Cavs hope to continue dominance over Grizzlies

Basketball Betting Lines

02/24/2009 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cleveland Cavaliers shoot for their seventh straight win over the Memphis Grizzlies when the two teams square off Tuesday evening from Quicken Loans Arena.

The Cavs won the first meeting with Memphis, 102-87, on January 13 at FedEx Forum thanks to LeBron James' 19th career triple-double. James had 30 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for Cleveland, which has won six straight and eight of the last nine meetings with Memphis.

Memphis has lost four straight after winning its last two at Cleveland.

Cleveland is unbeaten in its last four games overall and is coming off Sunday's 99-78 victory versus the Detroit Pistons in which Delonte West scored a game-high 25 points in his first game back since suffering a broken right wrist on January 15 at Chicago.

James chipped in 20 points, nine assists and five rebounds for the Cavs, who improved to 25-1 at home this season. Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Wally Szczerbiak scored 16 and 15, respectively, in the win.

The Grizzlies will try to put the brakes on a four-game slide when they open a quick two-game road trip Tuesday against the Cavs and Pacers. They are only 3-21 away from home this season and have dropped three in a row as the guest.

In a 115-106 home loss versus Sacramento on Friday, rookie O.J. Mayo scored 24 points and Rudy Gay contributed 23 points and 10 rebounds for Memphis. Mike Conley had 16 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists for the Grizz, who were without their new additions. Memphis traded reserve point guard Kyle Lowry to Houston last week in a three-way deal that landed veteran center Adonal Foyle and journeyman guard Mike Wilks from Orlando as well as the Magic's first- round pick in 2009. The Grizzlies also acquired center Chris Mihm from the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for a conditional draft choice in 2013.

The new players, save Wilks, who is done for the season after right knee surgery, are expected to see action in Cleveland.

Wwwherald Basketball Betting News

<< Spurs return to Alamo City to host Mavs
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With their annual "Rodeo Road Trip" in the rear-view mirror, the San Antonio Spurs will welcome their Southwest Division rivals, the Dallas Mavericks, to the Alamo City for the opener of a three-game homesta

<< Pistons hope to snap skid in South Beach vs. Heat
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Detroit Pistons are caught in a downward spiral of futility and will try to stop a lengthy slide when they resume a grueling five-game road trip Tuesday against the Miami Heat at AmericanAirlines Arena. Detroit suffere

<< Streaking Lakers visit Thunder
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kobe Bryant will lead the Los Angeles Lakers into Oklahoma City tonight for a showdown against the Thunder in the finale of a short two- game road trip at the Ford Center. Los Angeles has won four in a row and 11 of its la

<< Wolves, Raptors meet at Air Canada Centre
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Toronto Raptors will wrap up a short two-game homestand when they welcome the Minnesota Timberwolves to town Tuesday for a showdown at Air Canada Centre. Toronto has won three of its last five games and ended a two-gam

<< Surging Seminoles take on floundering Eagles
Chestnut Hill, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 23rd-ranked Florida State Seminoles appear to be in great position to claim an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, and they will attempt to strengthen their already impressive resume' tonight against th

Magic pay a visit to Bulls >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The class of the Southeast Division, the Orlando Magic, kick off a quick two-game road trip tonight when they arrive in the Windy City to take on the Chicago Bulls at the United Center. The Magic hope to continue the

Rockets resume homestand vs. Blazers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Rockets hope to remain perfect on a six-game homestand Tuesday when they welcome the Portland Trail Blazers to the Toyota Center. The Rockets, who are three games behind San Antonio for the Southwest Divis

Suns, Bobcats square off in the desert >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Phoenix Suns hope to get back on the winning track Tuesday when they welcome the Charlotte Bobcats to town for the finale of a three-game homestand. The Suns faltered in their last outing on Sunday when Bos

Bruins try to get on track versus streaking Panthers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The struggling Boston Bruins will try to win for just the second time in eight games when they welcome the Florida Panthers for tonight's clash at TD Banknorth Garden. Despite losing six of their last seven games, the Brui

Sabres, Lalime take on Ducks >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With No. 1 goaltender Ryan Miller out indefinitely with an ankle sprain, the Buffalo Sabres will try to continue their quest for a playoff spot when they host the Anaheim Ducks for tonight's interconference battle at HSBC Are

Numerous College Basketball teams take final big step to March Madness betting

So, what turned on the lock spigot? Well, after what felt like weeks of teams treading water and slipping back into the bubble muck, a bunch of them finally decided to say "to heck with parity" and won games that should put them into the Big Dance.

Disagree with some of these? Then here's the challenge. Take all of the "should be ins" and make a legit case that each should be ahead of the team that's a lock. Then find 10 more teams that also should be placed in the bracket ahead of that lock team. Not so easy, is it?

If you want more evidence that these locks should be good to go, check out what our research department dug up. Since the NCAA Tournament went to 64 teams in 1985, only six teams from a "big six" conference have had a record of 10-6 or better in conference play and not been selected: Colorado (2004) and Nebraska (1999) from the Big 12, Boston College and Seton Hall (both 2003) from the Big East, Indiana (2005) from the Big Ten and UCLA, which somehow went 12-6 in the Pac-10 in 1988 and still missed out. (Note: Five teams went 11-7 and didn't get in, the latest being last season's Stanford team, which had a brutal nonconference run.)

Yes, 10 conference wins doesn't always mean what it used to because of unbalanced schedules, but this season, it should be plenty good in all but the extreme cases (see: Iowa).

In a way, this is a welcome development, because this is a bubble watch, not a lock watch. We can finally be done with teams like Maryland and Virginia Tech and start really bearing down on at-large battles such as Syracuse-West Virginia and Appalachian State-Georgia Tech.

Interestingly, all the shifting of teams into lock status appears to be more administrative than impactful. The number of remaining available at-larges didn't change one iota. The only difference is that teams on the bubble now have a clearer idea of which team(s) they are competing with for those precious bids.

The Bubble Breakdown
CONFERENCE LOCKS SHOULD BE INS AT-LARGES TAKEN
(assuming no auto bid outlier)
ACC Betting Odds 6 0 5
Big East Betting Odds 5 0 4
Big Ten Betting Odds 2 2 3
Big 12 Betting Odds 3 0 2
Pac-10 Betting Odds 5 1 5
SEC Betting Odds 4 0 3
MVC Betting Odds 1 1 1
MWC Betting Odds 2 1 2
TOTAL 28 5 25

As always, I've tried to be as inclusive as possible while only including teams that would have a reasonable chance of at least being discussed if this were Selection Sunday. If your team's not on here, there's probably a good reason (or three) -- start with the RPI and SOS numbers and work your way down.

(Please remember, per selection committee criteria, that records displayed are Division I only. Next update: Feb. 28)

If you have a legitimate grievance, or just like talking bubble, send an e-mail. Polite ones with fact-based arguments have a much better chance of receiving a response. I apologize in advance if I can't get back to all of you.

Atlantic Coast Conference

Work left to do: Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech

The ACC moves to six locks as BC, Va Tech and Virginia all got their 10th ACC wins, which should be more than enough this season, and Maryland rallied past North Carolina to get the final piece the Terps needed. After that? It could end there unless FSU, Ga Tech or Clemson picks things up in a hurry.

 

Work left to do:

Clemson [19-9 (5-9), RPI: 41, SOS: 42] The Tigers are closer to locking up the collapse of the year award (in a good battle with OK State) than they are to grabbing an at-large. Clemson's been very competitive, but there's no really positive way you can spin nine losses in 11 games. They now cannot get to .500 in ACC play and still must head to Virginia Tech in the season finale (after hosting Miami). Unless the Tigers win both and/or do some serious work in the ACC tourney, they very well could be left out. There are no great nonconference wins, but ODU, App State, Miss. State, South Carolina and Georgia are all respectable W's.

Florida State [18-11 (6-9), RPI: 48, SOS: 14] The Noles got thrashed at Maryland to run their losing streak to five, but then pounded NC State at home to set the table for what likely is an elimination game at Miami. You can at least make a case for the Seminoles at 7-9 in ACC play (and some work in the ACC tourney), but 6-10 is not going to cut it. Wins at Duke and over Florida will resonate, but the computer numbers remain questionable. Beyond Florida, FSU thrashed bubble buddy Providence, but there's not a ton beyond those two games that will help. They didn't show well in big-time opportunities against Pitt and Wisconsin (before the Florida win).

Georgia Tech [18-10 (6-8), RPI: 51, SOS: 46] The Jackets beat Wake on Wednesday but couldn't get it done at UVa on Saturday, which could be a crucial loss with UNC and BC (both at home) remaining and 8-8 almost a certain need for at-large consideration. A nonconference win over Memphis helps, but the RPI and SOS are not at-large quality right now; if you combine those with a sub-.500 ACC mark, that could spell NIT for GT.

For more College Basketball betting lines go to MySportsbook.com

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