NCAA Picks

Continued...

Iowa +5.5
I hate doing this but I'm betting against my school in this one hoping for the score to fall in the middle somewhere.  I really like this Iowa club, the only team that has been winning for me of late.  I think they play desperate in this game which I feel punches their tournament ticket if they win.  Tom Izzo's teams in this tournament usually come out in one of two ways in this tournament all cylinders working en route to a BIG Ten title or flat and unexcited to play in this tourney.  We will see which teams comes out to play.

Vanderbilt+6
Not sure why Kentucky is giving away this many points, they are not that good.  I think Vandy wins the game straight up but to be safe I'll take the whopping six points that they are getting.

Weber St. -9
The best team in the Big Sky right now easily.  My only regret is that I haven't bet this team a lot more this season as they have made it a habit to continuously drub teams into the ground, tonight is no different against North Dakota.


That's all from me men BOL

Sorry guys I forgot to add one more game I have on my card

Utah +8
I like the Utes in this game against a team that they have played hotly contested games against.  Utah is playing their best ball of the season and I will jump on the bandwagon and grab those 8 points against a mediocre Oregon team in my opinion.

Well yesterday certainly wasn't as bad as some of the previous days have been for me, but still not very good.  I like today's card quite a bit so hopefully today is the day to post a above .500 record.

As always GL men

Updated Record 23-33-1            Upgraded Plays 3-4

The Picks:
Alabama +13
Like I said yesterday Anthony Grant's team is certainly playing for something as well as these other bubble teams. I think the Tide play a pretty disciplined form of basketball so I look for them to keep this game within the number looking to spring the victory that will send them to the tournament.

NC State +2
NC State is going to be playing again in what feels like a virtual home game, and although I think the Canes are a good team I think the Pack gets its revenge for the the theft Miami pulled in early Feb when playing in Raleigh.

Saint Louis -4 (Upgraded Plays)
What can I say about this team other than that I think they are a bonified contender to win it all, even Brad Stephens has said that this team reminds of his team that made the ride to the national title game.  I look for the Billikens to come out firing on all cylinders and beat Butler easily.

Indiana -6
The odds on favorite for me to win the ncaa tournament, I like the way this team plays and I certainly feel that the last time they played was an aberration.  I look for the Hoosier to win by double digits here.

Continued...

Vanderbilt +4
This is a team catching its stride at the right team, and the fact that these are virtual home games for the dores' certainly doesn't hurt.  I'll gladly take the points we are catching with Vandy in this one.

Michigan State +2
Really like my Spartans in this one.  I think they match up real well down low in this game and can exploit the Buckeyes there, and as long as Deshaun is kept in check to a degree I look for MSU to roll.

Oregon -2
One cannot overstate how big the loss of Jordan Adams is for this ball club.  I think the Bruins will have a hard time after enduring this loss and I think the Ducks win tonight.

UT-Arlington +4
Arlington is the team playing the best basketball in this tournament, and the fact that they catching four against a team they blew out at home and lost a hotly contested game on the road I will gladly take the Mavericks getting the points.

OK Men glad to get the conference tourneys out of the way after the dismal record that I put forth in those games.  Hopefully I can't be much worse for the big tournament.  BOL to us all 

Conf Tourney Record: 26-38-1    Upgraded Plays: 4-4

Tonight's Picks
A mix of NIT and NCAA first-round action

Florida St. -5
This spread has moved two points against me from where I got it so not feeling quite as confident about this one as a I once did.  Nevertheless, I think LA Tech is a grossly overrated team who beat absolutely nobody throughout the course of the season.  Couple that with the fact that they are playing on the road in Tallahassee I think the noles' win this game going away. 

Middle Tennessee St +3
This seems to be a trending pick but I just feel that the large amount of travel required of SMC plus the fact that this is MTSU's first tournament appearance since 1989 I feel that they will amped to play in this one and take down the Gaels in a close ball game.

Washington +6
I think BYU is another team here that is being grossly overvalued.  They beat absolutely nobody during the season, their only contest against a PAC-12 school was against bottom feeder Utah (who took them to the wire in Provo ultimately losing by a single bucket).  Given all this information I'll gladly grab UW catching six points.

Stephen F. Austin +9
Here's a team that just got  burnt by the system we have in place.  SFA a team that owned their conference all year and put up one of the best records in college basketball loses the championship game of their tourney and is left out.  Well let me tell you this team would have been just as much a sleeper as they are here in the NIT.  Unlike the FSU game glad I grabbed this game early last night as the spread is already down to 7.

That's all from me BOL to us all

Not a great start to tourney and NIT games either, as SFA had to salvage the night.  Gonna keep plugging along though as we get ready for the two best days of the year for college basketball. 

The Picks...
James Madison -1
Yes, I know their best player, Goins, is out for a half but the fact that there is major reverse line movement on this one and the fact that down the stretch he simply did not play as much for the Dukes I think James Madison gets it done in this one. 

Indiana State +12
Pains me to do this and I may regret it but I am betting against the one team that didn't let me down this season, Iowa.  I just feel that the Hawkeyes are going to be flat coming into this one, not to mention the fact that Indiana St. seems to always play up to their competition's level given the number of wins they have against very good teams.  I'll take the points in this one.

Charleston Southern +12
Buccaneers are a solid team and have proven they can play with better competition, it was a shame they stumbled in their conference tourney but I think they keep this game close against a Southern Miss team that has no quality wins on the season. 

Arizona St. -4
Detroit is a team that garners a little too much respect as far as I'm concerned.  Every game they played against a power conference foe resulted in a loss for the Titans, and in most cases a lopsided loss.  I think ASU proves to be too much in this one and beats Detroit by double digits.

Green Bay -1
I like the way this Green Bay team plays, considering they were a last second shot away from the horizon league championship this team knows how to play.  I look for the Phoenix to win rather easily against Bradley tonight.


That's all from me men BOL as always.

Ahh finally it is here, my two favorite days of the year where it is absolutely imperative I get off from work to blow my money.  The first two days of the tournament is about as good as it gets as far as I'm concerned.  The high's and low's experienced on this day are amazing and it simply can't be beat.  Enough babbling from me though here are my plays for the day.  BOL to everyone on this great holiday.

Conference Tourney Record: 26-38-1                    

Upgraded Plays: 4-4

NIT Tourney Record: 3-3

NCAA Tourney Record: 1-1

 

Bucknell +4

Make no mistake about this line the Bison are a very solid team, and though they are most likely overseeded on the eleven line I look for them to take full advantage.  Bucknell's only major common opponent with Butler is LaSalle, in that game the Bison beat the Explorers rather easily.  Given all the information I think this game is a true coinflip, so I will gladly grab the four points.

Saint Louis -9 (Upgraded Plays)

I absolutely love Jim Crews ball club, so much so that in another thread I posted I placed $50 on this club to win the entire tournament.  I think in this game the Billikens impose their will on a NMSU ball club that is nowhere near as close to as good as they were in years past.  Given the veteran status of this basketball team I think SLU wins this game by 15+.

Memphis +1

Hopefully I am not a fish biting on this one but I just do not see why this Memphis team is getting a point against a team that played in the play-in game.  I think Memphis is an extremely athletic team and although they played in a extremely weak Conference USA this year I believe this team could be poised to make a run in this tournament, so I will take them in this one. 

Louisville -26

I looked at NC A&T's scores against power conference opponents, their average loss was about 35 points and that was against mediocre teams.  Louisville on the other hand is one of the best teams in basketball and when I look at this game I have no idea how they don't win by 35+, give me the Cards here.

Continued...

South Dakota St. +12

Two teams that are very similar in style to one another, and not to mention this team Jacks team is not afraid of big time competition given a win over New Mexico at the Pit.  I look for SDSU to keep this one tight throughout and give Trey Burke and the Wolverines all they can handle.

 

Colorado St +3

Larry Eustachy's ball club is very good and given the fact that I think they will own the glass against what I feel is an average Mizzou team I will gladly take the three points in this one.

 

VCU -7

With the loss of Akron's starting point guard I think this fast paced Rams team will make it extremely difficult for the Zips to operate.  I'll take VCU to win by double digits in this one.

Syracuse -12

It seems like most the public likes this Montana team, and at first glance I can't say I blame them.  When I dug a little closer though it was apparent how awful Montana's schedule was this year.  In games against somewhat decent competition the Griz lost by 25 to BYU. 9 to San Fran, and 7 to Colorado State.  They will be in for a wake-up call when they face Jim Boeheim's team who I look to win by 18+.

 

That's all from me folks although it is very likely that I add plays on throughout the day.

BOL as always

 

Hey men,
Don't have time for the reasoning but adding a few more plays for today.

Oregon +2

Denver +5

BOL

Well that was a nice way to start the tourney posting a 7-2 day  (0-1 NIT) and winning the upgraded play as the Billikens continue to roll.  Hoping that this momentum continues as we head into day two.  As always BOL and let's make some cash.

Conference Tourney Record: 26-38-1

Upgraded Plays: 5-4

NIT Tourney: 3-4

NCAA Tourney: 8-3

Cincinnati +4

Very surprised to see the Bearcats catching any points in this one, I think their physical nature will eventually wear down on Creighton as I see the Bearcats winning a tight game.  The points are just an additional bonus in this one.

San Diego St. -3

Once again I'll take the team that is better rebounding and more physical just as the Aztecs are.  Not to mention the fact that Oklahoma enters the tournament as a floundering team I'll take SDSU to win by double digits.

Indiana -21

Nice little win by JMU but they are now going to face the big boys, and during the regular season IU did not mess around with teams very similar to the likes of JMU.  I look for this game to be no different and for IU to win by 25+.

Temple +5

Surprised by the line on this one, I think Temple is a very solid team and will play NC State down to the wire in this one.

Wisconsin -6  (Upgraded Play)

Both teams come into this one streaking but I look for the Badgers to impose their will in this one.  Bucky Badger will slow this game down to a standstill and force the Rebels into a half court game which will ultimately lead to Ole Miss's demise.  Give me the Badgers in this one.

Kansas State -5

La Salle to me is a team who simply does not have many quality wins and is very fortunate to be in this tournament.  I think KSU will make the selection committee look silly for selecting this team and Boise St.  The four guard lineup will not work in this one against Bruce Weber's club as KSU wins by double digits.

UCLA +3

I just love when people all start piling on the same lower seeded team.  Let me tell you I watched this Minnesota team a lot during the regular season and when every time that this team was told they were "supposed to win" they went out and laid an egg.  I look for this game to be no different as I'm sure Ben Howland will adjust accordingly to the loss of Adams and the Bruins snag an opening round win.

Florida Gulf Coast +14

Georgetown had a great season but if there is one thing that can be said about this team it is they don't blow out teams often, and given the fact that FGCU has shown they can play with the big boys I look for this one to be close throughout.

 

That's all from me men, good luck to us all.

Hey guys, 

1-2-2 start to the day, certainly not what I was looking for after yesterday's solid run.  Adding a few more plays for tonight.

Under 146 Iona/Ohio St.
I think the Buckeyes will establish the pace in this game and it certainly won't be anything the Gaels want.  I envision a 74-60 type game.

Iowa St. PK
I think the Cyclones will be too much for the Irish as they run and gun in this one.  I just don't feel the Irish will be able to keep up with the frenetic pace.

Florida -20
Florida was a little sluggish to end the season but if you look at how this team played against non-conference foes you'll understand why I'm making this pick and look for the Gators to win by 25+.

Villanova +5
Two teams in my eyes that are very similar which is why I will gladly grab the Cats catching points in this one.

Hope everyone's day is going well, BOL