Montana and Weber State duke it out for Big Sky title
NCAA Basketball Betting Lines
03/10/2010 -
Ogden, UT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A trip to the NCAA Tournament is on the line
tonight, as the Weber State Wildcats and the Montana Grizzlies do battle in
the championship game of the 35th annual Big Sky Conference Tournament at the
Dee Events Center in Ogden, Utah.
As the top seed in this year's event and an owner of eight Big Sky Tournament
titles, Weber State had to play only one game in order to make it into the
finals and that was a 69-60 win over sixth-seeded Portland State on Tuesday
night. The victory was revenge for the regular-season finale in which the
Vikings captured an 84-79 win to snap WSU's five-game win streak.
As for fourth-seeded Montana, it began the annual event with an 81-60 thumping
of Northern Arizona in the quarterfinals on Saturday and then a 68-63 win
versus second-seeded Northern Colorado last night in the semifinals. The
Grizzlies, who won back-to-back crowns in 2005 and 2006, the former coming
against this same Weber State club, has a total of six tourney championships
to their credit.
The teams split their two regular-season meetings, with each winning on their
home floor. As a result, Weber State remains ahead in the all-time series with
a 58-47 mark.
Anthony Johnson came up with 19 points, hitting all but one of his eight free-
throw attempts, as he guided the Grizzlies to the upset win over Northern
Colorado on Tuesday. Also scoring in double figures for Montana were Ryan
Staudacher and Will Cherry with 10 points apiece, although the former did his
damage on 4-of-5 shooting from the field and the latter just 4-of-12 accuracy.
Johnson, the leading scorer in each of the last three games and nine of the
last 10 outings, is responsible for 18.9 ppg on the strength of not only 50
percent shooting from the field, but also 46.7 percent beyond the arc and 184-
of-211 at the charity stripe. As someone who forces the action as well as
anyone in the conference, Johnson made twice as many free-throws as all but
one of his teammates even had a chance to attempt this season. Staudacher, a
45.8 percent three-point shooter himself, helped the program to make good on
40.2 percent of their threes altogether.
With Portland State's Dominic Waters in foul trouble, Damian Lillard took over
for the Wildcats last night as he tallied a game-high 23 points, grabbed five
rebounds and handed out four assists in the nine-point win at home. Franklin
Session added 13 points and eight boards in order to shake off five turnovers,
while Trevor Morris tallied 10 points in just 21 minutes off the bench for a
Weber State squad that outscored the visitors at the free-throw line, 22-6.
Lillard, the leading scorer in each of the last three games for the Wildcats,
has generated a team-best 20.7 ppg against Big Sky foes this season, shooting
an impressive 44.0 percent from three-point range in those decisions. As
someone who gets involved in all facets of the game, Lillard also led the team
in assists with 110 and has been credited with better than four rebounds per
game as well. Steve Panos (11.0 ppg) and Session (10.6 ppg) also lend a hand
at the offensive end of the floor.
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NFL betting action is back! At MySportsbook, all of the pro football odds are posted for the NFC North.
Check out how we see the four teams in this cloudy division stacking up this year in the chase for the playoffs! Green Bay Packers (+125) - With QB Aaron Rodgers leading the offense and DC Dom Capers working his magic on defense, the Packers are a real force to be reckoned with.
Virtually nothing changed on this offense for Green Bay from last year to this year, save for the addition of rookie OT Brian Bulaga to the bunch. Expect more huge numbers from the Pack, and a relatively favorable schedule should get them over the hump and into the playoffs once again this season. My NFL Betting Predictions: 11-5, 1st place in NFC North Minnesota Vikings (+130) - There are still too many unknowns about the Vikes this year. There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not.
There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.
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The Patriots will make NFL betting fans a lot of money this season, get in early and enjoy the cash. NFL Betting
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