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**Udog** · 03-24-2013, 09:24 AM

Armadillo: Sunday's six-pack

-- Harvard got stripped of four National Quiz Bowl titles because one of their people looked at the questions beforehand. Is nothing sacred?

-- Going to be little weird seeing James Shields pitch for the Royals.

-- Flying under the radar because Miami has won 25 games in row, but the Denver Nuggets have won 15 in a row. George Karl is a superior coach.

-- Charlotte Bobcats were actually favored Saturday, but they lost, ending the Pistons' 10-game losing streak. NBA doesn't exactly have competitive balance this year, does it?

-- Eldrick Woods has a 2-shot lead at Bay Hill; he's won the tournament 51 of the 55 times he led after three rounds.

-- If you're looking for a job, North Dakota has the lowest unemployment rate in America. Just thought you'd like to know.

*****

Armadillo: Sunday's List of 13: Wrapping up a sports Saturday.......

13) Wichita State 76, Gonzaga 70-- Naysayers are going to kill Gonzaga for losing, but this was an excellent game; Shockers made 14-28 from arc, seven in row at one point. When a good team hits 14-28 from the arc, they're going to win. Kind of wish Zags' 7-footer Kelly Olynyk would take less 3's.

12) Marquette 74, Butler 72-- Buzz Williams 2013, meet Jim Valvano 1983, as Marquette has survived two near-death experiences to advance to Sweet 16- they were down six with 1:10 left Thursday, were down 8 at half in this game Saturday. Tough minded group of kids.

11) Louisville 82, Colorado State 56-- Cardinals were so aggressive in this game on defense, it seemed like they had 8-10 guys on court at times. This is a very good Colorado State team that started five seniors- they had no shot.

10) Michigan 78, VCU 53-- Someone posted a stat on Twitter that VCU is 1-7 this year against teams that turn the ball over less than 18% of time, and Wolverines are #1 in country protecting the ball, so this makes sense. Guess the ease in which Michigan won is surprising.

9) Michigan State 70, Memphis 48-- Tom Izzo has a great record in these quick turnaround games; Spartans held Memphis to 29.7% from floor. Pod system the NCAA put in is to get bigger crowds, but it has made it so much harder to post a second round upset. These two games were true road games; seems like its too big an advantage for the bigger schools.

8) Izzo, by the way, has an amazing 30-4 tournament record when his team is the better seed.

7) Syracuse 66, California 60-- Orange made 26-41 on foul line playing in enemy territory in San Jose. Not sure what the deal is with Cal's best scorer, Allen Crabbe; seems like he's near a meltdown every time a call goes against him. Teammates are always talking to him, putting an arm around him. For record, Cal was 12-19 from the line in this game, Crabbe 3-9 from floor.

6) Oregon 74, Saint Louis 57-- Billikens picked bad time to play their worst game of the season. How did Arselan Kazemi get eligible right away after he bolted from Rice? He's from Iran, so he doesn't have any sick relatives on the west coast. Kazemi has played very well the last few weeks.

5) Arizona 74, Harvard 51-- Terrible game, but not as bad as four Harvard Quiz Bowl titles being vacated because they cheated. Thats the thing about people who always tell you they're elite; they don't believe it themselves, so they have to cheat to make sure they seem that way. Nitwits.

4) UCLA is going to fire Ben Howland today; Bruins were 25-10 this year, are 233-107 under Howland, with couple Final Fours, but they haven't been seeded higher than 6th in any of the last five tournaments, because he can't keep players in his program, either they're disgruntled and transfer, or they do well and bolt for the NBA. Same problem Texas is having.

3) Meanwhile, Howland disciple Jamie Dixon turned down USC, signed an extension with Pitt until 2023; if the Trojans would hire Dixon, why not try and see if Howland would stay in LA and coach at USC? I'm sure the brass at USC would be pretty happy if the Trojans went 25-10.

2) In five of its last seven games, Louisville has forced turnovers on 30.9% or more of opponents' possessions; this is postseason ball, impressive.

1) It dawned on me that Butler and Denver will both be playing in their third different basketball league in a three-year span next year. Butler and Denver, not Louisville-Missouri-Syracuse. College sports are crazy.

**Udog** · 03-24-2013, 09:25 AM

NASCAR betting: Auto Club 400 preview

The Sprint Cup Series moves back west to Fontana, California for the Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway Sunday.

Tony Stewart won the rain-shortened event at the two-mile oval last year. The Fontana racetrack has always been known for great speed but it’s much harder to pass at the Auto Club Speedway than at a short track like Bristol.

Favorite: Jimmie Johnson (+500)

Johnson, who hails from nearby El Cajon, Calif., holds the track record for most wins with five. He also leads all drivers with the most top-5 finishes (12) and most top-10s (14) at this track. Johnson is also the only driver to win from the pole at Auto Club Speedway, accomplishing the feat on Aug. 31, 2008.

Live dog: Tony Stewart (+1,100)

Stewart is the defending champion and has won two of the last three Cup races at the two-mile track. The 41-year-old sits well back in the Sprint Cup Standings (24th) and desperately needs a good showing to get back in the mix.

Long shot: Ryan Newman (+5,900)

Newman has finished seventh or better in his last three starts in Fontana. When he’s made it to the finish he’s placed in the top 10 this season, but that’s happened only twice. He earned a pole in his very first Sprint Cup start at the two-mile oval.

Key stat: Hendrick Motorsports has nine wins to its credit at the event, the most of all teams (Roush Fenway Racing is second with seven).

Notable quotable:

"It’s a really fun racetrack. It’s widened out and it’s become where you can race all over it and, with the race being as long as it is, you need to take a lot of time working through traffic and being able to have a good car and all that. It’s the same thing every week. California is just another one of those racetracks that seems to suit Jimmie (Johnson) really, really well. He’s been in contention to win the past eight races there, I think, and he’s probably won four of them. You have to hit it at the right time in these races as far as your adjustments go. Everywhere you go, but at California, too, it’s all about the second-to-last pit stop and the last pit stop and making the right adjustment to carry you to the end of the race.” Kyle Busch on Fontana and racing in California.

Odds to win the Auto Club 400 (courtesy of UWIN)

Johnson, Jimmie +500
Busch, Kyle +800
Kahne, Kasey +800
Keselowski, Brad +800
Kenseth, Matt +800
Hamlin, Denny +900
Edwards, Carl +1000
Earnhardt, Dale Jr +1100
Stewart, Tony +1100
Harvick, Kevin +1100
Biffle, Greg +1100
Gordon, Jeff +1100
Bowyer, Clint +1900
Truex, Martin Jr +1900
Vickers, Brian +2400
Logano, Joey +3900
Stenhouse Jr, Ricky +4900
Newman, Ryan +5900
Burton, Jeff +9900
Almirola, Aric +9900
Ambrose, Marcos +9900
Busch, Kurt +9900
Montoya, Juan Pablo +9900
Menard, Paul +9900
Mcmurray, Jamie +9900
Patrick, Danica +29900
Allmendinger, A J +29900

**Udog** · 03-24-2013, 09:26 AM

NCAAB
Dunkel

Illinois vs. Miami (FL)
The Hurricanes look to take advantage of an Illinois team that is coming off a 57-49 win over Colorado and is 0-4 ATS in its last 4 games after allowing less than 50 points in their previous game. Miami (FL) is the pick (-7 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has the Hurricanes favored by 9. Dunkel Pick: Miami (FL) (-7 1/2). Here are all of today's games.

SUNDAY. MARCH 24

Game 717-718: Creighton vs. Duke (9:40 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Creighton 66.232; Duke 73.305
Dunkel Line: Duke by 7; 142
Vegas Line: Duke by 5; 145 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Duke (-5); Under

Game 719-720: Florida Gulf Coast vs. San Diego State (7:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Florida Gulf Coast 61.766; San Diego State 66,049
Dunkel Line: San Diego State by 4 1/2; 138
Vegas Line: San Diego State by 7; 133
Dunkel Pick: Florida Gulf Coast (+7); Over

Game 721-722: Temple vs. Indiana (2:45 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Temple 63.229; Indiana 76.656
Dunkel Line: Indiana by 13 1/2; 144
Vegas Line: Indiana by 11 1/2; 147 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Indiana (-11 1/2); Under

Game 723-724: Iowa State vs. Ohio State (12:15 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Iowa State 69.505; Ohio State 74.522
Dunkel Line: Ohio State by 5; 148
Vegas Line: Ohio State by 7 1/2; 142
Dunkel Pick: Iowa State (+7 1/2); Over

Game 725-726: LaSalle vs. Mississippi (7:40 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: LaSalle 65.380; Mississippi 70.518
Dunkel Line: Mississippi by 5; 140
Vegas Line: Mississippi by 3 1/2; 143
Dunkel Pick: Mississippi (-3 1/2); Under

Game 727-728: North Carolina vs. Kansas (5:15 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: North Carolina 67.801; Kansas 75.622
Dunkel Line: Kansas by 8; 148
Vegas Line: Kansas by 6; 143
Dunkel Pick: Kansas (-6); Over

Game 729-730: Illinois vs. Miami (FL) (8:40 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Illinois 64.966; Miami (FL) 73.955
Dunkel Line: Miami (FL) by 9; 124
Vegas Line: Miami (FL) by 7 1/2; 128 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Miami (FL) (-7 1/2); Under

Game 731-732: Minnesota vs. Florida (6:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Minnesota 66.918; Florida 73.298
Dunkel Line: Florida by 6 1/2; 127
Vegas Line: Florida by 8 1/2; 123
Dunkel Pick: Minnesota (+8 1/2); Over

Game 733-734: St. John's at Virginia (11:00 a.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: St. John's 60.461; Virginia 68.915
Dunkel Line: Virginia by 8 1/2; 128
Vegas Line: Virginia by 11; 123 1/2
Dunkel Pick: St. John's (+11); Over

Game 737-738: Kent State at Loyola-MD (3:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Kent State 55.425; Loyola-MD 60.884
Dunkel Line: Loyola-MD by 5 1/2; 137
Vegas Line: Loyola-MD by 4; 141 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Loyola-MD (-4); Under

**Udog** · 03-24-2013, 09:26 AM

NCAAB
Long Sheet

Sunday, March 24

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CREIGHTON (28 - 7) vs. DUKE (28 - 5) - 3/24/2013, 9:40 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DUKE is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) in road games after a non-conference game this season.
CREIGHTON is 10-2 ATS (+7.8 Units) after a non-conference game this season.
CREIGHTON is 15-6 ATS (+8.4 Units) in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.
DUKE is 44-70 ATS (-33.0 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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FLA GULF COAST (25 - 10) vs. SAN DIEGO ST (23 - 10) - 3/24/2013, 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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TEMPLE (24 - 9) vs. INDIANA (28 - 6) - 3/24/2013, 2:45 PM
Top Trends for this game.
TEMPLE is 29-50 ATS (-26.0 Units) in road games versus good defensive teams - allowing <=64 points/game since 1997.
INDIANA is 16-7 ATS (+8.3 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 2 seasons.
INDIANA is 16-6 ATS (+9.4 Units) in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.
INDIANA is 13-29 ATS (-18.9 Units) in road games when playing with one or less days rest since 1997.

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

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

IOWA ST (23 - 11) vs. OHIO ST (27 - 7) - 3/24/2013, 12:15 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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LASALLE (23 - 9) vs. OLE MISS (27 - 8) - 3/24/2013, 7:40 PM
Top Trends for this game.
OLE MISS is 90-65 ATS (+18.5 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record since 1997.

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

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N CAROLINA (25 - 10) vs. KANSAS (30 - 5) - 3/24/2013, 5:15 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

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

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ILLINOIS (23 - 12) vs. MIAMI (28 - 6) - 3/24/2013, 8:40 PM
Top Trends for this game.
ILLINOIS is 24-37 ATS (-16.7 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
ILLINOIS is 24-37 ATS (-16.7 Units) in all lined games over the last 2 seasons.
ILLINOIS is 5-13 ATS (-9.3 Units) after allowing 60 points or less over the last 2 seasons.
MIAMI is 21-7 ATS (+13.3 Units) in all games this season.
MIAMI is 21-7 ATS (+13.3 Units) in all lined games this season.
MIAMI is 16-6 ATS (+9.4 Units) as a favorite this season.
MIAMI is 8-2 ATS (+5.8 Units) after a non-conference game this season.
MIAMI is 8-2 ATS (+5.8 Units) in non-conference games this season.
MIAMI is 13-4 ATS (+8.6 Units) after allowing 60 points or less this season.
MIAMI is 18-6 ATS (+11.4 Units) 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.

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

MINNESOTA (21 - 12) vs. FLORIDA (27 - 7) - 3/24/2013, 6:10 PM
Top Trends for this game.
FLORIDA is 98-72 ATS (+18.8 Units) after a non-conference game since 1997.
FLORIDA is 99-70 ATS (+22.0 Units) in non-conference games since 1997.
FLORIDA is 61-35 ATS (+22.5 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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ST JOHNS (17 - 15) at VIRGINIA (22 - 11) - 3/24/2013, 11:00 AM
Top Trends for this game.
VIRGINIA is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) as a home favorite of 9.5 to 12 points over the last 3 seasons.
VIRGINIA is 13-4 ATS (+8.6 Units) in all home games this season.
VIRGINIA is 13-4 ATS (+8.6 Units) in home lined games this season.
VIRGINIA is 7-1 ATS (+5.9 Units) in home games after a non-conference game this season.
VIRGINIA is 10-3 ATS (+6.7 Units) in home games after allowing 60 points or less this season.
VIRGINIA is 5-15 ATS (-11.5 Units) against Big East conference opponents since 1997.
VIRGINIA is 0-9 ATS (-9.9 Units) in March games over the last 2 seasons.

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

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KENT ST (21 - 13) at LOYOLA-MD (22 - 11) - 3/24/2013, 3:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
KENT ST is 1-8 ATS (-7.8 Units) in all tournament games over the last 2 seasons.
LOYOLA-MD is 15-5 ATS (+9.5 Units) after failing to cover the spread in 3 or more consecutive games since 1997.
KENT ST is 10-3 ATS (+6.7 Units) as an underdog this season.
KENT ST is 10-3 ATS (+6.7 Units) in road games this season.
KENT ST is 10-3 ATS (+6.7 Units) in road lined games this season.
KENT ST is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
KENT ST is 39-19 ATS (+18.1 Units) versus good defensive teams - allowing <=64 points/game after 15+ games since 1997.
KENT ST is 63-38 ATS (+21.2 Units) versus good defensive teams - allowing <=64 points/game since 1997.
LOYOLA-MD is 51-83 ATS (-40.3 Units) in all home games since 1997.
LOYOLA-MD is 51-83 ATS (-40.3 Units) in home lined games since 1997.

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

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**Udog** · 03-24-2013, 09:27 AM

NCAAB
Top 25 Short Sheet

Sunday, March 24

NCAA Tournament Betting Trends

Creighton vs. Duke, 9:40 ET TBS
Creighton: 10-2 ATS off a non-conference game
Duke: 11-3 Under away off ATS losses in 2 of their last 3 games

Florida Gulf Coast vs. San Diego State, 7:10 ET TBS
FL Gulf Coast: 8-0 ATS in tournament games
San Diego State: 3-12 ATS away off BB games forcing 11 or less turnovers

Temple vs. Indiana, 2:45 ET CBS
Temple: 17-7 ATS with a total of 140 to 149.5 points
Indiana: 11-24 ATS away playing their second game in three days

Iowa State vs. Ohio State, 12:15 ET CBS
Iowa State: 7-0 Over playing with 1 or 0 days rest
Ohio State: 7-1 ATS away off 3+ wins

La Salle vs. Mississippi, 7:40 ET TRUTV
La Salle: 17-6 Over playing with 1 or 0 days rest
Mississippi: 9-1 ATS off a SU win as an underdog

North Carolina vs. Kansas, 5:15 ET CBS
North Carolina: 1-9 ATS playing their second road game in three days
Kansas: 14-5 Under away off an Under

Illinois at Miami FL, 8:40 ET TNT
Illinois: 3-11 ATS after allowing 55 points or less
Miami FL: 16-6 ATS as a favorite

Minnesota vs. Florida, 6:10 ET TNT
Minnesota: 11-3 Over away off a non-conference game
Florida: 17-8 ATS off a win by 20+ points

NIT Tournament Betting Trends

St. John's at Virginia, 11:00am ET ESPN
St. John's: 7-1 ATS after playing 3+ games as an underdog
Virginia: 0-9 ATS in March

CIT Tournament Betting Trends

Kent State at Loyola Maryland, 3:00 ET
Kent State: 1-8 ATS in tournament games
Loyola MD: 15-5 ATS off 3+ ATS losses

**Udog** · 03-24-2013, 09:30 AM

NCAAB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Sunday, March 24

Sunday's games
Since 1998, Duke is 12-1 in last 13 second round games, with only loss to West Virginia in '08 (5-8 vs spread). Blue Devils are 12-3 in their last 15 games, since 90-63 loss to Miami Jan 23. Duke sleptwalk thru win on Friday, shooting 58% from floor vs outclassed foe. Creighton shoots 42.2% from arc (#1 in US), 56.1% inside it (#2), have #1 eFG% (59.0%). Bluejays outscored Cincinnati 22-4 from line Friday in 67-63 win- they won their last six games, are 3-2 vs top 25 teams- #13 Wisconsin is best team they've beaten. Over last four years, #2 seeds are 10-5-1 vs spread in second round games; second round favorites of 5+ points are 24-14-1 vs spread. Duke won four of five games vs top 20 teams.

How does Florida Gulf Coast react to being America's Team for the last 46 hours? The six other #15 seeds who upset #2 seeds in first round are 1-4-1 vs spread in second round games; Coppin State in '97 came closest to winning, losing 82-81. Eagles are not fluky, having beaten Miami back in November- they have a cockiness about them, and San Diego State is fairly similar to Georgetown- athletic team that struggles to score, but Aztecs outscored Oklahoma 39-22 in second half Friday, outscoring the Sooners 16-4 on foul line. San Diego State is second #7 seed since '93 to be second round favorite (1-0-2 vs spread since '87); Florida (-14) won 84-50 over Norfolk State LY. Second round favorites of 5+ points are 24-14-1 vs spread.

Temple was up 44-26 over NC State Friday, held off Wolfpack to give Dunphy rare first round win, Owls' 8th win in last nine games overall behind senior guard Wyatt, who scored 31, despite painful thumb. Owls are 3-2 vs top 20 teams this season, losing by 23 to Duke, 7 at Kansas- they beat Syracuse/Saint Louis/VCU. Since 2005, second round double digit favorites are 13-5 vs spread. #1 seeds are 11-6-1 vs spread in this round last four years. Temple (35.4%) hasn't defended 3's well this year and Hoosiers make 41.1% of them (#2 in country). Indiana lost in OT to Butler, its only game vs A-16 team; Hoosiers are just 4-3 in last seven games, but beat James Madison by 21 Friday, in game that wasn't nearly that close.

Iowa State hammered Notre Dame because Irish big guys were slow to defend pick/roll; thats not case here; Buckeyes won last nine games with an easy 95-70 win over Iona Friday- they are #7 in defensive efficiency in country. OSU did lose at home by 8 to Kansas, its only game vs Big X opponent. Second round favorites of 5+ points are 24-14-1 vs spread. Cyclones were +11 in turnovers Friday, forcing 14 in first half; four of their five seniors are transfers, so they're older kids. Ohio State won last second round games, by 7-9-32-7 points; only one of its seven losses is to team (Illinois) not ranked in top 12 in country. Much like Michigan site Saturday, playing in Dayton favors the Buckeyes.

LaSalle-Ole Miss is 12th game with 12-13 seed meeting in tournament history; favorites are 9-2 vs spread in first 11. Rebels won their last six games, allowing 55.8 ppg in last four- they beat Fordham 95-68, its one game vs an A-16 opponent. LaSalle is playing its third gamr this week; at end of K-State game, Steve Kerr kept saying on TV how tired LaSalle looked, but they survived that after blowing 44-26 halftime lead- they're #306 in country in bench minutes- three starters played 38+ minutes in Friday's win. After going 6-0 in tourney thru Friday, A-16 teams were 0-3 Saturday. Since 2009, second round favorites of less than 5 points are 20-11 against the spread.

Kansas won four in row, 11 of last 12 games after odd 3-game skid early in February; Jayhawks were first team in 12 years to win tourney game without making 3-pointer (0-6) in Friday's struggle with #16 seed WKU- they were also -8 (17-9) in turnovers in 64-57 win. North Carolina will struggle with Withey inside; they've won nine of last 11 games, but nine wins were vs teams ranked outside top 30; two losses, by 16-10 points, were vs top 15 teams. Second round favorites of 5+ points are 24-14-1 vs spread. #1 seeds are 11-6-1 against the spread in this round last four years. Obviously, Roy Williams used to coach Kansas, but its been so long, don't think it really factors into this game.

Miami is #8 in country in experience; they played #18 schedule, won its last five games, all by 10+ points- they beat Michigan State 67-59, in its only game vs Big Dozen opponent. Illinois blew 16-point lead Friday, trailed by 5 with 8:58 left, but outscored Colorado 18-5 down stretch to win game in which four starters played 31+ minutes. Miami's win over Pacific was a glorified practice. Second round favorites of 5+ points are 24-14-1 vs spread. Over last four years, #2 seeds are 10-5-1 vs spread in second round games. Illini beat Georgia Tech by 13 in its only game vs an ACC team- they're still just 3-4 in last seven games, but they're #35 in country in experience, and played #2 schedule in country.

Minnesota's 83-63 win over crippled UCLA ended Gophers' losing skid at three games; they're 6-11 in last 17 games, after starting season 15-1, but are also #1 offensive rebounding team in country. Florida's eFG% is 55.7%, #5 in country, so they're deep, athletic, get good shots. Gators won last four games in second round, by 22-7-8-34 points. Florida beat Wisconsin by 18, only game they played vs Big Dozen squad. Since 2003, #11 seeds are 5-9 vs spread when facing #3 seed in second round. Second round favorites of 5+ points are 24-14-1 vs spread. Minnesota turns ball over 21.5% of time, which didn't matter vs UCLA team that seemed to be glad season was over-- it'll matter in this game.

Other tournaments
Bennett vs Lavin is severe coaching mismatch; St John's 63-61 win over St Joe's in first round snapped their 5-game road skid- they're 3-8 in last 11 games overall. Virginia beat Duke, then went 2-3 in next five games. Keep in mind St John's tossed their best player off team last month.

Loyola Md won five of last seven games; their 15-point loss to Florida Gulf Coast in December doesn't look as bad as it used to. Four of last five Greyhound games were decided by 4 or less points. Kent State won nine of last 11 games after beating Fairfield of MAAC 73-71 last game.

**Udog** · 03-24-2013, 09:31 AM

NCAAB

Sunday, March 24

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Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

11:00 AM
ST. JOHN'S vs. VIRGINIA
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of St. John's last 5 games on the road
St. John's is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Virginia's last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Virginia's last 7 games at home

12:00 PM
EASTERN KENTUCKY vs. KENT STATE
Eastern Kentucky is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Eastern Kentucky is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Kent State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
Kent State is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games

12:00 PM
LOYOLA vs. ILLINOIS-CHICAGO
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Loyola's last 5 games on the road
Illinois-Chicago is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Illinois-Chicago's last 6 games at home

12:00 PM
NORTHERN IOWA vs. UC IRVINE
Northern Iowa is 2-2-2 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Northern Iowa is 7-18 SU in its last 25 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of UC Irvine's last 5 games at home
UC Irvine is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games

12:00 PM
WEBER STATE vs. AIR FORCE
Weber State is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Air Force is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Air Force's last 5 games at home

12:00 PM
YOUNGSTOWN STATE vs. TULANE
Youngstown State is 1-5-1 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
Youngstown State is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Tulane is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games at home
Tulane is 16-4 SU in its last 20 games at home

12:00 PM
EAST CAROLINA vs. CANISIUS
The total has gone OVER in 6 of East Carolina's last 7 games on the road
East Carolina is 4-8 SU in its last 12 games on the road
Canisius is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
Canisius is 13-3 SU in its last 16 games at home

12:00 PM
EVANSVILLE vs. ORAL ROBERTS
Evansville is 4-14 SU in its last 18 games on the road
No trends available

12:00 PM
RIDER vs. BRADLEY
Rider is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Rider's last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Bradley's last 5 games at home
Bradley is 14-5 SU in its last 19 games at home

12:15 PM
IOWA STATE vs. OHIO STATE
No trends available
Ohio State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Ohio State's last 9 games

2:45 PM
TEMPLE vs. INDIANA
No trends available
Indiana is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Temple
Indiana is 19-5 SU in its last 24 games

3:00 PM
KENT STATE vs. LOYOLA
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Kent State's last 5 games on the road
Loyola is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Loyola is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games

5:15 PM
NORTH CAROLINA vs. KANSAS
No trends available
Kansas is 11-1 SU in its last 12 games

6:10 PM
MINNESOTA vs. FLORIDA
No trends available
Florida is 19-5 SU in its last 24 games
Florida is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games

7:10 PM
FLORIDA GULF COAST vs. SAN DIEGO STATE
No trends available
San Diego State is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of San Diego State's last 6 games

7:40 PM
LA SALLE vs. MISSISSIPPI
No trends available
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Mississippi's last 5 games
Mississippi is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games

8:40 PM
ILLINOIS vs. MIAMI
No trends available
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Miami's last 9 games
Miami is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games

9:40 PM
CREIGHTON vs. DUKE
No trends available
Duke is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
Duke is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games

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**Udog** · 03-24-2013, 09:31 AM

NCAAB

Sunday, March 24

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NCAA betting mismatches: Sunday's Round of 32
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Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Florida Gators (-8.5, 122.5)

Golden Gophers’ aggressive attack vs. Gators’ passive offense

Minnesota doesn’t shy away from contact and will be looking to attack Florida’s superior frontcourt when these teams tangle in the Round of 32. The Golden Gophers rank 40th in the land in free throws attempted per game (22.5) and draw an average of 19.2 fouls per game.

The Gators need to keep their big men Patric Young and Erik Murphy on the floor if they want to avoid an upset. Florida doesn’t have the same knack for getting to the line, drawing just 15.7 fouls per game (320th) and shooting only 16.1 freebies per game. This spread and total could be decided from the stripe Sunday.

Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Miami Hurricanes (-6.5, 128.5)

Illini’s bean poles vs. Hurricanes’ girth

The Hurricanes catch a lot of flak for their age but the fact of the matter is Miami is “man strong”. That’s a big difference maker in college sports when playing against teenage kids. Illinois has some height, with big men like 6-foot-11 shot swatter Nnanna Egwu, but there’s not much meat on those bones. They've been bullied by bigger, badder teams this season.

The Canes can push around most teams, which is why they dominate the glass and score a ton of second-chance points. Miami’s bruiser Kenny Kadji is a beast on the blocks and should go to work against a weaker Illini frontcourt Sunday.

La Salle Explorers vs. Mississippi Rebels (-3, 144)

Explorers’ hot shooting vs. Rebels’ shot blockers

La Salle has shocked its way to the Round of 32 thanks to red-hot shooting, knocking down 53 percent of their field goals (52 for 98) including 46 percent (18 for 39) from beyond the arc. The Explorers, however, won’t have a chance to get comfortable from outside with Ole Miss’ SWAT team hounding them.

The Rebels’ defense has improved drastically during the postseason. They’ve allowed only 55.75 points during their SEC title run and opening NCAA win over Wisconsin. A huge part of that is Mississippi’s ability to block and change shots. Ole Miss ranked 20th in the country in blocks (5.1) and sent six shots away versus the Badgers – five of those from forward Reginald Buckner. La Salle’s shooting touch will be tested with the Rebels constantly getting a hand in the face.

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**Udog** · 03-24-2013, 09:32 AM

NCAAB

Sunday, March 24

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
South Regional: Day 4 NCAAB betting preview
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(8) North Carolina Tar Heels vs. (1) Kansas Jayhawks (-6, 143)

North Carolina players presented head coach Roy Williams with a special jersey following Friday’s victory in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, marking Williams’ 700th career victory. A win in the third round against Kansas – which Williams led to four Final Fours – would be even more meaningful. And, if the Tar Heels needed any more motivation, there is the fact the Jayhawks bounced them from last year’s tournament. Kansas beat North Carolina 80-67 in the Midwest Regional final last season, the second consecutive year the Tar Heels have fell one win short of the Final Four.

Neither team was particularly impressive in winning their South Region openers, but the top-seed Jayhawks were pushed hard by Western Kentucky before surviving 64-57. The eighth-seed Tar Heels lost a 20-point lead but held off Villanova 78-71. The winner may be determined when North Carolina has possession: the Tar Heels are 14th nationally in scoring, while the Jayhawks lead the country in opposing field-goal percentage and rank second in blocked shots.

TV: 5:15 p.m. ET, CBS.

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA (25-10): The Tar Heels have won nine of their past 11, as a balanced offensive attack has sparked North Carolina’s late-season surge. Sophomore guard P.J. Hairston scored a team-high 23 points Friday. Sophomore forward James Michael McAdoo (14.5 points), Hairston (14.5) and junior forward Reggie Bullock (14.2) have combined to lead North Carolina in scoring 28 times this season.

ABOUT KANSAS (30-5): The Jayhawks have to play better than they did Friday, as Western Kentucky’s pressure defense gave Kansas trouble. Jeff Withey is a force inside. The 7-0 senior center scored 17 points and blocked seven shots in Friday’s victory. Withey ranks second in the nation in blocks per game (3.8) while averaging 8.4 rebounds. The Jayhawks became the first team in Division I history to win 30 games or more four consecutive seasons with Friday’s win.

TRENDS:

* Jayhawks are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 games overall.
* Over is 4-0 in Tar Heels’ last four overall.
* Under is 5-1 in Jayhawks’ last six Sunday games.

TIP-INS

1. North Carolina has won 25 games six times in the past eight seasons.

2. The Jayhawks are in the NCAA Tournament for the 24th consecutive season, the longest active streak in the country.

3. Williams will coach against his former school in the NCAA Tournament for the third time. The Jayhawks beat North Carolina last season and in the 2008 Final Four.

(11) Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. (3) Florida Gators (-8, 124.5)

Florida and Minnesota will try to maintain the momentum from their impressive NCAA Tournament openers as they meet in the South Regional quarterfinals Sunday in Austin, Texas. The third-seeded Gators stomped No. 14 Northwestern State 79-47 on Friday, about 2 1/2 hours before the 11th-seeded Golden Gophers took down No. 6 UCLA 83-63. Northwestern State entered the tournament as the highest-scoring team in the nation but Florida held the Demons to 15 second-half points. Minnesota smothered the Bruins from the opening tip, holding them to 31.7 percent shooting - including a combined 13-for-52 from the starters - on the way to its most lopsided win in tournament history.

Florida features a well-balanced offense led by seniors Erik Murphy, Kenny Boynton and Mike Rosario. The trio entered the tournament averaging between 12.3 and 12.6 points. Murphy, a 6-10 post player, will need to team with 6-9 junior center Patric Young to keep Minnesota off the boards. The Golden Gophers entered the tournament ranked eighth in the nation in rebounding margin (8.2).

TV: 6:10 p.m. ET, TNT.

ABOUT MINNESOTA (21-12): Andre Hollins is still a sophomore but he’s quickly becoming known for elevating his play this time of year. After averaging 19.5 points last season in the final two games of the Big Ten tournament and the first four of the NIT, Hollins scored 28 in Friday’s victory against UCLA. His ability to score in bunches—he put up 41 points earlier this season in a win against Memphis—makes him a threat to put Minnesota on his back. As the primary ball handler, he’s also been careful with his turnovers, recording two or fewer in nine of the last 10 games.

ABOUT FLORIDA (27-7): Boynton scored 11 points against Northwestern State, becoming the second player in program history to surpass 2,000 for his career. If the senior guard can stick around long enough to score 84 more, he would pass Ronnie Williams (1980-84) as the school’s all-time leading scorer. Boynton has played in 10 NCAA Tournament games in his career, averaging 14.8 points while leading the Gators into the Elite Eight the last two seasons. He’s supported in the backcourt by Rosario and junior Scott Wilbekin, though the best 3-point shooter on the team is Murphy at 45.6 percent.

TRENDS:

* Gators are 1-5 ATS in their last six games following a win.
* Under is 6-0 in Golden Gophers’ last six Sunday games.
* Under is 9-1 in Gators’ last 10 overall.

TIP-INS

1. Minnesota coach Tubby Smith and Florida coach Billy Donovan were part of Rick Pitino’s first coaching staff at Kentucky in 1989-90.

2. Minnesota and Florida played Florida State eight days apart during the nonconference portion of the season. Minnesota beat the Seminoles by nine points and the Gators prevailed by 25.

3. The winner will play either seventh-seeded San Diego State or No. 15 Florida Gulf Coast at the South Regional semifinals at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

(15) Florida Gulf Coast Eagles vs. San Diego State Aztecs (-7, 133.5)

Florida Gulf Coast became the talk of the NCAA Tournament with its stunning 78-68 upset of Georgetown on Friday and will seek the program's second tournament win when it meets San Diego State in the South Region quarterfinals in Philadelphia on Sunday. While the seventh-seeded Aztecs are trying to reach the Sweet 16 for the second time in three seasons, the Eagles will try to become the first No. 15 to get there. The previous six No. 15 seeds lost by a combined 90 points in the Round of 32.

Two very different dunks summarized their wins Friday. Eagles junior forward Chase Fieler went high in the air for a one-handed dunk on a fast-break alley-oop from sophomore guard Brett Comer to stop the Hoyas' late run. The Aztecs had everything working for them as they pulled away from Oklahoma late, including junior guard Jamaal Franklin's attempted reverse dunk that bounced on the rim three times before falling through.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, TBS

ABOUT FLORIDA GULF COAST (25-10): Senior guard Sherwood Brown, who leads the team with 15.3 points and 6.4 rebounds, was vaulted to celebrity status after scoring 24 points in Friday's win. Brown was seen signing autographs and posing with fans in Philadelphia while the San Diego State-Oklahoma game was being played. Comer finished with 12 points and 10 assists - including three alley-oop passes during a 21-2 run - while turning the ball over just twice. The Eagles use a tough defense to spark its transition offense. "In the second half, we pushed the ball, we got out, we ran, we made shots, got some alley-oop dunks to energize the crowd," coach Andy Enfield told the media. "I'm very proud of our players."

ABOUT SAN DIEGO STATE (23-10): Franklin, who leads the Aztecs with 16.9 points and 9.4 rebounds, has scored in double figures 30 times in 32 games, including a 21-point performance in the 70-55 win over Oklahoma. Senior guard Chase Tapley, the first player in school history to appear in four NCAA Tournaments, became the fourth Aztec to pass 1,500 career points. San Diego State is 19-3 when holding opponents to under 40 percent shooting, the latest win coming against Oklahoma (39.7). Coach Steve Fisher was pleased with is team's second-half defense as the Aztecs pulled away from the Sooners. "We have a little bit of an MO where our second-half defense doesn't match our first half, and (Friday) our second-half defense was superior to our first half and that's how we won," he said.

TRENDS:

* Eagles are 7-0 ATS in their last seven games following a win.
* Eagles are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 games overall.
* Under is 5-1 in Aztecs’ last six overall.
* Aztecs are 0-4-1 ATS in their last five games following a win.

TIP-INS

1. Florida Gulf Coast has won six straight and has not trailed in the second half of its last four games.

2. Sunday marks the first-ever meeting between the teams.

3. San Diego State is 3-8 at the NCAA Tournament while the Eagles are the only team in tournament history to have a 1-0 record.

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**Udog** · 03-24-2013, 09:32 AM

NCAAB

Sunday, March 24

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
East Regional: Day 4 NCAAB betting preview
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(9) Temple Owls vs. Indiana Hoosiers (-11.5, 147.5)

Indiana made quick work of its first opponent in the NCAA Tournament, but Temple has established a reputation as a giant slayer. The two teams will square off in the Big Dance for the first time since 1994 on Sunday when they meet in the third round of the East Regional in Dayton, Ohio. The top-seeded Hoosiers never trailed against James Madison en route to an 83-62 win on Friday, shooting better than 50 percent for the fourth straight time in a NCAA Tournament game.

The nine-seed Owls, seeking their first Sweet 16 since 2001, overcame their recent history of early exits in the NCAA Tournament with a 76-72 victory over North Carolina State behind 31 points from Atlantic-10 Player of the Year Khalif Wyatt. Temple, which went 5-3 against tournament teams in the regular season, has defeated at least one top-10 opponent in each of the last five years. The winner of this contest will meet either four-seed Syracuse or 12-seed California in Washington, D.C.

TV: 2:45 p.m. ET, CBS

ABOUT TEMPLE (24-9): Wyatt went 12-for-14 from the foul line Friday, giving him 200 made free throws – breaking the single-season school record held by Hal Lear (1955-56). His 31-point effort – his sixth 30-point performance of the season – was the best from an Owl in the NCAA Tournament since 1991 and was made even more remarkable considering the fact he injured his left thumb when he got it caught in a defender’s jersey early in the second half. ''He's as tough a competitor as I've had an opportunity to coach,'' Temple's Fran Dunphy said following the game. ''He wants the moment.'' Wyatt has hit at least nine free throws in six straight games, going 62-for-71 over that stretch.

ABOUT INDIANA (28-6): The Hoosiers – the highest-scoring team remaining in the tournament – exceeded 80 points for the 19th time. Freshman Yogi Ferrell finished with 16 points, eight rebounds and six assists Friday, becoming only the third Indiana player to reach those totals in a NCAA Tournament game (Keith Smart in 1987 and Tom Coverdale in 2003). “Yogi certainly got us going in a great direction with the way that he moved the ball…he was able to find some great areas to attack,” coach Tom Crean said following the game. Christian Watford scored nine points Friday, giving him 1,708 points for his career and moving him into 10th place on the school’s all-time scoring list.

TRENDS:

* Underdog is 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings.
* Over is 10-2 in Owls’ last 12 games following a win.
* Owls are 1-6-1 ATS in their last eight NCAA Tournament games.

TIP-INS

1. Indiana is 10-1 all-time as a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

2. Temple has nine wins as a No. 9 seed or lower, tied with Gonzaga for the most since the field expanded to 64 teams in 1985.

3. Jordan Hulls is tied with Randy Wittman and Jeff Newton for the most games played (133) by a Hoosier in school history.

(7) Illinois Fighting Illini vs. (2) Miami Hurricanes (-7.5, 128.5)

Second-seeded Miami seeks to tack another memorable chapter into the season scrapbook when it faces Illinois on Sunday in Austin, Texas with a Sweet 16 berth on the line. The No. 4 Hurricanes have only advanced to the Sweet 16 once in their mostly lackluster history but are primed to make a deep run with a talented cast that won both the Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season and tournament crowns. Seventh-seeded Illinois beat Colorado in its tournament opener.

The Fighting Illini used a late 16-2 run to pull away from Colorado in a 57-49 victory. Coach John Groce is aware a better full-game effort will be needed to slay Miami. “I know that they have got great size and I know they’re going to play very hard,” Groce said. The Hurricanes trounced University of the Pacific 78-49 in their first game and getting any NCAA Tournament was a big deal to senior center Reggie Johnson and senior guard Durand Scott. “I was saying to Durand, we waited four years to play in this tournament and we finally got our first win,” Johnson said. “I went up to him and gave him a big hug and told him that we’re not done yet.”

TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, TNT

ABOUT MIAMI (28-6): A huge part of the Hurricanes’ meteoric rise is tied to how the players have bought into second-year coach Jim Larranaga’s system since he arrived. Johnson accepted a lesser role and Scott gave up the point-guard duties to Shane Larkin, who transformed the team and won ACC Player of the Year honors this season as a sophomore. Scott scored 21 points against Pacific, Johnson grabbed 10 rebounds and Larkin recorded nine assists. “One of the things as a coach that you want to be able to do is trust your players, especially your point guard,” Larranaga said. “And since the very first day I saw Shane Larkin play, I thought he was great. And he’s only gotten better at making decisions, at developing his skills and developing his role as a leader.” Larkin averages 14.4 points and 4.6 assists, with Scott (13.5) and senior forward Kenny Kadji (13.1) also scoring in double digits.

ABOUT ILLINOIS (23-12): The Illini are a streaky squad that often goes through feast or famine stretches. That includes shooting the basketball as Illinois missed its first 14 second-half shots against Colorado and went 3-for-22 in the half. Senior guards Brandon Paul (team-best 16.6 scoring average) and D.J. Richardson (12.5) aren’t immune to rough patches. “We’re mature players,” Richardson said. “We have been in college for four years. We have been through ups and downs throughout our careers. We are shooters. We both can shoot. We’re going to keep shooting even if they don’t fall.”

TRENDS:

* Over is 7-0 in Hurricanes’ last seven NCAA Tournament games.
* Fighting Illini are 0-4 ATS in their last four games following a win.
* Hurricanes are 4-0 ATS in their last four games overall.

TIP-INS

1. Illinois won the lone previous meeting, 86-78 during the 1968-69 season.

2. Kadji has eight double-doubles this season.

3. Paul has led the Illini in scoring 22 times this season and 40 occasions in his career.

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**Udog** · 03-24-2013, 09:34 AM

NCAAB

Sunday, March 24

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
West Regional: Day 4 NCAAB betting preview
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(13) La Salle Explorers vs. (12) Ole Miss Rebels (-4, 143)

Mississippi and La Salle have historically enjoyed their stays in Kansas City, Mo. during the NCAA Tournament and did nothing to dispel that with a pair of second-round upset victories on Friday. One of those teams will add to its success in the city on Sunday when they meet in the third round of the West Regional. The 12th-seeded Rebels collected the program’s fourth victory in the “Big Dance” when they stunned Big Ten power Wisconsin, improving to 3-0 in NCAA Tournament games played in Kansas City.

The fifth-seeded Explorers are also 3-0 all-time during NCAA Tournament play in Kansas City, where they won the school’s only national championship in 1954. La Salle picked up its second tournament win in the same season for the first time since 1955 after it held off Kansas State in dramatic fashion, less than 48 hours after securing a first-round victory over Boise State in Dayton, Ohio. The winner of this contest will meet either Gonzaga or Wichita State in a Sweet 16 matchup in Los Angeles.

TV: 7:40 p.m. ET, truTV

ABOUT LA SALLE (23-9): The hot shooting that served the Explorers so well against the Broncos (season-high 63.3 percent) completely fell apart over the final 20 minutes Friday. La Salle shot 3-for-18 (16.7 percent) and scored 19 points against the Wildcats in the second half after shooting 58.1 percent and posting 44 points in the first half. However, the much-maligned La Salle defense – which allowed its opponents to shoot an Atlantic 10-high 45.6 percent – forced Kansas State to miss its final eight field-goal attempts. After scoring 12 combined points in losses to Saint Louis and Butler, leading scorer Ramon Galloway (17.1 points) is averaging 20 points through two NCAA Tournament games.

ABOUT MISSISSIPPI (27-8): Marshall Henderson – the leading scorer in the SEC – missed 12 of his first 13 shots against the Badgers, but outscored Wisconsin by himself 17-10 over the final 11:25. "He made that first shot and I celebrated," coach Andy Kennedy said following the game. "As long as he's taking shots within our offense, our guys understand that. We were getting him looks. Then once he makes one or two, we keep feeding him." The Rebels figure to enjoy a significant advantage in the front court against the undersized Explorers. Reginald Bucker – a 6-9, 235-pound forward – had five blocks against Wisconsin while 6-7, 240-pound Murphy Holloway has 13 double-doubles and led the SEC in rebounding.

TRENDS:

* Rebels are 5-0 ATS in their last five games overall.
* Under is 5-0 in Rebels’ last five overall.
* Explorers are 5-0-1 ATS in their last six Sunday games.

TIP-INS

1. Mississippi will set a single-season school record for victories with a win on Sunday.

2. La Salle’s 23 victories are its most since going 30-2 during the 1989-90 season.

3. Twelve-seeds are 8-2 against No. 13 seeds all-time in the NCAA Tournament.

(10) Iowa State Cyclones vs. (2) Ohio State Buckeyes (-7, 142)

Ohio State managed to avoid any of the pitfalls that has plagued the top seeds in its second-round game on Friday. The second-seeded Buckeyes now look to advance to the Sweet 16 when they face Iowa State in the third round of the NCAA Tournament West Regional at Dayton on Sunday. The Buckeyes have failed to make it out of Dayton in their two previous NCAA appearances, however, going 1-2 overall.

Seeded 10th, Iowa State posted a convincing win over Notre Dame in its tourney opener. The Cyclones' defense put the game away late in the first half forcing 14 turnovers before the break on the way to a surprisingly easy win. Iowa State hopes its powerhouse offense, ranked fourth in the nation in scoring, is on track for a long run in the tourney.

TV: 12:15 p.m., ET, CBS

ABOUT OHIO STATE (27-7): Court general and defensive wizard Aaron Craft did the job on Iona's Lamont 'Momo' Jones in the opener. Jones, who entered the game third in the nation in scoring, was limited to nine points on 3-of-14 shooting as the Buckeyes rolled 95-70. Craft had a season-high six steals. Ohio State has now won nine straight games, four of them coming against ranked teams. "We have a lot of confidence," said Sam Thompson, who scored a career-high 20 points against the Gaels "We know that if we come out and do the things we're supposed to do on both sides of the ball, we could beat any team in the country." Ohio State didn't score over 74 points in any conference game this season but relished the frantic pace of Iona to scored a season high.

ABOUT IOWA STATE (23-11): The Cyclones have reached the third round for the second straight year under coach Fred Hoiberg. Last year Iowa State was bounced by eventual national champion Kentucky in the third round. The Cyclones used a balanced attack against Notre Dame getting a team-high nine points in the first half from Big 12 newcomer of the year Will Clyburn in the first half. Clyburn didn't score after the break but he didn't need to. Iowa State hit 12 of its first 14 shots in the second half and eventually built a 27-point lead. The Cyclones hit nine 3-pointers in the contest, one under their season average of 10.

TRENDS:

* Buckeyes are 6-0 ATS in their last six games overall.
* Buckeyes are 5-0 ATS in their last five neutral site games.
* Over is 8-0 in Cyclones’ last eight vs. Big Ten foes.
* Over is 5-1 in Buckeyes’ last six NCAA Tournament games.

TIP-INS

1. Ohio State is 8-7 against RPI Top 50 teams. Iowa State is 45th in the RPI.

2. The Buckeyes have advanced to three straight Sweet 16's.

3. Iowa State has four transfers on its new-look roster. And Georges Niang, who scored 19 points against ND, is a freshman.

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**Udog** · 03-24-2013, 09:35 AM

NCAAB

Sunday, March 24

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Midwest Regional: Creighton vs. Duke betting preview
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(7) Creighton Bluejays vs. (2) Duke Blue Devils (-5, 144)

Led by sharp-shooting Seth Curry, second-seeded Duke looks to take another step toward a possible fifth national title when it meets upstart Creighton on Sunday in the third round of the NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional at Philadelphia. The Blue Devils shrugged off a pesky Albany team in their tourney opener. A year ago Duke was also seeded second but lost its first tournament game to 15th-seeded Lehigh.

The seventh-seeded Bluejays got 27 points and 11 rebounds from junior All-American Doug McDermott and put the game away at the free-throw line to fend off Cincinnati in their opener on Friday. McDermott, a highly-touted NBA prospect, may turn pro after the season but he'll have at least one more collegiate game to enhance his resume. Creighton has won six straight and is the best-shooting team in the country.

ABOUT DUKE (28-5): The Blue Devils' title chances were given a major boost when senior forward Ryan Kelly returned from a foot injury for the final games of the season. At 6-11 and armed with a strong outside game, Kelly - part of Duke's 2010 national championship team - is a nightmarish matchup. But it was stalwarts Curry and Mason Plumlee who carried the Blue Devils past Albany. The tandem combined for 49 points on a spectacular 19-of-25 shooting as the Blue Devils atoned for last year's early exit. "Plumlee did the best Kareem Abdul-Jabbar imitation I've seen in a long time," Albany coach Will Brown said. "He hit three sky hooks. I haven't even seen somebody attempt that shot in my 12 years at Albany, and he hit three of them." Coach Mike Krzyzewski has won an NCAA Tournament-record 80 games.

ABOUT CREIGHTON (28-7): The Bluejays finished the first half of Friday's second-round game on a 6-0 run and never trailed again on their way to a 67-63 win over Cincinnati. Creighton was inconsistent throughout the contest - it shot 63 percent with 10 turnovers in the first half, then hit just 7-of-23 shots in the second half but converted 9-of-10 free throws in the final two minutes to prevail. The Bluejays also reached the third round of last year's tournament but were eliminated by North Carolina. Creighton has won tournament games in consecutive years for the first time in school history.

TRENDS:

* Bluejays are 6-0 ATS in their last six games overall.
* Blue Devils are 0-4 ATS in their last four NCAA Tournament games.
* Bluejays are 6-0 ATS in their last six neutral site games.
* Under is 4-1 in Blue Devils’ last five non-conference games.

TIP-INS

1. Albany shot 36.5 percent in its loss to Duke but was 9-for-15 from 3-point range, the best by far of any Duke opponent this season.

2. McDermott broke his own school scoring record for the season with 803 points.

3. This is the first meeting between the schools.

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**Udog** · 03-24-2013, 09:44 AM

NBA
Dunkel

Portland at Oklahoma City
The Thunder look to build on their 10-2 ATS record in their last 12 home games versus teams with a losing road record. Oklahoma City is the pick (-11 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has the Thunder favored by 13. Dunkel Pick: Oklahoma City (-11 1/2). Here are all of today's picks.

SUNDAY, MARCH 24

Game 701-702: Atlanta at Milwaukee (3:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Atlanta 118.992; Milwaukee 118.017
Dunkel Line & Total: Atlanta by 1; 200
Vegas Line & Total: Milwaukee by 3; 203 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Atlanta (+3); Under

Game 703-704: Charlotte at Miami (6:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Charlotte 109.385; Miami 124.645
Dunkel Line & Total: Miami by 15 1/2; 205
Vegas Line & Total: Miami by 16 1/2; 199 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Charlotte (+16 1/2); Over

Game 705-706: Chicago at Minnesota (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Chicago 117.976; Minnesota 119.409
Dunkel Line & Total: Minnesota by 1 1/2; 188
Vegas Line & Total: Chicago by 1; 185 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Minnesota (+1); Over

Game 707-708: San Antonio at Houston (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: San Antonio 123.426; Houston 119.861
Dunkel Line & Total: San Antonio by 3 1/2; 210
Vegas Line & Total: San Antonio by 1; 213 1/2
Dunkel Pick: San Antonio (-1); Under

Game 709-710: Portland at Oklahoma City (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Portland 117.274; Oklahoma City 130.111
Dunkel Line & Total: Oklahoma City by 13; 201
Vegas Line & Total: Oklahoma City by 11 1/2; 205 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Oklahoma City (-11 1/2); Under

Game 711-712: Utah at Dallas (7:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Utah 114.696; Dallas 123.826
Dunkel Line & Total: Dallas by 9; 206
Vegas Line & Total: Dallas by 6; 200 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Dallas (-6); Over

Game 713-714: Philadelphia at Sacramento (9:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Philadelphia 115.066; Sacramento 123.451
Dunkel Line & Total: Sacramento by 8 1/2; 200
Vegas Line & Total: Sacramento by 2 1/2; 205
Dunkel Pick: Sacramento (-2 1/2); Under

Game 715-716: Brooklyn at Phoenix (9:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Brooklyn 115.310; Phoenix 115.183
Dunkel Line & Total: Even; 210
Vegas Line & Total: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A

**Udog** · 03-24-2013, 09:47 AM

NBA
Long Sheet

Sunday, March 24

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

ATLANTA (38 - 31) at MILWAUKEE (34 - 34) - 3/24/2013, 3:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
ATLANTA is 11-2 ATS (+8.8 Units) after playing 3 consecutive home games over the last 2 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 59-73 ATS (-21.3 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 11-22 ATS (-13.2 Units) in home games this season.
MILWAUKEE is 1-12 ATS (-12.2 Units) in a home game where where the total is between 200 and 204.5 points over the last 2 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 7-17 ATS (-11.7 Units) second half of the season this season.
MILWAUKEE is 1-9 ATS (-8.9 Units) after 3 or more consecutive unders over the last 2 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 25-42 ATS (-21.2 Units) revenging a loss vs opponent over the last 2 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 23-41 ATS (-22.1 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 3-11 ATS (-9.1 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
ATLANTA is 6-3 against the spread versus MILWAUKEE over the last 3 seasons
ATLANTA is 6-3 straight up against MILWAUKEE over the last 3 seasons
7 of 9 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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CHARLOTTE (16 - 53) at MIAMI (54 - 14) - 3/24/2013, 6:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CHARLOTTE is 22-46 ATS (-28.6 Units) in all games this season.
CHARLOTTE is 21-40 ATS (-23.0 Units) as an underdog this season.
CHARLOTTE is 11-23 ATS (-14.3 Units) in road games this season.
CHARLOTTE is 6-18 ATS (-13.8 Units) second half of the season this season.
CHARLOTTE is 4-13 ATS (-10.3 Units) when playing on back-to-back days this season.
CHARLOTTE is 17-38 ATS (-24.8 Units) revenging a loss vs opponent this season.
CHARLOTTE is 12-23 ATS (-13.3 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
CHARLOTTE is 6-19 ATS (-14.9 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
CHARLOTTE is 7-19 ATS (-13.9 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 99+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
MIAMI is 5-4 against the spread versus CHARLOTTE over the last 3 seasons
MIAMI is 9-0 straight up against CHARLOTTE over the last 3 seasons
6 of 9 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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CHICAGO (37 - 31) at MINNESOTA (24 - 43) - 3/24/2013, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CHICAGO is 8-20 ATS (-14.0 Units) in non-conference games this season.
CHICAGO is 41-27 ATS (+11.3 Units) in road games over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO is 11-2 ATS (+8.8 Units) in a road game where where the total is between 185 and 189.5 points over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO is 21-8 ATS (+12.2 Units) after playing 3 consecutive home games over the last 3 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 18-32 ATS (-17.2 Units) in home games second half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 19-35 ATS (-19.5 Units) after scoring 105 points or more over the last 3 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 155-202 ATS (-67.2 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
CHICAGO is 3-1 against the spread versus MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
CHICAGO is 4-0 straight up against MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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SAN ANTONIO (53 - 16) at HOUSTON (38 - 31) - 3/24/2013, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
HOUSTON is 40-27 ATS (+10.3 Units) in home games over the last 2 seasons.
HOUSTON is 89-61 ATS (+21.9 Units) after 3 or more consecutive unders since 1996.
SAN ANTONIO is 87-57 ATS (+24.3 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
SAN ANTONIO is 72-46 ATS (+21.4 Units) as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.
SAN ANTONIO is 43-20 ATS (+21.0 Units) second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
SAN ANTONIO is 150-111 ATS (+27.9 Units) in March games since 1996.
SAN ANTONIO is 40-23 ATS (+14.7 Units) after 3 or more consecutive wins over the last 2 seasons.
SAN ANTONIO is 46-28 ATS (+15.2 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
SAN ANTONIO is 23-11 ATS (+10.9 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
SAN ANTONIO is 30-16 ATS (+12.4 Units) in road games versus poor defensive teams - allowing 99+ points/game over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
SAN ANTONIO is 6-5 against the spread versus HOUSTON over the last 3 seasons
SAN ANTONIO is 8-3 straight up against HOUSTON over the last 3 seasons
6 of 11 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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PORTLAND (33 - 36) at OKLAHOMA CITY (51 - 19) - 3/24/2013, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
PORTLAND is 3-14 ATS (-12.4 Units) in road games after a win by 10 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 40-28 ATS (+9.2 Units) in all games this season.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 39-25 ATS (+11.5 Units) as a favorite this season.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 24-11 ATS (+11.9 Units) in home games this season.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 16-6 ATS (+9.4 Units) on Sunday games over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
OKLAHOMA CITY is 6-2 against the spread versus PORTLAND over the last 3 seasons
OKLAHOMA CITY is 8-2 straight up against PORTLAND over the last 3 seasons
5 of 10 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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UTAH (34 - 35) at DALLAS (33 - 36) - 3/24/2013, 7:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
UTAH is 28-41 ATS (-17.1 Units) in road games over the last 2 seasons.
UTAH is 1-9 ATS (-8.9 Units) in a road game where where the total is between 200 and 204.5 points over the last 2 seasons.
DALLAS is 40-28 ATS (+9.2 Units) in all games this season.
DALLAS is 259-207 ATS (+31.3 Units) after a non-conference game since 1996.
DALLAS is 35-20 ATS (+13.0 Units) after a win by 10 points or more over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
DALLAS is 7-3 against the spread versus UTAH over the last 3 seasons
DALLAS is 7-3 straight up against UTAH over the last 3 seasons
7 of 10 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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PHILADELPHIA (26 - 42) at SACRAMENTO (25 - 45) - 3/24/2013, 9:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
PHILADELPHIA is 116-85 ATS (+22.5 Units) when playing with 2 days rest since 1996.
PHILADELPHIA is 57-38 ATS (+15.2 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 3 seasons.
SACRAMENTO is 60-74 ATS (-21.4 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
PHILADELPHIA is 3-1 against the spread versus SACRAMENTO over the last 3 seasons
PHILADELPHIA is 3-1 straight up against SACRAMENTO over the last 3 seasons
3 of 4 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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BROOKLYN (40 - 29) at PHOENIX (23 - 47) - 3/24/2013, 9:05 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
BROOKLYN is 3-1 against the spread versus PHOENIX over the last 3 seasons
PHOENIX is 2-2 straight up against BROOKLYN over the last 3 seasons
3 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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Announcement

Sunday's Trends and Indexes - 3/24 (NBA, NCAAB, NHL, Misc.)

Sunday's Trends and Indexes - 3/24 (NBA, NCAAB, NHL, Misc.)

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