11/18/2008 - Chapel Hill, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Deon Thompson had his way in the post while logging 20 points and nine rebounds in top-ranked North Carolina's 77-58 drubbing of a rebuilding Kentucky Wildcats club in a game featuring college basketball's two winningest programs.
Wayne Ellington notched 16 points and Ed Davis added nine points and 10 boards for North Carolina (2-0), which upended a scrappy Penn squad in its season opener on Saturday. Ty Lawson shot just 3-of-15 from the floor but finished with nine assists and 11 points for the Tar Heels, who once again won by double-digits despite playing without senior forward Tyler Hansbrough.
Patrick Patterson hit 8-of-11 from the field and notched 19 points and 11 rebounds for Kentucky (0-2), which surprisingly dropped its season opener to VMI last Friday. Jodie Meeks also scored 19 points but made 5-of-20 from the field, and Ramon Harris -- 15 points -- was the only other Wildcat with more than three points.
After trading buckets to start the game, Thompson scored six straight points and Danny Green nailed a three-pointer for an 11-2 UNC lead four minutes into the contest.
Two more field goals from the hosts made it a 13-point game and the Wildcats looked overmatched very early. Sloppy play led to 17 first-half turnovers for UK and the Heels took advantage.
After a steal by Green, Ellington threw down an alley-oop dunk and Carolina led 25-6 with 11 1/2 minutes to play in the first half.
The Tar Heels jumped ahead 41-25 at the break, and though their lead never fell into single digits, they failed to completely break the game open in the second half.
Patterson's one-handed leaner in the lane made it 64-51 with 6 1/2 minutes left, but the Wildcats couldn't protect the rim in the closing minutes. Lawson got to the line for a pair of free throws and Thompson came down with an offensive putback on two of three possessions to end any threat of a comeback.
Game Notes
Hansbrough has missed three weeks of action due to a stress reaction in his right shin and his return to the court has yet to be determined...UNC heads to UC Santa Barbara for a Friday night tilt, while Kentucky looks to rebound against Delaware State on Saturday...Carolina's Tyler Zeller left the court late in the game with an injured wrist after he fell going up for a dunk...UK leads in the all-time win column (1,966 - 1,952) but have dropped five straight to the Tar Heels...Carolina's bench outscored the UK bench, 22-0.
<< Gonzaga slams Idaho
Spokane, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Austin Daye scored 16 points and grabbed seven
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46.
Micah Downs added 18 points for Gonzaga (2-0), which opened up its season with
<< Collins, Jayhawks rout Florida Gulf Coast
Lawrence, KS (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sherron Collins scored 25 points to lead the
24th-ranked Kansas Jayhawks in an 85-45 rout of the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles
at Allen Fieldhouse.
Cole Aldrich added 12 points for the Jayhawks (2-0), who w
<< Gay, Warrick lead Grizzlies over Kings
Memphis, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Rudy Gay scored 22 points and grabbed eight
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Hakim Warrick scored 21 points and raked in 10 rebounds off the bench for the
Grizzlies,
<< Leur, Badgers handle Cougars
Madison, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jon Leuer scored 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting,
and 25th-ranked Wisconsin rolled to an easy 88-58 win over SIU-Edwardsville.
Marcus Landry had 15 points, five rebounds, and five blocked shots for the
Badger
Leuer, Badgers handle Cougars >>
Madison, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jon Leuer scored 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting,
and 25th-ranked Wisconsin rolled to an easy 88-58 win over SIU-Edwardsville.
Marcus Landry had 15 points, five rebounds, and five blocked shots for the
Badger
Oklahoma fends off Curry, Davidson >>
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Toews nets shootout winner as Blackhawks edge Coyotes >>
Glendale, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jonathan Toews and Patrick Sharp both lit the
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3-2.
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Flames down Avs >>
Calgary, AB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Adrian Aucoin and Rene Bourque scored while
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Jarome Iginla
In terms of sports wagering, the NFL is "the most popular game in town." The explanation behind that is easy.
It is called the "pointspread."
Many years ago, NFL games, as well as the more popular college games, used straight odds as a vehicle for betting. For example, if the Bears were playing the Giants, and it shaped up as a competitive contest, the Bears might be, say, a 7/5 favorite. If they were playing an also-ran, it might be 10/1. Well, there is a point where a line becomes prohibitive, as far as betting the favorite. And who would waste money betting an underdog that has virtually no chance? Such a setup did not contribute to promoting betting action.
But in modern sports betting, a "pointspread" is used.
A NFL pointspreads are exactly that, a pre-established point difference between the two sides that will, for all intents and purposes, create a handicap that evens things out, and in doing so, produces comparable wagering activity on both sides of that proposition. So in lieu of a odds figure in which to bet the team to win outright, the Bears might be a three-point favorite over the New York Giants, and a 17-point favorite over the also-ran. Now that the team that is the underdog can "get" points, there can be equal action on both sides.
In sportsbooks, this is usually done with efficiency by charging the losing bettors 10% extra - in effect, bettors are laying 11/10 on those games. So they are actually betting $110 to win $100. If they lose, they pay the "vig." If they win, they simply collect.
The establishment of the pointspread as the corner stone around which team sports like football can be wagered upon was truly what brought gridiron betting into the stratosphere.
Don't believe it? Just take a look at what happens around the Super Bowl.
Stay with us here as we take you through the best in NFL action on a consistent basis, with advice columns as well as handicapping selections. If you're looking for college football betting, that's in our NCAA section, which you can reach by clicking here. And if you're looking for a different kind of football, such as the Canadian Football League, which we'll deal with occasionally, or the Arena Football League, which we really like, you can find it in our Miscellaneous section by clicking
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