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Memphis will learn about life as a ‘dog

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Times Staff Writer

With Saturday’s 78-63 victory over UCLA, Memphis became the first team in college basketball history to win at least 38 games in a season.

But that doesn’t mean much to Las Vegas oddsmakers, who are expected to make the Tigers underdogs for Monday’s NCAA championship game against Kansas, which defeated North Carolina in the other Final Four matchup.

Memphis (38-1) was a three-point favorite over the Bruins and won easily behind the scoring combination of Chris Douglas-Roberts and Derrick Rose. In making sure that UCLA came up empty for a third consecutive Final Four trip, the Tigers seemed to score at will against the Bruins in the second half.

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Yet, the Tigers -- who have been favored in every game this season -- will take on the role as underdog against Kansas.

Auto racing

NASCAR moves to Fort Worth for today’s Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the pole position and starting behind him are Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Ryan Newman and Jimmie Johnson.

Here are some head-to-head driver bets available at Bodoglife.com: Edwards (-130) vs. Kyle Busch (even); Earnhardt Jr. (-125) vs. Matt Kenseth (-105); Tony Stewart (-115) vs. Jeff Gordon (-115); Greg Biffle (+105) vs. Johnson (-135); Denny Hamlin (-110) vs. Jeff Burton (-120); Kevin Harvick (-115) vs. Clint Bowyer (-115); Kurt Busch (even) vs. Martin Truex Jr. (-130).

Baseball

For bettors who like to take on all types of baseball action, there are daily proposition wagers available on every game.

For example, Philadelphia and Cincinnati may not be considered two of baseball’s big-name teams, but money can be won in a variety of ways for today’s game at Great American Ball Park.

Everything starts with the Phillies being favored (-135) behind starter Brett Myers over the Reds (+115) and inexperienced starter Edinson Volquez. The over/under combined run total is 10 and then things get interesting.

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From picking the team to score first to total hits-runs-and-errors, the Phillies-Reds matchup between the Phillies and Reds is loaded with bets.

Golf

Here are some early lines for Tiger Woods at this week’s Masters. At Sportsbook.com and Sportsbetting.com, Woods is favored at 11-10, and at Bodoglife.com, he is at 1-1. Phil Mickelson is second at 10-1 at Sportsbook.com and Sportsbetting.com, and at 9-1 by Bodoglife.com.

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lonnie.white@latimes.com

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