Billikens battle Rams in first game of CBI finals

NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

03/29/2010 - Richmond, VA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Virginia Commonwealth Rams host the Saint Louis Billikens tonight in the championship round of the 2010 College Basketball Invitational at the Siegel Center in Richmond. The CBI finals is a best-of-three series, and SLU will host VCU in game two on Wednesday night.

The Rams certainly have the edge heading into tonight's clash, as they are an impressive 17-1 home, including 10 straight wins. The latter two of those victories came in this event -- a 93-86 triumph of the College of Charleston and an 88-75 besting of Boston University in the semifinals last Wednesday. VCU has now defeated eight teams with 20-plus wins on the season and that certainly deserves recognition.

As for the Billikens, they have played all three games of this tournament at home, helping them to 18 wins at Chaifetz Arena. After outlasting Indiana State (63-54) and Green Bay (68-62, 2OT), Saint Louis topped Princeton, 69-59, in the semifinals last Wednesday. The Billikens have now won 23 games overall, their most since the 1994-95 campaign.

This bout marks the first-ever meeting between VCU and SLU on the hardwood.

The Billikens shot an efficient 54.5 percent from the field, their second-best performance of the campaign, and scored 21 points off 14 Princeton turnovers in a 69-59 win in the semifinals of this event last week. Kwamain Mitchell led the SLU charge with 21 points and five assists, while Willie Reed turned in his ninth double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds. For the season, Mitchell paces Saint Louis in scoring at 16.3 ppg and he also has a team-high 47 steals. Reed, the team's top rebounder at 8.1 rpg, tacks on 12.4 ppg, while Cody Ellis adds 10.9 ppg and 5.1 rpg to the rotation. The Billikens are a team that relies on stingy defense to get the job done, as they are holding foes to 59.7 ppg and 39.8 percent shooting from the floor for the season.

The Rams drained 11 three-pointers and scored 21 points off 17 Boston University turnovers, as they captured an 88-75 victory in the semifinal round of this tournament last week. VCU suffered just nine giveaways itself, while shooting 48.5 percent from the field. Bradford Burgess led the way with 20 points, and Joey Rodriguez added 19 points and five assists. Larry Sanders also had a big night, finishing with 18 points, eight rebounds and three blocks. It was a typical effort for Sanders, who paces the team with 14.5 ppg, 9.2 rpg and 84 blocks for the season. Rodriguez adds 12.7 ppg, to go with a team-high 5.9 apg, and Burgess chips in 10.7 ppg. As a unit, the Rams are producing a solid 76.4 ppg.

Casinos--online NCAA Basketball Betting News

<< Memorial service planned for slain FIU student
MIAMI (AP) -Students and faculty at Florida International University will gather to remember Kendall Berry, the running back stabbed to death outside the school's recreation center.A celebration of life is scheduled for Monday afternoon on the FIU M

<< Something for everyone at 2010 Final Four
There's a favorite in Duke, a little guy in Butler, a team returning to the big-time in West Virginia and a regular hardly anyone figured would get so far this season in Michigan State.One of the most unpredictable NCAA tournaments in recent history

<< Huskers hustled by Kentucky in NCAA Tournament
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A'dia Mathies posted 21 points as she played a major role in Kentucky's 76-67 win over Nebraska in the semifinals of the Kansas City Regional at the Sprint Center. Also scoring in double figures for

<< Athletics come to terms with Gaudin
Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Oakland Athletics came to terms with right-hander Chad Gaudin on Sunday, just three days after he was let go by the New York Yankees. New York is still on the hook for 25-percent of his $2.95 million salary

<< Boston College, Miami-Ohio advance to Frozen Four
Worcester, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Boston College and Miami-Ohio advanced to the Frozen Four by winning their regional final contests Sunday as part of the NCAA hockey tournament. The Eagles and RedHawks will battle April 8 at Ford Field in De

Kings try to gain momentum in battle with Wild >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Although Los Angeles still stands a good chance of making the playoffs, the club isn't generating a whole lot of momentum in preparation for the NHL's second season. The slumping Kings will try to stop a three-game losing

Stars, Ducks hope to keep fading playoff hopes alive >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of Pacific Division members currently on the outside looking in of the Western Conference playoff picture face off tonight at the Honda Center, where the Dallas Stars conclude a make-or-break road trip by taking on the

Hard-charging Thrashers go for home-and-home sweep of 'Canes >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With a tough April on the horizon, the Atlanta Thrashers know they need to collect as many points as possible if they hope to make the postseason. So far, so good as Atlanta seeks a sweep of its home-and-home series with t

Rinne, Predators skate into Florida >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Nashville's Pekka Rinne has been playing like a goaltender that could steal some games in the playoffs. Now all the Predators have to do is get there. The Preds will try to get closer to that goal tonight, when they visit

Bruins, Sabres to square off in key Northeast clash >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Buffalo Sabres will try to inch closer to a Northeast Division title tonight, when they visit TD Garden and the Boston Bruins, who are trying to hold onto one of the Eastern Conference's final playoff positions. The S

Marlins could start season without No. 2 starter Johnson

JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.

Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.

MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .

''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''

Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.

He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.

''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''

Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.

Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.

With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.

Additional basbeall odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.