Larry Ness wipout winner Akron
REASON FOR PICK: I've ridden the Zips the in their first two games of the MAC Tourney (both wins and covers) and will go for the "hat trick" here. The 6-6 Wood (14.0-7.9) is the team's best player and has 29 points and 15 rebounds in the first two games but the bigger story has been Akron's three-point shooting, as the Zips are 17-of-32 (53.1) in the two games. That's unlikely to continue but as I've claimed the last two days, this team is "on a mission." Akron was left out of the entire postseason LY, failing to get an at-large NCAA bid (despite 26 wins) after losing to Miami-Ohio on a last-second shot in the MAC title game. The NIT even snubbed them! Akron's come back with another solid season, finishing second to Kent State in the MAC-East with a 11-5 league mark. With two wins in the tourney, the Zips are now 23-9 overall. However, they KNOW there will be no NCAA invite without a win tonight. Ss for Kent St, most believe the Golden Flashes (27-6) are deserving of an at-large bid win or lose, although with the committee's past history with the MAC (last at-large bid came in 1999), I can't believe Kent will take anything for granted. However, I still believe Akron is the more motivated team, after last year's snub and two losses to Kent this season. The first came at Kent when the Golden Flashes shot 57.5 percent and still won by just six points and the second loss came just this past Sunday, on the final day of the regular season. In that game, the Zips, who are 17-of-32 from behind the three-point arc in this tourney, made just 3-of-23 three-pointers and still lost by just THREE points. Kent State had an easy time Thursday with a bad Toledo team but against always-gritty Miami-O last night, needed a game-winner from guard Fisher with three seconds remaining, to win 49-47. Fisher (14.1-3.8-4.1) is paired in the backcourt with Singletary (10.1) and two seniors, the 6-7 Scott (13.1-6.0) and the 6-8 Quaintance (9.8-7.5), are the frontcourt stars. Although Kent has won 27 games, the team really doesn't have much depth. I'll point out that when Kent beat Akron the first time (Jan 23), the just-mentioned foursome combined for 64 of the team's 75 points (some balance!). Meanwhile, Wood gets tons of help in the frontcourt from the McKnight brothers (combined 10.3-4.2) plus Linhart and Milum (combined 12.9-7.8). In the backcourt, Dials (12.2-4.3 APG) and Middleton (9.8) start, with freshman McNees (5.6) coming off the bench. For both teams, this is their third game in three days, so depth matters! I called for Akron to win this thing right from the start and won't back off now. In fact, I expect a comfortable win, so while Akron just waits to see which team it will play next week, Kent will have to "sweat-out" Selection Sunday. Weekend Wipeout winner on Akron
Larry Ness insider UNLV
EXPERT: Larry Ness
REASON FOR PICK: The Rebels beat the Cougars 70-41 in Las Vegas on Jan 15 and then a month later (Feb 16, to be exact), the Cougars returned the favor in Provo, routing UNLV 74-48. The two schools square off tonight (at Las Vegas), in the MWC title game. It's doubtful that an NCAA bid is on the line in this one, as BYU won the regular season title at 14-2 and enters tonight's game 27-6 overall, while UNLV was second (12-4) and comes in 25-7. Considering the MWC has placed two teams in the NCAA tourney in each of the last six years, the winner AND loser of this game is almost guaranteed an invitation to the Big Dance. BYU cruised past pathetic Colorado St on Thursday but although the Cougars won and covered over SDSU last night (63-54 at minus-6 1/2), it was hardly an impressive effort. The team's three guards, Burgess (8.1), Fredette (6.6) and Murdock (4.1-3.8 APG) were a combined 0-for-8 from the floor, totaling just six points. BYU's strength is the 6-11 Plaisted (15.8-7.7) plus its pair of 6-6 dynamos, Cummard (16.0-6.5-3.5) and Tavernari (13.2-5.4). As for UNLV, the Rebels returned only PG Wink Adams (16.3-3.9-3.2) from LY's 30-win, Sweet 16 team but in the 6-6 Rougeau (9.0-5.8) and the 6-5 Terry (10.6-3.2-5.1), they have two athletes who can play with Cummard and Tavernari (unlike ANY of the other MWC schools!). In this tourney so far, the Rebels survived TCU's 17-of-23 three-point 'barrage' on Thursday (won 89-88) and then Utah's inspired effort last night, winning 61-55. Adams has been brilliant in the two games with 49 points, while Rougeau has 29 points and 20 rebounds and Terry 35 points! UNLV does not have a player the size of Plaisted but the 6-7 Darger (11.5-4.6) and the 6-8 Shaw (7.1-4.3) won't back down. The 6-5 Bailey (6.9-3.8) is an added player to combat the duo of Cummard and Tavernari. UNLV faced Utah's 7-1 Nevill last night, holding him in check, with 15 points and just five rebounds (good dress rehearsal for UNLV's big men). Playing this game on its homecourt is a tremendous edge for UNLV (18-2 SU this year) and the Rebels took advantage of the home surroundings to beat BYU in LY's title game, 78-70. BYU no longer has the terrific 6-6 Keena Young, who had 34 points and nine rebounds in that game, and it should not go unnoticed that Plaisted had just seven points in LY's title game. Let's also note that when the teams met here in January, Plaisted had just five points and six rebounds, Cummard and Tavernari combined for only 14 points plus the guard trio of Burgess, Fredette and Murdock made just 3-of-12 shots, scoring 11 points. This just in. The homecourt edge MATTERS! Las Vegas Insider on UNLV
Insidesportsreport
5* Tulsa/Memphis (NCAAB) OVER 132
Range 130 to 134
4* Texas -5 over Oklahoma (NCAAB)
Range -3.5 to -7
3* Utah -3.5 over New Jersey (NBA)
Range -1.5 to -5
Powerplaywins
Texas
Mr A's
Orlando Magic - 10
Phoenix Suns - 9
S. Sptritzer's Conference GOY
Wisconsin
T. Stryker's ACC Tourney GOY
N Carolina
Rob Veno
North Carolina -11
Clemson +4.5
20* Blue Chip: UCLA Over 123.5
Blue Chip: New Mexico State -6.5
CS Fullerton -5
Tennessee Over 147.5
Winners Edge
NJ Nets+ 3.5 , 2 units
Suns / Kings 0ver 228 , 2 units
Tennessee - 6 , 3 units ( Tournament Game of week )
Duke - 4.5 , 2 units
2-Minute Warning
Clemson
Chris James Sports
3* San Antonio
1* New Jersey Nets
3* Illinois
1* Wisconsin
1* UCLA
1* New Mexico State
Seabass
20* Tennessee
Philly Connection
Byu
Gavozzi
5* Kentucky
Michael Cannon
30 Dime -
TEMPLE
10 Dime -
WISCONSIN
5 Dime
UCLA
Sportsguru
Texas- Free
JEFFERSONSPORTS
EARLY GAME RELEASE
MEMPHIS UNDER 131
GAMBLERS WORLD
TIP OF THE DAY BYU Cougars vs. UNLV Rebels
Prediction: UNLV Rebels
Reason: The fans at Thomas & Mack Center will be treated to a game between the BYU Cougars and the UNLV Rebels when they take their seats on Saturday. Oddsmakers currently have the Rebels listed as 1-point favorites versus the Cougars, while the game's total is sitting at 126½. Lee Cummard scored 20 points on Friday to guide BYU to a 63-54 win over the San Diego State Aztecs in the semi-finals of the Mountain West Conference tournament. The Cougars managed to cover the 6.5-point spread in that contest, while the combined score fell UNDER the night's posted total (128). The Rebels pulled away in the second half on Friday night to secure a 61-55 win over the Utah Utes in the semi-finals of the Mountain West Conference tournament. The Rebels just managed to cover the 5-point spread in that tourney contest, while the combined score fell UNDER the night's posted total (125.5). Team records: BYU: 27-6 SU, 16-12-1 ATS UNLV: 25-7 SU, 16-12-1 ATS BYU most recently: When playing on Saturday are 4-6 After playing San Diego State are 9-1 After a win are 9-1 UNLV most recently: When playing on Saturday are 5-5 After playing Utah are 6-4 After a win are 7-3 A few trends to consider: BYU is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games The total has gone OVER in 8 of BYU's last 10 games when playing UNLV BYU is 10-3-1 ATS in its last 14 games The total has gone UNDER in 6 of BYU's last 9 games UNLV is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games The total has gone OVER in 8 of UNLV's last 10 games when playing BYU UNLV is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games when playing BYU The total has gone UNDER in 7 of UNLV's last 10 games
The Green KIngs
Clemson +4
Georgetown -5
Texas -5
Memphis/Tulsa Over the total of 130
Akmens
CBB
Mich St/Wisconsin u 117
NHL
Dallas -155
Dallas/Vancouver u 5 6 units (Big Play)
NBA
Kings/Suns o 228
AFL
Az/San Jose u 115
BIG AL
At 11:30 am, our selection is on the top-seeded Memphis Tigers minus the points over Tulsa, as we will play on John Calipari's crew to rebound off its ATS loss yesterday (Memphis won 69-53 as a 19-point favorite). And, since 1992, #1-seeded favorites are a solid 25-5 ATS in the post-season if they failed to cover the spread in their previous game by 8 or less points. The Memphis Tigers have dominated Tulsa, going 6-0 in Conference USA games, and Memphis has won 41 straight league games since an 80-74 loss to UAB on March 2, 2006. Tulsa has dropped 11 straight games against ranked opponents, and will be outclassed once again by Memphis, which defeated Tulsa 56-41 and 82-67 already this season. But this game shouldn't be as close as those two, as Tulsa will come into this early morning game off back-to-back overtime wins on Thursday and Friday. Look for the Golden Hurricane to be a bit exhausted in the later stages of this game, and it won't help matters when Memphis breaks out to a double-digit lead. At that point, Tulsa's confidence and energy level will be challenged. This will be a rout. Take Memphis. Good luck, as always...Al McMordie. And don't miss my two other winners today, including my Big 12 Tourney Game of the Year.
At 4:20 pm, our selection is on the Kansas Jayhawks minus the points over Texas A&M. These two squads met just once in the regular season, and that was last week in College Station. Kansas won that game easily, 72-55, and was led by Mario Chalmers and Darrell Arthur, who each tallied 16 points, while Sherron Collins chipped in 13 for the Jayhawks. The KU defense stifled Texas A&M, and held the Aggies to 31% FG shooting, and outscored them 44-12 in the paint. So, Texas A&M will be seeking revenge today, but they just don't match up well with Kansas, which has won 11 of the last 12 meetings (8-4 ATS). And revenging teams off back-to-back wins are a poor 35% ATS in the semi-final round of conference tournaments vs. .634 (or better) foes. Big 12 Tourney Game of the Year on Kansas. Good luck, as always...Al McMordie. And don't miss my other two winners on this Saturday.
At 6 pm, our selection is on the Temple Owls over St. Joes. Temple is playing great ball right now, with wins in 14 of its last 18 games. And yesterday's 15-point victory over Charlotte was typical. Temple outhustled Charlotte, and pulled down 44 rebounds (to Charlotte's 25), and blocked five shots (to Charlotte's none). Now, Temple gets to play its Philadelphia rival, St. Joseph's, which it defeated on March 2nd. St. Joe's upset Xavier yesterday. But a close look at the boxscore reveals that St. Joe's was a bit fortunate. Xavier outrebounded the Hawks 31-23, yet lost the game because it failed to hit its 3-point shots (1 of 14). And, as the #5 seed, St. Joe's has the difficult task of trying to win its fourth game in four days (compared to Temple, which is seeded 2nd, and earned a bye into the quarterfinals). And teams rarely have been able to win four straight games vs. a foe that earned a bye into the quarterfinals. There have been 35 Conference Championship games played with this scenario, and our higher seeded team has won 27 of 35 games straight up, covering 20. But here, Temple has been installed as the underdog, so let's take the Owls, who also are playing better overall ball than St Joe's, this evening. Conference Tourney Underdog of the Year on Temple. Good luck, as always...Al McMordie. And don't miss my Big 12 Tourney Game of the Year today.
Arthur Ralph
Super Picks TEMPLE
900 GOLD KEY winner Texas
FERRINGO
2-Unit Play. Take Tulsa +16.5 over Memphis
KELSO
Chairman = 10 units Minnesota (NBA) +9.5
Best Bets = 5 units Jazz -3.5
Tourney
5 units St. Joes -3
5 units NMex St -6.5
5 units Stanford +3.5
MALINSKY
6* top of the ticket
Texas
6* top of the ticket
Georgetown
Brandon Lang
20 Dime - Wisconsin
15 Dime - Illinois
5 Dime - Temple, BYU, Kentucky and Stanford
Free Pick - Pittsburgh