INSIDE THE LINES
By Dave Johnson
March Madness Preview
Now is the time of the year to separate the contenders from the pretenders. Which teams will be dancing this year and which teams will watch their bubbles burst? Take a look at my top 3 Picks from each major conference as well as my pick for mid-major team to watch as we get ready for some upcoming madness.
BIG EAST
The Big East is the deepest conference in NCAA basketball this season. Villanova and Connecticut are two of my three picks to win it all. The Big East could be sending as many as 9 of its 16 teams to ?The Dance.? Solid recent play from teams like Seton Hall, Marquette, and Cincinnati is going to make this conference tournament one of the best in recent memory.
Top 3 Big East Picks (Betting Odds @ http://www.wagerweb.com )
Connecticut odds to win NCAA Championship +3 to 1 (Risk $100 to win $300)
Villanova odds to win NCAA Championship +10 to 1 (Risk $100 to win $1000)
West Virginia odds to win NCAA Championship +15 to 1 (Risk $100 to win $1500)
BIG TEN
There is no real powerhouse team running away with the Big Ten this year. Illinois, Ohio State, Iowa, and Wisconsin are all right there in a huge log jam at the top of the conference. Keep any eye out for both Michigan and Michigan State, as both teams should be there tournament time barring any monumental collapse.
Top 3 Big Ten Picks (Betting odds @ http://www.wagerweb.com )
Illinois odds to win NCAA Championship +25 to 1 (Risk $100 to win $2500)
Ohio State odds to win NCAA Championship +35 to 1 (Risk $100 to win $3500)
Iowa odds to win NCAA Championship +70 to 1 (Risk $100 to win $7000)
ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE (ACC)
The ACC is not nearly as deep a conference as it has been in past seasons. Duke sits at the top in conference play at 12-0. The other teams in the conference have lacked consistency all season long and remain an enigma. Keep an eye out for Florida State and Maryland in the conference tournament; both teams will most likely need to make a run to secure a bid.
Top 3 ACC Picks (Betting odds @ http://www.wagerweb.com )
Duke odds to win NCAA Championship +2.5 to 1 (Risk $100 to win $250)
North Carolina odds to win NCAA Championship +30 to 1 (Risk $100 to win $3000)
NC State odds to win NCAA Championship +45 to 1 (Risk $100 to win $4500)
SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE (SEC)
There are not very many strong teams coming out of the SEC this year. Tennessee, Florida, and LSU will all receive nods come tournament time. Kentucky has rebounded after a slow start, and a strong finish might have them dancing. Alabama, Arkansas, and South Carolina leave much to be desired and will need a strong February if they want to make the tournament.
Top 3 SEC Picks (Betting Odds @ http://www.wagerweb.com )
Florida odds to win NCAA Championship +20 to 1 (Risk $100 to win $2000)
Tennessee odds to win NCAA Championship +30 to 1 (Risk $100 to win $3000)
LSU odds to win NCAA Championship +40 to 1 (Risk $100 to win $4000)
BIG 12 CONFERENCE
Is the Big 12 having an off year? I would not say that to Rick Barnes, Texas? head coach, as he has his squad primed and ready for a deep run into March. A Texas Championship would secure simultaneous titles in baseball, football, and basketball title for UT. How many trivia buffs can tell me if that has ever happened? Kansas has improved their play lately but is still a shell of what the team was a few years ago. Oklahoma should receive a bid if they continue to play strong throughout February.
Top 3 Big 12 Picks (Betting odds @ http://www.wagerweb.com )
Texas odds to win NCAA Championship +10 to 1 (Risk $100 to win $1000)
Oklahoma odds to win NCAA Championship +40 to 1 (Risk $100 to win $4000)
Kansas odds to win NCAA Championship +60 to 1 (Risk $100 to win $6000)
PACIFIC-10 CONFERENCE (PAC-10)
Can any of the PAC-10 teams make a run deep into the tournament? I really doubt it considering that none of the teams have any serious talent or depth. UCLA and Washington will both receive bids, but neither is a national powerhouse. Keep an eye on California, Stanford, USC, and Arizona during the conference tournament. All three teams should be on bubble and could possibly receive a bid with a strong finish.
Top 3 PAC-10 Picks (Betting odds @ http://www.wagerweb.com )
UCLA odds to win NCAA Championship +40 to 1 (Risk $100 to win $4000)
Washington odds to win NCAA Championship +50 to 1 (Risk $100 to win $5000)
Arizona odds to win NCAA Championship +65 to 1 (Risk $100 to win $6500)
Dave Johnson?s Top 3 Overall National Championship Picks
3rd Pick: Villanova
This team?s four guards are the best in the country and will be a tough match-up against any opponent. Randy Foye and Allan Ray can score at will and provide the offensive numbers needed to make a run deep. The key to a championship will be a tenacious defense and some great coaching from Head Coach Jay Wright.
2nd Pick: Connecticut
This is the best ?team? in college basketball this season. Rudy Gay, Marcus Williams, and Josh Boone lead the toughest inside game in the country. Their depth and talent should have Head Coach Jim Calhoun poised for another deep run. Expect to see them in the Final Four in Indianapolis.
1st Pick: Duke
JJ Redick at almost 30 points page game (ppg) and Sheldon Williams at almost 20 ppg are the best one-two punch in college hoops. Coach K has all the experience needed to pull the right strings and take home a National Championship. At 2.5 to 1, Duke is the odds on favorite and my pick to win it all this season.
Mid-Major Super-Value Pick (Betting odds @ http://www.wagerweb.com )
Will this finally be the year Gonzaga makes it to the Final Four? Led by scoring machine Adam Morrison and big man J.P. Batista, many experts including myself seem to think so. If Morrison continues to stun opponents with a combination of three-pointers, mid-range pull-up jumpers, dunks, free throws, and fallaways, you can bet the Zags will be punching a ticket to Indianapolis. If Gonzaga makes a deep run, expect the moustache to start to come back into fashion?scary.
Gonzaga odds to win NCAA Championship +35 to 1 (Risk $100 to win $3500)
March Madness Bracket Contest @ Wagerweb.com
This contest is FREE for all active members. Open an account at wagerweb.com and join us for the MADNESS. Pick a perfect bracket and win $1,000,000. Place in the Top 10 and share a piece of $25,000.
Dave Johnson - CEO and founder of Wagerweb.com.
Started in the gambling business over 10 years ago working for some of the largest gambling syndicates in Las Vegas and around the world. Opened Wagerweb.com 5+ years ago in Costa Rica and today oversees all daily operations of the business. A professional from "both sides of the counter," he delivers the information that gamblers and bookmakers want and need to know weekly.
By Dave Johnson
March Madness Preview
Now is the time of the year to separate the contenders from the pretenders. Which teams will be dancing this year and which teams will watch their bubbles burst? Take a look at my top 3 Picks from each major conference as well as my pick for mid-major team to watch as we get ready for some upcoming madness.
BIG EAST
The Big East is the deepest conference in NCAA basketball this season. Villanova and Connecticut are two of my three picks to win it all. The Big East could be sending as many as 9 of its 16 teams to ?The Dance.? Solid recent play from teams like Seton Hall, Marquette, and Cincinnati is going to make this conference tournament one of the best in recent memory.
Top 3 Big East Picks (Betting Odds @ http://www.wagerweb.com )
Connecticut odds to win NCAA Championship +3 to 1 (Risk $100 to win $300)
Villanova odds to win NCAA Championship +10 to 1 (Risk $100 to win $1000)
West Virginia odds to win NCAA Championship +15 to 1 (Risk $100 to win $1500)
BIG TEN
There is no real powerhouse team running away with the Big Ten this year. Illinois, Ohio State, Iowa, and Wisconsin are all right there in a huge log jam at the top of the conference. Keep any eye out for both Michigan and Michigan State, as both teams should be there tournament time barring any monumental collapse.
Top 3 Big Ten Picks (Betting odds @ http://www.wagerweb.com )
Illinois odds to win NCAA Championship +25 to 1 (Risk $100 to win $2500)
Ohio State odds to win NCAA Championship +35 to 1 (Risk $100 to win $3500)
Iowa odds to win NCAA Championship +70 to 1 (Risk $100 to win $7000)
ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE (ACC)
The ACC is not nearly as deep a conference as it has been in past seasons. Duke sits at the top in conference play at 12-0. The other teams in the conference have lacked consistency all season long and remain an enigma. Keep an eye out for Florida State and Maryland in the conference tournament; both teams will most likely need to make a run to secure a bid.
Top 3 ACC Picks (Betting odds @ http://www.wagerweb.com )
Duke odds to win NCAA Championship +2.5 to 1 (Risk $100 to win $250)
North Carolina odds to win NCAA Championship +30 to 1 (Risk $100 to win $3000)
NC State odds to win NCAA Championship +45 to 1 (Risk $100 to win $4500)
SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE (SEC)
There are not very many strong teams coming out of the SEC this year. Tennessee, Florida, and LSU will all receive nods come tournament time. Kentucky has rebounded after a slow start, and a strong finish might have them dancing. Alabama, Arkansas, and South Carolina leave much to be desired and will need a strong February if they want to make the tournament.
Top 3 SEC Picks (Betting Odds @ http://www.wagerweb.com )
Florida odds to win NCAA Championship +20 to 1 (Risk $100 to win $2000)
Tennessee odds to win NCAA Championship +30 to 1 (Risk $100 to win $3000)
LSU odds to win NCAA Championship +40 to 1 (Risk $100 to win $4000)
BIG 12 CONFERENCE
Is the Big 12 having an off year? I would not say that to Rick Barnes, Texas? head coach, as he has his squad primed and ready for a deep run into March. A Texas Championship would secure simultaneous titles in baseball, football, and basketball title for UT. How many trivia buffs can tell me if that has ever happened? Kansas has improved their play lately but is still a shell of what the team was a few years ago. Oklahoma should receive a bid if they continue to play strong throughout February.
Top 3 Big 12 Picks (Betting odds @ http://www.wagerweb.com )
Texas odds to win NCAA Championship +10 to 1 (Risk $100 to win $1000)
Oklahoma odds to win NCAA Championship +40 to 1 (Risk $100 to win $4000)
Kansas odds to win NCAA Championship +60 to 1 (Risk $100 to win $6000)
PACIFIC-10 CONFERENCE (PAC-10)
Can any of the PAC-10 teams make a run deep into the tournament? I really doubt it considering that none of the teams have any serious talent or depth. UCLA and Washington will both receive bids, but neither is a national powerhouse. Keep an eye on California, Stanford, USC, and Arizona during the conference tournament. All three teams should be on bubble and could possibly receive a bid with a strong finish.
Top 3 PAC-10 Picks (Betting odds @ http://www.wagerweb.com )
UCLA odds to win NCAA Championship +40 to 1 (Risk $100 to win $4000)
Washington odds to win NCAA Championship +50 to 1 (Risk $100 to win $5000)
Arizona odds to win NCAA Championship +65 to 1 (Risk $100 to win $6500)
Dave Johnson?s Top 3 Overall National Championship Picks
3rd Pick: Villanova
This team?s four guards are the best in the country and will be a tough match-up against any opponent. Randy Foye and Allan Ray can score at will and provide the offensive numbers needed to make a run deep. The key to a championship will be a tenacious defense and some great coaching from Head Coach Jay Wright.
2nd Pick: Connecticut
This is the best ?team? in college basketball this season. Rudy Gay, Marcus Williams, and Josh Boone lead the toughest inside game in the country. Their depth and talent should have Head Coach Jim Calhoun poised for another deep run. Expect to see them in the Final Four in Indianapolis.
1st Pick: Duke
JJ Redick at almost 30 points page game (ppg) and Sheldon Williams at almost 20 ppg are the best one-two punch in college hoops. Coach K has all the experience needed to pull the right strings and take home a National Championship. At 2.5 to 1, Duke is the odds on favorite and my pick to win it all this season.
Mid-Major Super-Value Pick (Betting odds @ http://www.wagerweb.com )
Will this finally be the year Gonzaga makes it to the Final Four? Led by scoring machine Adam Morrison and big man J.P. Batista, many experts including myself seem to think so. If Morrison continues to stun opponents with a combination of three-pointers, mid-range pull-up jumpers, dunks, free throws, and fallaways, you can bet the Zags will be punching a ticket to Indianapolis. If Gonzaga makes a deep run, expect the moustache to start to come back into fashion?scary.
Gonzaga odds to win NCAA Championship +35 to 1 (Risk $100 to win $3500)
March Madness Bracket Contest @ Wagerweb.com
This contest is FREE for all active members. Open an account at wagerweb.com and join us for the MADNESS. Pick a perfect bracket and win $1,000,000. Place in the Top 10 and share a piece of $25,000.
Dave Johnson - CEO and founder of Wagerweb.com.
Started in the gambling business over 10 years ago working for some of the largest gambling syndicates in Las Vegas and around the world. Opened Wagerweb.com 5+ years ago in Costa Rica and today oversees all daily operations of the business. A professional from "both sides of the counter," he delivers the information that gamblers and bookmakers want and need to know weekly.
