Sports Bank
500* Tourney Game Of Year
Pittsburgh
SPORTS UNLIMITED
10* PITTSBURGH
3* UConn Under
Tony Wright
10* Pittsburgh Under
Oscarxena Sports
Pittsburgh -2 (4 Unit Play)
No opinion on the total in this one but if you pinned me down to making a play I would take the Over but I do like the Panthers in this one today. I don't buy into the due theory or anything but Pittsburgh has really played three lackluster games in this tournament so far and with a trip to the Final Four on the line and facing a fellow Big East foe I think they will show up for this one today. Duke was favored over Villanova by 2 1/2 and I certainly believe that Pittsburgh is a better team and they are laying less than Duke is. Of course, this is a by product of the teams play so far in the tournament as Villanova has looked extremely impressive while Pittsburgh struggled. These teams met back in Villanova on January 28th and the Wildcats came away with a 67-57 victory but I found some interesting info in analyzing that game. First off, Pittsburgh was leading at halftime 31-26 and in that game Pittsburgh outrebounded Villanova by a 38-32 margin. Pittsburgh shot terrible in that game, shooting only 40.7% and were only 18.7% from three point range and only 10-17 from the FT line. Pittsburgh for the season averaged 47.9% from the field and 35.4% from three point range and also 67.4% from the FT line. I expect the bigger stronger Panthers to continue their dominance on the boards today but shoot much better in this game. Similar to my writeup in the first game I certainly feel that Villanova is just as capable of a team but I feel that Pittsburgh is the better overall ball club and they will finally get over the hump today and make the team's first Final Four.
DOC
3-Unit Play Take LA Clippers/Houston OVER 190½
Smooth44
GOY = PITT
INDIANA +9 -120
UCONN -5 -120
PITT OVER 140 -120
CHARLOTTE -6 -120
PORTLAND UNDER 193
RON RAYMOND
5* Bucks / Heat Over 197.5
Toronto Maple Leafs
SMTM Sports Picks
3* Pitt -2
2* Portland/Memphis Under 192
2* Denver/ Golden State Under 228 1/2
2* Pacers +9
1* Phoenix +9
NSA
20* Pittsburgh -2
10* Connecticut -5.5
10* Indiana +8
10* New York +7
10* Suns/Jazz OVER 228
10* Milwaukee +9
JB Sports
Golden St
Rocketman
Jazz
Opposite Action Plays
Missouri
Lenny Del Genio
Missouri
Tony George
Villanova
Nick Parsons
Villanova
Kelso
10 units Nuggets
3 units Pacers
Erin Rynning
Playmaker: Missouri
Indiana
Charlotte
Mike Neri
3* Uconn
3* Suns/Jazz Over
Dave Cokin
Top Play
Pittsburgh
Regular
Missouri
Bulls
Rocketman
4* Heat
3* Jazz
Dolphin
3* Pittsburgh
3* Pittsburgh under
3* Heat
3* Heat over
Sport Dr.
100* UConn
50* Pittsburgh
Cowtown
1* Missouri
Inside Info
1* Missouri
Jake Timlin
900♦ Pittsburgh Panthers
Take Pittsburgh minus the small number as they knock off their Big East rivals tonight.
Yes finally a number the Panther will be able to handle today as though they will win ugly again it will be good enough for the cash. Sure Pittsburgh has been way overvalued in the first three rounds of this tournament, but all they have done is find way to win all three games to advance to the elite eight. Well that will be the case for Pittsburgh once again tonight as thanks to playing Villanova away from their home court I look for the Panthers slower paced physical type of play to win out tonight.
Meanwhile, for Villanova despite making the round of eight and having already noticed a 10 victory over Pittsburgh this season at home the Wildcats are in big trouble tonight as they just don’t match up very well to the Panther size and strength down low. I mean sure Cunningham has been solid for Villanova, but he is the Wildcats only inside presence and let’s face it he is no Blair.
Bottom line here tonight is given Pittsburgh’s huge advantage in the paint with Blair I see the Panthers getting their revenge over the Wildcats as the Panthers pull out another ugly win to advance, but this time it will be good enough for the cover thanks to the very low number.
Take Pittsburgh as they punch their ticket to Detroit next week!
100♦ Houston Rockets
In NBA bonus action I like the Rockets minus the points as they beat up on a bad Los Angeles team. For most of the same reasons I liked the Spurs last night I like the Rockets tonight as the Clippers are just too awful to realistically keep things close. You see for Los Angeles if having to play on back to back night’s was tough enough doing so after losing 4 of their last 5 games and now playing their six straight road game will spell doom for the Clippers tonight. Meanwhile, for Houston despite their last lost at Utah the Rockets are still flying high having won 8 of their last 11 games to keep pace atop of the western conference standings. Bottom line here is thanks to being at home and playing a tired Los Angeles team I look for the Rockets to make easy of the Clippers tonight. All Houston minus the points!
Trace Adams
2000* - Connecticut Huskies
1000* - Villanova Wildcats
Missouri's win over Memphis impressed me highly, but I am not so sure their game plan is going to work in today's game against top-seeded Connecticut.
I didn't think UConn played all that well in their win, and cover over Purdue on Thursday, but the Huskies still managed to win comfortably by a dozen to make it 3 straight tourney wins, and covers.
I don't see anyone in Mizzou's lineup that is going to be able to deter Thabeet, and with Pice, Adrien, and Austrie looking like they are ready to take that next step and advance to Detroit and the Final Four, I will lay this impost and look for the Huskies to take care of business.
As hot as Missouri has been, I really get the feeling that Thursday dissection of Memphis is going to leave the Tigers a little "flat" as they hit the court for this game.
No doubt it has been a great run for the Tigers, and they are likely to hang around in this game for a while, but in the end Connecticut just looks to good to me.
Lay it!
2000♦ - Connecticut Huskies
Big East rivals Villanova, and Pittsburgh get reaquainted in this regional final, and my money is on 'Nova to take down Pitt once again.
Villanova won a late January home game over the Panthers in the lone series meeting this year, 67-57 as the 3 1/2-point home dog to make it 2 of 3, and 4 of the last 7 series meets in favor of the 'Cats.
Pittsburgh has played 3 straight tough tournament games, and in all seriousness could have been eliminated by East Tennessee State, should have been eliminated by Oklahoma State, and would have been eliminated by Xavier if the Musketeers didn't choke the game away.
Villanova is just playing on another level right now, and the Wildcats are the deeper of the two teams. That is going to be the difference in this game.
Take the Wildcats to make it to the Final 4.
1000♦ - Villanova Wildcats
ASA
3* UCONN
Bullseye
Memphis at Portland
Play: Portland -12.5
The Memphis Grizzlies are currenlty on a four game road swing that has them playing back-to-back nights tonight against he Portland Trail Blazers. The Grizzlies aren't exactly deep and having to travel to Portland after playing California, is sure to catch up them in the second half. Portland is playing good hoops right now and looks to improve to 46 wins after tonights easy victory. Look for Roy and Alridge to have huge nights against this porous defense.
KBHoops
10* Pittsburgh -2 **POD**
5* Missouri +5.5
4* Missouri ML +220
Seabass
100* Knicks over
50* UCONN Over
50* Nova Under
Teddy Covers
UConn
Seabass
20 Canadians
20 Heat
20 Houston
50 Over UCONN
50 Under Nova
100 Over Knicks (Vegas Steam)
Anthony Redd
15 dime UCONN 1st half
15 dime UCONN game
15 dime Villanova