NCAA Picks

Hey Men,
Just joined the site and thought I would throw my two cents in on games that I like.  This is my favorite time of the year to bet as I'm sure it is for most of you, so I figured this would be the perfect time to jump in to covers.  I'm a very low roller when it comes to betting so all plays are for $10 unless otherwise noted, and a few parlays with these team.  I am just going to keep to this one thread all the way through the tourney for reference.  Best of luck this tourney season and now my picks for Friday.

Evansville -2
Indiana State is a team on a massive downward slope and I like the Aces to continue playing good basketball in this game.

Wright St. -3 (bought hook)
This was one I considered upgrading as a play.  I watched the first half when these two teams played the last time and Wright State's pressure completely dominated the penguins.  I don't see quite the same blowout but I feel that Wright St still wins here comfortably.

Seton Hall -4
A meaningless game in the Big East and one where I like taking the home team.  The last time these two teams played it was tight and I expect much of the same with the Hall pulling away in the end.

North Texas -2 (Upgraded to $20 play)
I love betting on teams that lost twice to the team they are playing in the conference tournament and North Texas fits that bill playing a Lafayette team that was struggling mightily come seasons end.

Siena +7 (bought the hook)
Two lousy teams playing each other, and once again two pretty even teams that siena lost to twice in the regular season in tight games.  I'll take the points in this one

Green Bay -5 (bought hook)
Green Bay is a team playing good basketball and one that I like to take UIC to the woodshed.

Illinois State +1
This is a team that I really like the way they play basketball, so much so that I bet them at 8-1 to win the MVC earlier this week.  That being said I am going to ride the redbirds till they let me down.

I parlayed all these teams together for an additional $5

Also
North Texas
Illinois State
Siena

parlayed for $10

And
Green Bay
Wright St
Seton Hall
Evansville

parlayed for $10

Feel free to chime in anyway and let me know your thoughts, I will keep the picks coming.

Best of luck
JD

GL on your plays. Personally, I don't really care about your $ amounts, your $5 parlays, your parlays period. Not to sound mean, your plays and your reasoning are what might be important to me or someone else. But hey, it's your thread. On North Texas too.

GL again

Thanks for the advice mrusso, I'll get this thing down eventually.
BOL

Tough loss with Evansville, if only they could have made a free throw at the end it might have been a different outcome.  Anyways adding two more plays for the night from the OVC.

East Kentucky -1
The public loves Murray St. in this one, but the talent E. Kentucky has along with the fact Murray has been playing awful of late makes this a play on the colonels for me.

Tennessee St. +12 (bought hook)
This is a game where I think the dog is getting way too much.  This is a TSU team that outright beat Belmont, the bruins are good but not that good.  I'll take the points.

That's all the plays from me today, BOL

A ho hum 4-5 day yesterday, hoping for better results today.  Here are the picks for me today:

Florida -6
Love the Gators in this spot, Kentucky is plummeting fast as a team and this game will seal their fate to the NIT.

Arkansas -8

Arkansas is another team that two faced at home and on the road.  I look for them to pound the Aggies tomorrow in order to keep their tourney hopes alive.

Iowa -13

Hawkeyes are a team streaking of late, not sure why they are not getting more consideration as the tournament approaches.  Nevertheless, I think they get revenge in a big way against Nebraska

Boise St. -2

In an absolute must win game for the Broncos I think they protect home court and come out with the victory.

Fresno St. +14

I like the bulldogs, the rebels aren't playing for much and the bulldogs aren't as bad as their record indicates.  Not to mention the fact Fresno has already beat UNLV once this year I'll take the points. 

Continued...

Denver -7

Denver is a downright good team and that coupled with the fact that this game and NMSU are the first road tests this LA Tech team has faced all here I think DU wins by 15+.

North Carolina -1.5

The tar heels are a team on fire and with the game being in Chapel Hill I'll take the heels here, regardless of Duke being a better team with Ryan Kelly.

William & Mary +2.5

I watched the game between the Tribe and JMU the last time and the tribe flat out dominated for 30 minutes, that's when they went to sleep and JMU made a furious rally.  I don't think that will happen again so I'll take the points.

Illinois State +3

As mentioned in the earlier post gonna stick with the redbirds till they let me down.

San Diego +15

Watched this team play extremely well against BYU last night and I like them to cover this number tonight.

Upgrading Arkansas to a 2 unit ($20 play)

2-1 start to the day not bad, hitting the bigger play with Arkansas.

Adding Denver to upgrade two unit status at a line of -8, BOL all

GL JD, I'm on UNC too. How you looking today? 

Hey russo, pretty good day hit my top two plays today and am 5-2 with three plays pending for today. GL to you buddy

Hey Men,
Better day yesterday finishing 6-4 Overall and 2-0 on upgraded plays.  Hoping for more of that in weeks to come. 

Overall Record 10-9    Upgrades 2-1

The picks for today:
Illinois +10
Ohio State coming off a massive win at Assembly Hall wreaks of a close game written all over this one.  Not to mention the fact that I think Illinois is a very good basketball team.

Wake Forest -5 (bought hook)
Virginia Tech is a downright awful team and the Demon Deacons are extremely good at home, this recipe for me means a 10+ point victory for WF

Virginia -8
In an absolute must win for Virginia there is no question they will come out ready to play in front of the home crowd.

Northwestern +19
Now I am a huge Michigan State fan and alum of the school, but if there is one thing I know about MSU it is they don't cover numbers like this very often so I'll take Bill Carmody's bunch to lose by around 10-14

Continued...
George Mason -2 (Upgraded Play)
The Patriots lost 2 times to NU in the regular season and I don't think they make it 3.  There is a reason that GMU is favored in this one.

Iona -2
This squad struggled to end the season but seems to have found their groove again and if so they are the best team in the MEAC in my opinion.

Stony Brook -4 (bought hook)
Far and away the best team in America East and regardless of the "home" court advantage that Albany has for hosting the tournament I look for SBU to win by 10+

That's all from me today guys BOL to you all

Ouch rough loss with GMU, no reason they shouldn't have won that game anyways on to the next.  

Ouch, rough day yesterday as some breaks simply did not fall our way.

Updated Record: 13-14  Upgraded Plays: 2-2

Small card today so only a few plays

Iona -4
I said it yesterday when this team hits stride they are the best team in the MAAC and they certainly proved that yesterday again a good Niagara team.  I look for the gaels to take home another MAAC title rather easily against the Jaspers

St. Mary's +6
St. Mary's will certainly be up for this one against long time foe Gonzaga.  I look for SMC to come out strong and for this ball game to come right down to the wire, I'll take the points here.


That's all from me today, BOL on all your wagers.

Wow thought I was gonna at least break even yesterday, but that was before the horrible bad beat in the Iona-Manhattan.  Gotta roll with the punches so here are today's picks:

Updated Record: 13-16    Upgraded Plays: 2-2

South Dakota St. PK (Upgraded Play)
This is a team I really like as far as the way they play, not to mention having a great player in Nate Wolters.  I think all these factors and not to mention it will be a de facto home game for the Jacks I will take SDSU as an upgraded play

Seattle -3
This Seattle team despite the 3-15 record in conference has played some very decent basketball of late, as evidenced by the fact they have not lost by more than six in any of their last seven games against some of the better teams in the WAC.  Given this info I'll take the Redhawks.

Wyoming -3
Wow talk about a team that had high expectations coming into this season, the Cowboys to this point have fallen flat on their face.  I look for things to change tonight, they have been a team that at times has proved they can play with anyone and tonight against a team they trounced twice in the regular season I look for the Cowboys to get the hat trick against Nevada and  to start a possible run in the MWC tourney tonight.


As always BOL all 

On the jacks and pokes too. Good luck JD

Thanks good luck to you drive

I certainly am no MWC expert, but it was my opinion that this team surely would be a team competing for a tournament bid this year, the loss of Martinez certainly did not help and I feel that if he was around this year the story on this team may have been far different.  Regardless, thanks for the input and Bol

Much better day yesterday as we hit the upgraded play and Wyoming, the struggle to get back to .500 continues.  Here are my plays for today:

Updated Record:15-17  Upgraded Plays: 3-2

Providence +3 (Upgraded Play)

Providence is a team that has played great basketball down the stretch while Mick Cronin's Bearcats have been awful of late and doing everything they can to play themselves out of the tournament.  I'll take the team playing much better basketball here and as an added bonus get some points here to.

Stanford -3

Arizona St. is another team entering the conference tournament on a cold streak and against this Cardinal squad in a virtual pick'em game I have to go with Stanford as I think they win by 8-10 in this one.

Washington St +2

These two interstate rivals played extremely tight games both times with the Cougars falling short, in this game I feel they are playing much better basketball and get over the hump against Washington.

Fresno St +10.5

Once again Fresno is a team I think comes rolling into the tournament playing real good ball, and catching this many points against a solid Colorado St. squad I'll take the bulldogs all day long.

Continued....

Boise St. +4

This was a line I was shocked to see, considering that the broncos just beat the aztecs at home and are playing their best basketball of the season.  I figured this line to be a pick'em but with the Broncos getting four give me Boise in a game that could punch their ticket to the dance.

Lafayette +10.5

With a bid on the line I always like taking a team getting double digit points so I'll bite on Lafayette.

Tulane -3

The green wave have had some tough losses of late but I think they match up well with Marshall and get the opening round win in the C-USA tourney.

Wyoming +8.5

This is a spread where I thought the Cowboys would be getting a lot more points, so something is telling this is going to be a tight game.  Not my most confident of plays but I will take a shot.

 

BOL men   

Boy Providence looked awful, bad call on my part.  Adding one game to today's card

USC -1.5
Simply a situation where I think USC is a much better team than Utah and that in a virtual PK game I will take the Trojans.

Eeeeek not the best day in the world for me yesterday boys as I still try to get above water.  Anyways here's to hoping for a good day for all of us on our wagers.

Updated Record: 17-23-1                  Upgraded Plays: 3-3

 

 

Georgia Tech  -2 (Upgraded Play)

I like this Georgia Tech team, I certainly think there is some talent there and I think they return the favor that BC gave them in the season finale. 

Minnesota -2

Two teams that started the season looking like elite clubs, now finding themselves facing each other in the first round of the Big Ten tourney.  I can't say I saw it coming but in this game I'll take the gophers who I think match up a little better against this Illini squad.  Regardless, both these teams will be in the dance.

Iowa -10

I just love the way the Hawkeyes have played of late and there is no reason in this game to fade away from them now as I think they will take it to Bill Carmody's bunch for the third time this season.  With a win in this game and a win over my spartans the hawkeyes very well may have to get their dance shoes out.

Dayton +5

Call me crazy I am just not sold on this Butler squad, and against this Dayton team which has the potential at any time to go on a run I'll take the points in this game.

Continued...

Vanderbilt +3

Arkansas is an amazing team that could probably play with anyone when playing at the Bud, the problem is they are quite awful on the road and their seeding in the SEC tournament drawing home town favorite Vanderbilt did them no favors so I will surprisingly and gladly take the free points with the Dores' in this game.

Denver -16

Now here is a team I would love to see in the tournament, by far playing their best basketball of the season I look for the Pioneers to win by 25+ against an awful Texas St. squad.

Utah St. -3

Ahh once again we get the old game where a team lost twice in the same season to a conference opponent and is somehow still favored to  win the game, well pencil me in for biting on this one as I just don't see this well coached Aggies team falling three times in one season to WAC newcomer Arlington.

Marquette -3

Not sure if I am being suckered into this game with such a small line but I really like this Marquette team, I think Buzz has done a great job with this team and I think they match up very well with Notre Dame.  The game earlier this March was not as close as the score indicated and I think it will be more of the same tonight.

Well the good news is I didn't quit my day job to do these picks, it's gonna take a nice consistent run to get back to anywhere near even.  I'm holding out hope though that better days are ahead, but do feel free to fade away if you'd like

Updated Record: 19-29-1    Upgraded Plays: 3-4

Alabama +2
I know everyone has been talking about the Vols but the Crimson Tide certainly have something to play for in this game as well.  Not to mention the fact I felt they outplayed UT in both games this season I'll take the tide catching a bucket

Southeastern Louisiana +13
A simple case where I see a team that played SFA tough all season (even beating them on the home court) catching what I think is too many points so I'll take SELA.

Michigan -2
I think the wolverines are a much better team than the badgers and I also think that not even a desperation heave saves Wisconsin in this one.

Duke -11
Duke has proved how good they really are with Ryan Kelly in the lineup and Maryland has proved how weak a team they really are.  I think the Blue Devils win by 20+