By Marc Lawrence With the 2011 NCAA Tournament entering the SWEET 16 round, let's take a different perspective in analyzing the teams that have arrived. It pertains specifically to teams that are returning to the SWEET 16 for the second straight year. Do they perform like a team with experience and panache, or do they execute like CEO's looking for golden parachutes and cushy bonuses while steering a sinking ship?... Read more

By Marc Lawrence Get your dancing shoes out. With just two weeks remaining to the start of the 2011 NCAA Tournament, teams sitting on the outside looking in are now - more than ever - sweating their bubbles off. For the legitimate teams who find themselves sitting ‘on the tournament bubble', it's now crunch time. And with it the pressure peaks. As Elvis said, "It's now or never." With post-season conference tournaments... Read more

Rounding Third and Heading Home By Marc Lawrence In the blink of an eye the 2011 NCAA Basketball Tournament will begin its annual pulse-pounding extravaganza. In all likelihood hearts will be broken, a new champion crowned, and memories of upsets and game-winning shots will leave the court in assured dramatic fashion when the 'Big Dance' takes center stage Thursday, March 17th. Before we take in all the 'Big... Read more

Too Much Rest Makes Rust By Marc Lawrence Generally speaking, the first rule most good handicappers look to apply is seeking out live dogs that have a realistic shot at winning the game. That's because three things can happen when you bet on an underdog - and two of them are good. There are, however, certain dogs that can bite the hand that feeds them if they are not conditioned to win. For the most part they... Read more

By Marc Lawrence With the college basketball season now in full conference swing, let's examine a handicapping theory that yields a much better return on your investment than the banks these days. It deals with teams playing back-to-back days without rest during the regular season. For the most part it pertains largely to Ivy League games, noted for playing back-to-back contests on Friday and Saturday nights. ... Read more

By Marc Lawrence It’s onward to Indianapolis for the Final Four games. To put the wraps on the 2010 NCAA Tournament, listed below are some interesting trends and angles to consider before our Fab Four takes a final spin in Circle City this weekend. All results listed below are ATS (Against The Spread) since 1991 unless noted otherwise. Enjoy… FINAL 4 ROUND NOTES • #1 Seeds that are 4-0 ATS in this tourney are 2-4 SU... Read more

By Marc Lawrence There is nothing sweeter this time of the year than being alive in the NCAA Tournament. For those teams that survived the opening two rounds of this main event it's on to the Sweet 16 and, hopefully, the Elite 8 this weekend. From the 2010 PLAYBOOK NCAA Sweet 16 Tournament Supplement, here are notes of the teams that have arrived. Stay tuned... SWEET 16 ROUND NOTES: #1 Seed favs < 11 pts... Read more

By Marc Lawrence The 2010 NCAA Tournament has arrived and with it once final chance to pad our bankrolls for the season. To make that shining moment happen, let’s take a look at how teams in this event have fared most recently in the past. NCAA TOURNEY – MOST RECENT TRENDS • #1 Seeds are 76-0 SU (42-33-1 ATS) vs #16 Seeds • #2 Seeds are 72-4 SU (31-41-4 ATS) vs #15 Seeds • Only twice since 1988 has a #12 Seed failed... Read more

By Marc Lawrence PROJECTED FINAL FOUR: Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Mississippi State THE WAY WE SEE IT: KENTUCKY enters as the No. 1 seed for the first time since 2005 and we'll look for them to continue their dominant play in this event. Since 1992, the Wildcats are 38-8 SU and 31-13-2 ATS, including an amazing 28-8-1 ATS as favorites of more than four points in this tourney. The top rebounding team... Read more

By Marc Lawrence PROJECTED FINAL FOUR: California, Arizona State, Washington and USC THE WAY WE SEE IT: In the eight-year history of this tournament, there have been six different winners. CALIFORNIA isn't one of them. Could this be the Bears' turn? Cal was one-and-done last year but led by guards Jerome Randle and Patrick Christopher, the only returnees from last year's All Pac-10 first team, this year's... Read more