Florida visits LSU in pivotal SEC showdown

NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

02/24/2009 - Baton Rouge, LA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 18th-ranked LSU Tigers have run away with the SEC West Division, and they are set to host a Florida squad that is tied for first place in the league's East Division.

Florida is 21-6 overall, and its 8-4 conference record ties the team with South Carolina and Kentucky atop the standings. The Gators have won their last two outings, including an 82-68 decision over Vanderbilt on Saturday. They are just 2-5 in true road games this season, a record they will attempt to improve tonight.

Doing so won't be easy, however, as the Tigers are 18-1 at home this season. LSU is four games better than Mississippi State with four to play and can clinch at least a share of the overall SEC title with a win this evening. They have captured 11 consecutive league victories since losing the opener, and the 23-4 overall record exceeds all expectations for Trent Johnson's team.

LSU owns a 59-37 series advantage over Florida, which includes consecutive wins over the Gators.

There is no doubt that Nick Calathes is the best player on the Florida roster and one of the top players in the SEC. A versatile performer, Calathes brings 18.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 174 assists and 59 steals to the floor tonight. He gets some help from Alex Tyus, who provides 12.4 ppg and 6.0 rpg. Chandler Parsons is scoring 10.0 ppg for the Gators, who are racking up 79.3 ppg while limiting foes to 67.5 ppg. In the 14-point win over Vanderbilt on Saturday, Ervin Walker led a balanced offensive attack with 17 points off the bench. Calathes added 14 points, and Walter Hodge provided 12. Dan Werner and Tyus contributed 11 and 10 rebounds, respectively, for the Gators, who connected on 61.2 percent of their field goal attempts, including a 10-of-19 showing from three- point range.

All five starters reached double figures for LSU in the 79-72 victory over Auburn on Saturday. Marcus Thornton was sensational as usual, as the star guard tallied 25 points to continue his push for SEC Player of the Year honors. Tasmin Mitchell and Bo Spencer scored 14 points apiece for the Tigers, who got 12 points from both Chris Johnson and Garrett Temple. Johnson had eight rebounds and four blocks from his center position, while Temple handed out six assists. A 41-29 rebounding advantage and a 21-of-22 effort from the foul line were keys to the win for LSU, which is holding opponents to 39.6 percent shooting and 64.7 ppg at the defensive end this season. Thornton is racking up 20.5 ppg, and he has played his best ball against SEC opposition. Mitchell adds 16.8 ppg and 7.3 rpg to the mix, and Spencer rounds out an impressive trio with 11.7 ppg.

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Marlins could start season without No. 2 starter Johnson

JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.

Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.

MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .

''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''

Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.

He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.

''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''

Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.

Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.

With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.

Additional basbeall odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

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