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**StarDust Bum** · 03-13-2011, 10:17 AM

Ohio St. looks to beat Penn St. for 16th straight time

PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (19-13, #6 seed in Big Ten)

vs. OHIO STATE BUCKEYES (31-2, #1 seed in Big Ten)

Big Ten Tournament – Championship
Tip-off: Sunday, 3:30 p.m. EDT – Indianapolis, IN
Line: Ohio State -10.5

No. 1 Ohio State aims for its second straight Big Ten Tournament championship when it takes on Penn State on Sunday afternoon in Indianapolis.

The Buckeyes, who won their final four regular-season games by an average of 21.2 PPG, edged Northwestern 67-61 in overtime on Friday, and survived a Michigan rally, 68-61, on Saturday to advance to their third straight conference championship. Ohio State scored 16 straight points to take a 63-45 lead, but the Wolverines got within 65-61 with 21.4 seconds left before the Buckeyes iced it away with free throws for their sixth straight victory. Ohio State swept the regular-season series from the Nittany Lions, winning a close call in Columbus on Jan. 15, 69-66, and handling Penn State with ease in Happy Valley, 82-61, on March 1. Jon Diebler (12.4 PPG, 49.7% three-pointers) hit 10-of-12 three-pointers and scored a career-high 30 points in the March victory, while Jared Sullinger (17.3 PPG, 10.1 RPG) totaled 29 points on 10-of-17 shooting in the two contests. Sullinger has averaged 17.0 PPG and 15.5 RPG in Ohio State's first two tournament games. The Buckeyes rank third in the nation in field-goal percentage (49.3%), 19th in scoring (77.3 PPG) and 23rd in assists (15.7 APG).

Penn State, which is hoping for its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2001, beat Indiana, 61-55, on Thursday, survived an ugly 36-33 quarterfinal victory over Wisconsin on Friday, and handled Michigan State, 61-48, on Saturday. Talor Battle (20.0 PPG, 4.5 RPG) had 25 points, seven rebounds and six three-pointers and Tim Frazier (6.1 PPG, 5.0 APG) scored a career-high 22 points versus the Spartans. The Lions have allowed a paltry 45.3 PPG on 36.2% shooting in their three tournament wins. Penn State shot only 42.0% from the floor (21-of-50) against Michigan State, but limited the Spartans to 32.1% (17-of-53) from the floor. The Nittany Lions have won seven of their past nine games (8-1 ATS) and four straight overall. They are now 15-6 ATS (71%) versus Big Ten teams, 11-4 ATS (73%) after an ATS win and are 11-7 ATS (61%) as an underdog this season. Sunday's matchup with Ohio State marks the Lions' first appearance in the Big Ten Tournament championship game.

The Buckeyes have won 15 consecutive games (7-8 ATS) versus Penn State, with their last loss to the Nittany Lions coming in 2004. Ohio State looks to become the first Big Ten tournament back-to-back winners since Michigan State in 1999 and 2000. The Nittany Lions are 0-12 all-time against The Associated Press' No. 1 ranked team. Despite Penn State’s great ATS marks this season and stellar defense during the Big Ten Tournament, the Buckeyes have too many weapons to contend with and should win this game comfortably. This FoxSheets trend also expects Ohio State to win and cover the spread on Sunday.

OHIO STATE is 7-0 ATS (+7.0 Units) when playing their 2nd game in 3 days over the last 3 seasons. The average score was OHIO STATE 81.5, OPPONENT 66.3 - (Rating = 2*).

**StarDust Bum** · 03-13-2011, 10:19 AM

NCAA Odds: Long shot Penn State faces Buckeyes

It's certainly not the Big Ten Championship matchup everyone expected.

The top-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes, a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament now secure, will be the anticipated half of Sunday's contest at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis (12:30 p.m. PT, CBS). The other half will be the Penn State Nittany Lions who will be making their first-ever appearance in the final of the conference tourney.

Penn State (19-13 straight up, 17-11 against the spread) became an unlikely participant in the game courtesy of a 61-48 triumph over Michigan State in Saturday's second conference semifinal contest. It was the third consecutive win during the tournament for the ninth-seeded Nittany Lions who covered all three. They were 3½-point underdogs in Saturday's victory over the Spartans and getting 7½ when they hung a 36-33 final on Wisconsin in one of the worst overall displays of offense in recent college history.

All three of Penn State's tournament games have stayed below the number, and by comfortable margins. The opening round win against Indiana finished 13 points below the 129-point total with Saturday's game 20½ shy of the NCAA odds. Friday's game versus the Badgers would've been an 'under' if the teams had played a half-dozen overtime periods.

The Nittany Lions used a 13-2 run in the first half against Michigan State to climb out of an early hole and send the teams into halftime knotted at 26. By the time the Spartans had scored their first 12 points of the second half, PSU guard Talor Battle had 14 himself in the half on his way to a game-high 25. Tim Frazier added 22 to the Lions' attack on 9-of-13 shooting.

Just before Penn State and Michigan State took the floor, Ohio State (31-2 SU, 15-15 ATS) coasted past Michigan in its semifinal, 68-61, as 10-point chalk. The Buckeyes built a 17-point advantage with a little less than five minutes to go on an Aaron Craft free throw before the Wolverines closed on a 16-7 run to beat the spread.

'Under' bettors were rewarded with the final score staying just under the 129½-point total. Both of OSU's tourney games have gone to low-side ticketholders after the Buckeyes closed the regular season on a 5-0 run to the high side.

Ohio State's last eight points in the game came from the charity stripe, but the team missed 10 of 23 free throws on the afternoon. Buckeyes forward Jared Sullinger recorded a double-double in the contest, scoring 14 and grabbing 13 boards, six off the offensive glass, but it was not a great day overall. The big freshman was just 5-of-13 from the field and 4-of-10 from the line a day after he converted on 16-of-18 freebies in the 67-61 overtime win versus Northwestern.

Sullinger enters Sunday's title tilt having scored on just 7-of-25 shots from the field in the tournament games against Northwestern and Michigan combined.

Only Iowa had longer odds than Penn State to win the Big Ten when futures rolled out last October. The Nittany Lions were 18/1 with Ohio State and Michigan State 5/2 co-favorites after Purdue lost Robbie Hummel to a season-ending injury. A Buckeyes, Spartans matchup on Sunday would've validated preseason prognosticators despite Michigan State not really living up to their expectations.

As long as their odds were to begin the season, the Nittany Lions likely face longer odds in this game. Ohio State beat Penn State twice during the regular season to run the current string to 14 consecutive Buckeyes wins in the series. PSU's last win against OSU was at home in Jan. 2004.

The Lions gave Ohio State all it could handle in Columbus on Jan. 15 in a 69-66 loss as huge 17½ underdogs with the Buckeyes covering in State College on March 1 as 6½-point road chalk, 82-61. Both regular season games went 'over.'

**StarDust Bum** · 03-13-2011, 10:20 AM

Orlando Magic visit Suns on NBA betting slate

The Orlando Magic have failed to cover their last four contests.
Steve Nash just turned 37 and the Phoenix Suns great point guard is in physical pain.

The Orlando Magic are in mental anguish having blown a 21-point lead in their last game, an overtime road loss to Golden State this past Friday night.

Nash may have to sit out when the Suns host the Magic Sunday at 12:30 p.m. PT with ABC televising.

Phoenix is 18-9 in its last 27 games, but could be missing Nash. He played only 10 minutes in the second half of the Suns’ loss in their last game this past Thursday at home to Denver bothered by an irritated bone in his groin area.

The Suns lost 116-97 as four-point favorites with the combined 213 points falling ‘under’ the 216 ½-point total. It was the first time in 13 tries Denver defeated the Suns in Phoenix.

Nash had trouble keeping up with speedy Denver point guard Ty Lawson, who had 20 points and 11 assists. Nash scored only seven points with seven assists and six turnovers, his worst stat line in 2 ½ months.

Nash’s injury is so painful he may have to sit out a couple of games starting with this matchup. Nash didn’t practice Friday. He rehabilitated the same injury in November, missing two games back then.

Backup point guard Aaron Brooks is in line for extended minutes if Nash can’t go. Brooks played well for Houston last season when he started all 82 games. He’s had a lost and injury-filled season this year.

Brooks has been with the Suns for just two weeks and still is learning the system and new teammates. Rookie Zabian Dowdell is Phoenix’s other point guard.

The Suns already are without Channing Frye, who is out at least two more weeks with a dislocated right shoulder. Frye, a 6-foot-11 forward with a 3-point shooting touch, has missed the last two games. He had scored at least 13 points in 11 of his last 14 games before suffering the injury.

Phoenix’s loss to Denver snapped a season-best string of 11 consecutive games of scoring at least 100 points. The Suns are 7-15-2 ATS in their next game after not covering.

Vince Carter is averaging a career-low 14.2 points per game. He averaged 30.5 points, though, in two previous games before being held to six points against the Nuggets making only two-of-11 shots from the field.

Orlando opened its five-game road trip sneaking past Sacramento this past Wednesday, 106-102, failing to cover as 10-point favorites.

The Magic didn’t play well against Golden State this past Friday and it caught up to them with a 123-120 overtime loss as 4 ½-point favorites. The combined 243 points went ‘over’ the 208-point total. The teams combined for 202 points during regulation.

Jason Richardson scored 30 points and Jameer Nelson had 24 in the loss. Richardson has been red-hot making 18 of 30 three-point shots in his last three games.

The Magic played without backup shooting guard J.J. Redick, who pulled a muscle in his lower abdomen during a workout the day of the game.

Orlando has failed to cover in five of its last six games, including the past four. The Magic are 23-10-1 ATS in their last 34 games versus Pacific Division foes.

The ‘under’ has cashed in 12 of the Magic’s last 16 games The ‘over’ has cashed in five of Phoenix’s last seven games.

Orlando won the first meeting between the two clubs, 105-89, on Nov. 18 as 10 ½-point home ‘chalk.’ The combined 194 points went ‘under’ the 204 ½-point total.

The Suns were playing for the fourth time in five days when they lost to the Magic and also were without Nash, who was nursing a groin injury. Dwight Howard paced Orlando with 20 points and 12 rebounds.

**StarDust Bum** · 03-13-2011, 10:22 AM

ACC Finals, UNC vs. Duke

March 13, 2011

Along Tobacco Road, this is how they like to do it -- one game at Cameron Indoor Stadium, one at the Dean Dome and then the season trilogy in the finals of the ACC Tournament. That’s the exact scenario that’ll play out this afternoon at Greensboro Coliseum where Duke and North Carolina will collide in the finals of the ACC Tournament.

Most books opened Duke (29-4 straight up, 18-14 against the spread) as a three-point favorite. As of early this morning, most spots had the Blue Devils as 3 ½ or four-point favorites with a total of 145 ½. Bettors can take UNC on the money line for a plus-150 return (risk $100 to win $150).

Duke was in control from start to finish in Saturday’s semifinal victory over Va. Tech by a 74-60 score. The Blue Devils took the cash as 7 ½-point favorites thanks to Nolan Smith’s 27-point effort. Smith, who sustained a toe injury the previous night in a win over Maryland, showed no signs of injury whatsoever.

North Carolina (26-6 SU, 15-13-1 ATS) played from behind for a second straight day on Saturday, needing to rally to force overtime and then capture a 92-87 win over Clemson as a five-point favorite. The 179 combined points easily went ‘over’ the 132 ½-point total.

Harrison Barnes was the catalyst in the comeback win, scoring a career-high 40 points on 12-of-17 shooting from the field. John Henson added 18 points and 11 rebounds.

When these teams met in the regular-season finale in Chapel Hill, UNC dominated its arch rival in an 81-67 triumph as a 1 ½-point favorite. Kendall Marshall led the winners with 15 points and 11 assists to offset Smith’s game-high 30 points. The ‘under’ cashed for the fifth consecutive time in the history of this rivalry.

Duke came out on top in come-from-behind fashion in the first encounter. Trailing by 14 at halftime, the Blue Devils rallied to collect a 79-73 win. However, UNC backers still cashed tickets comfortably as a 10-point underdog.

Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.

**StarDust Bum** · 03-13-2011, 10:23 AM

SEC Finals, UF vs. UK

March 13, 2011

For the first time since it won the national championship in 2007, Florida (26-6 straight up, 14-13-1 against the spread) is back in the SEC Tournament finals. The Gators overcame a 12-point deficit in the second half thanks to the hot shooting of Kenny Boynton and Erving Walker, who were the catalysts in Saturday’s 77-66 victory over Vanderbilt in a semifinal showdown at the Georgia Dome.

Walker was the first to catch fire, scoring 12 points in a stretch of just more than four minutes to trim Vandy’s lead from 12 to one at the 13:59 mark of the second half. With the game tied at 57-57, Boynton buried a 3-pointer and the Gators wouldn’t relinquish the lead from there. They covered the number as three-point favorites, while the 143 combined points slipped ‘over’ the 140-point total.

Boynton finished with a game-high 24 points, getting 13 of those in the final eight minutes. Not only that, but the sophomore guard was the main defender against John Jenkins, who was stymied into an abysmal 3-of-15 shooting performance.

With a 65-61 advantage, Walker delivered the dagger. Leaking out ahead of the defense, Boynton found the Bronx product in the corner and he buried a trifecta for a seven-point cushion. Chandler Parsons was also in the mix plenty, tallying 16 points, nine rebounds and three assists.

Kentucky (24-8 SU, 12-14-1 ATS) advanced to the SEC finals for the second straight season by punishing Alabama by a 72-58 count as a 6 ½-point favorite. The Wildcats led by 16 at intermission and by more than 20 for most of the second half.

However, in a seven-second span during the last two minutes, DeAndre Liggins and Doron Lamb both turned their ankles. Lamb seemed to get the worst of it, leaving his status for Sunday as ‘questionable.’

Lamb scored a team-high 15 points for the ‘Cats, who also got 14 points and 10 rebounds from Josh Harrelson. Brandon Knight broke the game open by scoring 10 consecutive points during one span. Knight finished with 12 points and seven assists.

UF and UK split a pair of regular-season meetings with both teams winning at home. In a Feb. 5 encounter at the O-Dome in Gainesville, the Gators won a 70-68 decision as one-point underdogs. Parsons led the way for the winners with 17 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. Knight had a game-high 24 points in the losing effort.

The rematch at Rupp Arena took place on Feb. 26 in Lexington, with Kentucky capturing a 76-68 win as an eight-point home favorite at most books. The 144 combined points jumped ‘over’ the 137-point tally.

Darius Miller scored a career-high 24 points to pace the ‘Cats, who also got 16 points and six assists from Knight. Lamb scored 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field. Boynton had a team-high 21 points for UF, while Parsons finished with 15 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

The ‘over’ is on an incredible run in Florida games, hitting in seven straight and nine of its last 10. For the season, the Gators have seen the ‘over’ go 17-10 overall. Meanwhile, UK has watched the ‘under’ cash at a 14-12 overall clip.

As of early Saturday night, most books were listing Kentucky as a two-point ‘chalk.’ Tip-off in Atlanta is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Eastern on ABC.

**B.E.’s Bonus Nuggets**

--UK is a perfect 5-0 in SEC Tournament games on John Calipari’s watch.

--Vandy hasn’t been to the finals of the SEC Tournament since 1951.

--Florida has been dynamite in the underdog role this year, compiling a 6-0-1 spread record. What's even more impressive is the fact that the Gators have won outright six times in seven games as underdogs.

--According to the Jackson Clarion-Ledger, Ole Miss AD Pete Boone indicated that head coach Andy Kennedy would return for a sixth season in Oxford. The Rebels will find out if they made the NIT field by 8:00 p.m. Eastern tonight.

--Boston U. is going to the NCAA Tournament for the seventh time and the first time since 2002 after beating Stony Brook 56-54 in the finals of Saturday’s America East Conference Tournament.

--Alabama did hook up its backers for halftime bets. Trailing by 16 at intermission, the Tide was a 1 ½-point favorite for second-half wagers. A meaningless bucket in the final seconds gave ‘Bama backers a winner.

**StarDust Bum** · 03-13-2011, 10:26 AM

Bracketology Update

March 13, 2011

Well, we've come to the end of the line. After almost three months of Bracketology reports, they all become as quickly forgotten as most college football bowl games after Selection Sunday. This is also a time of another rite of March, that being the fretting over the final at-large teams in Big Dance field. But we'll be lucky to see any of those teams being discussed actually sticking in the field beyond sub-regional weekend.

Interestingly, we haven't yet seen any true "Bubble Busters" this March, unless another Missouri Valley rep joins surprise conference tourney winner Indiana State in the field of 68. Then we'll know the Sycamores bumped out somebody from another conference. Otherwise, there haven't been any, although there is one last chance on Sunday with Dayton having advanced to the A-10 finale at Atlantic City vs. Richmond. The Selection Committee would never disclose as much (since they never confirm "last in" or "first out" teams), but for our bracket purposes we suspect Alabama is in the biggest trouble if the Flyers win. Whatever, rest assured Bama and anyone else on the bubble will be Richmond fans on Sunday. Some might also put Penn State as a potential bubble thieve, but we have the Nittany Lions into our field regardless what happens in the Big Ten finale at Indianapolis vs. Ohio State.

Four conference tourney finals remain on Sunday, and following is a brief preview for what's at stake...

ACC... Likely at stake in another Duke-North Carolina finale is a regional top seed, somewhere; the winner gets it, and the loser gets a number two seed, likely behind Pitt in the Panthers' region. We now think Jamie Dixon's squad will be one of the four number one seeds, along with one from among the Tar Heels and Blue Devils.

SEC... Florida and Kentucky are both looking very good for protected seed (1 thru 4 regionally) status, with the Gators in the frame for as high as a 2 seed with a win over Coach Cal's Cats Sunday at the Georgia Dome.

Big Ten... Don't expect Penn State to pull a flop-er-roo as did Minnesota in last year's Big Ten finale vs. Ohio State. Talor Battle won't let Penn State take it easy, and the Nittany Lions likely approach this one as if they need it to make the field (even though we think they've already made it).

Atlantic 10... Dayton is the only consensus "Bubble Buster" left in the conference tourney field when it takes on Richmond in the A-10 finale at the old Convention hall on The Boardwalk in Atlantic City. All that is at stake for the Spiders is a better regional seed.

In or out? Here's our look at a handful of teams straddling the cut-line entering Selection Sunday...

Penn State... Now with a pair of wins over Wisconsin and Michigan State, plus their fast finish in the regular season, we suspect that Ed DeChellis' Nittany Lions have done enough to make the field.

Georgia... Despite two losses in the last week to Alabama, we still think the Dawgs have a slightly better at-large case than the Tide. No bad losses, 21 wins, a decent mark in the rugged SEC East, and RPI and SOS (strength of schedule) numbers in the low 40s suggest UGa should still get a look. And if the Dawgs do get the call, we would watch out for them next week.

Alabama... The Tide could have at least used a few style points in Saturday's SEC semifinal vs. Kentucky; instead, Bama didn't deliver any in a 72-58 loss. But we're thinking the Committee will value the Tide's comfy win margin atop the SEC West (admittedly in a down year), it's solid finish the second half of the season, and wins over Kentukcy, Tennessee, and Georgia twice to overcome some lesser non-conference and RPI numbers remember, Bama missed then-injured star F JaMychal Green for a few early-season contests. The Tide also has a 16-0 mark at home in Tuscaloosa this season, but the only way Bama plays again at Coleman Coliseum is in the NIT.

Colorado... We moved the Buffs to the wrong side of the cut-line last night to make room for Penn State. CU is still in with a shout of sneaking into the field, with its three wins over Kansas State and another over Texas. Upon inspection, however, two of those wins over K-State were when the Wildcats were floundering, and there are plenty of other holes in this profile. CU is hardly a an at-large shoe-in.

Illinois... Sorry, Illini fans, we aren't buying the case. Although the win over North Carolina (before the Heels turned into...North Carolina) way back in the ACC-Big Ten challenge remains a nice chip to cash with the Selection Committee, we can't overlook 10 losses in Illinois' last 16 games, essentially half of the season. Those are not at-large types of numbers, and the early exit in the Big Ten Tourney vs. Michigan didn't help.

Southern Cal... We know about all of the big-name scalps claimed by SC (Texas, at Tennessee, UCLA, Arizona, at Washington), but almost all of those are canceled out by some awful losses vs. TCU, Bradley, Rider, Oregon State, and Oregon...twice. And now HC Kevin O'Neill is in hot water after being involved in a "verbal altercation" with a fan at last week's Pac-10 Tourney. We suspect the 14 losses (six to sub-100 entries) is going to make this selection too hard to justify.

Well, it's been fun the past three months with Bracketology, and we look forward to starting again next December. In the meantime, here are our final projections as of Sunday morning; stay tuned for the Selection Show later this afternoon on CBS.

Bracketology Projections
Seed EAST SOUTHEAST SOUTHWEST WEST
1 Pitt Ohio State Kansas North Carolina
2 Duke Florida San Diego State Notre Dame
3 UConn Louisville Purdue Kentucky
4 Wisconsin Texas Syracuse BYU
5 Kansas St. St. John's Washington West Virginia
6 Old Dominion Xavier Vanderbilt Arizona
7 UNLV UCLA Cincinnati Texas A&M
8 Temple Florida State Georgetown Utah State
9 Clemson Richmond George Mason Michigan
10 Butler Michigan State Gonzaga Virginia Tech
11 Tennessee Missouri Villanova Marquette
12 East 12* Memphis Penn State West 12*
13 Princeton Belmont Oakland Indiana State
14 Wofford Morehead State Akron No. Colorado
15 St.Peter's Long Island Bucknell UCSB
16 Boston U SE 16* SW 16* UA-Little Rock

*Notes

East
East 12 play-in game: Alabama vs. UAB

Southeast SE 16 play-in game: Hampton vs. UNC-Asheville

Southwest SW 16 play-in game: UTSA vs. Alabama State

West West 12 play-in game: Georgia vs. Saint Mary's

Last four in: Alabama, UAB, Georgia, Saint Mary's

First four out: Colorado, Illinois, Southern Cal, Boston College

Next four out: Missouri State, Wichita State, Harvard, UTEP

**StarDust Bum** · 03-13-2011, 01:04 PM

Date WLT Pct Net Units Record
03/12/11 4-*4-*0 50.00% +*80 Detail
03/11/11 6-*2-*2 75.00% +*2365 Detail
03/10/11 7-*2-*0 77.78% +*2715 Detail
03/09/11 6-*5-*0 54.55% +*425 Detail
03/07/11 4-*6-*0 40.00% -*1135 Detail
03/06/11 5-*5-*0 50.00% +*45 Detail
03/05/11 3-*7-*0 30.00% -*1720 Detail
03/04/11 9-*3-*0 75.00% +*3135 Detail
03/03/11 7-*4-*1 63.64% +*1750 Detail
03/02/11 7-*5-*0 58.33% +*770 Detail
Totals 58-*43-*3 57.43% +8430

Sunday, March 13

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Boston - 1:05 PM ET Boston -120 500
Pittsburgh -

Tampa Bay - 1:05 PM ET Tampa Bay +108 500
Toronto -

Washington - 1:05 PM ET Washington +117 500
Florida -

St. Louis - 1:10 PM ET St. Louis +111 500
NY Mets -

Cleveland - 4:05 PM ET San Diego -121 500
San Diego -

Colorado - 4:05 PM ET Colorado +111 500
Oakland -

Kansas City - 4:05 PM ET Kansas City +119 500
Milwaukee -

San Francisco - 4:05 PM ET San Francisco +111 500
Texas -

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

Date WLT Pct Net Units Record
03/12/11 11-*8-*1 57.89% +*1235 Detail
03/11/11 10-*5-*1 66.67% +*3020 Detail
03/10/11 6-*8-*0 42.86% -*1480 Detail
03/09/11 5-*9-*0 35.71% -*2285 Detail
03/08/11 6-*10-*2 37.50% -*2235 Detail
03/07/11 3-*3-*0 50.00% +*140 Detail
03/06/11 4-*4-*2 50.00% -*40 Detail
03/05/11 11-*7-*0 61.11% +*1925 Detail
03/04/11 3-*1-*0 75.00% +*1000 Detail
03/03/11 12-*8-*0 60.00% +*2415 Detail
03/02/11 8-*0-*0 100.00% +*4230 Detail
03/01/11 10-*6-*0 62.50% +*2150 Detail
Totals 89-*69-*6 56.33% +10075

Sunday, March 13

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Chicago - 12:30 PM ET Chicago +114 500
Washington - Over 5.5 500

Edmonton - 3:00 PM ET Edmonton +216 500
Pittsburgh - Under 5.5 500

Los Angeles - 3:00 PM ET Dallas +100 500
Dallas - Over 5 500

Ottawa - 5:00 PM ET Ottawa +165 500
Buffalo - Under 5.5 500

Phoenix - 8:00 PM ET Phoenix +125 500
Anaheim - Under 5.5 500

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

Date WLT Pct Net Units Record
03/12/11 11-*7-*0 61.11% +*1650 Detail
03/11/11 13-*5-*0 72.22% +*3750 Detail
03/10/11 2-*4-*0 33.33% -*1200 Detail
03/09/11 8-*14-*0 36.36% -*3700 Detail
03/08/11 8-*4-*0 66.67% +*1800 Detail
03/07/11 8-*6-*0 57.14% +*700 Detail
03/06/11 12-*6-*0 66.67% +*2700 Detail
03/05/11 4-*8-*0 33.33% -*2400 Detail
03/04/11 8-*10-*0 44.44% -*1500 Detail
03/02/11 7-*12-*1 36.84% -*3100 Detail
03/01/11 3-*5-*0 37.50% -*1250 Detail
Totals 84-*81-*1 50.91% -*2550

Sunday, March 13

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Charlotte - 1:00 PM ET Charlotte +1.5 500
Toronto - Over 198 500

Oklahoma City - 1:00 PM ET Cleveland +9.5 500
Cleveland - Over 210.5 500

Orlando - 3:30 PM ET Orlando -4.5 500
Phoenix - Under 204.5 500

Milwaukee - 6:00 PM ET Milwaukee +9 500
Boston - Under 180 500

Indiana - 6:00 PM ET New York -8.5 500
New York - Under 218 500

Minnesota - 9:00 PM ET Minnesota +6.5 500
Golden State - Over 218.5 500

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

**StarDust Bum** · 03-13-2011, 01:10 PM

College Hoops:

Duke -4.5 Over 147.5

Florida - 1.5 Over 135

Richmond - 4 Under 129

Penn St. + 10.5 Over 125.5

The site is down right now......so this is what i have going

**StarDust Bum** · 03-13-2011, 01:14 PM

Knicks favored by 8 points over Pacers

INDIANA PACERS (27-38)

at NEW YORK KNICKS (34-30)

Tip-off: Sunday, 6:00 p.m. EDT
Line: New York -8, Total: 218

The Knicks and Pacers kick off a home-and-home at Madison Square Garden Sunday evening.

The Pacers are in a strange spot. They’re clearly a rebuilding team trying to break in their young players, but despite being 11 games below .500 they’re still tied for the final playoff spot in the East (with Charlotte, another team that’s similarly rebuilding). Indiana has dropped six in a row SU (1-5 ATS) and hasn’t been particularly competitive. Five of those six games were on the road, and the Pacers came within 10 points only once (an eight-point loss in Dallas).

Their last two top draft picks have been moved into the starting lineup. Starting the past two games, Tyler Hansbrough has delivered two 20-point performances (21 in Minnesota, 20 in Toronto) while Paul George has struggled a bit, scoring a total of 18 points while shooting 6-for-18 from the field. Star player Danny Granger has seemed disinterested during this recent losing streak, shooting 30.2% from the field while scoring 15.5 PPG, five below his season average. That included an ugly 2-for-19 night in Minnesota on Wednesday. Center Roy Hibbert was held scoreless in that Minnesota loss and followed it up with just four points in Toronto.

The Knicks haven’t been markedly improved since acquiring Carmelo Anthony. They’re 6-4 SU and ATS with Anthony and, predictably, have taken a step back defensively. Even with one of those 10 games being a 92-79 win in Atlanta when the Hawks didn’t show up, the Knicks are allowing 108.8 PPG (106.2 pre-Anthony) and 47.4% FG (46.0% pre-Anthony). They were not competitive in a 127-109 loss in Dallas Thursday night.

However, New York is expected to get Chauncey Billups back in the lineup, and it certainly has the firepower to blow out a Pacers team that’s 13-18-2 ATS on the road this season and has been outscored by an average of 17.0 PPG in the past five road games. The Knicks are averaging 116.8 PPG in their four home games since adding Anthony, including a 131-point outburst against Utah Monday night. With that kind of offensive weaponry against a team that seems genuinely disinterested in the playoffs, I’m picking New York. The FoxSheets have a few trends that play in the Knicks’ favor, including:

Play On - Any team (NEW YORK) - explosive offensive team - scoring 103+ points/game on the season, after trailing in their previous game by 15 or more points at the half. (113-58 since 1996, 66.1%, +49.2 units. Rating = 3*).

**StarDust Bum** · 03-13-2011, 01:15 PM

Slumping Celtics host surging Bucks

MILWAUKEE BUCKS (26-38)

at BOSTON CELTICS (46-17)

Tip-off: Sunday, 6:00 p.m. EDT
Line: Boston -9.5, Total: 180.5

The Celtics have hit a mini-slump, but they have a great chance to break out of it Sunday evening when they host Milwaukee.

Boston has dropped back-to-back games (and four straight ATS defeats), a stunning home loss to the Clippers and a road loss in Philadelphia. However, the Celtics will be hosting a Bucks team that’s not only banged up, but also has less than 21 hours of recovery time after hosting the 76ers Saturday night. Three key players in their frontcourt didn’t play in Saturday night’s win -- Ersan Ilyasova (concussion), Drew Gooden (foot) and Corey Maggette (knee) -- meaning they’re all questionable at best for Sunday.

The Bucks have impressed with their shorter roster though. They’ve rung off three SU wins in a row, and four straight ATS. While their three SU wins haven’t been over elite competition, they have been in blowout fashion. They beat Washington on the road by 19, Cleveland at home by 20, and Philadelphia at home Saturday night by 28. They continue to do it with outstanding defense. Since the All-Star break, they’re allowing just 89.6 PPG.

These teams met in Milwaukee on March 6 and played a tight one. It was tied with less than three minutes to go before the Bucks went ice cold down the stretch. However, they played that game without Andrew Bogut, who led them with 17 points and nine rebounds against Philly on Saturday night. And despite the Bucks being 7-10 SU with zero days rest, they’re 11-6 ATS playing the tail end of back-to-backs this season.

Considering these teams like to keep the tempo low, and the Celtics just haven’t been playing particularly well of late, that spread is too big for my liking. I’m picking Milwaukee, which is 7-1-1 ATS in the past nine meetings between these teams, including 4-0 ATS in Boston. The FoxSheets have some numbers that go against the Celtics, including:

Play On - Any team (MILWAUKEE) - double revenge - 2 straight losses vs. opponent, off 2 consecutive home wins by 10 points or more. (45-17 over the last 5 seasons.) (72.6%, +26.3 units. Rating = 3*).

Play Against - Home favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points (BOSTON) - after being beaten by the spread by 18 or more points total in their last three games against opponent after going under the total by 48 or more points total in their last ten games. (55-28 over the last 5 seasons, 66.3%, +24.2 units. Rating = 2*).

Because Boston ranks second in the NBA in scoring defense (91.8 PPG) and Milwaukee is third, at 92.3 PPG, it’s tempting to take the Under in Sunday’s matchup, but this FoxSheets trend sides with the Over.

Play Over - Road teams where the total is between 180 and 189.5 points (MILWAUKEE) - after successfully covering the spread in 2 or more consecutive games, with a losing record. (77-45 over the last 5 seasons.) (63.1%, +27.5 units. Rating = 2*).

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