Betting News and Notes - Mar.15

Pac-10 Final

UCLA has won three consecutive Pac-10 Conference regular season titles, but now has its sights set on the tournament crown. But the Bruins will have to go through a Stanford team gunning for revenge. It’s only fitting that these two teams meet up a third time this season, especially when the better-seeded school won seven of the eight games so far in the Pac-10 Tournament.

Coach Ben Howland's squad swept Stanford this season straight up and against the spread, but not without some controversy. The Bruins opened the Pac-10 schedule by upending the Cardinal Jan. 3 as a one-point road favorite, 76-67, while the combined 143 points easily toppled the 125-point closing total.

UCLA secured the Pac-10 regular season title with an overtime victory over Stanford March 6 as an eight-point home favorite, 77-67, while the combined 144 points soared ‘over’ the 129 ½-point closing total. However, there was a controversial blocking call late in the game that the Bruins converted into points to force the extra stanza.

There is no overnight line or total on the Pac-10 Championship Game due to the late finish of the semifinals. CBS Sports will provide coverage of Saturday’s contest at Staples Center beginning at 6:00 p.m. ET.

UCLA (30-3 SU, 19-11 ATS) held off cross-town rival Southern Cal Friday as an 8 ½-point ‘chalk,’ 57-54. The combined 111 points failed to eclipse the 128-point closing total. The Bruins have alternated ATS wins and losses their last seven games.

UCLA triumphed despite shooting just 39 percent (20-of-51) from the field. Freshman center Kevin Love paced the offense with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while guard Darren Collison added 13 on 5-of-11 shooting.

The Bruins entered halftime trailing Southern Cal, 34-28, but stormed out to a 15-2 run to start the second half. UCLA has won nine games in a row SU, and became just the third school in NCAA history (Memphis and Kentucky) to post three consecutive 30-win seasons. The Bruins prevailed when USC guard O.J. Mayo missed a three pointer at the buzzer.

The Bruins are now 13-1 SU and 9-4 ATS on the road, winning those affairs by an average score of 70-61.

Stanford (26-6 SU, 16-15 ATS) toppled Washington State in Friday night’s semifinal as a three-point favorite, 75-68. The combined 143 points soared ‘over’ the 116-point closing total. Head coach Trent Johnson’s team dropped its final two regular season games SU and ATS heading into the Pac-10 Tournament.

The Cardinal outrebounded the Cougars, 35-27, while shooting 44 percent (24-of-54) from the field. Forward Brook Lopez led all scorers with 30 points and 12 rebounds, while Lawrence Hill added 14 and four. They were the only two Stanford starters to reach double digits in scoring.

The Cardinal maintain a 10-5 SU and 9-6 ATS road record, winning those affairs by an average score of 68-65.

UCLA forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (ankle) is ‘out’ versus Stanford.

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Big Ten - Semifinals

Selection Sunday is just around the corner to find out who’s in and who’s out of the national championship tournament. Before we get to that point, conference championships must be decided. The Big Ten is down to its semifinals at the Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.

No. 1 Wisconsin vs. No. 4 Michigan State

The Badgers are making their fourth conference semifinal appearance in five years thanks to what they’ve rode all season long, their defense, in a 51-34 victory as 13-point favorites. Wisconsin (26-4 straight up, 15-12 against the spread) held the Wolverines to just 20 percent shooting from the field, while forcing 14 turnovers in the process. Wisky got a big game out of Joe Krabbenhoft, scoring a game-high 12 points to go along with seven rebounds and an assist.

Michigan State (24-7 SU, 12-13-3 ATS) avenged a regular season final loss to the Buckeyes by taking them out as a five-point “chalk,” 67-60. The major difference this time around for the Spartans was the awakening of Drew Neitzel and his shot. The senior guard from Grand Rapids, Michigan was able to score 28 points, including hitting six of his 10 three-point shots. Neitzel scored just six points in the March 9 finale.

Las Vegas Sports Consultants has set Wisconsin as an early 2 ½-point favorite, with a total of 116.

Wisky is 3-1 SU and 2-2 ATS in its last four head-to-head meetings with the Spartans since last season. The ‘under’ is on a 3-1 run during that stretch.

CBS will be providing this national broadcast, starting at 1:40 pm EDT.

No. 10 Illinois vs. No. 6 Minnesota

Whoever said they saw this as a potential semifinal matchup is lying through their teeth, okay?

Illinois (14-18 SU, 12-19-1 ATS) proved that the sportsbooks have a knack for making those lines pretty darn close to what actually happens. The Illini were five-points ‘dogs to Purdue in their 74-67 overtime victory on Friday night. Demetri McCamey was a giant killer on the court, picking up 26 points to go along with seven boards and three helpers. He did his best damage from beyond the arch, nailing all six of his three-point attempts. It was the second time in three games that Illinois covered the spread.

The Golden Gophers decided to relive one of Christian Laettner’s more memorable moments in upending Indiana as five-point underdogs, 59-58. Minnesota (19-12 SU, 13-13 ATS) was able to set the pace by scoring 17 points to go along with six rebounds. Ultimately, it was Blake Hoffarber’s last-second shot that propelled the Gophers into the Round of 4. It was the first time in four games that Minnesota covered the spread.

If history is doomed to repeat itself, then Minnesota is dead in the water. Tubby Smith’s Golden Gophers are 1-19 SU and 4- 16 ATS when going toe-to-toe with Illinois since 1999. In fact, the Gophers last victory over the Illini was in February 1999.

CBS will showcase this second semifinal tilt, starting at 4:05 pm EDT.

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Big XII - Semifinals
By Judd Hall

The Big XII Tournament has just two days left, but the quality of contests has not been lacking in the least. The first six games have been decided by a total of 41 points…that’s an average victory margin of 6.8 points.

Will the tight clashes continue? Let’s find out…

No. 1 Texas vs. No. 4 Oklahoma

You could tell that Texas (26-5 straight up, 15-10 against the spread) wasn’t in the right frame of mind at the onset of its matchup with the Cowboys, going down 33-32 at the half. Once D.J. Augustin got the ball to open the second half, the game was never in doubt scoring 24 points in a 66-59 Longhorns victory as 7 ½-point favorites over Oklahoma State.

The Sooners didn’t have much too much of a problem in tossing Colorado by the wayside as 8 ½-point favorites, 54-49. There wasn’t a lot of scoring obviously, but Oklahoma (21-10 SU, 13-14-1 ATS) did have three players score in the double-digits: Taylor Griffin had 10 points, Longar Longar had 11 and Tony Crocker pushed through with 12.

The early line set by Las Vegas Sports Consultants has the Longhorns as five-point favorites, with the total coming in at 125.

Texas holds the recent in this longstanding rivalry, going 4-0 SU and ATS in the last two years against their neighbors to the North. The ‘under’ went on a 3-1 run in that time.

ESPN2 will be broadcasting this game, starting at 2:00 pm EDT.

No. 2 Kansas vs. No. 6 Texas A&M

Didn’t we just see this game last weekend? Oh well, we’ll get to that recap in a second.

Kansas (28-3 SU, 16-12-1 ATS) didn’t look like this rematch would be happening after being down to the Cornhuskers 27-22, at the half. The Jayhawks overcame 12 turnovers in the first half before turning it on down the stretch. Mario Chalmers scored 12 points with five boards and assists apiece to help KU win as a 15-point favorite, 64-54.It was the first time in four matches that Kansas was unable to cover the spread.

The Aggies knew that all they had to do was contain Kansas State’s Michael Beasley and Bill Walker to have a chance at advancing on Friday night. Texas A&M (23-9 SU, 13-13 ATS) did just that in the quarterfinals by allowing 25 points to Beasley, while Walker was held to 10 points. The end result for A&M was a 63-60 victory as an 1 ½-point underdog.

The odds are good that the Jayhawks will be back in the Big XII Championship Game when looking at the recent history. Kansas has gone 10-1 SU and 8-3 ATS in the head-to-head showdowns with the Aggies, dating back to 1997.

ESPN2 is handling the television coverage of this contest, starting at 4:00 pm EDT.

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SEC moves remaining games to Georgia Tech after storm damages dome
March 15, 2008

ATLANTA (AP) -The Southeastern Conference moved the rest of its men's basketball tournament to Georgia Tech after a possible tornado damaged the Georgia Dome, and one team will have to play a doubleheader Saturday.

The Georgia-Kentucky quarterfinal game, which was postponed Friday after the storm struck, will be played at noon Saturday. The winner of that game will have to return in the evening to face Mississippi State in the semifinals.

The other semifinal between No. 4 Tennessee and Arkansas will be played at 6 p.m. Saturday.

Since Alexander Memorial Coliseum is smaller than the Georgia Dome - 9,100 seats as opposed to 26,000 in the dome's basketball configuration - only players' families and those with working credentials will be allowed to attend the remaining games.

The championship will be held Sunday.

Overrated-Underrated
By ASA

Once March Madness comes around and the NCAA Tournament brackets are released, determining who the haves and the have-nots are can be an arduous task. Obviously teams like North Carolina and UCLA are highly likely to go deep in to the tournament while programs like Morgan State and American are highly likely to go home quickly. Here’s a look at some teams in between, three that are underrated and three that are overrated:

Underrated

South Alabama – The Jaguars suffered an unfortunate loss to Middle Tennessee State in the semifinals of the Sun Belt tourney and that will hurt their seeding in the NCAA Tournament. South Alabama has done more than enough to earn itself an at-large bid to the dance, though, and will not be an easy out. The Jags are 37th in the nation in RPI, bolstered by non-conference wins over Mississippi State and San Diego, close three-point losses at Ole Miss and Vanderbilt and a season sweep of Sun Belt rival Western Kentucky. Because of its conference affiliation, South Alabama will be overlooked in the tourney but it shouldn’t be. The Jags play solid offensively and defensively and will be hungry to prove they belong.

San Diego – West Coast Conference headlines have been dominated by Gonzaga and St. Mary’s this year, leaving

San Diego out in the cold. The Toreros proved what they’re capable of in the conference tourney, beating both the Gaels and the Zags en route to winning the WCC’s automatic bid. Momentum plays a big role come NCAA Tourney time and San Diego has momentum to spare. The Toreros are 13-2 SU and 12-3 ATS in their last 15 games, highlighted by two wins over St. Mary’s and another over Gonzaga. They likely won’t garner a seed any higher than 12 but they could pull off a big first-round upset.

Mississippi State – Many experts felt the SEC had a down year this season. Mississippi State wasn’t one of those teams that fell short of expectations. The Bulldogs won the SEC West with a 12-4 record, finishing behind just Tennessee for best record in the entire league. Mississippi State plays phenomenal defense, which can carry any team deep into the brackets. The Bulldogs, anchored by human fly swatter Jarvis Varnado, are second in the nation in both blocked shots and field-goal percentage defense. Senior forward Charles Rhodes and junior guard Jamont Gordon are two of the most underappreciated players in the country. They’ll have their coming out parties in the tournament.

Overrated

Washington State – The Cougars, like Mississippi State, have one of the country’s best defenses. Unlike the Bulldogs, Washington State doesn’t have the offense to keep up. It shot up the standings behind a weak non-conference schedule but has been frustratingly inconsistent since. The Cougars went just 11-7 (8-10 ATS) in Pac-10 play and bettors never knew which team would show up. Would it be the team that swept USC or the team that went 5-4 (3-6 ATS) in conference home games? Washington State has very few impressive wins on its resume after being swept by UCLA, Stanford and Arizona. The Cougars are prime candidates to be upset in the opening round.

St. Mary’s – The Gaels have experienced a very similar season progression as Washington State. They have made a name for themselves behind wins over bad teams while picking up very few impressive wins. St. Mary’s has shown little ability to beat a good team away from home, falling at Southern Illinois, Texas, San Diego and Gonzaga while also losing at home to Kent State. The Gaels didn’t post a single road win over a team with a winning record this season. They won’t be facing any sub-.500 teams in the tournament, which could lead to an early exit.

Michigan State – Tom Izzo and his Spartans are usually a good bet come March but 2008 just doesn’t seem like Michigan State’s year. Like the previous two overrated nominees, the Spartans have struggled mightily away from home. They went just 3-6 SU and ATS in Big Ten road contests, falling at Iowa and Penn State. Michigan State averaged just 53.8 points per game in those six losses and is susceptible to long stretches of offensive ineptitude. The Spartans have an impressive history of NCAA Tournament success, leading to them being overrated nearly every March. Unless Michigan State is able to turn it around in the Big Ten Tournament, the Spartans could be a prime candidate for an early-round dismissal.

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BIG EAST TOURNAMENT
(at New York)

(9) Georgetown (27-4, 13-15 ATS) vs. Pitt (25-9, 16-13 ATS)

Georgetown (16-3, 8-11 ATS in conference) has posted consecutive dominating victories to reach the conference tournament championship game for the second straight year. After pounding Villanova 82-63 as a 6½-point chalk on Friday, the top-seeded Hoyas crushed West Virginia 72-55 as a three-point favorite on Friday. Georgetown, which has won the past two Big East regular-season titles, is riding a seven-game winning streak and has followed up an 0-5 ATS slide by going 5-2 ATS in their last seven (4-2 ATS as a favorite).

The Hoyas, who won this event last year, remain unbeaten all-time as a No. 1 seed in this event, going 14-0 SU.

One night after upsetting Louisville in overtime, Pittsburgh (13-8, 11-10 ATS in conference) took down Marquette 68-61 as a three-point underdog to set up a rematch of last year’s Big East tournament final. The Panthers, who also defeated Cincinnati 70-64 on Wednesday, have followed up a three-game losing skid by winning six of their last seven. They’ve also followed up a 3-8 ATS slump with consecutive spread-covers, the first time they’ve done that since a 4-0 ATS roll in mid-January.

The Hoyas crushed Pitt 65-42 as a 2½-point favorite in last year’s championship game. The Panthers got some measure of revenge in this year’s lone meeting, winning 69-60 as a one-point home underdog. Still, Georgetown is 4-2 SU and ATS in this series since 2005.

All four of the Hoyas’ losses have come on the highway, where they are now 11-4 SU and 8-7 ATS after their two victories at Madison Square Garden the last two days. The Hoyas are also on a 7-2-1 ATS roll in the Big East tournament.

The Panthers have won four of their last five on the highway, and they’re 4-0 SU and ATS at Madison Square Garden this year. Also, Pitt entered this tournament in an 0-4 ATS slump as an underdog, but has cashed as a pup in the last two nights.

Pitt had an eight-game “over” streak halted when last night’s game against Marquette barely stayed under the number. Meanwhile, even though Georgetown has gone over the total in both tourney games, the under is still on solid streaks for the Hoyas of 52-25 overall (10-5 in the last 15), 43-19 when coming off a victory and 36-16 in conference play. Also, the under is 4-1 in the last five meetings.

The over is 5-1 at the Garden the last two days.

ATS ADVANTAGE: GEORGETOWN and UNDER

ACC TOURNAMENT
(at Charlotte, N.C.)

Virginia Tech (19-12, 17-11 ATS) vs. (1) North Carolina (30-2, 20-9 ATS)

Virginia Tech (10-7, 11-6 ATS in conference) kept its NCAA Tournament hopes alive with Friday’s 63-49 win over Miami, Fla., to advance to the ACC semifinals. The Hokies have now won five of their last six overall (6-0 ATS) with the only blemish being Sunday’s 70-69 setback at Clemson, with the Hokies covering as 9 ½-point underdogs.

North Carolina (15-2, 9-8 ATS in conference) won its ninth in a row on Friday, eliminating Florida State with an 82-70 victory in quarterfinal action, but failed to cash as a 13½-point favorite. The Tar Heels, who won this year’s ACC regular-season crown and are looking to defend last year’s conference tournament championship, are just 4-5 ATS during their nine-game winning streak, even though seven of the wins have come by double digits.

These two squared off on Feb. 16 at Chapel Hill and the Tar Heels dominated the Hokies 92-53 as 13-point favorites. North Carolina is 3-2 SU and ATS against Virginia Tech since the Hokies joined the ACC in 2005.

North Carolina is undefeated in 16 games on the highway, going 10-6 ATS. That includes a 4-0 neutral-site record (3-1 ATS). The Heels are on additional ATS streaks of 41-20 overall, 18-8 after a SU win and 12-5 as a double-digit favorite (but just 4-5 ATS as a double-digit chalk in ACC play). Meanwhile, Va-Tech is 9-3 ATS in its last 12 and 3-0 ATS in its last three ACC road games, including Friday’s win over Miami.

For Carolina, the over is on runs of 4-2 overall, 8-4 on the road and 20-10 in ACC play. The over is also 10-5-1 in the Hokies’ last 16, all against ACC rivals.

ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER

Clemson (22-9, 17-11 ATS) vs. (7) Duke (27-4, 16-12-2 ATS)

Duke (14-3, 9-6-2 ATS in conference), which earned a first-round bye as the ACC’s No. 2 seed, opened postseason play with Friday’s 82-70 victory over Georgia Tech, barely covering as an 11½-point favorite. The Blue Devils have won five of their last six, but they’re still just 3-6-1 ATS in their last 10, including 2-6-1 ATS in ACC action, all as a favorite.

Third-seeded Clemson (11-6, 10-7 ATS in conference), which also got an opening-round bye, was even more impressive on Friday, following up Duke’s win over Georgia Tech by flattening Boston College 82-48 to easily cover as a nine-point chalk. The Tigers halted a two-game pointspread skid and are now 8-3 SU in their last 11 starts (7-4 ATS), all in ACC action.

Dating to the 1997-98 season, Duke has defeated Clemson 21 consecutive times, though the Blue Devils are a middling 10-11 ATS during this winning streak. These two teams met just once this year, with Duke taking a 93-80 home win and cashing as a nine-point chalk on Jan. 19.

Last night’s spread-cover against Georgia Tech aside, the Blue Devils are still just 2-6 ATS in their last eight at neutral venues (2-4 ATS this season) and are on further ATS declines of 1-7 as a neutral-site chalk and 1-7-1 in the ACC.

Despite Friday’s rout, Clemson is only 3-6 ATS in its last nine at neutral venues, and the Tigers have alternated ATS wins and losses in their last eight on the highway, with the SU winner taking the cash in all eight contests.

The under is 5-1 in Duke’s last six games overall and 4-0 in its last four at neutral sites. For Clemson, the under is on streaks of 8-3-1 in ACC contests and 6-2 after a SU win. Meanwhile, the over is 4-1 in the Tigers’ last five at neutral sites, but Friday’s game fell way short of the 140-point total. Finally, the over is on a 4-0 run in this series, with the January contest sailing over the 153-point posted price.

ATS ADVANTAGE: DUKE

BIG 12 TOURNAMENT
(at Kansas City, Mo.)

Oklahoma (21-10, 14-14 ATS) vs. (6) Texas (27-5, 14-12 ATS)

Top-seeded Texas (14-3, 9-8 ATS in conference) improved to 11-1 in its last 12 games with a 66-59 win victory over Oklahoma State in the Big 12 quarterfinals Friday. The Longhorns used a 14-0 run to start the second half Friday and grab the lead from the Cowboys and never looked back as D.J. Augustin paced Texas with 24 points. However, Texas came up a whisker shy of covering the 7½-point spread, dropping to 0-4 ATS in its last four after going 8-0 ATS in its previous eight.

The Sooners, who had a first-round bye in this event, earned their spot in the semifinals with Friday’s 54-49 win over Colorado, coming up short as nine-point favorites to end a 3-0 ATS run. In winning its fourth straight game, Oklahoma (10-7 in conference, 6-11 ATS) shot just 34 percent and finished 15 points below its season scoring average, but held the Buffaloes to 32 percent shooting.

Texas swept the season series against Oklahoma, winning 64-54 in Norman as a 2½-point ‘dog and 62-45 at home as 8½-point favorites. The Longhorns are 5-1 SU and ATS in the last six clashes with the rival Sooners.

The Longhorns are 5-1 SU and ATS in their last five outside of Austin after starting the season 3-4 ATS in road/neutral site contests. Also, in last year’s Big 12 final, Texas fell to Kansas 88-84 in overtime, cashing as a six-point pup, but despite that cover, the Longhorns are just 3-8 ATS in their last 11 conference tourney outings.

Oklahoma has won seven of nine overall (6-3 ATS). However, the Sooners are only 4-5 SU and 3-6 ATS in their last nine Big 12 games away from home. Also, they’ve failed to cash in six consecutive Big 12 tournament contests.

The under is 6-0 in the Sooners’ last six and is 5-1 in Texas’ last six. These teams stayed easily under the total in both regular-season meetings, and the under is 6-2 in the last eight series battles.

ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER

Texas A&M (24-9, 14-13 ATS) vs. (5) Kansas (29-3, 17-13 ATS)

Kansas (14-3, 8-9 ATS in conference) survived a scare against Nebraska in its postseason debut on Friday, using a huge second half to prevail 64-54, falling short as a 14½-point favorite. The Jayhawks, who had defeated Nebraska by margins of 21 and 35 points in the regular season, trailed 27-22 at the break, but won the second half 42-27 to post their fifth straight victory (3-2 ATS).

Texas A&M (10-8, 9-9 ATS in conference) topped Kansas State 63-60 Friday as a 1½-point pup, moving to 3-1 SU and ATS in its last four starts. The Aggies won and covered for the second straight night in the tournament, having opened with a 60-47 victory over Iowa State giving 9½ points. The straight-up winner has now cashed in each of A&M’s last 17 games.

Kansas is plenty familiar with A&M, having just pounded the Aggies 72-55 on Sunday as a five-point road chalk to cap the regular season. The Jayhawks are 10-1 in the last 11 in this series, cashing eight times. A&M’s lone win came last season in Lawrence, Kan., a 69-66 upset catching five points.

The Jayhawks are now 10-2 SU in their last 12 postseason outings but are a middling 5-7 ATS in those contests. They also enter this contest mired in ATS funks of 3-6 overall and 1-7 outside of Lawrence, Kan., all in Big 12 play. The Aggies, conversely, are on an 11-2 ATS run at neutral sites and are 4-0 ATS as a neutral-site underdog. However, they are 2-5 ATS in their last seven overall as a ‘dog.

The under is 5-1 in Kansas’ last six on the highway and 4-0 in its last four neutral-site games (2-0 “under” at neutral sites this year), with Friday’s contest falling short of the 129-point total. For Texas A&M, the under is on streaks of 9-3 overall (5-0 in the last five) and 7-1 at neutral sites.

ATS ADVANTAGE: KANSAS and UNDER

SEC TOURNAMENT
(at Atlanta)

(4)Tennessee (30-3, 16-13 ATS) vs. Arkansas (21-10, 10-15-1 ATS)

The status and location of this game are unknown after a tornado struck downtown Atlanta last night, forcing the postponement of Friday’s fourth and final SEC quarterfinal matchup between Georgia and Kentucky.

Arkansas (10-7, 6-10-1 ATS in conference) bolstered its NCAA Tournament hopes with an 81-75 win over 18th-ranked Vanderbilt on Friday, earning a spot in the SEC semifinals. The Razorbacks, who shot 46 percent from the floor against Vandy, cashed as one-point favorites, only their second ATS win in their last nine games.

Tennessee, which captured the SEC regular-season championship for the first time in 41 years, survived a scare against South Carolina on Friday, edging the ‘Cocks 89-87 but never threatened to cover as a 13-point favorite. Chris Lofton hit a 3-pointer with 11.4 seconds left to push the Vols, who have won four in a row and 13 of 14, into the conference semifinals for the first time this decade.

These two teams met back on Feb. 13 with Tennessee getting an easy 93-71 home win, cashing as a nine-point favorite. The Vols are 4-2 SU and ATS against the Razorbacks dating back to 2003.

Tennessee is 9-5 ATS during its ongoing 13-1 run, and Bruce Pearl’s squad is 6-1 SU (5-2 ATS) in its last seven on the highway. However, including Friday’s non-cover versus South Carolina, the Vols are 1-7 ATS in their last eight SEC tournament outings, including four consecutive non-covers over the last four years.

Despite yesterday’s win over Vanderbilt, Arkansas is still mired in ATS funks of 2-6-1 ATS overall (all in conference), 1-5 outside Fayetteville (1-5 SU) and 1-6 against winning teams. The Hogs are 4-3-1 ATS in their last seven at neutral venues.

For Arkansas, the over is on a 7-2 run in postseason play, including 5-1 in the last six. The Vols topped the total easily on Friday, but the under is still 7-11 in its last 18 overall and 2-5 in its last seven SEC road contests. Finally, the over is 2-0 in the last two head-to-head meetings.

ATS ADVANTAGE: TENNESSEE

ATLANTIC 10 TOURNAMENT
(at Atlantic City, N.J.)

Temple (20-12, 21-11 ATS) vs. St. Joe’s (21-11, 19-11 ATS)

Temple (13-5, 15-3 ATS in conference) eliminated feisty Charlotte 60-45 in semifinal action on Friday for its sixth consecutive win and spread-cover, as it continues to make its case for an NCAA Tournament berth regardless of the outcome of tonight’s contest. The Owls, who defeated La Salle 84-75 as a 7 ½-point chalk in their tournament opener on Thursday, have won 14 of their last 18 games, and they’re 16-4 ATS in their last 20.

St. Joe’s (12-7, 10-9 ATS in conference), which limped into the Atlantic 10 tournament, has won three games in as many days to reach the finals and all but lock up an NCAA Tournament berth. After scoring a pair impressive double digit wins over Fordham on Wednesday (80-62) and Richmond on Thursday (61-47), the Hawks upset 10th-ranked Xavier 61-53 as a 5½-point underdog, moving to 3-0 ATS in the tournament.

These city rivals played two one-point classics in the regular season, with St. Joe’s winning 68-67 at Temple on Jan. 26, and the Owls returning the favor with a 57-56 win on the Hawks’ home floor on March 2. Temple cashed as an underdog in both contests, ending an 0-4 ATS slump in this rivalry. Finally, these teams have faced each other in the past two A-10 tournaments, with St. Joe’s winning 73-59 as a two-point favorite in 2006 and 66-62 as a 2½-point chalk last year.

Prior to this week, the Hawks had lost six of nine games SU (4-5 ATS), and they were 2-5 ATS in their previous seven A-10 road outings. The Hawks are now 9-3 ATS in their last 12 conference tourney outings and 5-1 ATS in their last six neutral-site games.

Temple is 8-2 ATS (7-3 SU) in its last 10 conference contests on the highway, going 5-0 SU and ATS in the last five. The Owls are now 3-3 SU and ATS on neutral courts this season, and they’re 7-1 ATS in their last eight as an underdog.

The under is 13-6 in the Hawks’ last 19 overall, 6-2 in its last eight on neutral courts and 9-3 in its last 12 following a SU win. The under is also 3-0 in the last three series meetings. Conversely, the over is 6-3-1 in Temple’s last 10.

ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER

BIG TEN TOURNAMENT
(at Indianapolis)

(19) Michigan State (25-7, 12-14-2 ATS) vs. (8) Wisconsin (27-4, 16-12 ATS)

Wisconsin (17-2 in conference, 11-8 ATS) ran its winning streak to eight with a 51-34 blowout win over Michigan on Friday in the Big Ten quarterfinals, covering as a 13-point favorite. The Badgers, who tied with Purdue for the conference regular-season crown, are on a 6-0 ATS run, and their last four wins have been by double digits.

The Badgers, who led the NCAA in scoring defense in the regular season, limited the Wolverines to 20 percent shooting from the floor, and the Badgers forced more turnovers (14) than field goals allowed (10) in the lowest-scoring game in Big Ten Tournament history.

Michigan State (13-6, 7-12 ATS in conference) avenged Sunday’s season-ending loss at Ohio State with Friday’s 67-60 win over the Buckeyes in the quarterfinals. Senior Drew Neitzel scored 28 points and six 3-pointers to lead the Spartans, who are still just 4-7 ATS in their last 11 overall despite cashing as a five-point underdog yesterday.

In their only matchup this season, the Badgers beat Michigan State 57-42, easily covering as a six-point home chalk. Wisconsin is 5-3 SU and ATS against the Spartans going back to 2004, including a 70-57 victory as a four-point favorite in the quarterfinals of last year’s league tournament.

Wisconsin is on a 7-0 roll (6-1 ATS) as a visitor (all in conference) and is 12-1 in its last 13 on the highway (9-2 ATS). Meanwhile, despite the cover against Ohio State yesterday, Michigan State is mired in ATS slumps of 2-5 on the highway (2-5 SU) and 7-14 in Big Ten play, but the Spartans are 3-1 in neutral-site contests this year (3-0-1 ATS).

Wisconsin has stayed under the total in 17 of its last 23 contests, including the last five in a row. Conversely, the over is 5-3 in the Spartans’ last eight overall. Finally, the under is 4-1 in the last five series meetings, though the one “over” occurred in last year’s Big Ten tourney.

ATS ADVANTAGE: WISCONSIN

Minnesota (20-12, 14-13 ATS) vs. Illinois (15-18, 13-19-1 ATS)

Illinois (7-13, 9-11 ATS in conference) has won a couple of nail-biters to reach the semifinals of the Big Ten tournament. On Thursday, the Illini converted a laying with less than four seconds to play to get past Penn State 64-63 in a first round game, then they went overtime on Friday to knock off second-seeded Purdue 74-67 as a five-point underdog. Despite the two victories, Illinois is still just 5-7 SU and 4-8 ATS in its last 12, with the straight-up winner going 11-1 ATS during this stretch.

Minnesota (10-10 SU and ATS in conference) completed the other half of this surprising semifinal matchup by shocking No. 3 seed Indiana 59-58 as a six-point dog, with Blake Hoffarber making a miraculous shot at the buzzer. The Golden Gophers, who rallied from a 13-point halftime deficit to knock off Northwestern on Thursday, are seeking their first three-game winning streak of the Big Ten season. Finally, prior to Friday’s contest against Indiana, the Gophers had been in a 1-5 ATS funk.

Illinois has won 18 straight against Minnesota going back to the 1998-99 season, going 15-3 ATS. This year, the Illini dumped Minnesota twice, rolling 84-60 as a five-point road underdog in January, then ending the regular season with last Saturday’s 67-58 home win over the Gophers as a five-point chalk.

Despite the results of the last two nights, Minnesota is still in the midst of ATS downturns of 2-5 overall, 2-7 as an underdog, 1-6 in neutral-site games (1-4 as a neutral-site ‘dog) and 1-4 following a SU win. Also, the Illini are on ATS slides of 6-12 at neutral venues, 8-24 after a SU win and 2-4 as an underdog.

Illinois has topped the total in its first two tournament games after going 4-0 “under” in the previous four. The under is still 42-22-2 in Illinois’ last 66 games when coming off a victory. Also, for Minnesota, the under is on streaks of 6-0 overall, 12-5 in neutral-site games and 10-3 when catching points at a neutral venue. Finally, the under is 3-1 in the last four series meetings.

ATS ADVANTAGE: ILLINOIS

PAC-10 TOURNAMENT
(at Los Angeles)

(11) Stanford (25-6, 16-16 ATS) vs. (3) UCLA (30-3, 19-11-2 ATS)

UCLA (18-2, 13-7 ATS in conference), which is gunning for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, held off archrival USC 57-54 on Friday night, failing to cover as an eight-point favorite. The Bruins, who ripped California 88-66 as a 13-point chalk to open Pac-10 tourney play on Thursday, have won nine straight games, but they’re just 5-4 ATS, alternating spread-covers in their last eight games.

Stanford (15-5, 10-10 ATS in conference) did its part in setting up a title showdown between the conference’s top two seeds, holding off No. 3 seed Washington State 75-68 as a 2½-point favorite. The Cardinal, who defeated Arizona 75-64 as a 2 ½-point chalk on Thursday, have bounced back from consecutive losses to UCLA and USC with back-to-back wins. They’ve also cashed in two straight after going 2-6 ATS in the previous eight.

These teams met just nine days ago at UCLA, with the Bruins escaping with a highly controversial 77-67 overtime win, covering as an 8½-point home favorite. Stanford blew a 12-point second-half lead, and UCLA forced overtime after a controversial foul call against the Cardinal in the waning seconds led to the game-tying free throws.

In addition to the meeting last Thursday, UCLA pounded the Cardinal 76-67 as a one-point favorite at Stanford in January. The Bruins are 5-1 SU and ATS in the last five head-to-head battles, and the favorite is 8-3 ATS in the last 11.

UCLA is 5-0 this year in neutral-site games (2-2-1 ATS) and is 10-7 ATS in its last 17 postseason starts, which included two runs to the Final Four. Finally, the Bruins got out to an 8-2 ATS start in Pac-10 play this season, but have gone just 5-5 ATS since then.

Stanford is 7-4 in Pac-10 road/neutral-site games, with the SU winner covering the number in all 11 contests.

For UCLA, the under is 5-1 in its last six away from Pauley Pavilion. However, Stanford has topped the total in 10 of its last 12 overall, including seven straight on the road, this after a 14-2 “under” streak. Also, the over is 5-0 in the last five series meetings, and the over is 6-2 through the first three days of the Pac-10 tournament.

ATS ADVANTAGE: UCLA and OVER

CONFERENCE USA TOURNAMENT
(Memphis, Tenn.)

Tulsa (20-12, 16-10 ATS) vs. (2) Memphis (32-1, 14-17-2 ATS)

Memphis (17-0, 8-9 ATS in conference) breezed into the conference final by beating Southern Mississippi 69-53 Friday, but failed to cover as a hefty 19½-point chalk. Since falling to Tennessee on Feb. 23 in their only loss of the season, the Tigers have ripped off six straight wins – five by double digits – yet they’re just 1-5 ATS.

Tulsa (11-8 SU and ATS in conference) had a much tougher track to today’s final, holding off Texas-El Paso 64-62 Friday as a 1½-point favorite in its second straight overtime affair, after posting a 78-68 upset of Alabama-Birmingham as a three-point underdog Thursday. The Golden Hurricane are on a 4-0 SU and ATS surge, with three straight wins in this tournament, having opened with Wednesday’s 66-49 rout of East Carolina giving 10½ points.

Memphis is on a 6-0 run in this series (3-3 SU), splitting the cash in this season’s clashes with a 56-41 win as a 13-point road favorite on Jan. 23 and an 82-67 victory laying 18½ points at home on Feb. 27. The road team has covered in all six meetings, which could factor in today, with Memphis hosting the tournament on its home court.

The Tigers are on several negative ATS runs, including 1-5 against winning teams, 1-5 following a SU win, 1-5 at home and 1-5 as a chalk. On the flip side, the Golden Hurricane are on a 10-1 ATS tear (all in league play) and have additional positive ATS trends of 7-1 against winning teams, 7-1 after a SU win, 7-1 after a spread-cover and 5-1 outside of Tulsa.

The under is 5-1 in Tulsa’s last six against teams with a winning mark, and for Memphis, the under is 6-2 in its last eight against teams with a winning record.

ATS ADVANTAGE: TULSA

MOUNTAIN WEST TOURNAMENT
(at Las Vegas)

UNLV vs. (24) BYU (27-6, 16-10-3 ATS)

Top-seeded Brigham Young (16-2, 11-4-3 ATS in conference) used a big second half for the second straight day, reaching the Mountain West tournament final for the second straight year by knocking out San Diego State 63-54 as a 6½-point favorite. The Cougars have won six in a row and 14 of their last 15, and they’re 9-2-2 ATS in their last 13, all in conference.

One day after narrowly avoiding elimination with a last-second 89-88 victory over TCU, UNLV (14-4, 8-9-1 ATS) held off Utah 61-55 on Friday to set up a rematch of last year’s tournament final. The Rebels, who are playing this tournament on their home court at the Thomas & Mack Center in Vegas, barely cashed as a 4½-point chalk against Utah, but they’re still just 4-6-1 ATS in their last 11.

UNLV captured last year’s Mountain West tournament at the Thomas & Mack with a 78-70 win over BYU as a 3½-point favorite. Then in the first meeting this year in Vegas in mid-January, the Rebels handed the Cougars their worst defeat of the season, winning 70-41 as a two-point home favorite. However, BYU avenged that defeat in a big way a month later, rolling 74-48 as a 6½-point favorite.

The Cougars are 5-1 ATS in their last six in the postseason, with the lone non-cover coming in last year’s loss to UNLV in the Mountain West tournament final. Also, since the loss at UNLV on Jan. 15, BYU has won eight of its last nine on the highway (this tournament included), going 7-1-1 ATS.

The Rebels are 19-2 at home this season (10-6-2 ATS), including 10-0 hosting Mountain West foes (5-4-1 ATS). They’re also 7-2 ATS in postseason contests the last three years, 25-7 ATS as a favorite of less than seven points and 15-5-1 as a home chalk.

The under is 6-3 in BYU’s last nine overall and 7-2-1 in UNLV’s last nine overall (4-2 “under” at home). However, the over is 9-2-1 in the Cougars’ last 12 postseason matchups, including 6-1 the past two years, and the over is 13-4 in UNLV’s last 17 postseason outings.

ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE

Gametimepicks.com

BEHIND THE LINES

NCAA tournament odds are elusive for bettors

The odds aren't available for much the NCAA field yet, and for teams such as Big South winner Winthrop at 1,000-1 and Sun Belt champion Western Kentucky at 500-1, the odds are very long.

Individual odds for most of the teams who have already earned bids to the NCAA tournament are not available.

On the website Vegasinsider.com, schools such as Austin Peay, Belmont, Siena, Portland State and Cornell, all of which are, to say the least, extreme longshots to win the national title, are part of the field, which is only 25-1.

Of the teams that have qualified that are listed individually, Butler is the shortest price at 75-1. The Horizon League champions have been bet in half after opening at 150-1. Davidson, which played a difficult nonconference schedule before capturing the Southern Conference, is now 150-1 after opening at 250-1.

Sun Belt king Western Kentucky is 500-1 and Winthrop, which won the Big South, is 1,000-1.

latimes.com

Indiana Pacers vs. Orlando Magic

- The Indiana Pacers and the Orlando Magic will both be gunning for a victory on Saturday when they meet at Amway Arena.

Oddsmakers currently have the Magic listed as 10½-point favorites versus the Pacers, while the game's total has not yet been posted.

Ronald Murray tossed in a team-high 22 points in Indiana's 116-97 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night.

The Mavs managed to cover the big 13.5-point spread in that contest, while the combined score went OVER the game's posted total (212).

Jameer Nelson tossed in 21 points on Friday to guide the Magic to a 103-94 win over the Miami Heat.

The Magic failed to cover the 11.5-point spread on the road in that contest, while the combined score fell UNDER the posted total (204).

Current streak:
Orlando has won 3 straight games.

Team records:
Indiana: 25-40 SU, 29-35-1 ATS
Orlando: 43-24 SU, 42-24-1 ATS

Indiana most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 3-7
Before playing New York are 6-4
After playing Dallas are 4-6
After a loss are 4-6

Orlando most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 6-4
Before playing Cleveland are 3-7
After playing Miami are 6-4
After a win are 7-3

A few trends to consider:
Indiana is 7-2 ATS in its last 9 games when playing on the road against Orlando
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Indiana's last 8 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Indiana's last 10 games when playing Orlando
Indiana is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Orlando
Orlando is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games at home
Orlando is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 games at home
Orlando is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
Orlando is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 games

Next up:
Indiana home to New York, Monday, March 17
Orlando home to Cleveland, Monday, March 17

San Antonio Spurs vs. Philadelphia 76ers

- The San Antonio Spurs and the Philadelphia 76ers will both be trying to pick up a win on Saturday when they battle at Wachovia Center.

Odds aren't yet posted for this game, so check back later for the opening line and total.

Tony Parker had a team-high 26 points in San Antonio's 84-80 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Friday night.

The Pistons just managed to cover the 3.5-point spread on that night, while the combined score fell UNDER the game's posted total (175).

Andre Iguodala led the way with 25 points on Friday night as the 76ers picked up a 110-106 win over the Chicago Bulls.

The Bulls had been favored by 4 points at home in that contest, while the combined score went OVER the night's posted total (199.5).

Current streak:
San Antonio has lost 2 straight games.
Philadelphia has won 2 straight games.

Team records:
San Antonio: 44-21 SU, 29-36 ATS
Philadelphia: 32-34 SU, 36-29-1 ATS

San Antonio most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 3-7
Before playing Boston are 8-2
After playing Detroit are 7-3
After a loss are 5-5

Philadelphia most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 7-3
Before playing Denver are 5-5
After playing Chicago are 4-6
After a win are 6-4

A few trends to consider:
San Antonio is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing Philadelphia
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of San Antonio's last 6 games on the road
San Antonio is 16-5 SU in its last 21 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of San Antonio's last 8 games when playing Philadelphia
Philadelphia is 10-1 ATS in its last 11 games at home
Philadelphia is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Philadelphia's last 8 games at home
Philadelphia is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games

Next up:
San Antonio home to Boston, Monday, March 17
Philadelphia home to Denver, Wednesday, March 19

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Washington Wizards

- The fans at Verizon Center will be treated to a game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Washington Wizards when they take their seats on Saturday.

Odds aren't yet posted for this game, so check back later for the opening line and total.

Tim Thomas and Al Thornton each tossed in 18 points in the Clippers' 117-93 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night.

The Hawks managed to cover the 10-point spread in that contest, while the combined score went OVER the night's posted total (197.5).

Caron Butler netted 19 points as the Wizards knocked off the Cleveland Cavaliers 101-99 on Thursday night.

Washington won as 3.5-point home favorites as the teams played over the 194-point total listed by sportsbooks.

Current streak:
Los Angeles has lost 2 straight games.
Washington has won 2 straight games.

Team records:
Los Angeles: 21-43 SU, 27-37 ATS
Washington: 32-32 SU, 37-26-1 ATS

Los Angeles most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 2-8
Before playing Minnesota are 6-4
After playing Atlanta are 5-5
After a loss are 3-7

Washington most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 5-5
Before playing Atlanta are 3-7
After playing Cleveland are 3-7
After a win are 3-7

A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 4 of the LA Clippers last 5 games when playing Washington
The total has gone OVER in 5 of the LA Clippers last 7 games when playing on the road against Washington
The total has gone OVER in 4 of the LA Clippers last 6 games
LA Clippers are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games when playing Washington
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Washington's last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Washington's last 7 games at home
Washington is 5-1 SU in their last 6 games when playing at home against LA Clippers
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Washington's last 5 games when playing LA Clippers

Next up:
LA Clippers at Minnesota, Monday, March 17
Washington home to Atlanta, Monday, March 17

Utah Jazz vs. New Jersey Nets

- The Utah Jazz and the New Jersey Nets will both be trying to pick up a win on Saturday when they battle at Izod Center.

Oddsmakers currently have the Jazz listed as 4-point favorites versus the Nets, while the game's total has not yet been posted.

Deron Williams scored 32 points on Friday night as the Jazz rolled to a 110-92 road win over the Boston Celtics.

The Celtics had been pegged as 7-point home favorites on that night, while the combined score fell UNDER the game's posted total (204.5).

Six players reached double-digit scoring on Wednesday, as the Nets upended the Cavaliers 104-99. The Nets won the game as 4.5-point underdogs, while the 203 points made it OVER the posted total of 190.5.

Richard Jefferson led the Nets with 24 points, four rebounds and six assists. Bostjan Nachbar chipped in with 21 points in the win.

Current streak:
Utah has won 2 straight games.

Team records:
Utah: 44-23 SU, 36-31 ATS
New Jersey: 27-38 SU, 25-39-1 ATS

Utah most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 2-8
Before playing Toronto are 7-3
After playing Boston are 6-4
After a win are 6-4

New Jersey most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 7-3
Before playing Chicago are 8-2
After playing Cleveland are 4-6
After a win are 3-7

A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Utah's last 5 games when playing on the road against New Jersey
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Utah's last 10 games when playing New Jersey
Utah is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games
Utah is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of New Jersey's last 5 games when playing at home against Utah
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of New Jersey's last 10 games when playing Utah
New Jersey is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Utah
New Jersey is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Utah

Next up:
Utah home to Toronto, Monday, March 17
New Jersey at Chicago, Tuesday, March 18

Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks

- The Boston Celtics and the Milwaukee Bucks will both be gunning for a victory on Saturday when they meet at Bradley Center.

Odds aren't yet posted for this game, so check back later for the opening line and total.

Kevin Garnett had a team-high 15 points in Boston's 110-92 loss to the Utah Jazz on Friday night.

The Celtics had been pegged as 7-point home favorites on that night, while the combined score fell UNDER the game's posted total (204.5).

The Bucks lost 114-110 to the Jazz last time out, as 8-point underdogs. The combined score sailed OVER the posted total of 211.5.

Charlie Villanueva and Michael Redd each had 26 points in a losing effort.

Current streak:
Milwaukee has lost 4 straight games.

Team records:
Boston: 51-13 SU, 38-24-2 ATS
Milwaukee: 23-42 SU, 29-35-1 ATS

Boston most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 4-6
Before playing San Antonio are 5-5
After playing Utah are 6-4
After a loss are 7-3

Milwaukee most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 4-6
Before playing Miami are 6-4
After playing Utah are 7-3
After a loss are 3-7

A few trends to consider:
Boston is 10-1 SU in its last 11 games
Boston is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games
Boston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Boston is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Milwaukee's last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Milwaukee's last 9 games at home
Milwaukee is 12-3 SU in its last 15 games when playing at home against Boston
Milwaukee is 7-2 ATS in its last 9 games at home

Next up:
Boston at San Antonio, Monday, March 17
Milwaukee home to Miami, Tuesday, March 18

Sacramento Kings vs. Phoenix Suns

- The Sacramento Kings and the Phoenix Suns will meet on the court at US Airways Center on Saturday in a battle of division rivals.

Oddsmakers currently have the Suns listed as 9-point favorites versus the Kings, while the game's total has not yet been posted.

Ron Artest dropped 22 points and had six steals to lead the Sacramento Kings to a 96-85 defeat of the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night.

Sacramento covered as 3-point home favorites as the teams played under the 205.5-point total listed by oddsmakers.

Amare Stoudemire went for 36 points, 11 rebounds, and four blocks to lead the Phoenix Suns over the Golden State Warriors 123-115 on Thursday night.

Phoenix covered as 4.5-point home favorites as the teams played under the 238.5-point total listed by sportsbooks.

Current streak:
Sacramento has won 2 straight games.
Phoenix has won 3 straight games.

Team records:
Sacramento: 29-35 SU, 33-30-1 ATS
Phoenix: 43-22 SU, 30-33-2 ATS

Sacramento most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 7-3
Before playing Toronto are 5-5
After playing Portland are 8-2
After a win are 6-4

Phoenix most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 6-4
Before playing Portland are 7-3
After playing Golden State are 7-3
After a win are 3-7

A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Sacramento's last 5 games when playing on the road against Phoenix
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Sacramento's last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Sacramento's last 8 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Sacramento's last 9 games when playing Phoenix
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Phoenix's last 5 games when playing at home against Sacramento
Phoenix is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games when playing Sacramento
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Phoenix's last 6 games at home
Phoenix is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Sacramento

Next up:
Sacramento home to Toronto, Sunday, March 16
Phoenix at Portland, Tuesday, March 18