Da Bum's 2021 Major League Baseball Transactions, News, Notes, Picks Etc. !!

[StarDust Bum]

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

MIN at BOS 01:05 PM
MIN +110
+500

DET at PHI 01:05 PM
PHI -150
+500

TB at PIT 01:05 PM
PIT +120
+500

NYM at MIA 01:05 PM
MIA +105
+500

NYY at TOR 01:07 PM
NYY -115
+500

LAD at CHW 04:05 PM
LAD -130
+500

KC at OAK 04:05 PM
KC +115
+500

SF at COL 04:10 PM
SF -105
+500

STL at HOU 06:05 PM
STL +120
+500

ATL at BAL 06:05 PM
ATL -135
+500

CLE at CIN 09:05 PM
CLE +110
+500

SD at CHC 09:05 PM
SD -130
+500

ARI at TEX 09:05 PM
TEX -130
+500

LAA at SEA 09:40 PM
SEA -110
+500



DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD


03/16/2021 8-5-0 61.54% +1375 Detail
03/15/2021 3-3-1 50.00% -550 Detail
03/14/2021 4-7-2 38.46% -2025 Detail
03/13/2021 5-8-1 39.29% -2100 Detail
03/12/2021 8-6-0 57.14% +325 Detail
03/11/2021 8-7-2 52.94% +500 Detail
03/10/2021 4-9-1 32.14% -2850 Detail
03/09/2021 6-7-1 46.43% -550 Detail
03/08/2021 4-3-2 55.56% +500 Detail
03/07/2021 3-9-1 26.92% -3625 Detail
03/06/2021 4-7-1 37.50% -2300 Detail
03/05/2021 7-5-2 57.14% +900 Detail
03/04/2021 7-6-1 53.57% +225 Detail
03/03/2021 5-7-2 42.86% -1775 Detail
03/02/2021 7-4-3 60.71% +1575 Detail
03/01/2021 1-4-2 28.57% -1850 Detail
02/28/2021 4-9-0 30.77% -3270 Detail

[StarDust Bum]

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

MIN at BOS 01:05 PM
MIN +110
+500

DET at PHI 01:05 PM
PHI -150
+500

TB at PIT 01:05 PM
PIT +120
+500

NYM at MIA 01:05 PM
MIA +105
+500

NYY at TOR 01:07 PM
NYY -115
+500

LAD at CHW 04:05 PM
LAD -130
+500

KC at OAK 04:05 PM
KC +115
+500

SF at COL 04:10 PM
SF -105
+500

STL at HOU 06:05 PM
STL +120
+500

ATL at BAL 06:05 PM
ATL -135
+500

CLE at CIN 09:05 PM
CLE +110
+500

SD at CHC 09:05 PM
SD -130
+500

ARI at TEX 09:05 PM
TEX -130
+500

LAA at SEA 09:40 PM
SEA -110
+500



DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD

03/09/2021 6-7-1 46.43% -850Detail
03/16/2021 8-5-0 61.54% +1375 Detail
03/15/2021 3-3-1 50.00% -550 Detail
03/14/2021 4-7-2 38.46% -2025 Detail
03/13/2021 5-8-1 39.29% -2100 Detail
03/12/2021 8-6-0 57.14% +325 Detail
03/11/2021 8-7-2 52.94% +500 Detail
03/10/2021 4-9-1 32.14% -2850 Detail
03/09/2021 6-7-1 46.43% -550 Detail
03/08/2021 4-3-2 55.56% +500 Detail
03/07/2021 3-9-1 26.92% -3625 Detail
03/06/2021 4-7-1 37.50% -2300 Detail
03/05/2021 7-5-2 57.14% +900 Detail
03/04/2021 7-6-1 53.57% +225 Detail
03/03/2021 5-7-2 42.86% -1775 Detail
03/02/2021 7-4-3 60.71% +1575 Detail
03/01/2021 1-4-2 28.57% -1850 Detail
02/28/2021 4-9-0 30.77% -3270 Detail

[StarDust Bum]

Thursday’s 6-pack
Top six scorers in the NBA:
32.3— Bradley Beal, Wash
30.5— Damian Lillard, Port
29.9— Joel Embiid, Phil
29.3— Stephen Curry, GSt
29.0— Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milw
28.4— Zach LaVine, Chi

Americans who have died from COVID-19: 539,421
PLEASE wear a mask (over your nose/mouth) when you go out.

Quote of the Day
“My goal is to own an NBA franchise. It’ll be sooner than later.”
Lebron James

Thursday’s quiz
Since 2010, which major league team has the most regular season wins?

Wednesday’s quiz
Andy Dalton played his college football at TCU.

Tuesday’s quiz
UConn won the national title in 2014; Kevin Ollie was their coach.

***************************

Thursday’s Den: Doing some thinking out loud……

13) NCAA updates:
— Oklahoma’s #2 scorer De’Vion Harmon is out for this week, after testing positive for COVID. Sooners play Missouri in their first round game. Harmon is averaging 12.9 ppg.
— Georgia Tech star Moses Wright, the ACC player of the year, will miss the Yellow Jackets’ first-round game against Loyola-Chicago.

12) Watching lot of exhibition baseball this month, was wondering who has hit the most home runs ever in exhibition games? I’m guessing this information isn’t available and I know it isn’t important, but it would be fun to see.

Searched the Interweb but couldn’t find anything; I did see that in 2000, five Boston pitchers combined to throw a perfect game against Toronto in an exhibition game, but that’s just more useless knowledge.

11) This spring, San Diego Padres’ pitchers are going to the plate with a bat in their hands, but they’re not hitting; they just take three strikes and go back to the dugout, to avoid injury. This is something Oakland’s pitchers did a few years ago, eliminates the risk of a costly injury.

Spring training games have become like basketball scrimmages, where coaches control some scenarios. Pitchers can re-enter, innings were stopped early for the first 10 days of games. It is all about getting pitchers some work, on the mound, not at the plate.

10) Francisco Lindor says he is opening to signing a contract extension with the Mets, but if it isn’t done before the season starts, then he will not discuss a contract extension during the season. This is probably a negotiating ploy, but Lindor does have leverage to get a deal done.

9) Miami Heat traded Meyers Leonard and a 2nd-round pick to Oklahoma City for Trevor Ariza. Miami will be the 35-year old Ariza’s 10th NBA team.

Weird trade; Ariza hasn’t played yet this season, but Miami announced on Twitter that it is hopeful he’ll be available to play this weekend.

As for Leonard, the Thunder said Leonard “will not be reporting to Oklahoma City and will not be an active member of the organization.” When you’re marginal player and you yell out anti-Semitic stuff on the Interweb, your career spirals downward. Quickly.

In other words, he’ll have a lot more time to play video games, now that he is retired.

8) Chicago Bears tried really hard to trade for Russell Wilson; they offered Seattle three 1st-round picks, one 3rd-round pick and two starting players, one of whom was Khalil Mack. Seattle apparently turned them down.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter says the trade isn’t dead until the NFL Draft happens, but the Bears trading for Andy Dalton says otherwise.

7) With Drew Brees retiring, New Orleans paid its two QB’s this week; they gave Taysom Hill a four-year, $140M deal where the last three years are voidable, and they paid backup Jameis Winston $12M for 2021. Very unusual quarterback room.

Hill has played in 53 NFL games, is 3-1 as a starting quarterback; he’s thrown 134 career NFL passes, run ball 151 times, caught 30 passes. Am curious to see how this plays out.

6) NFL has a great skill of staying in the news 365 days a year, 366 in leap years. Today is March 18 and NFL is in the news as much as March Madness and more than spring training games. Part of it is because the people who run baseball are arrogant imbeciles who won’t market their sport the right way, but that’s another discussion for another day.

5) Thoughts/prayers to former NBA center Shawn Bradley, who suffered a severe spinal cord injury which left him paralyzed, after a car crashed into his bicycle. Bradley is 7-foot-6; he played 12 years in the NBA, scoring 8.1 ppg.

Since retiring from NBA in 2005, Bradley has been a counselor at a private school in Utah.

4) Couple weeks ago, Rams DT Michael Brockers declared that Matthew Stafford was an upgrade at quarterback for Los Angeles, over the departed Jared Goff. His actual quote:

“Is it a level up? In my heart, deeply, just understanding what he brings, it’s a level up. It’s a level up.”

Since then, the Rams wanted Brockers to re-do his contract, to help get the Rams under the salary cap. The two sides couldn’t come to an agreement, so Brockers is now a Detroit Lion, where one of his new teammates is…..Jared Goff.

Awkward.

3) Iowa State paid former basketball coach Steve Prohm $5.5M to take a hike, after a hideous 2-22 season. Prohm’s Cyclones had made three of previous four NCAA tournaments, but were also a combined 18-54 in conference games the last four years. 18-54 gets you fired.

Less than 24 hours later, word is out that TJ Otzelberger is bolting UNLV to take the Iowa State job; Otzelberger worked as an assistant at Iowa State from 2006-2013, and again three years later. Unnamed sources claim this deal has been done for a month or so.

Here’s the thing; Otzelberger was 28-29 in two years at UNLV and was showing zero signs of any progress. Rebels had very little depth this year; when you play in a league where lot of teams play in higher altitude, you need some depth and UNLV didn’t have much.

Rebel fans can’t be that sad to see Otzelberger go, but the program is now mired in mediocrity— next year they’ll have their fifth head coach in eight years. Richard Pitino just got hired by New Mexico, so UNLV can forget about hiring Rick Pitino as a bombshell replacement, since UNLV and New Mexico are in the same league.

Iowa State will also have to pay $4M or so to UNLV, as part of Otzelberger’s buyout.

2) Richmond 76, Toledo 66— Spiders win their NIT opener, despite being down couple of starters. Richmond had lost their last three games coming in, were down 8 with 15:43 left in this game, but they stormed back for the win and will play in the next round March 25.

1) Western Kentucky 69, Saint Mary’s 67— Big man Bassey had 19 points, 11 rebounds; Hilltoppers blew an 11-point lead, but pulled it out on free throws with 0:03.3 left and move on to the second round.

Saint Mary’s finishes 14-10 after starting out 8-1; first time in 14 years they didn’t win 20 games.

[StarDust Bum]

THURSDAY, MARCH 18
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

CHC at CLE 04:05 PM
CHC +145

KC at CHW 04:05 PM
CHW -160

LAD at ARI 04:10 PM
LAD -175

MIL at LAA 04:10 PM
LAA -155

OAK at SD 04:10 PM
OAK +145

MIA at STL 06:05 PM
STL -135

CIN at TEX 09:05 PM
TEX -125

SEA at SF 10:05 PM
SF -135



DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD

03/17/2021 6-7-1 46.43% -850Detail
03/16/2021 8-5-0 61.54% +1375 Detail
03/15/2021 3-3-1 50.00% -550 Detail
03/14/2021 4-7-2 38.46% -2025 Detail
03/13/2021 5-8-1 39.29% -2100 Detail
03/12/2021 8-6-0 57.14% +325 Detail
03/11/2021 8-7-2 52.94% +500 Detail
03/10/2021 4-9-1 32.14% -2850 Detail
03/09/2021 6-7-1 46.43% -550 Detail
03/08/2021 4-3-2 55.56% +500 Detail
03/07/2021 3-9-1 26.92% -3625 Detail
03/06/2021 4-7-1 37.50% -2300 Detail
03/05/2021 7-5-2 57.14% +900 Detail
03/04/2021 7-6-1 53.57% +225 Detail
03/03/2021 5-7-2 42.86% -1775 Detail
03/02/2021 7-4-3 60.71% +1575 Detail
03/01/2021 1-4-2 28.57% -1850 Detail
02/28/2021 4-9-0 30.77% -3270 Detail

[StarDust Bum]

THURSDAY, MARCH 18
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

CHC at CLE 04:05 PM
CHC +145

KC at CHW 04:05 PM
CHW -160

LAD at ARI 04:10 PM
LAD -175

MIL at LAA 04:10 PM
LAA -155

OAK at SD 04:10 PM
OAK +145

MIA at STL 06:05 PM
STL -135

CIN at TEX 09:05 PM
TEX -125

SEA at SF 10:05 PM
SF -135



DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD

03/18/2021 6-0-1 92.86% +3450 Detail
03/17/2021 6-7-1 46.43% -850Detail
03/16/2021 8-5-0 61.54% +1375 Detail
03/15/2021 3-3-1 50.00% -550 Detail
03/14/2021 4-7-2 38.46% -2025 Detail
03/13/2021 5-8-1 39.29% -2100 Detail
03/12/2021 8-6-0 57.14% +325 Detail
03/11/2021 8-7-2 52.94% +500 Detail
03/10/2021 4-9-1 32.14% -2850 Detail
03/09/2021 6-7-1 46.43% -550 Detail
03/08/2021 4-3-2 55.56% +500 Detail
03/07/2021 3-9-1 26.92% -3625 Detail
03/06/2021 4-7-1 37.50% -2300 Detail
03/05/2021 7-5-2 57.14% +900 Detail
03/04/2021 7-6-1 53.57% +225 Detail
03/03/2021 5-7-2 42.86% -1775 Detail
03/02/2021 7-4-3 60.71% +1575 Detail
03/01/2021 1-4-2 28.57% -1850 Detail
02/28/2021 4-9-0 30.77% -3270 Detail

[StarDust Bum]

Friday’s 6-pack
Players who played most games in NBA history:
1,611— Robert Parish
1,560— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
1,541— Vince Carter
1,522— Dirk Nowitzi
1,504— John Stockton
1,476— Karl Malone

Americans who have died from COVID-19: 539,629
PLEASE wear a mask (over your nose/mouth) when you go out.

Quote of the Day
“Video is so important, to have that immediate feedback. It helps pitchers, catchers, hitters, and lets you know if what you’re seeing is right or wrong.”
JT Realmuto

Friday’s quiz
What is the only #16-seed to beat a #1-seed in the NCAA Tournament?

Thursday’s quiz
Since 2010, Dodgers (962) have the most regular season wins.

Wednesday’s quiz
Andy Dalton played his college football at TCU.

***********************

Friday’s Den: Welcome to the best weekend of the year

13) UCLA 86, Michigan State 80 OT
— Spartans led by 11 at halftime- they scored 3 points in last 6:20.
— Michigan State lost four of its last six games.
— UCLA breaks a 4-game skid, plays BYU Saturday.

12) Drake 53, Wichita State 52
— Drake scored 25 points in first 28:36, 28 points in last 11:24.
— When they were MVC rivals, Wichita beat Drake the last 14 times they played.
— Bulldogs move on to play USC Saturday.

11) Texas Southern 60, Mount St Mary’s 52
— Mount St Mary’s led by 10 at half, scored only 22 points in 2nd half.
— Texas Southern has won 15 of its last 16 games.
— Tigers move on to play #1-seed Michigan Saturday.

10) Norfolk State 54, Appalachian State 53:
— Norfolk led by 19 in second half, blew the lead, rallied from down 6 with 5:22 left.
— App State missed their first 19 3-pointers, finished 6-36.
— Norfolk State moves on to play #1 Gonzaga Saturday.

9) Jalen Wilson, leading rebounder for Kansas, is out for the Jayhawks’ first round game with Eastern Washington.

8) Gonzaga is the 20th team to be unbeaten heading into the NCAA Tournament; of the previous 19, seven of them won the NCAA title, with Indiana in 1976 the last one. Lot more teams in the tournament since the mid-80’s; have to win six games to win a title now.

7) 12 of the last 32 national champs won their conference tournament.

6) In the NFL, Buffalo Bills signed former Chicago QB Mitchell Trubisky to be their backup QB. Wonder how the Bears’ GM explains away trading 3rd and 4th-round picks to move up to draft Trubisky, when Patrick Mahomes was sitting there in the same draft. Oy.

5) Las Vegas Raiders want backup QB Marcus Mariota to take a pay cut, from $10.725M to $3M a year. If Mariota declines, Raiders are expected to release him. Dallas needs a backup QB, so Mariota could land there if the Raiders release him.

4) According to the Boston Globe and Andy, who reads this website, New England Patriots were “uncharacteristically extravagant in NFL free agency Monday, essentially buying a new team” for ’21, awarding contracts to seven free agents with a “maximum value” close to $200M and nearly $100M in guarantees.

Of the previous five NFL teams who spent that much dinero on free agents, none of them made the playoffs the following season.

3) In baseball, hitters seem happy that in-game video is back in dugouts this season; there are lot of hitters who became dependent on seeing their at-bats when they got back to the dugout, so they could make adjustments for their next turn at the dish.

2) When I was in high school, a long time ago, the mid-70’s, ESPN didn’t exist yet and I didn’t have control of our family’s remote control anyway, so I spent lot of nights in my room, listening to ballgames on the radio. Lot of nights.

My parents had this battery-powered radio that was the size of a shoe box; at night, it could get any station between Albany and Detroit and as far south as Baltimore, St Louis on a good night.

For 2-3 years, I spent a ton of time listening to Cleveland Indians games on WWWE in the summer and Cavaliers’ games in the winter. Joe Tait was the play-by-play guy for both teams; he was enthusiastic but fair, smart as hell and he taught me a lot about sports, he helped fuel the passion for sports that I still carry today.

Mr Tait passed away last week at age 83; I was watching the replay of an Indians’ spring training game the other night and they paid tribute to him. He was so much fun to listen to, yelling “Bingo!!!!” when Bobby Smith would nail a jumper; his banter with baseball partner Herb Score taught me a lot about baseball.

RIP sir, you were freakin’ great at your job.

1) Somewhere upstairs in this house of mine, there is a cassette tape with the last inning of a 1977 Indians-Angels game, Dennis Eckersley’s no-hitter. I had this genius idea that I could be a broadcaster, so I would tape broadcasters and try to learn how they did it. That plan never got too far off the ground.

This afternoon, I looked up the boxscore of that 1977 game, 44 years ago and it downed on me; of the 10 guys who started for the Indians that night, four of them are still baseball broadcasters:
— Dennis Eckersley (Red Sox)
— Ray Fosse (A’s)
— Duane Kuiper (Giants)
— Rick Manning (Indians)

Enjoy the basketball games this weekend; if you see a pizza delivery guy wandering around lost, send him to my house.

[StarDust Bum]

FRIDAY, MARCH 19
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

TOR at DET 01:05 PM
TOR -140
+500

TB at BOS 01:05 PM
BOS -110
+500
STL at NYM 01:10 PM
STL +125
+500

CHC at OAK 04:05 PM
OAK -135
+500

LAA at KC 04:05 PM
LAA +100
+500

CLE at COL 04:10 PM
CLE -105
+500

ARI at MIL 04:10 PM
MIL -135
+500

MIN at ATL 06:05 PM
ATL -130
+500

BAL at PIT 06:05 PM
PIT -115
+500

WAS at HOU 06:05 PM
HOU -125
+500

PHI at NYY 06:35 PM
PHI +140
+500

TEX at LAD 09:05 PM
LAD -200
+500

CHW at SEA 09:40 PM
CHW -110
+500

CIN at SF 10:05 PM
CIN +105
+500


DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD

03/18/2021 6-0-1 92.86% +3450 Detail
03/17/2021 6-7-1 46.43% -850Detail
03/16/2021 8-5-0 61.54% +1375 Detail
03/15/2021 3-3-1 50.00% -550 Detail
03/14/2021 4-7-2 38.46% -2025 Detail
03/13/2021 5-8-1 39.29% -2100 Detail
03/12/2021 8-6-0 57.14% +325 Detail
03/11/2021 8-7-2 52.94% +500 Detail
03/10/2021 4-9-1 32.14% -2850 Detail
03/09/2021 6-7-1 46.43% -550 Detail
03/08/2021 4-3-2 55.56% +500 Detail
03/07/2021 3-9-1 26.92% -3625 Detail
03/06/2021 4-7-1 37.50% -2300 Detail
03/05/2021 7-5-2 57.14% +900 Detail
03/04/2021 7-6-1 53.57% +225 Detail
03/03/2021 5-7-2 42.86% -1775 Detail
03/02/2021 7-4-3 60.71% +1575 Detail
03/01/2021 1-4-2 28.57% -1850 Detail
02/28/2021 4-9-0 30.77% -3270 Detail

[Udog]

Here is the all-time Opening Day start leaderboard:

[StarDust Bum]

Saturday’s 6-pack
Since 2000, biggest upsets in NCAA Tournament history:
+21.5— Norfolk State over Missouri, 2012
+20.5— Md-Baltimore County over Virginia, 2018
+17.5— Hampton over Iowa State, 2001
+16.5— Middle Tennessee State over Michigan State
+15— Oral Roberts over Ohio State, 2021
+14— Bucknell over Kansas, 2005

Americans who have died from COVID-19: 540,430
PLEASE wear a mask (over your nose/mouth) when you go out.

Quote of the Day
“Nothing ends well, or else it wouldn’t end.”
Coughlin’s Law, from the movie Cocktail

Saturday’s quiz
Indiana’s 1976 team is the last unbeaten national champ in college basketball; going into that Final Four, there was another unbeaten team. Who was it?
(Hint: That school is also in this NCAA Tournament)

Friday’s quiz
UMBC is the only #16-seed to beat a #1-seed in the NCAA Tournament- they beat Virginia in 2018.

Thursday’s quiz
Since 2010, Dodgers (962) have the most regular season wins.

*************************

Saturday’s Den: Wrapping up the first full day of March Madness

West Virginia 84, Morehead State 67:
— Bob Huggins wins his 900th game as a head coach.
— Morehead State made 10-19 on the arc, still didn’t cover as 12-point dogs.
— Sunday will be like a 2012 Big East reunion- West Virginia-Syracuse.

North Texas 78, Purdue 69, OT:
— Mean Green won its last five games, giving up 57 ppg.
— This was Mean Green’s first NCAA Tournament win in school history.
— Purdue is now 3-3 in their last six first round games.

Oral Roberts 75, Ohio State 72, OT:
— Four Oral Roberts starters played 42:00+
— Buckeyes shot 5-23 on arc, 9-18 on foul line. No bueno.
— If you care about such things, #15-seeds are 1-7 SU in next round, 2-5-1 ATS

Oregon State 70, Tennessee 56:
— Tennessee’s center Fulkerson (eye injury) didn’t play; Beavers’ 7-1 Silva was 8-8 from floor.
— Oregon State wins NCAA Tournament game for first time since 1982.
— Since 1987, #12-seeds are 31-18 ATS in 2nd round, 3-6 since 2014.

Florida 75, Virginia Tech 70, OT:
— Tech led by 10 early, by 8 with 15:03 left, let it slip away.
— Hokies sent game to OT with 3-pointer with 0:01 left.
— Florida G Appleby needed stitches for cut to forehead, played only 22:00.

Oklahoma State 69, Liberty 60:
— Liberty led by 3 at half; OSU outscored them 42-30 in second half.
— Cunningham was 3-14 from floor; he tends to coast in first half of games.
— Cunningham is obviously going to the NBA next year; how long does his brother keep his six-figure job as an assistant coach?

Arkansas 85, Colgate 68:
— Colgate played their butts off, led 31-17 early.
— Colgate made 12-27 on arc, but turned ball over 22 times (-12)
— Razorbacks won 12 of their last 14 games.

Loyola Chi 71, Georgia Tech 60:
— Tech got up 13-3 quickly, but missed Moses Wright, ACC player of year.
— Loyola was 11-27 on arc, outscored Tech 10-3 on foul line.
— Since 2013, MVC teams are 11-1 SU, 10-2 ATS in NCAA games.

Rutgers 60, Clemson 56:
— Clemson led by 5 early in 2nd half;
— Rutgers held Tigers to 35.6% from floor, outrebounded them 41-32.
— Favorites went 10-6 ATS in Friday’s games.

Villanova 73, Winthrop 63
— Villanova shot 57.7% inside arc, win for only 2nd time in last five games.
— Winthrop finishes season 23-2; they were in NCAA for only 2nd time in last decade.
— Villanova plays #13-seed North Texas Sunday.

Syracuse 78, San Diego State 62
— Syracuse made 15-27 on the arc; its easier shooting outside the dome.
— Buddy Boeheim had 30 points; he’ll be in the NBA in two years.
— San Diego State started four seniors; will their coach bolt for Minnesota?

Wisconsin 85, North Carolina 62:
— Only time Badgers scored more points this year? November 27, vs Ark-Pine Bluff.
— Wisconsin made 13-27 on arc, scored 1.29 points/possession.
— North Carolina was 2-5 this year when they rebounded 33.3% or less of their own missed shots; they grabbed 30% of their misses in this game.

Texas Tech 65, Utah State 53:
— Aggies shot 58% inside arc, but turned ball over 22 times (-14)
— Texas Tech forces turnovers 24.1% of time (#6).
— Arkansas-Texas Tech is a matchup from the old Southwest Conference.

Illinois 78, Drexel 49:
— This looked a 1-16 game; not competitive.
— Dragons have to be proud of making NCAAs for first time since 1996.
— Illinois took only eight foul shots, seven 3-pointers; they steamrolled Drexel.

Baylor 79, Hartford 55:
— This was a stress-free win for Baylor; they play Wisconsin-UNC winner Sunday.
— Baylor is shooting 41.4% on arc this season, best in country.
— America East teams are now 6-2 ATS in last eight tournament games; Hartford was +26.

Houston 87, Cleveland State 56:
— Cougars led by 8 at half, then coasted home; one of the day’s worst games.
— Last eight years, Horizon teams are 0-9 in NCAA’s (2-7 ATS)
— Houston has won 8 in a row, has #1 eFG% defense in country.

[StarDust Bum]

SATURDAY, MARCH 20
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

TOR at PHI 01:05 PM
PHI -110
+500

PIT at DET 01:05 PM
PIT +105
+500

HOU at STL 01:05 PM
STL -130
+500

BOS at ATL 01:05 PM
BOS +115
+500

CLE at CHW 04:05 PM
CHW -130
+500

COL at CHC 04:05 PM
CHC -130
+500

LAD at SD 04:10 PM
LAD +100
+500

KC at ARI 04:10 PM
KC +100
+500
OAK at LAA 04:10 PM
OAK +105
+500

TB at MIN 06:05 PM
MIN -120
+500

MIA at WAS 06:05 PM
MIA +120
+500

NYY at BAL 06:05 PM
BAL +135
+500

MIL at CIN 09:05 PM
MIL +105
+500

SEA at TEX 09:05 PM
TEX -120
+500


DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD

03/19/2021 7-6-1 53.57% +275 Detail
03/18/2021 6-0-1 92.86% +3450 Detail
03/17/2021 6-7-1 46.43% -850Detail
03/16/2021 8-5-0 61.54% +1375 Detail
03/15/2021 3-3-1 50.00% -550 Detail
03/14/2021 4-7-2 38.46% -2025 Detail
03/13/2021 5-8-1 39.29% -2100 Detail
03/12/2021 8-6-0 57.14% +325 Detail
03/11/2021 8-7-2 52.94% +500 Detail
03/10/2021 4-9-1 32.14% -2850 Detail
03/09/2021 6-7-1 46.43% -550 Detail
03/08/2021 4-3-2 55.56% +500 Detail
03/07/2021 3-9-1 26.92% -3625 Detail
03/06/2021 4-7-1 37.50% -2300 Detail
03/05/2021 7-5-2 57.14% +900 Detail
03/04/2021 7-6-1 53.57% +225 Detail
03/03/2021 5-7-2 42.86% -1775 Detail
03/02/2021 7-4-3 60.71% +1575 Detail
03/01/2021 1-4-2 28.57% -1850 Detail
02/28/2021 4-9-0 30.77% -3270 Detail

[StarDust Bum]

SATURDAY, MARCH 20
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

TOR at PHI 01:05 PM
PHI -110
+500

PIT at DET 01:05 PM
PIT +105
+500

HOU at STL 01:05 PM
STL -130
+500

BOS at ATL 01:05 PM
BOS +115
+500

CLE at CHW 04:05 PM
CHW -130
+500

COL at CHC 04:05 PM
CHC -130
+500

LAD at SD 04:10 PM
LAD +100
+500

KC at ARI 04:10 PM
KC +100
+500
OAK at LAA 04:10 PM
OAK +105
+500

TB at MIN 06:05 PM
MIN -120
+500

MIA at WAS 06:05 PM
MIA +120
+500

NYY at BAL 06:05 PM
BAL +135
+500

MIL at CIN 09:05 PM
MIL +105
+500

SEA at TEX 09:05 PM
TEX -120
+500


DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD

03/20/2021 8-4-2 64.29% +2175 Detail
03/19/2021 7-6-1 53.57% +275 Detail
03/18/2021 6-0-1 92.86% +3450 Detail
03/17/2021 6-7-1 46.43% -850Detail
03/16/2021 8-5-0 61.54% +1375 Detail
03/15/2021 3-3-1 50.00% -550 Detail
03/14/2021 4-7-2 38.46% -2025 Detail
03/13/2021 5-8-1 39.29% -2100 Detail
03/12/2021 8-6-0 57.14% +325 Detail
03/11/2021 8-7-2 52.94% +500 Detail
03/10/2021 4-9-1 32.14% -2850 Detail
03/09/2021 6-7-1 46.43% -550 Detail
03/08/2021 4-3-2 55.56% +500 Detail
03/07/2021 3-9-1 26.92% -3625 Detail
03/06/2021 4-7-1 37.50% -2300 Detail
03/05/2021 7-5-2 57.14% +900 Detail
03/04/2021 7-6-1 53.57% +225 Detail
03/03/2021 5-7-2 42.86% -1775 Detail
03/02/2021 7-4-3 60.71% +1575 Detail
03/01/2021 1-4-2 28.57% -1850 Detail
02/28/2021 4-9-0 30.77% -3270 Detail

[StarDust Bum]

Sunday’s 6-pack
NBA leaders in minutes/game:
37.9— James Harden, BK
36.8— Julius Randle, NY
36.7— Fred Van Vleet, Tor
36.3—Domantas Sabonis, Ind
36.2— Damian Lillard, Port
36.0— Collin Sexton, Clev

Americans who have died from COVID-19: 540,430
PLEASE wear a mask (over your nose/mouth) when you go out.

Fact of the Day
This is first time since 1979 the Sweet 16 won’t have North Carolina, Duke or Kentucky in it.

Sunday’s quiz
Which current SEC basketball coach was Dwyane Wade’s college coach at Marquette?

Saturday’s quiz
Indiana’s 1976 team is the last unbeaten national champ in college basketball; going into that Final Four, there was another unbeaten team- Rutgers. Many of the Rutgers players had been recruited by Dick Vitale, who was a Rutgers assistant before becoming coach at Detroit.

Friday’s quiz
UMBC is the only #16-seed to beat a #1-seed in the NCAA Tournament- they beat Virginia in 2018.

**********************

Sunday’s Den: Wrapping a sports Saturday

Abilene Christian 53, Texas 52:
— 23 turnovers for Texas, in a low-possession game.
— Abilene Christian leads country in forcing turnovers.
— Under Smart, Texas is 0-3 in NCAA Tournament games.

Ohio 62, Virginia 58:
Virginia’s last three NCAA tournaments:
— 2021- Lose in first round as a 4-seed (7.5-point favorite)
— 2019- Won national title
— 2018- Lost in first round as a 1-seed (22.5-point favorite)

— Two guys on Ohio U played the whole game.
— Virginia team got to Indiana Friday; they were 8-31 on the arc.
— Ohio-Creighton is an odd 2nd round game on Monday.

Colorado 96, Georgetown 78:
— Colorado made 16-25 on arc, scored 1.32 ppp.
— Four years at Georgetown, Patrick Ewing is 62-59, 26-44 in league games.
— Colorado plays Florida State in second round Monday.

Florida State 64, NC-Greensboro 54:
— Not often a team goes 0-9 on arc and wins, but Florida State did that here.
— This game was 51-50 with 4:52 left; UNCG played well.
— Seminoles played nine guys 10:00+; not many teams do that.

Kansas 93, Eastern Washington 84:
— EWU Eagles led by 10 with 17:58 left in game.
— Jayhawks made 12-30 on arc, scored 1.24 ppp.
— Jayhawks won nine of last ten games, after a 12-7 start.

LSU 76, St Bonaventure 61:
— LSU won five of its last six games, after a 4-6 midseason slump.
— Bonnies shot only 33.3% from floor.
— LSU gave up 78+ points in all their losses; Bonnies didn’t have enough firepower.

Michigan 82, Texas Southern 66:
— Game was 42-24 at halftime, stress-free day for the Wolverines.
— Livers missed another game for Michigan; they didn’t need him here.
— Monday’s game with LSU should be interesting.

Creighton 63, Cal-Santa Barbara 62:
— Kid on UCSB missed a putback at rim with 0:01 left.
— Gauchos led by 6 with 5:24 left; they outscored Creighton 13-4 on foul line.
— Creighton’s subs played total of 27:00, scored two points.

Alabama 68, Iona 55:
— Game was 33-32 at halftime; Alabama wore them down in 2nd half.
— Iona goes 12-6 in Pitino’s first year, with a 52-day pause; the man can coach.
— Alabama-Maryland will be an interesting game Monday.

Oklahoma 72, Missouri 68:
— Sooners won for only second time in last seven games.
— Mizzou shot only 35.5% inside arc in this game.
— Cuonzo Martin made Sweet 16 at Tennessee in 2014; since then, he is 0-3 in tourney games.

USC 72, Drake 56
— Game was 40-37 at halftime; Drake was 2 for its first 23 in 2nd half.
— Bulldogs had a great year, going 26-5 with a win in First Four Thursday.
— USC plays Kansas Monday, which should be a prime time game.

Maryland 63, UConn 54
— Maryland’s starters all played 33:00+; they held UConn to 32.3% from floor.
— Huskies lost their last two games, scoring 56-54 points.
— Since 1998, Maryland won 14 of 15 first round games.

Iowa 86, Grand Canyon 74:
— Iowa made 10-22 on arc, scored a whopping 1.37 ppp.
— Antelopes started four seniors, made NCAAs for first time, a terrific season.
— Iowa plays Oregon Monday; Ducks got a bye Saturday because of COVID.

Oregon advanced after VCU couldn’t play because of COVID issues.

Gonzaga 98, Norfolk State 55:
— When better team makes 14-27 on the arc, it’ll be an ugly game.
— Game was 43-23 at halftime, then it got worse.
— #1-seeds were 2-2 ATS, #2-seeds 1-3 this weekend.

UCLA 73, BYU 62:
— Surprisingly easy win for the Bruins, who play Abilene Christian Monday.
— Since 2003, WCC teams other than Gonzaga are 3-9 ATS in first round.
— Pac-12 teams are 5-0 SU so far this week.

[StarDust Bum]

SUNDAY, MARCH 21
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

MIN at BAL 01:05 PM
MIN -125
+500

DET at PHI 01:05 PM
PHI -145
+500

PIT at BOS 01:05 PM
PIT +120
+500

NYM at WAS 01:05 PM
NYM +100
+500

HOU at MIA 01:05 PM
HOU -110
+500

ATL at TB 01:05 PM
ATL +115
+500

NYY at TOR 01:07 PM
NYY -120
+500

TEX at CLE 04:05 PM
CLE -140
+500

SF at LAD 04:05 PM
LAD -180
+500

CIN at CHC 04:05 PM
CHC -130
+500

COL at KC 04:05 PM
KC -130
+500

CHW at ARI 04:10 PM
CHW -120
+500

SEA at MIL 04:10 PM
MIL -130
+500

LAA at SD 04:10 PM
SD -155
+500


DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD

03/20/2021 8-4-2 64.29% +2175 Detail
03/19/2021 7-6-1 53.57% +275 Detail
03/18/2021 6-0-1 92.86% +3450 Detail
03/17/2021 6-7-1 46.43% -850Detail
03/16/2021 8-5-0 61.54% +1375 Detail
03/15/2021 3-3-1 50.00% -550 Detail
03/14/2021 4-7-2 38.46% -2025 Detail
03/13/2021 5-8-1 39.29% -2100 Detail
03/12/2021 8-6-0 57.14% +325 Detail
03/11/2021 8-7-2 52.94% +500 Detail
03/10/2021 4-9-1 32.14% -2850 Detail
03/09/2021 6-7-1 46.43% -550 Detail
03/08/2021 4-3-2 55.56% +500 Detail
03/07/2021 3-9-1 26.92% -3625 Detail
03/06/2021 4-7-1 37.50% -2300 Detail
03/05/2021 7-5-2 57.14% +900 Detail
03/04/2021 7-6-1 53.57% +225 Detail
03/03/2021 5-7-2 42.86% -1775 Detail
03/02/2021 7-4-3 60.71% +1575 Detail
03/01/2021 1-4-2 28.57% -1850 Detail
02/28/2021 4-9-0 30.77% -3270 Detail

[StarDust Bum]

SUNDAY, MARCH 21
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

MIN at BAL 01:05 PM
MIN -125
+500

DET at PHI 01:05 PM
PHI -145
+500

PIT at BOS 01:05 PM
PIT +120
+500

NYM at WAS 01:05 PM
NYM +100
+500

HOU at MIA 01:05 PM
HOU -110
+500

ATL at TB 01:05 PM
ATL +115
+500

NYY at TOR 01:07 PM
NYY -120
+500

TEX at CLE 04:05 PM
CLE -140
+500

SF at LAD 04:05 PM
LAD -180
+500

CIN at CHC 04:05 PM
CHC -130
+500

COL at KC 04:05 PM
KC -130
+500

CHW at ARI 04:10 PM
CHW -120
+500

SEA at MIL 04:10 PM
MIL -130
+500

LAA at SD 04:10 PM
SD -155
+500


DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD

03/21/2021 9-4-1 67.86% +1850 Detail
03/20/2021 8-4-2 64.29% +2175 Detail
03/19/2021 7-6-1 53.57% +275 Detail
03/18/2021 6-0-1 92.86% +3450 Detail
03/17/2021 6-7-1 46.43% -850Detail
03/16/2021 8-5-0 61.54% +1375 Detail
03/15/2021 3-3-1 50.00% -550 Detail
03/14/2021 4-7-2 38.46% -2025 Detail
03/13/2021 5-8-1 39.29% -2100 Detail
03/12/2021 8-6-0 57.14% +325 Detail
03/11/2021 8-7-2 52.94% +500 Detail
03/10/2021 4-9-1 32.14% -2850 Detail
03/09/2021 6-7-1 46.43% -550 Detail
03/08/2021 4-3-2 55.56% +500 Detail
03/07/2021 3-9-1 26.92% -3625 Detail
03/06/2021 4-7-1 37.50% -2300 Detail
03/05/2021 7-5-2 57.14% +900 Detail
03/04/2021 7-6-1 53.57% +225 Detail
03/03/2021 5-7-2 42.86% -1775 Detail
03/02/2021 7-4-3 60.71% +1575 Detail
03/01/2021 1-4-2 28.57% -1850 Detail
02/28/2021 4-9-0 30.77% -3270 Detail

[StarDust Bum]

Monday’s 6-pack
NBA leaders in 3-point shooting %age:
56.6%— Tony Snell, All
49.0%— Joe Ingles, Utah
48.8%— Joe Harris, Bkln
46.7%— Bobby Portis, Milw
46.5%— Maxi Kleber, Dal
46.0%— Luke Kennard, LAC

Americans who have died from COVID-19: 540,430
PLEASE wear a mask (over your nose/mouth) when you go out.

Quote of the Day
“It’s no longer about me trying to move up any ladders, make more money. I’m at a great place in my life. I can coach six, seven more years, God willing, just try to make young men better, try to make the program reach heights it’s never reached. That’s all I have planned. It’s a great place to be. There’s some things that suck about being 68 (years old). The great thing about it is being at Iona, being able to teach with nobody bothering you, just make the players better.”
Rick Pitino

Monday’s quiz
When the Cubs won the World Series in 2016, who did they beat?

Sunday’s quiz
Georgia coach Tom Crean was Dwyane Wade’s college coach at Marquette.

Saturday’s quiz
Indiana’s 1976 team is the last unbeaten national champ in college basketball; going into that Final Four, there was another unbeaten team- Rutgers. Many of the Rutgers players had been recruited by Dick Vitale, who was a Rutgers assistant before becoming coach at Detroit.

*******************

Monday’s Den: Wrapping up a sports Sunday

13) Oral Roberts 81, Florida 78:
Long time ago, on Oral Roberts’ home court, this was stamped on each baseline:

“Expect a miracle”
Not sure if it’s there anymore; they’re not on TV much.

Well, a 15-seed making the Sweet 16 is pretty darn close.

— Florida Gulf Coast (2013) was only previous #15-seed to make Sweet 16.
— ORU shot 59.3% inside arc; their two stars never came out of the game.
— Golden Eagles prepped for this; they played 3rd-hardest non-league schedule in country.

Ironically, when Florida Gulf Coast finally lost in 2013, they lost to Florida in the regional semifinals. Today, the Gators were the victims.

12) Loyola, Chi 71, Illinois 58:
— Loyola’s big man Krutwig had 19 points, 12 boards, 5 assists.
— Loyola was +6 in turnovers (17-11); they got most of the loose balls.
— Not only did the #1-seed lose, they never led in this game.

11) Loyola is a #8-seed in the Sweet 16. Since 1990, here is how 8-9 seeds have done in the Sweet 16:

— 10-8 SU in regional semifinal
— 10-7-1 ATS in those games; 1-2 ATS when favored, 9-5-1 otherwise.
— Loyola plays in O State in the regional semi-final this coming weekend.

10) This is the first NCAA Tournament ever to have at least four teams seeded #13 or lower make it into the second round.

9) Arkansas 68, Texas Tech 66:
— Hogs held Tech to 29.3% inside arc; they denied MacClung the ball a lot- he only took six shots.
— Arkansas basically played six guys; a 7th guy played only 3:00.
— Arkansas plays #15-seed Oral Roberts in their next game.

8) Baylor 76, Wisconsin 63:
— Baylor got seven games in after a 21-day COVID pause, before NCAA tourney.
— Bears turned ball over only four times, scored 1.19 ppp.
— Wisconsin started four seniors; if all those guys came back next year, and they can if they want, Badgers would have older starters than some NBA teams.

7) Houston 63, Rutgers 60:
— Cougars outscored Rutgers 13-2 over the final 4:33.
— Houston had 43-29 rebounding edge, with 16 offensive boards.
— This was first NCAA Tournament for Rutgers since 1991, so an excellent season for them.

6) Syracuse 75, West Virginia 72:
— Syracuse made 14-31 on the arc, shot 61.9% inside arc.
— Orangemen led 30-16 early; West Virginia led 53-52 with 9:15 left.
— Mountaineers ended season losing four of their last six games.

5) Villanova 84, North Texas 61:
— North Texas pulled big upset Friday, didn’t have much left here.
— Wildcats shot 15-30 on the arc, scored 1.42 ppp.
— Villanova had lost in this round four of last six years, so had to be a relief to get to the Sweet 16, especially with their point guard out for the year.

4) Shaka Smart’s NCAA Tournament resume:
at VCU:
2011— Won five tournament games, lost national semi-final (11-seed).
2012— Won one, lost one (12-seed).
2013— Won one, lost one (5-seed).
2014— Lost in 1st round (5-seed)
2015— Lost in 1st round (7-seed)
at Texas:
2016— Lost in 1st round (6-seed)
2018— Lost in 1st round (10-seed)
2020—Lost in 1st round (3-seed)

3) Oregon State 80, Oklahoma State 70:
— Oregon State only got in because they won Pac-12 tourney; they’re red-hot now.
— Lot of whistles: Beavers were 32-35 on foul line, Oklahoma State 26-38.
— Loyola-Oregon State is the rare 8-12 seed game next weekend.

2) Since 1997, Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton is 14-9 SU in NCAA tournament games.; underdog was 18-5 ATS in those games.

He was 3-10 ATS when favored, 8-2 when the underdog.

1) Think the Houston Texans regret not trading Deshaun Watson already? They could’ve gotten a huge haul for him last month, but now Watson seems to be facing an off-field legal battle, which at least will be a big distraction. Do other teams still want to trade for him?