hottie with a nice voice so that should help to take him far.  Expect heavy betting action from the Asian community."

Sundance Head - He's not perfect, but he's got the personality that will take him through a few weeks, plus he's got the lineage (son of Roy Head - whose 1965 single, "Treat Her Right," hit No. 5 in the charts) 

And the others:

Rudy Cardinas
AJ Tabaldo - the 5th time is the charm
Nicolas Pedro
Chris Richardson
Jared Cotter

The girls

"Melinda Doolittle has one of the best voices," says MySportsbook.com Reporter and an acclaimed dancer in her own right, Destiney Lewis.  "It is great to see a back up singer step out like she has.  The girl needs to gain more confidence but that can also be a positive.  I think she will go far."

Alena Alexander - Those tears (she never seems to stop bawling) should get her far.

"Single mom Lakisha Jones I suspect will be a pretty big favorite entering Week 1 of the competition," says Destiny Williams.  Jones is an excellent singer and down to earth.  "She'll have a wide appeal," echoed O'Brien.

Nicole Trellis - Seems to exert confidence.

Amy Krebs - a powerful singer.

Antonella Barba
Gina Glocksen
Hailey Scanardo
Jordan Sparks
Stephanie Edwards
Leslie Hunt
Sabrina Sloan

MySportsbook.com is offering a 20% signup bonus with an initial deposit (i.e. open your American Idol betting account with $300, receive another $60 in which to bet with). 

Last two contestants will be?

1 Male/1 Female +100 (a $10 bet pays $10 plus your initial $10)

2 Males +170 (a $10 bet pays $17 plus your initial $17)

2 Females +130 (a $10 bet pays $13 plus your initial $10)

MySportsbook.com is an online sportsbook accepts Visa Credit Cards and online sportsbook accepts Mastercard Credit Cards for easy American Idol betting lines.