sherwood
Member
- Joined
- Sep 21, 2004
- Messages
- 5,203
- Reaction score
- 6
Central Florida +19 over Connecticut (2:45 PM)
This is far too many points for the Huskies to be spotting UCF. The Running Knights are by no means the worse representative in this tourney and UConn is a fraction of what they were a year ago. Again, when you wager on a popular team, especially this time of year, you’re going to pay extra for the privilege and that’s something that can’t be endorsed. UCF knocked off Utah State and swept Missouri-Kansas City in a home-and-home during the non-conference schedule before finishing 13-7 in a league where the ninth-place team was 10-10. The Running Knights have a decent bench and they also have three guys that can put the ball in the hole. The Running Knights rely a little too heavily on the long ball but if those shots are finding nylon than they’ll give the Huskies a big time scare. This was supposed to be a rebuliding season for UConn but once again Jim Calhoun got the most out of his players. They have a great point guard in Marcus Williams, however, the team is very young and lack the maturity to make a run at the championship. The Running Knights are not that bad and should easily stay in this range, Play: Central Florida +19 (Risking 1.65 units to win 1.5).<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
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Ohio +12½ over Florida (12:25 PM)<o></o>
Another dangerous spot to be laying this type of lumber, as the whole nation watched the Gators explode down the stretch and than bury Kentucky in the conference title. The Gators got a ton of television time and they shined big time, which, in effect, has driven this line up as soon as it came out. It’s seldom a good idea to be on the same side as everyone else and this is another prime example of paying too much to wager on a popular team. Sure, the Gators are a great team and could even win it all, however they’re overplayed and overpriced here and you can likely take that to the bank. Ohio U could spring a first-round upset. It has a fantastic freshman duo in Williams and Fears and four other guys who can score in Green, Troutman, Harbut and Halbert. Leon Williams could crack any lineup in the nation and this young but very talented team is not one that anyone wanted to see in the first round. The Bobcats are perhaps the most under-rated team of the 64 and this is simply just too big a head start to ignore. Play: Ohio +12½ (Risking 1.65 units to win 1.5).<o></o>
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Villanova –5½ over New Mexico (2:45 PM)<o></o>
The best player on the floor will be the Lobo’s Danny Granger but after him New Mexico is rather thin. Well, actually some may argue that this team can shoot well but they’re schedule was weak at best and against a good team those shots aren’t going to be open looks. The Lobo’s are tough to get a read on because they didn’t play anyone but we personally saw tham play plenty this year and they’re an average team that won the games they needed to to get here. Can you say one and done? Enter the Wildcats, one of the most dangerous teams in the land and there’s four good reason for that. Allan Ray, Randy Foye, Mike Nardi and Kyle Lowry. Ray, Foye, Nardi and Lowry are Villanova's guards and their performances at both ends of the court take a backseat to nobody. This is as good as it gets in the NCAA’s and this Wildcat team is hot. They got burned in the championships on a bad call but forget that. This Villanova team crushed Kansas at home, beat BC at home and nearly swept the Eagles with a close call in Conte Forum. Villanova beat the top teams in this league and to think for a moment that the Lobo’s can compete with this team is nuts. We never use the word lock but to us, this one is about as close as it gets. Play: Villanova –5½ (Risking 1.65 units to win 1.5). <o></o>
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Layfayette +12 over Louisville (7:10 PM)<o></o>
Cardinal coach Rick Pitino feels his team got the short end of the stick in the tournament seedings and vowed that his team has something to prove. His Cardinals went 29-4, won the Conference USA regular-season and tournament championships and were ranked No. 4 in both final polls (ESPN/USA Today and AP) and for all that achievement, they were rewarded with a No. 4 seed. Ouch. Than we have Dick Vitale calling the Cardinals a final four team and now everyone is down with the Cardinals. This line opened at 10 and as soon as Vitale spoke out the line started moving. Now it’s up to 12 and that’s a ton of lumber to be spotting the Cajuns, who play a similar style as Louisville. This should be a fun one to watch and it should also be noted that the Ragin Cajuns seldom lose when they score 70 or more. This team definitely won't be intimidated in the opening round, as the Cajuns already have played LSU, Charlotte, Kansas, NC State, Vandy, Southern Illinois and Rice this season. UL-L's best player is Tiras Wade, a transfer from East Tennessee State who averaged 20.4 ppg and 6.0 rpg from the guard spot. Brian Hamilton inside and Florida transfer Orien Greene in the backcourt provide quality support. This team can play and we always like to take back big points with pups like this that have absolutely nothing to lose in a game they can win. Play: Lafayette +12 (Risking 1.65 units to win 1.5).<o></o>
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Vermont +9 over Syracuse (4:10 PM)<o></o>
If the Orange take this team lightly they’ll be in big trouble. This Catamount team is extremely talented and experienced and don’t think for a moment that they’ll be intimidated here because they won’t be. Vermont scared Kansas in its season opener before losing by just seven and they also played at North Carolina this season. Vermont cruised to the America East regular-season crown and then pounded Northeastern in the conference tournament championship game to earn the bid. The Catamounts have some legitimate talent, starting with the obvious up front, three-time A-East player of the year Taylor Coppenrath. Former league player of the year T.J. Sorrentine provides floor leadership and outside shooting. The rest of the starting five are solid role players and they’ll bring it all here for legendary coach Tom Brennan, who will retire after this year. Don’t get us wrong, Syracuse is a potential monster with Gerry McNamara and Hakim Warrick. However, there’s always a danger of teams like Syracuse overlooking the first round opponent and we’ve seen some serious defensive lapses all year by Syracuse. The Catamounts are a dangerous puppy and all we know is that ‘Cuse better take this foe serious. Play Vermont +9 (Risking 1.65 units to win 1.5).
Northern Iowa +6½ and +2.80 over Wisconsin (7:20 PM)<o></o>
The Badgers are having a great year, there’s no doubt about that with an 11-5 conference record and a 22-8 overall record. They won five in a row before losing the title game to Illinois and they had a chance to win that game too. Defensively is how this team wins games and they had some very nice wins this year that includes Michigan St twice, Maryland and Bama. However, we’re not about to lay anything with the Badgers because of their shaky offense, which can go cold for long stretches and ususally does in each game, and because the role of the favorite is much different than the role of the pooch. Wisconsin has been a live dog all year but laying this many points with them cannot be considered the smart play. Northern Iowa is extremely dangerous and unlike the Badgers, this team can score from anywhere. Northern Iowa defeated Iowa State in a non-conference game while suffering narrow losses to Iowa and Cincinnati (in overtime). The Panthers are well-balanced and believe us, they’ll get their three’s here. This is a dangerous foe for Wisconsin to open against. They were much better off drawing somebody else and we honestly believe that the Panthers can win this one outright. Wisconsin is going to have to avoid those long scoring droughts and we that’s something they haven’t been able to do all year. Play: Northern Iowa +6½ (0.88 units to win 0.8) Play: Northern Iowa +2.80 (Risking 0.8 units).
This is far too many points for the Huskies to be spotting UCF. The Running Knights are by no means the worse representative in this tourney and UConn is a fraction of what they were a year ago. Again, when you wager on a popular team, especially this time of year, you’re going to pay extra for the privilege and that’s something that can’t be endorsed. UCF knocked off Utah State and swept Missouri-Kansas City in a home-and-home during the non-conference schedule before finishing 13-7 in a league where the ninth-place team was 10-10. The Running Knights have a decent bench and they also have three guys that can put the ball in the hole. The Running Knights rely a little too heavily on the long ball but if those shots are finding nylon than they’ll give the Huskies a big time scare. This was supposed to be a rebuliding season for UConn but once again Jim Calhoun got the most out of his players. They have a great point guard in Marcus Williams, however, the team is very young and lack the maturity to make a run at the championship. The Running Knights are not that bad and should easily stay in this range, Play: Central Florida +19 (Risking 1.65 units to win 1.5).<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
fficeffice" /><o></o><o
></o>Ohio +12½ over Florida (12:25 PM)<o
></o>Another dangerous spot to be laying this type of lumber, as the whole nation watched the Gators explode down the stretch and than bury Kentucky in the conference title. The Gators got a ton of television time and they shined big time, which, in effect, has driven this line up as soon as it came out. It’s seldom a good idea to be on the same side as everyone else and this is another prime example of paying too much to wager on a popular team. Sure, the Gators are a great team and could even win it all, however they’re overplayed and overpriced here and you can likely take that to the bank. Ohio U could spring a first-round upset. It has a fantastic freshman duo in Williams and Fears and four other guys who can score in Green, Troutman, Harbut and Halbert. Leon Williams could crack any lineup in the nation and this young but very talented team is not one that anyone wanted to see in the first round. The Bobcats are perhaps the most under-rated team of the 64 and this is simply just too big a head start to ignore. Play: Ohio +12½ (Risking 1.65 units to win 1.5).<o
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></o>Villanova –5½ over New Mexico (2:45 PM)<o
></o>The best player on the floor will be the Lobo’s Danny Granger but after him New Mexico is rather thin. Well, actually some may argue that this team can shoot well but they’re schedule was weak at best and against a good team those shots aren’t going to be open looks. The Lobo’s are tough to get a read on because they didn’t play anyone but we personally saw tham play plenty this year and they’re an average team that won the games they needed to to get here. Can you say one and done? Enter the Wildcats, one of the most dangerous teams in the land and there’s four good reason for that. Allan Ray, Randy Foye, Mike Nardi and Kyle Lowry. Ray, Foye, Nardi and Lowry are Villanova's guards and their performances at both ends of the court take a backseat to nobody. This is as good as it gets in the NCAA’s and this Wildcat team is hot. They got burned in the championships on a bad call but forget that. This Villanova team crushed Kansas at home, beat BC at home and nearly swept the Eagles with a close call in Conte Forum. Villanova beat the top teams in this league and to think for a moment that the Lobo’s can compete with this team is nuts. We never use the word lock but to us, this one is about as close as it gets. Play: Villanova –5½ (Risking 1.65 units to win 1.5). <o
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></o>Layfayette +12 over Louisville (7:10 PM)<o
></o>Cardinal coach Rick Pitino feels his team got the short end of the stick in the tournament seedings and vowed that his team has something to prove. His Cardinals went 29-4, won the Conference USA regular-season and tournament championships and were ranked No. 4 in both final polls (ESPN/USA Today and AP) and for all that achievement, they were rewarded with a No. 4 seed. Ouch. Than we have Dick Vitale calling the Cardinals a final four team and now everyone is down with the Cardinals. This line opened at 10 and as soon as Vitale spoke out the line started moving. Now it’s up to 12 and that’s a ton of lumber to be spotting the Cajuns, who play a similar style as Louisville. This should be a fun one to watch and it should also be noted that the Ragin Cajuns seldom lose when they score 70 or more. This team definitely won't be intimidated in the opening round, as the Cajuns already have played LSU, Charlotte, Kansas, NC State, Vandy, Southern Illinois and Rice this season. UL-L's best player is Tiras Wade, a transfer from East Tennessee State who averaged 20.4 ppg and 6.0 rpg from the guard spot. Brian Hamilton inside and Florida transfer Orien Greene in the backcourt provide quality support. This team can play and we always like to take back big points with pups like this that have absolutely nothing to lose in a game they can win. Play: Lafayette +12 (Risking 1.65 units to win 1.5).<o
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></o>Vermont +9 over Syracuse (4:10 PM)<o
></o>If the Orange take this team lightly they’ll be in big trouble. This Catamount team is extremely talented and experienced and don’t think for a moment that they’ll be intimidated here because they won’t be. Vermont scared Kansas in its season opener before losing by just seven and they also played at North Carolina this season. Vermont cruised to the America East regular-season crown and then pounded Northeastern in the conference tournament championship game to earn the bid. The Catamounts have some legitimate talent, starting with the obvious up front, three-time A-East player of the year Taylor Coppenrath. Former league player of the year T.J. Sorrentine provides floor leadership and outside shooting. The rest of the starting five are solid role players and they’ll bring it all here for legendary coach Tom Brennan, who will retire after this year. Don’t get us wrong, Syracuse is a potential monster with Gerry McNamara and Hakim Warrick. However, there’s always a danger of teams like Syracuse overlooking the first round opponent and we’ve seen some serious defensive lapses all year by Syracuse. The Catamounts are a dangerous puppy and all we know is that ‘Cuse better take this foe serious. Play Vermont +9 (Risking 1.65 units to win 1.5).
Northern Iowa +6½ and +2.80 over Wisconsin (7:20 PM)<o
></o>The Badgers are having a great year, there’s no doubt about that with an 11-5 conference record and a 22-8 overall record. They won five in a row before losing the title game to Illinois and they had a chance to win that game too. Defensively is how this team wins games and they had some very nice wins this year that includes Michigan St twice, Maryland and Bama. However, we’re not about to lay anything with the Badgers because of their shaky offense, which can go cold for long stretches and ususally does in each game, and because the role of the favorite is much different than the role of the pooch. Wisconsin has been a live dog all year but laying this many points with them cannot be considered the smart play. Northern Iowa is extremely dangerous and unlike the Badgers, this team can score from anywhere. Northern Iowa defeated Iowa State in a non-conference game while suffering narrow losses to Iowa and Cincinnati (in overtime). The Panthers are well-balanced and believe us, they’ll get their three’s here. This is a dangerous foe for Wisconsin to open against. They were much better off drawing somebody else and we honestly believe that the Panthers can win this one outright. Wisconsin is going to have to avoid those long scoring droughts and we that’s something they haven’t been able to do all year. Play: Northern Iowa +6½ (0.88 units to win 0.8) Play: Northern Iowa +2.80 (Risking 0.8 units).
