Illinois uses strong defense to beat Minnesota

NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

02/26/2009 - Champaign, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mike Davis notched 14 points with 11 rebounds against Minnesota's taller frontline, and No. 20 Illinois outlasted the Golden Gophers, 52-41, in a game for conference positioning and full of NCAA Tournament implications.

Trent Meacham added 13 points and Demetri McCamey donated 10 for the Illini (23-6, 11-5 Big Ten), who moved within 1 1/2 games of conference-leading Michigan State with a game against the Spartans on the horizon this Sunday.

Damian Johnson scored a team-best 18 points for Minnesota (20-8, 8-8), which sits on the proverbial bubble for an at-large selection. Its best non- conference win game several months ago against Louisville on a neutral court and it has lost five of seven overall.

Part of the problem, which continued Thursday night in Champaign, continues to be offensive efficiency. Other than Johnson, the Golden Gophers made just 10-of-42 field goals and shot 31.7 percent overall on the contest.

The Golden Gophers didn't score over the game's final 6:20, as the Illini tallied the game's last 10 points. Ralph Sampson's jumper brought Minnesota within 42-41, but the Illini fought back to back-to-back treys from McCamey and Meacham, the second opening a 48-41 edge with 4:06 to go.

Lawrence Westbrook, who scored just four points on 2-of-10 shooting, then misfired on a long-distance shot and Blake Hoffarber, who donated just two points, also missed on a three that would have cut the deficit to four.

Davis' layup with just over two minutes on the clock made the score 50-41 and iced the contest.

Both teams fought hard in a first half that ended with the Illini holding a 28-23 edge. Minnesota had a 15-9 lead early after Johnson's strong move to the rim and finish off the glass, but Chester Frazier's three-point play capped a 7-0 sprint to hand the Illini a one-point lead.

Game Notes

Illinois shot 42 percent from the floor and forced 20 turnovers...Minnesota held a substantial 43-28 edge on the glass, including 20 offensive rebounds...Illinois leads the all-time series, 114-61, but the Golden Gophers did take a 59-36 decision in Minneapolis back on January 29th.

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Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl Odds

Will he or won't he?  Now that the Dallas Cowboys have a new head coach in Wade Phillips, the big question will be: Does Terrell Owens stay with the team.

Jerry Jones continues to suggest that Terrell Owens will remain with the team.

"I've said that he's back, he's here, he's under contract," Jones said. "In the interviews I've just been through (to hire a new coach), it was very clear to me how highly he's thought of and how much of an impact he had on our offensive success."

Just to be sure though, Terrell Owens cleared out his locker and removed his name plate.

Terrell Owens was among the Cowboys most productive players this past season, catching 85 passes for 1,180 yards and a league-best 13 touchdowns.

But T.O. is due a $3 million roster bonus in June, then a $5 million salary this season. Cutting him before then would save a lot of money and headaches.

Aside from the questions surrounding Terrell Owens, the oddsmakers at MySportsbook.com have concerns over starting quarterback Tony Romo's state of mind and whether he will remain a starting quarterback.  It is also not known how players will adjust to new head coach, Wade Phillips.

Here are the football odds as seen at MySportsbook.com and subject to change after February 10, 2007 if not locked in prior to that date.
Arizona Cardinals 60-1


Atlanta Falcons 50-1


Baltimore Ravens 15-1


Buffalo Bills 50-1


Carolina Panthers 18-1


Chicago Bears 10-1


Cincinnati Bengals 15-1


Cleveland Browns 100-1


Dallas Cowboys 15-1


Denver Broncos 15-1


Detroit Lions 100-1


Green Bay Packers 50-1


Houston Texans 100-1


Indianapolis Colts 6-1


Jacksonville Jaguars 30-1


Kansas City Chiefs 30-1


Miami Dolphins 40-1


Minnesota Vikings 75-1


New England Patriots 10-1


New Orleans Saints 18-1


New York Giants 20-1


New York Jets 30-1


Oakland Raiders 100-1


Philadelphia Eagles 18-1


Pittsburgh Steelers 10-1


Saint Louis Rams 60-1


San Diego Chargers 6-1


San Francisco 49ers 75-1


Seattle Seahawks 20-1


Tampa Bay Buccanneers 75-1


Tennessee Titans 40-1


Washington Redskins 50-1

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