Well we have the opening weekend in the rear view mirror. One word comes to mind first and foremost. Anarchy! I was out with friends Friday night watching games and it was surreal watching UMBC dismantle the #1 seed Virginia. Like most we kept waiting for the Cavaliers to restore order and take care of business. It never happened, quite the opposite. It was like watching a real life version of the movie Hoosiers. Like most when I have no betting interest in a game I will root for the underdog, particularly one on the scale of the Retrievers. Frankly I also had a side interest in seeing them pull it off. UMBC head coach Ryan Odom's brother Lane was my next door neighbor when he was here in Columbia on Quin Snyder's coaching staff. Very nice guy. He and his young wife had just had their first child and they could not have been a nicer couple. I have never met Ryan but I found myself pulling for him. Frankly I expected the clock to strike midnight on his team sunday against Kansas State in a more resounding fashion but to their credit they once again fought like hell. Kansas State found themselves in a street fight for their tournament lives. It was like fighting a crazy man. Just when you think you are getting control the crazy SOB clamps down and starts biting your ear. You fight back and get him under control and then he commences to chewing on the other ear. Thus was the plight of the Wildcats. They could not shake the Retrievers until the closing moments of the game. The entire weekend was flush with crazy endings. It was everything March Madness is about. I cannot wait to see what is awaiting is the sweet sixteen games. Could easily be more of the same.
Okay, we cashed the free winner last week with College of Charleston. Let's get another. This will not be the most popular release but that is okay. Everyone is entitled to an opinion. I am suggesting a play on the junkyard dogs, also known as Syracuse +11.5 against the blue bloods, Duke. The Orange rarely get it done in a pretty fashion. But I took Syracuse against Arizona State. I took Syracuse against TCU and yes, I took the Orange once again against Michigan State. I very much enjoyed watching the talking heads tell how Michigan State should handle Syracuse. Just confirmed my confidence in them. I like teams that defend. And that zone of the Orange wreaks havoc on clubs. Something about Syracuse and march madness. Yes, I expect the Blue Devils to win and advance but I am not laying the 11.5 points. We know Syracuse will come out and defend, there is no question about that. They will have to. Duke appears to be hitting now on all cylinders. But they will find themselves in their own scrap with a crazy man here. Hopefully the Orange can shoot the rock well enough to stay within striking range. I suspect they will. I do wish they had more depth, that's a given. But in the end I honestly think we will see another powerhouse in a real rumble. Give me the Orange and the generous points, again.
As for the tournament overall it has been a very solid start. After the dust settled I am currently plus 17 units to the good overall. I cashed about as easily as it gets sunday with my triple star rabid dog on Clemson as they absolutely nuked poor Auburn in a game that was not even competitive. Auburn was just never the same after losing McLemore. Night and day. I have yet to drop a featured release in the tournament. None of the Triples or Rabid Dogs have gone down yet. Great start but a good ways to go to the finish line. I have been focused on March Madness but tonight I am stepping into the NIT in a big way. One game stood out and I have it loaded right now. It is a Triple Star.
Okay, lot of work to be done and I assure you I am on it. Best of luck as always with your action. Great tourney to watch so far. I expect that to continue.