Arkansas-Pine Bluff routs Winthrop in NCAA opener

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03/16/2010 - Dayton, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Allen Smith scored a team-high 14 points and grabbed six rebounds, leading Arkansas-Pine Bluff to a convincing 61-44 win over Winthrop in the opening-round contest of the 2010 NCAA Tournament.

The win earned the Golden Lions (18-15) the No. 16 seed in the South Region and the right to play No. 1 seed and ACC champion Duke in Jacksonville on Friday in the first round of the Big Dance.

A victory over Texas Southern in the SWAC title game on Saturday, its 11th win in its previous 12 games, gave Arkansas-Pine Bluff its first ever berth in the NCAA Tournament.

Thanks to their defense, which held Winthrop (19-14) to a season-low scoring output, the Lions will continue playing, as they try to become the first No. 16 seed to knock off the top team in their portion of the bracket.

"It feels great," an excited Smith said of the monumental win. "It's the first time we got a win in the SWAC in 17 years [in the NCAA Tournament]."

Tyree Glass chipped in 10 points, while Tavaris Washington had 13 rebounds to go with eight points and five assists for the victors.

Charles Corbin and Matt Morgan led the Eagles with 13 and 11 points, respectively.

The Big South champions shot 29.1 percent for the game, including a woeful 2- for-21 from three-point range.

"We picked a bad time to have a bad game," Winthrop head coach Randy Peele said. "This team has played very well throughout the course of the year and has accomplished a great deal."

Arkansas-Pine Bluff, which started its season with 11 straight losses, led by as many as 16, 53-37, following a Lebaron Weathers make with under five minutes left in regulation.

Winthrop got as close as 53-44 on a Corbin layup with three minutes to go, but that was the last bucket for the Eagles, as they missed their final six shots, five coming from long distance.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff was on top 11-4 eight minutes in, but a 13-2 run between eight and two minutes left in the opening stanza saw the Eagles inch ahead.

Two Mantoris Robinson free throws gave Winthrop a 23-17 edge, only to watch the Lions score the final seven points of the half for a one-point lead break.

Smith made a pair of three-pointers in the opening six-plus minutes of the second half, the latter giving UAPB a 38-31 cushion.

Near the midway point of the second half, Savalance Townsend's baseline spin move led to an easy bucket in the lane, putting the Lions in front 45-36.

After Winthrop's Andy Buechert missed two free throws, George Davis hit a jumper and Townsend later added a three, capping a 10-2 spurt that gave the Lions a 48-36 lead with 8 1/2 minutes to play.

Game Notes

Glass suffered a knee injury early in the second half and did not return... This was Winthrop's fifth trip to the "Big Dance" in the last six years and ninth overall. The Eagles are 1-9 all-time in the tourney...UAPB shot 38.6 percent from the field...Weathers had seven points, seven boards and four blocks...Robinson ended with 10 points and eight rebounds in the loss...Winthrop's Reggie Middleton went 2-for-12 from the field for five points.

Wwdaum NCAA Basketball Betting News

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FOOTBALL BETTING : Cassel Signs Contract

Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.

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After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
Patriots made him their franchise player, meaning his salary for this season will be about $15 million.
New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
"I go out there each and every day with that focus that I'm the starter," Cassel said during a June minicamp. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
In his only sustained action since his teens, he hit 349 of 555 passes for 3,949 yards at New England. He had 23 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as the Patriots, who had gone unbeaten through the regular season the year before, finished 11-5 and out of the playoffs.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."

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Football Betting: Defensive Rookie of the Year Awards

Oddsmakers have released the odds for the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and Seattle Seahawks linebacker Aaron Curry has been made the opening favorite.

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Seattle took Curry with the fourth overall pick in April's NFL draft and plan on inserting him into its starting lineup right away. The Hawks traded linebacker Julian Peterson in the offseason, so Curry is expected to have a significant role in Seattle's defense next year and that's one of the primary reasons he is the favorite to win the NFL ROY Award.

Oddsmakers from online sportsbook MySportsbook.com have made Curry a 5/1 favorite to win this year's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. Given that he was the best defensive prospect in this year's draft and how he'll have plenty of opportunities to make plays in '09, Curry offers a ton of value at 5/1.

Another thing working for Curry is the position he plays. A linebacker has won the defensive ROY award six straight times and eight of the last nine years. Jerod Mayo, Patrick Willis, DeMeco Ryans, Shawne Merriman, Jonathan Vilma, Terrell Suggs, Kendrell Bell and Brian Urlacher were the most recent linebackers to take home the award.

Following Curry at 5/1 are Tyson Jackson (Chiefs) at 7/1, James Laurinaitas (Rams) at 8/1, Brian Orakpo (Redskins) at 10/1, Rey Maualuga (Bengals) at 10/1 and Jerry Peria (Falcons) at 10/1.

All the players mentioned above are expected to start for their respective teams, but Jackson and Peria are going to have a tough time being recognized on a national level given they're both defensive linemen. D-linemen rarely put up the numbers that it takes to win an individual award like the ROY.

A couple of players with some value are Clay Matthews (Packers) at 12/1 and Larry English (Chargers) at 15/1. Matthews is expected to start at outside linebacker in Green Bay's new 3-4 defense and could rack up a ton of tackles. English, who was an impressive player at Northern Illinois, is expected to be a situational pass rusher for the Chargers and could rack up a ton of sacks.

For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, see below. And for complete odds for the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, click the link provided.

2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award

Robert Ayers (DEN) 12/1

Ron Brace (NE) 25/1

Everette Brown (CAR) 16/1

Darius Butler (NE) 40/1

Patrick Chung (NE) 30/1

Aaron Curry (SEA) 5/1

Brian Cushing (HOU) 12/1

Vontae Davis (MIA) 30/1

Louis Delmas (DET) 30/1

Larry English (SD) 15/1

Evander Hood (PIT) 25/1

Tyson Jackson (KC) 7/1

Malcolm Jenkins (NO) 25/1

Paul Kruger (BAL) 50/1

James Laurinaitas (STL) 8/1

Sen'Derrick Marks (TEN) 20/1

Clay Matthews (GB) 12/1

Aaron Maybin (BUF) 15/1

Rey Maualuga (CIN) 10/1

Roy Miller (TB) 20/1

Michael Mitchell (OAK) 45/1

Fili Moala (IND) 30/1

Brian Orakpo (WAS) 10/1

Jerry Peria (ATL) 10/1

B J Raji (GB) 7/1

Clint Sintim (NYG) 35/1

Alphonso Smith (DEN) 40/1

David Verkune (CLE) 20/1

Jason Williams (DAL) 30/1

Field (Any Other Player) 6/1

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