Butler can claim share of Horizon League crown with win

NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

02/26/2009 - 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 six games to move to 11-16 overall and 7-9 in conference. The Penguins are fresh off a 68-64 victory over Saint Peter's in a non-league affair, and they hope to improve their 4-8 record in true road games.

Don't expect a victory to come easily, however, as Butler is 12-1 at home. The Bulldogs are 13-3 in Horizon League action, a game better than second-place Wisconsin-Green Bay. Butler had lost back-to-back games for the first time in over three years, but the club got back to its winning way with a 75-63 triumph over Davidson in a BracketBuster tilt on Saturday.

It should be mentioned that Butler recorded a 79-71 victory over Youngstown State back in early December, and the Bulldogs have won 15 of the 17 all-time meetings with the Penguins.

Vytas Sulskis scored 18 points for Youngstown State in the victory over Saint Peter's on Saturday. The Penguins also got 13 points apiece from DeAndre Mays and Tom Parks, while Sirlester Martin pulled down 12 rebounds. YSU only connected on 37.9 percent of its field goal attempts in the tilt, but the club earned a 41-29 rebounding advantage, including a 16-7 edge on the offensive glass. Also, the Penguins only turned the ball over nine times. Kelvin Bright leads YSU in scoring this season with 11.8 ppg, although his 38.2 percent shooting from the field is far from impressive. Mays adds 11.1 ppg, and Sulksis provides 10.0 ppg for the Penguins, who are netting 66.6 ppg while allowing 68.5 ppg.

Butler figured to have its hands full with Davidson's star guard Stephen Curry on Saturday. Curry did score 20 points in that clash, but he was limited to 6- of-23 shooting from the floor. The Bulldogs also forced 19 turnovers in the tilt and earned a 20-13 edge in points from the foul line. Gordon Hayward was sensational for Butler, as he tallied 27 points and nine rebounds. Matt Howard pitched 12 points, and Willie Veasley added 10 points. Overall this season, Howard is scoring a team-high 14.0 ppg to go along with 7.0 rpg and 44 blocked shots. Hayward provides 13.9 ppg, and Shelvin Mack checks in with 12.0 ppg and 94 assists. The Bulldogs are scoring 68.3 ppg this season while limiting opponents to 57.5 ppg on 37.8 percent field goal efficiency.

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American Idol Betting Odds: Season 6  

The online gambling websites are in the process of deciphering each American Idol contestant and his or her chances of winning Season 6 to come up with the early American Idol betting lines.

Tim Dalton of MySportsbook.com has been locked away in a soundproof room coming up with all the latest tallies, we are told. "American Idol has become one of the most significant betting events of the year," claims Jack Black of MySportsbook.com.  "Last year, millions were bet during the season across the globe, not just in America.

It's tough early on since we really do not have a glimpse as to how well each of these individuals will perform solo on a week-to-week basis.  It's like Week 1 of the NFL.  Pre-season means nada!

We do know the 24 finalists however.

Sanjaya Malakar is the young man whose sister failed to make it into the Top 24.  He's very low key but - unless he totally flubs - will probably win over the young girlie vote for a few weeks anyway.  He's too young to go all the way, according to Payton O'Brien. 

Brandon Rogers - Who?

Phil Stacy is the military guy who missed his daughter's birth because of the Memphis audition.  He should go a good distance.

Chris Sligh - He's got the humor and in many ways he's the Anti-American Idol much like last year's winner Taylor Hicks was.  And this is why he'll probably get pretty far in this competition.  He's chubby, white with a big curly afro....but more importantly, a great voice!  People love "real", not "real cute" to go all the way. 

"Blake Lewis should go far because of his uniqueness and looks.  He's the boy next store with a twist - he beat boxes.  But on top of this, he's a great singer, and I adore him," Payton O'Brien relayed.

A talented beat-boxer Blake Lewis was a hit during the group sing in Hollywood but Simon explained that this is a singing contest just before he told him he was “in.”

Paul Kim has caught our own roving reporter, Jenny Woo's eyes. 

"I love the fact that there is a Korean American on the show and he is bound to get more Asians tuning into the show," Woo said from her Miami Beach estate.  "There has never been a major presence of Asian-Americans on American Idol in the past.  He's a hottie with a nice voice so that should help to take him far.  Expect heavy betting action from the Asian community."

Sundance Head - He's not perfect, but he's got the personality that will take him through a few weeks, plus he's got the lineage (son of Roy Head - whose 1965 single, "Treat Her Right," hit No. 5 in the charts) 

And the others:

Rudy Cardinas
AJ Tabaldo - the 5th time is the charm
Nicolas Pedro
Chris Richardson
Jared Cotter

The girls

"Melinda Doolittle has one of the best voices," says MySportsbook.com Reporter and an acclaimed dancer in her own right, Destiney Lewis.  "It is great to see a back up singer step out like she has.  The girl needs to gain more confidence but that can also be a positive.  I think she will go far."

Alena Alexander - Those tears (she never seems to stop bawling) should get her far.

"Single mom Lakisha Jones I suspect will be a pretty big favorite entering Week 1 of the competition," says Destiny Williams.  Jones is an excellent singer and down to earth.  "She'll have a wide appeal," echoed O'Brien.

Nicole Trellis - Seems to exert confidence.

Amy Krebs - a powerful singer.

Antonella Barba
Gina Glocksen
Hailey Scanardo
Jordan Sparks
Stephanie Edwards
Leslie Hunt
Sabrina Sloan

MySportsbook.com is offering a 20% signup bonus with an initial deposit (i.e. open your American Idol betting account with $300, receive another $60 in which to bet with). 

Last two contestants will be?

1 Male/1 Female +100 (a $10 bet pays $10 plus your initial $10)

2 Males +170 (a $10 bet pays $17 plus your initial $17)

2 Females +130 (a $10 bet pays $13 plus your initial $10)

MySportsbook.com is an online sportsbook accepts Visa Credit Cards and online sportsbook accepts Mastercard Credit Cards for easy American Idol betting lines.