Executive
250% Ucla -8
Seabass
LATE PLAYS
20*UCLA
30*W.Kentucky
50*Michigan
100*Oklahoma
100* Golden State Over
DOC
5* GONZAGA
5* WESTERN KENTUCKY
3* Texas
Dr Big Daddy
12* Michigan +5
KBHoops
Final card
5* Atlanta UNDER 196 **POD**
3* Atlanta -5
CBB
3* VCU +8.5
2* Gonzaga -13.5
SCORE
400 UCLA
300 Oklahoma
300 New Mexico
Sports Bank
400 Penn State
SPORTS UNLIMITED
7* ILLINOIS
4* Minnesota
Ben Burns
Opening Round Game Of Year
Ucla
Morgan State Under
Ben Burns
NCAA Opening Round **GAME OF THE YEAR!** (Thursday!)
I'm laying the points with UCLA. By the time that this game tips, we very likely will have already seen some upsets. Many think that this will be another one. In fact, even President Obama picked the Rams. While anything can certainly happen in this Tournament and with all due respect to the President, I really don't think that's going to happen. Yes, Virginia Commonwealth is worthy of our respect. The Rams come in on a roll, won 24 games and were the class of their conference. That said, the talent level of the Colonial Athletic Conference is a long ways off from the talent level of the Pac-10. While the top team from the CAA might normally have a shot at remaining competitive with a Pac-10 team, the Bruins aren't a "normal" Pac-10 team. It's true that they weren't quite as dominant as they've been in recent years and that they come in with a lower seed than they've had the last few years. However, let's not forget that they still won 25 games this year. Prior to a loss vs. USC in the Conference Tourny, they'd won five straight, going 4-0-1 ATS. While many are going to remember the loss in the Pac-10 Tourney, let's not forget that the Bruins have a trio of seniors in their lineup which have played on the final weekend of the season every year of their collegiate careers. That type of experience and leadership are extremely valuable at this time of year, not to mention the coaching excellence that Ben Howland brings to the table. While the Bruins, who last played on Friday the 13th, should have had plenty of time in between games to allow Darrin Collison's tailbone to heal, they haven't had as much time in between games as the Rams, who last played way back on 3/9. That's a full 10 days off in between games, which isn't ideal for a team that had been playing so well. Note that the Rams are just 1-3 SU/ATS the last four times that they played with seven or more day's rest in between games, going 5-9 ATS their last 14 lined games in that situation. Granted, the venue favors the Rams as they figure to have the majority of the fans in their corner. However, the Bruins are more than capable of winning away from home and the late starting time (normal on the West Coast) should make them feel "right at home." With an over/under line in the mid 130s, it's also worth noting that the Rams were just 4-9 ATS this season when playing a game with an over/under line in the 130s. Conversely, the Bruins were 7-3 ATS when playing a game with an over/under line in the 130s bringing them to a profitable 24-14 ATS (33-5 SU) their last 38 in that situation. The Bruins know not to take teams like this lightly. They're 6-3 ATS (7-2 SU) the last nine times that they played a first round tournament game, including 2-0 SU/ATS their last two. The Bruins' lower than normal seed has provided us with a very fair number. Look for them to take care of business and cover that small number along the way. *Top 1st Rd Side
Larry Ness
Las Vegas Insider-CBB (5-2 or 71.4% LW in the conf tourneys)
Mark Few's resume at Gonzaga is difficult to top. This will be the Bulldogs' 11th straight NCAA appearance, with Few leading them in the last 10 years. His career mark is a superb 262-65 (.801).This year's team is 'loaded' but there were some early struggles. The Bulldogs lost their final three games of 2008 but after January 1, went 18-1, losing only to Memphis (ever heard of them?). A pair of 6-11 players man the frontcourt, Heytvelt (14.9-56.7) and Daye (12.9-6.9). Few has a terrific PG in Pargo (9.9-3.5-5.1) who is surrounded by a trio of big guards, who give everyone matchup fits! Bouldin (13.7-3.9-3.4) and Gray (9.3) are 6-5, while Downs (9.2-4.6) is 6-8. Akron comes out of the MAC, which by acclaim, had a poor year. The McKnight brothers, the 6-6 Brett (11.4-3.6) and the 6-7 Chris (9.2-4.8), team with the 6-8 Linhart (10.1-6.2) up front. While Linhart is an excellent defender, the Zips have no one to match the size and strength of Gonzaga's twin 6-11 players. The backcourt is run by 5-9 freshman Hitchens (8.9-2.3 APG), who is bothered by a sore ankle (he's supposed to play) but Akron needs him to be 100 percent. Roberts (8.0), McNees (5.9) and McClanahan (4.5) round out the team's perimeter cast. While Gonzaga is in its 11th straight NCAA tourney, this is Akron's first "Big Dance" since 1986 (when Bob Huggins was the head coach!). Congrats to Akron but the Zips' strong defensive numbers (59.8 PPG, 40% FGs and 28.9% on threes) were achieved in a league (MAC) without much frontcourt size and strength or overall offensive firepower. In the team's non-conference schedule the Zips allowed 86 points at Pitt plus 79 at Rhode Island and expect more of the same here. Gonzaga comes in on a roll, having demolished Santa Clara 94-59 and then Saint Mary's (with star Patty Mills back) 83-58 in the WCC tourney. The Bulldogs are playing well on both ends of the court, scoring 78.9 PPG (on 48.1% shooting), while allowing 61.3 PPG (on 36.7% shooting, which ranks 2nd in the nation). Spokane is just 350 miles away, so expect crowd support to be HUGE for "the Zags," as they look to end a streak of back-to-back first-round losses (Davidson last year and Indiana the year before). By the way, Gonzaga's average winning margin is right around 17 PPG this season with 21 of the team's 26 wins having come by double digits. Las Vegas Insider on Gonzaga.
3G Sports
4* Morgan State
ICEMAN HOCKEY
5* COLORADO
I am out of here guys I am gonna go enjoy the Western Ky / Illinois game in person and experience my first live March Madness Game.
;D