Seton Hall seeks upset of Big East leader Villanova

NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

02/02/2010 - Villanova, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Big East Conference foes collide tonight, as the second-ranked Villanova Wildcats host the Seton Hall Pirates at The Pavilion.

Seton Hall is a solid 12-7 overall, but that record is overshadowed a bit by a 3-5 league mark. The Pirates carried a two-game win streak into last Thursday's matchup with South Florida and were in great position to extend that streak, but the result was a heart-breaking 76-74 overtime loss to the Bulls.

Villanova opened this season with nine consecutive victories before finally falling to Philadelphia-area rival Temple. The Wildcats haven't lost since that setback, as they have ripped off 10 consecutive wins to move to 19-1 overall and 8-0 in league action. The most recent triumph occurred last week over Notre Dame by a 90-72 final, the club's third straight double-digit triumph.

Villanova owns a commanding 60-36 series lead over Seton Hall, which includes seven straight wins over the Pirates.

Jeremy Hazell remains somewhat anonymous to most casual college basketball fans, but the Seton Hall standout is one of the Big East's most productive scorers. Hazell is netting 22.5 ppg and has 37 steals to his credit. Herb Pope is the only other double-digit scorer in the fold, as he checks in with 12.3 ppg and 11.4 rpg. Pope has also blocked 34 shots, over one-third of the team's total. While Seton Hall is generating 82.8 ppg, the team is limiting opponents to 73.6 ppg on 41.6 percent shooting. In the tough loss to USF last time out, Hazell finished with 28 points. Robert Mitchell netted 11 points and Keon Lawrence contributed 10 points for the Pirates, who got 17 rebounds from Pope. Unfortunately, a 25-11 disadvantage in points from the foul line proved costly.

Scottie Reynolds continues to lead Villanova in scoring with 18.7 ppg, as he is one of two players on the roster that has started all 20 games. The other is Corey Fisher, who provides 13.3 ppg and 86 assists. As for Antonio Pena, the third and final double-digit scorer in the fold for the Wildcats, he generates 10.9 ppg and 7.6 rpg. Villanova is racking up 85.2 ppg, and the club is limiting opponents to 70.5 ppg on 39.7 percent shooting. Reynolds and Fisher scored 17 points apiece in the romp over Notre Dame last time out, and Pena provided 14 points and 10 rebounds. The Wildcats led that game by just one point at intermission, but 51.7 percent shooting from the field in the second half and a 15-of-17 effort from the foul line over the final 20 minutes proved to be key.

Wwwcasino-trade NCAA Basketball Betting News

<< Rebels take on Wildcats in pivotal SEC battle
Lexington, KY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 25th-ranked Ole Miss Rebels have the unenviable task of battling the now fourth-ranked Kentucky Wildcats in Lexington this evening in a top-25 SEC tussle. Ole Miss carried a three-game win streak into Sun

<< Wildcats invade Lincoln to take on Cornhuskers
Lincoln, NE (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 10th-ranked Kansas State Wildcats head out to the road for two straight games, starting tonight in Lincoln, when they take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers in Big 12 action at the Devaney Center. The Wildcats ar

<< Spartans and Badgers meet in Big Ten tussle
Madison, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The fifth-ranked Michigan State Spartans will attempt to remain perfect in Big Ten play when they pay a visit to the 16th- ranked Wisconsin Badgers, who are undefeated at home this season. Michigan State is rid

<< Rangers acquire Jokinen from Flames
Calgary, AB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Calgary Flames made their second big trade in less than two days, moving forwards Ollie Jokinen and Brandon Prust to the New York Rangers in exchange for forwards Ales Kotalik and Christopher Higgins

<< BC to play BU for Beanpot title
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Boston College will take on Boston University in the championship game of the 58th annual Beanpot tournament after both schools won semifinal contests on Monday. Boston College advanced to the title game with

Orange play host to Friars in Big East affair >>
Syracuse, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The third-ranked Syracuse Orange will try to continue their winning ways tonight, as they entertain the Providence Friars in a Big East clash at the Carrier Dome. After starting the season unranked, Syracuse h

Cougars set to pounce on Horned Frogs >>
Provo, UT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Clinging to first place in the Mountain West Conference standings, the 12th-ranked BYU Cougars try to put some distance between themselves and the rest of the member schools as they host the TCU Horned Frogs tonight

Magic try to stay hot at home vs. Bucks >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Orlando Magic shoot for their sixth straight win at home tonight, when they play host to the Milwaukee Bucks at Amway Arena. Orlando will also entertain Washington on the short residency and owns a solid 18-4 reco

Raptors pay a visit to Pacers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Toronto Raptors will try to extend their winning streak to a season high six straight games when they close out a home-and-home series against the Indiana Pacers this evening at Conseco Fieldhouse. The Raptors made i

Maple Leafs host Devils following roster shakeup >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jean-Sebastien Giguere and Dion Phaneuf are expected to make their Maple Leafs debut tonight as Toronto welcomes the first-place New Jersey Devils to Air Canada Centre for the opener of a home-and-home series. The Maple Le

El Duque expected to throw Tuesday

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.

Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.

El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.

MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds. 

Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.

New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.

Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''

Additional baseball lines and World Series odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

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