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Blue Monday for Butler and Duke

It comes down to this.na.na, sort of the New York Yankees of the hardwood, is loved by their fans hated by everyone else.na’s return to prominence has some people feeling blue.na regularly solved the Mountaineers switching defense, getting a number of shot attempts within four feet of the rim.na goes after its fourth national championship for Coach K, this is how Zoubek feels.na was near perfect against West Virginia and they are 9-1 ATS after a game committing eight or less turnovers which plays a part why Sportsbook.na’s size and rebounding ability.na to convert 52.na covers and wins convincingly.na fouls, where they can march to the charity stripe and convert 73.na by 7

CBB | (601) BUTLER @ (602) DUKE | 04/05/2010 9:15 PM
Play UNDER BUTLER on the first half total in Road games after a non-conference game
The record is 2 Overs and 14 Unders for the last two seasons (+11.na | 04/05/2010 9:15 PM
Play UNDER BUTLER on the first half total in Road games after a non-conference game
The record is 1 Overs and 10 Unders this season (+8.na | 04/05/2010 9:15 PM
Play OVER BUTLER on the total in All games after scoring 60 points or less
The record is 16 Overs and 4 Unders for the last three seasons (+11.na | 04/05/2010 9:15 PM
Play OVER BUTLER on the total in All games after scoring 60 points or less
The record is 11 Overs and 2 Unders for the last two seasons (+8.na | 04/05/2010 9:15 PM
Play ON DUKE in the first half in All games after a non-conference game
The record is 34 Wins and 15 Losses for the last three seasons (+17.na | 04/05/2010 9:15 PM
Play ON DUKE in the first half in All games in non-conference games
The record is 34 Wins and 15 Losses for the last three seasons (+17.na | 04/05/2010 9:15 PM
Play ON DUKE against the spread in All games after a non-conference game
The record is 14 Wins and 5 Losses this season (+8.50 units)

Not everybody rooting against Duke in NCAA title game
It's easy to pull for Butler and its unassuming star, Gordon Hayward.na for its arrogance and elite pedigree.na is a 7-point favorite over Butler in today's NCAA championship game in Indianapolis.na.na, about 15 to 20 times.na as a 6-point favorite, and he has been slowly pushing that number north.na.na center Brian Zoubek grabbed 10 rebounds and sported a mean beard.na's semifinal romp over West Virginia, a game that was closer than the final score, as well as a downgrade of Butler for its unsightly win over Michigan State," The Gold Sheet handicapper Bruce Marshall said.na.na owns a definite size advantage … providing a different, more physical look than most of Coach K's previous championship teams and contenders," Marshall said.na's biggest possible nightmare."

There is an argument to be made for the underdog. But if you're not buying it, follow the crowd and dance with the Blue Devils.

Opposites are attraction of Duke-Butler title game

INDIANAPOLIS
Brad Stevens is familiar with the story.na for the national championship at Lucas Oil Stadium.na for the national championship 20 years ago this week, when the labels of good and evil were assigned the Blue Devils and Rebels.na was the lovable team America cheered.na for which most watching will feel contempt.na coach Mike Krzyzewski said.na hold fairly straightforward opinions.na Nation drips of arrogance and favoritism.na against Butler symbolizes the inequities that have been constructed within a Bowl Championship Series climate.na's basketball budget is $13.na might charter to pregame meals.na has a $15.na and Butler will meet for the championship not three blocks from where Brand had his office.na won't suddenly spend only $8 million annually on basketball. Kansas and Michigan State and Kentucky and Syracuse won't start slashing budgets. They won't tear down the Michael W. Krzyzewski Center Dedicated to Academic and Athletic Excellence.

But for one evening, life will seem a little fairer and college sports a little purer.

"If that's what the story is going to be, we'll accept it," Butler sophomore Gordon Hayward said. "We're up for the challenge."

Think about it. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the star of One Shining Moment was named David?

Madness, Masters keeping U.na, the perenniel power that everyone loves to hate.

Butler vs.na

National Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.na Blue Devils (-6.na’s “S” trio of Kyle Singler, Jon Scheyer, and Nolan Smith has been leading the way for the Blue Devils all season, and more of the same is continuing in this NCAA Tournament.na’s success all year long, and Brian Zoubek pulled down five of his 10 boards at the offensive end.na.na.na sports a front line of Zoubek (7-foot-1), Thomas (6-foot-8, 240 pounds) and the 6-foot-10 Plumlee twins (Miles and Mason). Butler’s corps group of players features nobody taller than 6-foot-9 (Hayward).

The Blue Devils have won the rebounding battle in all five of their NCAA Tournament contests and they have reached double-figures on the offensive glass in all five outings.na hauled in a shocking 22 offensive boards.na out-rebounded the Boilermakers 45-22.na and Matt Howard to keep Zoubek and Thomas off the glass.na’s clicking offense will be the story of Monday night’s National Championship.na, on the other hand, has failed to reach the 60-point mark just once this entire season - once in 38 games.na drained 13-of-25 3-pointers against the Mountaineers.na hammered Clemson on two different occasions (74-53 at home and 60-47 on the road).

Both the Bulldogs and the Blue Devils lost to Georgetown.na got manhandled by the Hoyas 89-77 at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.na (16-22 O/U) have been solid under plays this season.na’s last six overall.

Butler's defense has made a mockery of over/under lines during the tourney. Butler's games have finished below the closing total by an average of 15 points in the team's last four games.

Line moves: Hearts are on Butler, but money is on Duke

Butler may have captured the hearts of Americans, but Duke continues to have a stranglehold on their wallets.na's beat-down of West Virginia on Saturday night, the Blue Devils opened as 6.na, which is seeking its fourth NCAA title while Butler has never gotten this far before.na has covered the spread against every team it has faced in the Tournament. The Blue Devils were near flawless on Saturday, shooting better than 50 percent (13 for 25) from 3-point range.

Butler won its 25th straight and held yet another tournament opponent to fewer than 60 points. But the little team that could is having a hard time convincing

Overall Team Offense

The Duke Blue Devils are ranked 120 for offensive field goal percentage shooting 44.na Blue Devils are 17-0 at home this season, and 16-3 against 18-2 opponents.

At home the Blue Devils are averaging 85.9 scoring, and holding teams to 59.5 points scored on defense.

The Butler Bulldogs are 12-1 while on the road this season, 20-0 against conference opponents, and 13-4 against non-conference opponents.

On the road, the Bulldogs are averaging 67.7 scoring, and holding teams to 58.2 points scored on defense.

Trends - No.na


ATS Trends

Butler

Bulldogs are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games as an underdog of 7.na

Blue Devils are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite.na

Under is 4-1 in Blue Devils last 5 games as a favorite of 7.0-12.5.
Under is 19-7 in Blue Devils last 26 games following a SU win of more than 20 points.
Under is 5-2 in Blue Devils last 7 NCAA Tournament games as a favorite of 7.0-12.5.
Under is 12-5 in Blue Devils last 17 overall.
Under is 12-5 in Blue Devils last 17 games as a favorite.
Under is 19-8 in Blue Devils last 27 neutral site games as a favorite.
Under is 19-8 in Blue Devils last 27 neutral site games.
Under is 7-3 in Blue Devils last 10 Monday games.
Under is 11-5 in Blue Devils last 16 games following a S.U. win.
Under is 13-6 in Blue Devils last 19 NCAA Tournament games as a favorite.

Butler (33-4) vs.na (34-5)



Monday, April 5th, 9:21 p.na 93-30.na leads, 1-0.na Blue Devils tonight in Indianapolis.na, which is playing in its 34th NCAA Tournament and has won three national titles (1991, 1992, 2001), is making its 10th Championship Game appearance.na is 13-4 this season against teams that made the NCAA Tournament, and it has won 12 straight neutral-site affairs.na and Butler have met just one time previously, with the Blue Devils prevailing in an 80-60 verdict in Durham, North Carolina on January 30, 2003.na's road to the title tilt has been a relatively easy one.na, which shot 52.na's play at the defensive end has been exemplary in the tournament, yielding a mere 56.na the big-time program.na 65, Butler 59