Rob Veno
20* Blue Chip: Kansas Over 144
Texas +3.5
San Antonio Over 174
Blue Chip: Toronto Over 196.5
Golden State Over 215.5
Washington Over 8.5
Fairway Jay
Texas +3.5
Big Drive: Memphis Over 144
Erin Rynning
Playmaker: Kansas Over 144.5
Cleveland Under 191.5 -110
Dallas +5
Playmaker: Golden State Under 216
Bob Balfe
T-Wolves
Davidson
Memphis
Spritzer
tko.........................tex
situational elite 8 winner......3*...........davidson
insider....................spurs
tko.....................sixers
4*......................gold st
Cokin
window..................tex
3*.....................kansas
3*.........................sixers
Feist
personal best..................tex over 43
platinum.........................memph
5* round 8 blocbuster..............davidson
total gom.....................spurs under
total......................cavs over 91.5
platinum...........................hornets
inner circle....................kings
Wunderdog
Texas vs. Memphis
Pick: Texas +3.5
We liked Texas over Stanford and they didn't dissapoint. As we stated in our writeup for that game, the late stages of this tournament are about good guard play and it doesn't get any better than Augustin and Abrams. They took one of the best inside games in the country and made it irrelevant with their quickness. Now, we get the Longhorns plus 3.5 points and we are loving it. Sure, Memphis is the #1 seed but Texas is as good or better than the Tigers. The talk of Memphis early in the tournament focused on whether their horrendious free-throw shooting would hurt them. This team hits 59.1% from the line. 59%!! Well, so far they have cruised and it hasn't been an issue. But guess what? The further they go here, the better teams they face. The further they go, the more likely there will be a close game with increased pressure. The further they go, the more likely free throws will decide the outcome of the game.In the first round Memphis was a 26-point favorite. Then 9.5. Finally 5.5 last game. Now the line is down to 3.5. Guess what - we are now in that range where this could very well play the deciding role. And, when backing an underdog, we know that often times you can lose your bet in a close game as the favorite gets up late and the underdog must foul. Typically, the favorite hits 70%-80% of their free shots and often times turns a close game into a big win, covering the spread. Well, if Memphis is up late and Texas must foul, we have a 4+ out of 10 shot they are going to miss their charity throws. But, we aren't convinced Memphis will be up. Texas's defense has been playing as well as Memphis' of late.They are clicking. The Longhorns are 15-8 ATS this season vs. great defensive opponents (those holding foes to 42% or less from the field) so don't assume Memphis' great defense will shut them down. Texas has covered the spread in three of their lsat five games and 11 of their last 16. Meanwhile, Memphis is just 2-4 ATS in their last six and 6-12 ATS in their last eighteen. We believe Memphis to be slightly overrated and Texas slightly underrated. We give Texas an even shot at winning this game outright and in a close game, we like their chances a lot. Unless it's a Memphis blowout, the Tiger's terrible free-throw shooting could be the difference here so we'll take the dog and the points.
Akmens
KS/DAVIDSON UNDER 145
Power Play Of the Day
Davidson/Kansas over 145
Lance's Lock
Under 144' Texas/Memphis
Wolkosky Milan
10* HOUSTON +7
10* TORONTO +3½
10* HOU/SAS UNDER 175
10* NOH/TOR UNDER 198
10* PHI/CLE OVER 191
Nick Parsons
Los Angeles Lakers vs Washington
The Lakers, despite an unbelievable performance from Kobe Bryant, lost again on Friday. The home loss to the Grizzlies came on the heels of a home loss to the Bobcats on Wednesday. Two straight home losses to two of the worst teams in the league will have the Lakers fired up for tonights game. Note that Los Angeles hasnt lost three straight in more than two months! Since acquiring Pau Gasol, thinks really have looked up for the Lakers. In fact theyve gone 15-3 with him in the lineup but 4-5 without him. Tonight though, the story will be Kobe Bryant. Hes averaged 37.2 points per game in his last five games against Washington. He led the way with 30 points in the Lakers last meeting with the Wizards. That game was in Washington but Los Angeles still rolled by double digits and a similar result can be expected today. There is a chance that Gasol returns tonight but the Lakers will roll to a big win here even if theyre without him. The Lakers have lost three straight home games and as Lakers star Kobe Bryant stated, we got to buck up here. Look for a big response from Los Angeles in this one. The Wizards are starting to play better since Caron Butler has come back. Gilbert Arenas is still out but Washington has won 7 of 9 with Butler back on the floor. The Wizards rallied from a double digit halftime deficit to win at Sacramento on Friday. Washington has now won two straight road games but the trip started with an ugly 20 point loss at Portland. With wins in their last two the Wizards are 2-1 so far on this trip but theyve faced three teams that will not be playing in the postseason. In other words, the Wizards are definitely facing a much tougher test tonight. The Wizards did win in their last visit to Los Angeles when they faced the Lakers at the Staples Center last season. However, Arenas had 60 points in that win and he wont score a single point tonight! The Lakers will undoubtedly give their best effort tonight as, not only are they looking to bounce back from consecutive defeats, they have the next two days off before playing again on Wednesday. Contrast this with a Wizards schedule that has them in Utah tomorrow night. Battling for playoff position, the Wizards will likely save some for the Jazz if they get down big in this game. In other words, dont expect Washington to rally big late in this game if the final outcome (a loss) seems unavoidable. This will allow the Lakers to pull away and win by a big margin and that is why this should be another winning Big Easy!
Private Players Pittsburgh
3% New Orleans Hornets
Tom Striker
5* Kansas
Rocco Vincintore
1000* MIDWEST REGIONAL FINALS PLAY OF THE YEAR
KANSAS -9'
Chris James Sports
6* Total of Year - NO Under
2* Kansas
2* LAL
WUNDERDOG
5* Davidson