Buckeyes begin Big Ten play at home against Hawkeyes

NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

12/31/2008 - Columbus, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Big Ten play begins for the 24th-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes and the Iowa Hawkeyes tonight, as they duel at Value City Arena in Columbus.

The Buckeyes enter the tilt looking to rebound from their first loss of the season, as they were handled by West Virginia, 76-48, on Saturday. The setback snapped OSU's 14-game win streak, which had been the longest in the nation, and marked its worst home defeat since dropping a 107-75 decision to Purdue in 1998. OSU, which had won its last 54 games in Columbus against unranked teams, now turns its focus to the Big Ten, where it finished 10-8 a season ago.

As for Iowa, it took care of business in its final tuneup before league play, posting a 58-43 victory over Western Illinois on Saturday. It was the fourth win in the past five outings for the Hawkeyes, who improved to 10-3 on the year. Iowa will now try to carry its success over into Big Ten action after logging just a 6-12 record last season.

The Hawkeyes and Buckeyes split a pair of meetings on the hardwood last season, leaving Iowa with a 75-68 advantage in the head-to-head series.

Iowa clamped down on defense over the weekend, holding Western Illinois to a dismal 34.0 percent shooting effort from the floor in a 58-43 victory. The Hawkeyes made good on 46.2 percent of their field goal tries and they also went a solid 17-of-22 at the foul line. Jermain Davis and Jake Kelly each tallied 13 points in the win, while Matt Gatens notched a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Anthony Tucker, the team's leading scorer (13.0 ppg) on the year, however, didn't play due to a "coach's decision." Gatens ranks second to Tucker with 10.2 ppg on the season and he is also shooting an efficient 52.5 percent from the long range. As a team, Iowa is hitting on 47.3 percent of its attempts from the floor and 40.2 percent from three-point range for an average of 64.6 ppg.

In a simply dreadful shooting performance, OSU went a horrific 31.0 percent from the floor, including a poor 2-of-18 showing from three-point range, as it was downed by WVU on Saturday. The team didn't fared all that well at the foul line either, converting on just 10-of-19 chances. William Buford and Jeremie Simmons each netted 11 points, and Evan Turner had a double-double of 10 points and 11 boards in the setback. On the season, Turner is the only player for OSU averaging in a double figures, with 16.2 ppg, and he also leads the team with 7.2 rpg and 27 steals. The Buckeyes as a whole, have made their presence felt on defense, limiting foes to just 55.8 ppg and a only 37.7 percent shooting from the floor.

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Barry Bonds Watch: Giants Slugger Says He'll Be Back

With only 21 home runs standing between him and Hank Aaron, Barry Bonds is indeed planning on coming back for more in 2007. At least, that's what his agent told the Los Angeles Times.

"Barry's going to play in 2007," Jeff Borris of Beverly Hills Sports Council told the Times on Tuesday. "I've had many discussions with Barry and he's going to play. My intentions are to see to it he's in a big-league uniform next season. Those are my marching orders."

Contract negotiations could get started as early as next week. Let's see which team has the deeper pockets. Will MLB baseball betting lines despite allegations of steroid use? Bet On It at www.MySportsbook.com .

Get all your baseball betting lines, MLB lines and MLB team props at the My Sportbook.

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MySportsbook.com and Kentucky Derby Offer Bonuses
The 2008 Kentucky Derby has announced a $1-million bonus for this weekend’s 134th ‘Run for the Roses’ and MySportsbook.com is doing the same.

Well, not quite $1 million, but MySportsbook.com is offering a 75% rebate for Kentucky Derby lines. Check out the exclusive horse racing bonus for all the details.

According to MySportsbook.com, the favorites for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky are: Curlin (+250); Street Sense (+500); Scat Daddy (+700); Circular Quay (+750); and Nobiz Like Shobiz (+800).

Derby organizers announced this week that there will be a $1-million bonus at the 2007 Kentucky Derby odds if the first-place horse wins by more than 6 1/2 lengths – the margin of Barbaro's victory last year. The bonus would be divided Saturday among the winning trainer, jockey, owner and a charity, with each receiving 25 percent. The designated charity is the Barbaro Memorial Fund.

''It's certainly creative, it's certainly fun and it has something for the horsemen, which we always want to embrace,'' Churchill Downs president and chief executive Robert Evans said at a news conference. ''What's really cool is it will force us to remember Barbaro.''
    
Meanwhile, the Derby favorite – Curlin – is going against the odds this year. It's been 125 years since Apollo won after skipping his 2-year-old season, and not since Regret in 1915 has such a lightly seasoned horse worn the blanket of red roses.

Arkansas Derby winner Curlin – unbeaten in three career races – tries to overcome both those obstacles in Saturday's 133rd Derby.

''We're not running against history,'' trainer Steve Asmussen said Monday. ''We're running against who they load up.''

Six other horses have run in the Derby without benefit of 2-year-old races and with three or fewer starts. The best any of them managed was a sixth-place finish by Showing Up last year.
   
Asmussen dismissed suggestions that Curlin's lack of racing experience could keep him from the winner's circle.

”He exudes confidence and he's got a great presence about him,'' the trainer said. ''I feel great about the position we're in. He's not worried about anything, why should you be?''
   
The Kentucky Derby is at 4:04 p.m., ET Saturday.

For complete odds on the Kentucky Derby, visit MySportsbook.com. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.