Announcement

**StarDust Bum** · 03-13-2010, 10:11 AM

Big Ten Semifinals

Heartbreak and upsets were on the menu in the Big Ten Tournament at Indianapolis’ Conseco Field House. Now there are four teams left with the hopes of cutting down the nets and earning the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The action gets underway at 1:40 p.m. EST on CBS when Ohio State (25-7 straight up, 16-13 against the spread) squares off against the Fighting Illini. Las Vegas Sports Consultants has opened the Buckeyes as six-point favorites with a total of 122.

It almost looked like the Buckeyes would be watching this game on campus after coughing up a 10-point halftime lead against Michigan in Friday’s opening quarterfinal matchup. Both teams shot a high percentage from the field (OSU 52%, Michigan 49%), with Manny Harris seemingly hitting the game-winner with just over two seconds left on the clock. Then Evan Turner cemented his Player of the Year credentials by nailing a 37-footer as time expired to help the Bucks win 69-68. The win was Ohio State’s fifth straight, but they are just 3-2 ATS in that stretch. The ‘over’ has hit in three of its last four contests though.

Most everyone thought that Ohio State would be matching up against the Badgers in the league semifinals. The only problem with that is that Wisconsin hadn’t beaten the Fighting Illini. Illinois (19-13 SU, 12-18 ATS) used a stifling defense to hold Bo Ryan’s squad to just 29 percent from the field. And the Illini were clicking on the other side of the court, draining 53 percent of their shots. Mike Tisdale proved that big men can score from anywhere on the court in putting in two three-pointers as he scores 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds.

While it was a quality win for the Illini, they are still sitting on the bubble for the Big Dance. A win against OSU would virtually clinch their spot in the Field of 65.

Now that win that Illinois so desperately needs (in my opinion) is a tall order. Ohio State won and covered as a favorite in both contests this season, with the combined margin of victory of 35 points. Plus, the Bucks have gone 7-2 SU and 6-3 ATS in the last nine head-to-head meetings. The ‘under’ is a robust 7-2 in that stretch to boot.

When it comes to being a “chalk,” Ohio State is doing quite well this year with a 20-1 SU and 14-7 ATS mark. The ‘under’ is 11-7 as well. The Buckeyes are 7-1 SU and 6-2 ATS as single-digit faves this season, with the total going 4-4 in this situation.

Even though Illinois won today as an underdog, they are still just 6-8 SU and 8-6 ATS this season in this spot. The ‘over’ is 8-6 in that stretch for the Fighting Illini.

Purdue (27-4 SU, 12-17-1 ATS) will take on the Golden Gophers/Spartans for the right to play on Sunday afternoon in their 4:00 p.m. EST tip-off on CBS.

The Boilermakers got all they could handle from Northwestern as they were down by 11 before coming up with a 69-61 win as eight-point favorites on Friday night. Purdue was able to overcome that deficit thanks to a defense that was able to force the Wildcats into 15 turnovers. JaJuan Johnson and E’Twaun Moore paced the Boilers on the attack with 22 points and 28 points respectively.

A No. 1 seed in the NCAA tourney is out of the question for Matt Painter’s crew. What is a real possibility, however, is a two-seed somewhere in the bracket. A win on Saturday afternoon should seal that spot up for the Boilermakers.

Minnesota (20-12 SU, 16-14 ATS) did a lot to improve its tournament chances by surviving a 72-67 overtime decision as a four-point underdog on Friday night against the Spartans. Devoe Joseph pushed the Gophers with his 17 points, six rebounds and four assists. Colton Iverson put in a performance that Bill Walton would drool over after fouling out with 12 points and four boards.

A win in this game is certainly the best chance for the Golden Gophers to punch their ticket into the NCAA Tournament, but it won’t be easy. Tubby Smith’s crew has lost both of their fixtures against the Boilermakers this season, failing to cover the spread in both of them as well. And the totals both went ‘under’ in the season series.

Purdue has gone an impressive 24-4 SU and 10-16-1 ATS when posted as a favorite this season. The ‘under’ is just 13-11-1 in those contest as well.

Minnesota is 3-5 SU and 4-4 ATS when installed as an underdog this season. The ‘under’ came in strong, cashing in at a 6-1 clip.

**StarDust Bum** · 03-13-2010, 10:38 AM

Here is what is on the board right now.....The rest posted when all lines come out.

Saturday, March 13Game Score Status Pick Amount

Houston - 11:30 AM ET Houston +7 200
Texas-El Paso - Under 145 400

Rhode Island - 1:00 PM ET Temple -4 500 ( A-10 POD )
Temple - Under 127.5 500 ( A-10 TOTAL )

Tennessee - 1:00 PM ET Tennessee +4.5 400
Kentucky - Over 139 500 ( SEC TOTAL )

Miami-Florida - 1:30 PM ET Miami-Florida +11 300
Duke - Over 131 500

Illinois - 1:40 PM ET Illinois +8 500 ( BIG 10 DOG )
Ohio St. - Over 127 500

Will be back as game lines come out....GOOD LUCK !

**StarDust Bum** · 03-13-2010, 10:45 AM

UTEP mining for higher seed

Maybe the excitement will overcome the fatigue and this will be a momentous occasion for the University Texas El Paso. Conference USA champion UTEP will lace them up for the third time in just over 36 hours trying to become a postseason conference champion for the first time since 2005 when they were still in the WAC.

The Miners were left with shameful scheduling for a league champ, having to play the last quarterfinal game Thursday and the first semifinal contest yesterday. They took out their displeasure in tumbling Tulsa 75-61 in a game that wasn’t the close as three point favorites.

“This is a great season we’re having right now,” said star Randy Culpepper, who’s averaging a team-leading 17.9 points. “Just to win the championship it would feel good, especially we’ll feel good about ourselves going into the NCAA Tournament.”

UTEP is 13-5 ATS against C-USA teams away from home and prepares to take on the challenge of Houston for the crown. The Miners might hold opponents to 38.7 percent shooting, but they have their problems with Aubrey Coleman. The senior guard is averaging 25.9 points per game, the best in Division 1 and has averaged 23.3 points per contest in four outings against UTEP that has resulted in a 2-2 and 3-1 ATS record.

The seventh seeded Cougars will need every one of Coleman’s points and more, playing their fourth game in four days. Coach Tom Penders squad knows a 17-15 record isn’t going to get them into the NCAA Tournament, making this a mandatory victory for a club that is 2-9 ATS versus defensive teams allowing 64 or less points a game this season.

Bookmaker.com has established UTEP as seven-point favorites to become C-USA champions with a total of 146. The Miners have held their two tournament opponents to 37.1 percent shooting while forcing 33 turnovers. UTEP is 9-1 ATS on the road when their opponents make 34 to 39 percent of their shots.

“My team has been special all year long and it’s really clicked for us defensively,” Barbee said. “I’ve been preaching it since I’ve been at UTEP and these guys have finally grown to understand what defense and toughness can do for a team.”

Houston has to protect the ball and shoot lights out to give them a chance; however the oddsmakers total is not the pace the Cougs like to play as 1-7 ATS record when the total is 140 to 149.5 proves.

This matchup starts a flurry of basketball activity at 11:30 Eastern on CBS.

**StarDust Bum** · 03-13-2010, 12:04 PM

Big XII Championship

Rivalries are just one of many things that make college sports so entertaining. Put one of those rivalries in a championship game and you have something pretty special. We’re getting something special as the Wildcats and Jayhawks do battle at 6:00 p.m. EST on ESPN for the Big XII championship.

Kansas (31-2 straight up, 13-16-1 against the spread) comes into this contest with the expectations of being this far. After all, the Jayhawks have been the top-ranked team in the nation for almost two-thirds of the season.

Bill Self’s starting crew is the perfect mesh of youth and experience. Senior guard Sherron Collins anchors a unit that features freshman Xavier Henry, plus sophomores Tyshawn Taylor, Marcus Morris and junior Cole Aldrich.

The result of that lineup for Kansas is an offense that is fifth in the nation in scoring (82.2 points per game), 56th in scoring defense (63.7 PPG) and second nationally in defensive field goal percentage (37.7).

As the Jayhawks found themselves clicking to close out the regular season, gamblers have been cashing in for a nice profit. That’s because KU has posted a 3-1 ATS mark in its final four contests with the ‘under’ going 2-1-1.

Any team will be able to help the better degenerates out there when you have guys like Collins lead with 26 points against Texas A&M as the Jayhawks won 79-66 as 9 ½-point favorites on Friday evening. Henry did his part with 15 points against the Aggies, while Aldrich cleaned the glass like a top-shelf hotel maid for nine rebounds.

I don’t want to say a game won’t mean anything towards its tourney chances, but this game means nothing for KU. The Jayhawks are already penciled in as a No. 1 seed for the NCAA Tournament and most likely the top seed for the whole thing.

While the Jayhawks are the national darlings, Kansas State’s (26-6 SU, 18-8-1 ATS) inferiority complex grows. Frank Martin’s Wildcats are currently ranked ninth on the Associated Press poll and finished just behind KU in the Big XII regular season standings.

The Wildcats have found themselves in the hunt for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament because of having one of the more veteran starting lineups in the country. Jacob Pullen anchors this unit with 19.1 PPG and a beard that would make Merlin Olsen send him some flowers from the next ethereal plane. Denis Clemente has been a strong producer for K-State with 16.2 PPG for the season.

K-State has been a solid wager for the gambling public by going 5-2 SU and ATS in its last seven contests. Bettors have been able to cash in on the ‘over’ with the ‘Cats as it is on a 3-0 run.

The Wildcats don’t have any problems about getting into the Big Dance. What is on the line for them is a potential No. 1 seed should they win. Of course, they’re fighting with the likes of Kentucky and Ohio State for that coveted station in the brackets.

Las Vegas Sports Consultants opened the Jayhawks as five-point favorites with a total of 146.

This year Kansas won both matchups, but covered in just one of those tilts. In fact, the head-to-head has been slanted squarely to the Jayhawks. KU is 9-1 SU and 7-3 ATS in the last ten contests between these intrastate rivals.

The Jayhawks have been favored in every game they’ve had on the board this season, going 28-2 SU and 13-16-1 ATS. The ‘under’ has gone 14-12-1 in that stretch as well.

Being an underdog is relatively foreign territory for K-State since they’ve only been in this position five times this season. The Wildcats went 2-3 SU and 3-2 ATS in that spot, with the ‘over’ going 3-2.

As far as the tournament history goes, this is a favorite’s championship game. In the 13 matchups, the faves are 11-2 SU and 8-5 ATS. The ‘under’ has gone 9-4 in those contests.

This is Kansas State’s first trip to the big game, but the Jayhawks’ eighth time on this stage. Kansas won six of its first seven trips to the title game, covering in five of those battles.

**StarDust Bum** · 03-13-2010, 12:18 PM

Date WLT Pct Net Units Record
03/12/10 7-5-0 58.33% +1460 Detail
03/11/10 12-8-0 60.00% +1700 Detail

Saturday, March 13Game Score Status Pick Amount

Chicago - 1:00 PM ET Philadelphia +106 500 ( POD )
Philadelphia - Over 5.5 500

Florida - 4:00 PM ET San Jose -270 500
San Jose - Over 5.5 500

Edmonton - 7:00 PM ET Edmonton +170 500 ( BIG DOG )
Toronto - Over 5.5 500

Boston - 7:00 PM ET Boston +111 500
Montreal - Over 5 500

New Jersey - 7:00 PM ET New Jersey -140 500
NY Islanders - Under 5.5 500

Phoenix - 7:00 PM ET Carolina -113 500
Carolina - Under 5.5 500

Buffalo - 7:00 PM ET Buffalo +156 500 ( POD )
Detroit - Over 5.5 500

St. Louis - 7:00 PM ET Columbus +120 500
Columbus - Over 5.5 500

Ottawa - 10:00 PM ET Ottawa +161 500
Vancouver - Under 5.5 500 ( NHL TOTAL )

**tech fan** · 03-13-2010, 12:19 PM

Gl buddy

**StarDust Bum** · 03-13-2010, 12:26 PM

Thanks Tech Fan......Working on numbers for games up to 7pm Eastern now.......will be out shortly......

**bryce** · 03-13-2010, 01:37 PM

Good luck stardust!!

**StarDust Bum** · 03-13-2010, 02:12 PM

HEY BRYCE.....am glad to see our dogs will be barking the same tune...........

**StarDust Bum** · 03-13-2010, 02:25 PM

Your Mid-day Selections:

South Carolina State - 2:00 PM ET Under 141.5 300
Morgan St. -

Vanderbilt - 3:20 PM ET Vanderbilt -2 500 ( SEC POD )
Mississippi St. -

Richmond - 3:25 PM ET Richmond +3.5 400
Xavier - Over 136.5 400

N.C. State - 3:55 PM ET Georgia Tech -3.5 500 ( ACC POD )
Georgia Tech - Over 130.5 500

Stephen F. Austin - 4:00 PM ET Stephen F. Austin +2.5 500
Sam Houston St. - Under 137.5 300

Minnesota - 4:05 PM ET Minnesota +3 400
Purdue - Over 125 400

Ohio - 6:00 PM ET Ohio +0 500 ( MID AM POD )
Akron - Under 133 500 ( MID AM TOTAL )

Kansas St. - 6:00 PM ET Kansas -5.5 500 ( BIG 12 POD )
Kansas - Over 147.5 500

Washington - 6:00 PM ET Washington +2 500 ( PAC 10 POD )
California - Under 151.5 500

Check Back for Evening Action Later in the Afternoon. GOOD LUCK !

**StarDust Bum** · 03-13-2010, 02:59 PM

Added Upgrade:

South Carolina State - 2:00 PM ET South Carolina State +10 500
( POD )

**Stroker71** · 03-13-2010, 03:24 PM

Hey Stardust nice work yesterday. Any idea on this Georgetown line man is it all over the place?

**StarDust Bum** · 03-13-2010, 03:53 PM

What do you mean by all over the place Stoker.....

**StarDust Bum** · 03-13-2010, 03:54 PM

Saturday, March 13Game Score Status Pick Amount

Detroit - 7:00 PM ET Detroit +12 300
Atlanta - Under 197.5 300

Orlando - 7:00 PM ET Washington +11.5 300
Washington - Over 194 300

Denver - 8:00 PM ET Memphis +2 500 ( NBA DOG )

Memphis - Over 214 500

New York - 8:30 PM ET Dallas -10.5 400
Dallas - Over 212.5 400

New Jersey - 8:30 PM ET New Jersey +9.5 500 ( NBA BIG DOG )

Houston - Over 202 500

L.A. Clippers - 8:30 PM ET San Antonio -12.5 300
San Antonio - Under 196 500

Toronto - 10:30 PM ET Golden State +2 500
Golden State - Over 231.5 500 ( NBA TOTAL )

Announcement

The Bum's Saturday's Best Bets + Pod's !

The Bum's Saturday's Best Bets + Pod's !

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