Bears set sights on Bulldogs in MEAC title game

NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

03/13/2010 - Winston-Salem, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Back in the title game of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament for the third straight year, the Morgan State Bears try to repeat as champions this afternoon as they tangle with South Carolina State at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem.

The Bears were almost unbeatable in conference play this season at 15-1, which is why they were made the top seed in this 39th annual event. Morgan State earned a bye into the quarterfinals where it defeated ninth-seeded North Carolina A&T without much effort in an 84-57 final on Wednesday. On Friday the squad captured a 74-67 win over fifth-seeded Hampton to move to 31-25 in the event overall.

As for the third-seeded Bulldogs, they first slipped by Maryland-Eastern Shore, the sixth seed, in a 59-53 triumph on Thursday and then followed that up with a 70-66 overtime win versus second-seeded Delaware State in the semifinals on Friday.

The teams split their two regular-season meetings, with SC State putting up a 71-68 victory in the most recent decision on the road in the middle of February. The advantage in the all-time series rests with the Bulldogs by a count of 39-26.

Jason Flagler scored a game-high 19 points, shooting 7-of-9 from the floor, while adding eight rebounds in SC State's win over Delaware State in overtime on Friday. Rio Pitt posted 11 points as he made good on all five of his field goals attempts, followed by Brandon Smalls and Carrio Bennett who both tacked don 10 points for a team that shot 53.1 percent from the field in order to offset 16 turnovers. Flagler, the leading scorer in five of the last six games, leads the team overall on the season with his 15.2 ppg, stemming from his impressive 55.8 percent effort from the floor and his 87 percent accuracy at the free-throw line. Darnell Porter checks in with 13.0 ppg, thanks in large part to his 41.1 percent shooting beyond the arc this season. The team as a whole has made a mere 30.7 percent on the perimeter.

Balanced scoring was the order of the day on Friday as the Bears put five players in double figures in the win over Hampton, but only one of them (Ameer Ali, 14 points) had more than a dozen points in the victory. Troy Smith and Joe Davis both came away with 12 points, followed by Reggie Holmes and DeWayne Jackson 11 points apiece as the team worked through 16 turnovers and just 2- of-8 shooting behind the three-point line. Morgan State won the meeting at the free-throw line where it held a 30-18 advantage. One of the top scorers in college basketball this season, Holmes is pouring in 21.9 ppg, having spent an inordinate amount of time at the free-throw line where he's made 234-of-286 chances. Toss in another 553 field goal attempts over the course of his 35 starts and you have a player who easily has his hands on the ball more than anyone else on the team. Kevin Thompson is averaging a double-double with 12.7 points and 12.0 rebounds per game, the latter making him one of the most aggressive players on the glass in the nation in 2009-10.

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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. 

El Duque expected to throw Tuesday

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.

Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.

El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.

MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds. 

Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.

New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.

Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''

Additional baseball lines and World Series odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

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