Dave Malinsky
4* Michigan State
Maddux Sports
Baseball
2 units on Cleveland -123
2 units on Seattle +140
2 units on LA Angels -148
Basketball
3 units on Michigan State +7.5
KARL GARRETT
30 DIMER - MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS
10 DIMER - LOS ANGELES (KURODA OVER PEAVY)
30 DIMER - MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS
By now you just get the feeling that this Michigan State team is destined to win the whole bowl of cherries, and while my jury is still hung on the outright win by the Spartans, I think you have to admit that you simply can't go against this team in tonight's game.
Michigan State has already knocked off #1 seeds Louisville, and Connecticut, and they have done it with a tenacious defense, That defense is exactly what is going to keep them in tonight's game all the way until the end. I say "no way" the Tar Heels hit those long, long 3-pointers they were draining on Saturday against Villanova, and I say "no way" the Heels win this game by the required impost.
You heard how loud the crowd was for Michigan State on Saturday, expect them to be more vocal tonight.
The last time these teams played was at this venue in December, and Michigan State was romped royally. That won't happen tonight, take the points.
10 DIMER - LOS ANGELES DODGERS (Kuroda over Peavy)
Jake Peavy has been the subject of plenty of trade talks already, and with San Diego not having the horses to stay in the NL West race for very long, expect to see Peavy elsewhere come the summer time.
True Peavy has dominated LA recently, winning his last 5 starts against them, but you know what they say, "this is a new season, blah, blah, blah.."
Los Angeles has the better team for sure, and all they need to do is string together a big inning, and they should be in good shape. Chances are Peavy won't be pitching the whole 9 innings tonight, so look for the Dodgers to make their noise late tonight, and get the underdog win.
Insider Sports Report
4* Michigan St./N. Carolina UNDER 153
Range: 155 to 151.5
3* Chicago Cubs (Zambrano) -110 over Houston (Oswalt)
Range: +110 to -130
3* Cleveland (Lee) -125 over Texas (Millwood)
Range: +105 to -140
Bob Balfe
Cubs/Astros Over 8
Elite Sports Picks
Oakland (Braden) +135 over L.A. Angels (Saunders)
Discount Sports Picks
10* Michigan St. +7.5 over N. Carolina
5* L.A. Dodgers (Kuroda) +115 over San Diego (Peavy)
Brandon Lang
50 Dime Michigan State - Don't be surprised to see the Spartans shock the world tonight.
First and foremost, throw out the first game. It means nothing. Nada. Zip.
Not only was the big man Suton out for the Spartans but they are a completely different team now than they were back then.
You don't go through Louisville and Uconn in the manner in which Michigan State has unless you are playing some incredible basketball, which the Spartans are.
In my opinion there are two big keys for Michigan State tonight.
One, they need the refs to swallow their whistle, meaning let the game be physical and two, the Spartans have got to shoot the 3-ball well.
Villanova, a solid shooting ball club proceeded to have one of their worst offensive showings of the entire year as evidenced by their 5 for 27-performance from behind the arc and it wasn't like these were contested 3's.
The bottom line is I really like the way this team is playing right now and to essentially be getting a 7-point home dog in a Championship game is value I can't pass up.
The Tar Heels are as good as it gets but if one team is going to beat them, it's going to be a team that is not afraid to punch them in the mouth and that team is Michigan State.
As I said, the first meeting means nothing to me. Teams get destroyed all the time in the first meeting only to make adjustments and come back to win the rematch. Take a look at the 3 examples from this year below.
Northwestern lost by 29 points at Wisconsin only to comeback 6 games later and win by 3.
Rice lost by 25 points at home to Central Florida only to comeback 10 games later and win by 3 on the road.
Stanford lost by 30 at home to Arizona State only to comeback 16 games later and win by 10 on the road.
Folks, that first meeting was 30 games and over 4 months ago and as Uconn coach Jim Calhoun said, they are a lot better than you see on tape. Trust me when I tell you North Carolina will be saying the same thing after tonight.
In my opinion, you just don't dominate the two best teams in the Big East in Louisville and Uconn and get blown out by North Carolina. I just can't see that happening tonight.
I did quite a few radio shows prior to the Final Four and I said playing at Ford Field wouldn't be that big a home court advantage for the Spartans. Well, I was dead wrong there. It's a huge advantage. I mean huge.
Lastly, Tom Izzo has never lost an NCAA tournament game as a #2 seed. A perfect 10-0 and sports fans, that is good enough for me tonight.
Grab the dice Tom and hit the pass line hard at that Indian casino right next to Ford Field because if your team plays the way they did the last 2 games, your coming out roll is an 11 tonight as your gritty Spartans will shock the world.
EZ Winners
** 1 STAR SELECTION **
Michigan State Spartans vs. North Carolina Tar Heels
Risk/Win: $110 to win $100
Michigan State Spartans +7.5
** 1 STAR SELECTION **
Cleveland Indians @ Texas Rangers
Risk/Win: $100 to win $105
Texas Rangers +$105
(Listing Millwood Only)
** 1 STAR SELECTION **
Chicago Cubs @ Houston Astros
Risk/Win: $105 to win $100
Houston Astros -$105
(Listing Oswalt only)
The Prez
3 * UNC -7.5
Roy's Boyz play their best basketball against teams that don't turn their opposition over. And while Michigan State is physical and plays solid man-to-man defense, the Spartans' earlier game this season against North Carolina could very well repeat itself, even in a National Championship setting. The Tarheels are 17-7 ATS when they commit 10 to 13 turnovers in a game, 9-2 ATS in road games teams that outscore their opponents by eight points or more in the second half of the season, 6-0 ATS after five straight games of committing 14 or less turnovers, and 9-1 ATS in a NCAA tournament contests, all of these trends over the last two seasons - same players, same coaches and common opponent.
MONEYLOCKOFTHEDAY
3 Units Michigan State/UNC Under 153
Big Al
At 4pm our selection is on the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles 'over' the total.
At 1:10 pm our selection is on the Cincinnati Reds over the New York Mets.
At 9:15 pm, our selection is on the North Carolina Tar Heels minus the points over Michigan State.
At 3:40pm our selection is on the Arizona Diamondbacks over the Colorado Rockies.
I just want to thank the posters of this site. I also wanted to know if you guys have the picks from Anthony Redd. Many thanks.
Las Vegas Sport Picks
3* UNC -7.5
Raging Bull
NCAA:
UNC -7.5
MLB:
Texas Rangers +114
New York Yankees vs. Baltimore Orioles over 8