MATT FARGO
ATL HAWKS
Scott Rickenbach
Top play Mich St.
Steve Merril
Utah -4.5
WV-11
BIG AL
NBA HIGH ROLLER OVER/UNDER WINNER
SAN ANTINO/PORTLAND UNDER
NCAA HOOPS ROADKILL WINNER
WISCONSIN
Mike Handzelek
Cincinnati vs. Syracuse
Pick: Cincinnati +8.5
When Cincinnati comes to New York, it usually spells trouble for Syracuse. It holds even more so with + 8 1/2 to boot. Look for a barn-burner.
SIENA vs. Canisius
Pick: Canisius +8
You'll be quite shocked to see Siena not used to their 20+ blowout of Canisuis here. Numbers tend to lie more on Sundays and I look for the home harwood GG's to make things uncomfortable for the Saints as they can some treys from the perimeter to make things interesting. Pull the trigger on Canisius because things don't always add up.
Rhode Island vs. Duquesne
Pick: Duquesne -1
Both these teams have has their share of hot streaks this season. I feel the Duquesne faithful will juice up the Dukes for a home win here. It's run and gun and the first one to 90 wins. That's Duquesne.
Michigan State vs. Illinois
Pick: Illinois -1
This Michigan State squad under Tom Izzo has done well on the road until being exposed at Purdue. Expect the same from Weber's Fighting Illini as I think the Spartans struggle from the field today. Illinois frontcourt takes control of this one in an ugly low scoring affair.
Mike Anthony
Missouri vs. Kansas
Pick:Missouri +4.5
Michigan vs. Wisconsin
Pick:Wisconsin -8
Rhode Island vs. Duquesne
Pick:Rhode Island +1
Rhode Island is 21-8 and is actually not very far from being 27-2. But the Rams do not have a ticket to the dance at this point, and simply have to win their last two regular season contests to have any prayer of getting in as an at-large entry. Fact is, URI probably deserves more consideration than they're receiving. Five of the losses are by 4 or fewer points, and that includes wire jobs against Duke, Providence, Oklahoma State and Xavier. They also have a triple OT defeat on their ledger, and have really had just one blowout loss all season. That ought to be good enough, but apparently it's not since they are a small school not talked about much. URI has a very good recent history on this court and Duquesne is just 1-9 vs. the number coming home off a conference road win.
The Prezz
St Bonaventure +9.5 / 4 units
Rhode Island / 4 units
Montana State +5 / 3 units
BookieBasherSports
Tennessee +5
BIG AL
NBA HIGH ROLLER OVER/UNDER WINNER
SAN ANTINO/PORTLAND UNDER
NCAA HOOPS ROADKILL WINNER
WISCONSIN
1* Spurs under 181.5
1* St. Joes
3* Oregon
3* Wisc.
3* Louisville
Special K
20* Super K Kansas
Julian Paige
1 unit: Miami OH -5.5
Bob Balfe
NBA: Atlanta
NCAA: Tennessee
GOLD SHEET
1* Illinois
Smooth44 / Wsp
Cbb Bailout Play Of The Day - Arkansas -8 -120
Kansas -4
Denver -3
Dallas Over 206 -120
ICEMAN
3* Flyers
Dr Bob
One Sunday Best Bet.
3 Star Selection
***KANSAS (-4) over Missouri
Missouri has beaten up on teams at home, but the Tigers have struggled away from home against quality teams, losing by 4 to Xavier and by 16 points to Illinois on neutral floors while dropping road games at Nebraska by 5 points and at Kansas State by 16 points. Missouri did win by 2 points at Oklahoma State and by 4 points at Texas, but their 6 games away from home against good teams have resulted in an average score of 70-76 and those games were 7 ½ points easier on average than this game at Kansas. Struggling on the road against decent teams is nothing new for the Tigers under coach Mike Anderson, whose team is 9-21 ATS in road or neutral games against teams with a win percentage of greater than .550, including 5-15 ATS if their opponent is coming off a win (1-5 ATS this season). Kansas coach Bill Self had an inexperienced team at the beginning of the season but the Jayhawks are much improved and playing at a consistently high level now. After an up and down November and December the Jayhawks are 12-1 straight up and 10-2-1 ATS in Big 12 play with their only loss being a 2 point spread covering loss at Missouri. Kansas applies to a decent 82-27-6 ATS home revenge situation at -5 or less and Missouri applies to a negative 16-55-2 ATS subset of a negative 74-153-9 ATS road letdown situation that is based on their long win streak. My ratings using all games for both teams this season would favor Kansas by 4 ½ points, but using only games for each team against quality opposition results in a prediction of Kansas by 7 points and using conference games only would favor the Jayhawks by 7 ½ points. I’ll take Kansas in a 3-Star Best Bet at -5 points or less and for 2-Stars at -5 ½ or -6 points.
College Opinion
ILLINOIS (-1) over Michigan State
Michigan State applies to a negative 24-72-1 ATS road letdown situation tonight and Illinois is 30-9 ATS in home games following a home victory (14-5 ATS under coach Bruce Weber), but my ratings favor the Spartans by a point in this game, so I’ll just lean with Illinois at -1 or better in this game. I’d take Illinois in a 2-Star Best Bet at +1 or more.
Helmut
West Virginia / S Florida Under 125
Ferringo
1.5-Unit Play. Take #823 Bowling Green (+10.5) over Akron (Noon, Sunday, March 1)
These teams have really followed a similar path over the last two months. Both put together six-game winning streaks. Both then blew their win streak by getting upset as a double-digit favorite. Both have since alternated wins and losses, including both losing their Bracket Buster game and both pulling off upset wins at Buffalo, and both are coming off of wins. Both teams are in the Top 65 in the country in defense and both play a deliberate style where they want games in the 60’s and 50’s. So, considering the similarities between the clubs I don’t think that this game should have this thick of a number. Bowling Green has not been very good in this series, but this is their best team in years and the road team is 4-1 in the last five meetings.
3-Unit Play. Take #831 Cincinnati (+8.5) over Syracuse (2 p.m., Sunday, March 1)
No chance is there this much separation between these two teams. Cincinnati is 3-0-1 ATS in the last three meetings and actually beat the Orange last year by eight. The Bearcats are still fighting for an NCAA Tournament berth and their recent play has been very close to that of Syracuse’s – tough win over West Virginia, handling St. John’s, (closer) losses to Pitt and Louisville and an OT win over Georgetown. I can see Syracuse getting up big, early in this game. But I don’t think they defend or rebound well enough to really put their foot on Cincy’s throat. There is no quit in this Bearcats team and I actually think they have a chance to catch Syracuse in somewhat of a letdown after their dominating win over St. John’s.
1.5-Unit Play. Take #857 Siena (-8) over Canisius (2 p.m., Sunday, March 1)
I don’t think anyone would really want to mess with Siena right now. They just got their asses kicked by Niagara this week. They have everyone in the country telling them that they aren’t good enough for the tournament. I think they’re pretty pissed and I don’t think Canisius is going to sneak up on them here. The Griffs have won three straight against weak teams, which has helped to keep this line down. But they lost by 18 the first time, they lost by 16 at home to Niagara, by 14 at home to Fairfield, and by 13 at Rider. All four of those blowouts have come within their last eight games.
1.5-Unit Play. Take #866 Illinois (-1) over Michigan State (4 p.m., Sunday, March 1)
The Illini are just too tough at home. Period. Michigan State has been a solid road team this year, but they are playing against the best host in the Big 10. The Illini shoot better, they defend better, and they play smarter on their own turf. This is a team that I think is set with its tournament berth but they could use a signature win to lock it up. The Illini are 9-4 ATS in the last 13 meetings against the Spartans, and in watching Sparty over the last few games they look like they're going through a little lull before making a March push. I think they get ambushed today.
Today's Teasers
We were really sharp with these yesterday and they were one of the bright spots. However, as always, we will honor your record without these teasers. Meaning, if I have a losing day with my straight picks (above) and you have a one-day package then we'll honor that. That said, I have been tearing it up with these teaser plays over the last two months and my job is to make you money, by any means necessary.
2-Unit Play. TEASER: Take #844 South Florida (+16) over West Virginia (4 p.m.) AND Take #856 Rider (-0.5) over Fairfield (2 p.m.)
1.5-Unit Play. TEASER: Take #831 Cincinnati (+13.5) over Syracuse (2 p.m.) AND Take #857 Siena (-3) over Canisius (2 p.m., Sunday, March 1)
1-Unit Play. TEASER: Take #859 Loyola-Md. (+12.5) over Iona (2 p.m., Sunday, March 1) AND Take #820 Wisconsin (-3) over Michigan (1 p.m., Sunday, March 1)
That's it for today. I also have leans on N.C. State and on Manhattan.
Dave Cokin
Hat - N Colorado
Cavaliers
Cincinnati
Bowling Green
Ohio
Niagara
Celtics
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Scott Sprietzer
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Celtics
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Florida
Kansas
Illinois
Reg
Cavaliers
Ohio
Stu Feiner
100 Dime Sunday College Hoops Trio Game #1
Marquette at Lousiville (-8')
Everyone knows what a huge loss it was for Marquette to lose senior point guard Dominic James to a season-ending foot injury last game. Rick Pitino and the Cardinals know, too, but with a chance to still win the Big East, the Cards aren't going to show any mercy today in pounding the Golden Eagles. Yes, Marquette still has some heady players and scorers, but James was the key. Second in the Big East in assist-to-turnover ratio and the team's best on-ball defender, James is not replaceable and will be surly missed against the Cards' relentless pressure defense. Undersized Marquette (no one taller than 6-foot-8 center Dwight Burke) will not have an answer inside for the Cards, who have won and covered four straight and are 13-2 SU and 12-3 ATS in league games this year. Marquette has not been an oustanding road team (lost by 18 at Nova, lost outright at S. Florida) and are 1-5 ATS in their last six overall. They're also 0-3 SU/ATS in their last three versus Louisville including a 20-point loss at Freedom Hall last year. Terrence Williams, Earl Clark and the rest of the Cards roll today.
LOUISVILLE (-8') 100 Dimes
100 Dime Sunday College Hoops Trio Game #2
Fairfield at Rider (-6)
It's Senior Day and the three senior Broncs will not disappoint as Rider (6-2 SU and 7-4 ATS runs) will win going away against this roster-depleted Stags team that is just 1-4 SU and 0-5 ATS in its last five games. Fairfield has endured a season of injuries, ilness and suspensions and again will have a small bench (suspended guard Jonathan Han has ben a big loss). This team is just 1-3 SU/ATS its last four on the road and has dropped four of the last five meetings straight-up against Rider including a 66-49 home setback this year and a 29-point loss on the Broncs' home court a year ago. The Stags are only 1-10 SU and 3-8 ATS as a dog this year. Rider routed the Stags on Senior Day last year and with five players averaging double figures scoring, it will more of the same today as the Broncs cruise.
RIDER (-6) 100 Dimes
100 Dime Sunday College Hoops Trio Game #3
Georgia (+9) at Arkansas
For a team that has dropped eight straight on the scoreboard and 12 of its last 13, this is just way too many points to cover. Arkansas doesn't even have a senior on its roster and in fact starts three freshmen. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs start a pair of seniors, including guard Terrance Woodbury who was in the starting lineup last March when the Dawgs defeated the Hogs in Atlanta in the SEC Tournament championship game. This two teams are world's away from that game, but I do like how hard the Dawgs have been playing under interim Pete Herrmann. They've won two of their last four games with impressive home wins over Florida and Vandy and now they're ready to do some damage in Fayetteville, where they've won four of their last five. They've played tough at Alabama and South Carolina, they're getting much improved play from new starting point guard from Dustin Ware and they've won and covered three straight over Arkansas. The Hogs may well eke out a win today, but no way they cover this inflated price today.
GEORGIA (+9) 100 Dimes
Dr. Canada
NJ Devils -145
Penguins/Stars over 5.5
Tony Smith
100* ACC VIP Winner
North Carolina State -4