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  • #46
    Suns aim for 4th straight series win over Clips


    PHOENIX SUNS (20-22)

    at LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (24-17)


    Tip-off: Thursday, 10:35 p.m. ET
    Line: Los Angeles -6½, Total: 195

    The Suns look to continue their recent dominance of the Clippers when they travel to L.A. on Thursday night.

    Phoenix has won three straight, SU and ATS, and 12 of 13 SU (9-4 ATS) over the Clippers, including an 81-78 win in the desert two weeks ago. The Clippers have certainly struggled since the All-Star break, going 4-6 SU (5-5 ATS), but there were plenty of positive signs in Wednesday’s 96-82 home win over the Hawks. They broke out of a collective shooting slump, hitting 10-of-20 threes and making better than 50% of their field goals for only the second time in their past 16 games. Can the Clippers cover this large a spread against a surging Suns squad? For the answer, connect to the NBA Weekday Pass for ATS picks covering all the marquee NBA games each day. NBA Pass was a perfect 3-0 ATS on Wednesday.

    The Suns did look good on Wednesday, though they only had to dispose of a Jazz team that always struggles on the road. Nash (13.9 PPG on 54.7% FG, 11.1 APG) handed out 16 assists, and the team stayed red-hot from three, hitting 9-of-19 from behind the arc. Perhaps most importantly, PF Channing Frye (10.3 PPG) has gotten back on track. He scored 26, shooting 10-for-18 from the field (5-for-10 threes) in the Jazz win, and scored 18 on 7-for-11 FG (4-for-6 threes) in Monday’s win over Minnesota. But he has to find the range on the road for once. On the year, Frye has hit 39.4% of his threes at home, but only 31.6% on the road. The FoxSheets show a three-star trend siding with the Suns:

    Play Against - Home teams (L.A. CLIPPERS) - revenging a straight up loss vs. opponent as a favorite, extremely tired team - playing 9 or more games in 14 days. (35-10 since 1996.) (77.8%, +24 units. Rating = 3*).

    In their last meeting, the Clippers were surprisingly ineffective against the Suns’ typically soft defense. Playing on the road for the second night in a row on March 2, they scored just 78 points and shot 36.8% FG and lost despite Phoenix’s awful shooting (35% FG, 62% FT) and a particularly bad night from Nash, who had just six points, six assists and seven turnovers. PF Blake Griffin (21.2 PPG, 11.1 RPG) had one of his worst games of the season in that game, going for 17 points on 6-for-19 shooting.

    The good news is that some of the Clippers’ role players finally delivered in Wednesday’s win. PG Chris Paul (19.9 PPG, 8.3 APG) and Griffin had been forced to carry the team of late. SF Caron Butler (12.6 PPG) came into Wednesday averaging 6.9 PPG on 27.1% FG since the All-Star break, but had 13 on 5-for-9 shooting against the Hawks. Sixth man Mo Williams (14.3 PPG) had hit 2-of-12 threes in home games on Sunday and Monday, but went for 25 points and made 3-for-5 from behind the arc against Atlanta. The FoxSheets show a two-star trend expecting the Clippers to prevail:

    Play On - Favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points (L.A. CLIPPERS) - after being beaten by the spread by 18 or more points total in their last three games against opponent after going over the total by 30 or more points total in their last three games. (54-25 over the last 5 seasons.) (68.4%, +26.5 units. Rating = 2*).
    Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

    Comment


    • #47
      New Orleans tabbed as small favorite over Wizards


      WASHINGTON WIZARDS (9-32)

      at NEW ORLEANS HORNETS (10-33)


      Tip-off: Thursday, 8:05 p.m. ET
      Line: New Orleans -3, Total: 193½

      One of the NBA’s worst home teams goes up against one of the league’s worst road teams when New Orleans hosts Washington on Thursday night.

      This one has battle of attrition written all over it. The Hornets dropped a home game to Charlotte on Monday and the Lakers on Wednesday to fall to 4-18 SU and 6-16 ATS at home on the year. The Wizards haven’t won on the road in a month and are 3-16 SU and 7-12 ATS away from Washington. But it will also be a battle of styles, as the Hornets want a bogged-down, slow-tempo defensive battle while the Wizards will look to run, run, run. Who will win this matchup of struggling franchises? For the answer, connect to the NBA Weekday Pass for ATS picks covering all the marquee NBA games each day. NBA Pass was a perfect 3-0 ATS on Wednesday.

      The Wizards have gone completely run-and-gun since the All-Star break with not completely disastrous results. They’re 2-6 SU and 4-4 ATS in the second half of the season, averaging 101.8 PPG while shooting 45.1% from the field, 37.0% from three and turning it over just 12.6 times per game. PG John Wall (17.3 PPG, 7.8 APG) has been excellent, averaging 19.4 PPG on 45.0% FG, 8.8 APG and only 2.6 TOPG since the break. Always streaky wings Jordan Crawford (13.1 PPG) and Nick Young (16.6 PPG) have flashed explosiveness on the offensive end, with Crawford averaging 16.1 PPG on 38.6% shooting and Young 14.1 PPG on 42.5% shooting. And PF Trevor Booker (8.5 PPG, 6.2 RPG) has emerged as their most reliable big man on both ends of the floor (though that’s not saying much), averaging 13.5 PPG, 9.5 RPG and posting an average plus/minus of just -1.1 despite the 2-6 SU record.

      Of course, defensively they’ve been a disaster. The Wizards have allowed 108.6 PPG, 48.1% FG and 38.5% 3-pt FG since the All-Star break. The FoxSheets show a two-star trend favoring the Wizards:

      Play Against - Home teams (NEW ORLEANS) - after failing to cover 3 of their last 4 against the spread, playing on back-to-back days. (127-82 over the last 5 seasons.) (60.8%, +36.8 units. Rating = 2*).

      The Hornets were more than game against the Lakers on Wednesday night, leading by as many as 15 in the second half before having the game slip away in an overtime loss. PG Jarrett Jack (15.3 PPG, 6.1 APG) was phenomenal, going for 30 points on 13-for-21 shooting plus six assists. Jack is now averaging 20.8 PPG on 60.6% FG and 6.0 APG over his past five games.

      C Chris Kaman (12.7 PPG, 8.3 RPG) added 21 points and 12 rebounds. The question is how much gas will their starters have left in the tank. Kaman played 45 minutes, Jack 39 and SF Trevor Ariza (11.6 PPG) was stretched to 44 minutes on Wednesday night. However, the Hornets are 6-5 ATS on the second night of back-to-backs this year. The FoxSheets provide another strong trend that supports picking the Hornets:

      WASHINGTON is 12-33 ATS (26.7%, -24.3 Units) after a game where they covered the spread over the last 2 seasons. The average score was WASHINGTON 94.5, OPPONENT 104.6 - (Rating = 3*).
      Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

      Comment


      • #48
        Wolves seek rare win in Utah Thursday

        MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (22-21)

        at UTAH JAZZ (20-22)


        Tip-off: Thursday, 9:05 p.m. ET
        Line: Utah -3, Total: 201½

        The Jazz return home and look to continue their dominance of the Timberwolves in Salt Lake when they host Minnesota Thursday night.

        Utah has beaten the Wolves four straight times at home, SU and ATS, with an average margin of victory of 13.8 PPG. The Jazz have been typically strong at home all year, where they’re 15-6 SU and 13-7-1 ATS, but Minnesota is 13-6 ATS in road games. Can the Timberwolves snap their losing skid in Salt Lake City? For the answer, connect to the NBA Weekday Pass for ATS picks covering all the marquee NBA games each day. NBA Pass was a perfect 3-0 ATS on Wednesday.

        The Timberwolves are in the beginning stages of a lengthy road trip that started with a shootout, 127-124 win at Phoenix on Monday. They haven’t suffered too badly since losing PG Ricky Rubio (10.6 PPG, 8.2 APG) to a season-ending knee injury.

        Their dominating low-post tandem has certainly helped fill Rubio’s void. Since returning from a minor back injury, PF Kevin Love (25.7 PPG, 13.6 RPG) has averaged 30.5 PPG and 11.5 RPG in two games since the Rubio injury. Since missing two games with a foot injury earlier this month, C Nikola Pekovic (13.3 PPG, 7.4 RPG) has averaged 23.3 PPG on 63.6% shooting and 10.7 RPG (including 5.7 offensive RPG) in his past three games. Erratic SG Wayne Ellington (5.3 PPG) has emerged, averaging 13.5 PPG and hitting 64.7% FG including 62.5% of his threes. And PG Luke Ridnour (11.5 PPG) has averaged 12.0 PPG and 9.5 APG while running the point full-time since the Rubio injury. The FoxSheets show a two-star trend favoring the Wolves:

        Play Against - Home teams (UTAH) - after a road game where both teams score 100 or more points, extremely tired team - playing 9 or more games in 14 days. (41-16 since 1996.) (71.9%, +23.4 units. Rating = 2*).

        It’s not surprising that the Jazz fell in Phoenix on Wednesday, dropping to 5-16 SU and 7-14 ATS away from home on the season. They average just 94.7 PPG and shoot 29.1% from three on the road, as opposed to 99.8 PPG and 32.5% 3-pt FG at home.

        Jefferson (19.2 PPG, 9.3 RPG) continues to play admirably through his grief. He had 18 points and seven rebounds in 29 minutes in Phoenix, and is now averaging 21.0 PPG on 51.5% FG and 8.9 RPG in March. PF Paul Millsap (15.9 PPG, 8.9 RPG) has added 16.5 PPG on 51.0% FG and 8.0 RPG this month.

        While their veteran perimeter players continue with their uneven performance, SF Gordon Hayward (9.8 PPG) has looked very good off the bench of late, averaging 11.3 PPG on 54.2% FG in March. PF Derrick Favors (8.2 PPG, 5.1 RPG) came off the bench with 14 points on 6-for-8 shooting in 21 minutes in the Suns loss, and could have a big role in combating Minnesota’s big men. The FoxSheets provide this strong trend backing the Jazz:

        Play Against - Underdogs (MINNESOTA) - playing with 2 days rest, in March games. (82-42 over the last 5 seasons.) (66.1%, +35.8 units. Rating = 2*).
        Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

        Comment


        • #49
          NHL
          Armadillo's Write-Up

          Thursday, March 15

          Hot teams
          -- Blues won five of their last six games.
          -- Colorado won five of its last six games. Devils won four of last five.
          -- Penguins won their last nine games. Rangers won last six home games.
          -- Flyers won six of their last seven games.
          -- Panthers won four of their last five home games.
          -- Tampa Bay won six of its last eight home games.
          -- Flames won their last four games, scoring 16 goals.
          -- Predators won four of their last five games.

          Cold teams
          -- Carolina lost four of its last five home games.
          -- Islanders lost seven of their last nine games.
          -- Boston lost seven of its last ten road games.
          -- Maple Leafs lost five in row, 11 of their last 12 games.
          -- Coyotes lost six of their last eight games.
          -- Sharks lost six of their last seven games.

          Totals
          -- Over is 5-2-1 in last eight Carolina games.
          -- Five of last six New Jersey games stayed under total.
          -- Over is 5-0-1 in last six Pittsburgh road games.
          -- Five of last six Philly road games stayed under.
          -- Bruins' last five road games went over the total.
          -- Last four Lightning home games went over the total.
          -- Six of last eight Phoenix road games stayed under.
          -- Over is 4-1-1 in last six Nashville games.

          Series records
          -- Carolina is 4-3 in its last seven games against the Blues.
          -- Devils were outscored 12-4 in losing last three games with Colorado.
          -- Road team won seven of last ten Penguin-Ranger games.
          -- Islanders lost nine of last eleven games with Philadelphia.
          -- Bruins won six of last seven games with Florida.
          -- Maple Leafs beat Tampa Bay twice this season, 7-1/7-3.
          -- Coyotes won six of last seven games with Calgary.
          -- Predators lost eight of last 11 visits to San Jose.

          Back-to-Back
          -- Colorado is 3-5 when it played the night before.
          -- Phoenix is 3-1 when it won the night before.
          Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

          Comment


          • #50
            NBA
            Armadillo's Write-Up

            Thursday, March 15

            Hot Teams
            -- Dallas won seven of last nine home games, but is 3-8-1 vs spread in its last dozen home games.
            -- Denver won six of its last eight games, but is 2-6 vs spread in its last eight home tilts. Thunder are 7-2 against spread in game following a loss.
            -- Minnesota is 9-5 in its last 14 games; they covered five of their last seven on the road. Utah won/covered four of its last five at home.
            -- Suns won/covered six of their last eight games.

            Cold Teams
            -- Wizards lost 10 of last 12 games (4-8 vs spread). New Orleans is 2-9 vs spread in its last eleven home games.
            -- Charlotte covered once in its last six road games.
            -- Clippers are 3-5 in last eight home games (2-6 vs spread).

            Wear-and-Tear
            -- Wizards: 3rd game/4 nites. Hornets: 5th game/7 nites.
            -- Bobcats: 7th game/10 nites. Mavericks: 2nd game/5 nites.
            -- Thunder: 2nd game/5 nites. Nuggets: 3rd game/5 nites.
            -- T'wolves: Had last two nites off. Jazz: 5th game/7 nites.
            -- Suns: 3rd game/4 nites. Clippers: 4th game/5 nites.

            Totals
            -- Last five Washington games went over the total.
            -- Six of last nine Charlotte road games went over total.
            -- Four of last five Oklahoma City road games stayed under.
            -- Over is 10-4 in Minnesota's last fourteen road games.
            -- Four of last five Clipper home games stayed under total.

            Back-to-Back
            -- Hornets are 6-4 vs spread if they played the night before.
            -- Bobcats are 4-8 vs spread if they played the night before.
            -- Jazz is 2-6 vs spread if they lost the night before.
            -- Suns are 7-4-1 vs spread if they played the night before. Clippers are 7-4 vs spread if they played the night before.
            Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

            Comment


            • #51
              Evening Best Bets:


              03/15/2012 @ 04:20 PM

              CBB

              [718] GONZAGA -1 1.91



              03/15/2012 @ 04:20 PM

              CBB

              [718] TOTAL u132½ 1.91
              (WEST VIRGINIA vrs GONZAGA)



              03/15/2012 @ 04:25 PM

              CBB

              [727] SOUTH DAKOTA ST +7½ 1.91



              03/15/2012 @ 04:25 PM

              CBB

              [727] TOTAL o140½ 1.91
              (SOUTH DAKOTA ST vrs BAYLOR)



              03/15/2012 @ 04:15 PM

              CBB

              [735] VA COMMONWEALTH +7 1.91



              03/15/2012 @ 04:15 PM

              CBB

              [736] TOTAL u137½ 1.91
              (VA COMMONWEALTH vrs WICHITA ST)



              03/15/2012 @ 04:00 PM

              CBB

              [751] TOTAL o144 1.91
              (KENT ST vrs USC UPSTATE)



              03/15/2012 @ 04:00 PM

              CBB

              [752] USC UPSTATE +2 1.91
              Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

              Comment


              • #52
                Evening Best Bets Late Games:


                03/15/2012 @ 06:50 PM

                CBB

                [715] LOYOLA MARYLAND +17 1.91



                03/15/2012 @ 06:50 PM

                CBB

                [716] TOTAL u131 1.91
                (LOYOLA MARYLAND vrs OHIO ST)



                03/15/2012 @ 06:20 PM

                CBB

                [721] TOTAL o137½ 1.91
                (CONNECTICUT vrs IOWA ST)



                03/15/2012 @ 06:20 PM

                CBB

                [722] IOWA ST +2 1.91



                03/15/2012 @ 06:55 PM

                CBB

                [729] COLORADO +5½ 1.91



                03/15/2012 @ 06:55 PM

                CBB

                [729] TOTAL o135½ 1.91
                (COLORADO vrs UNLV)



                03/15/2012 @ 06:45 PM

                CBB

                [737] NEW MEXICO ST +6 1.91



                03/15/2012 @ 06:45 PM

                CBB

                [738] TOTAL u156 1.91
                (NEW MEXICO ST vrs INDIANA U)
                Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

                Comment


                • #53
                  NBA Best Bets:


                  03/15/2012 @ 05:05 PM

                  NBA

                  [701] WASHINGTON +2½ 1.91



                  03/15/2012 @ 05:05 PM

                  NBA

                  [702] TOTAL u193½ 1.91
                  (WASHINGTON vrs NEW ORLEANS)



                  03/15/2012 @ 05:35 PM

                  NBA

                  [704] TOTAL u188 1.91
                  (CHARLOTTE vrs DALLAS)



                  03/15/2012 @ 06:05 PM

                  NBA

                  [706] DENVER +1½ 1.91



                  03/15/2012 @ 06:05 PM

                  NBA

                  [706] TOTAL u212 1.91
                  (OKLAHOMA CITY vrs DENVER)



                  03/15/2012 @ 06:05 PM

                  NBA

                  [707] TOTAL o203 1.91
                  (MINNESOTA vrs UTAH)



                  03/15/2012 @ 06:05 PM

                  NBA

                  [708] UTAH -2½ 1.91



                  03/15/2012 @ 07:35 PM

                  NBA

                  [709] PHOENIX +7 1.91



                  03/15/2012 @ 07:35 PM

                  NBA

                  [709] TOTAL o196½ 1.91
                  (PHOENIX vrs LA CLIPPERS)
                  Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

                  Comment


                  • #54
                    NHL Best Bets:


                    03/15/2012 @ 04:05 PM

                    NHL

                    [51] ST. LOUIS -1½ 3.00



                    03/15/2012 @ 04:05 PM

                    NHL

                    [54] NEW JERSEY 1.61



                    03/15/2012 @ 04:05 PM

                    NHL

                    [55] PITTSBURGH -1½ 3.25



                    03/15/2012 @ 04:05 PM

                    NHL

                    [58] NY ISLANDERS 2.20



                    03/15/2012 @ 04:35 PM

                    NHL

                    [60] TOTAL u5 2.05
                    (BOSTON vrs FLORIDA)



                    03/15/2012 @ 04:35 PM

                    NHL

                    [61] TOTAL o6 2.05
                    (TORONTO vrs TAMPA BAY)



                    03/15/2012 @ 06:05 PM

                    NHL

                    [63] PHOENIX 2.15



                    03/15/2012 @ 07:35 PM

                    NHL

                    [65] NASHVILLE 2.15
                    Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

                    Comment


                    • #55
                      North Carolina & Duke Headline Greensboro Pod

                      What the Omaha pod is to the Big 12, Greensboro is to the Atlantic Coast Conference.

                      Blue will be a popular color inside Greensboro Coliseum as fans of both North Carolina and Duke invade for Friday's second-round action. The Tar Heels and Blue Devils, seeded 1-2 in the Midwest and South Regions respectively, lead an 8-team contingency from seven different conferences.

                      Here's a quick glance at Friday's Greensboro pod; spreads and totals listed per the Don Best Odds screen as of lunchtime Thursday.

                      (8) Creighton vs. (9) Alabama
                      TIP-OFF: 1:40 p.m. (ET) TBS
                      SPREAD: Alabama -1½
                      TOTAL: 132½
                      PREVIEW: Creighton claimed the Missouri Valley Conference crown with an 83-79 overtime win over Illinois State nearly two weeks ago. The Bluejays feature the nation's third-leading scorer, Doug McDermott (23.2 PPG), and begin March Madness on a 7-game win streak, but also ended the campaign on a 2-8 run against the spread.

                      Alabama opened the season with seven victories, three of them against NCAA Tournament teams (Wichita State, Purdue and VCU), but the Crimson Tide have since gone 1-7 when facing Big Dance participants. This is the first appearance for 'Bama in the NCAA's since 2006 when the Tide opened with an upset win over (7) Marquette before losing to eventual tournament runner-up (2) UCLA.

                      (1) North Carolina vs. (16) Vermont
                      TIP-OFF: 4:10 p.m. (ET) TBS
                      SPREAD: UNC -17
                      TOTAL: 144
                      PREVIEW: Vermont arrives in Greensboro after taking care of Lamar in First Four action on Wednesday. The Catamounts used Four McGlynn's game-high 18 points off the bench plus all-around play from Brian Voelkel (12 rebounds, 7 assists) to claim a 71-59 win as 2-point underdogs. Needless to say, the Tar Heels will present a huge step up in competition over the Cardinals.

                      North Carolina saw its 9-game win streak snapped by Florida State in Sunday's ACC Championship. That was the second-straight contest that the Heels played without John Henson. The junior forward hurt his wrist early in the conference tourney opener against Maryland, and is questionable for Friday's game vs. Vermont.

                      This will be the third meeting between the Heels and Catamounts in the last 10 years, the other two coming in Dec. 2002 and Dec. 2004. North Carolina coasted to victories of 26 and 28 points in those contests.

                      (2) Duke vs. (15) Lehigh
                      TIP-OFF: 7:15 p.m. (ET) CBS
                      SPREAD: Duke -12
                      TOTAL: 148
                      PREVIEW: How many UNC fans might stick around to cheer on Lehigh? The Mountain Hawks are on an 8-game win streak that includes two victories over a solid Bucknell team, the second of which came in the Patriot League Finals. Lehigh also gave Michigan State fits just before Christmas, taking a 3-point lead into the locker room at East Lansing before falling 90-81 to the Spartans as a 15-point underdog.

                      Duke barely survived a 2/15 matchup four years ago when the Blue Devils needed a late bucket to hold off the determined Belmont Bruins, 71-70. Mike Krzyzewski's crew has since reached the Sweet 16 the last three years, including the 2010 National Championship over Butler.

                      (7) Notre Dame vs. (10) Xavier
                      TIP-OFF: 9:45 p.m. (ET) CBS
                      SPREAD: Notre Dame -2½
                      TOTAL: 124½
                      PREVIEW: Assuming Duke doesn't implode vs. Lehigh, a fourth straight trip to the Sweet 16 will come down to a victory over one of these two schools. Mike Brey and Notre Dame have been a great story after losing star Tim Abromaitis early, but have been in a funk lately winning just two of the last five games (1-4 ATS). Meanwhile, Xavier hasn't really played up to its potential since a fight-marred win over rival Cincinnati in early-December, and begins play Friday just 6-6 since the beginning of February (3-8-1 ATS).

                      Both teams posted losing records away from their home floors this season, Notre Dame going 6-10 (6-10 ATS) and Xavier 8-9 (4-11-2 ATS). Each squad has also been kind to 'under' bettors recently with four of the last six Irish tilts failing to reach the total and the Musketeers 1-4-1 to the low side in their last six.

                      COLUMBUS POD - NASHVILLE POD - OMAHA POD
                      Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

                      Comment


                      • #56
                        Aztecs Draw NC State Wolfpack In Columbus

                        Just a hunch, but this is one trip to Columbus that Tom Izzo and the Michigan State Spartans probably don't mind taking.

                        The Spartans plan on making Nationwide Arena their home the next few days as the No. 1 seed in the West Regional. State earned the top spot with the Big Ten Tournament title after ending in a three-way regular season tie alongside Michigan and Ohio State. Sparty is joined by Memphis, Saint Louis and Long Island-Brooklyn as the four teams competing for a Sweet 16 slot in the West bracket.

                        Georgetown heads the Midwest Regional teams in town as a No. 3 seed. The Hoyas are accompanied by San Diego State, North Carolina State and Belmont who are all vying for a trip to St. Louis next week.

                        Here's a quick glance at Friday's Columbus pod; spreads and totals listed per the Don Best Odds screen as of Thursday afternoon.

                        (6) San Diego State vs. (11) North Carolina State
                        TIP-OFF: 12:40 p.m. (ET) truTV
                        SPREAD: NC State -2½
                        TOTAL: 137
                        PREVIEW: This should be a great matchup between a pair of top 50 RPI teams to tip the pod, and features two solid coaches. Mark Gottfried just completed his first season at NC State while Steve Fisher has 13 years under his belt at SD State preceded by nine seasons at Michigan that included the '89 NCAA Championship. Early action on Gottfried's Wolfpack has increased the spread from the -1½ opening.

                        Some inconsistent ref work might have cost North Carolina State a chance to appear in the ACC Championship game last weekend. Even with the 69-67 loss to North Carolina, the Wolfpack start the dance in excellent form against the spread, 5-0-1 the last six along with an 8-3 trend to the 'over' since early-February.

                        Fisher's Aztecs have been overachieving all season, but didn't quite have enough to claim the Mountain West title in a 68-59 defeat at the hands of New Mexico (-4½) last Saturday. San Diego State is in the dance for a third consecutive season, and made it to last year's Sweet 16 before bowing out against eventual champ UConn.

                        (3) Georgetown vs. (14) Belmont
                        TIP-OFF: 3:10 p.m. (ET) truTV
                        SPREAD: Georgetown -3½
                        TOTAL: 133
                        PREVIEW: As far as 3/14 matchups this year, this is the shortest spread as the mighty Hoyas out of the Big East are just 3½-point chalk. The clash presents a classic contrast of styles, with Georgetown (23-8 SU, 15-11 ATS) more into the defensive side of things and Belmont (27-7 SU, 2-5 ATS) interested in a faster offensive flow.

                        The Bruins were seen as strong upset candidates last year when they brought a 30-4 record into the tournament as a 13-seed versus Wisconsin. Favored by four, Wisconsin took care of business in relatively easy fashion, 72-58.

                        (8) Memphis vs. (9) Saint Louis
                        TIP-OFF: 6:50 p.m. (ET) TBS
                        SPREAD: Memphis -3½
                        TOTAL: 129½
                        PREVIEW: A bit strange to see the 8/9 fracas in any region carry the same spread as the 3/14, but that's what we have in Columbus' pod for the Midwest. This is another strong battle between coaches, with Memphis' Josh Pastner one of the top young minds in the game butting heads with an old-school veteran in Rick Majerus of Saint Louis.

                        Pastner and Memphis took on all comers this campaign, playing 18 games against teams either in the NCAA or NIT tournaments. The Tigers went 11-7 in those games (7-10-1 ATS), and were rolling by the end of the season with a 7-game win streak (7-0 ATS). Majerus brings the Billikens to the dance for the first time under his tutelage which began in 2007, and it's the first appearance for Saint Louis since 2000. The Billikens ranked eighth nationally allowing just 57.5 PPG.

                        On the injury front, Tarik Black is probable for the Tigers after injuring his forearm in the Conference USA Championship vs. Marshall. The sophomore forward is third on the team in scoring (10.9 PPG) and second in rebounding (4.9 RPG).

                        (1) Michigan State vs. (16) Long Island-Brooklyn
                        TIP-OFF: 9:20 p.m. (ET) TBS
                        SPREAD: Michigan State -20
                        TOTAL: 154½
                        PREVIEW: It's the second straight March Madness trip for LIU-Brooklyn. While it will last as long as last year's 102-87 defeat at the hands of second-seeded North Carolina, the end result for bettors could be the same. The Blackbirds covered getting 17½ against the Heels, and they have a couple of talented junior forwards in Julian Boyd and Jamal Olasewere who can help keep this game within the odds gap if they get a little help from the guards.

                        Let's not fool ourselves; State will win it, but if the Spartans don't play hard the entire 40 minutes, the Blackbirds have a great chance to cover this spread. How physical the refs allow Michigan State to play will be another key.

                        GREENSBORO POD - NASHVILLE POD - OMAHA POD
                        Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

                        Comment


                        • #57
                          Saint Mary's In Omaha To Face Purdue Boilermakers

                          If there is to be one more Border War between the Kansas Jayhawks and Missouri Tigers before they begin playing in different conferences, it will have to come in the Final Four. The old rivals split their regular season meetings, and a rubber game never materialized in the Big 12 tourney when Kansas was felled by Baylor in the semis.

                          The Tigers and Jayhawks will get together at least once more, however, if only geographically. Missouri and Kansas are the No. 2 seeds who will be in the limelight at Omaha, a pod that also includes a pair of excellent 7/10 matchups.

                          Had Kansas won that game vs. Baylor in the conference tournament, a No. 1 seed likely would have gone to the winner between the Jayhawks and Tigers in a league championship matchup. Mizzou went on to win its last Big 12 tourney crown before heading to the SEC later this year.

                          The Tigers top a quartet from the West Regional that includes Florida, Virginia and Norfolk State. Kansas drew bridesmaid honors in the Midwest, and hit CenturyLink Center in a bundle with Saint Mary's, Purdue and Detroit.

                          Here's a quick glance at Friday's Omaha matchups; spreads and totals listed per the Don Best Odds screen as of Wednesday evening.

                          (7) Florida vs. (10) Virginia
                          TIP-OFF: 2:10 p.m. (ET) TNT
                          SPREAD: Florida -3½
                          TOTAL: 121
                          PREVIEW: Tipping things off will be the proverbial unstoppable force meeting the immovable object. Both Florida and Virginia stumbled to the finish line, the Gators dropping four of their last five (also 1-4 against the spread) while the Cavaliers dropped three of four (1-3 ATS).

                          Florida at least gave it the old college try in the SEC semis, a 74-71 setback to top-ranked Kentucky. The Gators grabbed the cash as 9-point underdogs, but are a money-burning 3-7 ATS since their first of three meetings with Kentucky this year. Virginia was a one-&-done in the ACC tourney, and a usually stingy defense has been the culprit in three straight ATS losses to Florida State, Maryland and NC State coming into this one.

                          (2) Missouri vs. (15) Norfolk State
                          TIP-OFF: 4:40 p.m. (ET) TNT
                          SPREAD: Missouri -21½
                          TOTAL: 144½
                          PREVIEW: Mizzou was playing some of its best ball of the season last week in the Big 12 Tournament. Frank Haith's job now is to make sure that carries over to the Final Four, and the Tigers begin with what should be a cakewalk against Norfolk State.

                          Missouri starts the festivities with five straight wins and four straight covers. The Tigers are also on a 9-game 'over' string, averaging nearly 81 points per game in that span.

                          (7) Saint Mary's vs. (10) Purdue
                          TIP-OFF: 7:27 p.m. (ET) truTV
                          SPREAD: Saint Mary's -1½
                          TOTAL: 140
                          PREVIEW: This spread has already swung from Purdue -1 to Saint Mary's -1½ as bettors continue to voice their approval for the Gaels. Randy Bennett's bunch deserved at least a 5-6 seed, but will now have to face a Purdue squad that is very capable of reaching the Sweet 16.

                          The Gaels hit a rough patch in mid-February but have since bounced back with four straight wins (3-1 ATS). They expect to have their top perimeter defensive player and third-leading scorer back after Stephen Holt (10.4 PPG) missed the last five games with a knee injury.

                          Purdue has to either really step up their defense against a very efficient Saint Mary's group of shooters, or shoot lights like the Boilermakers did in a close loss at Ohio State in early-February.

                          (2) Kansas vs. (15) Detroit
                          TIP-OFF: 9:57 p.m. (ET) truTV
                          SPREAD: Kansas -14
                          TOTAL: 142½
                          PREVIEW: Kansas has a bit of a history dropping games to inferior seeds. The Jayhawks were bounced in the opening rounds of both the 2005 and 2006 tournaments by (14) Bucknell and (13) Bradley, respectively. It was 9th-seeded Northern Iowa that took them out in the second round of the 2010 gala, and an 11th-seeded VCU popped KU just last year in the Southwest Regional Championship.

                          Detroit is capable of adding its name to that list. The Titans punched their ticket with the Horizon League title, winning by 20 on the road at Valparaiso in the finals as 2-point underdogs. Handicapped by an early suspension for center Eli Holman and season-ending injury to Nick Minnerath just five games in, Detroit has won 10 of the last 11 and covered all three conference tourney contests.

                          Thomas Robinson and Tyshawn Taylor get the main focus on the Kansas side, but Jeff Withey's performance will be the difference in this game. He will draw most of the time defending Detroit's Holman in the paint, as well as keeping Holman off Kansas' offensive glass.

                          COLUMBUS POD - GREENSBORO POD - NASHVILLE POD
                          Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

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                          • #58
                            Florida State In Music City To Battle Bonnies

                            This would be a tough pod for yours truly to attend. The allure of spending all night at Tootsie's Orchid Lounge just might trump my desire to watch some great college hoops.

                            Welcome to Music City, where the ghosts of Hank Williams and Stringbean roam the streets and alleys around Ryman Auditorium, and country music dreams are quashed on a daily basis. A few college basketball dreams will end over the next few days as eight teams compete for a pair of Sweet 16 openings in the East and Midwest Regions.

                            Here's a quick glance at Friday's Nashville pod; spreads and totals listed per the Don Best Odds screen as of Thursday morning.

                            (6) Cincinnati vs. (11) Texas
                            TIP-OFF: 12:15 p.m. (ET) CBS
                            SPREAD: Cincinnati -2
                            TOTAL: 129½
                            PREVIEW: That the Big East Tournament runner-up is favored by just a bucket over a Texas team that got into the tourney by its reputation as much as this year's performance is a bit surprising. One factor that might figure into the spread could be how the Bearcats and Longhorns played against their one common opponent. Cincinnati needed a furious rally to get past Oklahoma in late-December, 56-55, as 6½-point chalk while Texas topped the Sooners twice in conference play, going 1-1 against the spread in the process.

                            Cincinnati fell flat in the Big East title tilt after upsetting Syracuse a day earlier, scoring a season-low 44 points in the 50-44 defeat to Louisville as a 3-point underdog. That halted a 6-0 ATS run for the Bearcats. Texas had no answer for Missouri in the Big 12 semis, an 81-67 setback while receiving six from the oddsmakers, and the 'Horns hit the tourney just 2-5 ATS their last seven.

                            (3) Florida State vs. (14) St. Bonaventure
                            TIP-OFF: 2:45 p.m. (ET) CBS
                            SPREAD: FSU -6½
                            TOTAL: 130½
                            PREVIEW: Beating their rivals from Miami before topping both Duke and North Carolina to win the ACC Tournament should have the Seminoles more than ready for the Big Dance. Florida State will be facing a St. Bonaventure club that is equally confident after upsetting Xavier to win its first A-10 Championship.

                            The Bonnies arrive in Nashville for their first NCAA Tournament since 2000 playing some great basketball. St. Bonaventure has won seven of its last eight, also going 7-1 ATS in that span.

                            Florida State is on a solid run as well, winning and covering its last five. The Seminoles are making their third consecutive March Madness appearance after advancing to the Sweet 16 last season before falling to VCU in overtime, 72-71.

                            (4) Michigan vs. (13) Ohio
                            TIP-OFF: 7:30 p.m. (ET) TNT
                            SPREAD: Michigan -6
                            TOTAL: 124½
                            PREVIEW: It's not quite the same as a matchup between the Wolverines and Buckeyes, but the Michigan-Ohio battle still should have a little bit of a rivalry feel to it. The college basketball betting lines opened with a few shops listing the Maize & Blue -7, but bettors quickly sent that down to six, with 5½ showing up in some books on Thursday morning.

                            Ohio survived three tests vs. Toledo, Buffalo and Akron to gain entry to the dance as Mid-American Conference champs. The Bobcats failed to cover any of those three tilts, however, and are 1-4 ATS their last five. Michigan's defense slacked off a bit in the last few weeks to play a part in a 2-3 ATS stretch heading into Friday. The Wolverines did make 'over' bettors happy though, with all five of those contests skipping above the total.

                            (5) Temple vs. (12) South Florida
                            TIP-OFF: 9:50 p.m. (ET) TNT
                            SPREAD: Temple -2½
                            TOTAL: 122
                            PREVIEW: South Florida was the last team to make it into the Field of 64 after the Bulls dispatched Cal on Wednesday in the final First Four clash. Their trademark defense smothered the Golden Bears to build a 36-13 halftime lead, and that was more than enough to hold off Cal's comeback attempt for the 65-54 win as 3-point underdogs.

                            That defense will now go up against a Temple team that is very well-balanced offensively and features three solid shooters from beyond the arc. The Owls could be shaking off a little rust after an early exit from the A-10 tourney a week ago, their only game in the last two weeks.

                            Totals bettors are facing a dilemma. Temple is 18-12 'over' on the season with their games rarely sporting a total below 140 while South Florida sits 22-9 'under' with totals rarely above 120.

                            COLUMBUS POD - GREENSBORO POD - OMAHA POD
                            Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

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                            • #59
                              Friday Afternoon Games

                              March 15, 2012


                              The Friday afternoon card in the NCAA Tournament involves four teams seeded in the top three in their respective regions, including number one seed North Carolina in Greensboro. The day starts with a pair of 6/11 matchups, as three of the four teams come from BCS conferences. We'll begin in Nashville with an intriguing contest between Big East and Big 12 schools.

                              [11] Texas vs. [6] Cincinnati (-2, 129) - 12:15 PM EST

                              The Longhorns likely clinched an at-large berth after knocking off Iowa State in the Big 12 tournament, as Texas looks to pull off a minor upset of Cincinnati. The Bearcats fell short in the Big East championship to Louisville, but Cincinnati was able to knock off Syracuse and Marquette as underdogs in back-to-back games. Mick Cronin's team finished the season pretty hot against the number by cashing six of the last seven games, including three times as a favorite of two points or less. Texas compiled a 10-17-1 ATS record this season, but put together a 5-3 ATS mark as an underdog. The three biggest wins this season by the Longhorns came at home against Kansas State, Iowa State, and Temple, while covering twice as a favorite.

                              [11] N.C. State (-2 ½, 137) vs. [6] San Diego State - 12:40 PM EST

                              The Aztecs look to make another run in the tournament after making the Sweet 16 last March as San Diego State takes on a solid N.C. State squad. The Wolfpack solidified an at-large berth with a pair of wins in the ACC Tournament, including an outright underdog victory over Virginia in the quarterfinals. N.C. State closed the season at 5-0-1 ATS, even though four of those covers came in the 'dog role. San Diego State went 26-7, which included a 12-5 mark inside of Mountain West play. The Aztecs put up a 5-8 ATS record down the stretch, but Steve Fisher's club cashed seven of 10 times as underdogs this season.

                              [9] Alabama (- 1 ½, 132 ½) vs. [8] Creighton - 1:40 PM EST

                              The Blue Jays wrapped up the Missouri Valley tournament title over Illinois State in overtime, the seventh consecutive win for Creighton as it plays Alabama in Greensboro. The Crimson Tide closed SEC play with victories in seven of their final 10 regular season contests, while coming up short in the conference tournament against Florida. Alabama didn't beat a conference foe that is currently in the tournament field, even though the Tide knocked off Wichita State, Purdue, and VCU in non-conference play. Creighton started the season on fire at 8-2 ATS, but the Jays stumbled to a 2-8 ATS finish, as seven of those losses came as favorites.

                              [10] Virginia vs. [7] Florida (-3 ½, 121 ½) - 2:10 PM EST

                              The Cavaliers didn't play down the stretch by losing five of their last eight games, as UVA will be tested immediately against Florida. The Gators lost to Kentucky for the third time this season in the SEC Tournament semifinals, while posting a 1-5 ATS record in their final six contests. Florida made it all the way to the Elite Eight last season before losing to Butler in overtime, as the Gators are looking to make it out of the first weekend in consecutive tournaments for the first time since 2006 and 2007 (the championship years). Billy Donovan's team won just four of 10 games against tournament teams, with the victories coming against Alabama twice, Florida State, and Vanderbilt. The Cavs began the season at 14-1, but the only quality win came at home over Michigan. Virginia cashed the 'under' in 19 of 26 games, while four of its previous five contests sailed 'over' the total.

                              [14] St. Bonaventure vs. [3] Florida State (-6, 130 ½) - 2:45 PM EST

                              The Seminoles made headlines last weekend by knocking off Duke and North Carolina en route to their first ACC tournament title. FSU's task won't be easy in their opener against St. Bonaventure, who went an incredible run to claim the Atlantic 10 championship with a convincing victory over Xavier. The Bonnies cashed seven of eight games down the stretch, but St. Bonnie's put together a 2-6 ATS record in the last eight contests as an underdog. FSU is riding a 7-1 'over' run despite its defensive prowess, while covering five consecutive games after a 1-6 ATS stretch. Under Leonard Hamilton, the 'Noles are 2-3 SU/ATS in the tournament, with both victories coming in last season's Sweet 16 run.

                              [14] Belmont vs. [3] Georgetown (-4, 133 ½) - 3:10 PM EST

                              The Hoyas are looking for their first NCAA Tournament since 2008 as Georgetown takes on upset-minded Belmont. The Bears won the Atlantic Sun championship, while riding a 14-game winning streak headed into the Big Dance. Belmont failed to cover all three games in the A-Sun tournament as double-digit favorites, as the Bears finished the season at 2-5 ATS in lined contests. Georgetown is coming off a loss in the Big East tournament to Cincinnati, as the Hoyas went 6-1 SU and 5-2 ATS off a defeat this season.

                              [16] Vermont vs. [1] North Carolina (-15 ½, 144 ½) - 4:10 PM EST

                              North Carolina still received a top seed despite losing the ACC championship to Florida State, as the Tar Heels battle Vermont. The Catamounts knocked off Lamar in the first round on Wednesday, 71-59 as 1 ½-point underdogs. UVM is running through a stretch of 15 victories in the last 16 games, while claiming the America East championship. UNC cashed in 11 of 20 contests as double-digit favorites, as the Tar Heels went 4-2 ATS in the 10-16 pointspread range.

                              [15] Norfolk State vs. [2] Missouri (-21 ½, 144) - 4:40 PM EST

                              Missouri finished off its tenure in the Big 12 with a conference championship, while putting up a 30-win season. The Tigers take on the champions of the MEAC, as Norfolk State compiled a 25-9 mark, including seven straight victories down the stretch. Mizzou has cashed the 'over' in nine consecutive games, while Frank Haith's club averaged 80 points per game. The Tigers took care of business as a heavy favorite, going 8-3 ATS when laying at least 9 ½ points. The Spartans cashed five of six lined games this season, while the most impressive cover came as 22-point underdogs to Marquette in a 59-57 defeat in November.
                              Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

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                              • #60
                                Memphis slightly favored over Saint Louis Friday

                                9 seed SAINT LOUIS BILLIKENS (25-7)

                                vs. 8 seed MEMPHIS TIGERS (26-8)


                                NCAA Tournament - Second Round
                                Tip-off: Friday, 6:50 p.m. EDT – Columbus, OH
                                Line: Memphis -3

                                Two teams playing in mid-major conferences meet in a Second Round showdown when Memphis takes on Saint Louis on Friday night.

                                Since getting upset at home by UTEP, the Tigers have been dominant, winning each of seven straight games (SU and ATS) by at least a dozen points. Memphis coasted through the Conference-USA Tournament with wins by 18, 31 and 26 points in the championship game over Marshall. Saint Louis has also played great basketball since the start of February, going 9-2 SU. Which mid-major conference team will advance on Friday? For the answer, check out the College Basketball Three at Three Pass for picks covering all the big games in college basketball each weekday.

                                Saint Louis was simply outplayed by Xavier in the A-10 semifinals (71-64 loss), getting outshot 53% to 41% and getting outrebounded by six. Despite the small amount of points, six Saint Louis players comprised the entire scoring, as each of these half-dozen players scored 8+ points. The Billikens usually employ an eight-man rotation with leading scorer Brian Conklin (13.9 PPG, 4.8 RPG) taking high-percentage shots (53.3% FG). Kwamain Mitchell (12.1 PPG, 3.8 APG) is the floor leader and Cody Ellis (10.5 PPG) makes 40% of his three-point tries. Saint Louis is not a great rebounding team, as its 32.8 RPG ranks 258th in the nation. This three-star FoxSheets trend also sides with the Billikens:

                                MEMPHIS is 0-7 ATS (-7.7 Units) versus very good teams - outscoring their opponents by 8+ points/game this season. The average score was MEMPHIS 74.8, OPPONENT 79.4 - (Rating = 3*).

                                Memphis has a slew of athletes that can run the floor, and its 49.4% FG Pct. (5th in the nation) is the result of a lot of fast breaks and dunks. Will Barton is a monster at 18.1 PPG and 8.1 RPG and Joe Jackson (11.1 PPG) is coming off a strong C-USA Tournament with 15.3 PPG and 4.0 APG in the three wins. He had a game-high 19 in the championship win over Marshall, while Barton had 18. Senior swingman Wesley Witherspoon (7.2 PPG) provides a great spark off the bench, and highly-recruited sophomore F Tarik Black (10.9 PPG, 4.9 RPG) is starting to blossom with 8+ points in each of his past 10 games (13.9 PPG). This three-star FoxSheets trend believes Memphis will win and cover:

                                MEMPHIS is 9-1 ATS (+7.9 Units) after having won 12 or more of their last 15 games this season. The average score was MEMPHIS 76.9, OPPONENT 56.0 - (Rating = 3*).
                                Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

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