Michigan State takes on Connecticut in the first game of the Final Four from Ford Field.  The winner will take on the victor of Villanova-Connecticut. The 2009 Final Four Vegas odds and point spread has Connecticut as a four-point favorite according to BetUs Sportsbook with the total at 135 at Sports Betting Sportsbook.

The elite sports handicappers have compiled the official betting preview of that game. The Spartans come in 30-6 straight up and 19-13 against the spread. Stevie Vincent, Senior Handicapper at OffshoreInsiders.com and the founder of the revolutionary forensic sports handicapping reminds us, “Michigan State is not exactly playing on a neutral court,” as the Final Four is in their home state.

Connecticut is 31-4 straight up and 17-14 to the Las Vegas betting odds. Michigan State enters hotter spread wise, covering 12-of-15. Though the Huskies have cashed the ticket in all four NCAA Tournament games, they are still just 5-6 their last 11 against the sportsbooks.

Connecticut has the edge in the statistical categories professional bettors utilize most: offensive and defensive field goal percentage net ratio. Michigan State makes 3.1 percent more of their shots than their opponents normally allow, but that’s compared to 4.9 for UConn.

On defense, MSU holds teams to 4.6 percent below their normal shooting percentage, but the Huskies have an even better net ratio of 6.4.

2009 Final Four tickets, FatHeads and fan gear are up now in the Guy Store.

As far as some against the spread records: the Spartans have covered six straight non-conference games and are a fantastic 23-6 versus an opponent winning percentage of .600 or greater. The Huskies are 41-20 as a favorite of 6.5 or less.

Over/under bettors will want to note that Michigan State has gone under 8-2 off a spread win. Conversely, Connecticut has gone over 7-1 in the Big Dance as a favorite and over 22-8 on neutral courts.

Check out the changing odds at ScoresOddsPicks.com.

The only site hotter than Fox Nation is OffshoreInsiders.com for endless winning picks. Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: The Heat get a visit from the rival Magic, the Devils clash on the ice with the Rangers, and the CBI begins its championship.

2009 Final 4 Odds…

Connecticut is a four-point favorite over Michigan State in the updated college basketball odds. North Carolina is laying 7.5 to Villanova. The Wildcats are getting +305 on the moneyline.  The updated odds to win the 2009 NCAA Tournament has North Carolina -140 to win it all. The rest of the pack is Connecticut +230, Michigan State +575, and Villanova +650.

Tipping off on the hardwood  . . .

The Heat will host the Magic in an all-Florida matchup on Monday night in one of just four games on the NBA schedule. Orlando is coming off a 110-94 win over the Bucks on Friday night, with Rashard Lewis tossing in 19 points to go along with eight boards in that win. The Heat took care of Milwaukee in their last outing as well, beating them 102-85 on Saturday. The Magic and Heat last met on the hardwood in Orlando February 22, with the Magic winning convincingly 122-99.

Also on the NBA’s slate for Monday: Milwaukee at New Jersey, Memphis at Golden State, and New York at Utah. The Jazz are coming off a big 104-99 overtime win over the Suns on Saturday, with Mehmet Okur pouring in 26 points and Deron Williams providing 21 points and 13 assists. The Knicks and Jazz last met on November 9, with New York winning 107-99 as a 4-point home underdog.

Taking a trip around the rink . . .

There are just three games on the National Hockey League’s schedule for Monday night, including the Devils on the road at Madison Square Garden to take on the rival Rangers. New Jersey has been looking to lock down top spot in the Atlantic Division, but they’re coming off a 2-1 loss to the Hurricanes on Saturday. The Rangers are just trying to hold onto an playoff spot in the Eastern Conference; they fell 4-3 to the Pens when those teams met Saturday afternoon.

Also on tap for Monday are San Jose at Calgary, and Dallas at Phoenix. The Sharks have already claimed the Pacific Division crown, and they topped the Coyotes 3-2 on Saturday. The Flames hold just a slight edge on the Canucks for first place in the Northwest, and they slipped past the Wild 3-2 on Saturday. The Stars’ drive for a playoff berth in the Western Conference was delivered a blow in their Saturday matchup when they were doubled up 6-3 at home by the Panthers.

Rounding out the Roundup . . .

The lone college hoops game on Monday night will take place at Oregon State, where the Beavers will host the UTEP Miners in the first game of the ‘Best of Three’ championship series of the College Basketball Invitational. The Miners advanced to the championship with an 81-69 win over Richmond in the semifinals; Stefon Jackson had 34 points in that contest. The Beavers dropped Stanford 65-62 in overtime last round, behind 16 points from Lathen Wallace. UTEP is pegged as a 1-point favorite on Monday, with the total at 131.5 points. Games 2 and 3 (if required) will be contested at UTEP on Wednesday and Friday….Final four tickets are at Guy Store, which also has MLB tickets and all sports fan gear, plus much more.

The odds are out for the 2009 Final 4 battle between Villanova and North Carolina. The Tar Heels are a 6.5 point favorite with a total of 162. One of the sportsbooks has the spread up to seven. BetUs Sportsbook, ranked No. 1 in the world by OffshoreInsiders.com does not yet have a betting line.

Villanova-UNC game tickets, fan gear and more are at Guy Store. Track the latest odds in the college basketball odds of ScoresOddsPicks.com , which also will have the official betting breakdown if that and the Michigan State-U Conn game. As reported earlier, the Huskies are a four-point favorite in that game even though it’s being played in Michigan.

The odds are out for the 2009 Final 4 battle between Michigan State and Connecticut. The UConn Huskies are -4 at BetUs Sportsbook with a total of 135. In fact, all sportsbooks have the line currently at -4.

Connecticut-Michigan State game tickets, fan gear and more are at Guy Store. Track the latest odds in the college basketball odds of ScoresOddsPicks.com , which also will have the official betting breakdown if that and the Villanova-North Carolina game.

Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: The NCAA Tournament determines its last two Final Four teams, and the Sprint Cup Series takes to the track at Martinsville.

Final 4 odds…

As soon as it’s available, the college basketball odds for the 2009 Final 4 matchups will be posted.

Tipping off on the hardwood  . . .

San Antonio will be in New Orleans on Sunday night in just one of the notable matchups on the NBA schedule. The Spurs and Hornets last met on January 31, with San Antonio rolling to a 106-93 home win as a 7.5-point favorite. Tony Parker had 25 points for the Spurs in that contest, while Manu Ginobili picked up 22 points. Chris Paul had a big game for the Hornets with a game-high 38 points.

The other two marquee contests on the Sunday NBA slate are Dallas at Cleveland and the Lakers at Atlanta, while the Celtics will be gunning for an easy victory when they play host to Oklahoma City. Rounding out the schedule: New Jersey at Minnesota, Philadelphia at Detroit, Phoenix at Sacramento, and Washington at Indiana. The Wizards edged the Pacers 119-117 on February 8.

Today’s best picks against the spread…

It’s a run of historical nature. A service out of Las Vegas is easily the No. 1 in the world in March. Their “Absolute Picks” are now 27-6 overall and 21-3 in NCAAB excluding pushes since Feb. 25. Sunday it was Siena and Oklahoma State. Monday, Oakland cashes in. Thursday it was Xavier and Connecticut. Friday, the Knicks won and Saturday they had none. Michigan State/Louisville side. Click now to purchase sports betting picks from the top sports services or you can get more information and a free sports pick from power of 620 sports services behind every selection.

On the road to the Final Four . . .

It’ll be No. 2 Michigan State vs. No. 1 Louisville at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis in the first of two Elite Eight matchups at the NCAA Tournament on Sunday afternoon. The Spartans came back to defeat No. 3 Kansas 67-62 in their Sweet 16 game on Friday night, with Goran Suton picking up 20 points. Top-seeded Louisville had an easier time with No. 12 Arizona, winning 103-64.

Meanwhile, No. 2 Oklahoma will take on No.1 North Carolina at FedExForum in Memphis later on Sunday to complete the Elite Eight. Blake Griffin poured in 30 points and grabbed 14 rebounds on Friday night to lead the Sooners to an 84-71 win over No. 3 Syracuse. The Tar Heels had no trouble with No. 4 Gonzaga, getting 24 points from Tyler Hansbrough as they rolled to a 98-77 victory Friday.

Taking a trip around the rink . . .

Two of the Eastern Conference’s top clubs will hit the ice in Philadelphia on Sunday night when the Flyers host the Bruins. Those two teams met in Boston on March 3, with Philly pulling out a 4-2 road win. Simon Gagne scored twice for the Flyers in that victory, while Mike Knuble had a goal and two assists. Patrice Bergeron and Stephane Yelle had the markers for the Bruins in that losing cause.

Nashville will be in Detroit for one of the six other games on the NHL’s schedule for Sunday, with St. Louis at Columbus, Ottawa at Tampa Bay, Vancouver at Chicago, Colorado at Anaheim, and Minnesota at Edmonton. The division rival Wild and Oilers both need to get some points on Sunday to stay in the thick of the Western playoff hunt. Minnesota blanked Edmonton 3-0 back on March 22.

Rounding out the Roundup . . .

Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch are the 5/1 co-favorites to win Sunday’s Sprint Cup Series event, the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Johnson has won four of the past five races at Martinsville, including the Goody’s Cool Orange 500 in 2007. Denny Hamlin is the defending champion at the annual spring race at Martinsville, and he’s next at 7/1 odds to win this weekend.

Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon are both sitting at 8/1 odds to visit victory lane at Martinsville. Gordon holds a 76-point lead on Kurt Busch in the current driver standings, and he’s 79 points up on third-place Clint Bowyer. Kurt Busch is back at 15/1 odds to win on Sunday, where he’s tied with Dale Earnhardt Jr., Matt Kenseth, and Tony Stewart. Bowyer is farther behind at 30/1 odds to get the win.