NFL is back with bets on win totals, Super Bowl odds and Week 1 lines.
Sweet 16: West Region Preview
Delicious
Digg
StumbleUpon
Reddit
Facebook
Google
Technorati
In the West Region the drive for the Final Four resumes on Thursday when West Virginia takes on Xavier and Western Kentucky battles UCLA.
West Virginia (7) vs. Xavier (3)
The Mountaineers climbed into the Sweet 16 by shocking No. 2 seed Duke 73-67 as a 4-point underdog in the second. Joe Alexander torched the Blue Devils for 22 points and 11 rebounds, as West Virginia dominated the boards and out-rebounded Duke by a mammoth 45-19 margin. Alex Ruoff added 17 points for the Mountaineers in the win, while Joe Mazzulla was all over the floor with 13 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists.
The Musketeers sent Purdue packing in the second round after knocking off the Boilermakers 85-78 as a 3-point favorite. Drew Lavender may only be 5-foot-7, but he continued to come up big for the Musketeers with 18 points and nine assists in the win. C.J. Anderson also had 18 points to go along with seven rebounds, while Josh Duncan added 16 points and five rebounds.
At , the oddsmakers have listed the Mountaineers as a small 1-point favorite.
Western Kentucky (12) vs. UCLA (1)
The Hilltoppers followed up their opening round upset of No. 5 seed Drake with a decisive 72-63 win over San Diego as a 4.5-point favorite in Round 2. Courtney Lee delivered a big 29 points for Western Kentucky and Tyrone Brazelton added 15 points. Jeremy Evans provided some solid defense for the Hilltoppers with seven rebounds and five blocks, and he also poured in nine points.
The Bruins had no trouble routing Mississippi Valley State in the tournament opener, but they ran into a much bigger challenge in Texas A&M in Round 2. The Bruins escaped with a 51-49 win over the Aggies even though they were a 9.5-point favorite. Darren Collison scored 21 points for the Bruins while Kevin Love appears to be over his back problem, as he had 19 points, 11 rebounds and seven blocks. Even if Love is back to his old self, the Bruins aren’t done with the doctors yet. Josh Shipp has strep throat, which is likely why he went without a point against Texas A&M, while Luc Mbah a Moute has been hobbled by a lingering ankle injury.
UCLA is a heavy 12.5-point favorite in this game over at .
