Hello,
Again, sorry for my absence over the past week. There was much reflection after another LOTM miss. However, we always must come back stronger. So, I am back tonight, ready to give you a winner. Just picks tonight, but just know I have been backing the Zags the whole tourney. They have the best defense and incredible guard play. UNC is awesome, but I think Joel Berry is fairly hurt, and the Zags can effectively battle UNC's size. It's going to be a classic like last year's thriller, but I think the Zags will finally break through, and Spokane is going to be partying tonight.
MLB
Kansas City Royals -105 (11 units wagered, 10 units won) at Minnesota Twins
Time: 4:05 EST
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim -110 (11 units wagered, 10 units won) at Oakland A's
Time: 10:10 EST
NCAAB
Gonzaga Bulldogs +1.5 (11 units wagered, 10 units won) vs North Carolina Tar Heels
Time: 9:20 EST TV: CBS
Last Blog: 1-2
Overall: 113-102-7 (+111.5 Units)
March: 31-29 (+11.5 Units)
NCAA Tournament: 11-7: (+35 Units)
Monday, April 3, 2017
Sunday, March 26, 2017
Daily Three 3/26
Hello,
Sorry for not doing a post yesterday. That Badger loss was brutal. Great, they covered, I don't care. Still, thankful for the four seniors and their great achievements at the UW. Also, I am thankful for them being such great ambassadors for the university. Anyway, to make up for giving you nothing yesterday, I am giving you my lock of the month today. So, let's do it.
Brooklyn Nets +6.5 (11 units wagered, 10 units won) at Atlanta Hawks
Time: 1 EST TV: YES
Honestly, I am just picking this game, because I need a third game. The Hawks are really struggling having lost their last six games. They also will be without three starters today including Paul Millsap. I know the Nets are the worst team in the league, but they have been playing better lately. Also, I would have to think that the Nets starting five can compete against the Hawks' bench. I'm going with the Nets today to at least cover against a flailing Hawks team.
LOTM: 1-1 thus far
South Carolina Gamecocks vs Florida Gators -3 (22 units wagered, 20 units won)
Time: 2:20 EST TV: CBS
Alright, here is our lock of the month. These two teams have played each other twice, and they split both meetings with the home team winning each game. However, it is definitely worth noting that the Gators did not have John Egbunu during their win like they will not have him during today's matchup. In terms of Kenpom, the Gators are the third best team in the country, while the Gamecocks sit at 26. Numbers favor the Gators, and personally, I just don't think that the Gamecocks can keep up the offensive productivity. Yes, they have been hot so far, but it is hard for incredibly efficient offenses to keep it up over a string of games in the tournament, let alone one that ranks outside of the Top 100 of the Kenpom offensive efficiency rankings. They are also going to have to maintain their hot shooting against the best defense they will face in this tournament. The Gators are currently the fourth best defense in the country according to Kenpom. Also, I am sure that the Gamecocks have surprised Marquette, Duke, and Baylor with their athleticism and physicality. Well, there will be no surprises today, as they have played each other multiple times. Gator coach, Mike Hill knows what it takes to beat this team, and his squad should not be shocked by anything they see out on the court today. Lastly, there are no significant betting trends that I notice. I guess a small majority has placed bets on the Gamecocks but that does not really sway my judgement. In situations like this where the two teams know each other very well, I just tend to go with the better team. The Gators are far and away the better team. We got this game on "lock." Take the Gators and reap the benefits.
Kentucky Wildcats +2.5 (11 units wagered, 10 units won) vs North Carolina Tar Heels
Time: 5:05 EST TV: CBS
I have the Wildcats winning this game in my bracket, so I am just going to pick them here too. These two teams played one of the best games of the regular season as Malik Monk took over and led the Wildcats to victory. He probably will not be unstoppable today, but the growth of fellow freshmen De'Aaron Fox and Bam Adebayo should be enough to carry the 'Cats toady. Also, just like the Gamecocks, I am not that impressed by the Tar Heels thus far. They definitely had the easiest road of any team that made to the Elite Eight this season, and they struggled with the Arkansas Razorbacks in the second round. The Razorbacks, an SEC team, got rocked by the Wildcats both times they played this season. Common teams and head-to-head are the only two factors that can be considered, but the Tar Heels have been able to beat teams by either outmuscling them or just being better athletes. They will not have that advantage today, and I think it will definitely show, especially late in the game. I'm sticking with my bracket and am going with Big Blue Nation. You should too.
Friday: 2-1
Overall: 112-100-7 (+113.5 Units)
March: 30-27 (+13.5 Units)
NCAA Tournament: 10-5: (+45 Units)
Sorry for not doing a post yesterday. That Badger loss was brutal. Great, they covered, I don't care. Still, thankful for the four seniors and their great achievements at the UW. Also, I am thankful for them being such great ambassadors for the university. Anyway, to make up for giving you nothing yesterday, I am giving you my lock of the month today. So, let's do it.
Brooklyn Nets +6.5 (11 units wagered, 10 units won) at Atlanta Hawks
Time: 1 EST TV: YES
Honestly, I am just picking this game, because I need a third game. The Hawks are really struggling having lost their last six games. They also will be without three starters today including Paul Millsap. I know the Nets are the worst team in the league, but they have been playing better lately. Also, I would have to think that the Nets starting five can compete against the Hawks' bench. I'm going with the Nets today to at least cover against a flailing Hawks team.
LOTM: 1-1 thus far
South Carolina Gamecocks vs Florida Gators -3 (22 units wagered, 20 units won)
Time: 2:20 EST TV: CBS
Alright, here is our lock of the month. These two teams have played each other twice, and they split both meetings with the home team winning each game. However, it is definitely worth noting that the Gators did not have John Egbunu during their win like they will not have him during today's matchup. In terms of Kenpom, the Gators are the third best team in the country, while the Gamecocks sit at 26. Numbers favor the Gators, and personally, I just don't think that the Gamecocks can keep up the offensive productivity. Yes, they have been hot so far, but it is hard for incredibly efficient offenses to keep it up over a string of games in the tournament, let alone one that ranks outside of the Top 100 of the Kenpom offensive efficiency rankings. They are also going to have to maintain their hot shooting against the best defense they will face in this tournament. The Gators are currently the fourth best defense in the country according to Kenpom. Also, I am sure that the Gamecocks have surprised Marquette, Duke, and Baylor with their athleticism and physicality. Well, there will be no surprises today, as they have played each other multiple times. Gator coach, Mike Hill knows what it takes to beat this team, and his squad should not be shocked by anything they see out on the court today. Lastly, there are no significant betting trends that I notice. I guess a small majority has placed bets on the Gamecocks but that does not really sway my judgement. In situations like this where the two teams know each other very well, I just tend to go with the better team. The Gators are far and away the better team. We got this game on "lock." Take the Gators and reap the benefits.
Kentucky Wildcats +2.5 (11 units wagered, 10 units won) vs North Carolina Tar Heels
Time: 5:05 EST TV: CBS
I have the Wildcats winning this game in my bracket, so I am just going to pick them here too. These two teams played one of the best games of the regular season as Malik Monk took over and led the Wildcats to victory. He probably will not be unstoppable today, but the growth of fellow freshmen De'Aaron Fox and Bam Adebayo should be enough to carry the 'Cats toady. Also, just like the Gamecocks, I am not that impressed by the Tar Heels thus far. They definitely had the easiest road of any team that made to the Elite Eight this season, and they struggled with the Arkansas Razorbacks in the second round. The Razorbacks, an SEC team, got rocked by the Wildcats both times they played this season. Common teams and head-to-head are the only two factors that can be considered, but the Tar Heels have been able to beat teams by either outmuscling them or just being better athletes. They will not have that advantage today, and I think it will definitely show, especially late in the game. I'm sticking with my bracket and am going with Big Blue Nation. You should too.
Friday: 2-1
Overall: 112-100-7 (+113.5 Units)
March: 30-27 (+13.5 Units)
NCAA Tournament: 10-5: (+45 Units)
Friday, March 24, 2017
Daily Three 3/24
Hello,
Yesterday was essentially a wash. If the Zags could have just gotten a board and ended the worst possession in the history of college basketball, they would have covered. Oh well, the tourney record is still looking good, and tonight our favorite team is playing. Let's get to it.
South Carolina Gamecocks vs Baylor Bears -3 (11 units wagered, 10 units won)
Time: 6:29 EST TV: TBS
Everyone was pretty excited about Duke and Nova playing on Sunday at MSG for the right to go the Final Four. Too bad South Carolina and Wisconsin had to ruin the party (psyche, good job Gamecocks and Badgers). Although South Carolina stunned the college basketball world last weekend, I think their luck runs out next week. Baylor has something that Marquette and Duke do not, a stingy defense. Baylor has the 13th most efficient defense according to Kenpom and should really expose South Carolina's weak offense. Their weak offense was on display in the first half of the Duke game when they only shot 20% from the field. 20%!!!! Then, USC went on an unprecedented run in the second half when they scored a ridiculous 65 points. They were unable to hit 65 points in 10 full games this season. I am sorry, that type of scoring from this team is just not sustainable. Sindarius Thornwell is a monster for the Gamecocks, and the SEC Player of the Year. However, he alone, will not be able to penetrate on this Baylor D. Go with the Bears to move onto the Elite Eight.
UCLA Bruins vs Kentucky Wildcats +1.5 (11 units wagered, 10 units won)
Time: 9:39 TV: CBS
This game will be a lot of fun and will involve a lot of scoring. The game currently has an over/under of 167, which, according to some accounts, is the largest over/under in the history of the tournament. The two teams played earlier this season in Rupp, and surprisingly, the Bruins came out of Lexington with the victory. Despite the temptation to account this game in my pick, I am going to avoid doing so, as many of the players on the court that day were playing in the first meaningful college basketball game of their careers. Also, both teams have grown significantly since that day in December. As the spread will show you, the two teams are incredibly even. Although there is a little bit of experience on both teams, this game is mostly going to be decided by players that are playing their first NCAA tournament. So, in this situation, I am going to go with the better coach. It is clearly John Calipari. Calipari has been to multiple final fours and has won a championship with Anthony Davis and Michael-Kidd Gilchrist. Steve Alford has won a championship as a player at Indiana, but he has never gotten to the Final Four as a coach. Honestly, I think there could be a legitimate argument made that the Bruins have underachieved this season with Alford at the helm. Yes, their offense is probably the best in the country, but a team this athletic should be able to defend. UCLA cannot defend, although they have gotten better. Kentucky has the seventh most efficient defense in the country according to Kenpom, and although they may not be able to completely stop Lonzo Ball and Co., they should be able to slow them down. I'm going with good coaching and strong defense in this matchup of the Blue Blood programs. Big Blue Nation will be celebrating hard in Memphis tonight.
Wisconsin Badgers +1.5 (11 units wagered, 10 units won) vs Florida Gators
Time: 9:59 EST TV: TBS
This is obviously a gut call. I really do like this Florida team, and I think they got a rough draw. I honestly may not have even written this game up if John Egbunu was still healthy. However, I think the Badgers have this one, and it all comes down to experience. The Badgers' senior class has been to three Sweet Sixteens and two Final Fours in the last three years, and they will be playing in their fourth Sweet Sixteen game tonight. The Gators haven't been in the tournament the past two seasons. Only two regulars remain from their Final Four team in 2014, and Kasey Hill is the only one that received significant time. In a game this close, the battle tested Badgers should be locked in and ready to pull out a victory at all costs. That is why I will go with the guys wearing red to play a sunday Elite Eight game at the Mecca of basketball.
Yesterday: 2-2
Overall: 110-99-7 (+104.5 Units)
March: 28-26 (+4.5 Units)
NCAA Tournament: 8-4 (+36 Units)
Yesterday was essentially a wash. If the Zags could have just gotten a board and ended the worst possession in the history of college basketball, they would have covered. Oh well, the tourney record is still looking good, and tonight our favorite team is playing. Let's get to it.
South Carolina Gamecocks vs Baylor Bears -3 (11 units wagered, 10 units won)
Time: 6:29 EST TV: TBS
Everyone was pretty excited about Duke and Nova playing on Sunday at MSG for the right to go the Final Four. Too bad South Carolina and Wisconsin had to ruin the party (psyche, good job Gamecocks and Badgers). Although South Carolina stunned the college basketball world last weekend, I think their luck runs out next week. Baylor has something that Marquette and Duke do not, a stingy defense. Baylor has the 13th most efficient defense according to Kenpom and should really expose South Carolina's weak offense. Their weak offense was on display in the first half of the Duke game when they only shot 20% from the field. 20%!!!! Then, USC went on an unprecedented run in the second half when they scored a ridiculous 65 points. They were unable to hit 65 points in 10 full games this season. I am sorry, that type of scoring from this team is just not sustainable. Sindarius Thornwell is a monster for the Gamecocks, and the SEC Player of the Year. However, he alone, will not be able to penetrate on this Baylor D. Go with the Bears to move onto the Elite Eight.
UCLA Bruins vs Kentucky Wildcats +1.5 (11 units wagered, 10 units won)
Time: 9:39 TV: CBS
This game will be a lot of fun and will involve a lot of scoring. The game currently has an over/under of 167, which, according to some accounts, is the largest over/under in the history of the tournament. The two teams played earlier this season in Rupp, and surprisingly, the Bruins came out of Lexington with the victory. Despite the temptation to account this game in my pick, I am going to avoid doing so, as many of the players on the court that day were playing in the first meaningful college basketball game of their careers. Also, both teams have grown significantly since that day in December. As the spread will show you, the two teams are incredibly even. Although there is a little bit of experience on both teams, this game is mostly going to be decided by players that are playing their first NCAA tournament. So, in this situation, I am going to go with the better coach. It is clearly John Calipari. Calipari has been to multiple final fours and has won a championship with Anthony Davis and Michael-Kidd Gilchrist. Steve Alford has won a championship as a player at Indiana, but he has never gotten to the Final Four as a coach. Honestly, I think there could be a legitimate argument made that the Bruins have underachieved this season with Alford at the helm. Yes, their offense is probably the best in the country, but a team this athletic should be able to defend. UCLA cannot defend, although they have gotten better. Kentucky has the seventh most efficient defense in the country according to Kenpom, and although they may not be able to completely stop Lonzo Ball and Co., they should be able to slow them down. I'm going with good coaching and strong defense in this matchup of the Blue Blood programs. Big Blue Nation will be celebrating hard in Memphis tonight.
Wisconsin Badgers +1.5 (11 units wagered, 10 units won) vs Florida Gators
Time: 9:59 EST TV: TBS
This is obviously a gut call. I really do like this Florida team, and I think they got a rough draw. I honestly may not have even written this game up if John Egbunu was still healthy. However, I think the Badgers have this one, and it all comes down to experience. The Badgers' senior class has been to three Sweet Sixteens and two Final Fours in the last three years, and they will be playing in their fourth Sweet Sixteen game tonight. The Gators haven't been in the tournament the past two seasons. Only two regulars remain from their Final Four team in 2014, and Kasey Hill is the only one that received significant time. In a game this close, the battle tested Badgers should be locked in and ready to pull out a victory at all costs. That is why I will go with the guys wearing red to play a sunday Elite Eight game at the Mecca of basketball.
Yesterday: 2-2
Overall: 110-99-7 (+104.5 Units)
March: 28-26 (+4.5 Units)
NCAA Tournament: 8-4 (+36 Units)
Thursday, March 23, 2017
Daily Three 3/23
Hello,
Sorry for the hiatus. The tourney definitely kept me off the NBA and NHL track, so I didn't feel comfortable making picks this week. Regardless, the tourney starts back up tonight, and we are ready to roll.
Michigan Wolverines vs Oregon Ducks + 1 (11 units wagered, 10 units won)
Time: 7:09 EST TV: CBS
Watch this video of Dillion Brooks. Now, watch this one. Yes, the man has ice in his veins. It must be from his Canadian uprbringing. There is not a single person I want taking the last shot other than Mr. Brooks. Michigan is a very nice story and that is probably inflating their value a little bit. I know they are very hot, but there is a reason they are #7 seed. At some point the shots have to stop falling, and I think tonight is the night. Yes, the loss of Chris Boucher was huge, but people seem to forget, they have another incredible rim protector in Jordan Bell. Also, there defense is pretty stout overall, ranked #25 in the Kenpom in defensive efficiency. The Ducks are the more balanced squad, and I think, that along with a clutch Dillion Brooks basket, will get them the "upset."
West Virginia Mountaineers vs Gonzaga Bulldogs -3.5 (11 units wagered, 10 units won)
Time: 7:39 EST TV: TBS
I have the Zags winning the whole thing, so I'm going to stick my pick. The Bulldogs have many detractors. Tonight, haters think that West Virginia is their first real test. Well, they also played and beat two other teams playing this weekend, so they are wrong. They are also scared that the Bulldogs will not be able to handle "Press Virginia" and their ability to force turnovers. Well, there aren't many teams that throw out four guards to handle high pressure defenses. Gonzaga is one of those teams. Josh Perkins, Jordan Matthews, Silas Melson, and of course, Nigel Williams-Goss can do it. Also, West Virginia historically crashes out by the Sweet Sixteen. The one exception during the Bob Huggins era was in 2010, when they had a college super star in Da'Sean Butler. I love Jevon Carter, but he is not a college super star. Also, worth noting, although not incredibly relevant, the one time these two schools met in the tourney (2012), Gonzaga rocked West Virginia. No players remain, but Mark Few definitely knows how to beat Bobby's press. I'm rolling with the Zags tonight and will be as long as their play allows me.
Xavier Musketeers +7.5 (11 units wagered, 10 units won) vs Arizona Wildcats
Time: 10:09 EST TV: TBS
Xavier is the lowest seed left in the tourney, and they got to the Sweet Sixteen in pretty convincing fashion. In their win over Florida State, the Musketeers played a a lot of zone to turn the Seminoles' athletes in to shooters. It worked very well as a 25 point win could easily tell you. The Musketeers will do the same thing tonight in order to limit drives from Allonzo Trier and Kadeem Allen. Also, they are a bit small on the interior, so this should stop the Arizona bigs from getting easy buckets inside. I still think the Wildcats will pull this one out, however, the Musketeers will make them fight for it.
Bonus Pick: Columbus Blue Jackets at Washington Capitals -1.5, +165 (10 units wagered, 16.5 units won)
Time: 7 EST TV: CSN-MA
Meaningless regular season games are where the Caps strive. Okay, this has important seeding implications on the line, but still, at this point, nothing matters until the middle of April. I made this point the last time people hyped up a Jackets-Caps game in D.C., and the Caps killed the Jackets. So, I am just going to stick with that logic.
Saturday: 1-2
Overall: 108-97-7 (+105.5 Units)
March: 26-24: (+5.5 Units)
NCAA Tournament: 6-3 (+27 units)
Sorry for the hiatus. The tourney definitely kept me off the NBA and NHL track, so I didn't feel comfortable making picks this week. Regardless, the tourney starts back up tonight, and we are ready to roll.
Michigan Wolverines vs Oregon Ducks + 1 (11 units wagered, 10 units won)
Time: 7:09 EST TV: CBS
Watch this video of Dillion Brooks. Now, watch this one. Yes, the man has ice in his veins. It must be from his Canadian uprbringing. There is not a single person I want taking the last shot other than Mr. Brooks. Michigan is a very nice story and that is probably inflating their value a little bit. I know they are very hot, but there is a reason they are #7 seed. At some point the shots have to stop falling, and I think tonight is the night. Yes, the loss of Chris Boucher was huge, but people seem to forget, they have another incredible rim protector in Jordan Bell. Also, there defense is pretty stout overall, ranked #25 in the Kenpom in defensive efficiency. The Ducks are the more balanced squad, and I think, that along with a clutch Dillion Brooks basket, will get them the "upset."
West Virginia Mountaineers vs Gonzaga Bulldogs -3.5 (11 units wagered, 10 units won)
Time: 7:39 EST TV: TBS
I have the Zags winning the whole thing, so I'm going to stick my pick. The Bulldogs have many detractors. Tonight, haters think that West Virginia is their first real test. Well, they also played and beat two other teams playing this weekend, so they are wrong. They are also scared that the Bulldogs will not be able to handle "Press Virginia" and their ability to force turnovers. Well, there aren't many teams that throw out four guards to handle high pressure defenses. Gonzaga is one of those teams. Josh Perkins, Jordan Matthews, Silas Melson, and of course, Nigel Williams-Goss can do it. Also, West Virginia historically crashes out by the Sweet Sixteen. The one exception during the Bob Huggins era was in 2010, when they had a college super star in Da'Sean Butler. I love Jevon Carter, but he is not a college super star. Also, worth noting, although not incredibly relevant, the one time these two schools met in the tourney (2012), Gonzaga rocked West Virginia. No players remain, but Mark Few definitely knows how to beat Bobby's press. I'm rolling with the Zags tonight and will be as long as their play allows me.
Xavier Musketeers +7.5 (11 units wagered, 10 units won) vs Arizona Wildcats
Time: 10:09 EST TV: TBS
Xavier is the lowest seed left in the tourney, and they got to the Sweet Sixteen in pretty convincing fashion. In their win over Florida State, the Musketeers played a a lot of zone to turn the Seminoles' athletes in to shooters. It worked very well as a 25 point win could easily tell you. The Musketeers will do the same thing tonight in order to limit drives from Allonzo Trier and Kadeem Allen. Also, they are a bit small on the interior, so this should stop the Arizona bigs from getting easy buckets inside. I still think the Wildcats will pull this one out, however, the Musketeers will make them fight for it.
Bonus Pick: Columbus Blue Jackets at Washington Capitals -1.5, +165 (10 units wagered, 16.5 units won)
Time: 7 EST TV: CSN-MA
Meaningless regular season games are where the Caps strive. Okay, this has important seeding implications on the line, but still, at this point, nothing matters until the middle of April. I made this point the last time people hyped up a Jackets-Caps game in D.C., and the Caps killed the Jackets. So, I am just going to stick with that logic.
Saturday: 1-2
Overall: 108-97-7 (+105.5 Units)
March: 26-24: (+5.5 Units)
NCAA Tournament: 6-3 (+27 units)
Saturday, March 18, 2017
Daily Three 3/18
Hello,
I'm sure you all saw how we covered on the Oklahoma State game. Some will say we got lucky, but the Cowboys were winning for most of the game and were covering for about 35 minutes. Justice was served. If it was cheap, we definitely were punished in the Seton Hall game with that phantom flagrant foul call. Overall, it was a good day with a 2-1 record and 5-1 so far in the tourney. We will look to continue the good fortune today. Let's do it.
Northwestern Wildcats vs Gonzaga Bulldogs -10.5 (11 units wagered, 10 units won)
Time: 5:15 EST TV: CBS
Look, Northwestern has a good story. "Yay, we finally made the NCAA tournament in basketball. we have been underdogs for so long, and we just deserve it." Yeah, it's not like Northwestern is one of the better schools in the country with billions of dollars in their endowment and incredible presence in the media. Anyway, this Northwestern team is good, and Chris Collins clearly has them going in the right direction. However, I don't think Northwestern can matchup with Gonzaga athletically. The Bulldogs are just too deep. I think the 'Cats will stick with them for a half, and then falter towards the end of the game. Julia, you are an American treasure, and Veep is an amazing show, but I have to say that I am sorry. Your son and the Wildcats are going down today.
Virginia Cavaliers vs Florida Gators -2 (11 units wagered, 10 units won)
Time: 8:40 EST TV: TNT
I really like this Florida team. The injury to John Egbunu was unfortunate, but it didn't mean this team immediately needed to be written off. They still play stifling defense, have a sharp shooter in KeVaughn Allen, and have athletes that get to the hole in Devin Robinson and Justin Leon. Virginia has a stifling defense as well, but you could see on Thursday that this team is hurting. Damian Wilkins was unable to play with an illness (he will not play the day), and their two best players, London Perrantes and Marial Shayok both left Thursday's game for periods of time to deal with injuries. Also, homecourt advantage isn't a huge deal in the tourney, but Florida will be playing in Orlando, which is Gator Country. I just really think this Florida team can compete and were handed an unfortunate draw. Regardless, the Gators will blow this spread away and then have to find a way to deal with their next opponent.
Iowa State Cyclones -1 (11 units wagered, 10 units won) vs Purdue Boilermakers
Time: 9:40 EST TV: TBS
Here is a link to the March Madness preview (I know I did it yesterday, but it worked). Monte Morris has been a revelation to the Iowa State program, and I think he will be rewarded this season. People will tell your that the Boilermakers will be too big and physical for the Cyclones. However, it is guards that rule the day in the tournament, and Iowa State has the better, more experienced ones. We are going to keep the riding the Cyclones to victory.
Yesterday: 2-1
Overall: 107-96-7 (+117.5 Units)
March: 25-22 (+17.5 units)
NCAA Tournament: 5-1 (+39 Units)
I'm sure you all saw how we covered on the Oklahoma State game. Some will say we got lucky, but the Cowboys were winning for most of the game and were covering for about 35 minutes. Justice was served. If it was cheap, we definitely were punished in the Seton Hall game with that phantom flagrant foul call. Overall, it was a good day with a 2-1 record and 5-1 so far in the tourney. We will look to continue the good fortune today. Let's do it.
Northwestern Wildcats vs Gonzaga Bulldogs -10.5 (11 units wagered, 10 units won)
Time: 5:15 EST TV: CBS
Look, Northwestern has a good story. "Yay, we finally made the NCAA tournament in basketball. we have been underdogs for so long, and we just deserve it." Yeah, it's not like Northwestern is one of the better schools in the country with billions of dollars in their endowment and incredible presence in the media. Anyway, this Northwestern team is good, and Chris Collins clearly has them going in the right direction. However, I don't think Northwestern can matchup with Gonzaga athletically. The Bulldogs are just too deep. I think the 'Cats will stick with them for a half, and then falter towards the end of the game. Julia, you are an American treasure, and Veep is an amazing show, but I have to say that I am sorry. Your son and the Wildcats are going down today.
Virginia Cavaliers vs Florida Gators -2 (11 units wagered, 10 units won)
Time: 8:40 EST TV: TNT
I really like this Florida team. The injury to John Egbunu was unfortunate, but it didn't mean this team immediately needed to be written off. They still play stifling defense, have a sharp shooter in KeVaughn Allen, and have athletes that get to the hole in Devin Robinson and Justin Leon. Virginia has a stifling defense as well, but you could see on Thursday that this team is hurting. Damian Wilkins was unable to play with an illness (he will not play the day), and their two best players, London Perrantes and Marial Shayok both left Thursday's game for periods of time to deal with injuries. Also, homecourt advantage isn't a huge deal in the tourney, but Florida will be playing in Orlando, which is Gator Country. I just really think this Florida team can compete and were handed an unfortunate draw. Regardless, the Gators will blow this spread away and then have to find a way to deal with their next opponent.
Iowa State Cyclones -1 (11 units wagered, 10 units won) vs Purdue Boilermakers
Time: 9:40 EST TV: TBS
Here is a link to the March Madness preview (I know I did it yesterday, but it worked). Monte Morris has been a revelation to the Iowa State program, and I think he will be rewarded this season. People will tell your that the Boilermakers will be too big and physical for the Cyclones. However, it is guards that rule the day in the tournament, and Iowa State has the better, more experienced ones. We are going to keep the riding the Cyclones to victory.
Yesterday: 2-1
Overall: 107-96-7 (+117.5 Units)
March: 25-22 (+17.5 units)
NCAA Tournament: 5-1 (+39 Units)
Friday, March 17, 2017
Daily Three 3/17
Hello,
Well, we started the tournament off with a bang, a 3-0, +30 unit day. It was the first undefeated day in a while, and we are going use that momentum to keep making the right picks. Let's do it again.
Oklahoma State Cowboys +2.5 (11 units wagered, 10 units won) vs Michigan Wolverines
Time: 12:15 EST TV: CBS
I'm guessing I am going to get some flak for this one. Oklahoma State has lost their last three games coming into the tournament. The Wolverines won 4 games in 4 days to win the Big 10 Tournament. Everyone has appeared to jump on the Wolverine bandwagon. However, I am not one one of those people. Look, what they did last week was impressive, and Derrick Walton Jr. is a stud. However, I think that they benefited greatly from playing 4 games in 4 days. They got into a rhythm right away, and they were just able ride it the whole weekend. Now, they have been off for a few days, and it will be hard to maintain what they built last week. I think Michigan is going to fall back to their normal, inconsistent level of play that plagued them for most of the year. Oklahoma State has the most efficient offense in the country, according to Kenpom, and I think they can take advantage of their matchup against Michigan's average defense. I'm going to stray from the crowd and take the Cowboys to pull off the mini upset.
Side note, Jawun Evans vs Walton will most likely be the best individual matchup today, so make sure you stream this game today at the office.
Seton Hall Pirates +1 (11 units wagered, 10 units won) vs Arkansas Razorbacks
Time: 1:30 EST TV: TNT
In this matchup, we have the Seton Hall Pirates, who are the better team but lack depth, going against the Arkansas Razorbacks, who have a deep rotation that allows them to play their patented "40 Minutes of Hell" style. Today, I am going to side with the better team. The Pirates have the leading rebounder in the country, Angel Delgado, and competent guards that will be able to handle the high pressure from the Razorbacks. Also, the Razorbacks completely imploded in the SEC Championship game against Kentucky. They committed a few flagrant fouls, including a flagrant 2 from their best player, Moses Kingsley, that led to his ejection (he will play today). It's hard to come back from defaulting efforts like the one on Sunday, and I think the Pirates are totally capable of taking advantage of it. Today, we are your favorite childhood story comes to life, as we are going to find the buried treasure with the Pirates.
Rhode Island Rams -1 (11 units wagered, 10 units won) vs Creighton Blue Jays
Here is a link to my March Madness preview. You will find a writeup about E.C. Matthews. That is all you need to know about this game. I will say, though, that the Blue Jays have really struggled since that Mo Watson injury. It is really a shame, they could have gone very far this year if he was still healthy.
Yesterday: 3-0
Overall: 105-95-7 (+108.5 units)
March: 23-21 (+8.5 units)
NCAA Tournament: 3-0 (+30 Units)
Well, we started the tournament off with a bang, a 3-0, +30 unit day. It was the first undefeated day in a while, and we are going use that momentum to keep making the right picks. Let's do it again.
Oklahoma State Cowboys +2.5 (11 units wagered, 10 units won) vs Michigan Wolverines
Time: 12:15 EST TV: CBS
I'm guessing I am going to get some flak for this one. Oklahoma State has lost their last three games coming into the tournament. The Wolverines won 4 games in 4 days to win the Big 10 Tournament. Everyone has appeared to jump on the Wolverine bandwagon. However, I am not one one of those people. Look, what they did last week was impressive, and Derrick Walton Jr. is a stud. However, I think that they benefited greatly from playing 4 games in 4 days. They got into a rhythm right away, and they were just able ride it the whole weekend. Now, they have been off for a few days, and it will be hard to maintain what they built last week. I think Michigan is going to fall back to their normal, inconsistent level of play that plagued them for most of the year. Oklahoma State has the most efficient offense in the country, according to Kenpom, and I think they can take advantage of their matchup against Michigan's average defense. I'm going to stray from the crowd and take the Cowboys to pull off the mini upset.
Side note, Jawun Evans vs Walton will most likely be the best individual matchup today, so make sure you stream this game today at the office.
Seton Hall Pirates +1 (11 units wagered, 10 units won) vs Arkansas Razorbacks
Time: 1:30 EST TV: TNT
In this matchup, we have the Seton Hall Pirates, who are the better team but lack depth, going against the Arkansas Razorbacks, who have a deep rotation that allows them to play their patented "40 Minutes of Hell" style. Today, I am going to side with the better team. The Pirates have the leading rebounder in the country, Angel Delgado, and competent guards that will be able to handle the high pressure from the Razorbacks. Also, the Razorbacks completely imploded in the SEC Championship game against Kentucky. They committed a few flagrant fouls, including a flagrant 2 from their best player, Moses Kingsley, that led to his ejection (he will play today). It's hard to come back from defaulting efforts like the one on Sunday, and I think the Pirates are totally capable of taking advantage of it. Today, we are your favorite childhood story comes to life, as we are going to find the buried treasure with the Pirates.
Rhode Island Rams -1 (11 units wagered, 10 units won) vs Creighton Blue Jays
Here is a link to my March Madness preview. You will find a writeup about E.C. Matthews. That is all you need to know about this game. I will say, though, that the Blue Jays have really struggled since that Mo Watson injury. It is really a shame, they could have gone very far this year if he was still healthy.
Yesterday: 3-0
Overall: 105-95-7 (+108.5 units)
March: 23-21 (+8.5 units)
NCAA Tournament: 3-0 (+30 Units)
Thursday, March 16, 2017
Daily Three 3/16
Hello,
Sorry for the break in picks. We have taken a few days off for the March Madness preview and to prepare the next three weeks. Thanks for reading the March Madness Edition. It was the most popular blog post to date, and it really spread like wildfire. Thanks for the support, and I will reward you with some great tourney picks. Let's get to it.
UNC Wilmington Seahawks +8 (11 units wagered, 10 units won) vs Virginia Cavaliers
Time: 12:40 EST TV: TruTV
We are going to up the unit game a little bit for the tourney. This game is a complete contrast of styles. The Seahawks, the Colonial Athletic Champions, depend on keeping the game moving with their guard-centric lineup. Wilmington lacks size (no one on the roster is over 6' 7''), so they depend on guards, C.J. Bryce and Denzel Ingram, to push the tempo and keep the game from being a physical slog. Virginia plays suffocating defense and will run their offense until they get the perfect shot, or the shot clock runs out. Virginia has an experienced floor general in London Perrantes, but they lack any star power. That is okay for Tony Bennett's squad as they have a team-first mentality. I normally stick with defense in the tourney, but I really think that the Seahawks will be able to push the pace in this game. If they can get ahead early, it will force the Cavs to play out of their comfort zone. Even if Virginia is able to come back, they play so slow, that it will never get over the 8 point spread. Also, the sharps are on the Seahawks. The % of ATS bets has been fairly even. However, the spread has moved from 9 points to 8 points since opening. I am not sure who will pull out the victory, but I think the Seahawks well definitely make this the first interesting game of the tourney.
Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders -1.5 (11 units wagered, 10 units won) vs Minnesota Golden Gophers
Time: 4 EST TV: TNT
There is a lot to consider in this game. For one, a #12 seed is a favorite over a #5 seed. It makes sense. The Blue Raiders are one of the strongest #12 seeds in recent memory, and the Golden Gophers are one of the weakest #5 seeds in recent history. Second, a #12 seed has upset a #5 seed in every tournament since 1985, with the exception of four years. The 12-5 upset is most likely going to happen, and this clearly looks like the best shot. Lastly, in the tournament, we enjoy picking on teams that were overseeded. The Gophers are overseeded. They profile more like a #7 seed, but they were strengthened by a strong RPI and blazing hot finish to their season. Playing against a team that could make an argument for being a #10, I think the Gophers are in trouble today. The Blue Raiders have tourney experience (remember the upset of Michigan State), athletes (Arkansas transfer and Conference USA Player of the Year, JaCory Williams and Reggie Upshaw), and big-time coach, Kermit Davis. Pick the "upset" and go with the Blue Raiders.
Virginia Tech Hokies vs Wisconsin Badgers -5.5 (11 units wagered, 10 units won)
Time: 9:40 EST TV: CBS
Just like we pick on teams that are overseeded, we like to pick teams that are underseeded as long as the value there (the media backlash over Wichita State has stripped them of much value tomorrow). I am sure I have harped on this enough, but the Badgers really have a legitimate gripe with their seed. They came in second in the Big Ten, made the Big Ten Tournament Champion, have no bad losses (maybe Iowa at the Kohl Center), and beat Minnesota (2x) and Maryland, who were seeded above them. Wisconsin was punished for a weaker RPI, not the best SOS (they scheduled the Maui, Oklahoma, Creighton (who got worse after their best player tore his ACL, and Syracuse. It is not their fault those teams had down years), and their rough February. The Badgers are going to be fired up, and I don't think that Virginia Tech has the pieces inside to deal with Ethan Happ and Nigel Hayes. The Hokies are going to try to spread the floor and win with the three ball. It is worth noting that the Badgers have been below average in guarding the three this season. However, Bronson Koenig and Zach Showalter are solid defenders and experienced players that should be able to clamp down on Seth Allen and Co. Also, there is a significant experience advantage towards the Badgers. The Wisconsin senior class has played in two Final Fours and three Sweet Sixteens. The Hokies have not been in the tourney since 2007. I think the Badgers win this one, and they win it running away. On Wisconsin!!!
Sunday: 1-2
Overall: 102-95-7 (+78.5 units)
March: 20-21: (-21.5 units)
Sorry for the break in picks. We have taken a few days off for the March Madness preview and to prepare the next three weeks. Thanks for reading the March Madness Edition. It was the most popular blog post to date, and it really spread like wildfire. Thanks for the support, and I will reward you with some great tourney picks. Let's get to it.
UNC Wilmington Seahawks +8 (11 units wagered, 10 units won) vs Virginia Cavaliers
Time: 12:40 EST TV: TruTV
We are going to up the unit game a little bit for the tourney. This game is a complete contrast of styles. The Seahawks, the Colonial Athletic Champions, depend on keeping the game moving with their guard-centric lineup. Wilmington lacks size (no one on the roster is over 6' 7''), so they depend on guards, C.J. Bryce and Denzel Ingram, to push the tempo and keep the game from being a physical slog. Virginia plays suffocating defense and will run their offense until they get the perfect shot, or the shot clock runs out. Virginia has an experienced floor general in London Perrantes, but they lack any star power. That is okay for Tony Bennett's squad as they have a team-first mentality. I normally stick with defense in the tourney, but I really think that the Seahawks will be able to push the pace in this game. If they can get ahead early, it will force the Cavs to play out of their comfort zone. Even if Virginia is able to come back, they play so slow, that it will never get over the 8 point spread. Also, the sharps are on the Seahawks. The % of ATS bets has been fairly even. However, the spread has moved from 9 points to 8 points since opening. I am not sure who will pull out the victory, but I think the Seahawks well definitely make this the first interesting game of the tourney.
Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders -1.5 (11 units wagered, 10 units won) vs Minnesota Golden Gophers
Time: 4 EST TV: TNT
There is a lot to consider in this game. For one, a #12 seed is a favorite over a #5 seed. It makes sense. The Blue Raiders are one of the strongest #12 seeds in recent memory, and the Golden Gophers are one of the weakest #5 seeds in recent history. Second, a #12 seed has upset a #5 seed in every tournament since 1985, with the exception of four years. The 12-5 upset is most likely going to happen, and this clearly looks like the best shot. Lastly, in the tournament, we enjoy picking on teams that were overseeded. The Gophers are overseeded. They profile more like a #7 seed, but they were strengthened by a strong RPI and blazing hot finish to their season. Playing against a team that could make an argument for being a #10, I think the Gophers are in trouble today. The Blue Raiders have tourney experience (remember the upset of Michigan State), athletes (Arkansas transfer and Conference USA Player of the Year, JaCory Williams and Reggie Upshaw), and big-time coach, Kermit Davis. Pick the "upset" and go with the Blue Raiders.
Virginia Tech Hokies vs Wisconsin Badgers -5.5 (11 units wagered, 10 units won)
Time: 9:40 EST TV: CBS
Just like we pick on teams that are overseeded, we like to pick teams that are underseeded as long as the value there (the media backlash over Wichita State has stripped them of much value tomorrow). I am sure I have harped on this enough, but the Badgers really have a legitimate gripe with their seed. They came in second in the Big Ten, made the Big Ten Tournament Champion, have no bad losses (maybe Iowa at the Kohl Center), and beat Minnesota (2x) and Maryland, who were seeded above them. Wisconsin was punished for a weaker RPI, not the best SOS (they scheduled the Maui, Oklahoma, Creighton (who got worse after their best player tore his ACL, and Syracuse. It is not their fault those teams had down years), and their rough February. The Badgers are going to be fired up, and I don't think that Virginia Tech has the pieces inside to deal with Ethan Happ and Nigel Hayes. The Hokies are going to try to spread the floor and win with the three ball. It is worth noting that the Badgers have been below average in guarding the three this season. However, Bronson Koenig and Zach Showalter are solid defenders and experienced players that should be able to clamp down on Seth Allen and Co. Also, there is a significant experience advantage towards the Badgers. The Wisconsin senior class has played in two Final Fours and three Sweet Sixteens. The Hokies have not been in the tourney since 2007. I think the Badgers win this one, and they win it running away. On Wisconsin!!!
Sunday: 1-2
Overall: 102-95-7 (+78.5 units)
March: 20-21: (-21.5 units)
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