VEGAS EXPERTS
Phoenix Suns at Philadelphia 76ers
Suns drop in class off back-to-back losses in Boston and Detroit. Sixers have been hot but are 9-23 ATS when the total is greater than or equal to 210 since 1996. Meanwhile Phoenix looks to avenge 119-114 March 1 home loss to Philadelphia and is 33-16 ATS when the line is +3 to -3 over the last 3 seasons and 31-18 ATS revenging a loss vs opponent over the last 2 seasons.
Play on: Phoenix
Tom Freese
Stanford vs. Texas
Stanford is 8-2 OVER when the line is +3 to -3 and they are 12-4 OVER as underdogs. The Cardinal are 8-1 OVER in March road games and they are 13-4 OVER their last 17 Big Dance games. Texas is 27-13 Over off two straight conference games. The Longhorns are 6-2 OVER as Big Dance favorites of 6.5 or less points. PLAY ON 'OVER'
Triple Threat Sports
Stanford/Texas Over
Cardinal is on an 11-2 run to the Over this season and has posted a 13-4 Big Dance Over mark in their last 17 NCAA Tournament games. Texas went comfortably Over the last time they took on a big name team (Kansas in the B12 finale) and we see the same happening here.
Scott Rickenbach
Montreal Canadiens -115 @ Buffalo
With 23 road wins, Montreal has more wins away from home than any other team in the Eastern Conference. As for Buffalo’s home ice advantage here, it’s not much. The Sabres have won just 19 of their 39 home games this season! Buffalo is also coming off of a big road win at Ottawa last night as they rallied to tie up the Senators late in the game. After tying it the Sabres went on to win the game in the shootout and, after that emotional win, it could be a little tough for Buffalo to give an equally strong effort in this back to back situation. Note that the Sabres will be playing their third game in four nights and they’ll be facing a Canadiens club that has been off since Monday. The Habs knocked off the Senators 7-5 on Monday with an effort that was much more impressive than the final score shows. Montreal was up 7-1 in that game before the Senators tallied four late goals to make the final score a little more ‘respectable’.
With a shot at earning the top seed in the Eastern Conference, and facing a Northeast Division foe, there is no fear of sluggishness from the Canadiens even though they have clinched a playoff spot. There is much for Montreal to keep playing for and they are certainly motivated here as a result. The Canadiens are 6-2 in their last eight road games and they will take advantage of a Sabres club that is allowing too many goals in recent weeks. Buffalo’s win last night was just their fourth in their last ten games and a big part of that is because they’ve allowed 3.7 goals per game in their last ten games! Home ice hasn’t helped either as, in their last three home games, the Sabres have been torched for 14 goals! The Habs offense has been on a tear as they’ve scored three goals or more in 9 of their last 11 games. Other than the two games they were “shut down”, the Canadiens averaged over 4 goals per game in the other 9 games and we certainly don’t see Buffalo “shutting them down” in this tough spot. Play Montreal on the money line as a regular selection.
Sammy Jankus, The Reverse Barometer! Play the OTHER SIDE of my game writeup.
Villanova vs. Kansas
Play KANSAS -12.5
Davidson is getting all the 'Cinderella' attention in this year's Big Dance but I think Villanova is just as big a surprise. After getting smashed by Georgetown in round two of the Big East tournament, the Wildcats were a long shot to even receive an NCAA invitation. Once included, however, Da Vill roared back from an 18-point deficit to defeat Clemson, then SMOTHERED Siena in another convincing victory. Don't think they can pull off the upset against mighty Kansas but the Wildcats are shooting and rebounding well enough to throw a huge scare into the heavily-favored Jayhawks. I look for Villanova to keep things close all night and EASILY COVER the big number – so your play (and I feel bad doing this to you) is on KANSAS.
Strike Point Sport's
2-Unit Play. Take Texas -2 over Stanford
Very interesting match-up. Size vs. guard play. I actually would prefer to see Stanford win this game, and I picked them in my bracket to go to the Final Four. But that's hardly the case when I have to make an unbiased pick based on who is going to win. And that's because I don't think Stanford can win in the Longhorns' back yard in Houston. Brook and Robin Lopez will play well, but I don't trust the Cardinal's guards, as we saw the twin towers bail them out against Marquette. Stanford's backcout was outplayed in the second round win, and now they face an even stronger counterpart in A.J. Abrams and D.J. Augustin. Overall, Texas has an athletic advantage when you talk about do-it-all forward Damion James, as well as a distinct superiority from the three point line. We'll see why Augustin is arguably the best point guard in the country, and why Abrams is one of the best shooters around. Texas advances to the Elite Eight.
Insider Sports Report
4* Villanova/Kansas (NCAAB) OVER 143.5
Range 141.5 to 145.5
3* Texas -2 over Stanford (NCAAB)
Range -.5 to -4
3* Memphis/L.A. Lakers (NBA) OVER 218
Range 216 to 220
SportsKingz
CBB:
MEMPHIS -3.5 (15 UNITS)
VILLANOVA +12 (15 UNITS)
Sports Gambling Hotline
There is no place like home, and while Houston isn't exactly Austin, you can expect a sea of burnt orange in the seats tonight as the Longhorns look to punch their ticket to Sunday and a date in the final eight.
We like the Horns in this spot, as we feel that guard play, and not the play of the big men are going to make the ultimate difference in this sweet sixteen meeting.
Stanford's Lopez twins put up some gaudy numbers against Marquette in the last round, but the Golden Eagles certainly held their own with the Cardinal in that one before getting beat in overtime.
Look for Texas and their superior guard play to make the difference. You saw how the Tree struggled with Marquette's quick guard play, well, just wait until Abrams and Augustin start slicing and dicing.
Texas is 6-1 straight up their last 7 games, with their lone loss coming to #1 seed Kansas. The Longhorns were able to beat PAC 10 rep UCLA in Westwood as the 10-point dog earlier this season, and they have covered in 6 of their last 8 games played against the Pacific Ten.
With this game being played close to home, we say "hook 'em Horns"!
Play on Texas.
5* TEXAS
The 'Sportsmen'
5* Texas- 1 unit
5* Mich St.+ 1 unit
Info Plays
3* on Utah Jazz -15.5
Utah improved to 31-4 at EnergySolutions Arena with a 128-106 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats on Tuesday. The Clippers have lost 17 of their last 19 games, so another 20-point blowout is in the makings tonight for the Jazz. Utah is 17-5 ATS revenging a road loss vs opponent of 10 points or more over the last 2 seasons. The Jazz remember their loss to the Clippers on the road the last time these teams met up. Utah is 9-1 ATS in home games after a game with 30 or more assists this season. It’s revenge time with Utah is playing brilliantly as a team right now. Bet Utah at home.
Rob Veno
Blue Chip: Kansas Over 144
Blue Chip: Memphis -4.5
Rocketman Sports
NBA
4* Phoenix -2
NHL
4* New Jersey -125
The Sports Executives
Kansas -12
Wisconsin -5
Memphis u -4.5
Texas -2
WINNING POINTS (NBA)
***BEST BET
*Philadelphia over Phoenix by 7
***BEST BET
*Milwaukee over Orlando by 6
***BEST BET
Washington over *Sacramento by 6