Friday's Trends and Indexes - 4/1 (NBA, NCAAB, NHL, MLB, Misc.)

[Udog]

NHL
Write-Up


Friday, April 1

Hot Teams
-- Flyers won their last three road games, allowing five goals.
-- St Louis won three of last four games, scoring 10 goals in last game.
-- Coyotes won eight of their last ten games.

Cold Teams
-- Chicago lost five of its last seven road games. Blue Jackets lost five of their last six games, overall.
-- Devils lost five of their last seven games.
-- Flames lost seven of their last nine games.
-- Avalanche lost four in row and 10 of last 12 games.

Totals
-- Five of last six Chicago games stayed under the total.
-- Under is 5-0-2 in last seven New Jersey games.
-- Five of last six Calgary games went over the total.
-- Last seven Phoenix games stayed under total. Over is 9-3 in last dozen Colorado games.

Back-to-Back
-- Blue Jackets are 1-3 at home if they played night before.
-- Philadelphia is 6-2 on road if it played night before.
-- Avalanche is 2-8 on road if it played the night before.

Series records
-- Blackhawks won five of last six visits to Columbus.
-- Flyers won nine of their last twelve games agaunst New Jersey.
-- Flames are 3-0 against St Louis this year outscoring them 11-1.
-- Coyotes won last five games against Colorado, outscoring them 19-5.

[Udog]

NHL


Friday, April 1

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Trend Report
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7:00 PM
CHICAGO vs. COLUMBUS
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Chicago's last 5 games when playing on the road against Columbus
Chicago is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Columbus
Columbus is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Columbus's last 5 games at home

7:00 PM
PHILADELPHIA vs. NEW JERSEY
Philadelphia is 6-17 SU in its last 23 games when playing on the road against New Jersey
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Philadelphia's last 7 games when playing on the road against New Jersey
New Jersey is 17-6 SU in its last 23 games when playing at home against Philadelphia
New Jersey is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Philadelphia

8:00 PM
CALGARY vs. ST. LOUIS
Calgary is 17-5 SU in its last 22 games when playing St. Louis
Calgary is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of St. Louis's last 6 games when playing at home against Calgary
St. Louis is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Calgary

10:00 PM
COLORADO vs. PHOENIX
Colorado is 3-22 SU in its last 25 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Colorado's last 5 games when playing on the road against Phoenix
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Phoenix's last 6 games at home
Phoenix is 10-4 SU in its last 14 games at home


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[Udog]

NHL


Friday, April 1

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Ice picks: Friday's best NHL bets
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Calgary Flames at St. Louis Blues (-115, 5.5)

With 82 games on the schedule, every team is going to be involved in a few weird ones that bettors need to shrug off.

Chalk St. Louis’ 10-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday night as one of those. The Red Wings barely showed up and the Blues took advantage of some poor goaltending as Detroit starter Jimmy Howard remains out with a sprained shoulder.

The Blues won’t be so lucky Thursday against a desperate Flames club. Calgary dropped a tough loss to Anaheim, which puts the club seriously behind the eight-ball to make the playoffs. At this point, the Flames will have to win out and hope to get a lot of help.

“We’ve just gotta try to win our games. You never know what’s going to happen with the other teams, so we can’t just let up,” Tom Kostopoulos told reporters. “We’ve got to keep trying to win.”

Pick: Flames


Philadelphia Flyers at New Jersey Devils (-115, 5)

Defenseman Andy Greene scored in overtime to down the New York Islanders 3-2 on Wednesday. It was his just his first goal in almost three months and it did keep New Jersey’s playoff hopes mathematically alive for the time being.

But in reality, they’re done.

“It is certainly different territory for us,” Martin Brodeur told reporters. “We’ve come a long way in the second half of the season, and it is going to be over on April 10. Until then, we have to find a way to continue to motivate ourselves, and go out and play hard every night.”

You have to give the Devils credit for doing just that – battling back after such a rotten start. Look for them to fade a bit as they come up a little short.

Pick: Flyers


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[Udog]

MLB
Dunkel


Boston at Texas
The Red Sox look to build on their 6-1 record in Jon Lester's last 7 road starts. Boston is the pick (-125) according to Dunkel, which has the Red Sox favored by 1 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Boston (-125). Here are all of today's picks.

FRIDAY, APRIL 1

Game 951-952: Houston at Philadelphia (1:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Houston (Myers) 14.622; Philadelphia (Halladay) 15.705
Dunkel Line: Philadelphia by 1; 6 1/2
Vegas Line: Philadelphia (-260); 7
Dunkel Pick: Philadelphia (-260); Under

Game 953-954: Pittsburgh at Chicago Cubs (2:20 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Pittsburgh (Correia) 14.827; Cubs (Dempster) 13.802
Dunkel Line: Pittsburgh by 1; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: Chicago Cubs (-180); No Run Line
Dunkel Pick: Pittsburgh (+160); N/A

Game 955-956: Arizona at Colorado (4:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Arizona (Kennedy) 14.561; Colorado (Jimenez) 15.238
Dunkel Line: Colorado by 1/2; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: Colorado (-200); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Colorado (-200); Over

Game 957-958: NY Mets at Florida (7:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: NY Mets (Pelfrey) 15.076; Florida (Johnson) 14.089
Dunkel Line: NY Mets by 1; 6
Vegas Line: Florida (-180); 7
Dunkel Pick: NY Mets (+160); Under

Game 959-960: San Francisco at LA Dodgers (10:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: San Francisco (Sanchez) 16.492; LA Dodgers (Billingsley) 15.385
Dunkel Line: San Francisco by 1; 6 1/2
Vegas Line: LA Dodgers (-120); 7
Dunkel Pick: San Francisco (+100); Under

Game 961-962: Chicago White Sox at Cleveland (3:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: White Sox (Buehrle) 14.495; Cleveland (Carmona) 15.738
Dunkel Line: Cleveland by 1 1/2; 8 1/2
Vegas Line: Cleveland (-110); 8
Dunkel Pick: Cleveland (-110); Over

Game 963-964: Boston at Texas (4:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Boston (Lester) 16.543; Texas (Wilson) 14.955
Dunkel Line: Boston by 1 1/2; 8
Vegas Line: Boston (-125); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Boston (-125); Under

Game 965-966: Minnesota at Toronto (7:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Minnesota (Pavano) 15.725; Toronto (Romero) 15.326
Dunkel Line: Minnesota by 1/2; 9
Vegas Line: Toronto (-135); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Minnesota (+115); Over

Game 967-968: Baltimore at Tampa Bay (7:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Baltimore (Guthrie) 15.585; Tampa Bay (Price) 14.686
Dunkel Line: Baltimore by 1; 8
Vegas Line: Tampa Bay (-200); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Baltimore (+170); Under

Game 969-970: LA Angels at Kansas City (8:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: LA Angels (Haren) 15.451; Kansas City (Francis) 14.713
Dunkel Line: LA Angels by 1/2; 8 1/2
Vegas Line: LA Angels (-150); 8
Dunkel Pick: LA Angels (-150); Over

Game 971-972: Seattle at Oakland (10:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Seattle (Hernandez) 15.711; Oakland (Cahill) 14.330
Dunkel Line: Seattle by 1 1/2; 7
Vegas Line: Oakland (-120); 6 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Seattle (+100); Over

[Udog]

MLB
Long Sheet


Friday, April 1

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HOUSTON (0 - 0) at PHILADELPHIA (0 - 0) - 1:05 PM
BRETT MYERS (R) vs. ROY HALLADAY (R)
Top Trends for this game.
HOUSTON is 76-86 (+10.3 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
HOUSTON is 76-86 (+10.3 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
MYERS is 20-13 (+11.3 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
MYERS is 20-13 (+11.3 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)

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

BRETT MYERS vs. PHILADELPHIA since 1997
MYERS is 1-0 when starting against PHILADELPHIA with an ERA of 2.57 and a WHIP of 1.429.
His team's record is 1-0 (+1.7 units) in these starts. The OVER is 0-1. (-1.1 units)

ROY HALLADAY vs. HOUSTON since 1997
HALLADAY is 1-1 when starting against HOUSTON with an ERA of 1.69 and a WHIP of 0.813.
His team's record is 1-1 (-2.4 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 2-0. (+2.0 units)

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PITTSBURGH (0 - 0) at CHICAGO CUBS (0 - 0) - 2:20 PM
KEVIN CORREIA (R) vs. RYAN DEMPSTER (R)
Top Trends for this game.
PITTSBURGH is 3-27 (-22.1 Units) against the money line as a road underdog of +150 to +175 over the last 2 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 17-64 (-32.5 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 2 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 20-58 (-25.9 Units) against the money line in road games against division opponents over the last 3 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 12-41 (-21.0 Units) against the money line in road games in day games over the last 3 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 17-64 (-32.5 Units) against the money line in road games in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 38-80 (-26.4 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
CORREIA is 34-25 (+13.7 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
CORREIA is 33-25 (+11.9 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
CHICAGO CUBS are 159-165 (-32.8 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 3 seasons.
CHICAGO CUBS are 139-115 (-45.7 Units) against the money line as a home favorite of -150 to -175 since 1997.
CHICAGO CUBS are 36-46 (-22.1 Units) against the money line in home games over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO CUBS are 35-45 (-17.8 Units) against the money line against division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO CUBS are 612-608 (-112.5 Units) against the money line in day games since 1997.
CHICAGO CUBS are 36-46 (-22.1 Units) against the money line in home games in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO CUBS are 821-864 (-149.9 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters since 1997.
DEMPSTER is 10-20 (-16.2 Units) against the money line in day games over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)

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

KEVIN CORREIA vs. CHICAGO CUBS since 1997
CORREIA is 1-0 when starting against CHICAGO CUBS with an ERA of 4.50 and a WHIP of 1.636.
His team's record is 2-2 (+0.1 units) in these starts. The OVER is 3-1. (+2.2 units)

RYAN DEMPSTER vs. PITTSBURGH since 1997
DEMPSTER is 6-7 when starting against PITTSBURGH with an ERA of 5.59 and a WHIP of 1.592.
His team's record is 9-11 (-6.0 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 5-13. (-9.2 units)

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ARIZONA (0 - 0) at COLORADO (0 - 0) - 4:10 PM
IAN KENNEDY (R) vs. UBALDO JIMENEZ (R)
Top Trends for this game.
ARIZONA is 65-98 (-26.9 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
ARIZONA is 25-56 (-23.4 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 2 seasons.
ARIZONA is 7-29 (-19.8 Units) against the money line in road games against division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
ARIZONA is 13-32 (-16.7 Units) against the money line in day games over the last 2 seasons.
ARIZONA is 63-97 (-29.4 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
COLORADO is 17-4 (+12.2 Units) against the money line at home when the total is 8 to 8.5 over the last 2 seasons.

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

IAN KENNEDY vs. COLORADO since 1997
KENNEDY is 0-1 when starting against COLORADO with an ERA of 3.46 and a WHIP of 1.423.
His team's record is 3-2 (+1.0 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 3-2. (+0.9 units)

UBALDO JIMENEZ vs. ARIZONA since 1997
JIMENEZ is 5-4 when starting against ARIZONA with an ERA of 2.67 and a WHIP of 1.156.
His team's record is 10-5 (+4.0 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 11-4. (+6.6 units)

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NY METS (0 - 0) at FLORIDA (0 - 0) - 7:10 PM
MIKE PELFREY (R) vs. JOSH JOHNSON (R)
Top Trends for this game.
NY METS are 38-77 (-34.4 Units) against the money line in road games in night games over the last 3 seasons.
PELFREY is 21-35 (-19.5 Units) against the money line against division opponents since 1997. (Team's Record)
FLORIDA is 474-469 (+48.3 Units) against the money line against division opponents since 1997.
FLORIDA is 27-36 (-15.3 Units) against the money line in home games in night games over the last 2 seasons.
FLORIDA is 46-69 (-23.7 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.

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

MIKE PELFREY vs. FLORIDA since 1997
PELFREY is 1-6 when starting against FLORIDA with an ERA of 5.32 and a WHIP of 1.640.
His team's record is 3-9 (-8.2 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 5-7. (-2.7 units)

JOSH JOHNSON vs. NY METS since 1997
JOHNSON is 7-1 when starting against NY METS with an ERA of 2.74 and a WHIP of 1.137.
His team's record is 9-3 (+8.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 7-5. (+1.5 units)

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SAN FRANCISCO (0 - 1) at LA DODGERS (1 - 0) - 10:10 PM
JONATHAN SANCHEZ (L) vs. CHAD BILLINGSLEY (R)
Top Trends for this game.
SAN FRANCISCO is 103-76 (+20.7 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
SAN FRANCISCO is 41-24 (+14.6 Units) against the money line when the total is 7 or less over the last 2 seasons.
SAN FRANCISCO is 49-42 (+11.7 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 2 seasons.
SAN FRANCISCO is 102-74 (+21.9 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
SAN FRANCISCO is 71-50 (+17.5 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons.
SAN FRANCISCO is 75-55 (+16.8 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
SAN FRANCISCO is 90-59 (+30.1 Units) against the money line after a loss over the last 3 seasons.
SANCHEZ is 12-5 (+9.7 Units) against the money line in road games after a loss over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
LA DODGERS is 1-0 (+1.0 Units) against SAN FRANCISCO this season
1 of 1 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+1.0 Units)

JONATHAN SANCHEZ vs. LA DODGERS since 1997
SANCHEZ is 2-5 when starting against LA DODGERS with an ERA of 4.91 and a WHIP of 1.364.
His team's record is 4-7 (-2.5 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 4-6. (-2.8 units)

CHAD BILLINGSLEY vs. SAN FRANCISCO since 1997
BILLINGSLEY is 5-3 when starting against SAN FRANCISCO with an ERA of 2.26 and a WHIP of 1.192.
His team's record is 9-6 (+1.6 units) in these starts. The OVER is 7-7. (-0.5 units)

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CHI WHITE SOX (0 - 0) at CLEVELAND (0 - 0) - 3:05 PM
MARK BUEHRLE (L) vs. FAUSTO CARMONA (R)
Top Trends for this game.
CHI WHITE SOX are 33-41 (-15.3 Units) against the money line against division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
CHI WHITE SOX are 30-18 (+14.1 Units) against the money line in day games over the last 2 seasons.
CHI WHITE SOX are 37-28 (+13.5 Units) against the money line in road games against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.

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

MARK BUEHRLE vs. CLEVELAND since 1997
BUEHRLE is 12-15 when starting against CLEVELAND with an ERA of 4.66 and a WHIP of 1.379.
His team's record is 22-20 (-3.9 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 20-20. (-2.4 units)

FAUSTO CARMONA vs. CHI WHITE SOX since 1997
CARMONA is 7-3 when starting against CHI WHITE SOX with an ERA of 4.50 and a WHIP of 1.375.
His team's record is 8-3 (+5.1 units) in these starts. The OVER is 7-3. (+4.1 units)

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BOSTON (0 - 0) at TEXAS (0 - 0) - 4:05 PM
JON LESTER (L) vs. C.J. WILSON (L)
Top Trends for this game.
BOSTON is 348-320 (-58.6 Units) against the money line against left-handed starters since 1997.
TEXAS is 34-48 (-19.4 Units) against the money line when the total is 8 to 8.5 over the last 3 seasons.

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

JON LESTER vs. TEXAS since 1997
LESTER is 3-1 when starting against TEXAS with an ERA of 2.94 and a WHIP of 1.204.
His team's record is 5-2 (+2.3 units) in these starts. The OVER is 3-4. (-1.1 units)

C.J. WILSON vs. BOSTON since 1997
WILSON is 3-0 when starting against BOSTON with an ERA of 0.86 and a WHIP of 0.904.
His team's record is 3-0 (+3.8 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-2. (-1.3 units)

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MINNESOTA (0 - 0) at TORONTO (0 - 0) - 7:07 PM
CARL PAVANO (R) vs. RICKY ROMERO (L)
Top Trends for this game.
TORONTO is 85-78 (+12.7 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
TORONTO is 145-101 (+29.2 Units) against the money line at home with a money line of -100 to -125 since 1997.
TORONTO is 72-55 (+20.9 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
PAVANO is 135-109 (+26.3 Units) against the money line in all games since 1997. (Team's Record)

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

CARL PAVANO vs. TORONTO since 1997
PAVANO is 3-5 when starting against TORONTO with an ERA of 5.91 and a WHIP of 1.516.
His team's record is 5-7 (-2.3 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 3-9. (-6.9 units)

RICKY ROMERO vs. MINNESOTA since 1997
ROMERO is 2-0 when starting against MINNESOTA with an ERA of 2.78 and a WHIP of 1.059.
His team's record is 2-1 (+1.1 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-1. (-0.2 units)

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BALTIMORE (0 - 0) at TAMPA BAY (0 - 0) - 7:10 PM
JEREMY GUTHRIE (R) vs. DAVID PRICE (L)
Top Trends for this game.
GUTHRIE is 16-41 (-22.2 Units) against the money line against division opponents since 1997. (Team's Record)
TAMPA BAY is 393-501 (+15.7 Units) against the money line against division opponents since 1997.
PRICE is 19-4 (+15.8 Units) against the money line against division opponents over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)

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

JEREMY GUTHRIE vs. TAMPA BAY since 1997
GUTHRIE is 4-7 when starting against TAMPA BAY with an ERA of 4.00 and a WHIP of 1.424.
His team's record is 5-8 (-1.8 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 7-6. (+0.0 units)

DAVID PRICE vs. BALTIMORE since 1997
PRICE is 4-0 when starting against BALTIMORE with an ERA of 1.95 and a WHIP of 1.175.
His team's record is 5-0 (+5.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 2-3. (-1.1 units)

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LA ANGELS (1 - 0) at KANSAS CITY (0 - 1) - 8:10 PM
DAN HAREN (R) vs. JEFF FRANCIS (L)
Top Trends for this game.
HAREN is 14-21 (-12.3 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
HAREN is 13-21 (-13.8 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
LA ANGELS are 61-38 (+21.2 Units) against the money line when the total is 8 to 8.5 over the last 3 seasons.
LA ANGELS are 583-571 (+68.9 Units) against the money line in road games since 1997.
LA ANGELS are 32-17 (+19.1 Units) against the money line on the road when the total is 8 to 8.5 over the last 3 seasons.
LA ANGELS are 481-468 (+69.6 Units) against the money line in road games in games played on a grass field since 1997.
LA ANGELS are 171-162 (+28.4 Units) against the money line in road games against left-handed starters since 1997.
LA ANGELS are 303-282 (+44.3 Units) against the money line in road games after a win since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
LA ANGELS is 1-0 (+1.0 Units) against KANSAS CITY this season
1 of 1 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+1.0 Units)

DAN HAREN vs. KANSAS CITY since 1997
HAREN is 4-1 when starting against KANSAS CITY with an ERA of 1.99 and a WHIP of 1.067.
His team's record is 4-3 (-2.5 units) in these starts. The OVER is 3-4. (-1.7 units)

JEFF FRANCIS vs. LA ANGELS since 1997
FRANCIS is 0-0 when starting against LA ANGELS with an ERA of 3.46 and a WHIP of 1.462.
His team's record is 2-0 (+3.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 0-1. (-1.0 units)

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SEATTLE (0 - 0) at OAKLAND (0 - 0) - 10:05 PM
FELIX HERNANDEZ (R) vs. TREVOR CAHILL (R)
Top Trends for this game.
SEATTLE is 62-100 (-35.5 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
SEATTLE is 17-40 (-23.3 Units) against the money line against division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
SEATTLE is 59-94 (-34.3 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
CAHILL is 21-9 (+12.5 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
CAHILL is 15-6 (+10.9 Units) against the money line against division opponents over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
CAHILL is 21-8 (+13.5 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)

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

FELIX HERNANDEZ vs. OAKLAND since 1997
HERNANDEZ is 9-4 when starting against OAKLAND with an ERA of 2.83 and a WHIP of 1.233.
His team's record is 11-6 (+3.3 units) in these starts. The OVER is 8-9. (-1.0 units)

TREVOR CAHILL vs. SEATTLE since 1997
CAHILL is 1-3 when starting against SEATTLE with an ERA of 2.93 and a WHIP of 1.272.
His team's record is 2-3 (-0.9 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 3-2. (+0.7 units)

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[Udog]

MLB
Short Sheet


Friday, April 1

National League

HOUSTON at PHILADELPHIA, 1:05 PM ET ESPN
MYERS: HOUSTON 28-14 Over as underdog of +200 or more
HALLADAY: 22-5 TSR as favorite of -200 or more

PITTSBURGH at CHICAGO CUBS, 2:20 PM ET WGN
CORREIA: PITTSBURGH 6-41 as a road underdog of +125 to +175
DEMPSTER: 10-20 TSR in day games

ARIZONA at COLORADO, 4:10 PM ET
KENNEDY: ARIZONA 4-26 as a road underdog of +175 to +250
JIMENEZ: COLORADO 17-4 at home when the total is 8 to 8.5

NY METS at FLORIDA, 7:10 PM ET
PELFREY: METS 38-77 in road night games
JOHNSON: 12-2 Under at home when the total is 7 to 7.5

SAN FRANCISCO at LA DODGERS, 10:10 PM ET
SANCHEZ: SF 15-3 Under off one run division loss
BILLINGSLEY: 14-2 Under vs. division

American League

CHI WHITE SOX at CLEVELAND, 3:05 PM ET
BUEHRLE: 144-75 TSR as a favorite
CARMONA: CLEVELAND 7-11 at home vs. White Sox

BOSTON at TEXAS, 4:05 PM ET ESPN
LESTER: 29-13 Under when the money line is +125 to -125
WILSON: TEXAS 71-40 Under vs. lefties

MINNESOTA at TORONTO, 7:07 PM ET
PAVANO: 18-12 TSR as underdog
ROMERO: TORONTO 33-14 as home favorite

BALTIMORE at TAMPA BAY, 7:10 PM ET
GUTHRIE: 16-41 TSR vs. division
PRICE: 19-4 TSR vs. division

LA ANGELS at KANSAS CITY, 8:10 PM ET
HAREN: LAA 30-14 Under vs. AL Central
FRANCIS: KC 4-17 vs. Angels

SEATTLE at OAKLAND, 10:05 PM ET
HERNANDEZ: 54-28 Under in road games
CAHILL: 12-2 Under in home games

** (TC) Denotes Time Change

[Udog]

MLB
Write-Up


Friday, April 1

For first week or two of any season, not lot of stats make sense, but I'll be giving you pitching stats that refer back to LY. We'll start the umpire stats in late April-- will give you pitcher vs team stats until some of the other stats start to become relevant. We're here every day-- enjoy!!!

Hot pitchers
-- Halladay is 7-1, 3.23 in his last eight starts. Myers is 6-1, 3.10 in his last ten starts.
-- Jimenez has a 1.29 RA in his last three home starts. Kennedy was 2-1, 1.88 in his last six 2010 starts.
-- JJohnson has a 1.37 RA in his last 15 home starts. Pelfrey is 2-0, 2.52 in his last five outings.
-- JSanchez is 4-3, 2.40 in his last eleven starts.

-- Lester is 4-1, 3.09 in his last five starts.
-- Toronto won five of last six Romero starts (4-1, 4.82).
-- Guthrie is 4-1, 2.79 in his last six starts. Price is 4-2, 2.75 in his last eight starts.
-- Haren is 4-0, 1.87 in his last eight starts.
-- FHernandez is 2-1, 1.13 in his last three starts. Cahill is 3-1, 3.25 in his last four home starts.

Cold pitchers
-- Dempster is 0-3, 22.18 in his last three home starts, with opponents outscoring Chicago 45-12 in those three games. Correia was 0-3, 15.00 in his last three '10 starts.
-- Billingsley is 1-3, 3.69 in his last five starts.

-- Buehrle is 1-4, 5.58 in his last seven starts. Carrasco is 1-2, 6.00 in his last three starts.
-- Wilson is 2-3, 4.98 in his last six starts.
-- Twins lost last three Pavano starts (0-2, 6.88).
-- Francis is 0-3, 7.17 in his last five starts.

Totals
-- Under is 8-2-1 in last eleven Myers starts.
-- Over is 7-1-1 in Dempster's last nine starts at Wrigley.
-- Four of last five Kennedy starts stayed under total.
-- Six of last eight JJohnson starts went over the total. Under is 6-1-1 in last eight Pelfey starts.
-- Under is 6-0-1 in last seven Billingsley starts.

-- Five of last six Buehrle road starts went over the total.
-- Over is 4-1-1 in last six Wilson starts.
-- Over is 9-2-1 in last dozen Romero starts.
-- Seven of last eight Guthrie starts went over the total. Under is 6-2-1 in last nine Price starts.
-- Under is 6-0-1 in last seven Haren starts. Over is 11-3 in last fourteen Francis starts.
-- Under is 20-4 in last 24 FHernandez starts. Last four Cahill starts went over the total.

Pitchers vs teams last year
-- Myers beat his old team 3-2 here Aug 23, allowing two runs in seven IP. Halladay was 1-1, 2.25 against Houston LY.
-- Dempster was 0-3, 6.88 against Pittsburgh LY. Correia blanked Cubs for six innings Aug 16, in what was his last win for the Padres.
-- Jimenez was 3-2, 2.68 in six starts vs Arizona LY. Kennedy was 0-1, 4.50 in five starts vs Colorado LY.
-- JJohnson was 0-1, 4.76 in three '10 starts against the Mets. Pelfrey was 0-0, 4.63 in two '10 starts against Florida.
-- Billingsley was 2-1, 1.23 in five starts against the Giants LY. Sanchez was 2-1, 3.32 against the Dodgers LY.

-- Indians were 1-5 vs Buehrle LY (2-1, 4.07).
-- Wilson was 3-0, 0.86 against Boston LY. Lester was 1-1, 2.25 against the Rangers last year.
-- Pavano was 0-2, 7.27 in three '10 starts vs Toronto.
-- Price was 2-0, 0.60 vs Baltimore LY. Guthrie was 2-1, 2.25 against Tampa Bay last season.
-- Francis allowed three runs in 6.1 IP vs Angels 6/25 LY, in a game his team later won in extra innings. Haren beat Royals 3-1 Aug 10, giving up one run in seven IP.
-- Cahill blanked Seattle 9-0 in his last '10 start (seven IP) Oct 1.

[Udog]

MLB


Friday, April 1

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Trend Report
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1:05 PM
HOUSTON vs. PHILADELPHIA
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Houston's last 6 games
Houston is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Philadelphia
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Philadelphia's last 5 games when playing at home against Houston
Philadelphia is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Houston

2:20 PM
PITTSBURGH vs. CHI CUBS
Pittsburgh is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Pittsburgh's last 8 games when playing on the road against Chi Cubs
Chi Cubs are 5-2 SU in their last 7 games
Chi Cubs are 5-12 SU in their last 17 games when playing Pittsburgh

3:05 PM
CHI WHITE SOX vs. CLEVELAND
Chi White Sox are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games when playing on the road against Cleveland
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Chi White Sox's last 7 games when playing on the road against Cleveland
Cleveland is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Cleveland's last 13 games at home

4:05 PM
BOSTON vs. TEXAS
Boston is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games when playing Texas
The total has gone UNDER in 14 of Boston's last 20 games when playing Texas
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Texas's last 10 games when playing at home against Boston
Texas is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games

4:10 PM
ARIZONA vs. COLORADO
Arizona is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Colorado
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Arizona's last 7 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Colorado's last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Colorado's last 11 games when playing Arizona

7:07 PM
MINNESOTA vs. TORONTO
Minnesota is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing Toronto
Minnesota is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games
Toronto is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Toronto's last 6 games at home

7:10 PM
NY METS vs. FLORIDA
The total has gone OVER in 6 of NY Mets's last 7 games when playing on the road against Florida
NY Mets are 1-8 SU in its last 9 games when playing on the road against Florida
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Florida's last 7 games at home
Florida is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing NY Mets

7:10 PM
BALTIMORE vs. TAMPA BAY
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Baltimore's last 7 games when playing Tampa Bay
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Baltimore's last 8 games
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Tampa Bay's last 13 games
Tampa Bay is 15-8 SU in its last 23 games when playing Baltimore

8:10 PM
LA ANGELS vs. KANSAS CITY
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of LA Angels's last 9 games when playing on the road against Kansas City
LA Angels are 10-2 SU in their last 12 games when playing on the road against Kansas City
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Kansas City's last 15 games when playing LA Angels
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Kansas City's last 5 games

10:05 PM
SEATTLE vs. OAKLAND
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Seattle's last 5 games
Seattle is 6-14 SU in its last 20 games on the road
Oakland is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games at home
Oakland is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against Seattle

10:10 PM
SAN FRANCISCO vs. LA DODGERS
San Francisco is 17-7 SU in its last 24 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of San Francisco's last 5 games when playing LA Dodgers
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of LA Dodgers's last 5 games when playing at home against San Francisco
LA Dodgers are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games at home


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

[Udog]

MLB


Friday, April 1

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hot lines: Friday's best MLB bets
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Houston Astros at Philadelphia Phillies (-260, 7)

Getting the nod for Opening Day is always memorable for a pitcher. But this Friday’s start for Houston Astros righty Brett Myers holds even more meaning, coming against his former club in his former ballpark.

"I probably have some adrenaline, but it's maintaining and harnessing it for the right reasons and not trying to overdo it or throw too hard," Myers told MLB.com. "Usually, the first inning for me is a test, and after the first inning every game I have to try to control myself and relax."

As a member of the Phillies for eight years, Myers made three Opening-Day starts for Philadelphia, posting a 0-1 and a 4.82 ERA in those outings. Last year, his first season with the Astros, he finished with a 14-8 record and a 3.14 ERA – the lowest Earned Run Average of his career.

"What he did last year was more than solid," Houston manager Brad Mills told reporters. "We want him to compete and let him keep the team in the ballgame, and there's no reason to think he won't do that, because that's the type of pitcher he is, the type of makeup he has and the type of teammate he is. He gives us a chance to win every time he takes the ball and goes to the hill."

Myers will go toe-to-toe with National League Cy Young winner Roy Halladay Friday, who was stellar in his Phillies debut on Opening Day 2010. Halladay delivered a one-run, seven-hit performance over seven innings for an 11-1 victory over the Washington Nationals.

Halladay posted an 8-10 over/under record inside Citizens Bank Park last season, while Myers was 5-13 over/under on the road in 2010.

Pick: Under


Minnesota Twins at Toronto Blue Jays (-130, 8.5)

Opening Day will be a very special moment for one of baseball’s best Friday. Minnesota Twins first baseman and former American League MVP, Justin Morneau, takes the field for the first time since suffering a concussion last July.

Not only is Morneau back in action after a long rehab, but the Canadian is back on home soil, facing the Toronto Blue Jays in the Rogers Centre – which happens to be the same place he suffered the injury in a series with the Jays in early July.

"You know, I don't want to put too much into it," Morneau told TSN.com. "It's the first game hopefully of 162 and the playoffs for us. Obviously it will be special to be out there. But you want to continue to be out there."

Morneau is hitting .347 versus Toronto over the past three seasons. He’s totaled five homes runs, 14 RBIs, and boasts an OPS of 1.057 in 72 at-bats against Blue Jays pitchers in that span. The Twins have gone just 4-12 in their last 16 games in Toronto, while the over is 19-7-3 in the last 29 meetings north of the border .

"I just try not to put as much into it as I did," Moreau said of returning to Canada. "My first two years, we went (to Toronto) and I think I had one hit in the first two series. So now I go back there and try not to put too much into it.

"You know I get excited, obviously. It feels good to be home and everything else but the more I put into it, the more pressure, the more excitement you put into it, that can work against you."

Pick: Over


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[Udog]

Final Four
Long Sheet


Saturday, April 2

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

VA COMMONWEALTH (28 - 11) vs. BUTLER (27 - 9) - 4/2/2011, 6:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
BUTLER is 9-0 ATS (+9.0 Units) in all neutral court games this season.
BUTLER is 10-3 ATS (+6.7 Units) after a non-conference game this season.
BUTLER is 9-0 ATS (+9.0 Units) when playing on a neutral court this season.
BUTLER is 11-2 ATS (+8.8 Units) in non-conference games this season.
BUTLER is 9-0 ATS (+9.0 Units) in all tournament games this season.
BUTLER is 9-1 ATS (+7.9 Units) in a NCAA tournament games over the last 2 seasons.
BUTLER is 17-5 ATS (+11.5 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
BUTLER is 8-2 ATS (+5.8 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games this season.
VA COMMONWEALTH is 11-4 ATS (+6.6 Units) as an underdog this season.
VA COMMONWEALTH is 19-9 ATS (+9.1 Units) in all tournament games over the last 3 seasons.
VA COMMONWEALTH is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) in a NCAA tournament games over the last 3 seasons.
VA COMMONWEALTH is 20-10 ATS (+9.0 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.

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

KENTUCKY (29 - 8) vs. CONNECTICUT (30 - 9) - 4/2/2011, 8:45 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CONNECTICUT is 21-12 ATS (+7.8 Units) in all games this season.
CONNECTICUT is 21-12 ATS (+7.8 Units) in all lined games this season.
CONNECTICUT is 10-3 ATS (+6.7 Units) as an underdog this season.
CONNECTICUT is 11-1 ATS (+9.9 Units) in all neutral court games this season.
CONNECTICUT is 11-1 ATS (+9.9 Units) when playing on a neutral court this season.
CONNECTICUT is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) in non-conference games this season.
CONNECTICUT is 11-1 ATS (+9.9 Units) in all tournament games this season.
CONNECTICUT is 19-10 ATS (+8.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
CONNECTICUT is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) in road games versus good defensive teams - allowing <=64 points/game after 15+ games this season.
CONNECTICUT is 11-4 ATS (+6.6 Units) versus good defensive teams - allowing <=64 points/game this season.
KENTUCKY is 38-20 ATS (+16.0 Units) when playing with 5 or 6 days rest since 1997.
KENTUCKY is 27-15 ATS (+10.5 Units) in non-conference games over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
CONNECTICUT is 1-1 against the spread versus KENTUCKY over the last 3 seasons
CONNECTICUT is 1-1 straight up against KENTUCKY over the last 3 seasons
1 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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

[Udog]

Final Four
Short Sheet


Saturday, April 2

NCAA Tournament - Final Four - Reliant Stadium - Houston, TX

VA COMMONWEALTH vs. BUTLER, 6:05 PM ET CBS
VA COMMONWEALTH: 9-0 ATS in NCAA Tournament
BUTLER: 13-1 ATS when seeded 5 to 8 in the NCAA Tournament

KENTUCKY vs. CONNECTICUT, 8:45 PM ET CBS
KENTUCKY: 6-0 ATS Away revenging SU loss as a favorite
CONNECTICUT: 11-1 ATS on neutral court

** (TC) Denotes Time Change

[Udog]

Final Four


Saturday, April 2

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
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6:09 PM
VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH vs. BUTLER
No trends available
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Butler's last 10 games
Butler is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games

8:49 PM
KENTUCKY vs. CONNECTICUT
No trends available
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Connecticut's last 5 games
Connecticut is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games


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[Udog]

Final Four


Saturday, April 2

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Final Four betting notes and top trends
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It’s onward to Houston for the Final Four games. To put the wraps on the 2011 NCAA Tournament, listed below are some interesting trends and angles to consider before our Fab Four tips off this weekend.

All results listed below are ATS (against the spread) and most recent since 1991 unless noted otherwise.

FINAL FOUR NOTES

• No. 3 seeds are 7-3 (4-0 SU and ATS as favorites or underdogs of four points or fewer)
• No. 8 or lower seeds are 0-3
• Teams off back-to-back straight up underdog wins are 1-8
• Teams who are 3-0 ATS last three games are 9-24
• Teams with revenge are 2-7
• Big East teams are 1-4 SU and 0-5 ATS
• SEC teams are 6-2 as underdogs or favorites of fewer than seven points
• Teams with the greater win percentage are 10-2 SU and ATS since 2005
• Returnees from last year in this round are 8-0 SU and 7-1 ATS as favorites

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME NOTES

• No. 3 seed dogs are 1-3
• No. 5 or worse seeds are 0-4 SU and 1-3 ATS
• Favorites of five or fewer points are 10-1
• Favorites who scored more than 80 points in the Final Four round are 4-1
• Teams with a win percentage of less than .810 are 0-4 SU and ATS
• Teams off an ATS win of 16 or more points are 1-5 SU and ATS
• Underdogs of more than two points who allowed 60 or more points in Final Four are 1-5
• Underdogs of three or more points off a straight up underdog win are 1-5
• Big East teams are 3-0 SU and ATS
• SEC teams are 3-0 ATS as favorites

COACH ME UP

• Butler’s Brad Stevens is:
48-56-4 ATS as a favorite and 16-6-1 ATS as an underdog
33-16-2 ATS vs. non-conference
10-3 SU and ATS in NCAA tournament
2-2 SU and ATS vs. Big East
1-0 SU and ATS vs. CAA
1-2 SU and ATS vs. SEC

• Connecticut’s Jim Calhoun is:
228-236-12 ATS as a favorite and 63-57-1 ATS as an underdog
98-98-5 ATS vs non-conference
43-13 SU and 28-27-1 ATS in NCAA tournament
7-1 SU and 2-6 ATS vs. CAA
0-0 SU and 0-0 ATS vs. Horizon League
13-5 SU and 11-7 ATS vs. SEC

• Kentucky’s John Calipari is:
237-204-14 ATS as a favorite and 53-27-1 ATS as an underdog
129-98-5 ATS vs non-conference
32-13 SU and 23-21-1 ATS in NCAA tournament
23-8 SU and 17-13-1 ATS vs. Big East
6-0 SU and ATS vs. CAA
2-0 SU and ATS vs. Horizon League

• VCU’s Shaka Smart is:
24-26-1 ATS as a favorite and 9-6 ATS as an underdog
14-12 ATS vs. non-conference
5-0 SU and ATS in NCAA tournament
1-1 SU and ATS vs. Big East
0-0 SU and ATS vs. Horizon League
0-1 SU and ATS vs. SEC


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

[Udog]

Final Four


Saturday, April 2

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NCAA Final Four betting previews and picks
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(11) VCU Rams vs. (8) Butler Bulldogs (-2.5, 133.5)

THE STORY: In a matchup that no one saw coming, No. 8 seed Butler and No. 11 seed Virginia Commonwealth will face off on Saturday at the Final Four in Houston. The Bulldogs have been here before, reaching the national championship game last season. But after star Gordon Hayward left for the NBA and Butler endured a less-than-dominating regular season, another trip to the Final Four seemed like a long shot. The Rams are an even larger underdog, taking Cinderella’s slipper all the way past top-seeded Kansas in the Southwest regional final. Butler and VCU will combine to be the two highest seeds ever to play each other in a Final Four game when they meet on Saturday.

TV: 6:09 p.m. ET, CBS.

ODDS: Butler -2.5. Oddsmakers opened Butler as high as -3 but the spread has since been bet down as low as -2. The total has climbed from 130 points to 133.5.

ABOUT BUTLER (27-9, 19-13-2 ATS): The Bulldogs dropped to 14-9 after losing their third straight game, 62-60 at lightly-regarded Youngstown State on Feb. 3. Since then they have won 13 straight to become the first team in history to reach back-to-back Final Fours without being a No. 1 or 2 seed in either season. It hasn’t been easy, with their four tournament wins coming by an average of 3.3 points. It took a buzzer-beater to top Old Dominion and a controversial late foul call to take down top-seeded Pittsburgh in the first weekend. After holding off Wisconsin in the Sweet 16, the Bulldogs leaned on Shelvin Mack against No. 2 seed Florida on Saturday in the Southeast regional final and were rewarded with 27 points - five in overtime - in a 74-71 triumph. Mack and fellow senior Matt Howard have taken turns leading the offense for coach Brad Stevens’ team, combining to average 37.5 points.

ABOUT VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH (28-11, 18-20-0 ATS): The third No. 11 seed to reach the Final Four, the Rams join Colonial Athletic Conference mates George Mason, who turned the trick in 2006, and an LSU squad from 1986. VCU was one of the final at-large teams selected to the field of 68 and needed to beat USC in an opening round game in order to reach the main bracket of 64 teams. En route to the Final Four, the Rams have taken down power –conference teams from the Pac-10, Big East, Big Ten, ACC and Big 12. Kansas was by far its strongest opponent, and VCU controlled the game by controlling the perimeter, knocking down 12 of 25 of its own 3-point attempts while holding the Jayhawks to 2 of 21 from beyond the arc in a 71-61 triumph. Jamie Skeen led the way with 26 points and 10 rebounds on Sunday and is averaging 15.6 points in the tournament, while Branford Burgess has chipped in 15.8.

UP NEXT: The winner will battle either Kentucky or Connecticut for the National Championship on Monday.

PREDICTION: Butler 64, VCU 62. Two of the youngest coaches in Division I will match each other possession for possession, but the Bulldogs will pull it out thanks to their experience both in the Final Four and in close games during the tournament.



(3) Connecticut Huskies vs. (4) Kentucky Wildcats (-2, 140)

THE STORY: Kentucky's long and athletic defense, which holds opponents to 39 percent shooting, faces its stiffest test yet when the Wildcats meet UConn and prolific scorer Kemba Walker in the second national semifinal Saturday in Houston. No one has been able to contain the Huskies' 6-1 junior, who is averaging 26.8 points and 6.8 assists in the tournament. But if any team can, it's Kentucky. The Wildcats harassed North Carolina into 3-of-16 shooting from beyond the arc in the regional final after frustrating Ohio State into 33 percent shooting overall in the previous round.

The Wildcats are back in the Final Four for the first time since their 1998 national title, while the Huskies are making their fourth trip since 1999. Jim Calhoun's third-seeded Huskies are the highest remaining seed in the tournament. No team, however, has been more impressive than Kentucky, whose stars finally began to jell a month ago. Oddsmakers installed the fourth-seeded Wildcats as a slight favorite despite UConn's 84-67 win over Kentucky back on Nov. 24 in the Maui Invitational. But the Wildcats have grown up since then.

Calhoun and Kentucky coach John Calipari probably will make nice, but they have a history. When Calipari was a young head coach at UMass, he irritated Calhoun -- a lot. Calhoun canceled the longstanding UConn-UMass series because he supposedly did not like Calipari's sideline behavior. Later Calipari outmaneuvered Calhoun for the services of Marcus Camby, the pride of Hartford, Conn. "Cats and dogs get along better than Cal and Calhoun," Memphis Commercial Appeal columnist Geoff Calkins once wrote.

TV: 8:45 p.m. ET, CBS.

ODDS: Kentucky -2. Oddsmakers have gone as high as -2.5 on UK. The total has dropped from 141.5 points to 140.

ABOUT KENTUCKY (29-8, 16-15-1 ATS): Unlike UConn, Kentucky does not possess a transcendent superstar. Instead it rolls out a team of all-stars. Freshman point guard Brandon Knight (17.2 points, 4.2 assists, two game-winners in NCAA tournament), freshman forward Terrence Jones (15.9 points, 8.7 rebounds), freshman sharpshooter Doron Lamb (48.1 percent on 3-pointers) and 6-6 defensive stopper DeAndre Liggins are just some of the headliners. Throw in junior guard Darius Miller (11.1 points, 44.9 percent on 3-pointers), and we still haven't mentioned the Wildcats' best player in the tournament: Josh Harrellson. The 6-10 senior, playing with a newfound assertiveness, is averaging 14.8 points and 9.0 rebounds in the Big Dance. The Wildcats' perimeter players range from 6-foot-3 to 6-foot-7; their length will bother the 6-1 Walker, 6-5 Lamb and 6-foot Napier. Just recall how Kentucky smothered Florida's smallish backcourt in the SEC title game.

ABOUT UCONN (30-9, 21-12-0 ATS): The Huskies have won nine straight dating to the start of the Big East tournament after somehow finishing just 9-9 in conference play. Walker is breaking down defenses and draining shots over them, while 6-5 freshman Jeremy Lamb has been unconscious (27 of 46 overall, 11 of 15 on 3-pointers) in the tournament. This is a team with well-defined roles that makes very few mistakes. In their 65-63 regional final win over Arizona, the Huskies committed just five turnovers and prevailed despite getting hammered on the boards. Freshman guard Shabazz Napier is an ultra-quick defensive pest (1.6 steals per game), and 6-9 sophomore Alex Oriakhi is content to do the dirty work inside (8.6 rebounds, 1.6 blocks). Walker is 33 of 36 from the foul line in the tournament. UConn is almost as stingy defensively as Kentucky; the Huskies hold opponents to 40 percent shooting.

UP NEXT: Winner advances to Monday's national championship game against Butler-VCU winner.

PREDICTION: Kentucky 77, Connecticut 70 -- Kentucky boasts a slew of players who can hit the big shot, whereas UConn relies almost exclusively on Walker and Lamb. With Harrellson establishing himself on the block, the Wildcats are sure to get open looks from the perimeter. Four of Kentucky's top five scorers hit at least 38 percent on 3-pointers. The Wildcats just took out a No. 1 seed (Ohio State) and No. 2 seed (North Carolina), and here they'll dispatch a No. 3 seed.


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

[Udog]

NBA
Short Sheet


Friday, April 1

NEW JERSEY at PHILADELPHIA, 7:00 PM ET
NEW JERSEY: 18-7 ATS at Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA: 11-3 ATS off home win by 10 or more

CLEVELAND at WASHINGTON, 7:00 PM ET
CLEVELAND: 9-1 Over off road loss by 3 pts or less
WASHINGTON: 6-1 ATS if they allowed shooting pct of 55% of worse last game

MILWAUKEE at INDIANA, 7:00 PM ET
MILWAUKEE: 20-6 Under off an Over
INDIANA: 21-12 Under off a SU win

CHARLOTTE at ORLANDO, 7:00 PM ET
CHARLOTTE: 24-11 Under off an ATS loss
ORLANDO: 2-8 ATS after scoring 85 pts or less

CHICAGO at DETROIT, 7:30 PM ET
CHICAGO: 1-7 ATS off road win by 10+ pts
DETROIT: 8-23 ATS off division loss

BOSTON at ATLANTA, 8:00 PM ET ESPN
BOSTON: 32-16 Under as road favorite of 6pts or less
ATLANTA: 16-4 ATS at home off SU dog win

MIAMI at MINNESOTA, 8:00 PM ET
MIAMI: 22-8 Under off win by 15 or more points
MINNESOTA: 9-25 ATS as a home underdog of 6.5 to 12 points

MEMPHIS at NEW ORLEANS, 8:00 PM ET
MEMPHIS: 24-10 ATS as an underdog
NEW ORLEANS: 25-41 ATS as favorite

SAN ANTONIO at HOUSTON, 8:30 PM ET
SAN ANTONIO: 24-12 ATS in road games
HOUSTON: 22-10 ATS off double digit road loss

DENVER at SACRAMENTO, 10:00 PM ET
DENVER: 33-17 Under Away in home games
SACRAMENTO: 16-28 ATS as a home underdog of 6 points or less

LA CLIPPERS at PHOENIX, 10:00 PM ET
LA CLIPPERS: 13-4 ATS off BB home games
PHOENIX: 14-23 ATS off ATS loss

OKLAHOMA CITY at PORTLAND, 10:00 PM ET
OKLAHOMA CITY: 31-18 ATS as road underdog
PORTLAND: 94-62 Under at home off road game

LA LAKERS at UTAH, 10:30 PM ET ESPN
LA LAKERS: 44-29 Under in all games
UTAH: 0-10 ATS vs. teams with a .700 win percentage or greater

** (TC) Denotes Time Change