West Virginia survives again to reach Big East final

NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

03/13/2010 - New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Da'Sean Butler scored 24 points and hauled in six rebounds, and the seventh-ranked West Virginia Mountaineers survived yet again with a 53-51 win over Notre Dame to advance to the Big East Tournament title game.

Kevin Jones added 10 points for the third-seeded Mountaineers (26-6), who are riding a five-game win streak heading into Saturday's final against 22nd- ranked and eighth-seeded Georgetown. WVU has been able to win several close games in a row, as the combined winning margin in its last three contests is just seven. The team beat Villanova by two in overtime to end the regular season before Butler banked a game-winning three at the buzzer in Thursday's thrilling win over Cincinnati.

Devin Ebanks and Joe Mazzulla both posted eight points for West Virginia, which is 7-0 this season at a neutral site and will have an opportunity to capture its first Big East Tournament title in school history.

Ben Hansbrough, brother of former Tar Heel Tyler, led a late Notre Dame (23-11) charge and had a team-high 17 points in all, but the Irish failed in their attempt to advance to their first tourney final since joining the Big East in the mid-1990s. Luke Harangody came off the bench and ended with 10 points but did not have a large impact on the outcome.

Notre Dame's season-high six-game win streak came to an end after Tory Jackson's potential game-winning three in the final moments hit the front of the rim.

The Irish trailed by 10, 41-31, with eight minutes to play, but seventh-seeded Notre Dame put together a rally.

Harangody went a combined 5-for-5 from the line on the team's next two offensive possessions, and Hansbrough sank consecutive three-pointers around the four-minute mark to pull the Irish to within 48-45.

Jackson's pair from the line made it a one-point game moments later, but Jones capped two straight successful WVU possessions with two free throws for a 52-47 Mountaineer lead with two minutes to play.

Hansbrough kept Notre Dame within two, 53-51, with 47.4 ticks left on a pair from the line, and Butler missed what would have been a game-sealing three- pointer.

Harangody grabbed the rebound with 12 seconds left and, as Notre Dame was without any timeouts, sprinted up the court and dished it to Jackson, whose three-point attempt grazed the front rim. The Irish's Tyrone Nash grabbed the offensive board but had the ball stripped before he could get a shot off, and time expired to give WVU the win.

A low-scoring first half saw the Mountaineers come away with a 23-20 lead after a Hansbrough three-pointer was disallowed at the buzzer.

West Virginia increased its lead to six, 29-23, on a pair of Jones baskets in the early moments of the second half, and the Mountaineers later scored nine of 12 points to grab a 41-31 edge with just under 10 minutes to go.

Game Notes

Notre Dame advanced to Friday's semifinal by beating Seton Hall on Wednesday and Pittsburgh on Thursday...The Irish still lead the all-time series, 25-11, and had beaten the Mountaineers on the road during the regular season...WVU was the lone team out of the four that earned a double-bye to post a win in the tourney...The Mountaineers outrebounded Notre Dame, 32-19...WVU shot 50 percent from the field, compared to just 34.1 percent for the Irish...The Mountaineers advanced to the final for the first time since 2005.

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Eastern Conference Playoff Betting Trends

We all know by now that the “public” loves to put their money on the FAVORITES and the OVERS.  Just by taking a quick glance at Sportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends” it appears as is this tendency will continue as far as the Eastern Conference games are concerned.  For the inaugural games of the first round, 69% of the early money is on Toronto -4.5; 59% of bettors prefer Chicago -4.5; 84% are backing Detroit -9; and 56% think Cleveland -11.5 is the way to go.  As far as TOTALS are concerned, the only UNDER the “public” is backing is the Cleveland/ Washington game in which 83% are pounding the UNDER (190).  Remember, there is no better way to predict a possible line change than by monitoring MySportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends”.   By determining who the “public” is backing, you can get the most ideal line for your bet.  For example, if you are siding with the public you better place your bet before the line moves in the wrong direction.  On the other side of the coin, if you prefer the team that the “public” is betting against; you might be able to get and extra ½ or even more by placing your bet a bit later.  Under the “Betting Trends” section, Sportsbook.com also provides plenty of statistical data and trends in order for the bettor to make the most informed pick.  Below are some extremely important trends for the first round opponents of the Eastern Conference match-ups, more can be found at MySportsbook.com

New Jersey Nets vs. Toronto Raptors

Toronto was the most reliable covering team this season with a 48-33-1 ATS record but covered the OVER only 41.5% of the time.
The last 20 times these teams have played, the TOTAL has gone UNDER 16 times.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Toronto is 33-19 ATS including 17-9 at home.
 New Jersey has covered four games in a row while Toronto has failed to cover their last four games.
When playing a team with a winning record during the second half of the season, New Jersey was just 5-13 ATS this season.
After scoring 105 points or more, Toronto has covered the OVER only 28% of the time this season. 
 
Miami Heat @ Chicago Bulls

Miami has failed to cover their last 7 games whereas Chicago has covered 6 out of their last 8 games.
Miami has covered the UNDER in four of their last five games whereas Chicago has covered the UNDER in five out of their last six.
When playing on Saturdays, Miami covered 80% of their games this season.
Away from home, Chicago is just 16-25 ATS this season.
At home, Miami covered the UNDER about 66% of the time whereas Chicago covered the UNDER about 61% of the time.
The last 13 times these teams have played each other, Chicago has covered 9 times.
In Miami’s last 11 road games, the UNDER covered 9 times. 
 
Orlando Magic @ Detroit Pistons

Detroit has covered 5 out of their last 6 games.
Away from home, Detroit is 28-13 ATS but just 14-26-1 ATS at home.
At home, Orlando covered the UNDER 64% of the time while Detroit covered the UNDER in 63% of their away games.
The last five times these teams have played in Detroit, the OVER covered each time.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Detroit is 8-17-1 ATS at home but 17-9 ATS away.
Detroit covered the spread 5 out of the last 6 times they played Orlando.
After a Division game, Orlando covered the UNDER 87% of the time this season. 
 
Washington Wizards @ Cleveland Cavaliers

In a home game where the TOTAL is between 190 and 194.5 points, Cleveland is 9-1 ATS this season.
Washington has covered the UNDER in their last 6 games and in 8 of their last 9 games.
The last 6 times these teams have played each other, the UNDER covered each time.
When playing on 3 or more days of rest, Washington is just 18-37 ATS since 1996.
Since 1996, Washington is 28-16 ATS versus Cleveland including 11-5 over the last 3 seasons.
In their last 7 road games, Washington is 6-1 ATS.
Versus Eastern Conference teams at home, Washington is just 6-18-2 ATS. 
 
For even more betting trends for not just the NBA but for all of the major sports, log on to Sportsbook.com and click on “Trends”.  With only two months left in the NBA betting season it is important to be as well informed as possible in order to maximize your profit.  Also for all of you poker players, check out MySportsbook.com’s “WSOP Low Bid Auction”. You could be on your way to Vegas to play against the world’s best poker players for under a buck.

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