Looks like a great tournament with a few potential upsets. Time permitting, I will add my "bird" notes on some of these invitees. In the meantime, let's get these early qualifiers. Get after 'em, Pregamers!
Saint Marys CA -2½ (-115) ~ Two quite evenly matched teams here and I did buy the hook. I give the Raiders a slight edge on the defensive end, but overall and playing in the WCC, I think the Gaels find a way to advance. It won't be easy, though. Both teams adequate from the line and there shouldn't be much (if any) of an edge there. SM 76 MT 70
Liberty +1½ (-115) ~ Going with the small dog here for strictly one reason. The Aggies are feeble from the line while the Flames are good. ML play. They do need to dictate pace (Over, although oddly enough I lean Under here) and the Aggies are actually 6-0 on a neutral court, but half are likely high-school gyms. Wire to wire. Liberty 70 NC-AT 65
Liberty (+115) ½ unit
Liberty (+130) ½ unit ~ Added
Liberty (+110) 1st Half ½ unit ~ Added
Long Island -½ (-120) ~ Although I don't really feel the need to buy the hook here, I found myself doing so? Two pretty evenly matched conferences, IMO. I'll go with the better team, but they will need to play at least a little D. As I said, if the Blackbirds can make Jimmy run....it is over. LIU 75 JMU 69
Lasalle +1 (-110) ~ Another small dog that should be favored, IMO. Offense and defense slightly better by my numbers. Both exceptional at the line, but the Explorers should get there a couple more times. Very slight edge in competition goes the Broncs way, but it won't be enough. Lasalle 73 Boise State 69
And there folks are our final brackets
- Ducks will need to shoot "lights-out" from the line to advance. We know the Cowboys will........
- Which Creighton shows up? Jays' defense very suspect. I certainly won't be laying points, in any case......another flop in the Dance? Under probably the best play.
- Co St/Mizzou one of the most interesting games.....at least on paper. Final possession? Over the look with a forecast of OT.
- Marquette/Davidson at first glance looks like a tricky one. I don't think so......Davidson with some past March success, but not this time.
- Butler beware ~ they had better sharpen up at the line because this one may be won/lost there. Bisons perform well in the dog role.
- Illinois...a tale of two teams? They had better bring the good one if they hope to advance.
- NCS should be in a battle to the wire.
- The Hoyas had better not sleep on these Eagles.
- Akron won't be the #12 to upset. Tough tourney team in the Rams (which we all know about).
- SDS/Oklahoma is the tightest game in the entire Round, IMO.
- 'Nova gets punked (bitch-slapped).......
- New Mexico looks like the best play (ATS) of any 2nd Round match-up, IMO.
- If the same teams show up that we saw yesterday, Ole Miss advances easily. That 62% FT shooting WILL kill the Badgers eventually.
- The line is very suspect with Arizona, but I don't think it is really that close. Bears further scrutiny, though.
- Gophers a bit fishy laying 3 to UCLA? As above.
- Pitt/Wichita should be entertaining from start to finish. Definitely taking the points here. Panthers in the Big Dance usually the worst bet going.
I don't bother with the other tournaments until we can determine who is happy to be there......time is running short, let's get some dialogue going.
St Johns +6½ (-110) ~ Two teams that I never doubt the effort from. Could it be the names?
St Johns (+240) ½ unit
Louisiana Tech +5½ (-120)
Just an opinion here, but if Kentucky hasn't gotten over their perceived "snub" they may find themselves down early. May look at Morris 1st Half +2½.
Looking at the Under in the UVA game. Norfolk among the poorest FT shooting teams in the country, but which Cavs' team shows up? The one that scores 80?
Northeastern +11½ (-110) ~ Expect their 80% FT shooting to keep them in it.
I often wonder, like in the case of Ohio, when a team had only to win their last game to advance to the Dance and failed so miserably, what hangover effect is there? I believe that they got a perfect draw and if they can play any defense should advance. The Pioneers put up about the fewest FGAs (47) of any decent team in the country and although their PPP is high (1.13) any solid defense should put them away.
Ohio +6½ (-110) ~ No way I'd give more than 2 possessions
Ohio (+245) ½ unit ~ Largely dependent upon how they bounce-back from the Akron loss.
Stanford -8½ (-105) ~ Terrible match-up for SFA
Stanford -4½ (-110) 1st Half
Louisiana Tech/Florida State Under 142½ (-110)
Norfolk State/Virginia Under 123½ (-110) ~ Just hope the sniper Cavs don't show up
New Jersey Devils (-120) ~ Rangers currently playing better hockey, but a dreadful history at NJ.
Ottawa Senators (+115) ~ Ottawa loves the Island. Could easily go to OT and a SO, but likely at 3s.
-200 for the Habs is lunacy. Time will tell whether I play the Sabres at about +175, but they will bring their "A" game and have fared well in Montreal.
Pittsburgh Penguins -½ (+125) 1st Period
Carolina Hurricanes -½ (+145) 1st Period
Boston Bruins/Winnipeg Jets Under 5½ (-145) ~ For parlay play.
Winnipeg Jets +1½ (-260) ~ As above. SU win no surprise, though.
St Louis Blues/Vancouver Canucks Under 5½ (-145) ~ Another for the parlay. In a low-scoring game I'd have to take the Blues' backstop.
Phoenix Coyotes/Los Angeles Kings Under 5 (-105) ~ This is a strange one in that these teams played last night at the same venue. The H&H theory doesn't apply and it is so rare that there are no stats for it outside of the playoffs. Be Coyotes or nothing for me, though.
Boston Bruins vs Winnipeg Jets
Will the game go into overtime
Yes (+260)
Orlando Magic +11 (-110) ~ Just a single in the "A" tonight. Actually, a double at +260.
Orlando Magic/Indiana Pacers Under 193 (-110)
Exhibitionism at its finest. Straight and parlayed at 23/1. Looks a bit AL biased......
New York Yankees (+110)
Houston Astros (+145)
Baltimore Orioles (+115)
Chicago White Sox (+120)