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Hornets try to stop Lin, Knicks at MSGBasketball Betting Lines02/17/2012 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Some think New Orleans will put an end to the Lin-sanity that has engulfed New York City on Friday. Others think it will eventually be Carmelo Anthony. The thought was Jeremy Lin and Anthony could be in the starting lineup together tonight as the Knicks shoot for an eighth straight win against the Hornets in Madison Square Garden. However, Anthony was ruled out again on Friday morning as he continues to recover from a strained right groin. New York coach Mike D'Antoni said the All-Star could be available Sunday when Dallas visits Gotham. New York's recent resurgence, of course, has coincided with Lin's rise from obscurity along with Anthony's absence from the lineup. Lin continued his unlikely surge Wednesday, setting a career-high in assists for the second straight day and handing out nine of his 13 helpers in the first half, as the Knicks built a big lead on the way to a 100-85 win over the Sacramento Kings. New York has won seven games in a row for the first time since last season, all with big contributions from the former benchwarmer and new starting point guard. Wednesday's runaway win came one night after Lin, with a then-career high 11 assists, kept the ball himself and buried a game-winning three-pointer with 0.5 seconds left in Toronto. He only played three quarters against Sacramento, scoring 10 points and sitting the entire fourth in a lopsided win. "That's great on a night like that," said Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni. "The next game he might score 30. Whatever we need to win, he'll do." The Knicks had seven scorers in double figures and improved to 15-15, reaching .500 for the first time since they were 6-6 after a loss at Oklahoma City on January 14. Amare Stoudemire had 11 points in his second game back and Landry Fields led New York with 15 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. "We need to make sure we put our egos aside," said Lin. "When we put our egos aside and buy into coach D'Antoni's system, we're going to win." Those "egos" could be amped up when Anthony finally does return. The superstar has been a disappointment since arriving from Denver at last season's trading deadline, often being called a "ball-stopper" and criticized for not allowing his teammates to get involved with the offense, Lin, on the other hand, has been able to score and distribute, compiling 136 points in his first five starts -- the most by any player since the NBA merged with the ABA in 1976 -- and dishing out the career-best 13 assists vs. Sacramento. "I know I'm not a selfish player. People around me know I'm not a selfish player," Anthony told ESPN's Stephen A. Smith. "I do everything I can to make people around me understand I'm not a selfish player." The Hornets, meanwhile, opened up a six-game road trip in Milwaukee on Wednesday by earning a 92-89 win. Marco Belinelli led the Hornets in that one with 22 points as New Orleans snapped a six-game road losing streak. Chris Kaman added a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Trevor Ariza netted 14 points for the Hornets, who have won two straight after dropping 23 of their previous 25. "We're a fighting team," New Orleans coach Monty Williams said. "We have a little bit of grit about us. It's too bad you don't have a stat for heart and intensity." NOLA, which will also visit Oklahoma City, Indiana, Cleveland and Chicago on its trek, is just 3-9 on the road this season and has lost six straight games to New York. The Hornets have dropped three in a row and 14 of 20 at MSG.
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COLLEGE FOOTBALL BETTINGNCAA Football BettingMany fans thought it was the best side in the nation by the end of last season. This year, the polls have built on Georgia's momentum and granted it the No. 1 preseason ranking, followed by Ohio State and USC. (The Associated Press has the Buckeyes at No. 2; USA Today took the Trojans.) "To have people believing we have one of the best teams in the nation going into this thing, it's exciting for us," Bulldogs coach Mark Richt told the AP. "I don't think anything is guaranteed, but we certainly have put ourselves in position where at least the college football world thinks we're pretty good." Georgia Bulldogs - 9.5 wins There's no question they're good, but the Bulldogs have one of the toughest 12-game schedules in the nation, mostly because they play in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference. Away games at No. 15 Arizona State, No. 7 LSU and No. 10 Auburn loom large, with contests between the hedges versus No. 24 Alabama and No. 18 Tennessee as well as the World's Largest Cocktail Party in Jacksonville versus No.5 Florida. Ohio State Buckeyes - 10 wins Like the Bulldogs, the Buckeyes also have a number of tough road contests in 2008. After two scrimmages dressed up as real games versus Youngstown State and Ohio, it's off to face USC. Other tough away games include No.13 Wisconsin in October and No. 20 Illinois in November. Granted, it should be pretty easy sledding at the Horseshoe. In fact, the only ranked team that travels to Columbus is No. 22 Penn State, in October. USC Trojans - 10.5 wins A similarly light schedule awaits the Trojans of Southern California, which is why the oddsmakers' total is one win more and the over is currently commanding -150 odds. Pete Carroll's troops only play three ranked teams in 2008, and all of those games are at home. After what should be an easy trip to Virginia to start things off on Aug. 30, the Trojans get two weeks to prepare for Ohio State in Los Angeles. Their two other ranked opponents, No. 21 Oregon and No. 15 Arizona State, visit in consecutive weeks to start the month of October. After that, the competition eases up. Of course, this is the same highly-touted school that lost to Stanford in 2007 and Oregon State in 2006. And don't discount the fact that USC plays its biggest rivals, Notre Dame and UCLA, back-to-back to close out the regular season. On paper, the Trojans are far superior, but motivation will be high for the Irish and Bruins, especially if their historic foes are in national-title contention. Odds to Win the Heisman Trophy Tim Tebow, Florida - 7/2 "There has never been anyone quite like him," Meyer told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I am very lucky to be his coach." Chris Wells, Ohio State - 5/1 The man they call "Beanie" was a star recruit out of high school, so it's not like nobody knew who the star tailback was before he rushed for 576 yards as a freshman in 2006 and 1,609 as a sophomore. But perhaps his finest moment came last year versus Michigan when he rumbled for 222 yards and two touchdowns in the Buckeyes' 14-3 victory over the hated Wolverines. Knowshon Moreno, Georgia - 8/1 If the Bulldogs are to live up to expectations, they'll need a huge effort from their sophomore running back. This might be the last year of college ball for Moreno, who rushed for 1,334 yards and for 14 touchdowns as a freshman, while adding 253 receiving yards on 20 receptions, so expect big things for the man from Belford, N.J. Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting lines . |
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