10th-ranked Boilermakers clash with Crusaders

NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

12/28/2008 - West Lafayette, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 10th-ranked Purdue Boilermakers host an in-state opponent, the Valparaiso Crusaders, in a non-conference clash this afternoon from Mackey Arena.

Valparaiso is desperate for a victory, as the team has lost its last four outings and eight of the last nine since opening the season with back-to-back wins. The Crusaders are fresh off an 85-60 loss to UCF on Monday and have lost all four games during the current slide by double digits.

As for Purdue, it has won five consecutive decisions to improve to 10-2 overall. The Boilermakers also opened the season with five wins in a row before dropping back-to-back decisions to Oklahoma and Duke, a pair of tremendous opponents. Last weekend, Matt Painter's squad knocked off Davidson by 18 points, and that impressive victory was followed up by Monday's 70-55 decision over IPFW.

Purdue owns a commanding 11-2 series lead over Valparaiso, including an 87-55 romp over the Crusaders in the most recent meeting six years ago.

Urule Igbavboa is the top performer for Valparaiso this season, but his average of 10.4 ppg isn't going to scare Purdue at all. The only other double- digit scorer on the roster for the Crusaders is Michael Rogers with his 10.1 ppg. The team has struggled to generate offense, as it is posting a modest 61.5 ppg on 41.8 percent shooting from the floor. Defensively, Valpo is permitting 68.1 ppg. In the 25-point loss to UCF on Monday, the Crusaders allowed the Golden Knights to connect on 63.3 percent of their field goal attempts and earned a 34-28 rebounding advantage. The Crusaders got 12 points from Brandon McPherson and 10 points from Cameron Witt in what was a poor overall performance.

Purdue is one of the nation's best defensive teams, as it is holding opponents to a mere 56.9 ppg on 35.2 percent shooting from the floor. At the offensive end of the court, the Boilermakers are generating 75.5 ppg. Robbie Hummel leads a balanced attack with 14.9 ppg, and he is shooting 43.1 percent from three-point range and 91.4 percent from the charity stripe. E'Twaun Moore provides 14.4 ppg, and JaJuan Johnson adds 12.5 ppg. Johnson connected on 10- of-14 field goal attempts against IPFW on Monday and finished with 21 points, nine rebounds and three blocks. Moore scored 19 points for Purdue, which got just six points from Hummel. The Boilermakers committed a mere seven turnovers in the clash and limited their overmatched opponents to 39.2 percent field goal efficiency.

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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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