Booker paces unbeaten Tigers, Wake Forest up next

NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

01/10/2009 - Clemson, SC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Trevor Booker scored 23 points, grabbed six rebounds and blocked six shots, as No. 12 Clemson suffocated North Carolina State, 63-51, to remain one of three unbeaten teams in the nation.

Top-ranked Pittsburgh hosts St. John's on Sunday and Wake Forest puts its perfect record on the line Sunday night against third-ranked North Carolina.

On Saturday, Clemson's (16-0, 2-0 ACC) perfect record took center stage, and its defense shined.

Clemson held the Wolfpack (9-4, 0-1) to 31.5 percent shooting and forced 18 turnovers. On the offensive end, the Tigers got nine points and 11 rebounds from K.C. Rivers and seven points and four steals from Tanner Smith.

North Carolina State, which has lost four straight against the Tigers, was paced by Courtney Fells' 10 points and seven rebounds.

The Tigers made just 40 percent of their shots, committed six turnovers and only got to the foul line four times, yet swarmed the Wolfpack on the defensive end and posted a 24-17 lead after 20 minutes of play.

Booker led the Tigers with nine points, but more importantly three steals and five of the team's six blocks. Clemson held NC State to 6-of-29 shooting (a 20.7 percent clip), and the Wolfpack managed just 17 points despite nine second chances on offensive rebounds.

The Wolfpack got on the scoreboard over three minutes in, but saw themselves in a 12-3 hole after Smith's transition layup almost halfway home. The Wolfpack also didn't score in the final three minutes of the first half.

The second half started productively for the Wolfpack, who embarked on a 12-5 stretch in the first two-plus minutes to tie the game. NC State was just five points short of its first-half total during the run, which ended with Fells' three-pointer for a 29-29 tie.

Clemson responded from a 33-33 deadlock with an 8-0 spurt capped by easy buckets from Smith and David Potter. The Wolfpack missed four straight shots and turned the basketball over two times as the Tigers again regained control.

The Tigers just exerted their will and expanded their advantage from that point forward. Back-to-back buckets by Booker increased the lead to 57-43 late in the contest, and Clemson rolled to the final horn.

Game Notes

Clemson shot 42.9 percent for the game and came up with 12 steals...Clemson scored 30 points in the paint to just 18 for the Wolfpack...North Carolina State still has a substantial 95-45 edge in the all-time series.

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Super Bowl XLIV Odds

Super Bowl XLIII isn't even a week old yet and oddsmakers have already released Super Bowl XLIV odds.

Despite the Pittsburgh Steelers winning Super Bowl 43, the New England Patriots are 8/1 favorites to win Super Bowl 44.

Bet Super Bowl XLIV Future Odds

With their 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, the Steelers became the latest NFL champion. But believe it or not, oddsmakers from online sports book MySportsbook.com don't have the Steelers the favorites to win Super Bowl XLIV next season.

That honor belongs to the New England Patriots, who are 8/1 favorites to win despite not even qualify for the postseason in 2008. The Pats also have a major decision to make regarding what to do with Matt Cassel, who played well in Tom Brady's (knee surgery) absence last year but is also a free agent this offseason.

Ironically, the Steelers aren't even oddsmakers second choice to win Super Bowl 44, as the Dallas Cowboys are listed right behind the Patriots at 9/1 despite not making the playoffs themselves. Clearly oddsmakers think the public will hop back on the Cowboys' bandwagon considering the immense talent they have and the opening of a brand new stadium.

After Dallas, then comes Pittsburgh at 10/1, but they share those odds with the New York Giants, who won Super Bowl XLII. The Indianapolis Colts and San Diego Chargers round out the top six teams at 12/1, while the Baltimore Ravens (14/1), Tennessee Titans (16/1), Carolina Panthers (18/1) and Philadelphia Eagles (18/1) complete the top 10.

The NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals got no love from oddsmakers as they were established as a 30/1 long shot to win next year's Super Bowl. They share those same odds with the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers – two teams that didn't even qualify for the postseason. Other long shots are the Kansas City Chiefs (100/1), Detroit Lions (100/1), St. Louis Rams (75/1) and Oakland Raiders (75/1).

To see a complete list of all the team's odds to win Super Bowl XLIV, check below.

NFL TEAM FUTURE ODDS TO WIN SUPER BOWL XLIV

New England Patriots 8/1

Dallas Cowboys 9/1

New York Giants 10/1

Pittsburgh Steelers 10/1

Indianapolis Colts 12/1

San Diego Chargers 12/1

Baltimore Ravens 14/1

Tennessee Titans 16/1

Carolina Panthers 18/1

Philadelphia Eagles 18/1

New Orleans Saints 20/1

Atlanta Falcons 25/1

Denver Broncos 25/1

Green Bay Packers 25/1

Jacksonville Jaguars 25/1

Minnesota Vikings 25/1

New York Jets 25/1

Arizona Cardinals 30/1

Chicago BearS 30/1

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30/1

Buffalo Bills 35/1

Houston TexaNS 35/1

Miami Dolphins 35/1

Washington Redskins 35/1

Seattle SeahawkS 50/1

Cleveland Browns 55/1

Cincinnati Bengals 60/1

San Francisco 49ers 60/1

Oakland Raiders 75/1

St. Louis Rams 75/1

Detroit Lions 100/1

Kansas City Chiefs 100/1

Odds as of: 2/2/09

Bet Super Bowl XLIV Future Odds

To visit this online sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.