Dayton visits Xavier in pivotal Atlantic 10 battle

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03/05/2009 - Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Dayton Flyers and 17th-ranked Xavier Musketeers will do battle tonight in a game with major implications in the race for the Atlantic 10 Conference title.

Xavier sits atop the A-10 standings with an 11-3 league record, but Rhode Island (11-4) and Dayton (10-4) are obviously close behind. The Flyers managed to halt a two-game skid with a much-needed 70-65 decision over Temple on Saturday. Dayton has reached 24 wins in the regular season for the first time since 1953-54.

The Flyers have won their last 19 home games, including 17 this season, but they have been nothing more than mediocre on the road. As for Xavier, it can clinch the top seed in the A-10 Tournament and at least a share of its third straight league title with a win tonight. The Musketeers have only lost once in 14 home games, so expect the squad to play with confidence this evening. They have won their last two outings, including a 68-54 decision over Saint Joseph's the last time out.

Dayton beat Xavier in a 71-58 final on February 11th, and the Flyers own an 81-67 advantage in the all-time series between the two teams.

Dayton depends heavily on strong defense to win games, as the squad is limiting foes to 60.4 ppg on 39.3 percent shooting from the field. The Flyers, who are generating 67.4 ppg, are outrebounding opponents by just over five boards per contest. Chris Wright leads the team in scoring with 13.3 ppg, and he is pulling down 6.7 rpg as well. As for Marcus Johnson, who is the only other double-digit scorer on the roster, he provides 12.0 ppg. Wright scored 20 points to lead the way in the hard-fought win over Temple the last time out. Johnson added 14 points, and Mickey Perry pitched in with 10 for the Flyers, who racked up 21 assists against only nine turnovers. They also earned a 16-5 edge in points from the foul line and a 36-29 rebounding advantage.

Derrick Brown and B.J. Raymond both scored 18 points to lead Xavier over Saint Joseph's in a recent battle, and Brown also pulled down 10 rebounds. C.J. Anderson added 10 points for the Musketeers, who overcame 17 turnovers by earning a 40-27 rebounding advantage and limiting the Hawks to 37 percent shooting from the floor. Brown is scoring 13.8 ppg this season on 52.1 percent field goal efficiency, and he is pulling down 5.9 rpg. Raymond is close behind with his 13.7 ppg on 41.8 percent shooting from three-point range. As for Anderson, he adds some balance to the lineup with 10.5 ppg. Xavier is scoring 73.1 ppg while limiting opponents to 62.7 ppg on 38.6 percent shooting from the field. A strength of the Musketeers is that they are outrebounding opponents by 8.4 rpg.

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FOOTBALL BETTING : Cassel Signs Contract

Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.

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After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
Patriots made him their franchise player, meaning his salary for this season will be about $15 million.
New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
"I go out there each and every day with that focus that I'm the starter," Cassel said during a June minicamp. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
In his only sustained action since his teens, he hit 349 of 555 passes for 3,949 yards at New England. He had 23 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as the Patriots, who had gone unbeaten through the regular season the year before, finished 11-5 and out of the playoffs.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."

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