Blazers wrap up trek at Memphis

Basketball Betting Lines

03/01/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Portland Trail Blazers hope to finish up a five-game road trip in winning fashion Monday against a Memphis Grizzlies team chasing them for the final spot in the Western Conference playoff hunt.

Shooting for just the fourth playoff berth in franchise history, Memphis is now 3 1/2 games behind Portland for the eighth spot in the West.

The Blazers improved to an impressive 3-1 on their trek Saturday in Minneapolis when Nicolas Batum netted 22 points in the third quarter on the way to a career-high 31, leading Portland to a 110-91 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Batum, the 25th overall selection in the 2008 draft, is in his second season in the NBA since coming over from France. The 21-year-old also finished with seven rebounds and seven assists against the Wolves.

Batum did the bulk of his damage in the third quarter, when he drained four three pointers, and his 22 points in that frame alone surpassed his previous career-high of 20.

LaMarcus Aldridge added 21 points and seven boards for the Blazers, who rebounded from Friday's overtime loss in Chicago. Rudy Fernandez added 18 points off the bench.

"We definitely needed this win, especially giving away a game like we did last night [against] Chicago," Portland center Marcus Camby said. "The guys came out with energy, especially the second half defensively."

The Grizzlies, meanwhile, are coming off a win in New York on Saturday. All- Star Zach Randolph poured in 31 points and pulled down a career-high 25 rebounds in that one, as Memphis used a late surge to take down the Knicks, 120-109, at Madison Square Garden.

Rudy Gay added 27 points and five rebounds for the Grizzlies, who have won four in a row on the road for the first time since January 1-19, 2005. Marc Gasol donated 25 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists, while Mike Conley tallied 18 points and five assists for the victors.

"What can you say about Zach (Randolph). Thirty-one and 25 and he probably would've had more [rebounds] if guys weren't taking rebounds from him because he can't jump," Grizzlies head coach Lionel Hollins joked.

The Grizzlies have been a bit of a Bipolar team recently. The latest road success hasn't transferred Memphis and Hollins' club has dropped six straight on its home floor.

Portland has won six straight at FedEx Forum and 10 of its last 14 overall meetings against Memphis, but both Grizzlies wins have come this season in the Pacific Northwest.

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Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value

If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture.  Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).

For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot.  The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win.

TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the  drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.

"While 'Babel' lost several guild awards to 'Sunshine' and 'Departed,'  it still enjoys loyal support, and historically Oscar voters favor dramas with social messages over comedies like 'Sunshine' and violent crime movies like 'Departed'."

"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.

Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash.  Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win. 

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Big East Conference odds

Work left to do: Villanova, Syracuse, DePaul, West Virginia, Providence

Notre Dame and Louisville appear to have done enough to make the move, so we'll make them locks. The Cardinals, despite a modest RPI, are trending way up and have clinched at least a tie for third in the Big East, which should be more than enough with their pair of big road wins. Villanova got back to .500 and gets back to more solid footing. Syracuse got a very important road win and crippled a fellow contender in the process. West Virginia's fate could be in its hands Tuesday at Pitt.

Work left to do:

Villanova [18-9 (7-7), RPI: 21, SOS: 5] Pounded Rutgers to get back to .500. If Cats can get their last two (at UConn, vs. Syracuse), that should be enough with strong computer numbers and a host of wins away from The Pavilion. The Cats have beaten Texas and swept the Big 5 (never easy in Philly), but have a couple of losses to bubble teams (Xavier, Drexel), too. I still think they'll be OK, possibly even at 8-8.

Syracuse [20-8 (9-5), RPI: 53, SOS: 62] History says 10 wins will be plenty, but it might be hard for the Orange to get that last one with a final two vs. G'town, which is trying to win the league title, and at Villanova, which will be desperate for a W. The relative lack of nonconference heft and the weak computer numbers are still concerns, but the Orange have won four in a row and got a very, very big win at Providence on Saturday.

DePaul [16-12 (8-7), RPI: 54, SOS: 18] Beat Cincy and should get past South Florida to get to 9-7, but then what? They have beaten Kansas and Cal (right after the DeVon Hardin injury) earlier this season, but also have lost to Bradley and Purdue, among others. They'll likely need a couple of BE tourney wins, too, but we'll see ...

West Virginia [19-7 (8-6), RPI: 58, SOS: 125] The game at Pitt on Tuesday night could decide the Mountaineers' fate (barring a deep tournament run). They can still get to 9-7 in the Big East without it by beating Cincinnati, but the nine wins would be against UConn, Villanova, St. John's, South Florida, DePaul, Rutgers, Seton Hall twice and the Bearcats. Beating bubble foes is fine, but where's the beef? Outside of beating PG-less UCLA in nonconference play (still a top quality win), there's not a lot to fall back on (besides maybe NC State). WVU vs. Syracuse would be an interesting debate, as the teams don't play in the Big East regular season. WVU has the best win, but Cuse has played the much better schedule.

Providence [17-10 (7-7), RPI: 70, SOS: 33] The Friars likely saw their at-large hopes die at home in the four-point loss to Syracuse, barring an unexpected run to the Big East semis or more. The RPI, bad already, won't be helped by playing St. John's and South Florida in the final two league games.

For more March Madness odds go to MySportsbook.com

For more College Basketball betting lines go to BettingExpress.com

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