Crusaders take on Salukis in NCAA Tourney first round
NCAA Basketball Betting Lines
03/16/2007 - Columbus, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Southern Illinois Salukis will make their sixth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament when they collide with the Holy Cross Crusaders in a first round matchup from Nationwide Arena.
The Crusaders are making their 12th appearance in the Big Dance, where the team has accumulated a meager 7-11 ledger. In fact, the team has lost eight consecutive tournament games and has not posted a victory in the Big Dance since 1953. On the season, Holy Cross delivered a solid 25-8 record, which included an impressive 13-1 mark in the Patriot League. The team started the year with a mediocre 7-6 ledger, but eventually the Crusaders hit their stride, winning 16 of their last 18 games, which included three wins in the PL Tournament.
As for the Salukis, they are making their sixth straight appearance, but the only difference this season is the team will be the fourth-seed, the highest SIU has ever been in the Big Dance. SIU heads into this event with an outstanding 27-7 ledger, and at one point during the season the Salukis collected 13 consecutive wins. If the team is victorious tonight it will tie a school record for most wins in a season. The Salukis captured the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season title, but stumbled in the postseason tournament, losing to Creighton, 67-61.
The winner of tonight's contest will have the honor of facing either Virginia Tech or Illinois in the second round. As for the all-time series between Holy Cross and Southern Illinois, the two schools have never met on the hardwood.
It is easy to figure out why the Crusaders had so much success this year and the reason was the team's play at the defensive end of the court. Almost every game this year the Crusaders put forth a tenacious defensive performance, and the team heads into this game surrendering a mere 57.4 ppg, while limiting the opposition to a 41.3 percent shooting effort from the floor. Holy Cross also forced 16.9 turnovers per contest, while collecting an outstanding 9.5 steals per matchup. Unfortunately for the Crusaders, the team does not have much of an offensive punch to back up its strong defensive play. Holy Cross is producing just 64.2 ppg on the year and is shooting a mediocre 43.8 percent from the field. The team is currently outrebounding its opponent by a little over four rpg, but at the same time the team has struggled with mistakes, committing 15.1 miscues per outing. Keith Simmons has been the team's main option this year, as the big man is leading the squad with 17.3 ppg and 5.8 rpg. Torey Thomas has been the Crusaders' best backcourt player, as the guard is averaging 13.6 ppg, while leading the team with 157 assists and 92 steals. Tim Clifford rounds out Holy Cross' double-figure performers with 11.8 ppg.
The Crusaders might be a tough defensive team, but they are nothing compared to SIU. The Salukis have been one of the top defensive teams in the nation throughout the season and are currently third in the country in points allowed, surrendering just 56.5 ppg. Out of the 33 games played by SIU this season, the Salukis allowed below 65 points in 26 of those contests. Opponents are shooting just 41.5 percent from the field against SIU this season and an even worse 35 percent from behind the arc. The Salukis have also forced an impressive 506 turnovers this year, while also collecting an equally solid 217 steals. Offensively the team's best option has been Jamaal Tatum, who was named MVC Player of the Year. Tatum is currently leading SIU with 15 ppg and is shooting an outstanding 41.6 percent from long range. Randal Falker has done a solid job down low for SIU, as the big man is averaging 12.5 ppg, while also leading the team with 7.5 rpg and 70 blocks. Matt Shaw is the only other player producing over 10 ppg, as the guard is chipping in 11.4 points per contest.
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The Indianapolis Colts know that winning the Super Bowl last season put a huge target on their backs, and they expect opponents to go all-out to knock them from the top of the mountain.
They’ll get their first test from the New Orleans Saints this Thursday night. The defending champs had nothing but good things to say about the New Orleans defense this past week, praising their opponents’ pass rush and run-stopping abilities.
"They play very aggressively," head coach Tony Dungy told the New Orleans Times-Picayune. "They play a lot of man-to-man coverage, and they come after you. They have good pass rushers, and they're going to try to pressure us, I'm sure."
Both center Jeff Saturday and quarterback Peyton Manning gave New Orleans’ front four props, admitting keeping guys like Will Smithand Charles Grant contained would be a tall task for the offensive line.
New Orleans ranked second in total defense during the preseason at a sportsbook, allowing just under 233 yards per game. Last season, the defense finished 11th in the league after giving up 307.3 yards and 20.1 points per contest.
Not so sound on the ground
If Indianapolis' efficient offense has a weakness it has to be its running attack. The Colts one-two-punch of Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai is no longer, leaving the bulk of the carries to Addai, the second-year back out of LSU.
Former Saskatchewan Roughrider Kenton Keith was named Addai’s backup this week after beating out DeDe Dorsey for the second-string position. Indy has only three backs on the roster right now, including fullback Luke Lawton, and coach Dungy is aware of the thinness of his ground game. Sports Betting lines on the game can be found at BettingExpress.com
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Terrell Owens could return for Cowboys next game
A bye week will allow Terrell Owens broken hand to recover just in time for the next game the Dallas Cowboys are slated to play, according to reports. MySportsbook.com, an football sportsbook, has posted football betting lines on TO playing.
Owens broke the bone leading to his right ring finger Sunday night and had a plate surgically attached to it Monday. Although Owens' hand was swollen and aching Wednesday, Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said he's optimistic the receiver will be back at work next week and catching passes a week from Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.
MySportsbook.com online sportsbook listed Terrell Owens with odds of 7-2 (or $7 paid out for every $2 bet) to return back for the game against Tennessee.
"I certainly wouldn't rule it out now," Parcells said, referring to Terrell Owens immediate return. "Maybe five days from now I might, but I wouldn't rule it out now. ... I know we're looking to try to get him moving around pretty good in the next day or so. So we'll see where we are."
Owens did not speak with reporters Wednesday, but said Sunday he'd be out two to four weeks. A return against the Titans would be 13 days after the surgery. The Cowboys were listed as an early -7 1/2 favorite vs. the Tennessee Titans for Week 4 at MySportsbook.com
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