The Bum's NCAA Basketball Picks Thru March Madness & Madness GOY !!

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAB

Friday, March 14

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AAC Tournament betting cheat sheet: Round 3
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Houston Cougars vs. Louisville Cardinals (-18, 148)

The Cougars should be feeling confident, however, knocking off third-seeded Southern Methodist in the quarterfinals after losing twice to the Mustangs in the regular season. L.J. Rose led the conference in assists during the regular season at 5.6 but the sophomore guard can also score when asked, especially lately. He has put up 16 points in each of the last three games, a mark he hadn’t reached since November.

The Cardinals prepped for this game by posting a 61-point win against Rutgers in the quarterfinals, the most lopsided win in Division I this season. Louisville has already trounced the Cougars twice this winter, included a 39-point win in January in which the Cardinals shot 15-for-28 from beyond the 3-point arc.

TRENDS:

* Under is 4-1 in the last five meetings.
* Favorite is 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings.
* Houston is 2-5 ATS in the last seven meetings.
* Louisville is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games overall.


Connecticut Huskies vs. Cincinnati Bearcats

Fourth-seeded Connecticut found its offense just in time for a rematch with defensive-minded and top-seeded Cincinnati in Friday's American Athletic Conference tournament semifinal at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn. Shabazz Napier averages 17.6 points, six rebounds and 5.1 assists to lead the Huskies, who had shot below 40 percent in four of their last seven games before Thursday's rout of Memphis.

Sean Kilpatrick leads the Bearcats with 20.9 points per game after scoring in double digits for the 22nd straight time. Justin Jackson adds 11.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and a league-best 2.9 blocks for Cincinnati, which has held 29 opponents under 70 points. Titus Rubles, who had a career-high four blocks against Central Florida on Thursday, adds 7.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.

TRENDS:

* Huskies are 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings.
* Under is 6-2 in the last eight meetings.
* Bearcats are 16-7 ATS in their last 23 neutral site games.
* Under is 11-1 in Huskies last 12 overall.

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAB

Friday, March 14

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Big East Tournament betting cheat sheet: Day 3
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Providence Friars vs. Seton Hall Pirates (-2, 136)

The Friars entered the Big East tournament on the NCAA bubble and could use one more win to lock up their place in the field of 68. Big East second-leading scorer Bryce Cotton battled foul trouble and was held to 12 points on 1-of-9 shooting against St. John’s, but Josh Fortune helped pick up the slack with a career-high 24 points.

Seton Hall is enjoying its first two-game winning streak in the Big East tournament in more than a decade but will need to make it four in a row to gain an improbable entry to the NCAA tournament. The eighth-seeded Pirates will try to take their third straight when they face No. 4 seed Providence in the semifinals in New York on Friday. The Pirates squandered a 15-point lead before battling back to beat Villanova and have secured a pair of one-point victories in the tournament after playing their way into the quarterfinals with a 51-50 triumph over Butler.

TRENDS:

* Pirates are 4-1 ATS in their last five games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Friars are 5-2 ATS in their last seven games overall.
* Under is 4-0 in Pirates last four overall.
* Under is 8-1 in Friars last 9 neutral site games.


Xavier Musketeers vs. Creighton Bluejays

The Musketeers are likely in good shape to make the NCAA tournament, but can seal the deal by beating the Bluejays for the second time this month. Justin Martin was the star in Xavier's 75-69 victory over Creighton less than two weeks ago, posting 19 points and a career-high 16 rebounds. Martin led the Musketeers with 19 points in Thursday's three-point win against Marquette while Semaj Christon chipped in 18 points and five assists.

Considering what Doug McDermott has accomplished in his last two games, the only question is what the Creighton star can possibly do for an encore. McDermott set a Big East tournament record with 27 first-half points en route to 35 in Creighton's 84-62 victory over DePaul. “It’s one of those feelings where you feel like you have all the energy and confidence in the world,” McDermott said after setting the record for most points by a player in his Big East tournament debut. “It’s a feeling that is the best.”

TRENDS:

* Musketeers are 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings.
* Over is 5-0 in the last five meetings.
* Musketeers are 22-8 ATS in their last 30 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Bluejays are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 neutral site games.

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAB

Friday, March 14

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Pac-12 Tournament betting cheat sheet: Round 3
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Colorado Buffaloes vs. Arizona Wildcats

The Buffaloes lost both meetings against Arizona this season, but coach Tad Boyle is eager for another shot at the Wildcats. Guard Xavier Johnson, who predicted the Buffaloes would beat Arizona by 20 prior to last month’s contest and then shot 1-for-10 from the field, enters Friday’s game on a high note after scoring in double figures in five straight games.

The Wildcats likely secured a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament even before the week began, but Thursday’s rout over an overmatched Utah team surely improved their chances. Freshman Aaron Gordon had 23 points and eight rebounds against Colorado in last month’s meeting, when the Wildcats shot 60.3 percent from the field and 8-of-17 from 3-point range.

TRENDS:

* Colorado is 2-5 ATS in its last seven games following an ATS win.
* Arizona is 5-1 ATS in its last six neutral site games.
* Under is 5-0 in Colorado's last six games overall.
* Under is 16-5-1 in Arizona's last 22 neutral site games.


Stanford Cardinal vs. UCLA Bruins

The Cardinal likely secured their first NCAA tournament berth in six years under coach Johnny Dawkins with Thursday’s win, but a victory over UCLA would help remove any suspense on Selection Sunday. Point guard Chasson Randle, who made seven 3-pointers and scored 26 points in last month’s win over the Bruins, had a team-high 21 points against the Sun Devils.

The Bruins held the explosive Ducks to 35.5 percent shooting in the second half Wednesday, and will need another strong defensive effort against the efficient Cardinal. UCLA had five players score in double figures Thursday, with guard Jordan Adams (15 points) leading the way. Forward Tony Parker and freshman guard Zach LaVine combined for 27 points off the bench against the Cardinal last month, and the Bruins’ reserves could be the difference against a Stanford team that relies heavily on its five starters.

TRENDS:

* Favorite is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings.
* Over is 20-8 in the last 28 meetings.
* Cardinal are 1-7 ATS in the last eight meetings.
* Bruins are 10-22 ATS in their last 32 neutral site games.

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAB

Friday, March 14

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SEC Tournament betting cheat sheet: Round 3
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Missouri Tigers vs. Florida Gators (-11.5, 132)

The Tigers were unable to hold a nine-point lead late in regulation Thursday and also had a bad turnover that helped Texas A&M force the second overtime, but they used one of their strengths to survive, making a season-high 40-of-53 free throws.

The Gators were the first team to ever go 18-0 in SEC play, a run they capped with a rousing 84-65 win over rival Kentucky at home Saturday. Included in the unbeaten campaign was a 68-58 win over the Tigers on Feb. 4. Recently the Gators have been dominant, winning their last three games by an average of 21 points.

TRENDS:

* Missouri is 3-1-1 ATS in its last five neutral site games.
* Florida is 2-5 ATS in its last seven neutral site games.
* Over is 20-8 in Missouri's last 28 neutral site games.
* Under is 7-2 in Florida's last nine games following an ATS win.


South Carolina Gamecocks vs. Tennessee Volunteers (-10, 134)

TRENDS:

* Favorite is 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings.
* South Carolina is 0-4 ATS in the last four meetings.
* Under is 7-3 in Tennessee's last 10 games vs. the SEC.
* Under is 4-0 in South Carolina's last four neutral site games.


Louisiana State Tigers vs. Kentucky Wildcats

Shavon Coleman had one of his best games of the season, recording 15 points, eight rebounds and three steals in the win over Alabama. Tim Quarterman came off the bench to score a career-high 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting versus the Crimson Tide. The Tigers dished out 19 assists in their first game of the tourney and improved to 13-2 when recording 15 or more this season.

Julius Randle was named the SEC Freshman of the Year by the league's coaches and is the fifth straight Wildcat to earn the accolade. Randle, who also earned All-SEC First Team honors, leads the team in scoring (15.4), rebounding (10.5) and double-doubles (18), including four straight to finish the regular season. Willie Cauley-Stein was selected to the All-SEC Defensive Team after topping Kentucky in blocks (88), including a season-high nine on two different occasions.

TRENDS:

* LSU is 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings.
* Underdog is 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings.
* Under is 4-1 in LSU's last five games overall.
* Under is 7-3 in Kentucky's last 10 games overall.


Mississippi Rebels vs. Georgia Bulldogs

Marshall Henderson poured in 21 points, including seven 3-pointers, against Mississippi State. Henderson has knocked down at least one 3-point field goal in an SEC-record 65 consecutive games. Jarvis Summers continued his stellar play as he finished with 21 points, six assists and four rebounds versus the Bulldogs.

Charles Mann was named to the All-SEC Second Team after averaging 13.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.2 steals per game. Mann recorded his first career double-double when he posted 22 points and 10 rebounds in a 69-61 victory over LSU in the final game of the regular season. Kenny Gaines came on strong in the last month, tying Mann for the team lead in scoring (13.4) while finishing in double figures in his last seven outings.

TRENDS:

* Over is 4-1 in the last five meetings.
* Mississippi is 5-11 ATS in the last 16 meetings.
* Underdog is 5-0 ATS in the last five meetings.
* Under is 8-1 in Georgia's last nine games vs. the SEC.

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAB

Friday, March 14

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Big Ten Tournament betting cheat sheet: Round 2
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Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Michigan Wolverines (-7, 124)

Illinois' Tracy Abrams, who scored 22 points over his previous four contests, went 8-of-16 from the field and 7-of-9 from the foul line en route to a season-high 25-point performance on Thursday – the most points the junior has ever scored against a Big Ten opponent. The scoring explosion was particularly unexpected after he made only five free throws and scored a total of 22 points over the previous four games on 23.3 percent shooting. The Illini have generated at least eight steals in each of their last five victories after doing so only four times over their first 26 games.

Michigan was supposed to unravel when Mitch McGary was lost to a back injury, but it proved to be the turning point of the season instead. The top-seeded Wolverines, who eye their sixth straight win on Friday in the quarterfinal round of the Big Ten tournament in Indianapolis when they meet Illinois, sported a 6-4 record when their rugged forward was ruled out indefinitely. The Wolverines rallied to win 17 of their final 20 games, including 15 in league play – the most by the school since 1993.

TRENDS:

* Favorite is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings.
* Under is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings.
* Illinois is 0-7 ATS in the last seven meetings.
* Michigan is 4-0 ATS in its last four games following an ATS loss.


Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers (+4, 125)

The Buckeyes managed to advance despite a 1-of-14 performance from beyond the arc, continuing a disturbing trend over their last eight games. Over that stretch, Ohio State has shot 22.6 percent from the 3-point line and made three long-range jumpers or fewer six times after converting at a 35.3-percent clip and hitting eight or more 3-pointers 10 times over its first 24 contests.

Nebraska opened conference play with four straight losses before a victory on Jan. 20 over Ohio State turned the tide of its season. The fourth-seeded Cornhuskers figure to assure themselves of their first invite to the Big Dance since 1998 if they can defeat the fifth-seeded Buckeyes again on Friday in the Big Ten quarterfinals in Indianapolis. Nebraska is 10-3 since upending Ohio State at home and coming off perhaps its most impressive win of the season – a 77-68 victory over Wisconsin.

TRENDS:

* Ohio State is 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings.
* Favorite is 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings.
* Under is 9-2 in Nebraska's last 11 games overall.
* Ohio State is 0-5 in its last five neutral site games.


Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Wisconsin Badgers

Minnesota posted consecutive victories for the first time since early January with back-to-back victories over Penn State, including a 63-56 first-round triumph on Thursday. Austin Hollins, who scored 8.6 points per game over his first 15 Big Ten contests this season, is averaging 18.8 points over his last four.

The Badgers could use improved play from Sam Dekker, who has scored seven or fewer points in three straight games after reaching double figures in 24 of his first 28 games. Wisconsin’s second-leading scorer was benched for the final five-plus minutes during Sunday’s loss after forcing a runner and failed to get to the foul line for the first time in nine contests.

TRENDS:

* Minnesota is 4-0-1 ATS in the last five meetings.
* Underdog is 4-0-1 ATS in the last five meetings.
* Under is 5-0 in Wisconsin's last five neutral site games.
* Minnesota is 1-4 ATS in its last five neutral site games.


Northwestern Wildcats vs. Michigan State Spartans

The Wildcats, who have won back-to-back games following a seven-game losing streak, held Iowa to season lows in points and field-goal percentage (32.3). Drew Crawford and Tre Demps played every minute Thursday and carried the offense, combining for 35 points on 13-of-24 shooting – including six of Northwestern’s 11 3-pointers.

Michigan State has no concerns about qualifying for the NCAA tournament, but knows time is running out to gel entering Friday’s Big Ten tournament quarterfinal against Northwestern in Indianapolis. Thanks to a rash of injuries to key players such as Gary Harris and Adreian Payne, the Spartans have used 15 different lineups over their last 26 games. Even though Michigan State is back to full health, the lack of chemistry has played a role in the team dropping seven of its last 12.

TRENDS:

* Over is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings.
* Wildcats are 4-12 ATS in their last 16 games following a ATS win.
* Spartans are 15-7 ATS in their last 22 games overall.
* Over is 9-1 in Wildcats last 10 neutral site games.

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAB

Friday, March 14

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Can Calipari's 'tweak' turnaround Kentucky's ATS woes?
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Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari has apparently given his stumbling team the “tweak” needed to return to its championship form, just in time for the SEC tournament.

Scorned UK backers, who suffered a 0-5 ATS skid to end the season, are wondering where this magical “tweak” was back in February before the Wildcats closed out the SEC schedule on a 2-3 SU slide. That record included an embarrassing 84-65 loss to Florida in the season finale.

“You’ll see a different team when you watch Friday. If you know anything about basketball, you’ll know exactly what I did,” Calipari told The Courier-Journal, not giving away his crucial coaching adjustment. “I’m just disappointed in me that I didn’t do it earlier. Why didn’t I catch this and why wasn’t I thinking in those terms?”

Kentucky opens the SEC tournament as the No. 2 seed and will take on the winner of Thursday’s game between LSU and Alabama Friday. The Wildcats, priced at +400 to win the conference crown, are one of the coldest teams against the spread in college hoops (12-15-2 ATS on the year) and haven’t been a great play in past SEC tournaments either.

Since taking over in Lexington, Calipari’s Kentucky teams are a dismal 3-7 ATS in SEC tournament action despite an 8-2 SU mark in those games. Last March, the Wildcats were stunned by Vanderbilt in their opening game, losing 64-48 as 5.5-point favorites.

Even in 2011-12, when UK’s talented roster featuring the likes of Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist ran all the way to a national title, Kentucky came up short in the SEC tournament. It was upset by Vanderbilt in the conference championship game, 71-64 as a 7.5-point favorite, and failed to cover in all three of its SEC tournament games that year.

This year’s UK squad is nowhere near that national title team, and is the first program in 34 years to fall from the preseason No. 1 to outside the Top 25 at the end of the season. But that hasn’t dampened the Wildcats confidence heading into Friday’s postseason opener.

According to media reports, Calipari may be urging his players to come out a lot more physical than in the regular season. Kentucky, a big strong team, has played passively with the NCAA cracking down on hand checking and more physical defense. Tournament basketball tends to loosen those rules a bit and allow for more bumping and bruising.

“All I can tell you is there was a different feel in the building. It was not just the tweaking of what we did. It was the physical play brought something out of them that I wanted to see,” Calipari told the media.

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAB

Friday, March 14


Tulsa storms up ATS standings

The Tulsa Golden Hurricane (19-12 SU) have won nine in a row SU and gone 10-1 ATS in their last 11, moving all the way up to No. 5 in the pointspread rankings with a 20-8 ATS mark.

In Thursday’s CUSA Tournament quarterfinals, No. 2 seed Tulsa ripped No. 7 seed Tulane 70-49 as a 13.5-point fave. The Hurricane, who have eight double-digit wins during their current ATS spree, face third-seeded Middle Tennessee (24-8 SU, 14-14 ATS) today at 4 p.m. EDT.


Seton Hall stuns No. 3 Villanova at buzzer

The play didn't go as planned, but the result was stunning.

Guard Sterling Gibbs' jumper from the top of the key at the buzzer gave Seton Hall a 64-63 over No. 3 Villanova in the quarterfinals of the Big East Conference tournament on Thursday at Madison Square Garden.

"It ended up being a little bit of a scramble," said Gibbs, whose game-winner sent Seton Hall (17-16) into the tournament semifinals for the first time since 2001. "The plan kind of got switched up a little. In the end, it was supposed to get in my hands and I was supposed to create a shot for myself and I just stepped back and hit the jumper."

Gibbs revealed he received a text from his older brother Ashton, who played at Pitt and now plays overseas. It simply said, "It better go in," while Sterling's shot was in the air.

Guard Darrun Hilliard's spinning layup in the lane with 11 seconds left had given top-seeded Villanova (28-4) a brief 63-62 edge before Seton Hall pushed the ball past half-court, then called timeout with 3.7 seconds left.

"We usually don't like to call timeouts," Seton Hall coach Kevin Willard said of the final moments. "We usually like just to go, but I wanted the ball at that time in Sterling's hands."

NOTES: Villanova claimed its first outright regular-season Big East Conference title since 1982. ... The Wildcats' 16 conference wins are the most in school history and the 28 overall wins are also a single season best. ... Both Seton Hall and Villanova have four players averaging at least 10 points a game this season. ... Wildcats coach Jay Wright won his third Big East Coach of the Year award. He also claimed it in 2006 and 2009. ... Seton Hall G Fuquan Edwin is one of only seven players in the history of the school to score over 1,500 points and have at least 600 rebounds. ... Seton Hall played in its first Big East Conference tournament quarterfinal since 2003.

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAB
Long Sheet

Friday, March 14

All Remaining Games

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PRAIRIE VIEW A&M (10 - 21) vs. ALABAMA A&M (14 - 15) - 3/14/2014, 8:30 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.


Head-to-Head Series History
ALABAMA A&M is 1-0 against the spread versus PRAIRIE VIEW A&M over the last 3 seasons
ALABAMA A&M is 3-3 straight up against PRAIRIE VIEW A&M over the last 3 seasons
1 of 1 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




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NORTHWESTERN ST (17 - 13) vs. SF AUSTIN ST (29 - 2) - 3/14/2014, 6:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.


Head-to-Head Series History
NORTHWESTERN ST is 1-0 against the spread versus SF AUSTIN ST over the last 3 seasons
SF AUSTIN ST is 4-2 straight up against NORTHWESTERN ST 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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SAM HOUSTON ST (22 - 9) vs. TEXAS A&M CC (17 - 14) - 3/14/2014, 8:30 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.


Head-to-Head Series History
SAM HOUSTON ST is 4-1 straight up against TEXAS A&M CC over the last 3 seasons




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NORFOLK ST (19 - 13) vs. NC CENTRAL (26 - 5) - 3/14/2014, 6:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.


Head-to-Head Series History
NC CENTRAL is 1-0 straight up against NORFOLK ST over the last 3 seasons




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COPPIN ST (12 - 19) vs. MORGAN ST (14 - 15) - 3/14/2014, 8:25 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.


Head-to-Head Series History
MORGAN ST is 5-1 straight up against COPPIN ST over the last 3 seasons




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IDAHO (15 - 17) vs. UTAH VALLEY ST (20 - 10) - 3/14/2014, 9:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.


Head-to-Head Series History
UTAH VALLEY ST is 2-0 straight up against IDAHO over the last 3 seasons




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CS-BAKERSFIELD (13 - 18) vs. NEW MEXICO ST (24 - 9) - 3/14/2014, 11:30 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.


Head-to-Head Series History
NEW MEXICO ST is 4-0 straight up against CS-BAKERSFIELD over the last 3 seasons




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NC STATE (20 - 12) vs. SYRACUSE (27 - 4) - 3/14/2014, 7:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.


Head-to-Head Series History
SYRACUSE is 1-1 against the spread versus NC STATE over the last 3 seasons
SYRACUSE is 2-0 straight up against NC STATE 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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CLEMSON (20 - 11) vs. DUKE (24 - 7) - 3/14/2014, 9:30 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.


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




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MINNESOTA (20 - 12) vs. WISCONSIN (25 - 6) - 3/14/2014, 6:30 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.


Head-to-Head Series History
MINNESOTA is 4-1 against the spread versus WISCONSIN over the last 3 seasons
WISCONSIN is 4-2 straight up against MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
3 of 6 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




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NORTHWESTERN (14 - 18) vs. MICHIGAN ST (23 - 8) - 3/14/2014, 8:55 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.


Head-to-Head Series History
MICHIGAN ST is 2-2 against the spread versus NORTHWESTERN over the last 3 seasons
MICHIGAN ST is 3-1 straight up against NORTHWESTERN 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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RICHMOND (19 - 13) vs. VA COMMONWEALTH (24 - 7) - 3/14/2014, 6:30 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.


Head-to-Head Series History
VA COMMONWEALTH is 3-2 against the spread versus RICHMOND over the last 3 seasons
VA COMMONWEALTH is 4-1 straight up against RICHMOND over the last 3 seasons
3 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




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MASSACHUSETTS (24 - 7) vs. GEORGE WASHINGTON (23 - 7) - 3/14/2014, 9:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.


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




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LSU (19 - 12) vs. KENTUCKY (22 - 9) - 3/14/2014, 7:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.


Head-to-Head Series History
LSU is 4-1 against the spread versus KENTUCKY over the last 3 seasons
KENTUCKY is 4-1 straight up against LSU 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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OLE MISS (19 - 13) vs. GEORGIA (18 - 12) - 3/14/2014, 9:30 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.


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




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SOUTHERN MISS (27 - 5) vs. LOUISIANA TECH (26 - 6) - 3/14/2014, 6:30 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.


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




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AKRON (21 - 11) vs. W MICHIGAN (21 - 9) - 3/14/2014, 6:30 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.


Head-to-Head Series History
W MICHIGAN is 2-1 against the spread versus AKRON over the last 3 seasons
AKRON is 2-1 straight up against W MICHIGAN over the last 3 seasons
2 of 2 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




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E MICHIGAN (21 - 13) vs. TOLEDO (26 - 5) - 3/14/2014, 9:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.


Head-to-Head Series History
TOLEDO is 3-2 against the spread versus E MICHIGAN over the last 3 seasons
TOLEDO is 4-2 straight up against E MICHIGAN 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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XAVIER (21 - 11) vs. CREIGHTON (25 - 6) - 3/14/2014, 9:30 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.


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




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CONNECTICUT (25 - 7) vs. CINCINNATI (27 - 5) - 3/14/2014, 9:30 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.


Head-to-Head Series History
CONNECTICUT is 4-1 against the spread versus CINCINNATI over the last 3 seasons
CINCINNATI is 3-2 straight up against CONNECTICUT 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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BAYLOR (23 - 10) vs. TEXAS (23 - 9) - 3/14/2014, 9:30 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.


Head-to-Head Series History
TEXAS is 5-1 against the spread versus BAYLOR over the last 3 seasons
TEXAS is 3-3 straight up against BAYLOR over the last 3 seasons
5 of 6 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




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ARK-LITTLE ROCK (15 - 16) vs. ARKANSAS ST (18 - 12) - 3/14/2014, 7:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.


Head-to-Head Series History
ARKANSAS ST is 3-3 against the spread versus ARK-LITTLE ROCK over the last 3 seasons
ARK-LITTLE ROCK is 4-2 straight up against ARKANSAS ST 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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TX-ARLINGTON (15 - 16) vs. LA-LAFAYETTE (20 - 11) - 3/14/2014, 9:30 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.


Head-to-Head Series History
LA-LAFAYETTE is 2-0 against the spread versus TX-ARLINGTON over the last 3 seasons
LA-LAFAYETTE is 2-0 straight up against TX-ARLINGTON 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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COLORADO (23 - 10) vs. ARIZONA (29 - 3) - 3/14/2014, 9:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.


Head-to-Head Series History
ARIZONA is 4-4 against the spread versus COLORADO over the last 3 seasons
ARIZONA is 5-3 straight up against COLORADO over the last 3 seasons
4 of 7 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




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STANFORD (21 - 11) vs. UCLA (24 - 8) - 3/14/2014, 11:30 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.


Head-to-Head Series History
UCLA is 5-1 against the spread versus STANFORD over the last 3 seasons
UCLA is 4-2 straight up against STANFORD over the last 3 seasons
4 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons




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SAN DIEGO ST (28 - 3) at UNLV (20 - 12) - 3/14/2014, 9:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.


Head-to-Head Series History
SAN DIEGO ST is 5-1 against the spread versus UNLV over the last 3 seasons
UNLV is 3-3 straight up against SAN DIEGO ST over the last 3 seasons
3 of 6 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAB
Dunkel

Iowa State vs. Kansas
The Cyclones face a Kansas team that is coming off a 77-70 OT win over Oklahoma State yesterday and 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games following a SU victory. Iowa State is the pick (+3 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has the Jayhawks favored by only 1 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Iowa State (+3 1/2). Here are all of today's games.

FRIDAY, MARCH 14

Game 601-602: Alabama State vs. Texas Southern (3:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Alabama State 41.191; Texas Southern 46.453
Dunkel Line: Texas Southern by 5 1/2
Vegas Line: Texas Southern by 8
Dunkel Pick: Alabama State (+8)

Game 603-604: Prairie View A&M vs. Alabama A&M (9:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Prairie View A&M 33.218; Alabama A&M 44.329
Dunkel Line: Alabama A&M by 11
Vegas Line: Alabama A&M by 3 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Alabama A&M (-3 1/2)

Game 605-606: Northwestern State vs. Stephen F. Austin (6:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Northwestern State 56.319; Stephen F. Austin 58.631
Dunkel Line: Stephen F. Austin by 2 1/2
Vegas Line: Stephen F. Austin by 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Northwestern State (+5 1/2)

Game 607-608: Sam Houston State vs. TX-Corpus Christi (8:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Sam Houston State 52.148; TX-Corpus Christi 47.112
Dunkel Line: Sam Houston State by 5
Vegas Line: Sam Houston State by 3
Dunkel Pick: Sam Houston State (-3)

Game 609-610: Norfolk State vs. North Carolina Central (6:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Norfolk State 48.958; North Carolina Central 61.304
Dunkel Line: North Carolina Central by 12 1/2
Vegas Line: North Carolina Central by 7
Dunkel Pick: North Carolina Central (-7)

Game 611-612: Coppin State vs. Morgan State (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Coppin State 45.537; Morgan State 45.382
Dunkel Line: Even
Vegas Line: Morgan State by 4
Dunkel Pick: Coppin State (+4)

Game 613-614: Idaho vs. Utah Valley State (9:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Idaho 46.351; Utah Valley State 51.664
Dunkel Line: Utah Valley State by 5 1/2
Vegas Line: Utah Valley State by 3 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Utah Valley State (-3 1/2)

Game 615-616: CS-Bakersfield vs. New Mexico State (11:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: CS-Bakersfield 48.593; New Mexico State 57.175
Dunkel Line: New Mexico State by 8 1/2
Vegas Line: New Mexico State by 10 1/2
Dunkel Pick: CS-Bakersfield (+10 1/2)

Game 821-822: Florida State vs. Virginia (12:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Florida State 65.308; Virginia 69.410
Dunkel Line: Virginia by 4; 119
Vegas Line: Virginia by 7; 125
Dunkel Pick: Florida State (+7); Under

Game 823-824: Pittsburgh vs. North Carolina (2:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Pittsburgh 68.735; North Carolina 67.675
Dunkel Line: Pittsburgh by 1; 145
Vegas Line: North Carolina by 2; 140
Dunkel Pick: Pittsburgh (+2); Over

Game 825-826: NC State vs. Syracuse (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: NC State 59.114; Syracuse 69.560
Dunkel Line: Syracuse by 10 1/2
Vegas Line: Syracuse by 8
Dunkel Pick: Syracuse (-8)

Game 827-828: Clemson vs. Duke (9:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Clemson 62.141; Duke 74.809
Dunkel Line: Duke by 12 1/2
Vegas Line: Duke by 9
Dunkel Pick: Duke (-9)

Game 829-830: Illinois vs. Michigan (12:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Illinois 65.155; Michigan 74.641
Dunkel Line: Michigan by 9 1/2; 128
Vegas Line: Michigan by 7 1/2; 124
Dunkel Pick: Michigan (-7 1/2); Over

Game 831-832: Ohio State vs. Nebraska (2:25 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Ohio State 73.754; Nebraska 65.216
Dunkel Line: Ohio State by 8 1/2; 120
Vegas Line: Ohio State by 5 1/2; 125
Dunkel Pick: Ohio State (-5 1/2); Under

Game 833-834: Minnesota vs. Wisconsin (6:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Minnesota 67.886; Wisconsin 70.567
Dunkel Line: Wisconsin by 2 1/2
Vegas Line: Wisconsin by 4 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Minnesota (+4 1/2)

Game 835-836: Northwestern vs. Michigan State (8:55 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Northwestern 57.828; Michigan State 73.775
Dunkel Line: Michigan State by 16
Vegas Line: Michigan State by 13 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Michigan State (-13 1/2)

Game 837-838: St. Bonaventure vs. St. Louis (12:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: St. Bonaventure 56.191; St. Louis 64.649
Dunkel Line: St. Louis by 8 1/2; 132
Vegas Line: St. Louis by 5 1/2; 137 1/2
Dunkel Pick: St. Louis (-5 1/2); Under

Game 839-840: Dayton vs. St. Joseph's (2:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Dayton 62.934; St. Joseph's 61.549
Dunkel Line: Dayton by 1 1/2; 133
Vegas Line: St. Joseph's by 1; 137
Dunkel Pick: Dayton (+1); Under

Game 841-842: Richmond vs. VCU (6:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Richmond 58.397; VCU 65.831
Dunkel Line: VCU by 7 1/2
Vegas Line: VCU by 9
Dunkel Pick: Richmond (+9)

Game 843-844: Massachusetts vs. George Washington (9:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Massachusetts 63.489; George Washington 62.280
Dunkel Line: Massachusetts by 1
Vegas Line: George Washington by 1
Dunkel Pick: Massachusetts (+1)

Game 845-846: Missouri vs. Florida (1:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Missouri 63.129; Florida 72.496
Dunkel Line: Florida by 9 1/2; 139
Vegas Line: Florida by 12; 132
Dunkel Pick: Missouri (+12); Over

Game 847-848: South Carolina vs. Tennessee (3:25 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: South Carolina 57.678; Tennessee 73.527
Dunkel Line: Tennessee by 16; 138
Vegas Line: Tennessee by 11 1/2; 134
Dunkel Pick: Tennessee (-11 1/2); Over

Game 849-850: LSU vs. Kentucky (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: LSU 62.016; Kentucky 68.965
Dunkel Line: Kentucky by 7
Vegas Line: Kentucky by 4 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Kentucky (-4 1/2)

Game 851-852: Mississippi vs. Georgia (9:25 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Mississippi 62.581; Georgia 62.672
Dunkel Line: Even
Vegas Line: Georgia by 3
Dunkel Pick: Mississippi (+3)

Game 853-854: Middle Tennessee State vs. Tulsa (4:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Middle Tennessee State 63.616; Tulsa 61.629
Dunkel Line: Middle Tennessee State by 2
Vegas Line: Tulsa by 1
Dunkel Pick: Middle Tennessee State (+1)

Game 855-856: Southern Mississippi vs. Louisiana Tech (6:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Southern Mississippi 63.452; Louisiana Tech 62.157
Dunkel Line: Southern Mississippi by 1 1/2
Vegas Line: Louisiana Tech by 2
Dunkel Pick: Southern Mississippi (+2)

Game 857-858: Akron vs. Western Michigan (6:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Akron 58.088; Western Michigan 53.506
Dunkel Line: Akron by 4 1/2
Vegas Line: Akron by 2
Dunkel Pick: Akron (-2)

Game 859-860: Eastern Michigan vs. Toledo (9:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Eastern Michigan 54.312; Toledo 59.404
Dunkel Line: Toledo by 5
Vegas Line: Toledo by 3
Dunkel Pick: Toledo (-3)

Game 861-862: Seton Hall vs. Providence (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Seton Hall 61.012; Providence 65.738
Dunkel Line: Providence by 4 1/2; 124
Vegas Line: Providence by 2; 136
Dunkel Pick: Providence (-2)

Game 863-864: Xavier vs. Creighton (9:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Xavier 65.832; Creighton 74.442
Dunkel Line: Creighton by 8 1/2
Vegas Line: Creighton by 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Creighton (-5 1/2)

Game 865-866: Houston vs. Louisville (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Houston 56.446; Louisville 82.382
Dunkel Line: Louisville by 26; 164
Vegas Line: Louisville by 18; 148
Dunkel Pick: Louisville (-18);

Game 867-868: Connecticut vs. Cincinnati (9:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Connecticut 70.483; Cincinnati 681592
Dunkel Line: Connecticut by 2 1/2
Vegas Line: Pick
Dunkel Pick: Connecticut

Game 869-870: Iowa State vs. Kansas (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Iowa State 69.825; Kansas 71.228
Dunkel Line: Kansas by 1 1/2; 171
Vegas Line: Kansas by 3 1/2; 157
Dunkel Pick: Iowa State (+3 1/2);

Game 871-872: Baylor vs. Texas (9:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Baylor 68.428; Texas 69.918
Dunkel Line: Texas by 1 1/2
Vegas Line: Baylor by 1
Dunkel Pick: Texas (+1)

Game 873-874: AR-Little Rock vs. Arkansas State (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: AR-Little Rock 47.615; Arkansas State 55.226
Dunkel Line: Arkansas State by 7 1/2
Vegas Line: Arkansas State by 4 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Arkansas State (-4 1/2)

Game 875-876: TX-Arlington vs. UL-Lafayette (9:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: TX-Arlington 50.778; UL-Lafayette 54.579
Dunkel Line: UL-Lafayette by 4
Vegas Line: UL-Lafayette by 6 1/2
Dunkel Pick: TX-Arlington (+6 1/2)

Game 877-878: Colorado vs. Arizona (9:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Colorado 64.255; Arizona 73.720
Dunkel Line: Arizona by 9 1/2
Vegas Line: Arizona by 11
Dunkel Pick: Colorado (+11)

Game 879-880: Stanford vs. UCLA (11:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Stanford 65.571; UCLA 71.409
Dunkel Line: UCLA by 6
Vegas Line: UCLA by 3 1/2
Dunkel Pick: UCLA (-3 1/2)

Game 881-882: UNLV vs. San Diego State (9:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: UNLV 61.554; San Diego State 70.812
Dunkel Line: San Diego State by 9 1/2
Vegas Line: San Diego State by 3
Dunkel Pick: San Diego State (-3)

Game 883-884: Boise State vs. New Mexico (11:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Boise State 63.163; New Mexico 65.035
Dunkel Line: New Mexico by 2
Vegas Line: New Mexico by 4 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Boise State (+4 1/2)

Game 885-886: Cal Poly vs. UC-Irvine (9:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Cal Poly 51.801; UC-Irvine 56.407
Dunkel Line: UC-Irvine by 4 1/2
Vegas Line: UC-Irvine by 7
Dunkel Pick: Cal Poly (+7)

Game 887-888: CS-Northridge vs. Long Beach State (12:00 a.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: CS-Northridge 49.628; Long Beach State 57.553
Dunkel Line: Long Beach State by 8
Vegas Line: Long Beach State by 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Long Beach State (-5 1/2)

Game 889-890: Portland State vs. North Dakota (6:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Portland State 48.312; North Dakota 52.162
Dunkel Line: North Dakota by 4
Vegas Line: North Dakota by 2
Dunkel Pick: North Dakota (-2)

Game 891-892: Northern Colorado vs. Weber State (9:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Northern Colorado 44.875; Weber State 53.921
Dunkel Line: Weber State by 9
Vegas Line: Weber State by 6 1/2

[StarDust Bum]

Inside the Stats

March 13, 2014


As we enter this weekend’s college conference tourney and NBA action, let’s take inside the stats at what’s happening on the hardwood this season.

Note that all results are ATS (Against The Spread) in games played through Wednesday, March 12 unless noted otherwise.

One Final Moment

It’s all on the line in conference tournament title games.

Not only is it the opportunity to cut down the nets and wear the crown as conference champions, it’s the penultimate to an appearance in the season-ending Big Dance.

From our database, here are some surprising factoids involving teams in conference tourney championship games (all results since 1991 unless noted otherwise):

The Good: Creighton is 9-0 SU and 8-1 ATS

The Bad: Florida is 3-4 SU and 2-5 ATS

The Ugly: North Carolina 5-9 SU and 3-10-1 ATS

Noteworthy: Kansas 10-2 SU and 9-3 ATS, Kentucky 13-3 SU and 10-5-1 ATS, Memphis 7-0 SU and 6-1 ATS (L7Y), Michigan State 3-0 SU and ATS, Oregon 3-0 SU and ATS, and Western Kentucky 5-1 SU and 4-2 ATS.

Not so noteworthy: Pittsburgh 2-5 SU and ATS, Texas 2-9 SU and 4-7 ATS (0-6 SU and 1-5 ATS L6), UTEP 1-5 SU and ATS and Tulsa 2-7 SU and 3-6 ATS.

One closing note: Teams in title games riding a 3-game ATS losing skid in their last three games are 10-1 SU and 9-2 ATS.

Trampolines

NBA teams off a SU underdog win can be prone to coming back to earth (bounce) or springing another upset in their next contest, largely depending on who they are.

This season, the best team in the league off a SU underdog win has been the Portland Trailblazers, who are 8-1 ATS in follow-up affairs. The Memphis Grizzles are right behind them at 8-3 ATS.

The worst team in the loop in the league in this role has been the Milwaukee Bucks, 2-9 ATS.

The best role for all teams in these contests has been fading home dogs off SU underdog wins as they stand 30-44 ATS including 6-21 ATS when off back-to-back wins.

On the other side of the coin, teams in the NBA off a SU favorite loss react differently. The L.A. Clippers have bounced back off the mat the best, going 9-1 ATS, while the Atlanta Hawks and the Orlando Magic have trouble getting back up at 2-5 ATS.

The best role for all teams in these games this season has been on the road against foes off a win as they are 50-29-1 ATS, including 22-4-1 in non-conference clashes.

Down And Dirty

Listed below are the Top 5 Division-1 college hoops teams on the defensive front, in Defensive Field Goal percentage and Rebound Margin.

Look to 'play on' these teams in either revenge or underdog roles:

Defensive Field Goal Percentage

1. Eastern Michigan 37.1
2. Cal Irvine 37.6
3. SMU 37.7
4. Arizona 38.2
5. Virginia 38.4

Rebounding Margin

1. Kentucky +10.2
2. Tennessee +9.3
3. Arizona +9.0
4. Wichita State +8.7
5. Texas +8.4

Here is a list of the Top 5 NBA defensive teams:

Scoring Defense

1. Pacers 91.6
2. Bulls 92.3
3. Grizzlies 95.2
4. Raptors 97.1
5. Bobcats 97.3

Rebounding Margin

1. Thunder +4.9
2. Bulls +4.3
3. Pacers +4.3
4. Rockets +3.8
4. Trailblazers +3.6

Stat Of The Week

Louisville is 11-0 SU in conference tourney play as a #1 seed since 1993.

[StarDust Bum]

Big Ten Quarterfinals

March 14, 2014


The Big Ten Tournament advances to the quarterfinals this Friday and in the early games, No. 9 seed Illinois will face top-seeded Michigan in a 12 noon tip followed by No. 5 Ohio State against No. 4 Nebraska in an expected 2 p.m. start. The Fighting Illini pulled off the first minor upset of the tournament to advance to this round while the Buckeyes sweated-out a tight two-point win as 8.5-point favorites to keep their title hopes alive.

No. 9 Illinois vs. No. 1 Michigan (ESPN, 12:00 p.m. ET)

Illinois opened this tournament as a slight 2 ½-point underdog against No. 8 seed Indiana after the two teams split the regular season series 1-1 with the home team winning each game. It made an immediate statement by jumping out to a 9-0 lead, but the game tightened up as the first half wore on. In the end the fighting Illini wore the Hoosiers down to come away with the 64-54 win. This was their sixth straight-up win in eight Big Ten Tournament games against Indiana.

Getting past the top seed in this matchup is going to be a whole other story, but Illinois does have a hot hand in Tracy Adams. He scored a game-high 25 points in yesterday’s win while going 8-for-16 from the field and 2-for-5 from 3-point range. Rayvonte Rice is the team’s leading scorer with 15.7 points per game and he ended the day with 13 points. Illinois’s defense also did its part by holding Indiana to just 35.3 percent shooting from the field.

The Illini are now 6-0-1 against the spread in their last seven neutral-site games and they are 5-1 ATS in their last six games against a team with a SU winning record. The total stayed UNDER the 140-point closing total line against Indiana and it has stayed UNDER in seven of their last eight games.

Michigan claimed to top spot in this tournament by virtue of winning the Big Ten regular season title with a SU record of 15-3. The victory that clinched the title was an 84-53 romp over Illinois on March 4 as a 2 ½-point favorite on the road. The Wolverines have been opened as seven-point favorites this time around with the total set at 125. They ended conference play with an 11-7 record ATS and the total went OVER in 11 of the 17 games.

Nik Stauskas has been getting it done all season long for Michigan with a team-high 17.4 points and 3.4 assists a game. He put up 24 points in the win over Illinois while lighting it up from outside the perimeter with a 7-for-9 performance from 3-point range. The Wolverines shot 56.9 percent from the field in that game and outrebounded their conference foe 33-23. The defense did its part by holding Illinois’s top two scorers, Rice and Adams to a combined 18 points.

Michigan is just 1-3-1 ATS in its last five games played at a neutral site and it is 2-6 ATS in its last eight games following a SU win. The total has stayed UNDER in seven of its last 10 games against a team with a SU winning record.

Head-to-head in this matchup, the Wolverines have won the last seven meetings both SU and ATS and the total has gone OVER in three of the last five games.

No. 5 Ohio State vs. No. 4 Nebraska (ESPN, 2:00 p.m. ET)

It did not matter that the Buckeyes were playing the 12th seed in a 12-team tournament as solid favorites as they still found a way to make things interesting in Thursday’s 63-61 victory over Purdue. Ohio State was only able to carve out a three-point lead at the half and it was a 3-point buzzer-beating miss away from going down in defeat.

LaQuinton Ross led the Buckeyes with 19 points, but he shot just 38 percent from the field. Aaron Craft chipped in another 16 points, but he struggled as well by going 6-for-16 with his shot selection against the Boilermakers. This has been part of the problem with this team in quite a few Big Ten games this year. Ohio State is averaging 69.8 PPG while shooting just 44.7 percent from the floor.

After failing to cover the 8 ½-point spread against Purdue, the Buckeyes are 0-4 ATS in their last four conference games and 0-5 ATS in their last five games played at a neutral site. The total has stayed UNDER in nine of their last 12 games following an ATS loss.

Nebraska’s late season 8-1 SU run which included SU victories over Michigan State and Wisconsin in its season finale were enough to earn a first round bye for this tournament. Overall, the Cornhuskers went 11-7 SU in the Big Ten with a profitable 14-4 record ATS. The total stayed UNDER in 13 of those games.

The New Year started with an 84-53 loss to the Buckeyes as a 17-point road underdog, but that was when Ohio State was at the top of its game. The second time they met Nebraska turned the tables as a 7 ½-point underdog at home with a 68-62 victory on Jan. 20. Terran Petteway led the way with a game-high 18 points in that win, which mirrors his current scoring average for the season. Shavon Shields has also been a key contributor with 12.7 PPG and a team-high 5.8 rebounds. These two combined for 52 points in that stunning 77-68 victory over the Badgers this past Sunday.

The Cornhuskers are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games against a team with a SU winning record and 18-7-1 ATS in their last 26 conference games. The total has stayed UNDER in eight of their last 10 games following a SU win.

They have been opened as four-point underdogs against Ohio State with the total set at 125. The Buckeyes have dominated this series ever since Nebraska joined the Big Ten with a SU record of 6-1 and a 5-2 mark ATS. The total stayed UNDER the 131-point closing line the last time they met after going OVER a 130-point line in the first game this year.

Late Games

No. 7 Minnesota vs. No. 2 Wisconsin (Big Ten Network, 6:30 p.m. ET)

Minnesota advanced to this round with a 63-56 victory over Penn State as a 4 ½-point favorite. It earned a SU split with the Badgers in the regular season by starting things off with a stunning 81-68 victory in late January as a three-point home underdog. The Gophers then hung tough as 8 ½-point road underdogs in a 78-70 loss on Feb. 13. Wisconsin has a 5-2 SU edge in the last seven meetings, but Minnesota is 4-0-1 ATS in the last five games of this series. The total went OVER in both contests this season.

No. 11 Northwestern vs. No. 3 Michigan State (Big Ten Network, 9:00 p.m. ET )

Northwestern started this tournament as a +50000 longshot to win, which were the longest odds on the board, but it caught everyone’s attention on Thursday with a stunning 67-62 victory over Iowa as a prohibitive 13 ½-point dog. The Wildcats will now try and snap a three-game SU losing streak against Michigan State including two losses this season by a combined 29 points. The Spartans have won eight of the last 10 meetings SU, but the series is tied 5-5 ATS. The total was split this season after going OVER in the previous two meetings.

[StarDust Bum]

Here are you 9am start games:

Friday, March 14

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Florida St. - 12:00 PM ET Florida St. +7.5 500 *****
Virginia - Under 125 500 *****

Illinois - 12:00 PM ET Michigan -8 500 DOUBLE PLAY
Michigan - Under 125 500

St. Bonaventure - 12:00 PM ET St. Bonaventure +6 500 DOUBLE PLAY
Saint Louis - Under 137 500

Missouri - 1:00 PM ET Florida -11.5 500 TRIPLE PLAY
Florida - Over 133 500

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NEXT SET OF GAMES:


Pittsburgh - 2:00 PM ET North Carolina +0 500 DOUBLE PLAY
North Carolina -

Ohio St. - 2:25 PM ET Nebraska +6 500 TRIPLE PLAY
Nebraska -

Dayton - 2:30 PM ET Dayton +1 500
St. Joseph's -

South Carolina - 3:25 PM ET Tennessee -12.5 500 TRIPLE PLAY
Tennessee -

Alabama St. - 3:30 PM ET Alabama St. +8 500
Texas Southern -

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAB
Short Sheet

Friday, March 14

ATS Betting Trends

TULSA: 12-0 ATS after a win by 10 points or more

LOUISVILLE: 8-0 ATS in conference tournament games

PITTSBURGH: 0-6 ATS after 2 consecutive covers as a favorite

ST BONAVENTURE: 6-0 ATS when playing only their 3rd game in a week

DAYTON: 6-0 ATS in road games when playing with one or less days rest

ST JOSEPHS: 6-0 ATS off a home loss against a conference rival


Over/Under Betting Trends

MISSOURI: 9-0 OVER after a combined score of 165 points or more

PITTSBURGH: 6-0 OVER in March games

S CAROLINA: 6-0 UNDER off an upset win as an underdog

TENNESSEE: 7-0 UNDER after playing 3 consecutive games as favorite

[StarDust Bum]

Games up to 4pm pacific time:



Middle Tennessee St. - 4:00 PM ET Middle Tennessee St. +1.5 500 *****
Tulsa -

Northwestern St. - 6:00 PM ET Stephen F. Austin -7.5 500 TRIPLE PLAY
Stephen F. Austin -

Norfolk State - 6:00 PM ET North Carolina Central -8 500 TRIPLE PLAY
North Carolina Central -

Akron - 6:30 PM ET Akron -2 500
Western Michigan -

Richmond - 6:30 PM ET VCU -8.5 500
VCU -

Minnesota - 6:30 PM ET Wisconsin -5 500 *****
Wisconsin -

Portland St. - 6:30 PM ET Portland St. +3.5 500 DOUBLE PLAY
North Dakota -

Southern Miss - 6:30 PM ET Louisiana Tech -2.5 500 DOUBLE PLAY
Louisiana Tech -

Seton Hall - 7:00 PM ET Seton Hall +2.5 500 DOUBLE PLAY
Providence -