Rebels take on Wildcats in pivotal SEC battle

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02/02/2010 - Lexington, KY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 25th-ranked Ole Miss Rebels have the unenviable task of battling the now fourth-ranked Kentucky Wildcats in Lexington this evening in a top-25 SEC tussle.

Ole Miss carried a three-game win streak into Sunday's home clash with Arkansas and was clearly favored in that affair. Unfortunately, the result was an 80-73 loss to the Hogs, dropping the Rebels to 16-5 overall and 4-3 in conference.

As for Kentucky, it won the first 19 games of this season before finally falling to South Carolina last week. Fortunately, the Wildcats were able to get back on track on Saturday with an 85-72 decision over Vanderbilt. There is plenty of reason to be optimistic about tonight's game, as they enter with a 13-0 home record.

Kentucky owns a commanding 96-13 series edge over Ole Miss, and the teams split a pair of meetings a year ago.

Ole Miss is a well-balanced offensive team that has five double-digit scorers in the fold, and the contributions off all those players have led to 80.9 ppg, a strong output for the team. Chris Warren is tops with 16.7 ppg, and he has handed out 72 assists. Terrico White checks in with 15.0 ppg, and Eniel Polynice provides 10.6 ppg and 89 assists. Murphy Holloway (10.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg) and Zach Graham (10.0 ppg) round out the group for the Rebels, who are holding opponents to 69.3 ppg on 40.3 percent shooting. On Sunday, Ole Miss connected on a mere 38.2 percent of its field goal attempts and was outscored 23-9 from the foul line. Those negatives overshadowed a 45-32 rebounding advantage. Holloway tallied 19 points off the bench, and Warren contributed 17. As for Polynice, he finished with 15 points and six assists.

Sure, Kentucky freshman John Wall has been the most highly-regarded player in the nation so far this season, but fellow rookie DeMarcus Cousins is proving that he is just as worthy of praise. Cousins racked up 21 points and 10 rebounds for the Wildcats against Vanderbilt on Saturday, and he seems to get better every time he takes the floor. Darnell Dodson scored 16 points against Vandy, while Wall posted 13 points and nine assists. Eric Bledsoe scored 13 points as well, and Patrick Patterson rounded out a balanced attack with 12 points before fouling out. Kentucky earned a dominant 41-22 rebounding advantage and benefited from 25 points from the foul line. Wall is averaging 16.9 ppg to go with 135 assists and 40 steals, while Cousins provides 16.2 ppg and 9.7 rpg. As for Patterson, a reliable veteran, he checks in with 15.2 ppg and 7.7 rpg. The 'Cats are generating 82.2 ppg while surrendering just 66.0 ppg on 38.2 percent shooting by opponents.

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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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