Buckeyes begin Big Ten play at home against Hawkeyes

NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

12/31/2008 - Columbus, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Big Ten play begins for the 24th-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes and the Iowa Hawkeyes tonight, as they duel at Value City Arena in Columbus.

The Buckeyes enter the tilt looking to rebound from their first loss of the season, as they were handled by West Virginia, 76-48, on Saturday. The setback snapped OSU's 14-game win streak, which had been the longest in the nation, and marked its worst home defeat since dropping a 107-75 decision to Purdue in 1998. OSU, which had won its last 54 games in Columbus against unranked teams, now turns its focus to the Big Ten, where it finished 10-8 a season ago.

As for Iowa, it took care of business in its final tuneup before league play, posting a 58-43 victory over Western Illinois on Saturday. It was the fourth win in the past five outings for the Hawkeyes, who improved to 10-3 on the year. Iowa will now try to carry its success over into Big Ten action after logging just a 6-12 record last season.

The Hawkeyes and Buckeyes split a pair of meetings on the hardwood last season, leaving Iowa with a 75-68 advantage in the head-to-head series.

Iowa clamped down on defense over the weekend, holding Western Illinois to a dismal 34.0 percent shooting effort from the floor in a 58-43 victory. The Hawkeyes made good on 46.2 percent of their field goal tries and they also went a solid 17-of-22 at the foul line. Jermain Davis and Jake Kelly each tallied 13 points in the win, while Matt Gatens notched a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Anthony Tucker, the team's leading scorer (13.0 ppg) on the year, however, didn't play due to a "coach's decision." Gatens ranks second to Tucker with 10.2 ppg on the season and he is also shooting an efficient 52.5 percent from the long range. As a team, Iowa is hitting on 47.3 percent of its attempts from the floor and 40.2 percent from three-point range for an average of 64.6 ppg.

In a simply dreadful shooting performance, OSU went a horrific 31.0 percent from the floor, including a poor 2-of-18 showing from three-point range, as it was downed by WVU on Saturday. The team didn't fared all that well at the foul line either, converting on just 10-of-19 chances. William Buford and Jeremie Simmons each netted 11 points, and Evan Turner had a double-double of 10 points and 11 boards in the setback. On the season, Turner is the only player for OSU averaging in a double figures, with 16.2 ppg, and he also leads the team with 7.2 rpg and 27 steals. The Buckeyes as a whole, have made their presence felt on defense, limiting foes to just 55.8 ppg and a only 37.7 percent shooting from the floor.

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Football Betting Lines

The 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds have been released and Denver Broncos' running back Knowshon Moreno has been made the opening favorite.

Bet NFL Sports Lines

Moreno was selected in the first round of April's NFL draft and is expected to carry the rushing load for the Broncos this season. And with Jay Cutler now in Chicago, Moreno might be expected to be Denver's entire offense.

Betting Lines from sports betting lines have made Moreno a 5/2 favorite to win this year's Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Fellow running back Chris “Beanie” Wells (Arizona Cardinals) is right behind Moreno at 7/2, while Donald Brown (Indianapolis Colts) and receiver Michael Crabtree (San Francisco 49ers) are 5/1 to win. Quarterbacks Mark Sanchez (New York Jets) and Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions) are 7/1 and 8/1, respectively.

A couple of players who present some value are Josh Freeman, Shonn Green and Darrius Heyward-Bey.

Freeman needs to beat out Byron Leftwich to become the starting quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but if he does, he has a lot or raw talent and could use the weapons around him (i.e. Kellen Winslow Jr. and Antonio Bryant) to be very successful in his first season.

Green enters a crowded backfield in New York, but considering both Thomas Jones and Leon Washington are unhappy about their contract situations and might holdout, the former Iowa product could become the Jets' primary back.

Everyone was shocked when Al Davis took Heyward-Bey with the eighth overall pick in April's draft, but the kid has a tremendous amount of talent and if quarterback JaMarcus Russell takes the next step this year, the former Maryland product could blossom. Plus, Heyward-Bey will be looking to prove the people wrong who said Oakland should have taken Michael Crabtree with the No. 8 pick.

And if you're looking for a deep sleeper, check out Pat White at 30/1. He enters the Miami Dolphins vaunted “Wild Cat” offense and could be a big time playmaker.

For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds, see below.

2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds to Win

Ramses Barden (NYG) 40/1

Andre Brown (NYG) 20/1

Donald Brown (IND) 5/1

Kenny Britt (TEN) 20/1

Glenn Coffee (SFO) 30/1

Chase Coffman (CIN) 50/1

Michael Crabtree (SFO) 5/1

Josh Freeman (TB) 14/1

Shonn Green (NYJ) 14/1

Percy Harvin (MIN) 10/1

Darrius Heyward-Bay (OAK) 18/1

Juaquan Iglesias (CHI) 30/1

Cornelius Ingram (PHI) 50/1

Rashad Jennings (JAC) 30/1

Johnny Knox (CHI) 40/1

Jeremy Maclin (PHI) 18/1

Mohamed Massaquoi (CLE) 30/1

LeSean McCoy (PHI) 12/1

Knowshon Moreno (DEN) 5/2

Hakeem Nicks (NYG) 18/1

Brandon Pettigrew (DET) 30/1

Brian Robiskie (CLE) 20/1

Mark Sanchez (NYJ) 7/1

Matthew Stafford (DET) 8/1

Jason Smith (STL) 40/1

Mike Thomas (JAC) 25/1

Patrick Turner (MIA) 50/1

Mike Wallace (PIT) 50/1

Chris Wells (ARI) 7/2

Pat White (MIA) 30/1

Field (Any Other Player) 9/1

Betting Line

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