Demon Deacons and Wolfpack meet in ACC clash

NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

02/26/2009 - Winston-Salem, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - One of the oldest rivalries in the ACC adds another chapter this evening, as the NC State Wolfpack invade Winston- Salem to battle the 13th-ranked Wake Forest Demon Deacons in conference action from the Lawrence Joel Coliseum.

This is the oldest rivalry for the Wolfpack, as this series dates back to the 1910-11 season. This contest will represent the 288th all-time meeting, with NC State holding a 131-97 series advantage. In addition, NC State has won nine of the last 14 meetings and is seeking the regular season sweep of the Demon Deacons after posting an 82-76 decision in Raleigh on February 11th.

Dino Gaudio's Demon Deacons jumped out to a fast start this season, but like a lot of teams, they have found the going a lot rougher in the ACC. Wake is just 7-5 in league play and is coming off a 101-91 shootout loss at Duke this past weekend.

The Wolfpack on the other hand are starting to find some consistency. Despite being a mere 5-7 in-conference, Sidney Lowe's squad has won three of its last four outings, including a 72-67 win over Virginia last Saturday.

It was a game of runs last time out, as NC State used significant runs in the first half (24-8) and the second half (17-4) to keep the Cavaliers at bay. The Wolfpack shot the ball effectively, at 53.2 percent, but needed guard Courtney Fells to put the game on ice with key free throws down the stretch. The bench did most of the damage for NC State, with C.J. Williams and Dennis Horner pouring in 16 and 12 points, respectively. Tracy Smith added 13 points to the cause, but leading scorer Brandon Costner, was held scoreless in 22 minutes of action.It was a surprisingly fruitless effort from Costner, who still leads the Wolfpack in scoring at 14.3 ppg. Center Ben McCauley adds to the cause up front with 12.4 ppg, while Fells leads the charge in the backcourt at 11.8 ppg.

Although the Demon Deacons came out on the losing end this past weekend, they once again proved that they are among the conference-elite in terms of offensive proficiency, putting up 91 points in Durham. On the year, Wake is converting nearly half its shots (.499), while rolling up 82.4 ppg. It certainly doesn't hurt to have the dynamic Jeff Teague on the floor. The sophomore sensation has the ability to take over a game at either end of the floor, leading WFU in scoring (20.3 ppg), assists (93) and steals (53). Forwards James Johnson (14.3 ppg, 8.0 rpg) and Al-Farouq Aminu (13.0 ppg, 8.1 rpg) give the team a pair of hard workers in the paint. The starting five rounds out with guard L.D. Williams (8.8 ppg) and center Chas McFarland (8.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg). Teague poured in 28 points and Johnson had 26, but it wasn't enough to earn a victory at Cameron Indoor Stadium this past weekend.Wake was down by 22 points on two separate occasions, but battled back and was within two points before Duke closed the game out. The Demon Deacons shot a sizzling 61 percent from the floor and also received double-digit efforts from Ishmael Smith (12 pts) and Williams (10 pts), but turned the ball over a costly 20 times, and was outscored at the free-throw line, 27-14.

Wwwsupanet NCAA Basketball Betting News

<< Illini welcome Gophers to Champaign
Champaign, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Still in the hunt for the Big Ten title, the 20th-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini, welcome the Minnesota Golden Gophers to Champaign this evening, for a key conference clash at Assembly Hall. Bruce Weber's Il

<< Butler can claim share of Horizon League crown with win
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 24th-ranked Butler Bulldogs can clinch at least a share of the Horizon League regular-season title with a win over the Youngstown State Penguins this evening. Youngstown State has won five of its last

<< Hawks seek upset of 19th-ranked Musketeers
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 19th-ranked Xavier Musketeers are trying to hold on to first place in the Atlantic 10 Conference standings, and they will take on the Saint Joseph's Hawks tonight at The Palestra in Philadelphia. Xavi

<< Bruins try to right ship in clash with Cardinal
Stanford, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 22nd-ranked UCLA Bruins will attempt to bounce back from a shocking loss as they take on the Stanford Cardinal tonight in a Pac-10 Conference showdown. UCLA has hit a rough patch, as the team has lost thre

<< Boilermakers hope to keep pace in Big Ten title race
Ann Arbor, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 16th-ranked Purdue Boilermakers continue their push toward the Big Ten Conference regular-season title, and they need to beat the Michigan Wolverines on the road this evening. Purdue is hot on the heels o

Fifth-ranked Tigers put win streak on the line in Birmingham >>
Birmingham, AL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The fifth-ranked Memphis Tigers continue their run through their Conference USA schedule, as they invade the Bartow Arena to take on the UAB Blazers in conference action in Birmingham tonight. The Tigers hav

Golf Tidbits: Youth is served >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - I was going to be like hundreds of my fellow golf writers and compose a column about Tiger Woods, but I'd rather not write about his comeback mid-tournament. Instead, I'm going to introduce you to three pl

Brodeur to return for Devils' clash with Avs >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New Jersey Devils will have future Hall of Fame goaltender Martin Brodeur back in net for the first time since early November when they host the Colorado Avalanche in tonight's interconference matchup at Prudential Center

Fifth-ranked Tigers seek C-USA title in Birmingham >>
Birmingham, AL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The fifth-ranked Memphis Tigers can clinch their fourth straight Conference USA title tonight, as they invade Bartow Arena to take on the UAB Blazers in conference action in Birmingham. The Tigers have owned

Ducks resume road trip against East-leading Bruins >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Eastern Conference-leading Boston Bruins will try to post back-to-back wins for the first time in three weeks when they host the Anaheim Ducks tonight at TD Banknorth Garden. The Bruins lead the East as well as the Nor

Marlins could start season without No. 2 starter Johnson

JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.

Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.

MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .

''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''

Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.

He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.

''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''

Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.

Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.

With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.

Additional basbeall odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.