Messages

like any night games?

JT - sorry buddy, missed this, but posted a separate Sunday night thread

EStreet - Thanks, appreciate it.  Anything can happen in March.  wish that 45-1 would have come in for you.  FlaGulfCoast had that game won, but then I guess reality kicked in.  Lots more basketball to go.  Working on the remaining conf tournaments now.

Spazzer  -  Fairfield are the favorites tonight (-2) over Loyola MD 

I'm on invested on the *OVER 121* in this matchup...

All trends point to the UNDER  -  1st matchup totaled 129, 2nd matchup totaled 119.  I think the O/U is @ the right spot...

Conference Championship  -  both teams playing great ball  -  I see toe-to-toe until the buzzer sounds.  Diggin' the OVER, and looking foward to your thoughts.

Mid American

They sure do make it challenging for a team to make a cinderella run in the MAC Tournament.  Top two seeds get carried into the semis and 3 and 4 are in the quarters.  While the bracket structure is unfavorable for teams playing today, I think even in something more mainstream, these teams wouldn't make much noise.  This should be a competitive tournament as the top four seeds are strong and spent the entire year beating each other.  Akron, Kent State and Ohio get a Stockton with the tournament being held in their home state, but I'm going against all of them.

Crazy odds, in my opinion, for a team that needs to win two games. Sure they are likely to be playing Ohio-based schools, but that doesn't bother me.  Senior laden team who both shoots the ball extremely well and defends their opponents even better.

MAC Future : Buffalo +270 (3 units to win 8.1)

Conference USA

I am personally offended by the price tag they have slapped on Memphis to win the CUSA tournament.  Clearly, they are the favorite and nobody can argue with that.  They have terrorized the CUSA block for many, many years and remain the team to beat.  However, two themes have already begun to take shape.  1) The bully is not as tough and not as intimidating and 2) the rest of the block is getting stronger and quicker.  I see four teams not named Memphis who can win this thing, so yes, I am insulted by the oddsmakers. 

Predicted Winner: Southern Mississippi +450

I love that the Golden Eagles struggled down the stretch and Memphis rolls in on a four game winning streak.  All that did was give me better value to back SoMiss, a team that beat Memphis once this year and lost by 2.  I'm not slightly uptight that this tournament is being played in Memphis.  The Golden Eagles are a very, very solid basketball team.  Of their 7 losses, two were in OT, and three were by a combined 8 points.

Darkhorse: Tulsa +800 and Marshall +1500

These teams might face off with each other in the quarterfinals and then eventually face SoMiss, but I like my chances with all of them against Memphis.  Both teams rebound the ball extremely well, which goes a long way against a team like Memphis.  Limiting the Tigers opportunities at second chance points is one of several keys to victory.  Tulsa has a great balance of size and quality perimeter play and they can really shoot the ball from behind the arc.  I don't think Marshall has enough firepower to get by Tulsa, SoMiss and then potentially Memphis, so really a long shot in this one.  But, hard to ignore the +1500 price tag. Certainly seems worth a shot, but unsure whether I'll invest in them.

Potential Upsets: Tulane over UAB, Marshall over Tulsa

222bad - I'll have some thoughts on this game in my "Wednesday" post which just went up.

Conference USA Futures : Southern Mississippi +450 (3 units to win 13.5) and Tulsa +800 (1 unit to win 8)

GiL - thanks buddy, needed that Detroit win.  Really liking the Golden Eagles, but they might be tested. 

Pac 12

This conference is so brutal this year and while that usually would mean stay far away, I think there is some opportunity to take advantage.  The futures lines say it all as the #1 seed has the 4th best odds and the #5 seed has the second best odds.  Long story short, I think chaos ensues in the Pac 12.

Predicted Winner : Oregon +400

Had a few different thoughts here and I wouldn't be surprised if one of seven teams won this thing.  That's how wide open it is.  And I mean that in a bad way, but maybe it will make for some good entertainment. I like the style the Ducks play and I think it's conducive to making a deep run in tournament play.  If my prediction of them making it out of the Pac 12 is accurate, I'll be fading them next Thursday/Friday.  It's a love/hate relationship

Darkhorse: Colorado +1800

The Buffs lost their way down the stretch, but also seem suited for tournament style play.  I don't think they will run the table, but I think California will exit early, and that will open the door for Oregon and/or Colorado.  For something this wide open, great value at +1800

Potential Upsets: Oregon State over Washington, Stanford/Az State over California,

whether you played this or not I'm amazed at how well you have been hitting these big dogs to win the tourneys great work man