Georgia Tech seeking rare win in Chapel Hill

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01/20/2007 - Chapel Hill, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Winners of 13 of their last 14 games, the fourth-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels seek to continue that trend this evening, as they play host to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in ACC action from Chapel Hill. These are two of the youngest teams in the conference, but they haven't played like it, as both have gotten the job done thus far.

Roy Williams' Tar Heels are a solid 16-2 on the season and put some distance between themselves and a bitter 94-88 loss to Virginia Tech last weekend, with a 77-55 rout of nationally-ranked Clemson on Wednesday. With the victory, UNC moved to 3-1 in ACC play.

Paul Hewitt's Yellow Jackets are just a half game behind the Tar Heels at 2-1 in ACC action. The team has won two straight and seven of its last eight, including last weekend's 88-80 shootout against Florida State.

North Carolina owns a huge 57-19 advantage in the all-time series with Georgia Tech and has won the last 10 matchups at home. Tech's last win in Chapel Hill took place in 1996.

Tech may feature three freshmen in the starting lineup, but that hasn't prevented some gaudy offensive numbers this year. The team is averaging a hardy 84.0 ppg, while shooting .513 from the field. In addition, this squad knows how to play defense as well, limiting the opposition to just 67.4 ppg, on .418 shooting. The team is also forcing 17.6 turnovers per game. Point guard Javaris Crittenton is one of the better freshmen in the country. He leads the team in scoring (14.2 ppg), the ACC in assists (5.9 apg) and ranks seventh in the conference in steals, while shooting .447 from behind the arc. Another exciting addition to the roster has been Thaddeus Young, who is netting 14.1 ppg. The loss of Lewis Clinch (13.2 ppg) has certainly hurt this team's scoring depth, but the hope is that players like Anthony Morrow (9.1 ppg) and Ra'Sean Dickey (9.1 ppg, team-high 6.1 rpg) can fill the void. In the big win over the Seminoles, Tech fell behind early, but got career performances from Crittenton and Mario West to prevail. Crittenton scored a career-high 23 points, while West notched a career-high 18. Morrow was also instrumental off the bench, adding 17 points in 28 minutes of work.

Much like the Yellow Jackets, the young Tar Heels have excelled at the offensive end of the floor this year, netting a robust 88.1 ppg, on .503 shooting. In addition, the athletic Heels enjoy a +22.1 scoring margin and a +11.4 rebounding edge. All-American Tyler Hansbrough is as good as it gets in the frontcourt, averaging 18.4 points and 8.1 rebounds per game (both team- highs). Freshman Brandan Wright (.650 shooting percentage, 15.7 ppg, 6.5 rpg) has been a welcome addition down low, while two more freshmen, Wayne Ellington (12.3 ppg) and Ty Lawson (8.8 ppg, team-high 92 assists) have made immediate impacts in the backcourt. In the 22-point rout of Clemson this week, Wright led four Tar Heels in double figures, scoring 17 points, on 8-of-10 shooting. Hansbrough was right behind with 16 points, while Ellington finished with 11. Danny Green came off the bench to tally 10 points in 13 minutes of work. North Carolina shot a solid .517 from the floor, while limiting the Tigers to just .324 shooting.

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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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