Rpckets Basketball Betting News

<< Zvonareva, Radwanska advance at Carlsbad
Carlsbad, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Third-seeded Vera Zvonareva and fourth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska were among Tuesday's first-round winners at the $700,000 Mercury Insurance Open. Zvonareva, who is participating in her first tournamen

<< Kickers Brown and Rackers dueling at Texans camp
HOUSTON (AP) -The last original Houston Texan is fighting for his job at training camp.Kicker Kris Brown is the only player who's appeared in all 128 franchise games. The Texans signed free agent Neil Rackers in the offseason to compete with Brown,

<< Chiefs have yet to address problems with front 7
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) -In a busy offseason, the Kansas City Chiefs went after just about everything except what many fans think they lacked the most.They picked up a 1,000-yard rusher to go with the 1,000-yard rusher they already had and drafted a sp

<< Teammates say Favre texted them of plans to retire
MANKATO, Minn. (AP) -With everyone assuming Brett Favre was returning for a 20th NFL season, the Minnesota Vikings were enjoying a relatively calm and quiet training camp as they started preparations for another run at the Super Bowl.All that tranqu

Lions make it official with Suh >>
Allen Park, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Detroit Lions made it official on Wednesday and agreed to terms with defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, the second overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. Lions president Tom Lewand said Wednesday morni

Indianapolis Colts 2010 Season Preview >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It's not very often that a 16-win campaign is considered a disappointment, but with the regular season the Indianapolis Colts put together in 2009, anything shy of a Super Bowl victory has to be thought of as such. The Co

Pirates to face tough test from Cueto, Reds >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Pittsburgh Pirates scored more runs in one inning of Tuesday's victory over the Cincinnati Reds then they had in their previous five games. They'll likely find offense harder to come by this afternoon, given Johnny Cueto'

Rockies, Jimenez aim to slow down Giants >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - One of the National League's premier pitchers will attempt to slow down perhaps the hottest team in baseball right now when the San Francisco Giants wrap up a short two-game series with Ubaldo Jimenez and the Colorado Rockies

Numerous College Basketball teams take final big step to March Madness betting

So, what turned on the lock spigot? Well, after what felt like weeks of teams treading water and slipping back into the bubble muck, a bunch of them finally decided to say "to heck with parity" and won games that should put them into the Big Dance.

Disagree with some of these? Then here's the challenge. Take all of the "should be ins" and make a legit case that each should be ahead of the team that's a lock. Then find 10 more teams that also should be placed in the bracket ahead of that lock team. Not so easy, is it?

If you want more evidence that these locks should be good to go, check out what our research department dug up. Since the NCAA Tournament went to 64 teams in 1985, only six teams from a "big six" conference have had a record of 10-6 or better in conference play and not been selected: Colorado (2004) and Nebraska (1999) from the Big 12, Boston College and Seton Hall (both 2003) from the Big East, Indiana (2005) from the Big Ten and UCLA, which somehow went 12-6 in the Pac-10 in 1988 and still missed out. (Note: Five teams went 11-7 and didn't get in, the latest being last season's Stanford team, which had a brutal nonconference run.)

Yes, 10 conference wins doesn't always mean what it used to because of unbalanced schedules, but this season, it should be plenty good in all but the extreme cases (see: Iowa).

In a way, this is a welcome development, because this is a bubble watch, not a lock watch. We can finally be done with teams like Maryland and Virginia Tech and start really bearing down on at-large battles such as Syracuse-West Virginia and Appalachian State-Georgia Tech.

Interestingly, all the shifting of teams into lock status appears to be more administrative than impactful. The number of remaining available at-larges didn't change one iota. The only difference is that teams on the bubble now have a clearer idea of which team(s) they are competing with for those precious bids.

As always, I've tried to be as inclusive as possible while only including teams that would have a reasonable chance of at least being discussed if this were Selection Sunday. If your team's not on here, there's probably a good reason (or three) -- start with the RPI and SOS numbers and work your way down.

(Please remember, per selection committee criteria, that records displayed are Division I only. Next update: Feb. 28)

If you have a legitimate grievance, or just like talking bubble, send an e-mail. Polite ones with fact-based arguments have a much better chance of receiving a response. I apologize in advance if I can't get back to all of you.

Atlantic Coast Conference

Work left to do: Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech

The ACC moves to six locks as BC, Va Tech and Virginia all got their 10th ACC wins, which should be more than enough this season, and Maryland rallied past North Carolina to get the final piece the Terps needed. After that? It could end there unless FSU, Ga Tech or Clemson picks things up in a hurry.

Work left to do:

Clemson [19-9 (5-9), RPI: 41, SOS: 42] The Tigers are closer to locking up the collapse of the year award (in a good battle with OK State) than they are to grabbing an at-large. Clemson's been very competitive, but there's no really positive way you can spin nine losses in 11 games. They now cannot get to .500 in ACC play and still must head to Virginia Tech in the season finale (after hosting Miami). Unless the Tigers win both and/or do some serious work in the ACC tourney, they very well could be left out. There are no great nonconference wins, but ODU, App State, Miss. State, South Carolina and Georgia are all respectable W's.

Florida State [18-11 (6-9), RPI: 48, SOS: 14] The Noles got thrashed at Maryland to run their losing streak to five, but then pounded NC State at home to set the table for what likely is an elimination game at Miami. You can at least make a case for the Seminoles at 7-9 in ACC play (and some work in the ACC tourney), but 6-10 is not going to cut it. Wins at Duke and over Florida will resonate, but the computer numbers remain questionable. Beyond Florida, FSU thrashed bubble buddy Providence, but there's not a ton beyond those two games that will help. They didn't show well in big-time opportunities against Pitt and Wisconsin (before the Florida win).

Georgia Tech [18-10 (6-8), RPI: 51, SOS: 46] The Jackets beat Wake on Wednesday but couldn't get it done at UVa on Saturday, which could be a crucial loss with UNC and BC (both at home) remaining and 8-8 almost a certain need for at-large consideration. A nonconference win over Memphis helps, but the RPI and SOS are not at-large quality right now; if you combine those with a sub-.500 ACC mark, that could spell NIT for GT.

For more College Basketball betting lines go to MySportsbook.com

Additional basketball lines can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

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