West Virginia Mountaineers 2010 Final Four Betting Odds, Predictions & Picks: The West Virginia Mountaineers have proven to be a force in this year’s 2010 NCAA tournament, as it makes a push for a first Elite Eight appearance since 2005 and a third in the school’s overall history. With impressive victories over Morgan State, 77-50 and Missouri 68-59, coach Bob Huggins has this team playing excellent team ball. But what are this team’s chances of reaching the its first Final Four since 1959?
According to 2010 Final Four Betting Odds, Predictions & Picks experts at SPORTSBOOK.com, the West Virginia Mountaineers [2/1 or +200 ML] possess the second best sports betting odds of surviving a very tough East Regional Bracket. Currently, the Kentucky Wildcats [1/2 or -200 ML] lead all teams in the category of sports betting odds favorites to make it to the 2010 Final Four in the East Bracket.
This team’s success has been predicated on imposing its will on the opposition defensively as well as offensively. Huggins has managed to get his team to control the boards and play smash-mouth man-to-man defense when needed, but also with the ability to switch and play 1-3-1 zone. Offensively, this team is as tough to deal with and as long as they come.
The main focus of the offense goes through Da’Sean Butler, who leads the team in scoring with just under 18 points per game. Butler is successful on 43% of his hosts from the field, shoots 78% from the stripe and can do the little things like rebound (6.3 boards) and be a playmaker by setting guys up (3.3 assists). But Butler is not alone in this Mountaineer attack.
Devin Ebanks is a matchup problem for any team. At 6-foot-9, this sophomore forward can play just about any position but the 5. Much like Butler, Ebanks can do it all. This season, he’s averaging 12 points per game on 45% shooting, connects on 75% of his freebies and can flat out be a presence down low, indicated by his 8.3 boards per contest.
“Whoever doesn’t think the Big East is a great league really shouldn’t write sports. They ought to do something else. Do cooking or something,” Huggins said. “Are you kidding me? The Big East is a great, great basketball league. And by the way, you all are the ones who voted four of us in the top 10 the majority of the year, so apparently a lot of people thought we were pretty good then. Five in the top 25. That’s a pretty good league.
“We’ve lost some close games and things, but you know, now is the Big 12 not any good because Kansas lost? No. The Big 12 is a great league. It’s a great league full of great players and great coaches.
“So I don’t know — I actually was wondering were you guys going to start talking about the Missouri Valley was the best league in the country.”
