Sunday 3/24/19 thread for free handicapping service plays and expert predictions for Sunday’s NCAAB, NHL & NBA games.
Platinum Plays
Free Pick: the Indiana Pacers +1
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Kenny Towers
INDIANA OVER 211½
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Golden Dragon
Ohio State +5'
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Huddle Up Sports
Free Play: Xavier +6
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Vegas Steam Line
NORTH CAROLINA ST -10½
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John Anthony Sports
Xavier Musketeers + 6
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Totals4U
NC State over 152 1/2
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Mike Wynn
Free Play: NBA San Antonio +2
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Atlantic Sports
Houston Rockets
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#1 Sports
Harvard + 10 1/2
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Hawkeye Sports
Arizona Hotshots - 3 1/2 (AAF)
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Razor Sharp
WICHITA ST +7½
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Nevada Sharpshooter
HOUSTON OVER the total of 132½
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Arthur Ralph
FREE play Sun Virginia -11
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BIG AL
Our complimentary selection for Sunday, March 24 is:
Indiana Pacers +1.5 over Denver Nuggets.
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CAPPERS ACCESS
(CBB)
Tennessee
Virginia
Nebraska
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BOB VALENTINO
Sunday free play is the UCF Knights plus the points against the Duke Blue Devils.
Listen, I am not going to sit here and even attempt to poke holes in this Duke team - they are simply too good - as they are not going to lose this game straight up, but I do think there is value in backing the double-digit underdog in this late day meeting from Columbia.
The only blemishes I can find with this Duke team is their youth, their lack of bench depth, and the fact they do not particularly shoot well from behind the arc. Those 3 facts point towards the possibility of the Knights being able to stay inside of this roomy impost.
A couple of things also in favor of UCF is they are coached by former Coach K assistant Johnny Dawkins, so I have to wonder if Coach K may call off the dogs if the Blue Devils go up big and allow the proverbial "back door" to be open for a Knights cover?
Central Florida also has veteran guard play with Aubrey Dawkins and B.J. Taylor in their backcourt. In the frontcourt? How about the gargantuan Tacko Fall who scored 13 points and grabbed 18 rebounds in Friday's double-digit destruction of VCU.
The oddsmakers have made it tough to be a Duke backer, as they usually carry an inflated impost into battle when they hit the floor. Duke comes into this game just 1-4-1 against the spread their last 6 games, and 3-8-1 overall their last 12 games played versus the spread.
As for UCF, the Knights have covered in 3 of their last 4 tries in the underdog role, and have managed to win straight up in 8 of their last 11 games heading into this second rounder with the # 1 seed.
Duke advances, but UCF plus the points gets the cover.
2* UCF
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DWAYNE CONNORS
Sunday comp play goes on the Volunteers to send the Hawkeyes packing in a big way.
I think Tennessee got their early jitters and major scare out of the way in their gut-check win on Friday night over a very pesky Raiders team from Colgate.
The Vols looked like they were going to take that game going away, as they were up by a dozen points at the break, but things got real tight in that second half when Colgate knocked down some outside shots and it was just a 3-point game in the final 2 minutes before Admiral Schofield showed nerves of steel and knocked down not one, but two three-pointers in a row to extend the margin to 9 and seal the game.
On the other side, Iowa came from 13 points down in the first half of their game with Cincinnati and it looked as if they would be run out of Nationwide Arena but Iowa got hot from behind the arc and won going away over the Bearcats, 79-72.
That was a nice win for Iowa, but my jury is still out on weather Fran McCaffery's team has shaken off the fact that prior to that win, they were just 2-6 straight up over their previous 8 games, and a money-burning 1-9 against the spread in their previous 10 games.
Tennessee can fill it up with the best of them, as they come in with an 81.5 points per game average, as Rick Barnes' team is led by SEC Player of the Year, Grant Williams who averages almost 19 points per game, but only scored 9 in the first round win on Friday. Expect Williams to take over this game an snap out of a slump that has seen him tally just 22 total points in his last 2 games.
Iowa is allowing an alarming 73.4 points per game, and while they have some long range shooters in Garza and Wieskamp, not to mention Tyler Cook, this game sure looks like it is going to be dictated on Tennessee's terms.
The Vols show just why they were the ranked as the # 1 team in the nation tonight with the blowout win to advance to the Sweet Sixteen.
Tennessee BIG.
3* TENNESSEE
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BOBBY CONN
NCAA-B | Mar 24, 2019
UCF vs. Duke
1* Free Play on UCF +13½ -110
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SAL MICHAELS
NCAA-B | Mar 24, 2019
Cal-Irvine vs. Oregon
Free Play on Cal-Irvine +5 -110
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DAVE PRICE
NCAA-B | Mar 24, 2019
UCF vs. Duke
Dave’s Sunday Free Play:
1* on UCF +13.5
The Key: The Duke Blue Devils haven’t had to face someone like Tacko Fall. He had 18 rebounds and 5 blocks in the dominant 73-58 win over VCU in the opener. And he will make life tough on this athletic Duke team that loves to get its points in the paint. But the Blue Devils will have to beat UCF from the 3-point line because of Fall, and they don’t shoot the 3 very well. They only make 30.5% of their attempts from distance. UCF also defends the 3 well, giving up 31% on the season. They hold their opponents to 39.2% shooting from the field as well. Their ability to defend gives them a chance to pull of the upset. UCF is 14-5 ATS in all tournament games over the last 3 seasons. The Knights are 6-0 ATS in road gamut against good defensive teams that give up 42% or less shooting. The Knights are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 against a team with a winning record. UCF is 9-2 ATS in its last 11 games overall. The Blue Devils are 1-8 ATS in their last 9 games off a win. Take UCF.
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MARK WILSON
NCAA-B | Mar 24, 2019
UCF vs. Duke
Free Play on Duke -12½ -110
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CALVIN KING
NCAA-B | Mar 24, 2019
Iowa vs. Tennessee
[1%] Free Play on Tennessee -8
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ROB VINCILETTI
NCAA-B | Mar 24, 2019
Iowa vs. Tennessee
Tennessee-7½
Sunday card has the 2nd round Tournament Play of the year backed with 3 big systems, a TIER 1 Side and a powerful NBA Card. There is also an NHL Double system play and a 19-0 N,I.T Tournament play, Early NCAAB Play below. The NCAAB Comp play is on Tennessee at 12:10 eastern. The Vols have covered 6 of 8 after losing 2 of the last 3 to the spread. Iowa is off an upset win but has failed to cover 7 of 8 in round two games and 6 of 9 vs SEC Teams. Tennessee fits a nice system here today that plays on round 2 teams that scored 70 or more but did not cover vs a 9 or worse seed off a dog win. SEC teams in round 2 that are favorites of 7 or more are on a 6-1 spread run. Iowa unset Cincy last out but this will be a much tougher task. Look for Tennessee to cover.
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CHIP CHIRIMBES
Iowa vs Tennessee 12:10 ET
Hawkeyes (+) over Volunteers
Usually I think of Iowa as a slow plotting team be it football, basketball or Cribbage but, this Hawkeye club averages more than 78 points per game just a long-shot from Tennessee's average over 81. Iowa who won big for us over Cincinnati Friday is now 2-9 ATS after that upset win but surprisingly they are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 games on neutral sites. Tennessee has been a streaky team all season and are 2-5 ATS in their last seven after an ATS loss. I may be reaching but it's the HAWKEYES!
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STEVE JANUS
NCAA-B | Mar 24, 2019
Oklahoma vs. Virginia
1* Free Sharp Play on Oklahoma +11 -110
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JACK JONES
NCAA-B | Mar 24, 2019
Washington vs. North Carolina
Jack’s Free Pick Sunday: Washington +12
The Washington Huskies get no respect because they play in the Pac-12. But they ran away with the Pac-12 regular season title, and they are better than they are getting credit for. We’ve seen what Oregon has been able to accomplish by winning nine in a row, including their 18-point win over Wisconsin. That’s the only loss the Big Ten suffered in the first round.
Washington had an equally impressive 78-61 win over Utah State in which the result was never in doubt. This is a Huskies team with NBA talent as Jaylen Nowell (16.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG), Noah Dickerson (12.4 PPG, 7.5 RPG) and Mattise Thybulle (9.3 PPG, 3.5 SPG, 2.2 BPG) are likely all headed to the next level. Heck, even David Crisp (12.3 PPG) fouled out early against Utah State and the Huskies were able to pull away without him.
North Carolina actually trailed No. 16 Iona 38-33 at halftime. Give the Tar Heels credit for pulling away in the 2nd half for a 15-point victory, but it shows that they are vulnerable. This is one of the rare times that the Tar Heels really won’t have more talent on the floor than their opponents. And I expect Washington, coached by one of the most underrated head coaches in the country in Mike Hopkins, to hang tough for 40 minutes,
It’s a veteran Huskies team that returned all five starters from last year. Washington is 6-0 ATS vs. good teams that outscore their opponents by 8-plus points per game after 15-plus games over the last two seasons. The Huskies are 10-3 ATS in their last 13 games off an ATS win. The Tar Heels are 1-4-1 ATS in their last six NCAA Tournament games. Bet Washington Sunday.
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HUNTER PRICE
NCAA-B | Mar 24, 2019
Nebraska vs. TCU
1* Free Pick on Nebraska +4½ -108
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WILL ROGERS
NBA | Mar 24, 2019
Clippers vs. Knicks
Knicks+10
The set-up: An outright victory is probably out of the cards, but I think the home side can at the very least keep this one competitive until the final moments. LA held on for dear life in a 110-108 road win in Cleveland on Friday, while the Knicks enter off a 111-93 loss at home to the Nuggets. To say this is a “revenge” game would be a bit of an understatement as the Knicks have lost 12 of the last 13 in this series, including a 128-107 road setback in the first matchup back on March 3rd. After winning four straight and nine of ten, it wouldn’t be too hard to imagine the surging Clippers looking past their lowly non-conference opponent this afternoon.
The pick: Take it for what you will as well, but LA is just 5-10 ATS in its last 15 as a road favorite in the 6.5 to 12 points range, while New York is 4-1 ATS in its last five after two straight blowout losses by 15 points or more. I’m grabbing the points.
1* FREE PLAY
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JOHN MARTIN
NBA | Mar 24, 2019
Spurs vs. Celtics
1 Unit FREE PLAY on San Antonio Spurs +2.5
The Boston Celtics will be playing for a second consecutive day after losing a tough 117-124 showdown at Charlotte yesterday. The Celtics won’t have much gas left in the tank for the San Antonio Spurs today. This is a Spurs team that has gone 9-2 SU & 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games overall. The Spurs are 20-8 ATS when the line is +3 to -3 this season. The Celtics are 0-4 ATS in their last four home games. Boston is 1-5 ATS in its last six games overall. The Spurs are 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings. San Antonio is 12-3-1 ATS in its last 16 visits to Boston. Give me the Spurs.
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Sports Book Edge
Kevin 'Bubba' Smith
'Railside' Harry MLB Expert
#5/6 Mon.Canadiens/Car.Hurricanes Over
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Priority Sports Info
Roy Maddux
#864 Duke
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TDS Pucks & Dunks
Sloan Shannon
Home of the Dog Pound
#5 Montreal Canadiens
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Billy Irish Picks
Billy Irish
Original Pot of Gold Top Play
#868 North Carolina
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Winning Colors Pks
TJ Elliot
Football & Basketball specialist
#862 Virgina
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Todays Round Robin
Harry Walker
#865/6 Iowa/Tennesse Over
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Ched Whitney
#868 North Carolina
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DAVE COKIN
Event: (863) Central Florida at (864) Duke
Sport/League: CBB
Date/Time: March 24, 2019 5PM EDT
Play: Duke -12.5 (-110)
This has blowout written all over it. You wouldn't think it with Tacko Fall on the floor for UCF, but they're actually very vulnerable to giving up offensive rebounds. The Blue Devils should win the turnover battle as I don't like the Knights against a pressure man to man defense. My only worry is Duke chucking up too many threes. They're really not a great outside shooting team. But if they work the ball Barrett and Williamson will be unstoppable and will get UCF info foul trouble. UCF has to stay close early to have any chance. If the Blue Devils get an early lead they will win by a ton. I'll give the points with Duke.
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