Matt Rivers
200,000 West Virginia
100,000 Rhode Island
100,000 Michigan State
200,000 NC Charlotte (calling for an outright win on this one)
50,000 Georgia Tech
150,000 Big 10 Burial - Iowa
150,000 ACC Money Lock - North Carolina (take the points)
comp is Kansas
===========================
NEWSLETTERS
Cto Best Bets
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CHARLOTTE over *George Washington (Day Game)...If GW wins as expected at sad-sack St. Bonaventure March 1, Colonials primed to
finish their reg.-season A-10 campaign undefeated. But that will be easier said than done vs. intrepid Charlotte squad (9-2 SU and 10-1 vs.
spread last 11 on the road thru March 3!) that seems to feed off hostile crowds. Cool 49er sr. PG Mitchell Baldwin (3-to-1 assist/TO ratio)
will keep GW’s defensive pressure at bay. And, without “Pops†patrolling paint (Colonials’ 6-9 sr. C/F Mensah-Bonsu is out with knee
injury), Charlotte’s NBA-caliber 6-8, 245 sr. F Curtis Withers (16 ppg & 11 rpg) might be deciding factor. Potential upset alert.
CHARLOTTE 83 - *George Washington 81 RATING - 10
*MASSACHUSETTS over Xavier (Day Game)...Xavier now missing two key components with injured 6-8 F Thornton (15 ppg, 7 rpg) &
recently-dismissed sr. PG Finn (4 apg). So, must support percolating UMass squad (covered 4 of last 5 thru Feb. 28) fervently defending
its home court TY under fiery rookie HC Travis Ford, with DD victories over St. Joe’s, Temple, Dayton & 1-point loss vs. road warrior
Charlotte. Minutemen’s bruising 6-8, 255 F Freeman (14 ppg, 7 rpg) should exploit a vulnerable Musketeer forecourt, while “emerged†6-4
juco G Life—who scored 25 while stifling Dayton’s top scorer G Roberts week ago—continues to excel on both ends.
*MASSACHUSETTS 72 - Xavier 60 RATING - 11
KANSAS over *Kansas State (Day Game)...KU in nasty mood following nightmarish 59-55 home upset vs. hated rival KSU in mid-Jan.,
which snapped its 31-game series win streak. Youthful Jayhawks claimed they “underestimated†Wildcats after KSU had just been
whipped at home by Nebraska. Won’t happen again. Expect potent, unselfish KU offense (48% FGs, 77 ppg, 18 apg) to reach their usual
percentages following season-worst 32% FGs (just 5 of 20 triples) in earlier clash, while Jayhawks hounding “D†(just 36% FGs, 61 ppg)
allows few uncontested shots on other end. KANSAS 76 - *Kansas State 58 RATING - 11
OREGON over *Oregon State...More than a few Pac-10 observers have alerted us to keep an eye on Oregon down stretch, especially with
7-0 soph C Schafer emerging in recent weeks as legit post presence to complement plethora of perimeter weapons and slashers at HC
Ernie Kent’s disposal. Meanwhile, fading OSU (1-9 SU, 2-8 vs. line last 10) took another injury blow when 6-8 sr. F DeWitz dislocated his
shoulder Feb. 25 at USC. Chance to sweep hated Beavers, and perhaps needing win to keep alive any hopes for possible 1st-round bye
in Pac-10 tourney, should be powerful motivators for Ducks. OREGON 73 - *Oregon State 58 RATING - 10
*BYU over New Mexico...Streaking BYU (8-1 SU last 9 thru Feb. 28) is 18-7 overall going into its March 1 game vs. Colorado State, so NCAA
tourney-minded Cougars could be in search of their milepost 20th victory in this reg.-season finale. More importantly, developing BYU has
many more options offensively than New Mexico, which relies so heavily on 6-2, 225 sr. M. Walters, 6-9 journeyman F Chiotti, and erratic
6-8, 250 juco Box for its scoring. In the absence of outstanding shooting from the field, that trio unlikely to keep pace with the fast-breaking
Cougars of HC Dave Rose, who force pace after opponents’ misses and pester on defense in search of turnovers. Emerging 6-11, 240
BYU frosh C Plaisted (14 ppg, 7 rpg) a force down low to open the perimeter for Cougar gunners (38% treys).
*BYU 84 - New Mexico 63 RATING - 10
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Gold Sheet best bets for saturday in hoops
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COLORADO by 19 over Iowa State (Sat., March 4)
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Pointwise Key Plays
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there ratings are #1 as the best bet....the rest to following..
COLLEGE KEY RELEASES
MICHIGAN over Indiana (Sat) RATING: 1
IOWA over Wisconsin (Sat) RATING: 1
UCLA over Stanford (Sat) RATING: 2
BYU over New Mexico (Sat) RATING: 3
GEORGIA TECH over Clemson (Sat) RATING: 3
RICE over So Methodist (Sat) RATING: 4
AKRON over Kent State (Sat) RATING: 4
BEST BETS: TORONTO, MILWAUKEE (3)nba plays
===============
Sports Reporter best bet for today ..hoops
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RECOMMENDED
*MARQUETTE over PROVIDENCE by 17
Without any acknowledgement, Tom Crean, a seven-year veteran at Marquette, has done
one of the best coaching jobs in college hoops. He survived the loss of all-everything point
guard Travis Diener by handing the ball to frosh Jerel McNeal, making sure that sharpshooter
Steve Novak had the ball in his hands at critical moments and re-emphasizing
defense which has always been the hallmark of his team’ successes. The result is that the
Golden Eagles are a very respectable 9-5 SU and 11-3 ATS in their new conference, the
tough Big East, that includes victories over Georgetown, Pittsburgh and Connecticut by 15
points. The Friars are young and on the rise, but are not mature enough to fight through the
variety of defenses they will face in this game. MARQUETTE, 75-58.
RECOMMENDED
*GEORGE WASHINGTON over NC CHARLOTTE by 1
The 49ers were unable to slow down the go-go Colonials in their first meeting surrendering 41
and 42 points in both halves of a 14-point loss at home. It was the first time, as members of
the Atlantic 10, Bobby Lutz had seen George Washington and he is sure to change his game
plan this time and attempt to slow the Colonials down. It isn’t an easy thing to do, but Phil
Martelli of St. Joseph’s did it in a two-point loss, 64-62, and so did rookie coach Travis Ford of
Massachusetts in a three-point loss, 69-66, at George Washington. Charlotte has allowed 62.2
PPG in nine games since the Colonials tallied 83 on their court and the injury to Washington
center Pops Mensah-Bonsu won’t hurt Lutz’ cause one bit. GEORGE WASHINGTON, 70-69.
BEST BET
*CONNECTICUT over LOUISVILLE by 26
When the season began, did you ever think you would read any Sports Reporter analysis of
a Louisville game predicting them to lose by 26 points? Frankly, neither did we. The Huskies
cruised to a, 71-58, win at Louisville on January 21 despite 27 points and eight rebounds
by big man David Padgett. Padgett, due to an injury, is lost to the Cardinals for the rest of
the year, so one has to wonder who is going to step up and supply those numbers. The
answer, of course, is no one. Connecticut had a +13 rebound advantage and six blocked
shots on the road with Padgett on the floor. To be fair, Taquan Dean did not play in that 13-
point loss, but he’s a guard, not a rebounder. His return to the line up means that Louisville
will have at least one real guard. It’s not enough against the best defensive team in the
country. CONNECTICUT, 89-63.
BEST BET
*UNLV over TCU by 27
It has been a disappointing year for the Runnin’ Rebels, a NIT type of year to be honest. Only
an upset win in the Mountain West tourney is going to get them to the Big Dance, but there
is no question that they have improved since the beginning of the season. UNLV has won
11 of its last 16 games including an easy as pie, 73-60, romp over the Horned Frogs a
month ago as five-point road chalk. Winning will be even easier this time because TCU is 0-
11 SU on the road where it is being defeated by an average of 13 PPG while averaging 60
PPG, 1-13 SU in the conference averaging 61 PPG. Of their five wins, only one of them has
come against a D1 school, Colorado State on January 21. The frustrated Rebels take it out
on the Horned Frogs. UNLV, 86-59.
RECOMMENDED
WASHINGTON over *ARIZONA by 7
Since ending January on a three-game losing streak, the Huskies have come roaring back to
be a big factor in the Pac 10.Washington’s six-game winning streak includes victories against
Stanford, UCLA and USC and the interesting point about those wins is that, surprise, they
were keyed by the Huskies’ defense. Arizona stole one from Washington on New Year’s Eve
when it came back from a 13-point halftime deficit to beat them in OT, 96-95, but the Huskies
are a much improved team since that loss while the Wildcats have taken a step or two backwards
and casn no longer be counted on to play good defense.WASHINGTON, 75-68.
=======================
Sports Reporter best bet for today .nba.hoops
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BEST BET
*MILWAUKEE over NEW YORK by 20
Why not? The Knicks are making a great run at being the worst team in the NBA, yes,
worse than the Hawks, worse than Bobcats and far worse than the Raptors. They have
lost 18 of 20 games (6-14 ATS), are 0-10 SU and 2-8 ATS allowing 105.7 PPG on the road
during this free fall and have allowed 112.5 PPG in two losses to the Bucks. Milwaukee
has been in a slump, but their offense will come to life against a team that stopped playing
defense in December and continues to stockpile guards who won’t play it no matter
what the situation. MILWAUKEE, 113-93.
============
Winning points best bets for baskets tonight
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***BEST BET
*Denver over Orlando by 21
Getting Ruben Patterson should help the Denver defense cover the likes of Grant Hill.
Until Jameer Nelson returns, the starting Orlando backcourt will be DeShaun Stevenson
and Keyon Dooling, a relatively inexperienced duo. They may be prone to mistakes as
they face the fast-paced Denver attack and Orlando is in its fourth road game in five
nights. DENVER 111-90.
**BEST BET
Detroit over *LA Lakers by 11
The Pistons did a good defensive job on Kobe Bryant in the first meeting, holding him
to 12-of-28 shooting. He should be more productive on his home floor. Each side is
playing its third game in four nights but Detroit may be more rested if they blew out the
Sonics last night, a distinct possibility. DETROIT 102-91.
***BEST BET
Northern Illinois over Western Michigan* by 11
Remember that Indiana State team that we won with against Western Michigan on
Bracket Buster Day? Pretty much the same opponent, different uniform here for
Western Michigan to mess up against. Western Mich made 20 more trips to the free
throw line at NIU last month, yet still lost by 26 points, which suggests that they want
the game to be ugly, and still can’t succeed. NORTHERN ILLINOIS, 72-61.
**PREFERRED
Georgia Tech over Clemson* by 4
Regarding Clemson’s 90-point outburst vs. Virginia, a team with no depth to withstand
another side’s energy? What goes up, must come down. Hard. Clemson takes the floor
thinking about Senior Day entitlement, while Tech comes in with a few extra days to
prepare for a revenge game as a road dog, ready to defend their butts off against an
opponent that can’t shoot straight. Tech lost 27 turnovers losing the first meeting by 10
on their home floor. GEORGIA TECH, 73-69.
***BEST BET
Kansas over Kansas State* by 11
Biggest aberrational result of the season is looking like K-State’s win at Kansas in
January. Kansas shot 32% from the floor that night. "I underestimated them a little bit,
seeing how they lost to Nebraska," Kansas freshman guard Brandon Rush said. "But
that won't happen again." That game took place amid some distractions for Kansas’
leading scorer Rush, who had been suspended and then re-instated within 24 hours
leading into it. Jayhawks performed the “Power Conference Plunge†for our Executive
Club members as a 6-Star go-against last Saturday at Texas, coming off win #20. Now,
they can be ticked off by last Saturday and energized with revenge. KANSAS, 78-67.
***BEST BET
Central Florida* over UTEP by 10
They tiptoed through a second half at Memphis and played through the home game
vs. Houston without him, but how long can UTEP withstand the loss of very key 6’9â€
senior center John Tofi? Will Kimble, his back-up, is a Brittle Bones, ex-heart condition
kid who was seeing only 17 minutes per game prior to being on the floor for 25 and
30 minutes vs. Memphis and Houston. And in the Houston game, UTEP was able to
engineer a 30-10 free-throw disparity edge on its home floor to make up for their missing
person. UTEP, a defensive-minded team that has problems generating points at
times, will not be able to play aggressively on D as is their custom, and are in danger of
being 3-balled out of the building if forced to play a zone against a Senior Night side
that just canned 12 three-pointers in a road game last week, and whose senior slasher
Rose can target Kimble for foul trouble. CENTRAL FLORIDA, 69-59.