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02/21/2009 - Davidson, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The most anticipated Bracketbuster game on the docket takes place in the Tar Heel State this weekend, as the 21st-ranked Butler Bulldogs invade Belk Arena and attempt to get past the always dangerous Davidson Wildcats.
The Bulldogs had been cruising along through their Horizon League schedule, but things have gotten much tighter of late, as Butler has dropped two straight games, with upset losses to Loyola-Chicago (71-67) and most recently, Wisconsin-Milwaukee (63-60). With the setbacks, the team has fallen to 13-3 in league play and 22-4 overall.
The Wildcats are one of the top teams in the Southern Conference, holding a two-game lead in the South Division standings. However, it could have been a four-game lead were it not for a surprising home loss to the Citadel this week, 64-46. With the loss to the Bulldogs, Davidson is now 22-5 overall and 15-2 in-conference.
This game is the first-ever meeting between these two mid-major powers.
The Bulldogs are known for their defensive prowess, as evidenced by the fact that the team is limiting foes to a mere 57.3 ppg this year and well under 40 percent shooting overall (.377). Unfortunately, the team's lack of offensive punch has proved to be problematic of late and could be a real concern going up against Davidson. Matt Howard is the team's best option and comes into the contest leading the Bulldogs in both scoring (14.1 ppg) and rebounding (7.0 rpg). Gordon Hayward is a close second in both categories (13.4 ppg, 6.3 rpg) and is the team's top sharpshooter (.453 from behind the arc, 58 treys). Shelvin Mack (12.2 ppg) adds to the perimeter assault with 50 three-pointers to his credit. Wisconin-Milwaukee seemed to catch a break with the clock towards the end of the game and escaped with a three-point win over Butler. The setback ruined a solid performance by Howard, who finished just shy of a double-double with 20 points and nine rebounds. Mack and Ronald Nored chipped in 11 and 10 points, respectively, but the team shot a mere .412 from the floor overall, including a dreadful .296 in the first half. UWM's bench played an important role in the decision, as the Panthers' reserves outscored Butler's bench 21-6.
The Citadel put on a defensive clinic and held the hometown Wildcats to an ugly .254 shooting, including just .130 from behind the arc (3-of-23) and taking a lopsided decision at Belk Arena as a result. Davidson's lack of offensive punch was certainly caused by the fact that All-American Stephen Curry was not on the floor. The veteran sharpshooter missed his first career game after suffering a sprained ankle last weekend. Andrew Lovedale and Brenan McKillop tried to fill the void with 16 and 15 points, respectively, but without Curry on the floor, the Bulldogs were able to keep the pressure on all game long. When the Wildcats are at full strength, there are few in the SoCon that can stay with them. The team is averaging a robust 78.8 ppg this year, with a good portion of that coming from Curry, who leads the nation in scoring at 29.0 ppg. Curry, who already has 102 three-pointers to his credit this season, is also the team's primary distributor, doling out 152 assists thus far. Lovedale feeds off Curry's perimeter success and is a perfect complement in the low post, averaging 12.4 points and 8.9 rebounds per outing.
<< State bragging rights on line as Hoosiers visit Boilermakers
West Lafayette, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Intrastate rivals collide in West
Lafayette today, as the Indiana Hoosiers challenge the 19th-ranked Purdue
Boilermakers in Big Ten Conference action.
The Hoosiers are in the midst of one of their worst
<< Cardinals soar into Cincinnati to take on Bearcats
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Long-time rivals, now members of the Big
East Conference, meet in the Queen City today, as the seventh-ranked
Louisville Cardinals come calling on the Cincinnati Bearcats.
Rick Pitino has Louisville once aga
<< LSU hosts Auburn in pivotal SEC contest
Baton Rouge, LA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 23rd-ranked LSU Tigers are set to host
SEC foe Auburn, which enters this contest riding a four-game win streak.
The recent success has lifted Auburn to 17-9 overall and 6-5 in conference.
Auburn knocked
<< Thunder pay a visit to Golden State
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Oklahoma City Thunder will try to stop a six-game road
losing streak Saturday when they close out a short trek against the Golden
State Warriors at ORACLE Arena.
The Thunder opened the two-game road swing with a
Tigers hope to claw way past Miners in C-USA action >>
El Paso, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The fifth-ranked Memphis Tigers hit the road
this weekend, as they invade the Don Haskins Center for a Conference-USA
battle against the Texas-El Paso Miners.
John Calipari's Tigers have run roughshod over the
Golden Eagles fly into D.C. to tangle with Hoyas >>
Washington, D.C. (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Georgetown Hoyas begin a crucial two-
game homestand today, as they entertain the 10th-ranked Marquette Golden
Eagles in a Big East tilt at the Verizon Center.
The Hoyas were ranked in the Top 25 for a
11th-ranked Tigers in Boulder to take on Buffaloes >>
Boulder, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Big 12 Conference foes collide in Boulder
today, as the 11th-ranked Missouri Tigers pay a visit to the Colorado
Buffaloes. This is the second meeting of the season between these two, and
Missouri had very little t
Jayhawks seek season sweep of Cornhuskers >>
Lawrence, KS (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 15th-ranked Kansas Jayhawks close out a
two-game homestand this afternoon, as they welcome the Nebraska Cornhuskers to
Lawrence for a Big 12 showdown from the Allen Fieldhouse.
The Jayhawks are still in th
The NFL preseason is approaching. Time for players, coaches and teams to turn over a new leaf. General managers have hired some new coaches, while coaches have added some offensive and defensive assistants to try and improve things. Here’s a look at some changes to look for in the preseason.
New York Jets: The Jets were one of the surprise teams in the NFL last season, making the playoffs under hard-driving first-year coach Eric Mangini. Mangini rebuilt the offensive line with rookies D'Brickashaw Ferguson (the No. 4 pick in the 2007 Draft) and Ohio State center (the 29th pick in the first round). This season he upgraded the defense with rookie linebacker David Harris (Michigan) while the secondary picked up a much needed top-notch corner in Pitt CB Darrelle Revis (No. 14 overall).
The Jets have added balance to the offense for QB Chad Pennington with RB Thomas Jones, essentially stolen from the Bears. He will upgrade a New York ground game that was 20th in rushing with a weak 3.5 yards per carry. They have their first true feature back since Curtis Martin. Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer prefers ball control, like his father Marty. In preseason, behind Pennington you’ll see second-year QB Kellen Clemens and mobile newcomer QB Marques Tuiasosopo.
Jacksonville Jaguars: The heat is on Jack Del Rio in Jacksonville as the Jaguars flopped last season despite a ton of talent. Keep in mind that under Del Rio the Jaguars have been outstanding in preseason with a 12-4 SU, 11-5 ATS August mark. online football betting Their defense is loaded, it’s the offense that has been stuck in first gear the last few years.
Enter a new offensive coordinator in Dirk Koetter, the former Boise State and Arizona State pass-happy coach. He will try and upgrade a passing game that ranked 24th last season. Del Rio has criticized wide receivers and Matt Jones this summer, both of whom have battled injuries. It will be interesting to watch the “new” Jaguars passing game in preseason.
Arizona Cardinals: Word out of Arizona is that the players like new coach Ken Whisenhunt, who was the Steelers offensive coordinator last year. We think of Arizona as all-passing because their running game has been awful of late because of a poor offensive line. However, keep an eye on the running game in preseason as they’ve made a lot of changes.
The new coach brings in Russ Grimm to coach the offensive line (Grimm did a marvelous job building the Steelers line). They took Penn State OT Levi Jones in the first round and signed two offensive linemen, Mike Gandy and Al Johnson, to provide depth. Reggie Wells was moved from right tackle to left guard and they want more speed out of the offensive line for pulling and traps, a Pittsburgh staple under Bill Cowher.
Atlanta Falcons: While all the attention has been focused on QB Mike Vick’s off-field problems, new coach Bobby Petrino is revamping the Falcons from an all-running team to a more balanced one. Petrino likes the experience of backup QB Joey Harrington and he has veteran backup Chris Redman, who used to play for Petrino at Louisville and knows his offenses better than anyone. Petrino wants Vick to be more of a pocket passer.
The addition of FB Ovie Mughelli is a sign Petrino wants a power rushing attack behind a physical fullback and newcomer WR Joe Horn should upgrade what was a below average wideout corps. Petrino is changing their old zone-blocking scheme to a more traditional in-line blocking scheme and the offensive line is bigger. Rookie DE Jamaal Anderson was grabbed in the first round and the secondary got younger with former Auburn cornerback David Irons, who the Falcons think was a steal as a sixth-round pick.
Cleveland Browns: The 2007 Browns look like a double-edged sword. There was the excitement of the offseason, trading for RB Jamel Lewis, upgrading the offensive line with Wisconsin’s Joe Thomas (the No. 2 pick in the draft) and free agent LG Eric Steinbach, then trading for Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn when he fell to No. 22. GM Phil Savage and head coach Romeo Crennel feel they have a talented, balanced offense with these new pieces, plus TE >Kellen Winslow and WR Braylon Edwards.
However, were these moves made in desperation? And were they foolish ones? The Browns gave up their 2008 first-round pick for Quinn and we all know QBs take time to develop. And even first-round QBs can be busts (Joey Harrington, Akili Smith). We also don’t know if the offensive line is that much improved (31st in rushing in 2007) and they did nothing to improve a defense that was awful against the run (142 yds pg allowed).
The Browns have a new offensive coordinator in Rob Chudzinski. This is a young offense and Quinn looked tentative, indecisive and inaccurate early in camp. Crennel will play Charlie Frye, Quinn and Derek Anderson in preseason. And there is a mixed bag for rookie QBs receiving significant starts: Tim Couch (14), Kerry Collins (13), Ben Roethlisberger (13), Vince Young (13), Joey Harrington (12), Matt Leinart (11) and Kyle Boller (nine). While all the focus will be on the Browns new-look offense, I’m more concerned with the defense.
Carolina Panthers: Coach Jon Fox loves the ground game, but Carolina has made some interesting changes for 2007. Fox fired offensive coordinator Dan Henning and brings in Jeff Davidson to run the offense. Davidson has brought in zone-blocking schemes to the Panther offense, a dramatic change for a system that's been built around a power-running style.
In zone-blocking, offensive linemen are responsible for blocking any defender who appears in their zone, instead of focusing on one defender. The Broncos and Falcons have had success with the system, which features smaller, more athletic offensive linemen and can create running lanes on the inside and outside. Keep an eye in preseason on how Carolina adjusts as it will take time to learn the system. Fox has been one of the top coaches in preseason, with a 15-5 SU, 12-7-1 ATS August record.
Dallas Cowboys: WR Terrell Owens is still here, but QB Drew Bledsoe and Bill Parcells are gone. New head coach Wade Phillips takes over, replacing Parcells. He ran the Chargers defense last season. Phillips was chosen by teary-eyed owner Jerry Jones partly because he is one of the best 3-4 coaches in football and the Cowboys have loaded up on players for that scheme.
Remember that Phillips was blitz-happy with the Chargers last season and early reports out of the Dallas camp have mentioned how the Cowboys have been blitzing a lot, a departure from Parcells. The theme of the 2007 Dallas defense appears to be one of attack.
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