Karl Garrett
40 DIMER - VILLANOVA WILDCATS
10 DIMER - CONNECTICUT
10 DIMER MIAMI HEAT
40 DIMER - VILLANOVA WILDCATS
I told you on Thursday that I thought the wrong team was favored in the Villanova-Duke game, and you saw the result of that one. I also feel the wrong team is favored in this game, as Pittsburgh should definitely have been sent packing by Xavier in the last round, but somehow wiggled off the upset hook.
That won't be the case tonight, as a case can be made that the Wildcats are playing the hottest basketball of the teams remaining in the Big Dance, and after watching them hammer both UCLA, and Duke, you can see that Jay Wright has a very strong, very deep squad that is peaking at the right time.
Obviously these teams are no strangers to one another, playing in the Big East Conference, and the lone meeting this season produced a 'Nova 67-57 home win as the 3 1/2-point home dog. Overall, the Wildcats have caprtured 4 of the last 7 series meetings.
Tough, tough game, but with Pittsburgh having to go to the well now in ALL 3 of their tourney games, I have to side with the surging Wildcats to take this one.
10 DIMER - CONNECTICUT HUSKIES
Can't argue at all with what Mike Anderson, and Missouri have done through 3 rounds of this Big Dance, but I have to believe the end of the road is coming after this 40 minute session.
UConn did not play all that well in their last game against Purdue, and they still won by 12 as the 7-point favorite!
This Hasheem Thabeet is a difference maker, and I don't see anyone on Mizzou that is going to disturb the big man in the paint in this game.
Sure, the points look tempting considering the way the Tigers looked against Memphis, but I do not feel Missouri has another effort like that left in their tank.
UConn to head to Detroit next weekend with the win, and cover.
10 DIMER - MIAMI HEAT
Miami has played 6 of their last 7 on the road, and not surprisingly they are just 2-5 straight up their last 7 games. The Heat should welcome this home game against the slumping Bucks, as Milwaukee is off another loss last night, their 4th in a row both straight up, and against the spread.
Overall, Milwaukee is just 1-9 against the spread their last 10 games, and they are just 1-3 both straight up, and against the spread the last 4 series meetings.
Miami in need of a "get-back-on-track" blowout, and they get it here.
Lay the points.
Raging Bull
Soccer:
Leeds Utd/MK Dons over 2.5 (English League 1)
Lewes/Forest Green Rovers over 2.5 (English Conference)
The Prez
Villanova +2.0 / 6 units
EZ Winners
Pitt -2
Maddux Sports
Basketball
3 units on Indiana +8
3 units on Phoenix +8.5
3 units on Pittsburgh -2
Savannah Sports
3 Units on Connecticut -5.5
3 Units on Connecticut Over 150
Insider Sports Report
4* Missouri/UConn OVER 149.5
Range: 147.5 to 151.5
3* Villanova/Pittsburgh UNDER 142
Range: 144 to 140
3* Milwaukee/Miami UNDER 197
Range: 199 to 195
Discount Sports Picks
20* Missouri/UConn OVER 149.5
5* Phoenix/Utah OVER 228
ATS Tourney
4* Villanova
3* Missouri
Elite Sports Picks
Pittsburgh -2
BeatYourBookie
100* Play Pittsburgh (-2) over Villanova (NCAA)
Pittsburgh is 7-0 SU when playing with one day of rest
Pittsburgh is 7-0 SU when the total posted is between 140 and 149.5
Pittsburgh is 16-0 SU coming off a non-conference game this season
Pittsburgh is 22-1 SU after allowing 55 points or less
100* Play Connecticut (-5.5) over Missouri (NCAA)
Connecticut is 15-0 SU in non-conference games this season
Connecticut is 5-0 SU after covering the spread in 3 of the last 4 games
Connecticut is 18-1 SU coming off a win by 10 points or more
Connecticut is 19-2 SU when playing their 2nd game in a week
Other Hoops & Hockey Plays
30* Play Chicago (-8) over Indiana (NBA)
30* Play Calgary (-230) over Minnesota (NHL)
Bob Balfe
Knicks +6.5
Pitt -2
Missouri/UConn Over 150
Halfbets
8* Missouri / UCONN Over 150.5
7* Villanova 1H +1
6* Pacers 1H +4.5
Larry Ness
20* NCAA Tourney GOY
The Big East placed five teams in the Sweet 16 and all three in action on Thursday won (I'mwriting this prior to Friday's games being played). It's possible the BigEast could send four teams to the Final 4, one-upping its 1985 performancewhen three teams went. That 1985 season is of course very special toVillanova, as the Wildcats won their only national title that year,beating Georgetown in one of the NCAA tourney's greatest upsets. SeededNo. 3 in the East this year, Villanova owns extremely impressive wins the last two games, crushing UCLA 89-69 in the second round (Bruins were going for a fourth straight Final 4 appearance) and then beating Duke 77-54 inthe Sweet 16, handing the Blue Devils their worst tourney loss since their 1990 title game loss to UNLV (103-73). Pitt was one of six schools which spent time at No. 1 this year but the Panthers have been far from dominant in reaching the school's first-ever Elite 8. For you history buffs, the Panthers did reach a Regional Final back in 1974, losing 100-72 to David Thompson's NC State team (which one the national title that year), 11 years before the tourney expanded to 64 teams. Pitt opened TY's tourney with a 10-point win over East Tenn St (as a three-TD favorite) and then outlasted Okla St 84-76 in the second round. Thursday, the Panthers trailed Xavier 37-29 at the half but held the Musketeers to 26 points (on 24.1 percent shooting) in the second half, winning 60-55. Both teams own similar offensive and defensive numbers with the Wildcats owning more depth on the perimeter but the Panthers owning more talent in the frontcourt. Reynolds (15.2-2.9-3.4) and PG Redding (7.0-4.9-3.1) are joined by swingman Anderson (8.8-6.0) in the starting lineup but it's Villanova's pair of guards off the bench (Fisher at 10.8 PPG and Stokes at 9.6 PPG), who really make this team unique. The 6-8 Cunningham (16.3-7.4) has had an excellent year but he may need more help vs the Panthers than the 6-7 Clark (5.4-3. and the 6-8 Pena (5.4-4.3) are able to give him. Fields (10.7-7.5 APG) and Dixon (8.5) are Pittsburgh's starting guards, with Wanamaker (5.8-3.3) and freshman Gibbs (4.5) coming off the bench. Pitt's 6-6 Young (18.9-6.2) and the 6-7 Blair (15.6-12.4) are special, with the 6-8 Biggs (6.6-4.3) being the team's fifth starter. The team other main contributor is 6-6 swingman Brown (5.3-3.2). Fields "saved the day" late vs the Xavier (three-pointer and a breakaway layup) and after a poor game vs East Tenn St, is back in form. Young's averaged 21.7 PPG in Pitt's three tourney wins, while Blair has shot poorly the last two games (8-of-23), after getting 27 points vs East Tenn St. However, Blair's averaged 15.0 RPG in the three games. Cunningham (19.0-9.3) is playing as well as Young but I think that both Young and Blair will be tough to stop in this matchup. Redding has not been all that good so far, averaging 11.7 PPG in 'Nova's three tourney games, shooting 35.5 percent (including 4-of-15 on threes). These teams met just once this year, in Philadelphia on Jan 28. The Wildcats won that game, outscoring the Panthers 41-26 in the second half to overcome a 31-26 halftime deficit. Villanova played a with a lot of emotion in that game, as it marked the final game played in Philadelphia' famed Spectrum. The Spectrum opened in 1967 and was the home for almost 30 years for the NBA's Sixers and NHL's Flyers. It hosted two Final Fours (1976 and 1981, both won by Indiana) as well as what many consider one of the best NCAA tournament games, the 1992 East Regional final when Christian Laettner hit a turnaround from the top of the key at the buzzer to give Duke a 104-103 victory over Kentucky. Villanova is riding high off its wins over UCLA and Duke but I believe both of those teams were overrated this year. The Wildcats had a great advantage playing the Bruins in the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, while the Blue Devils shot an abysmal 26.7 percent from the floor, including 5-of-27 from three-point range. Pitt's yet to play its "A-game" but I'm predicting we'll see it here. In fact, I expect a 15-point win.NCAA Tourney GOY 20* on Pittsburgh.
Adam Meyer
Pittsburgh vs. Villanova
Pittsburgh has looked beatable in the tournament so far-but so did Louisville until they smoked Arizona by 39 points last night. Pitt not only has a trip to the Final Four at stake it is seeking revenge for a 10-point loss to Villanova earlier this year. The guard play on both sides is stellar but Pitt has an advantage in the front court with the athletic Sam Young and the “Beast”, DeJuan Blair in its lineup. Look for Pitt to play a big game today and move on to the Final next Saturday.
5 Units Pittsburgh -1.5
5' Units Missouri +6.5