Last season, I went ahead and chose UCONN (+2000) and OKLAHOMA (+4000)...as our NCAABB Futures...

We saw Oklahoma fall one game short of reaching the Final Four...while UCONN was able to get to the Final Four...

What you need to understand is that the main goal for myself, in placing "Future Bets"...is to put myself in a position to "EARN"...

Now don't get me wrong, when a future bet gets there all the way...like the STEELERS did last year, that's a beautiful thing...

But with that said, the main reason we bet the NO SAINTS (+2000) for 4 Units...and the SD CHARGERS (+1000) for 5 Units...in the NFL this season, was because I felt that BOTH teams would have no problem making the Playoffs...And when that happens, we will be in a great position to earn...

When it comes to NCAABB this year...we are going to make "2" FUTURE BETS to WIN the 2009-10 NCAABB CHAMPIONSHIP...And "cut-down" the nets in March...

I've decided that we would put a total of "7" Units in Play...And since BOTH are considered BEST BETS...We will make one a 4* Bet, and the other a 3* Bet...Which will hopefully give us "100" UNITS to work with in March...So without further delay, let's get right to this season's wagers...VR

To WIN the 2009-10 NCAABB CHAMPIONSHIP (FUTURE BETS) :

1.) TEXAS +1000....(4*)

Now you are going to have to shop this one around, because I've seen as low as +800...to a high of +1200...So I'll go ahead and put this out at the number we just got at Bodog, which they will probably move once they see that these accounts have cashed some big "Future Bets" in the past...

For those living here in Vegas, I also know that the Hilton Superbook is using +1000...Because a couple of guys who help me out, that I gave these bets to on Friday, were able to get that over the weekend...And here are my reasons...

Bottom Line...although this team lost G AJ Abrams and C Connor Atchley...they are loaded with talent, and are extremely DEEP...They will start "3" Seniors, "1" Junior, and "1" Freshman at PG...Now I know you may be thinking, that having the upper-classmenis great...but a freshman PG ??

Well, let me be the first to tell you that this PG is not your average freshman...In fact, I know about this kid very well because he played his HS ball right here in Vegas, at Findlay Prep...And will be the biggest aquisition for Texas since Kevin Durant...

His name is AVERY BRADLEY, and he could have gone to ANY school he wanted...He was Ranked the #1 Prospect in the nation on ESPNU, and after winning the slam-dunk contest at the McDonalds All-American Game...he went on to score 15 pts, and grab 6 RB in only 20+ minutes of play...

More importantly, Bradley is the ONLY freshman to ever be invited to the DeRon Williams Point Guard Academy back in June...Where he was able to work out with the likes of Sherron Collins, Kalin Lucas, & Nic Wise...So this kid could flat out play...And at 6-3, he is expected to be versatile enough to play the 1 or 2 spot when he's out on the court...

Finally, Barnes knows that this may be the best team he has ever had at Texas...So he invited Kevin Durant, Royal Ivey, TJ Ford, & DJ Augustin to camp over the summer...To come in and help this team prepare for the long season ahead...And also force them to practice againt NBA level competition...Which should really pay dividends and have this team ready no matter what they go up against throughout the seaon and the Madness...

Barnes was sharp enough to schedule a grueling Out-of-Conference Schedule...So by the time that March rolls around, this squad will have already been tested...And the way they lost to Duke last season, which stopped them from reaching the Sweet 16...should really add for both, motivation and experience...

I truely believe that this is the one team that has the kind of players and system to give Kansas problems...And if they can play up to their potential, and stay healthy...then there is absolutely NO reason at all they won't get far enough in the Tourney, to allow us to "Earn"...and with a few bounces going their way, possibly cut down the nets...VR

2.) TENNESSEE +2000....(3*)

This is another "Future Bet" that you really need to shop...Because although the lowest I've seen is +2000, I've seen as high as +2500...Which is what I bet it at over the weekend at the Las Vegas Hilton...

More importantly, you should ALWAYS shop your future bets around, because books will adjust their odds based on what bets THEY are booking...and not neccessarily what others are offering...

Now I know that this team lost in the 1st Round of the Tourney last season to Oklahoma St, by a mere 2 points...And I also know that Bruce Pearl has been accused of not being able produce come Tournament time...But let's tell it like it is, a coach can only do so much to prepare his players to go out and perform...the rest is up to them...And after the job Pearl did with his team last season, nobody should doubt that this guy is one of the best in College Basketball today...

They won 21 games, and tied for 1st in the SEC East...Getting to the Championship Game, even after so many injuries and off the court problems...

This season, Pearl gets "ALL 5 STARTERS BACK" from last year's team...

And except for Sophmore SG Scotty Hopson, who was considered to be a definite "one & done"...and enter the NBA Draft, but decided to return...Tennessee will be starting "4" Seniors...And many times we will see "5" on the court at the same time...

So experience is not a concern...And neither is depth, after Tyler Smith didn't turn pro...and they were able to get JUCO PG Melvin Goins, who is a "lock-down" defender...to go along with an extremely talented and mature group...

I really believe that this will be the season that Pearl is finally able to silence his critics, who claim "the Sweet 16 is where Tenn goes to die"...

Because he has himself one of the most talented and athletic teams in the nation...With a huge cast of upper-classmen, many of whom could have turned pro already...But instead, seem to have come back for their senior year's for a reason...Because they truely believe that this team is capable of getting to the Final Four, and putting themselves in a position to cut down the nets that same Monday...VR

Now obviously, many feel that Kansas and even Michigan St are the best teams in NCAABB...

And although Texas is Ranked right up there with them...They haven't been able to get the job done in the past, even with very talented teams...So they will be one of those squads that most will disregard as being "legitimate", until they prove otherwise...

And as far as Tennessee goes, whoever I passed along this future bet to...came back with the quote, "save your money"...

But that is exactly the kind of teams that I like to back for future bets...Because the "public perception" adds plenty of value, and more importantly...these teams also seem to always have that chip on their shoulders...

So let's go ahead and put "7" UNITS into play on these 2 NCAABB "Future Bets"...

And see if we can "Earn" off them in March...or even better, cash one of these 2 tickets...

Thanks again for all your support, and best of luck on the College Basketball Season ahead...This should be a great one, without a team as dominant as N Carolina was last season...Because although Kansas is almost being touted as such, after doing a lot of work, I do believe they are beatable...Vegas-Runner.