Announcement

**Udog** · 03-17-2012, 08:20 AM

Saturday's betting tips: Vandy on ATS tear vs. top teams

Who’s hot

NCAAB: Vanderbilt is 6-0 ATS in its last six games against teams with a winning percentage above .600.

NCAAB: Murray State is 7-1 ATS in its last eight games.

NCAAB: The over is 7-1 in Ohio State’s last eight games.

NBA: The Clippers are 12-4 ATS in their last 16 games following a SU loss.

NBA: The under is 10-1-1 in the last 12 Warriors-Jazz games.

NHL: The road team is 6-2 in the last eight Toronto-Ottawa games.

NHL: Colorado is 9-2 in its last 11 meetings with the Rangers.

Who’s not

NCAAB: Baylor is 3-14 ATS in its last 17 games following an ATS win.

NCAAB: The over is 5-11 in Seton Hall’s last 16 non-conference games.

NCAAB: Louisville is 2-6 ATS in its last eight NCAA tournament games.

NBA: The Nets are 2-9 ATS in their last 11 games against losing teams.

NBA: Boston is 1-6 ATS in its last seven visits to Denver.

NHL: San Jose is 4-12 in its last 16 games.

NHL: The Wild are 0-4 in their last four home games.

Key stat

164 – That’s how many shots Kentucky’s Anthony Davis has blocked this season. He blocked seven in the Wildcats’ win on Thursday, setting the record for most in an NCAA tournament game. The 6-10, 220-pound freshman averages nearly five blocks per game and is nearing the SEC record of 170 set by Mississippi State’s Jarvis Varnado three years ago.

Injury that shouldn’t be overlooked

Bulls point guard Derrick Rose (groin) did not play Friday vs. Portland after also missing Wednesday’s rousing win over the Heat. Rose also could be held out Saturday against Philly, as the Bulls want to get the reigning MVP close to 100 percent for the playoffs. Rose is averaging 22.8 points, 8.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds. Chicago next plays Monday in Orlando.

Games of the day

No. 8 Kansas State vs. No. 1 Syracuse (-5, 134.5)

No. 7 Gonzaga vs. No. 2 Ohio State (-7.5, 136.5)

No. 5 New Mexico vs. No. 4 Louisville (-1, 128)

Notable quotable

"Our turnovers were detrimental to the flow of our offense. We had the one segment we went four or five [straight] turnovers. A lot of them were unforced." – Ohio State coach Thad Matta after his team committed a whopping 18 turnovers in its win over Loyola, Md. The Buckeyes can’t afford to be that careless when they face hot-shooting Gonzaga on Saturday in the Round of 32.

Notes and tips

Indiana guard Jordan Hulls is hitting an incredible 50 percent on 3-pointers this season (69 of 138) after burying 4 of 6 in the Hoosiers’ win over New Mexico State. The Hoosiers entered the tournament ranked No. 2 nationally in 3-point shooting (43.3 percent). Indiana plays VCU in Portland on Saturday for a trip to the Sweet 16.

Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist, who missed Thursday’s 5-2 loss to the Pens with the flu, could start Saturday’s home game against the Avs. Lundqvist is 32-14-5 with a 1.88 GAA and a .935 save percentage. He has missed two straight games, but said he was healthy enough to have played Thursday. New York likely was just being cautious.

Saturday’s Louisville-New Mexico matchup in the Round of 32 should be a grinder between two of the nation’s premier defensive teams. The Cardinals rank third nationally in field-goal percentage defense (37.9), while the Lobos rank sixth (38.2). The under is 8-1 in Louisville’s last nine games, and 10-3 in the Cards’ last 13 non-conference games.

Perhaps the uber-talented Baylor Bears have put the nerves behind them. Coach Scott Drew noted that having four starters without NCAA tournament experience showed in the early going against South Dakota State. Baylor missed its first six shots and trailed by 12 points in the first half. “We showed our jitters a little bit, but then settled down,” Drew said. Baylor shot 50 percent the rest of the game. The Bears face Colorado, the lone remaining Pac-12 team, in the Round of 32 on Saturday.

**Udog** · 03-17-2012, 08:23 AM

Armadillo: Saturday's six-pack

Six prop bets for the coming baseball season.........

-- Over/under on HRs for any hitter: 42.5.

-- Over/under on RBI for any hitter: 128.

-- Over/under on runs scored for any player: 123.5

-- Runs scored on hits for any player: 213.5.

-- Over/under on stolen bases for any player: 61.5.

-- Over/under on saves for any pitcher: 47.5.

****************

Armadillo: Saturday's List of 13: Wrapping up a basketball Friday.........

After going 9-6-1 Thursday, favorites went 7-9 on a bizarre Friday that will go down as one of the memorable days in tournament history.

-- Mainstream media is obsessed with Duke, but fact is, Norfolk State was a 21.5-point underdog against Missouri, nine points more than Lehigh was in its game with Duke. The Norfolk State win was a much bigger upset, the biggest pointspread upset in NCAA tournament history.

-- South Florida beat Temple 58-44, despite missing 22 straight shots at one point in the first half. Yes, they didn't score for 10:43 and they still won by 14- thats how good USF's defense in. They're also unwatchable; in this day and age, its unusual for a good team to be so poor on offense.

-- LIU went right at Michigan State and predictably lost by 22. Last year they lost 102-87 to North Carolina, so they're a good bet for the over.

-- The winningest basketball coach in Lehigh history has 112 wins; guy named Tony Packer. You may have heard of his son. Billy Packer. Last thing about Lehigh; how did the McCollum kid not get recruited by MAC or Atlantic 14 team? He's a terrific guard at any level.

-- St Mary's had the ball up one in last minute when their inbounder ran the baseline after a violation, which isn't allowed. That was a turnover the Gaels never recovered from, and it cost them the game against Purdue.

-- Creighton had trouble with Alabama's athleticism late in first half, trailed 30-23 and looked beat at halftime, but young McDermott picked up his game and the Bluejays gutted out a 58-57 win over a Crimson Tide club that missed defensive stopper Mitchell.

-- When Creighton plays North Carolina Sunday, it'll re-unite two high school teammates; UNC's Barnes and Creighton's McDermott, whose dad was the Iowa State coach back then. Strangest thing is that two kids like that were in Ames, IA and the Cyclones didn't get either one of them, yet Iowa State still has a very good team now.

-- If any of you know how to get one of the bracket ties that Craig Seger was wearing Friday, let me know. I'd like to buy one.

-- Xavier outscored Notre Dame 18-4 on foul line, rallied from down 10 in second half to nip the Irish, 67-63. ESPN's Bob Valvano had this game down pat last Monday on The Experts; he said Xavier would win.

-- Texas was down 19 in first half, fought hard to tie game 52-52, but fell behind as soon as they tied the game and lost 65-59 to Cincinnati in one of those tense games between middle seed teams from BCS conferences.

-- St Bonaventure played their hearts out but couldn't finish Florida State off, losing 66-63 in a pretty good game. Bonnies jumped out to a 7-0 lead, led by six at the half, but the Seminoles were too tough to beat.

-- Georgetown's Henry Sims is my new favorite player; I love big guys who can pass the ball, and Sims plays a little like Vlade Divac used to when the Sacramento Kings were real good. Hoyas are a smart team that shares the ball really well. Fun to watch.

-- John Henson was in a suit for North Carolina, which means he's probably out for Sunday too; if Henson doesn't get healthy, Tar Heels aren't going to win the national title.

-- Watched most of Ohio's upset of Michigan; not really sure to say about it, other than John Groce is a former Ohio State assistant, so folks at OSU will be happy, as they are any time Michigan loses. Bobcats shot 51% and Wolverines were just 7-23 from the arc. If you didn't know and were just watching the game, you wouldn't have had a clue it was an upset.

-- Rick Majerus is now 11-1 in NCAA first round games after slipping past Memphis 61-54. Going to be a long summer for Tiger coach Pastner and Missouri coach Haith after their first round losses Friday.

-- Kansas and Florida won easily; Gators find themselves with a spunky group of Norfolk State Spartans standing between them and a Sweet 16 spot, which I'm sure no one had even considered a possibility.

**Udog** · 03-17-2012, 08:26 AM

NCAAB
Dunkel

Colorado vs. Baylor
The Bears look to build on their 4-1 ATS record in their last 5 games against Pac-12 opponents. Baylor is the pick (-7 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has the Bears favored by 10 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Baylor (-7 1/2). Here are all of today's picks.

SATURDAY, MARCH 17

Game 517-518: Kansas State vs. Syracuse (12:15 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Kansas State 68.451; Syracuse 70.837
Dunkel Line: Syracuse by 2 1/2; 131
Vegas Line: Syracuse by 5; 134 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Kansas State (+5); Under

Game 519-520: Gonzaga vs. Ohio State (2:45 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Gonzaga 66.652; Ohio State 76.000
Dunkel Line: Ohio State by 9 1/2; 139
Vegas Line: Ohio State by 7; 136 1/2
Dunkel Pick Ohio State (-7); Over

Game 521-522: Murray State vs. Marquette (5:15 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Murray State 63.559; Marquette 70.496
Dunkel Line: Marquette by 7; 147
Vegas Line: Marquette by 5; 141 1/2
Dunkel Pick Marquette (-5); Over

Game 523-524: Iowa State vs. Kentucky (7:45 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Iowa State 66.464; Kentucky 79.227
Dunkel Line: Kentucky by 13; 136
Vegas Line: Kentucky by 11; 140 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Kentucky (-11); Under

Game 525-526: Vanderbilt vs. Wisconsin (6:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Vanderbilt 72.765; Wisconsin 72.529
Dunkel Line: Even; 116
Vegas Line: Vanderbilt by 1; 121
Dunkel Pick Wisconsin (+1); Under

Game 527-528: Colorado vs. Baylor (8:40 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Colorado 62.201; Baylor 72.454
Dunkel Line: Baylor by 10 1/2; 138
Vegas Line: Baylor by 7 1/2; 133
Dunkel Pick: Baylor (-7 1/2); Over

Game 529-530: New Mexico vs. Louisville (9:40 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: New Mexico 69.778; Louisvile 69.919
Dunkel Line: Even; 123
Vegas Line: Louisville by 1 1/2; 129
Dunkel Pick New Mexico (+1 1/2); Under

Game 531-532: VCU vs. Indiana (7:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: VCU 64.561; Indiana 72.669
Dunkel Line: Indiana by 8; 144
Vegas Line: Indiana by 6; 139
Dunkel Pick Indiana (-6); Over

Game 533-534: Massachusetts at Seton Hall (11:00 a.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Massachusetts 61.960; Seton Hall 66.450
Dunkel Line: Seton Hall by 4 1/2; 144
Vegas Line: Seton Hall by 8; 149 1/2
Dunkel Pick Massachusetts (+8); Under

Game 539-540: Georgia State at Mercer (4:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Georgia State 61.381; Mercer 58.168
Dunkel Line: Georgia State by 3; 132
Vegas Line: Georgia State by 1 1/2; 125 1/2
Dunkel Pick Georgia State (-1 1/2); Over

Game 541-542: Buffalo at Oakland (2:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Buffalo 59.666; Oakland 61.477
Dunkel Line: Oakland by 2;
Vegas Line: Oakland by 3; 165 1/2
Dunkel Pick Buffalo (+3); Under

Game 543-544: Robert Morris vs. Toledo (2:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Robert Morris 56.766; Toledo 53.590
Dunkel Line: Robert Morris by 3; 143
Vegas Line: Robert Morris by 2; 138
Dunkel Pick Robert Morris (-2); Over

Game 545-546: Drake at Rice (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Drake 55.873; Rice 62.693
Dunkel Line: Rice by 7; 139
Vegas Line: Rice by 4 1/2; 136 1/2
Dunkel Pick Rice (-4 1/2); Over

Game 547-548: Idaho at Utah State (2:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Idaho 55.753; Utah State 60.293
Dunkel Line: Utah State by 4 1/2; 130
Vegas Line: Utah State by 6; 134
Dunkel Pick Idaho (+6); Under

**Udog** · 03-17-2012, 08:30 AM

NCAAB
Long Sheet

Saturday, March 17

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KANSAS ST (22 - 10) vs. SYRACUSE (32 - 2) - 3/17/2012, 12:15 PM
Top Trends for this game.
SYRACUSE is 61-86 ATS (-33.6 Units) versus good defensive teams - allowing <=64 points/game since 1997.

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

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GONZAGA (26 - 6) vs. OHIO ST (28 - 7) - 3/17/2012, 2:45 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

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

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MURRAY ST (31 - 1) vs. MARQUETTE (26 - 7) - 3/17/2012, 5:15 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MURRAY ST is 27-44 ATS (-21.4 Units) in road games after a non-conference game since 1997.
MARQUETTE is 52-36 ATS (+12.4 Units) in all games over the last 3 seasons.
MARQUETTE is 52-36 ATS (+12.4 Units) in all lined games over the last 3 seasons.
MARQUETTE is 47-27 ATS (+17.3 Units) in road games on Saturday games since 1997.
MARQUETTE is 41-24 ATS (+14.6 Units) in road games after scoring 80 points or more since 1997.
MARQUETTE is 18-9 ATS (+8.1 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
MARQUETTE is 29-15 ATS (+12.5 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games over the last 3 seasons.
MARQUETTE is 52-29 ATS (+20.1 Units) versus good defensive teams - allowing <=64 points/game after 15+ games since 1997.
MARQUETTE is 18-9 ATS (+8.1 Units) versus good defensive teams - allowing <=64 points/game over the last 2 seasons.
MURRAY ST is 8-2 ATS (+5.8 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record this season.

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

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IOWA ST (23 - 10) vs. KENTUCKY (33 - 2) - 3/17/2012, 7:45 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

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

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VANDERBILT (25 - 10) vs. WISCONSIN (25 - 9) - 3/17/2012, 6:10 PM
Top Trends for this game.
WISCONSIN is 9-2 ATS (+6.8 Units) after a non-conference game this season.
WISCONSIN is 9-2 ATS (+6.8 Units) in non-conference games this season.
WISCONSIN is 14-7 ATS (+6.3 Units) after allowing 60 points or less this season.
VANDERBILT is 10-2 ATS (+7.8 Units) in road games in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.
VANDERBILT is 11-3 ATS (+7.7 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
VANDERBILT is 7-0 ATS (+7.0 Units) in road games versus good defensive teams - allowing <=64 points/game after 15+ games this season.
VANDERBILT is 9-0 ATS (+9.0 Units) in road games versus good defensive teams - allowing <=64 points/game this season.

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

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COLORADO (24 - 11) vs. BAYLOR (28 - 7) - 3/17/2012, 8:40 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
COLORADO is 2-0 against the spread versus BAYLOR over the last 3 seasons
BAYLOR is 1-1 straight up against COLORADO over the last 3 seasons
1 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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NEW MEXICO (28 - 6) vs. LOUISVILLE (27 - 9) - 3/17/2012, 9:40 PM
Top Trends for this game.
LOUISVILLE is 38-25 ATS (+10.5 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
LOUISVILLE is 38-25 ATS (+10.5 Units) in all lined games over the last 2 seasons.
LOUISVILLE is 9-2 ATS (+6.8 Units) when playing with one or less days rest over the last 2 seasons.
NEW MEXICO is 24-7 ATS (+16.3 Units) in all games this season.
NEW MEXICO is 24-7 ATS (+16.3 Units) in all lined games this season.
NEW MEXICO is 10-3 ATS (+6.7 Units) on Saturday games this season.
NEW MEXICO is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) when playing with one or less days rest this season.
NEW MEXICO is 11-3 ATS (+7.7 Units) after a non-conference game this season.
NEW MEXICO is 11-3 ATS (+7.7 Units) in non-conference games this season.
NEW MEXICO is 14-7 ATS (+6.3 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
NEW MEXICO is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) versus good defensive teams - allowing <=64 points/game after 15+ games this season.
NEW MEXICO is 11-2 ATS (+8.8 Units) versus good defensive teams - allowing <=64 points/game this season.

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

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VA COMMONWEALTH (29 - 6) vs. INDIANA (26 - 8) - 3/17/2012, 7:10 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

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

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MASSACHUSETTS (23 - 11) at SETON HALL (21 - 12) - 3/17/2012, 11:00 AM
Top Trends for this game.
SETON HALL is 18-9 ATS (+8.1 Units) in all home games over the last 2 seasons.
SETON HALL is 18-9 ATS (+8.1 Units) in home lined games over the last 2 seasons.
SETON HALL is 14-7 ATS (+6.3 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
MASSACHUSETTS is 21-8 ATS (+12.2 Units) as a road underdog of 6.5 to 9 points since 1997.
MASSACHUSETTS is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) after allowing 80 points or more this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
SETON HALL is 2-0 against the spread versus MASSACHUSETTS over the last 3 seasons
SETON HALL is 2-0 straight up against MASSACHUSETTS over the last 3 seasons
1 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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GEORGIA ST (22 - 11) at MERCER (23 - 11) - 3/17/2012, 4:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
GEORGIA ST is 0-7 ATS (-7.7 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games over the last 2 seasons.
GEORGIA ST is 13-4 ATS (+8.6 Units) in March games since 1997.

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

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BUFFALO (19 - 10) at OAKLAND (18 - 15) - 3/17/2012, 2:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
BUFFALO is 2-10 ATS (-9.0 Units) in road games versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game after 15+ games since 1997.
OAKLAND is 34-23 ATS (+8.7 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
OAKLAND is 34-23 ATS (+8.7 Units) in all lined games over the last 2 seasons.
OAKLAND is 14-3 ATS (+10.7 Units) in March games since 1997.
OAKLAND is 20-8 ATS (+11.2 Units) in all tournament games since 1997.

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

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ROBERT MORRIS (25 - 10) at TOLEDO (19 - 16) - 3/17/2012, 2:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
TOLEDO is 16-6 ATS (+9.4 Units) when the total is 130 to 139.5 over the last 2 seasons.
TOLEDO is 9-2 ATS (+6.8 Units) versus good defensive teams - allowing <=64 points/game this season.

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

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

DRAKE (18 - 15) at RICE (18 - 15) - 3/17/2012, 8:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DRAKE is 2-8 ATS (-6.8 Units) on Saturday games this season.
DRAKE is 2-8 ATS (-6.8 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
RICE is 12-24 ATS (-14.4 Units) in all home games over the last 3 seasons.
RICE is 12-24 ATS (-14.4 Units) in home lined games over the last 3 seasons.

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

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IDAHO (19 - 13) at UTAH ST (18 - 15) - 3/17/2012, 9:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
IDAHO is 20-9 ATS (+10.1 Units) as an underdog over the last 2 seasons.
IDAHO is 18-5 ATS (+12.5 Units) in a road game where the total is 130 to 134.5 since 1997.
IDAHO is 77-52 ATS (+19.8 Units) in road games against conference opponents since 1997.
IDAHO is 16-6 ATS (+9.4 Units) on Saturday games over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
UTAH ST is 4-2 against the spread versus IDAHO over the last 3 seasons
UTAH ST is 4-2 straight up against IDAHO over the last 3 seasons
4 of 6 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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**Udog** · 03-17-2012, 08:34 AM

NCAAB
Short Sheet

Saturday, March 17

KANSAS ST vs. SYRACUSE, 12:15 PM - NCAA Tournament - Third Round - Consol Energy Ctr. - Pittsburgh, PA
KANSAS ST: 0-3 ATS as a neutral court underdog of 3.5 to 6 points
SYRACUSE: 6-1 Over as a neutral court favorite of 6 points or less

GONZAGA vs. OHIO ST, 2:45 PM - NCAA Tournament - Third Round - Consol Energy Ctr. - Pittsburgh, PA
GONZAGA: 22-6 Under this season
OHIO ST: 9-1 ATS playing 2nd time in 3 days

MURRAY ST vs. MARQUETTE, 5:15 PM - NCAA Tournament - Third Round - KFC Center - Louisville, KY
MURRAY ST: 3-0 ATS as an underdog
MARQUETTE: 17-7 Over as favorite

IOWA ST vs. KENTUCKY, 7:45 PM - NCAA Tournament - Third Round - KFC Center - Louisville, KY
IOWA ST: 8-1 ATS in March
KENTUCKY: 4-16 ATS off ATS loss

VANDERBILT vs. WISCONSIN, 6:10 PM - NCAA Tournament - Third Round - The Pit - Albuquerque, NM
VANDERBILT: 2-7 ATS as neutral court fave of 3 pts or less
WISCONSIN: 8-1 ATS off win by 15+ points

COLORADO vs. BAYLOR, 8:40 PM - NCAA Tournament - Third Round - The Pit - Albuquerque, NM
COLORADO: 7-1 ATS off 3+ wins
BAYLOR: 6-1 Over playing 2nd game in 3 days

NEW MEXICO vs. LOUISVILLE, 9:40 PM - NCAA Tournament - Third Round - Rose Garden - Portland, OR
NEW MEXICO: 14-2 ATS off BB covers as a favorite
LOUISVILLE: 6-0 ATS off BB wins

VA COMMONWEALTH vs. INDIANA, 7:10 PM - NCAA Tournament - Third Round - Rose Garden - Portland, OR
VA COMMONWEALTH: 10-1 ATS in NCAA Tournament
INDIANA: 8-0 ATS vs. non-conference

** (TC) Denotes Time Change

**Udog** · 03-17-2012, 08:36 AM

NCAAB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Saturday, March 17

First Post

Syracuse's title hopes took big blow when Fab Melo was declared out on Tuesday; Orange were terribly flat in squeaking by NC-Asheville in first round, trailing by 4 at half, making just 5-23 behind arc. Over last seven years, #1 seeds are 16-11-1 vs spread in this round (26-2 SU), but this is also the least points a #1 seed has laid in a 2nd-round game since 2000, when Wisconsin upset #1-seed Arizona out west. Since 2005, Big East second round favorites are 10-14-1 against the spread. Kansas State has the #9 offensive rebounding team in country; Syracuse is #341 on other end of the court (5th-worst) and that was with Melo in lineup. Over last four years, 2nd-round favorites of 5 or less points are 19-11 vs spread.

Other tournaments
Seton Hall is 2-0 vs Atlantic 14 teams this season, beating St Joe's by 8, Dayton by 5. Pirates are 14-3 this season vs teams not in the top 80 in country. UMass won four of its last five games winning at Miss State in double OT Tuesday, which ended Rick Stansbury's tenure at MSU.

**Udog** · 03-17-2012, 08:42 AM

NCAAB

Saturday, March 17

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Trend Report
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11:00 AM
MASSACHUSETTS vs. SETON HALL
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Massachusetts's last 9 games on the road
Massachusetts is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Seton Hall's last 6 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Seton Hall's last 5 games

12:00 PM
ROBERT MORRIS vs. BUFFALO
No trends available
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Buffalo's last 6 games at home
Buffalo is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games

12:15 PM
KANSAS STATE vs. SYRACUSE
No trends available
Syracuse is 12-1 SU in its last 13 games
Syracuse is 1-7 ATS in its last 8 games

2:00 PM
TOLEDO vs. OAKLAND
Toledo is 6-19 SU in its last 25 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Toledo's last 5 games on the road
No trends available

2:00 PM
ROBERT MORRIS vs. TOLEDO
No trends available
Toledo is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
Toledo is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games

2:00 PM
BUFFALO vs. OAKLAND
Buffalo is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Buffalo's last 5 games on the road
No trends available

2:45 PM
GONZAGA vs. OHIO STATE
No trends available
Ohio State is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Ohio State's last 8 games

4:00 PM
GEORGIA STATE vs. MERCER
Georgia State is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Georgia State's last 6 games on the road
No trends available

5:15 PM
MURRAY STATE vs. MARQUETTE
No trends available
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Marquette's last 10 games
Marquette is 14-3 SU in its last 17 games

6:10 PM
VANDERBILT vs. WISCONSIN
No trends available
Wisconsin is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Wisconsin's last 10 games

7:10 PM
VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH vs. INDIANA
No trends available
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Indiana's last 6 games
Indiana is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games

7:45 PM
IOWA STATE vs. KENTUCKY
No trends available
Kentucky is 24-1 SU in its last 25 games
Kentucky is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games

8:00 PM
DRAKE vs. RICE
Drake is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
Drake is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games on the road
Rice is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Rice's last 6 games

8:40 PM
COLORADO vs. BAYLOR
No trends available
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Baylor's last 5 games
Baylor is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Colorado

9:00 PM
IDAHO vs. UTAH STATE
Idaho is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Utah State
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Idaho's last 7 games when playing on the road against Utah State
Utah State is 20-5 SU in its last 25 games at home
Utah State is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games

9:40 PM
NEW MEXICO vs. LOUISVILLE
No trends available
Louisville is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Louisville's last 9 games

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**Udog** · 03-17-2012, 08:45 AM

NCAAB

Saturday, March 17

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NCAA previews & picks: Saturday's South Region action
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No. 1 Kentucky Wildcats vs. No. 8 Iowa State Cyclones (+10.5, 140)

THE STORY: Kentucky hadn’t lost a game in three months until Sunday’s SEC championship game, but the Wildcats rebounded in fine fashion in an 81-66 victory of Western Kentucky in their NCAA tournament opener Thursday. Now, the Wildcats face the Cyclones in the Round of 32, with a Sweet 16 berth at stake. The Wildcats displayed the dominant form on both ends of the floor they showed throughout most of the regular season against the Hilltoppers, leading by as many as 32 points in the second half. Making their first NCAA appearance since 2005, the Cyclones nearly let a 22-point first-half advantage evaporate before holding off defending national champion Connecticut 77-64 in their NCAA opener.

Pick: Kentucky

No. 12 VCU Rams vs. No. 4 Indiana Hoosiers (-5.5, 138.5)

THE STORY: For a basketball program with such a rich history, Indiana is trying to get back to a place it hasn’t been in a long time. The fourth-seeded Hoosiers, who defeated No. 13 New Mexico State, 79-62 in Thursday’s first round, haven’t played in the second weekend of the tournament since the 2001-2002 team finished as national runner-up. Thanks to the quartet of Jordan Hulls, Cody Zeller, Christian Watford and Will Sheehey (combined for 64 points against the Aggies), Indiana has its best shot in a decade to reach the Sweet 16. Meanwhile, VCU keeps proving the doubters wrong in March. The Rams, who reached the final four as an 11-seed a year ago, were given a No. 12 seed this season, but led by as many 13 before holding on to beat fifth-seeded Wichita State, 62-59 in their opener Thursday.

Pick: VCU

No. 11 Colorado Buffaloes vs. No. 3 Baylor Bears (-7.5, 133)

THE STORY: After nearly blowing a 20-point second half lead, Colorado escaped with a Round of 64 victory over UNLV to advance to the NCAA tournament’s third round for the first time since 1997. Now the 11th-seeded Buffaloes will meet a familiar opponent, No. 3 seed Baylor, who they played yearly from 1996 through 2011 in the Big 12 Conference before moving to the Pac-12. The Bears won the most recent meeting in 2011, a 70-66 victory. Colorado, however, holds a 15-9 advantage in the all-time series, including a 4-1 mark in neutral-site games.

Pick: Baylor

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**Udog** · 03-17-2012, 08:47 AM

NCAAB

Saturday, March 17

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NCAA previews & picks: Saturday's East Region action
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No. 8 Kansas State Wildcats vs. No. 1 Syracuse Orange (-5, 134.5)

THE STORY: Top-seeded Syracuse survived a big scare in its opening-round game against No. 16 UNC-Asheville in a 72-65 victory. If not for a few controversial calls late, it’s possible the Orange wouldn’t have advanced to play No. 8 seed Kansas State in the Round of 32 in Pittsburgh as part of the East Region. Syracuse became the first No. 1 seed since 2002 to trail at halftime against a 16-seed and benefited from a blown out-of-bounds call in the final minute that officials later admitted they got wrong. The Wildcats, meanwhile, erased a five-point second-half deficit to defeat Southern Mississippi 70-64. This will mark the first meeting since 1975.

Pick: Kansas State

No. 7 Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes (-7.5, 136.5)

THE STORY: The fact No. 2 seed Ohio State easily advanced to the round of 32 came as little surprise, but the complete domination No. 7 seed Gonzaga showed over a quality opponent from the Big East proved the Bulldogs have more than enough to end the Buckeyes’ season early. Ohio State overcame an inefficient offensive effort to win its first tournament game for the third straight season. The Bulldogs hit on all cylinders against West Virginia en route to their fourth appearance in the round of 32 in as many years.

Pick: Gonzaga

No. 5 Vanderbilt Commodores vs. No. 4 Wisconsin Badgers (Pick, 120)

THE STORY: No. 4 seed Wisconsin did exactly what was expected of it in the round of 64 -- dominating on the defensive end and making enough big shots to turn the game against Montana into a rout. No. 5 seed Vanderbilt will provide a contrast in style to the Badgers, with a strong offense featuring an inside-outside attack. The red-hot Commodores knocked off pesky Harvard on Thursday.

Pick: Vanderbilt

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**Udog** · 03-17-2012, 08:49 AM

NCAAB

Saturday, March 17

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NCAA previews & picks: Saturday's West Region action
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No. 6 Murray State Racers vs. No. 3 Marquette Golden Eagles (-5, 142)

THE STORY: A trip to the Sweet 16 will be on the line when third-seeded Marquette takes on upstart Murray State. Both teams used dominating performances in second round victories; Marquette racing to a 19-point first half lead and pounding BYU 88-68 while No. 6 seed Murray State rallied from a halftime deficit to disrupt and dismantle Colorado State in the second half en route to a 58-41 win. Marquette looks for its second straight Sweet 16 appearance and 15th overall, and Murray State seeks the program's first-ever trip to the regional semifinals.

Pick: Marquette

No. 5 New Mexico Lobos vs. No. 4 Louisville Cardinals (-1, 128)

THE STORY: New Mexico has never won back-to-back games in the NCAA tournament and Louisville is attempting to reach the Sweet 16 for the fourth time in eight seasons. The fifth-seeded Lobos held off 12th-seeded Long Beach State in their opening game for their sixth consecutive victory. The fourth-seeded Cardinals have posted five straight wins after beating 13th-seeded Davidson. The victory was Louisville’s first in the NCAA tournament since 2009, after the Cardinals lost their initial game the previous two seasons.

Pick: New Mexico

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**Udog** · 03-17-2012, 08:50 AM

NCAAB

Saturday, March 17

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NCAA Tournament betting recap: Revenge of the dogs
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Friday at the NCAA Tournament began a lot like Thursday, with favorites going 5-1-1 ATS in the first seven games. Favorites had gone 11-5 ATS on Thursday.

"We're getting treated like we got treated [Thursday], getting slapped around with all these favorites coming in," MGM Mirage sportsbook manager Jay Rood said late Friday afternoon.

But the tide turned with Norfolk State's stunning upset of No. 2 seed Missouri. That began a string of cashes by underdogs, with Norfolk State, Lehigh, Ohio, Purdue and Saint Louis winning outright.

St. Bonaventure's performance also provided a little relief for the books. The Bonnies covered as 6.5-point underdogs to Florida State, losing 66-63.

"I'd like them to cover but I'd love them to win outright," Club Cal Neva's Cal Andrews said as the game wound down. "There are a lot of moneyline parlays tied to Florida State."

Favorites finished the day 7-8-1 ATS.

Unders go 12-4

After a 7-8-1 O/U mark on Day 1, unders cashed in six of Friday's first seven games.

Alabama-Creighton stayed under the posted total of 136 by a whopping 21 points, while FSU-St. Bonaventure stayed under its 129.5 total by only half a point.

Defensive-minded South Florida capped the 12-4 under day by holding Temple to 44 points. The 58-44 win stayed well under the posted total of 120.5.

Nine of the Bulls' last 11 games have gone under.

Unders finished 12-4 on Day 2.

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**Udog** · 03-17-2012, 09:11 AM

NHL

Saturday, March 17

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Trend Report
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1:00 PM
PHILADELPHIA vs. BOSTON
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Philadelphia's last 6 games when playing on the road against Boston
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Philadelphia's last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Boston's last 5 games when playing Philadelphia
Boston is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games when playing Philadelphia

1:00 PM
PITTSBURGH vs. NEW JERSEY
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Pittsburgh's last 5 games when playing on the road against New Jersey
Pittsburgh is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
New Jersey is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
New Jersey is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games when playing at home against Pittsburgh

2:00 PM
CAROLINA vs. MINNESOTA
Carolina is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Minnesota
Carolina is 5-15 SU in its last 20 games on the road
Minnesota4-1-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Carolina
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Minnesota's last 6 games at home

7:00 PM
COLORADO vs. NY RANGERS
Colorado is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games
Colorado6-2-1 SU in their last 9 games when playing on the road against NY Rangers
The total has gone OVER in 4 of the NY Rangers last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of the NY Rangers last 5 games at home

7:00 PM
NY ISLANDERS vs. MONTREAL
The total has gone OVER in 4 of the NY Islanders last 6 games on the road
NY Islanders are 6-14 SU in their last 20 games when playing Montreal
Montreal is 14-6 SU in their last 20 games when playing NY Islanders
Montreal is 4-1 SU in their last 5 games when playing at home against NY Islanders

7:00 PM
ST. LOUIS vs. TAMPA BAY
St. Louis is 9-3 SU in its last 12 games
St. Louis is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
Tampa Bay is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing St. Louis

7:00 PM
TORONTO vs. OTTAWA
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Toronto's last 5 games
Toronto is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Ottawa
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Ottawa's last 9 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Ottawa's last 17 games when playing Toronto

7:30 PM
BUFFALO vs. FLORIDA
Buffalo is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Florida
The total has gone UNDER in 13 of Buffalo's last 17 games when playing on the road against Florida
The total has gone UNDER in 13 of Florida's last 17 games when playing at home against Buffalo
Florida is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games

10:00 PM
COLUMBUS vs. VANCOUVER
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Columbus's last 6 games when playing on the road against Vancouver
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Columbus's last 5 games
Vancouver is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Vancouver's last 6 games when playing at home against Columbus

10:30 PM
DETROIT vs. SAN JOSE
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Detroit's last 6 games when playing on the road against San Jose
Detroit is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against San Jose
San Jose is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Detroit
San Jose is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games

10:30 PM
NASHVILLE vs. LOS ANGELES
Nashville is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games on the road
Nashville is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
Los Angeles is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games when playing Nashville
Los Angeles is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games at home

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**Udog** · 03-17-2012, 09:14 AM

NHL

Saturday, March 17

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Hockey Night In Canada: NHL betting preview
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Toronto Maple Leafs at Ottawa Senators (-155, 5.5)

Been a long time

Lots of teams go down to Florida to relax, but Toronto isn’t one of them. Desperate for a win, the Maple Leafs relied on goaltender James Reimer, of all players, to extract a 3-1 win over Tampa Bay Thursday.

There were plenty of firsts in that victory and that's probably a reason why the Maple Leafs are where they are. It was their first win in six games, and it was Reimer's first victory since Feb. 15. He made 34 saves, improving to 12-12-4.

It probably felt like even longer to Reimer. After all, that stretch was ugly, including a 5-2 loss to Florida Tuesday, a 5-3 loss to the same Panthers on Feb. 28, and a 4-2 loss to Washington on Feb. 25.

He still has three shutouts and there’s a little time left to finish on a positive note. But it will be tough to think of this year as anything but a disappointment for the netminder.

Putting pressure on the champs

The Senators haven't been great, but they've been compiling points. And with Boston riding its roller coaster of a season, that's allowed Ottawa to hang tough in the Northeast Division race.

At least one point had been earned in Ottawa's previous four games, heading into Friday's matchup with Montreal, and the Senators won two of them: 7-3 over Tampa Bay on March 6 and 4-1 over the Rangers on March 8.

The battle doesn’t figure to go away anytime soon, and it will be the difference between home-ice advantage and starting on the road. If the Senators overtake the Bruins, you’re looking at a No. 2 seed. If they don’t, you’re talking a likely No. 7 spot. That’s a huge jump.

And definitely circle April 5 on your calendars. In the last week of the season, Ottawa hosts Boston for the last time. It might come down to that game.

No more Nikolai

When things aren't going well, even wins don't rectify the situation. The victory over Tampa Bay was tempered a tad because Toronto left wing Nikolai Kulemin did not play in it. Kulemin has a broken finger and could be out three weeks, which essentially is the rest of the season.

It is just another disappointment for the Russian. In 70 games, Kulemin had seven goals, 28 points and was a plus-2 on a bad team. Not awful, but when you consider what he did last year - 30 goals, 57 points, and a full 82 games played - there was a lot left to be desired from him this year.

History

Ottawa has won three of the last four installments of this great rivalry, though Toronto blasted the Senators 5-0 on Feb. 4. Three of the last four meetings have also gone under and four of the last five Maple Leafs games overall have gone under.

Columbus Blue Jackets at Vancouver Canucks (-270, 5.5)

Boosted by Burrows

Vancouver left wing Alexandre Burrows is a streaky sort and has bouts with disappearing far too often. But he scored in a 5-4 loss to Phoenix Wednesday and perhaps recharged what's been a solid season.

It was just his second goal in March and it snapped a five-game goal-less streak, but it gave him 24 tallies and 46 points on the season. More important to the Canucks' defensive cause perhaps, as they try to fine-tune their game for a postseason marathon, Burrows is a plus-20 this season.

He's also not afraid to scrap, either, as shown by his 64 penalty minutes. Clearly, he's not the most important spoke in the Vancouver wheel, but the Canucks will need him at his best if they are to return to the Stanley Cup final.

Forward March

In a season as miserable as this for Columbus, it’s important to stress the positives when you can find one. And while this team has changed coaches and traded away top talent, the Blue Jackets haven’t stopped fighting.

Despite being blanked 3-0 in Edmonton Wednesday, Columbus is still 3-3 in March and two of those wins have come on the road.

Defenseman Jack Johnson, acquired from Los Angeles in the Jeff Carter, has been good and has offered a reason to think positive for next year.

He has two goals and four assists in nine games and is a plus-1 - something that's not easy to do on a team that has lost 41 games.

Monitoring Manny

Vancouver forward Manny Malhotra missed Wednesday's loss to Phoenix for personal reasons and coach Alain Vigneault has been generic, to say the least, about the situation.

Malhotra skated with the Canucks Thursday but wasn’t made available to the media. All Vigneault has said about the situation, is that it is not a byproduct of Malhotra's eye injury last season. Malhotra has six goals and 17 points this season.

History

The Canucks have won nine of the last 10 in this series, though the scrappy Blue Jackets outlasted Vancouver 2-1 in a shootout on Feb. 13. The last five games in this rivalry have gone under and the Blue Jackets themselves are 0-4-1 over/under in the last five outings.

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**Udog** · 03-17-2012, 09:16 AM

NHL

Saturday, March 17

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Ice picks: Saturday's best NHL bets
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Pittsburgh Penguins at New Jersey Devils (NA)

The Pens go for their 11th straight win Saturday. They have moved to within four points of the Atlantic Division-leading New York Rangers. This is the fifth of six meetings between the clubs, with the Devils winning the last three games by an 11-4 margin.

Pittsburgh welcomed captain Sidney Crosby back on Thursday and the superstar helped the Penguins to a 5-2 win over the Rangers with two assists and a plus-3 rating. Crosby had been out for more than three months with a nagging concussion/neck injury. Pittsburgh was also boosted by the return of defenseman Kris Letang, who also had been sidelined with concussion symptoms. He had an assist and was a plus-5.

When the NHL season rolls into March, teams rely heavily on goaltending and New Jersey has little worry with future Hall-of-Famer Martin Brodeur. On Thursday, Brodeur recorded his second shutout of the season and 118th of his career. New Jersey’s Ilya Kovalchuk set the NHL single-season record on Thursday with his seventh shootout-winning goal. He has converted 10 times on 12 attempts.

The home team is 8-1 in the last nine meetings.

Pick: Devils

St. Louis Blues at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (130, 5.5)

The Blues have dropped two straight – one in a shootout – since their season-high, five-game win streak. They need one victory to reach 100 points for the first time since 2000-01.

The Blues top the league in goals-against, and the Lightning stand at the bottom. St. Louis is 6-2-1 in its last nine road games.

Tampa Bay’s playoff hopes took a very damaging blow in a 3-1 loss to struggling Toronto on home ice Thursday. The Lightning have just 12 games left and may need to win almost all of them. Steven Stamkos was held scoreless by the Leafs to fall one point behind Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin for the league lead. Stamkos has 50 goals, one away from his career high and two shy of Vincent Lecavalier’s team record.

Forward Nate Thompson suffered an upper-body injury against Toronto and is doubtful against the Blues.

The Blues beat Tampa Bay 3-0 at home Nov. 12, allowing just 19 shots.

Pick: Blues

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Announcement

Saturday's Trends and Indexes - 3/17 (NBA, NCAAB, NHL, Misc.)

Saturday's Trends and Indexes - 3/17 (NBA, NCAAB, NHL, Misc.)

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