Rex Rodgers
3* Detroit Red Wings -170
3* Boston Bruins +110
3* Carolina Hurricanes -115
King Creole
1* Akron -1
2-13 ATS: ALL Conference Tourney FINAL ROUND Underdogs playing with same-season DOUBLE Revenge (Ohio U)... and off 3 or more SU and ATS wins in a row (Ohio U). In the last 5 years, these teams have gone a PERFECT 0-5 ATS.
10-1 ATS last 10 years: ALL Conference Tourney FINAL ROUND favorites of 12 or less points.... when a #3 or BETTER Seed (AKRON / WEST VIRGINIA) takes on a #8 or WORSE Seed (Ohio U / Georgetown).
4-0-1 ATS last 3 seasons: ALL Conference Tourney FINAL ROUND teams playing off a SU win of 2 or less points (AKRON / WEST VIRGINIA).
We can take that last query all the way back to the 2001 season, and the numbers are just as good if we get even MORE intricate.
Take the above System..... Put our 'Play ON' team on a NEUTRAL SITE... laying -2 or more points... and taking on a NON-#1 Seed opponent. WEST VIRGINIA is a definite qualifier. And if AKRON goes to -2 or more, then the would be active as well.
The Duke's Sports
California (-2) for 3 Units
Like the golden Bears' senior leadership here. California has four senior starters who are very productive and play well together consequently, they shredded Oregon and UCLA and they'll be tough to beat here. California plays the neutral site favorite role well at 12-4-1 ATS on the other hand, the Huskies are 0-5 ATS as a small dog and a money burning 1-6 ATS as a neutral site dog. California controls a 4-1 ATS run in this series and we like the Bears on a neutral floor (Staples Center) here.
Frank Patron
40000 Unit Must Win Lock
West Virginia -2
Bryan Leonard
4* Conference Tournament Game of the Year!
San Diego State & UNLV
The Aztecs and Rebels meet up for the third time this season with an automatic trip to the Big Dance on the line. UNLV has already done enough to clinch the at large bid but many feel San Diego State needs a win here to be sure. Last year the Aztecs were in the same situation after knocking off a ranked BYU squad before falling to Utah in the tournament championship by two points. They had an RPI in the Top 40 but were passed over for the invite and had to settle for the NIT. You can bet Steve Fisher will remind his team of that slight one year ago.
While these clubs played exactly even in the first two games on the scoreboard it was clear that San Diego State matches up well with the Rebels. In the first meeting the Aztecs outshot UNLV from the field, had more free throw attempts and dominated on the boards 42-30. Because of poor free throw shooting they lost here in the Thomas&Mack. In the second meeting in San Diego the Aztecs again outshot the Rebels from the field, attempted more free throws and once again dominated on the boards 37-22. They hit their free throws and the contest was never in doubt.
UNLV is a relatively small team that struggles when matched up against good rebounding squads. They have also had problems with athletic teams and San Diego State fits both of those criteria. With what happened to the Aztecs last year being left out in the cold by the selection committee you know all they care about is winning this game. While the Rebels have the home court advantage the more motivated team is the underdog.
PLAY SAN DIEGO STATE
Youngstown Connection
Utah St -10
Jim Feist
25* Situational Slam Dunk - Mavericks
Dallas is in first place in the division, ahead of San Antonio, so a division title will be an impressive accomplishment. They take care of business at home and catch a break here against a New York Knick team that not only doesn't play any defense but is in a terrible situational spot. It's the second of a back to back spot for NY, playing at uptempo Memphis, and their third game in four nights (all on the road). Part of it has been the dreaded Texas Triangle, at San Antonio and now at Dallas. They didn't play well at San Antonio, losing by double digits and have had some frightful losses the last week, giving up 124 to the Cavs, 102 at Toronto and (uggh) 113 to the Nets, an ugly 113-93 home loss. Dallas has a sizzling 23-9 home mark and is well rested, two full days off. And guess what: The Big Trade has turned out to be a boon for the Mavs. This team was reborn when it traded for Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson. The best thing about the winning streak, however, is the attitude that has come with it. The Mavericks are swaggering rather than staggering, as they were before the deal. Can't see the Mavericks not being rested or prepared, especially with a 13-game win streak on the line. Play the Mavericks.
Matt Fargo
West Virginia vs. Georgetown
Pick: West Virginia -2
Georgetown is not a very deep team and that is a big cause for concern here. The Hoyas have made a great run to get to this championship and they are the talk of the conference but this is the fourth game in four days and this is a tired bunch. The big four of Austin Freeman, Greg Monroe, Chris Wright and Jason Clark all averaged over 34 minutes per game during the regular season. During the first three games of the Big East Tournament, they have averaged a combined 35.4 minutes and that is with Greg Monroe playing just 25 minutes against South Florida because of foul trouble. Despite big wins over the Bulls Wednesday and Marquette Friday, the Hoyas were unable to rest starters. That fatigue could be a major issue here and it is not being talked about at all. While the Hoyas are playing fantastic, the Mountaineers are playing pretty good themselves. They have won five straight games and seven of their last eight and are making a strong case for a number one seed for the NCAA Tournament. The first two games of this tournament were far from easy but that has been the way it has been this season for West Virginia. It wins often and a lot of those are ugly wins and that is simply the makeup of this team. One game that was not ugly was the first meeting against Georgetown. West Virginia won that game by 13 points in the second to last game of the regular season. Freeman did not play for the Hoyas who actually outshot West Virginia 49 percent to 42.9 percent but despite the win, the Mountaineers want redemption from that poor defensive effort. They held Notre Dame to 34.1 percent shooting last night and the defense of West Virginia has been the backbone and in every game where it held the opposition to 68 or fewer points the Mountaineers won, going 21-0. I do not see it changing here. 9* West Virginia Mountaineers