LT Profits
North Carolina -8.5
We have a lot of respect for the Gonzaga Bulldogs, but their style of play is very similar to their opponents in the Sweet 16, the North Carolina Tar Heels, and frankly, we do not feel there is any team in the country that can out-North Carolina North Carolina.
Besides, Gonzaga has yet to cover a spread in this tournament, finally shaking off Akron in the first round and then barely nipping Western Kentucky on Saturday. They are now stepping way up in class here, and the last time that the Zags played a team even remotely close to the Tar Heels talent wise, they got blown out at home by 18 points by Memphis. Sure, they have won 11 straight games since then, but none of those wins were vs. upper echelon teams.
The Heels were upset in the ACC Tournament, but that has not affected their play in the Big Dance, as they followed up their 43-point destruction of Radford with what many observers considered to be a surprisingly easy 14-point win over LSU, as the injured Ty Lawson provided the spark they needed. One has to assume that Lawson will only get better here with almost a full week off, and we feel that would make UNC just about unbeatable vs. a team that tries to run with them.
Well, Gonzaga loves playing at a fast pace, and unfortunately, we think that any team that tries to run the floor with the Heels is doomed to fail. As much as we love the Zags as a whole, we foresee a double-digit North Carolina win Friday.
Pick: North Carolina -8.5
SPORTS ADVISORS
MIDWEST REGIONAL
(at Indianapolis)
(12) Arizona (21-13, 20-13 ATS) vs. (1) Louisville (30-5, 21-14 ATS)
Louisville, the Tournament’s top overall seed, is in the Sweet 16 for the second straight year after edging a pesky Siena squad on Sunday, winning 79-72 but failing to cover as a 12-point favorite. The Cardinals, who got 24 points and 15 rebounds from Terrence Williams to beat the Saints, are riding a 12-game winning streak (8-4 ATS).
Arizona pulled away late to beat Cleveland State 71-57 on Sunday and easily cash as a 2½-point favorite. The Wildcats had four players score in double figures, including Nic Wise who had 21 points and eight assists to go along with his 29 points in Arizona’s 84-71 opening-round win over Utah a week ago. The ‘Cats have gone 3-1 SU and ATS in their last four but some doubted whether or not they belonged in the Big Dance after they closed the Pac-10 season 1-5 (3-3 ATS).
Rick Pitino’s Cardinals reached the regional final last season, falling to North Carolina in their bid for the Final Four. Pitino owns a 37-12 SU Tournament record while coaching Providence, Kentucky and Louisville. Arizona is playing in the NCAA Tournament for the 25th consecutive season, the longest such streak in the nation. However, the Wildcats didn’t get out of the opening round the last two years and haven’t been in the Sweet 16 since 2005.
These teams squared off in December 2006 in Madison Square Garden in New York with Arizona getting a 72-65 victory as 3½-point favorites.
The Wildcats are on ATS runs of 11-4 overall, 19-9 in neutral-site contests, 8-2 in non-conference action, 8-2 in NCAA Tournament games and 4-1 as a Tourney ‘dog. Louisville is 0-4 ATS in its last four non-conference games, but it’s on positive ATS streaks of 16-7 overall and 6-2-1 as a Tourney favorite.
For Arizona, the over is on streaks of 11-4 overall, 6-2 in neutral-site games, 5-1 in non-conference action, 6-0 as a Tourney ‘dog and 5-1-1 against Big East teams. The Cardinals are on “under” streaks of 13-6-1 in non-conference games, 5-2 at neutral sites and 6-1 on Friday.
ATS ADVANTAGE: ARIZONA
(3) Kansas (27-7, 20-7-1 ATS) vs. (2) Michigan State (28-6, 18-12-1 ATS)
Michigan State held off USC 74-69 in the second round of the Big Dance on Sunday, narrowly cashing as a four-point favorite as it won for the eight time in its last nine outings (6-3 ATS). The Spartans, who took down Robert Morris 77-62 in the opening round, got 18 points from Travis Walton in the victory over the Trojans. Going back to the regular-season finale, Michigan State is on a 4-1 ATS roll.
Kansas, the defending national champs, delivered a beating to Dayton in second-round action Sunday, cruising 60-43 as an eight-point favorite. The Jayhawks got 25 points and seven rebounds from Sherron Collins and a triple-double from Cole Aldrich (13 points, 20 rebounds, 10 blocks) to take care of the Flyers. They improved to 8-3 SU in their last 11 (8-2-1 ATS) and 7-1 ATS in their last eight Big Dance contests.
Michigan State got steamrolled in the Sweet 16 as season ago at the hands of Memphis, losing 92-74 as 5½-point ‘dogs. Under coach Tom Izzo, Michigan State is 29-10 SU in the Tournament, reaching four Final Fours, seven Sweet 16s and winning one national championship (2000).
These two teams squared off back in January with Michigan State getting a 75-62 home win as a six-point chalk. They’ve met three times in the last 10 years with Michigan State going 2-1 SU (3-0 ATS).
Kansas is 0-7 ATS in its last seven against Big Ten teams, but other than that it is on a plethora of red-hot ATS streaks that include 26-8-1 overall, 15-6 in non-conference action, 8-3 in neutral-site games, 11-3 as a ‘dog, 4-0 in Tourney games and 10-3-1 after a spread-cover. Michigan State is on a host of positive pointspread runs, including 3-1 overall, 10-4-1 in neutral-site games, 15-3-1 as a Tournament favorite, 6-0 against the Big 12 and 18-9-1 in the Big Dance.
The Jayhawks are on “under” streaks of 13-3 after a straight-up win, 9-1 in the Tournament, 8-2 in neutral-site games, 8-3 after a spread-cover and 5-2 as a ‘dog. For the Spartans, the under is on runs of 9-4 overall, 8-3 as a favorite, 7-3 after a straight-up win and 6-2 after a spread-cover. Also, this year’s clash at Michigan State stayed low.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
SOUTH REGIONAL
(at Memphis, Tenn.)
(4) Gonzaga (28-5, 15-15 ATS) vs. (1) North Carolina (30-4, 13-19-0 ATS)
Gonzaga made it 11 straight wins (5-5-1 ATS) with Saturday’s 83-81 last-second win over Western Kentucky but came nowhere near covering as an 11-point favorite. All five of the Zags’ starters scored in double digits, led by Matt Bouldin’s 20 points and eight rebounds. The Bulldogs improved to 8-1 SU (5-4 ATS) in neutral-site games and 20-1 SU in their last 21 overall, with the only setback being 68-50 home loss to Memphis. Since that defeat, Gonzaga has scored more than 70 points in 10 of 11 contests.
North Carolina struggled early against LSU on Saturday but pulled away in the second half to secure an 84-70 second-round victory, failing to cover as a 12½-point favorite. ACC player of the year Ty Lawson, returning from a toe injury that forced him to sit out three games, led the second-half surge by scoring 21 of his 23 points after the break and he dished out six. The Tar Heels covered for just the third time in their last 10 games, all from the favorite’s role, and they’ve cashed in consecutive games for the first time since a 3-0 ATS stretch from late November to early December.
North Carolina, playing in the Big Dance for the 41st time, is pursuing its second straight Final Four berth. Last year, the Heels won their first four NCAA starts SU and ATS, including a 68-47 rout of Washington State as an eight-point favorite in the Sweet 16.
The Zags are in their 12th NCAA Tournament, shaking off one-and-done performances in each of their past two NCAA appearances. The last time Gonzaga made it to the Sweet 16 was in 2006, when it suffered a last-second 73-71 loss to UCLA as a 3½-point underdog.
These schools last met in November 2006 in Madison Square Garden with Gonzaga scoring an 82-74 victory as a 7½-point underdog.
The Bulldogs are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 matchups with ACC teams and 9-4 ATS in their last 14 neutral-site games as a pup, but otherwise they are on pointspread slides of 1-7 in non-conference action, 0-4 in the Big Dance, 5-14-1 on Friday and 4-11 against teams with winning records. North Carolina is on ATS slides 9-17 overall (3-7 last 10), 5-17 after a straight-up win and 1-8 after a spread-cover, but the ‘Heels are on positive ATS runs of 36-15 in non-conference action, 8-3 on neutral courts and 6-1 in Tournament games.
Gonzaga has topped the total in eight of 10 overall, 23 of 31 as a ‘dog, 35 of 51 after a non-cover, six of seven in the Big Dance and five of seven non-conference games. The Tar Heels are on “under” streaks of 3-0 overall, 5-2 in neutral-site games, 4-1 in the Big Dance (2-0 this year) and 4-1 as a favorite.
ATS ADVANTAGE: GONZAGA
(3) Syracuse (28-9, 19-14 ATS) vs. (2) Oklahoma (29-5, 15-13-1 ATS)
Syracuse’s late-season surge continued with Sunday’s 78-67 second-round win over Arizona State, easily cashing as a 2½-point favorite. Eric Devendorf went 5-for-11 from three-point range and finished with 21 points for the Orange, who won for the ninth time in their last 10 games (SU and ATS), with the only loss coming to Louisville in the Big East Tournament title game.
Oklahoma led wire-to-wire against Michigan on Saturday, getting a 73-63 win and cover as a 7½-point chalk. The Sooners got a huge 33-point, 17-rebound performance from superstar Blake Griffin as they won for just the fourth time in their last eight contests (3-5 ATS). Oklahoma held the Wolverines to just 39.3 percent shooting from the floor after limiting Morgan State to 28.6 percent shooting in the opening-round win.
These teams met in the Regional Finals in 2003 with Syracuse getting a 63-47 victory as a three-point pup en route to the winning it all for coach Jim Boeheim.
Oklahoma is in its 26th NCAA Tournament and has reached the Sweet 16 after getting drubbed in the second round last year, losing 78-48 to Louisville catching seven points.
Syracuse is back in the tourney for the first time since 2006, when it followed up a run to the Big East tournament title by getting bounced in the first round by Texas A&M. The Orange, who are 40-24 in 25 previous Tournament appearances under Boeheim, last made it to the Sweet 16 when they won the national championship in 2004.
Syracuse is on ATS runs of 9-1 overall, 7-3 in the Big Dance, 9-3 against Big 12 opposition, 5-1 on a neutral court, 7-1 after a spread-cover and 7-2 on Friday. Oklahoma is 4-1 ATS in its last five Friday contests, but otherwise it is on ATS slides of 1-4 against the Big East, 9-19 in neutral-site games and 2-5 against teams with a winning record.
The Orange are on “over” streaks of 6-1 overall, 19-7 after a straight-up win, 8-1 in neutral-site games, 4-0 as a ‘dog and 7-0 as a neutral-site ‘dog. For the Sooners, the over is on runs of 10-4 as a favorite, 12-5-1 in non-conference games, 4-1-1 in the Big Dance, 5-1-1 against Big East teams and 9-3 after a spread-cover.
ATS ADVANTAGE: SYRACUSE and OVER
DAVE COKIN
MILWAUKEE BUCKS / ORLANDO MAGIC
Take ORLANDO MAGIC
Orlando is a huge favorite tonight as they host the Bucks, but this sure has the look of a lopsided result to me. Milwaukee is pretty much on fumes at this point, while the Magic are pushing hard to snare the #2 seed in the East, which is vital to them in a likely second round playoff duel with the Celtics. I just cannot see the letup taking place here even against a soft opponent, and I'd have to look to the Magic to garner the win and cover.
JIM FEIST
BOSTON CELTICS / ATLANTA HAWKS
Take BOSTON CELTICS
Boston certainly has its defense in top shape, allowing 77, 87, 77 and 84 points the last 4 games. That followed a stretch where the defense was awful without Kevin Garnett, but it's clear they are back playing intense, playoff-type 'D'. The Celtics are also 3-1 SU/ATS the last three games and off a tough, close loss at Orlando. They are battling for the No. 2 seed in the East. This is the middle of a tough stretch for the Hawks, playing San Antonio, Boston and Los Angeles, teams that have won eight of the past 10 NBA titles. The better team playing the better defense will rise. Play the Celtics.
Carlo Campanella
Arizona at Louisville
Arizona is getting plenty of points in this Sweet 16 match-up against Louisville after advancing through the first two rounds by winning margins of 13 and 14 points! Arizona is now 21-13 this season behind a powerful offensive unit that's averaging 72.5 points per game and almost hitting 48% of their shots from the field. Must take almost Double Digits with that type of offensive output and Louisville will probably advance to the Elite 8, but this game turns into an offensive shootout and the extra points will keep this one well within reach for this Arizona squad that's won 3 of their last 4 games while shooting better than 50% in those 3 victories.
Play on: Arizona
VEGAS EXPERTS
Boston Celtics at Atlanta Hawks
Hawks had won and covered eight in a row at home before Wednesday's 10-point loss to the Spurs. They've covered both games with the Celtics this season, losing both games by a combined four points. They covered all three home playoff games vs. Boston last season. The defending World Champs have lost four of six on the road. If Atlanta opens as a home underdog (and its likely they will), look out because they are 4 for 4 in that spot this season.
Play on: Atlanta
Matt Fargo
New Orleans Hornets vs. New York Knicks
Play: New York Knicks +5
New Orleans is an overwhelming public play tonight and for good reason. The Knicks have dropped six straight games including four straight at home. This includes losses against the Kings and Clippers so New York is a big public fade right now. Add to that, the Hornets are in a revenge spot and that is lining up the masses even more on that side. While the Knicks have definitely been struggling, they have played very well against the teams they should be losing to as they have covered six straight games against teams that are locks for the upcoming playoffs. This includes two straight covers against Orlando and a cover against Cleveland right before that. Thus it is no surprise that he Knicks are a solid 11-7 ATS in the 18 games that have been tagged as a home underdog, winning eight of those games outright. They are 17-10 ATS against the Western Conference and an even more impressive 10-5 ATS against the nine top teams that are currently in the playoffs or in the playoff hunt. New Orleans had won three straight games prior to a home loss against Denver last time out. That was the fifth consecutive home game for the Hornets who now hit the road for the first time in two weeks. This is a short trip however as they head right back to New Orleans to take on the Spurs on Sunday so there could definitely be a lookahead for that one. While the Knicks have flourished against the top teams, New Orleans has struggled against the weaker competition, going just 14-19 ATS this season against teams with a losing record. The Hornets have been pretty solid as a road favorite, going 9-8-1 ATS but that includes a 4-2 ATS mark as a chalk of fewer than three points and a 2-1 ATS mark when the line is eight or more. They are just 3-5-1 ATS with everything in-between. New Orleans is still dealing with injuries as Peja Stojakovic and Tyson Chandler are still on the shelf and are listed as questionable once again. The Hornets are just 1-9 ATS this season in road games following two straight home games. The Knicks meanwhile are 13-3 ATS in home games when the total is set between 200 and 209.5. This plays well into their hands as the Hornets are 2-9 ATS this season against teams allowing 103 or more ppg. This is the type of game that New York has no business winning and this is why the Knicks do in fact have a great shot at winning it. 3* New York Knicks
Cajun Sports
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Toronto Raptors
Play: Oklahoma City Thunder +5.5
Air Canada Center will be the site of tonight’s east meets west battle between the host Toronto Raptors and the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder. Toronto has underachieved this season and has one of the league’s worst records when it comes to covering the spread going 20-38-2 ATS. The Thunder have been just the opposite spending most of the season in the top five in the league when it comes to cashing tickets. The Raptors are currently on a two-game win streak both SU and against the number but that is a negative for their backers as they are 3-16 ATS after winning two of their last three games, 3-14 ATS off 2 or more consecutive home wins and 0-8 ATS after successfully covering the spread in 2 or more consecutive games this season. These two teams met in Oklahoma City back in December with the Thunder upsetting the Raptors 91 to 83 as a 6-point home underdog. You might be considering the revenge factor here but once again it’s a negative for this Raptors team with them posting a record of 15-27 ATS revenging a loss and 7-17 ATS revenging a road loss. Oklahoma City is 40-29 ATS overall and 36-22 ATS as an underdog this season. The Thunder are coming off a home loss to the LA Lakers on Tuesday 107 to 89 as a 7.5 point home underdog. OKC is 30-19 ATS after 1 or more consecutive losses this season and 15-7 ATS off a home loss. OKC is 3-2 straight up and a perfect 5-0 against the spread versus Toronto the last three years including 2-0 ATS north of the border. Take the points with the visitor as they take the host right down to the wire and possibly get the straight up win.
Graded Selection: 2* Oklahoma City Thunder 103 Toronto Raptors 104
Craig Trapp
Gonzaga vs. North Carolina
Play: North Carolina -8.5
The favorite to win it all UNC, will take on the mid major Gonzaga. The Zags are not looking as hot after Memphis got beat by Missouri yesterday. Remember early this year Memphis went to Gonzaga and won going away. Lets take a look at the records and the trends for this match up.
Team Records:
Gonzaga: 28-5 SU, 16-14 ATS
North Carolina: 30-4 SU, 14-19 ATS
Recent Trends:
Bulldogs are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 non-conference games.
Bulldogs are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 NCAA Tournament games.
Tar Heels are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 NCAA Tournament games as a favorite.
Tar Heels are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 neutral site games.
Pretty one sided trend plays in recent NCAA tournament history. The Zags are so much like Memphis, over rated. A bunch of wins from a small conference does not impress me, instead quality wins against quality opponents is what really matters. On the other hand UNC seems to be on a mission to get this team to the Final Four and give themselves another chance to win it all. This UNC team will make a statement early in this game and blow out the Zags. Hansborough, Green, Ellington, and Lawson are all most likely gone after this year and they want to go out on top. Don't sweat the big spread it will not be close. SCORE UNC 88 - GONZ 72
Marc Lawrence
Play On: Charlotte
When the Sixers host the Bobcats in Philadelphia this evening they will do so with revenge on their minds from a loss earlier this season in this series. With Charlotte 6-1 ATS in this series when the 76ers are off a win and Philadelphia a staggering 1-15 ATS off a win in games before Detroit, we'll grab the points with the revenging Bobcats here tonight.
James Patrick Sports
Celtics vs. Hawks
In Friday NBA action James Patrick is featuring his complimentary selection on the Atlanta Hawks as they host the World Champion Boston Celtics. Atlanta is smoking hot in Phillips Arena with ATS wins in 10 of 11 games and the home team has cashed 8 of 9 ATS in this series. Boston is 0-4 ATS in Atlanta and just 4-11 ATS of late.
Big Al Mcmordie
Los Angeles Clippers at San Antonio Spurs
Prediction: San Antonio Spurs
At 8:35 pm, our complimentary selection is on the San Antonio Spurs minus the points over Los Angeles. Slowly, but surely, the Spurs are getting healthier. Manu Ginobili returned to the lineup in the Spurs victory vs. the Hawks, and although he shot just 1-for-7 from the field, the most important thing was that he reported his ankle had fully healed. Make no mistake about it, Ginobili is one of the game's best players, and the Spurs are infinitely better with him in the lineup. Besides getting Ginobili back, the other positive taken from the victory in Atlanta was that it was executed without Tim Duncan, whom coach Greg Popovich rested. Duncan will return tonight, so with its best three players on the court, I expect San Antonio to roll over Los Angeles. Lay the points.
Jimmy The Moose
New Jersey Devils at Chicago Blackhawks
Prediction: New Jersey Devils
New Jersey has lost 3 of their last 4 games but tonight they start a winning streak. The Devils are 40-17 in their last 57 games overall. New Jersey is 12-4 in their last 16 games vs. a team with a winning record. The Devils are 18-6 in their last 24 vs. a Western Conference opponent. The Blackhawks have dropped 5 of their last 7 games. In their last 29 vs. a team from the Atlantic Division Chicago is 4-22-3. Chicago has lost 4 of their last 5 vs. a Eastern Conference team. The Devils are 10-1-2 in the last 13 meetings. Play on the New Jersey Devils +.
Jeff Benton
For Friday we’ll lay the number with top-seeded Louisville against Arizona.
This play comes down to one simple fact: While both of these teams can score the ball, only one plays defense, and that’s the Cardinals. Louisville has held eight of its last 10 opponents to 66 points or fewer, and since an ugly 90-57 loss to Notre Dame on Feb. 12, the Cardinals have given up less than 60 points in seven of 12 games.
Meanwhile, prior to beating offensively challenged Cleveland State 71-57 on Sunday, Arizona had allowed 68 points or more in 10 consecutive games, yielding an average of 75.6 ppg during this stretch. And I assure you, in none of those 10 contests was Arizona facing as athletic an opponent as Louisville.
Bottom line: Not only was Arizona extremely fortunate to get a Big Dance invite that it didn’t deserve, but it got very lucky with its draw. It got un-athletic Utah in the first round, then it got to face 13th-seeded Cleveland State rather than fourth-seeded Wake Forest in the second round. Well, the luck runs out tonight, as Louisville (winners of 12 straight games, including eight by double digits) will flex its muscle. And giving Rick Pitino five full days to prepare for No. 12 seed that went 19-13 in the regular season and is guided by an interim coach, well, I’ll take my chances.
3♦ LOUISVILLE
Matt Rivers
For Friday take the points with those whacky Zags!
Sure North Carolina is probably the best team in the country as they are absolutely loaded with talent but with Ty Lawson still not close to 100% I'll take Gonzaga and this number for sure.
The Zags are probably not fielding their strongest team ever as guys like Adam Morrisson and Derek Raivio are long gone but Mark Few is a really solid coach who has a team that can score the ball and defend the ball which is a pretty good combination for a hoops team. The Bulldogs are hitting 49% of their shots and allowing only 37% of their opponents shots to go in. I do understand they have probably not faced a team as versatile and powerful as North Carolina but there's something to be said for a team with a plus 12 difference and it's not like that team has been playing Division three ball and really stepping it up into another class here. The Zags are no longer the sleeper team and have been there and done that. These guys are battle tested as their out of conference schedule this season was anything but easy with a few examples being two games against Tennessee as well as playing UCONN and others.
UNC is awesome as they are as talent laden as any squad around with a beast in Tyler Hansbrough and other studs with Lawson, Danny Green, Ed David and on and on. I'm not doubting Roy Williams' team as they probably will win and advance but it's not everyday that you see the Bulldogs lose a game by double digits and that is pretty much what it'll take for the Hells to grab the cash.
Josh Heytvelt and the fellas are not unreal by any means but they are a solid well balanced squad that should do enough to compete and stay in this thing throughout in a cover!