The Bum's All You Need To Know About Big Dance Notes-Stats-Trends Etc. !

[StarDust Bum]

Saturday - Session 3

March 21, 2015

East Regional - No. 8 N.C. State vs. No. 1 Villanova (TBS, 7:10 p.m.)

Venue: Consol Energy Center

Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Betting Odds: Villanova -9.5, Total 139

This N.C. State team likes to flirt with disaster and then has the fighting spirit to overcome. How else do you explain the Wolfpack’s win over LSU on Thursday. The Tigers blew a huge second-half lead by missing its last 12 field goals and six straight crucial free throws down the stretch. Center Beejay Anya made it pay off with a buzzer-beater. The Wolfpack also looked to be in trouble barely a month ago, entering a Valentine’s Day visit to Louisville on a run of five losses in six games. They upset the Cards to start a run of wins in six of seven, including conquests at UNC and Clemson. Despite an identical 10-8 record in league play as NIT-bound Miami, not to mention a head-to-head loss to the Canes, N.C. State got into the NCAAs without much drama. Guards Trevor Lacey, Ralston Turner and Kat Barber complement each other nicely, combining for 41 points per game and shooting over 38 percent from 3-point range (184-for-475). Despite Lennard Freeman leading the Wolfpack with a modest 5.6 rebounding average, this is a team for whom boards are a strength since they gang-rebound well and have solid depth up front. Head coach Mark Gottfried has taken Murray State, Alabama and N.C. State to NCAA Tournaments. He got to the Elite Eight with ‘Bama in ’04 and reach a Sweet 16 with his current school in ’12. N.C. State has covered seven of its last nine games.

The top-seeded Wildcats bullied Lafayette 93-52 in the opening game, exploding to shoot close to 70 percent for most of the game and led by as many as 45 points. They made 11 of 22 from 3-point range and shot 63 percent, but the task is going to be tougher against the much bigger Wolfpack. Of course, they’ve earned their 33-2 record, winning 16 of 18 in Big East play, suffering losses to Seton Hall in OT and in a flat performance at Georgetown. Six players score at least 9.4 points per game, led by senior wing Darrun Hilliard averaging 13.9. Junior center Daniel Ochefu and senior JayVaughn Pinkston are the key to this perimeter-based bunch due to their ability to hold the fort down in the paint. Villanova ranks 23rd in points per game (76.3) and 13th in assists per game (15.9). Head coach Jay Wright is coaching in his 10th NCAA Tournament at Villanova and went twice as a young head coach at Hofstra. His top finish is reaching the 2009 Final Four and he’s also reached two Sweet 16s and an Elite 8. The Wildcats have covered in 14 of 16 games.

South Regional - No. 5 Utah vs. No. 4 Georgetown (CBS, 7:45 p.m.)

Venue: Moda Center

Location: Portland, OR

Betting Odds: Georgetown -4, Total 124.5

The Utes lost one game to a non-NCAA Tournament team all year, which hints at their superior talent and how consistent they’ve been. Utah has excellent length and defends with passion, which is complemented by the fact they shoot 48.5 percent as a team. Guard Delon Wright leads the team in scoring (14.8), assists (5.2) and steals (2.0) while also averaging 4.9 boards per game. Backcourt mate Brandon Taylor and forward Jordan Loveridge both stuff the stat sheet, too. Austrian 7-foot freshman Jakob Poeltl has the look of a future NBA lottery pick and protects the paint well, as evidenced by his five blocks against Stephen F. Austin. Poeltl went 7-for-7 against the Lumberjacks and is now 22-for-his-last-29 from the field. Head coach Larry Krystkowiak is making his first NCAA Tournament appearance the Utes, but won a game in his two appearances as Montana’s head coach. He’s coached the Milwaukee Bucks and the CBA’s Idaho Stampede. Utah has played to unders in seven of the last nine.

Guard D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera tweaked a knee on March 3, but looked to be back at 100 percent in Thursday’s win over Eastern Washington. He and cover hero Jabril Trawick are the heart and soul of the group, so it was a positive to see him move as well as he did. Center Joshua Smith has consistently been in foul trouble of late and needs to avoid that to keep his team from having to play small ball against a Utes squad blessed with size. Thanks to Trawick’s “unnecessary” dunk just before the buzzer against EWU, Georgetown has now covered two of its last six. The Hoyas are now 7-10 against teams that reached this NCAA Tournament. John Thompson III is back dancing for the eighth time in 10 years after landing in the NIT last year. His highest finish is reaching the 2006 Final Four.

[StarDust Bum]

Saturday's NCAAB tournament betting cheat sheet

SOUTH REGION:

(14) UAB Blazers vs. (11) UCLA Bruins (-6, 133)

The Blazers stifled Iowa State's potent attack by dominating the boards, limiting second chances for the Cyclones and picking up plenty of their own. William Lee had 12 rebounds and Tyler Madison secured 11 in just 14 minutes off the bench, nine of which came on the offensive end. UAB struggled from long-distance with a 3-of-18 showing, but Brown hit a big one on the final minute to help the Blazers produce a second-round upset of a No. 3 seed for the third straight season.

Bryce Alford was 9-of-11 from 3-point range while becoming the 10th player to reach that mark in a tournament game and the first since 2012, a masterful performance that pleased his father, head coach Steve Alford. "Well, nobody's been critiqued any more than he has on our basketball team throughout the year, and he's been very consistent," the elder Alford said.

TRENDS:

* Under is 8-2 in Bruins last 10 games following a S.U. win.
* Blazers are 5-1 ATS in their last six neutral site games.
* Bruins are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games overall.


(5) Utah Utes vs. (4) Georgetown Hoyas (+4.5, 125.5)

The Utes committed 17 turnovers Thursday - one shy of their season high, but junior guard Brandon Taylor (10.4 points per game) told reporters: "I think we got the jitters out." Utah needs stronger games from Taylor and senior guard Delon Wright (team bests of 14.8 points and 5.2 assists), who combined to shoot 3-for-12 from the field and record 10 turnovers.

The Hoyas enter their first meeting with Utah after ending a five-game NCAA Tournament losing streak against double-digit seeds. "We just have to go out and prepare for a very tough Utah team,'' coach John Thompson III said. "You keep doing your business, you keep doing what you're supposed to do, eventually people will be quiet (about the streak).''

TRENDS:

* Utes are 21-6-2 ATS in their last 29 non-conference games.
* Hoyas are 2-11 ATS in their last 13 games following a ATS win.
* Over is 4-1 in Hoyas last five non-conference games.


MIDWEST REGION:

(8) Cincinnati Bearcats vs. (1) Kentucky Wildcats (-16.5, 118.5)

“We’ll go out there with a lot of confidence,” Bearcats guard Kevin Johnson told reporters. “We’ve got nothing to lose. That’s not a bad position to be in.” Cincinnati joins Kentucky among the top defenses in the country, but must deal with a balanced Wildcats squad that has won 35 games by an average of 21 points.

Freshman Karl-Anthony Towns rebounded from making only three field goals combined in his previous two games to drain 8-of-12 from the field and produce his eighth double-double of the season against Hampton. Leading scorer Aaron Harrison (11.1) registered only three points on 0-of-5 shooting and backcourt mate Devin Booker (10.2) was 1-of-6 against Hampton.

TRENDS:

* Bearcats are 1-6 ATS in their last seven neutral site games.
* Bearcats are 0-4 ATS in their last four NCAA Tournament games.
* Wildcats are 12-3-3 ATS in their last 18 neutral site games.


(6) Butler Bulldgos vs. (3) Notre Dame Fighting Irish (-4.5, 133.5)

The Bulldogs defeated the Longhorns despite shooting 33.3 percent, missing nine of their 13 3-pointers and collecting a total of five offensive rebounds on 32 missed shots en route to a 41-28 deficit on the boards. “We've been able to grind out a lot of wins,” Butler coach Chris Holtmann told the media. “It was a back-and-forth game. ... I can't give our guys enough credit for grinding out this one. To have five field goals in the second half and come away with the win says a lot about them.”

The Fighting Irish enter this matchup having won six in a row overall, although they have not defeated their Indiana rival since 1990, losing each of the last six matchups. They will have a good chance of snapping that streak if they can get another standout performance from Zach Auguste, who shot 10-of-14 for 25 points in Thursday's hard-fought 69-65 win over No. 14 Northeastern.

TRENDS:

* Fighting Irish are 0-7 ATS in their last seven NCAA Tournament games.
* Bulldogs are 7-0 ATS in their last seven vs. Atlantic Coast.
* Over is 5-0 in Fighting Irish last five vs. Big East.


WEST REGION:

(10) Ohio State Buckeyes vs. (2) Arizona Wildcats (-9, 140)

Buckeyes guard D’Angelo Russell scored 28 in a 75-72 overtime win over VCU on Thursday and is averaging 19.6 points, 5.6 boards and five assists. Russell (666) passed former Ohio State star Michael Redd (638) for most points by a freshman in school history and now faces a talented squad that was unhappy with its defense in its tournament opener. “I think the point is that we have to get back to being an excellent defensive team, which takes a lot of effort and concentration,” Arizona coach Sean Miller said at his postgame press conference. “We certainly can do it.”

Wildcats star Stanley Johnson had 22 points in a 93-72 victory over Texas Southern on Thursday to continue his strong season and is averaging 14.3 points and 6.5 rebounds. Forward Brandon Ashley missed the NCAA Tournament last season due to a foot injury and he had 14 points against Texas Southern to continue his strong late-season play. Ashley is averaging 18.2 points with three 20-point outings over the last six games to raise his season average to 12.4, second on the squad behind Johnson.

TRENDS:

* Buckeyes are 2-11 ATS in their last 13 neutral site games.
* Over is 7-0 in Buckeyes last seven non-conference games.
* Wildcats are 1-4 ATS in their last five NCAA Tournament games.


(14) Georgia State Panthers vs. (6) Xavier Musketeers (-6.5, 133)

R.J. Hunter hit the shot, Ron Hunter hit the floor and Georgia State hit this NCAA Tournament with one of the most dramatic comebacks in recent memory, but the next challenge awaits. Somehow the Panthers – playing in their first NCAA Tournament in 14 years – advanced despite leading scorer R.J. Hunter (19.6 points per game) missing seven of his first eight shots and second-leading scorer Ryan Harrow not playing due to a hamstring injury.

The Musketeers shoot 47.3 percent from the field and average 16.3 assists per contest, leading the Big East in both categories, and Matt Stainbrook’s 12.2 points and 6.9 rebounds per game provide Xavier a formidable inside presence. Guard Trevon Bluiett finished second in the conference among freshmen in scoring at 11.5 points per game. Davis averages 6.1 assists (12th nationally) and is fifth on the school’s career assist list.

TRENDS:

* Under is 9-2 in Panthers last 11 games following a S.U. win.
* Under is 5-0 in Musketeers last five neutral site games.
* Panthers are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games overall.


(5) Arkansas Razorbacks vs. (4) North Carolina Tar Heels (-4.5, 157)

Two teams that barely avoided the upset bug in the NCAA Tournament’s round of 64 meet Saturday when No. 5 seed Arkansas faces fourth-seeded North Carolina in Jacksonville, Fla. The Razorbacks advanced with a 56-53 win over No. 12 seed Wofford, while the Tar Heels needed four points by Justin Jackson in the final minute to edge Harvard 67-65. “It’s the luckiest I’ve ever felt after a basketball game in my entire life,” North Carolina coach Roy Williams told reporters.

Williams can become the 15th coach in Division I history to win 750 games with a victory over Arkansas, but the Tar Heels will need a complete effort to get past the Razorbacks. Both teams average at least 77 points and bring plenty of star power to the floor, starting with SEC Player of the Year Bobby Portis (17.5 points, 8.8 rebounds), who led Arkansas to its conference championship game. Portis should be tested by a formidable Tar Heels frontline led by Jackson and Brice Johnson, who averages a team-high 7.7 rebounds.

TRENDS:

* Razorbacks are 1-6 ATS in their last seven vs. Atlantic Coast.
* Tar Heels are 0-4 ATS in their last four NCAA Tournament games.
* Under is 5-1 in Razorbacks last six neutral site games.


EAST REGION:

(8) North Carolina State Wolfpack vs. (1) Villanova Wildcats (-9.5, 139)

Villanova may have been considered by some as the most likely No. 1 seed to be bounced from the NCAA Tournament early, but were among the most dominant teams to take the floor in its first game. The Wildcats look to extend their school-record winning streak to 17 games Friday when they meet North Carolina State in the third round at Pittsburgh. Villanova routed No. 16 Lafayette 93-52 on Thursday, rolling to the second-largest margin of victory in its tournament history.

The Wildcats, who have not advanced past the first weekend in four NCAAs since a Final Four berth in 2009, amassed their best offensive output at the Big Dance since a 101-point outburst in a win over LIU Brooklyn in 1997. The eighth-seeded Wolfpack overcame a late 14-point second-half deficit against LSU on Thursday to edge the Tigers 66-65. "It's crazy being on the other end this year; this is a whole lot better,” N.C. State guard Ralston Turner told The News & Observer after the Wolfpack were unable to hold a late 14-point lead before losing in overtime to Saint Louis in the second round of last year’s tournament.

TRENDS:

* Wolfpack are 2-6 ATS in their last eight non-conference games.
* Under is 10-2 in Wolfpack last 12 NCAA Tournament games.
* Wildcats are 6-2 ATS in their last eight neutral site games.

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Saturday, March 21

Saturday's NCAA games
UCLA beat UAB 88-76 in 7th-place game in Bahamas Nov 28, despite Alford going 1-8 from floor (11-12 from line). Alford was 9-11 from arc in UCLA's 60-59 win over SMU; they were down seven with 1:24 left, surviving a 19-0 Mustang run in second half. Bruins have won five of last six games, face a UAB squad that is 2nd-youngest team in tournament (Kentucky). UCLA was -9 in turnovers vs SMU (18-9), hit 1-9 from arc, other than Alford. There have only been four second round games in NCAA tourney with 11-seed facing a 14-seed; favorite covered all four. UAB won its last four games, with three by one point or in OT.

Cincinnati is right over bridge from state of Kentucky; should be quite a scene in Louisville as Kentucky tries to go 37-0 against Bearcats, who in first round, trailed Purdue by 7 with 0:48 left. Cincinnati won six of last seven games; they lost to Ole Miss by 12 in only game vs SEC opponent this season. Cincy is a real good defensive team but they struggle to score vs normal teams, not sure where their points come from here. Kentucky is playing its 18th game this season against a top 50 team; not sure why this one would have different outcome. Over last six years, #1 seeds have gone 15-8-1 vs spread in this round, with four upset losses.

Since 2001, Arizona is 8-1 in second round games, 7-1-1 vs spread; they lost 73-70 to Ohio State however in Sweet 16 game two years ago, when Wildcats blew 11-point first half lead. Over last five years, when 10-seed faces a 2-seed in this round, the dog is 5-2 vs spread. Arizona won its last 12 games, with five of last six wins by 22+ points. Buckeyes won their last five second round games, but were favored in all five. OSU split its last four games, needed ot to beat VCU Thursday; Russell/Scott played 40+ minutes each. Over last three years, Big 14 teams won 11 of their 14 second round games.

Georgia State outscored Baylor 13-0 over last 2:40 to stun Bears 60-59 in first round; a great win, holding Bears scoreless on last nine possessions. Panthers are now 2-4 vs top 100 teams; they've won six games in a row; now they get shot at a Big East school. Since 1999, there have been five 6-14 games in second round; favorite was 5-0 vs spread in those games. Xavier had big edge beating Ole Miss in an afternoon game less than 48 hours after Rebels won their play-in game. Musketeers won four of last five games, but they also have five losses to teams outside top 100, odd for a team as good as they are. Georgia State forces turnovers on 23.2% of possessions, #14 in country.

NC State was down 14 at half Thursday, rallied to beat LSU 66-65 in 1st round; in last 9:00 of game, Tigers were 0-12 from floor, 3-9 on foul line. Wolfpack has now won seven of last nine games after being 14-11 at one point and looking at best like an nit team. Over last six years, #1 seeds have gone 15-8-1 vs spread in this round, with four upsets. Villanova pounded helpless Lafayette for its 16th straight win Thursday, Wildcats beat former Big East rival Syracuse in OT in December, its only game against an ACC team. Villanova hasn't been in Sweet 16 since 2009, dropping last two second round games.

Georgetown is 9-3 against the #54 non-league schedule in country; they have tried to upgrade December schedule. Hoyas made it to Final Four in 2007; since then, they've ost both their second round games by total of seven points. Hoyas won seven of last nine games- they made 11-23 on arc in 84-74 win over Eastern Washington Thursday. Utah got 57-50 win over gritty SF Austin Thursday, holding Lumberjacks to 5-26 on the arc. Utes are now 4-4 in last eight games overall. #4 seeds won seven of last nine 4-5 games; favorites covered five of last seven. Pac-12 teams won six of their last nine second round games.

North Carolina could've easily lost to Harvard in first round, after losing a 16-point second half lead; Tar Heels have zero depth at guard. If Paige is not playing the point, they're not good. UNC won five of last six second round games, losing here to Iowa State LY. Arkansas struggled with solid Wofford style Thursday, forcing only eight turnovers, but won by three in game they trailed by 3 with 4:27 left. Hogs beat Wake by 30, lost in OT at Clemson in its two ACC games. UNC beat Florida by 11, lost to Kentucky by 14 in its SEC games this year. #4 seeds won seven of last nine 4-5 games; favorites covered five of last seven.

Notre Dame won its last six games but coasted in shaky 69-65 first round win over Northeastern, making just 2-6 on arc. Irish lost to Providence in OT by point in their only Big East game this year. In-state rival Butler is just 5-4 in its last nine games; Bulldogs are 11-3 outside Big East- they held Texas to 34% from floor in ugly 56-48 win Thursday. Butler beat North Carolina on neutral court in November, its only ACC game- that has to help their confidence here. Bulldogs hold opponents to 30.7% on arc, #24 in nation defending arc. Favorites are 5-2 vs spread in 3-6 second round games over last seven years.

NIT games
Miami won four of last five games but loss was to Notre Dame in ACC's tournament; Hurricanes beat Florida by hoop in only game vs an SEC foe. Alabama was up 24 at half in its first NIT win under an interim coach in wake of firing Grant Sunday, after going 6-10 in 16 games before that one. 11am tipoff won't help artistic value of this one.

CBI games

CIT tournament
Bowling Green is 2-3 in its last five games after 67-64 win at St Francis in first round; Falcons trailed by hoop with 4:55 left. Canisius lost by 15 to Buffalo in its only MAC games this season; Griffins are 5-2 in last seven games, winning three of last four at home. Canisius forces turnover 21.9% of time, #25 in country.

UT-Martin hammered Northwestern State 104-79 Thursday, after losing three of previous four games; Skyhawks were 16-28 from arc in road tilt, which is amazing shooting. Martin is 9-5 out of conference- they're #19 in country, making 39.2% from arc. SC-Upstate won three of last four games, with their last two wins by point each; Spartans rallied to win its first CIT game over JMU, after they trailed by 8 with 3:08 left.

Sam Houston State is 4-3 in last seven games after starting season 22-5, but two of losses were to league kingpin SF Austin; somehow Bearkats didn't play a Sun Belt team, despite living in east Texas. UL-Lafayette won eight of last nine games, but lost to McNeese State/Northwestern State during regular season, but beat Southland newcomer Incarnate Word by 15 on road in first game of this tournament.

Sacramento State/Northern Arizona tied for 3rd in Big Sky at 13-5; home side won both series meetings this year. Hornets won 78-73 New Year's Day, then lost 70-68 in Flagstaff in regular season finale, which cost CSS shot at hosting conference tourney. NAU won eight of its last ten games after winning at Grand Canyon; they have lousy offense (#281 eFG%) for having such a good team.

[StarDust Bum]

Armadillo: Sunday's six-pack

Current odds to win the World Series this year.........

Washington Nationals 13-2-- Added Max Scherzer this winter.

Los Angeles Dodgers 17-2-- Middle infield will be rollins/Kendrick this season.

Seattle Mariners/Boston Red Sox 10-1-- Boston's pitching is a big ?????

Chicago Cubs/St Louis Cardinals 12-1-- Lot of expectations in Wrigleyville.

Los Angeles Angels 14-1-- No Hamilton, now Colby Rasmus is hurt, too.



**********

Armadillo: Sunday's List of 13: Random thoughts for a Sunday morning

13) Our thoughts and prayers go out to Notre Dame coach Mike Brey, who lost his mom to a heart attack Saturday morning, but coached his team last night anyway.

12) UCLA 92, UAB 75-- Blazers made 12-26 from arc and still lost by 17; let me say this now. Just because UCLA is in the Sweet 16 doesn't mean they belonged in the tournament, just like a team losing doesn't mean they didn't belong.

11) Kentucky 64, Cincinnati 51-- Bearcats played their asses off but didn't come close to winning, but they did cover the spread. If a team upsets Kentucky, they'll be a team that makes a lot of 3's and can match the Wildcats on the backboards.

10) Arizona 73, Ohio State 58-- Wildcats are now 9-1 in last ten second round games (8-1-1 vs spread). D'Angelo Russell went 3-19 from floor in what was likely his last college game. Not sure if Arizona shoots well enough to beat Kentucky.

9) Xavier 75, Georgia State 67-- Weird game with only 35 missed shots; Xavier made 68% of its shots, Panthers 57%. Obviously, Xavier and UCLA caught huge breaks when the #3 seeds in their regions got beat. Thats how unlikely champions emerge.

8) Utah 75, Georgetown 64-- If John Thompson III's dad hadn't been an iconic coach at the school, JTIII would need another job-- their program is very ordinary now. Not sure if it matters, but Utes didn't look good the last two weeks, but they won twice this weekend, they're still alive and headed to the Sweet 16.

7) North Carolina 87, Arkansas 78-- This is a good time to point out how much fun it is to be in Las Vegas this weekend. Am hoping to make a spring training trip a year from now and tack it onto March Madness, see my A's practice in Arizona. Could be too much fun for one month, but its worth a try.

6) Notre Dame 67, Butler 64 OT-- This was a tremendous game, lot of drama; not sure why these teams don't play each other every year. CBS hits the jackpot making this the last game of the day. Then we find out hours later that Mike Brey coached this game knowing his mother had died earlier in the day. Courageous thing to do.

5) NC State 71, Villanova 68-- Since 1987, #1 seeds are 116-0 in the first round, and 101-15 in the second round, with Villanova being the 15th loss. Of the other 14 teams that lost this early in the tournament, three made the Final Four the next season, with Arizona in 2000 the last team to do so.

4) Out of those 15 second round losses by a number one seed, Kansas has three of them, Stanford two.

3) Only two of those 14 teams fell off the cliff and missed the NCAAs the next year; Cincinnati in 2001, Pittsburgh in 2012.

2) DePaul and Mississippi State need new basketball coaches, which is bad news for a couple mid-majors who are about to lose their coach. NCAA tournament is a lot of fun, but if you're a coach whose team doesn't make it, your job is in jeopardy.

1) Quote of the Day, part 2: "I'm very much in favor of high school kids going pro. I had six young men commit to me out of high school that didn't go to college, that went to the pros. I'm very much for that because they didn't want college. They wanted to go to the NBA. And if they go to the [NBA Development League], that's fine with them." Rick Pitino

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAB
Long Sheet

Sunday, March 22

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MICHIGAN ST (24 - 11) vs. VIRGINIA (30 - 3) - 3/22/2015, 12:10 PM
Top Trends for this game.
VIRGINIA is 36-25 ATS (+8.5 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
VIRGINIA is 36-25 ATS (+8.5 Units) in all lined games over the last 2 seasons.
VIRGINIA is 11-3 ATS (+7.7 Units) when playing with one or less days rest over the last 3 seasons.
VIRGINIA is 30-18 ATS (+10.2 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
VIRGINIA is 21-10 ATS (+10.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games over the last 2 seasons.
VIRGINIA is 29-49 ATS (-24.9 Units) in March games since 1997.


Head-to-Head Series History
VIRGINIA is 1-0 against the spread versus MICHIGAN ST over the last 3 seasons
MICHIGAN ST is 1-0 straight up against VIRGINIA over the last 3 seasons
1 of 1 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




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SAN DIEGO ST (27 - 8) vs. DUKE (30 - 4) - 3/22/2015, 2:40 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DUKE is 15-6 ATS (+8.4 Units) in road games after a non-conference game over the last 3 seasons.
DUKE is 17-6 ATS (+10.4 Units) in road games in non-conference games over the last 3 seasons.
DUKE is 29-15 ATS (+12.5 Units) after scoring 80 points or more over the last 3 seasons.
SAN DIEGO ST is 12-4 ATS (+7.6 Units) in all tournament games over the last 2 seasons.
DUKE is 51-77 ATS (-33.7 Units) in March games since 1997.


Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.




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W VIRGINIA (24 - 9) vs. MARYLAND (28 - 6) - 3/22/2015, 8:40 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MARYLAND is 11-3 ATS (+7.7 Units) in road games after a non-conference game over the last 3 seasons.
MARYLAND is 11-3 ATS (+7.7 Units) in all tournament games over the last 3 seasons.
W VIRGINIA is 18-5 ATS (+12.5 Units) in a NCAA tournament games since 1997.


Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.




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DAYTON (27 - 8) vs. OKLAHOMA (23 - 10) - 3/22/2015, 6:10 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DAYTON is 15-5 ATS (+9.5 Units) in road games in non-conference games over the last 3 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.




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WICHITA ST (29 - 4) vs. KANSAS (27 - 8) - 3/22/2015, 5:15 PM
Top Trends for this game.
WICHITA ST is 2-12 ATS (-11.2 Units) as a neutral court underdog of 3 points or less or pick since 1997.
WICHITA ST is 41-21 ATS (+17.9 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
WICHITA ST is 41-21 ATS (+17.9 Units) in all lined games over the last 2 seasons.
WICHITA ST is 18-5 ATS (+12.5 Units) when the total is 130 to 139.5 over the last 2 seasons.
WICHITA ST is 60-36 ATS (+20.4 Units) in road games after a non-conference game since 1997.
WICHITA ST is 24-12 ATS (+10.8 Units) in non-conference games over the last 3 seasons.
WICHITA ST is 12-4 ATS (+7.6 Units) after scoring 80 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
WICHITA ST is 22-12 ATS (+8.8 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
WICHITA ST is 25-11 ATS (+12.9 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games over the last 3 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.




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OREGON (26 - 9) vs. WISCONSIN (32 - 3) - 3/22/2015, 7:45 PM
Top Trends for this game.
WISCONSIN is 21-9 ATS (+11.1 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 2 seasons.
WISCONSIN is 21-9 ATS (+11.1 Units) in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.
OREGON is 14-5 ATS (+8.5 Units) in March games over the last 3 seasons.
OREGON is 26-14 ATS (+10.6 Units) in non-conference games over the last 3 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
WISCONSIN is 1-0 against the spread versus OREGON over the last 3 seasons
WISCONSIN is 1-0 straight up against OREGON over the last 3 seasons
1 of 1 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




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N IOWA (31 - 3) vs. LOUISVILLE (25 - 8) - 3/22/2015, 9:40 PM
Top Trends for this game.
N IOWA is 19-9 ATS (+9.1 Units) in all games this season.
N IOWA is 19-9 ATS (+9.1 Units) in all lined games this season.
N IOWA is 13-2 ATS (+10.8 Units) when the total is 119.5 or less this season.
N IOWA is 15-8 ATS (+6.2 Units) as a favorite this season.
N IOWA is 7-0 ATS (+7.0 Units) in all neutral court games this season.
N IOWA is 7-0 ATS (+7.0 Units) when playing on a neutral court this season.
N IOWA is 7-0 ATS (+7.0 Units) in road games in non-conference games this season.
N IOWA is 15-7 ATS (+7.3 Units) after allowing 60 points or less this season.
N IOWA is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) in all tournament games this season.
N IOWA is 12-5 ATS (+6.5 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
N IOWA is 11-1 ATS (+9.9 Units) versus good defensive teams - allowing <=64 points/game after 15+ games this season.
N IOWA is 15-3 ATS (+11.7 Units) versus good defensive teams - allowing <=64 points/game this season.


Head-to-Head Series History
N IOWA is 1-0 against the spread versus LOUISVILLE over the last 3 seasons
LOUISVILLE is 1-0 straight up against N IOWA over the last 3 seasons
1 of 1 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




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IOWA (22 - 11) vs. GONZAGA (33 - 2) - 3/22/2015, 7:10 PM
Top Trends for this game.
GONZAGA is 18-7 ATS (+10.3 Units) when playing with one or less days rest over the last 2 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.




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GEORGE WASHINGTON (22 - 12) at TEMPLE (24 - 10) - 3/22/2015, 11:00 AM
Top Trends for this game.
GEORGE WASHINGTON is 6-15 ATS (-10.5 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
GEORGE WASHINGTON is 3-10 ATS (-8.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games this season.
GEORGE WASHINGTON is 0-6 ATS (-6.6 Units) versus good defensive teams - allowing <=64 points/game after 15+ games this season.
GEORGE WASHINGTON is 2-9 ATS (-7.9 Units) versus good defensive teams - allowing <=64 points/game this season.
TEMPLE is 48-28 ATS (+17.2 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games since 1997.
GEORGE WASHINGTON is 19-9 ATS (+9.1 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 3 seasons.
GEORGE WASHINGTON is 19-9 ATS (+9.1 Units) in non-conference games over the last 3 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
GEORGE WASHINGTON is 1-0 against the spread versus TEMPLE over the last 3 seasons
TEMPLE is 1-0 straight up against GEORGE WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons




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ARIZONA ST (18 - 15) at RICHMOND (20 - 13) - 3/22/2015, 7:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
RICHMOND is 1-10 ATS (-10.0 Units) after a non-conference game this season.
RICHMOND is 1-9 ATS (-8.9 Units) in non-conference games this season.
RICHMOND is 5-17 ATS (-13.7 Units) in home games after scoring 80 points or more since 1997.


Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.




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RHODE ISLAND (23 - 9) at STANFORD (20 - 13) - 3/22/2015, 9:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
RHODE ISLAND is 26-15 ATS (+9.5 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
RHODE ISLAND is 17-8 ATS (+8.2 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games over the last 2 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Sunday, March 22

Sunday's NCAA games
When Tom Izzo won his national title in 2000, Tony Bennett's dad was also in Final Four, coaching Wisconsin; Michigan State won its last six second round games (4-2 vs spread). Over last 10+ years, 2-seeds are 16-21-1 vs spread in 2nd round games, all as a favorite. Virginia split its last four games; they beat Rutgers/Maryland this year, two new teams in conference. ACC teams are winning but they're not covering lot (3-8 vs spread as postseason favorite). State won five of last six games; they are 0-2 vs ACC teams this year, losing to Notre Dame, Duke.

San Diego State won five of last six games; Polee hit five 3's against his old team Friday, giving Aztecs a perimeter threat they badly need. State beat Pitt by 17 on neutral floor in its only game vs ACC team this year. Duke won its last four and 13 of last 14 second round games; they're 13-1 in their last 14 games overall, losing only to Notre Dame in ACC tourney. ACC favorites are 3-8 vs spread so far in this postseason. Over last 10+ years, double digit favorites in second round are 13-5 vs spread; in last 5+ years, #1 seeds are 13-9 vs spread in this round, 0-2 this year.

Kansas ducks Wichita State during season; teams haven't met since 1993; this is a very big deal for Shockers, who won nine of last 10 games- they were just 2-13 on arc Friday, Indiana was 11-22 but Wichita won. Teams don't often go 50% on arc and lose. Jayhawks are 10-2 in last 12 second round games; they got upset by Stanford in this spot LY. Over last 10+ years, 2-seeds are 16-21-1 vs spread in 2nd round games, all as a favorite. Kansas is 6-4 in its last ten games overall. Over last 5+ years, 2nd round favorites of 3 or less points are 5-7 vs spread.

Dayton is playing third game this week, but Flyers are also 80 miles from their campus; home crowd will help. Dayton won 10 of its last 13 games, they're #2 in country at getting to foul line. Oklahoma won 11 of last 14 games; they beat George Mason by 18 in only A-14 game. Sooners don't sub a lot (#335 in bench minutes) so if they get in foul trouble its a big problem. Oklahoma has the #10 efg% defense in country. Over last 4+ years, second round favorites of 5 or less points are 17-13 against the spread. Underdogs covered five of last seven 3-11 games in second round.

Ton of pressure here on Gonzaga team to beat capable Iowa squad, since Zags lost in this round the last five years, have never been to Final Four; Seattle site means mostly home edge for Gonzaga, though Northern Iowa fans might root for Iowa. Gonzaga is 26-1 since losing at Arizona in OT in December- they have #1 eFG% in country, helped by 40.5% on its 3's (#8 in country). Hawkeyes won seven of last eight games, losing to Penn State in Big 14 tourney; Friday was their first NCAA win in 14 years, though McCaffrey won couple tournament games while coaching Siena.

Over last 10+ years, double digit favorites in second round are 13-5 vs spread, even after Cincy's backdoor cover yesterday. Big 14 favorites are 2-2 vs spread this postseason; Pac-12 teams are 8-1 vs spread, 3-0 if not favored. Oregon is 8-1 in their last nine games, losing only to its nemesis Arizona (three losses by a combined 80 points this season) in Pac-12 tourney. Young has taken most shots of anyone in country. Over last 5+ years, #1 seeds are 13-9 vs spread in this round, 0-2 this year. Wisconsin won its last seven games; they beat Cal by 14 in only Pac-12 game.

West Virginia forces more turnovers than anyone in country and gets lot of offensive rebounds; Maryland beat Iowa St/Oklahoma St in its couple Big X games- they're one of ten tallest teams in country, hard to press a team that can throw over traps. Mountaineers are 2-3 in last five games, but losses were to Kansas, Baylor (2). Terps won eight of their last nine games. Big X teams are 2-5 vs spread this postseason; Big 14 teams are 1-3 vs spread if they're not favored. Over last 5+ years, second round favorites of 3 or less points are 5-7 against the spread.

Louisville is 4-2 since Jones got tossed off team, with three of four wins by 1 or 2 points; Cardinals lucked out Friday when Irvine fouled up their last possession with chance to tie/win game. Fact that Northern Iowa is a pick 'em with Louisville here tells you who better team really is, seeing as Cardinals are public team. Panthers lost in double OT in December to a healthy VCU team, team that plays little bit like Louisville. UNI gave up an average of 52.3 ppg in last four games; big chance, playing Wyoming and its slow tempo Friday, then pfacing Louisville here. 4-seeds won seven of last nine second round games against 5-seeds.

NIT games
Temple won its last six games with George Washington when teams were A-14 rivals. Colonials are 5-3 in its last eight games overall that followed a 1-6 skid that ruined its season. Owls won five of last six games, losing to SMU in AAC tourney; Temple split two games vs A-14 teams this year, with games decided by total of 3 points. AAC postseason favorites are 0-4 vs spread this month; A-14 teams are 4-1 vs spread, 3-0 as dogs.

Arizona State stays east after its win at UConn, faces Richmond squad that won seven of its last eight games, losing only to VCU in conference tourney after they had beaten Rams twice during season. ASU's win at UConn was just its third in last ten road games- they won three of last four games overall. Pac-12 teams are 8-1 vs spread this postseason, 3-0 if not favored. A-14 teams are 4-1 vs spread, 1-1 as favorites.

Stanford lost four of last six games, beating UC-Davis by 13 in opener of NIT; Cardinal make 38.5% of their 3's,. #30 in country- they're 4-3 in last seven home games. Rhode Island is 4-3 in last sdeven games; they did what they wanted on offense in easy 88-75 win over Iona in NIT first round. Pac-12 teams are 8-1 vs spread this postseason, 5-1 if a favorite. A-14 teams are 4-1 against the spread, 3-0 as underdogs.

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAB

Sunday, March 22

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Trend Report
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11:00 AM
GEORGE WASHINGTON vs. TEMPLE
The total has gone OVER in 4 of George Washington's last 5 games when playing on the road against Temple
George Washington is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games on the road
Temple is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing George Washington
Temple is 3-5-1 ATS in its last 9 games

See more trends!
MARCH 22, 12:10 PM
MICHIGAN STATE vs. VIRGINIA
No trends available
Virginia is 3-8-1 ATS in its last 12 games
Virginia is 22-3 SU in its last 25 games

See more trends!
MARCH 22, 2:40 PM
SAN DIEGO STATE vs. DUKE
No trends available
Duke is 13-1 SU in its last 14 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Duke's last 6 games

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MARCH 22, 5:15 PM
WICHITA STATE vs. KANSAS
No trends available
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Kansas's last 5 games
Kansas is 18-6 SU in its last 24 games

See more trends!
MARCH 22, 6:10 PM
DAYTON vs. OKLAHOMA
No trends available
Oklahoma is 1-8 ATS in its last 9 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Oklahoma's last 6 games

See more trends!
MARCH 22, 7:10 PM
IOWA vs. GONZAGA
No trends available
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Gonzaga's last 5 games
Gonzaga is 24-1 SU in its last 25 games

See more trends!
MARCH 22, 7:30 PM
ARIZONA STATE vs. RICHMOND
Arizona State is 5-11-3 ATS in its last 19 games on the road
Arizona State is 3-16 SU in its last 19 games on the road
Richmond is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Richmond's last 9 games at home

See more trends!
MARCH 22, 7:45 PM
OREGON vs. WISCONSIN
No trends available
Wisconsin is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Wisconsin's last 7 games

See more trends!
MARCH 22, 8:40 PM
WEST VIRGINIA vs. MARYLAND
No trends available
Maryland is 5-1-1 ATS in its last 7 games
Maryland is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games

See more trends!
MARCH 22, 9:30 PM
RHODE ISLAND vs. STANFORD
Rhode Island is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Rhode Island's last 7 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Stanford's last 7 games at home
Stanford is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home

See more trends!
MARCH 22, 9:40 PM
NORTHERN IOWA vs. LOUISVILLE
No trends available
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Louisville's last 13 games
Louisville is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games

[StarDust Bum]

Sunday's NCAAB tournament betting cheat sheet

EAST REGION

(7) Michigan State Spartans vs. (2) Virginia Cavaliers (-5)

Second-seeded Virginia hopes to avoid having a promising season cut short by Michigan State for the second year in a row when the Cavaliers face the No. 7 seed Spartans in the NCAA Tournament round of 32 on Sunday in Charlotte, N.C. The Spartans ousted the top-seeded Cavaliers in the regional semifinals a year ago. Michigan State is trying to reach the Sweet 16 for the fourth consecutive year and the seventh time in eight seasons.

Virginia survived a scare in its opening game for the second year in a row, holding off 15th-seeded Belmont 79-67 on Friday behind 22 points from Malcolm Brogdon. "It was good for us to be in a game like that," Virginia coach Tony Bennett told reporters. "Our young men have been in a lot of games like that where we had to just outlast and stay in there and make some plays and even overcome some of our mistakes." The Spartans coughed up most of a 12-point lead in the final two minutes Friday before hanging on for a 70-63 win over No. 10 seed Georgia.

TRENDS:

*Spartans are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 non-conference games.
*Cavaliers are 18-7-1 ATS in their last 26 games following a ATS loss.
*Over is 7-1 in Spartans last 8 overall.
*Under is 11-5-1 in Cavaliers last 17 games following a S.U. win.


(11) Dayton Flyers vs. (3) Oklahoma Sooners (-4.5)

The Big 12 did not have a great showing in the NCAA Tournament round of 64, but Oklahoma is ready to carry some weight for the Conference. The third-seeded Sooners will try to advance to the East regional semifinals when they take on No. 11 seed Dayton on Sunday in Columbus, Ohio. Oklahoma is into the round of 32 after failing to reach the weekend in the last two years, advancing after fellow No. 3 seeded Big 12 teams Baylor and Iowa State fell on Thursday.

To reach the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2009, the Sooners will have to figure out a way around a Flyers squad that enjoyed a considerable homecourt advantage in the round of 64 while knocking off Providence. Dayton was one of the final at-large teams selected by the committee but got the benefit of playing the first round at home and the second and third round 70 miles away in Columbus. “It's powerful,” Flyers coach Archie Miller told reporters of the atmosphere in Columbus. “I think our fans continue to be on front and center stage right now. It's a great time of the year for them to be on front and center stage. But knowing that we're playing in Columbus, I had a hunch what it was going to feel like.”

TRENDS:

*Flyers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 NCAA Tournament games.
*Sooners are 1-8 ATS in their last 9 games overall.
*Under is 6-1 in Flyers last 7 NCAA Tournament games.
*Under is 10-1 in Sooners last 11 neutral site games.


(5) Northern Iowa Panthers vs. (4) Louisville Cardinals (+2.5)

Northern Iowa should be well-rested Sunday when the fifth-seeded Panthers face No. 4 seed Louisville in Seattle for a trip to the Sweet 16. Nine Northern Iowa players tallied at least 16 minutes in Friday’s 71-54 victory over Wyoming, while four of Louisville’s starters clocked at least 37 minutes in a 57-55 win over UC Irvine. Louisville has struggled offensively all season and faces a stiff test against the Panthers, who boast the nation’s fourth-best scoring defense at 54.3 points per game.

The Panthers advanced past Wyoming despite a poor shooting game by Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year Seth Tuttle, who was 4-of-12 for 14 points along with nine rebounds. Sunday’s key battle features Tuttle against Louisville forward Montrezl Harrell, who averages 15.5 points along with a team-high 9.3 rebounds. Tuttle, a 6-8 senior forward, leads Northern Iowa in scoring (15.3), rebounds (6.9), assists (3.3) and blocks (0.6) while shooting 60.5 percent from the field.

TRENDS:

*Panthers are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
*Cardinals are 1-8-2 ATS in their last 11 non-conference games.
*Over is 5-1 in Panthers last 6 overall.
* Under is 5-2 in Cardinals last 7 games following a ATS loss.


WEST REGION

(8) Oregon Ducks vs. (1) Wisconsin Badgers (-12)

Wisconsin earned the No. 1 seed in the West region of the NCAA Tournament and lived up to that lofty billing in the round of 64. The Badgers will continue their march to a second straight Final Four when they face No. 8 seed Oregon in the round of 32 for the second straight year on Sunday in Omaha, Neb. Wisconsin got 19 points from Frank Kaminsky in the 84-77 victory over the Ducks last season, and the seven-footer is primed for another star turn this spring.

Oregon held a 12-point halftime lead in last year’s meeting but the Badgers outscored the Ducks 48-28 in the second half to grab the win. “That game last year was awesome, one of the best games I've ever been a part of,” Badgers forward Sam Dekker told reporters. “Happy to get out of that one with a victory. It was a hard-fought game. But they're going to come in with the same intensity, they're going to play hard, try to hit us in the mouth right away. And they have the talent to do it.” Ducks guard Joseph Young scored 29 points in that meeting and went for 27 in Friday’s round of 64 win over Oklahoma State.

TRENDS:

*Ducks are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 games overall.
*Badgers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 vs. Pacific-12.
*Under is 4-0 in Ducks last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
*Over is 5-2 in Badgers last 7 overall.


MIDWEST REGION

(7) Wichita State Shockers vs. (2) Kansas Jayhawks (-1.5)

Wichita State has been unsuccessful in its efforts to schedule Kansas in the regular season but the seventh-seeded Shockers will get a crack at the second-seeded Jayhawks on Sunday in Omaha, Neb., with a Sweet 16 berth on the line. The in-state programs haven’t met since Jan. 6, 1993 – Kansas won 103-54 – despite persistent attempts by Wichita State Gregg Marshall to land a game with Kansas. “I think there are certain games that are big,” Jayhawks coach Bill Self said at a press conference, “and I think this is one of those games that’s bigger.”

Players are always more interested in playing the games than the different agendas of college coaches so count Shockers guard Ron Baker as someone ready to see the Jayhawks on the court. “It’s a big thing for the state of Kansas – a lot of excitement, a lot of houses are going to be divided,” Baker said at a press conference. “It’s just going to be exciting. As a player, being from Kansas, I’m just really, really fortunate to be in this game. Obviously, these type of games don’t happen a whole lot.” Wichita State posted an 81-76 victory over Indiana on Friday, while Kansas rolled to a 75-56 win over New Mexico State.

TRENDS:

*Shockers are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 non-conference games.
*Jayhawks are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. Missouri Valley.
*Over is 4-1 in Shockers last 5 vs. Big 12.
*Under is 4-0 in Jayhawks last 4 overall.


(5) West Virginia Mountaineers vs. (4) Maryland Terrapins (Pick)

A likely matchup with mighty Kentucky looms in the Sweet 16 for the winner of Sunday's NCAA Tournament third-round contest between No. 4 seed Maryland and fifth-seeded West Virginia. As long as the Wildcats get past Cincinnati on Sunday, they'll be heavy favorites in the regional semifinals against either the Terrapins or Mountaineers - both of whom are coming off close victories in their NCAA Tournament openers. The crowd at Columbus, Ohio should be entertained by two of the nation's top point guards.

Maryland freshman Melo Trimble had 14 points and 10 rebounds in his team's 65-62 win against No. 13 Valparaiso on Friday and averages team highs of 16.3 points and 3.1 assists. Juwan Staten (14.5 points, 4.7 assists) is the floor general for West Virginia and recorded 15 points and seven assists in Friday's 68-62 triumph against 12th-seeded Buffalo. The Mountaineers last reached the Sweet 16 en route to the Final Four in 2010, while the Terps have gone 1-1 in their last four trips to the Big Dance, last reaching the Sweet 16 in 2003.

TRENDS:

*Mountaineers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 vs. Big Ten.
*Terrapins are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games following a S.U. win.
*Over is 4-1 in Mountaineers last 5 overall.
*Over is 5-0 in Terrapins last 5 NCAA Tournament games.


SOUTH REGION:

(8) San Diego State Aztecs vs. (1) Duke Blue Devils (-9.5)

Prior to Friday’s second-round victory over Robert Morris, Quinn Cook was the only current Duke player that had played a key role in helping his team secure a NCAA Tournament win. With its recent quick exits from the Big Dance in the rearview mirror, the top-seeded Blue Devils eye a berth in the Sweet 16 on Sunday when they meet San Diego State in the third round of the South region in Charlotte, N.C. Cook was a starter on the 2013 Elite Eight team in that loss to eventual national champion Louisville, but also witnessed Duke’s opening-round losses to Lehigh (2012) and Mercer (2014).

The senior guard made sure his young teammates – four of the Blue Devils’ eight regulars are freshmen – did not suffer the same fate against the Colonials, hitting six 3-pointers in an 85-56 victory. The eighth-seeded Aztecs, who rank second in the country in scoring defense (53.5 points), also spent Friday changing perceptions, going 9-of-22 beyond the arc en route to posting their fourth-highest point total of the season in a 76-64 triumph over St. John’s. "(When) we score this many points, we've got a chance against anybody," Aztecs coach Steve Fisher said after his team improved to 9-1 this season when scoring at least 70 points.

TRENDS:

*Aztecs are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games following a ATS win.
*Blue Devils are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
*Over is 4-1 in Aztecs last 5 NCAA Tournament games.
*Under is 5-1 in Blue Devils last 6 overall.


(7) Iowa Hawkeyes vs. (2) Gonzaga Bulldogs (-6.5)

Gonzaga has lost only twice all season - by a total of six points - but now the second-seeded Bulldogs must contend with arguably the most impressive team from the NCAA Tournament's round of 64. Seventh-seeded Iowa won its tourney opener by 31 points, which certainly caught the Bulldogs' attention heading into their meeting in Seattle on Sunday with a berth in the Sweet 16 on the line. Gonzaga opened with a hard-fought 86-76 victory against No. 15 seed North Dakota State, while Iowa throttled No. 10 seed Davidson, 83-52.

Sunday's matchup will feature two of the top forwards in the country - Gonzaga's Kyle Wiltjer and Iowa's Aaron White. Wiltjer is the Bulldogs' leading scorer at 16.9 points and shot 8-of-12 en route to 23 points on Friday. White (16.3 points) was even better in the round of 64, shooting 11-of-14 as part of a 26-point performance - his sixth straight game with at least 20 points.

TRENDS:

*Hawkeyes are 6-1-1 ATS in their last 8 games overall.
*Bulldogs are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. Big Ten.
*Under is 4-0 in Hawkeyes last 4 overall.
*Over is 5-0 in Bulldogs last 5 neutral site games.

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAB

Sunday, March 22


Sooners continue to be awful at covering spread

The Oklahoma Sooners may be one of the top teams in the nation on the court, but you certainly wouldn't be able to tell from the window. Oklahoma has covered just once in their past nine contests, leaving backers frustrated.

In those nine contests, the Sooners are 6-3 straight up and have an average scoring margin of +3.4. Despite only barely beating opponents durin that span, Oklahoma's average spread is -6.

Oklahoma is currently -4.5 for their Round of 32 clash with Dayton.


Under booming as Kansas defense steps up

Since the Big 12 conference tournament started, the Kansas Jayhawks defense has upped their game, causing them to cash under tickets. In the four games since the end of the regular season, Kansas has gone under in each one.

In those four games, Kansas has allowed a mere 59.3 points per game and only once has their opponent topped the 60 point mark. Defensively, the Jayhawks are allowing 5.1 less points per game since the postseason started.

Kansas and No.7 Wichita State meet Sunday with a current total of 133.5.


Michigan State going over as defense falters

Over their past eight contests, Michigan State's defense has struggled leading to a rash of overs. In their past eight, the Spartans have topped the total seven times.

Michigan State has been allowing 71.3 points over their past eight, which is significantly higher than their 63.4 average on the season.

The Spartans clash with Virginia Sunday with a current total of 116.5.



NCAA Tournament roundup: NC State knocks out Villanova

PITTSBURGH -- As good as Villanova has been all year, it only took one off day to stop the Wildcats in their tracks.

Just two days after Villanova's best shooting performance of the season, the Wildcats had one of their worst. North Carolina State took advantage, becoming the first team to knock off a top seed in this year's NCAA Tournament with a 71-68 victory on Saturday.

The eight-seeded Wolfpack (22-13) advance to the Sweet 16 for the second time in four years under coach Mark Gottfried after losing in the second round the last two seasons. Meanwhile, Villanova was left looking for its first trip to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament since 2009.

The Wildcats (33-3) had a 16-game winning streak heading into the tournament and were picked by many, including President Obama, to make it to the championship. But a young N.C. State frontcourt that worried Villanova coach Jay Wright leading up to the game proved to be his worst nightmare. Freshman forward Abdul-Malik Abu (13 points, 12 rebounds) and sophomore Lennard Freeman (11 points, 12 rebounds) each finished with double-doubles.

Junior guard Trevor Lacey paced the Wolfpack with 17 points.

After trailing by as many as a dozen points in the second half, Villanova cut it to two with 41.1 seconds remaining after senior guard Darrun Hilliard hit two deep 3-pointers in a 40-second span. The Wolfpack then turned it over, but junior guard Dylan Ennis was unable to connect on an open 3-pointer with 15 seconds left and four foul shots by N.C. State sealed the win.

Kentucky 64, Cincinnati 51

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Undefeated and No. 1-ranked Kentucky's chase for perfection continues.

The Wildcats (36-0) got 13 points from guard Aaron Harrison and limited No. 8 seed Cincinnati to 32 percent shooting from the field in a Midwest Regional third-round victory in the KFC Yum! Center.

Forward Trey Lyles added 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Wildcats, who will play West Virginia or Maryland in the Sweet Sixteen in Cleveland.

Guard Troy Caupain led the Bearcats (23-11) with 13 points.

Kentucky shot only 37 percent from the field and was outrebounded 45-38 but took control of the game five minutes into the second half.


Notre Dame 67, Butler 64 (OT)

PITTSBURGH -- Pat Connaghan saved Notre Dame, and he did it more than once. The senior wing came up with a big defensive play late in the second half and hit a clutch 3-pointer in overtime to help the Fighting Irish overcome Butler to advance to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 for the first time since 2003.

Butler junior Kellen Dunham, who had been quiet all night, hit a clutch 3-pointer from the top of the key with 2:58 remaining in regulation to tie the score at 55, but neither team scored again until overtime. Connaghan then came up with one of several big plays, blocking a game-winning shot attempt by Dunham in the final two seconds of regulation.

In the extra session, Connaghan knocked down a 3-pointer from the right corner off a feed from freshman Demetrius Jackson, giving Notre Dame a 62-59 lead with 3:08 to play. Guard Steve Vasturia helped put it away, hitting a 3-pointer with 1:22 left to give the Fighting Irish a four-point advantage. Vasturia, who only had three points in the opening-round win over Northeastern on Thursday, finished with a career-high 20 points.

Jerian Grant, a senior guard and Notre Dame's leading scorer, sealed the win on a layup with 18 seconds left. He finished with 16 points and Jackson added 13.

Notre Dame led by as many as 10 points in the first half, but thanks to the strong play of Butler's Roosevelt Jones, the lead was cut to 31-29 at the break. Jones had 15 first-half points, including 11 of the last 13 for Butler, and finished with a team-high 23 points.


North Carolina 87, Arkansas 78

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- North Carolina added one more Sweet 16 to its long postseason resume as the No. 4-seeded Tar Heels, who reached the round of 16 for the 26th time since 1975, got there by eliminating No. 5 seed Arkansas.

Carolina guard Marcus Paige led the Tar Heels with 22 points, five rebounds and five steals. Freshman forward Justin Jackson -- the hero in Thursday's second-round victory over Harvard when he scored the final four points -- added 16 points and two steals.

Arkansas, which was seeking its 11th trip to the Sweet 16 but first since 1996, got a monster game from guard Michael Qualls, who led all scorers with 27 points and 10 rebounds. Forward Bobby Portis, the SEC Player of the Year, also posted a double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds and contributed five steals and four assists.

North Carolina coach Roy Williams earned his 750th career win, moving him into 15th in NCAA history. Williams also tied legendary former Tar Heels coach Dean Smith for the most NCAA Tournament wins at North Carolina with 32.


Xavier 75, Georgia State 67

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Georgia State's Cinderella story ended in the third round with Xavier winning behind a season-high 21 points and six rebounds from forward Jalen Reynolds.

The No. 6 seed Musketeers advanced to their third Sweet 16 in five years. Xavier (23-13) heads to in Los Angeles to face No. 2 seed Arizona.

Reynolds was 8 of 9 from the field and 5 of 5 from the free throw line in his best game since he scored 19 points in a win over Providence in early February.

There were no heroics this time from Georgia State guard R.J. Hunter, who sank a 30-footer with 2.7 seconds left Thursday as the No. 14 seed Panthers stunned No. 3 seed Baylor. He paced Georgia State (25-10) for the second straight game with 20 points, adding five assists and four rebounds in likely the final college game. The junior and two-time Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year is expected to declare for the NBA Draft.

His father, Georgia State coach Ron Hunter, welled up with tears and embraced R.J. for nearly 30 seconds when the Panthers' leading scorer left the game in the final minute


UCLA 92, UAB 75

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Center Tony Parker scored a career-best 28 points and added 12 rebounds, leading No. 11 seed UCLA to a South Regional third-round victory over No. 14 Alabama-Birmingham in the KFC Yum! Center.

Guard Bryce Alford added 22 points and five assists, sending the Bruins (22-13) to the Sweet Sixteen.

It was the second time this season UCLA defeated UAB. The Bruins also registered an 88-76 victory in the Battle 4 Atlantis seventh-place game on Nov. 28 in the Bahamas.

Guard Robert Brown led UAB (20-16) with a game-best 25 points.


Arizona 73, Ohio State 58

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Guard Gabe York came off the bench to knock down five 3-pointers and lift fifth-ranked Arizona over Ohio State in an NCAA third-round game at the Moda Center.

York scored a season-high 19 points and guard T.J. McConnell had 19 points, six assists, six rebounds and five steals for the No. 3 seed Wildcats (33-3), who ran their winning streak to 13 games.

Forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson contributed 11 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for Arizona, which advances to the West Regional at Los Angeles next Thursday.

Forward Sam Thompson scored 18 points for Ohio State (24-11). Guard D'Angelo Russell collected nine points, six rebounds and six assists for the Buckeyes but made just 3 of 19 shots from the field, including 1 of 7 from 3-point distance.


Utah 75, Georgetown 64

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Utah outscored Georgetown 18-9 in the final five minutes to of a NCAA South Regional third-round victory at the Moda Center.

Five players scored in double figures, including guard Brandon Taylor with 14 points and guard Delon Wright and center Jakob Poeltl with 12 apiece, for the fifth-seeded Utes (26-8), who advance to the South Regionals next Thursday.

Guard Jabril Trawick had 18 points to lead the fourth-seeded Hoyas (22-11).

[StarDust Bum]

Armadillo: Monday's six-pack

Current odds to win the college basketball championship.........

Kentucky, even-- It will take almost a perfect game to beat them.

Wisconsin 7-2-- They're playing without their starting point guard. .

Arizona 9-2-- Don't shoot ball well enough to beat Kentucky.

Duke 5-1-- If they win, maybe one of their alums can land a TV job.

Michigan State 10-1-- Izzo is getting the most out of this roster.

Gonzaga 12-1-- Had lost in second round last five years before Sunday.



**********

Armadillo: Monday's List of 13: Doing some thinking out loud.......

13) Michigan State 60, Virginia 54-- Spartans split last four home games, went just 4-3 in last seven games before this weekend. 2-seeds are now 4-4 in this round the last two years. Quiet end to a great year for Virginia, which went 2-3 in its last five games after starting the season 28-1.

12) Duke 68, San Diego State 49-- Why do Grant Hill and Shane Battier start their TV careers at the top of the ladder? At least Corey Maggette is doing Big West games on cable, working his way up. Alaa Abdelnaby is the best of the TV Dukies, but he is on CBS Sports Network and we don't hear him much.

11) Wichita State 78, Kansas 65-- I'm thinking this is bad news for mid-majors, with the little cousin KO'ing the big $$$ in-state team in the public spotlight, after they had refused to schedule Wichita for 22 years. Next question becomes; was this Wichita's Super Bowl? They play Notre Dame next.

10) Oklahoma 72, Dayton 66-- If DePaul called Archie Miller, he'd have to listen, right? He's won five NCAA games in the last 13 months but only makes $335,000 a year. Thats a lot of $$$ for you and I, but for a coach with his accomplishments, he is vastly underpaid by market standards.

9) Gonzaga 87, Iowa 68-- Zags put on impressive display after losing in this round in previous five tournaments- they made 10-16 from arc, had an eFG% of 71.6%, which is outrageously good. Iowa won its first tournament game in 14 years Friday, but looked like a mid-major in this game.

8) Wisconsin 72, Oregon 65-- Had pleasure of watching this game with nice people from Madison; an elderly lady told me that someone she knew was dying of cancer, and got the nicest note from Russell Wilson, who played football for the Badgers. She was genuinely touched by Wilson's letter; its good to hear nice things about people.

7) Louisville 66, Northern Iowa 53-- Disappointing performance by the Panthers, who had been bet up to -2.5 in this game. Louisville/North Carolina both struggled to beat inferior teams in the first round, but then looked way better over the weekend.

6) West Virginia 69, Maryland 59-- Mountaineers forced 23 turnovers, now move on to face unbeaten Kentucky. Odd trivia: Bob Huggins had a heart attack a few years ago at the Pittsburgh airport; the paramedic who saved his life was John Calipari's cousin.

5) Coaching carousel rumors: Tony Barbee to Nevada, Ben Howland to Miss State; we neglected to mention last week that George Mason fired Paul Hewitt,, who once led Georgia Tech to a Final Four. He'd be an interesting candidate for DePaul.

4) This is time when teams in the NIT/CBI/CIT are a little less unhappy to be there, since 52 of the 68 NCAA teams are done playing and they're not. All of them would still rather have been in the NCAAs, but it doesn't sting as much now.

3) Captain Obvious reports that college sports is big business; Florida State is going to make $79.5M in upgrades to its football stadium. Thats million, with an M.

2) Murray State is at Tulsa tonight in the NIT; interesting chance for the Racers to play an AAC team on national TV, albeit on the road.

1) CBS signed up Anthony Grant as a studio analyst for Sunday, I'm assuming before the poor guy got fired by Alabama last Sunday, 45 minutes before the brackets were released; maybe yesterday will turn into an audition for a job next winter.

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAB
Long Sheet

Monday, March 23

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

LOUISIANA TECH (26 - 8) at TEXAS A&M (21 - 11) - 3/23/2015, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
TEXAS A&M is 19-10 ATS (+8.0 Units) in all home games over the last 2 seasons.
TEXAS A&M is 19-10 ATS (+8.0 Units) in home lined games over the last 2 seasons.
TEXAS A&M is 58-38 ATS (+16.2 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games since 1997.
LOUISIANA TECH is 59-38 ATS (+17.2 Units) after scoring 80 points or more since 1997.


Head-to-Head Series History
TEXAS A&M is 1-0 against the spread versus LOUISIANA TECH over the last 3 seasons
TEXAS A&M is 1-0 straight up against LOUISIANA TECH over the last 3 seasons
1 of 1 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


ILLINOIS ST (22 - 12) at OLD DOMINION (25 - 7) - 3/23/2015, 8:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
OLD DOMINION is 17-6 ATS (+10.4 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 2 seasons.
OLD DOMINION is 119-160 ATS (-57.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record since 1997.


Head-to-Head Series History
ILLINOIS ST is 1-0 against the spread versus OLD DOMINION over the last 3 seasons
ILLINOIS ST is 1-0 straight up against OLD DOMINION over the last 3 seasons
1 of 1 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


MURRAY ST (28 - 5) at TULSA (23 - 10) - 3/23/2015, 9:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MURRAY ST is 25-48 ATS (-27.8 Units) versus good defensive teams - allowing <=64 points/game since 1997.
TULSA is 36-24 ATS (+9.6 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
TULSA is 36-24 ATS (+9.6 Units) in all lined games over the last 2 seasons.
TULSA is 24-14 ATS (+8.6 Units) as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.
TULSA is 25-11 ATS (+12.9 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games over the last 3 seasons.
TULSA is 43-26 ATS (+14.4 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game after 15+ games since 1997.


Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


RADFORD (22 - 11) at VERMONT (19 - 13) - 3/23/2015, 7:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.


Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


LA-MONROE (22 - 12) at MERCER (19 - 15) - 3/23/2015, 7:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.


Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


ORAL ROBERTS (19 - 14) at LOYOLA-IL (20 - 13) - 3/23/2015, 8:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
ORAL ROBERTS is 6-18 ATS (-13.8 Units) in March games since 1997.
ORAL ROBERTS is 0-7 ATS (-7.7 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record this season.


Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


COLORADO (16 - 17) at SEATTLE (17 - 15) - 3/23/2015, 10:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.


Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


CLEVELAND ST (19 - 14) at NEW JERSEY TECH (19 - 11) - 3/23/2015, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CLEVELAND ST is 6-13 ATS (-8.3 Units) as a favorite this season.
CLEVELAND ST is 11-24 ATS (-15.4 Units) in March games since 1997.
CLEVELAND ST is 18-38 ATS (-23.8 Units) in all tournament games since 1997.
CLEVELAND ST is 36-24 ATS (+9.6 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
CLEVELAND ST is 36-24 ATS (+9.6 Units) in all lined games over the last 2 seasons.
CLEVELAND ST is 23-10 ATS (+12.0 Units) in road games over the last 2 seasons.
CLEVELAND ST is 23-10 ATS (+12.0 Units) in road lined games over the last 2 seasons.
CLEVELAND ST is 8-2 ATS (+5.8 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record this season.


Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


EVANSVILLE (20 - 12) at E ILLINOIS (18 - 14) - 3/23/2015, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
EVANSVILLE is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) after a non-conference game this season.
EVANSVILLE is 21-10 ATS (+10.0 Units) in non-conference games over the last 3 seasons.
E ILLINOIS is 61-95 ATS (-43.5 Units) in all home games since 1997.
E ILLINOIS is 61-95 ATS (-43.5 Units) in home lined games since 1997.
E ILLINOIS is 45-68 ATS (-29.8 Units) in non-conference games since 1997.
E ILLINOIS is 9-21 ATS (-14.1 Units) in home games after scoring 80 points or more since 1997.
E ILLINOIS is 7-19 ATS (-13.9 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


KENT ST (22 - 11) at TEXAS A&M CC (20 - 13) - 3/23/2015, 8:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
KENT ST is 18-9 ATS (+8.1 Units) in road games over the last 2 seasons.
KENT ST is 18-9 ATS (+8.1 Units) in road lined games over the last 2 seasons.
KENT ST is 13-3 ATS (+9.7 Units) in road games in non-conference games over the last 3 seasons.
KENT ST is 20-8 ATS (+11.2 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAB

Monday, March 23

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7:00 PM
CLEVELAND STATE vs. NJIT
Cleveland State is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Cleveland State is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
No trends available

See more trends!
MARCH 23, 7:00 PM
LOUISIANA TECH vs. TEXAS A&M
Louisiana Tech is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games on the road
Louisiana Tech is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Texas A&M is 12-6 SU in its last 18 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Texas A&M's last 5 games at home

See more trends!
MARCH 23, 7:00 PM
LOUISIANA-MONROE vs. MERCER
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Louisiana-Monroe's last 6 games on the road
Louisiana-Monroe is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games on the road
No trends available

See more trends!
MARCH 23, 8:00 PM
ILLINOIS STATE vs. OLD DOMINION
Illinois State is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Illinois State's last 6 games on the road
Old Dominion is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Old Dominion's last 9 games

See more trends!
MARCH 23, 8:00 PM
KENT STATE vs. TEXAS A&M C.C.
Kent State is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
No trends available

See more trends!
MARCH 23, 8:00 PM
ORAL ROBERTS vs. LOYOLA OF CHICAGO
No trends available
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Loyola of Chicago's last 18 games
Loyola of Chicago is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games

See more trends!
MARCH 23, 8:00 PM
EVANSVILLE vs. EASTERN ILLINOIS
Evansville is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Evansville's last 6 games on the road
Eastern Illinois is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
Eastern Illinois is 15-8 SU in its last 23 games

See more trends!
MARCH 23, 9:00 PM
MURRAY STATE vs. TULSA
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Murray State's last 7 games on the road
Murray State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Tulsa is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
Tulsa is 18-5 SU in its last 23 games

See more trends!
MARCH 23, 10:00 PM
COLORADO vs. SEATTLE
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Colorado's last 5 games on the road
Colorado is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
Seattle is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games
Seattle is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Monday, March 23

NIT games
Louisiana Tech won nine of its last 11 games, but is 3-3 in last six true road games; Bulldogs are 1-4 vs top 100 teams this year, with best win a win over #95 Central Michigan. Texas A&M had lost four of its last five games before beating Montana by 17 in first round of NIT. SEC teams are 6-7 vs spread this postseason, 3-3 as favorites. C-USA teams are 3-4, 2-2 as underdogs.

Illinois State never trailed in 64-45 win over Old Dominion at tourney on Virgin Islands Nov 23; Monarchs were 2-17 on arc in their only (13-1) non-conference loss this season. Redbirds won seven of last eight games, losing to Northern Iowa in MVC final. ODU won six of its last seven games. C-USA teams are 3-4 vs spread this postseason, 1-2 as favorites; MVC teams are 3-4, 1-0 as an underdog.

Murray State has ESPNU game to state its case that they should've been in NCAAs; Racers are 28-5, 1-2 against top 100 teams. Tulsa is 7-5 in non-conference games, 2-3 in last five games overall; they're 6-8 against top 100 teams. Pretty interesting NIT game. AAC teams are 0-4 against spread this postseason as a favorite. OVC teams are 4-0 vs spread as an underdog.

CBI games
Radford is 5-4 in its last nine games, losing to Winthrop in first round of Big South tourney; they won seven of last eight road games. Vermont is 3-3 in its last six games, 6-8 vs non-conference foes; they had solid win at Hofstra in their first round game in this tournament. Big South teams are 5-0 vs spread this postseason. America East teams are 2-1 vs spread this postseason, all as an underdog.

UL-Monroe is 3-5 vs non-conference D-I teams, 4-4 in last eight games overall; three of Warhawks' last four games were decided by 4 points or less. Mercer is also 4-4 in its last eight games, with eight of last ten games decided by 6 or less points. Sun Belt teams are 4-1 against the spread this postseason, 3-1 as an underdog; OVC teams are 5-2, 1-2 as a favorite.

Oral Roberts is 7-7 out of conference, 4-3 in last seven road tilts; Titans won four of last five games, making 11-19 on arc in 91-87 win in the first round of NIT over UCSB. Loyola won four of its last five games; they won three of last four home games, with loss to Northern Iowa. Summit League underdogs are 4-1 vs spread this offseason; MVC teams are 3-4, 2-4 when favored.

Colorado won four of last six games but lost four of last five on the road; Buffaloes are without best guard Booker, who opted not play anymore after Pac-12 tourney. Seattle won six of last eight games; they lost by 15 to crosstown rival Washington, in its only Pac-12 game. Pac-12 teams are 9-1 vs spread this postseason, 5-1 as a favorite; WAC teams are 2-1 as an underdog.

CIT tournament
NJIT is trying to get into a conference but no one will take them; they are 9-1 in last ten games, but three of wins vs non-D1 teams. Cleveland State lost three of last five games, but hammered Western Michigan by 29 in Kalamazoo in CIT opener. Horizon League teams are 2-2 vs spread this postseason, 0-1 as favorites. Vikings' last six losses are all by 6 or less.

Eastern Illinois lost first five D-1 games, then won 11 of next 12, and is now 5-8 in last 13 D-1 games, beating Oakland 97-91 on road in game where Panthers made 15-31 on arc. Evansville lost four of last five games; they split pair of games with two best teams in OVC, with games decided by total of five points. MVC teams are 3-4 vs spread in postseason, 2-4 when favored.

Kent State is 2-3 in last five games with all three losses by six points or less; Flashes won four of their last five road games. Corpus Christi won six of last seven games, with last three all decided by six points or less. Islanders are 6-7 out of conference after solid win at FGCU. MAC teams are 0-3 vs spread as a favorite this postseason. Southland teams are 2-4, 1-2 as an underdog.

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAB

Monday, March 23


Underdogs a scorching bet in CBI tournament

Through the first eight games of the College Basketball Invitational tournament, the underdog has been the story at the betting window posting a record of 7-0-1 against the spread.

There are four games on the board as the tournament continues Monday. Vermont (-7.5) hosts Radford, Mercer (-3.5) takes on Louisiana-Monroe, Oral Roberts visits Loyola-Chicago (-5.5) and Colorado (-5.5) travels to take on Seattle.


Favorites on hot run since Friday in NIT

Favorites have gone 5-0 against the spread in the previous five NIT matchups since Friday, making it one of the hottest bets around.

Vanderbilt, Miami, Temple, Richmond and Stanford all covered the spread in the last five NIT matchups. Thus far in the tournament, favorites have posted a record of 12-8-1 ATS.

There is a trio of NIT games on the board Monday with Texas A&M (-4.5) hosting Louisiana Tech, Illinois State visits Old Dominion (-3.5) and Tulsa (-4.5) hosts Murray State.

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAB

Monday, March 23


All Sweet 16 matchups on the board

Odds have been released for all eight NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 matchups for this Thursday and Friday.

For Thursday's action Wichita State is a 1-point fave against Notre Dame, Wisconsin is a 5.5-point fave over UNC, Kentucky is a big 13.5-point fave over West Virginia and Arizona is a 11-point fave against Xavier.

On Friday Gonzaga is an 8.5-opint fave over UCLA, Louisville is a slight 2.5-point fave against NC State, Duke is a 5-point fave versus Utah and Michigan State is a 2-point fave over Oklahoma.