Bruins and Trojans add another chapter to Pac-10 rivalry

NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

01/11/2009 - Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 10th-ranked UCLA Bruins, who own an eight-game win streak, collide with the USC Trojans in what figures to be a hard-fought Pac-10 Conference matchup between long-time local rivals.

UCLA hasn't lost since December 4th and is a stellar 12-2 overall. The Bruins have been idle since last Sunday when they knocked off Oregon on the road by an 83-74 final. Considered by most to be the favorite to win the league title this season, there is no doubt that UCLA will face stiff competition from some talented Pac-10 teams.

As for USC, it carried a five-game win streak into last Sunday's meeting with Oregon State, but the result of that tilt was a 62-58 setback in overtime. The Trojans are 10-4 overall, including 1-1 in league play, and they own a perfect 8-0 record at the Galen Center.

UCLA owns a 126-100 series lead over USC, and the Bruins won two of the three meetings last season.

UCLA has excelled at both ends of the floor this season. The Bruins are racking up 77.1 ppg on 50.1 percent shooting from the field, and they are limiting opponents to 58.2 ppg on 42.8 percent shooting. Darren Collison leads UCLA with 15.0 ppg, and he is also dishing out 5.4 apg. Josh Shipp adds 11.8 ppg to the mix, and Jrue Holiday checks in with 10.3 ppg. Strong rebounding has certainly contributed to the success of the Bruins, as they are grabbing 6.6 rpg more than the opposition. Collison was outstanding in the victory over Oregon last time out, as he finished with 22 points and nine assists against only one turnover. Shipp scored 17 points in that contest, and Alfred Aboya posted 12 points. The Bruins shot 54.3 percent from the field, which included a 13-of-22 showing from three-point range. They also hit 20-of-23 free throws to hold off the Ducks.

Four of the five USC starters are averaging double figures in scoring this season, and the strong offensive balance has enabled the squad to post 72.0 ppg. Defensively, the Trojans are only allowing 61.6 ppg on 39.1 percent shooting from the field. Dwight Lewis leads the Trojans with 16.1 ppg, and Taj Gibson adds 15.4 ppg and 10.6 rpg to the mix. Gibson, who has blocked 44 shots, is shooting 59.4 percent from the floor. Standout freshman DeMar DeRozan is scoring 11.8 ppg, and Daniel Hackett rounds out the foursome with his 10.9 ppg and 84 assists. USC hit just 1-of-7 shots from the floor and 1- of-3 free throws in overtime against Oregon State. The Trojans turned the ball over 18 times in that tilt and scored a mere six points from the charity stripe. Gibson netted 15 points for USC, and Hackett added a dozen. As for DeRozan, he tallied 10 points in the setback.

Megasportscasino NCAA Basketball Betting News

<< Top-5 matchup pits Tar Heels against Demon Deacons
Winston-Salem, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The third-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels go in search of their first ACC victory of the season as they make the short trek to Winston-Salem for tonight's clash with the undefeated and fourth- ranked Wake Fo

<< Spurs host Magic in matchup of division leaders
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A battle of division leaders is on tap for tonight when the San Antonio Spurs welcome the Orlando Magic to the AT&T Center. The Southwest Division-leading Spurs have won four in a row and will resume a three-game hom

<< 76ers go for fourth straight win against Hawks
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia 76ers will try to extend their winning streak to a season high four straight games Sunday when they take on the Atlanta Hawks down south at Philips Arena. The Sixers have won three in a row on th

<< Celtics try to regroup in Toronto
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The struggling Boston Celtics will try to put the brakes on a season-high four-game losing streak Sunday when they close out a short road trip up north against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. Boston has dropped

<< Clippers aim to halt slide vs. Suns
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The lowly Los Angeles Clippers will try to stop a season- high 10-game losing streak Sunday when they kick off a six-game homestand versus the Pacific Division-rival Phoenix Suns at Staples Center. Los Angeles will

Pitt plays first game ever as top-ranked team >>
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Pittsburgh Panthers play their first game as the top-ranked team, as they host the St. John's Red Storm in a Big East showdown at the Petersen Events Center. Considering the program's success over the ye

Purdue hopes to right ship in clash with Wisconsin >>
West Lafayette, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 14th-ranked Purdue Boilermakers will take another crack at notching their first Big Ten win of the season today, as they host the Wisconsin Badgers at Mackey Arena. Purdue, a favorite to win the Big

Xavier visits Fordham in Atlantic 10 action >>
Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In what figures to be a complete mismatch, the 16th-ranked Xavier Musketeers invade Rose Hill Gym to take on the Fordham Rams in an Atlantic 10 Conference matchup. Xavier, the favorite to win the A-10 once again,

Penn State heads to Twin Cities to battle No. 22 Minnesota >>
Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Penn State Nittany Lions will attempt to notch their first-ever three-game winning streak over ranked opponents as they face No. 22 Minnesota this afternoon in Big Ten Conference action in Minneapolis.

Hansen edges McLardy to win Joburg Open >>
Johannesburg, South Africa (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Denmark's Anders Hansen birdied the 18th hole Sunday to shoot a five-under 66 and win the Joburg Open by a shot over Andrew McLardy. The 38-year-old Hansen finished at 15-under-par 269 f

SPORTS BETTING

NFL Football Betting Online

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 for online football betting .

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

Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting odds .
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook betting credit cards