Saturday: 6-5 +$130
Overall: 16-18 +$680
Got greedy and tried a 5-team parlay and it cost me 1 game into it. Otherwise a decent day. Couple thoughts from yesterday: Saint Peter's looked like the better team the whole game; will be interesting to see how they deal with the time between games (15-seed in sweet 16 is BIG news). Purdue/Texas will obviously be favored, but IDK if I can bet against Holloway right now...Zaga took some heat and was still able to cook; don't think Arkansas will pose too much resistance (line is 9) to them getting to the Elite8 where hopefully they play either Duke or Texas Tech (either game should be a treat). Michigan---impressive 2nd half---really don't want to see Buckeyes/Wolverines part 3 in bball this year, so counting on Nova to take care of business as that's the game I want (who's selfish?). UNC v UCLA in sweet 16 (are we back in the 90s?)---love the matchup, errr, for the Bruins. UNC has played very well this tournament, but I think the ride for Hubert and company ends here. Bruins are heading back to the Final4. Kansas---bleh---not really impressed, and they get another boring a$$ matchup in the round of 16 (Providence, yawn). Self is a good coach, no doubt, but how much did he pay to get setup with this type of draw? OK, let's get to today(5 BIG10 games)...
Houston -4.5 220/200
For a team that lost arguably their 2 best offensive players (Sasser/Mark) early in the year, you wouldn't know it. Say what you will about Sampson, but dude can coach, and especially around this time of the year. I'm not sure Houston is really the better team, but the line should tell you something. Illinois will have the best player on the court (Cockburn---I don't care how the announcers pronounce his name, everyone is saying the explicit version when it pops on the screen---another thought, has a pornstar taken this yet?!). This isn't about fading the Big10 more than I just trust Houston to get it done (and it's not time to fade them, yet---that'll be next week).
Nova -5.5 330/300
Ohio St manhandled a Loyola team that most (myself, included) thought would give them a game, probably win. Now they get a bit of a different animal. These teams, on paper, are VERY similar. The difference to me: Jay Wright. Nova by 10! (for those counting, that's 2 for 2 Big10 fades)
Sparty +6.5 220/200
Really don't want K to go out like this (Sparty is not that good---losing to T Tech or Zaga would be easier to swallow) and I don't think Sparty WILL win this game, but 6.5 seems a bit much. Nerves will be SUPER HIGH for Duke to pull through, and Sparty will have their moments. MSU will be the more physical team (per the usual) in this matchup in what should be a closer than the spread game (my guess: 72-68, Duke).
Wisconsin -5 165/150
This line actually stinks! Iowa St is not good (please tell me NO ONE watched their game against LSU). So I'm probably screwed taking the favorite, here, as my head is saying this should be 7 or 8 for Badgers (which really means 2 or 3). Tread lightly on this one.
Notre Dame +8 220/200
ACC! Alright, so the Red Raiders are a GREAT team. The luck of the Irish is most likely coming to an end today, but I have to bite on the pts. ND has been ON FIRE (cue the NBA Jam announcer) and are trying to play the role of UCLA from last year(hint: don't think they will get that far). T Tech plays vastly superior D to the other teams they have played, but Irish will do enough to cover.
Miami +7.5 440/400
Miami ML 100/270
My love for the Canes goes DEEP this year! This matchup has me all over them (again) as the only issue (albeit a BIG one) will be Jabari Smith. Kessler could get some, too, but the rest of the team is outmatched against Miami's guard trio (Wong, McGusty, Moore). I think Jordan Miller can at least stop Smith from scoring 50 (he'll get 35-40), but the rest of the team will score less than that. Miami in a stunna (#1 Stunna, for you Baby rapper, fans)!
Texas +3.5 165/150
Contrasting styles in this one. Texas is the team full of "stars from other teams" and I'm not sure any of them have played anywhere near as well as they did at their previous schools (maybe Timmy Allen), but Beard can coach (better than Painter) and this is another rank line (Purdue is light years better on paper) so I'm biting on the dog to cover (God help us if we have to watch Texas v Saint Peter's....it'll be a 40-38 final).
Think Zona game could be similar to Zaga, but I'm leaving it for now...maybe a 2nd half play.
GL All!
Overall: 16-18 +$680
Got greedy and tried a 5-team parlay and it cost me 1 game into it. Otherwise a decent day. Couple thoughts from yesterday: Saint Peter's looked like the better team the whole game; will be interesting to see how they deal with the time between games (15-seed in sweet 16 is BIG news). Purdue/Texas will obviously be favored, but IDK if I can bet against Holloway right now...Zaga took some heat and was still able to cook; don't think Arkansas will pose too much resistance (line is 9) to them getting to the Elite8 where hopefully they play either Duke or Texas Tech (either game should be a treat). Michigan---impressive 2nd half---really don't want to see Buckeyes/Wolverines part 3 in bball this year, so counting on Nova to take care of business as that's the game I want (who's selfish?). UNC v UCLA in sweet 16 (are we back in the 90s?)---love the matchup, errr, for the Bruins. UNC has played very well this tournament, but I think the ride for Hubert and company ends here. Bruins are heading back to the Final4. Kansas---bleh---not really impressed, and they get another boring a$$ matchup in the round of 16 (Providence, yawn). Self is a good coach, no doubt, but how much did he pay to get setup with this type of draw? OK, let's get to today(5 BIG10 games)...
Houston -4.5 220/200
For a team that lost arguably their 2 best offensive players (Sasser/Mark) early in the year, you wouldn't know it. Say what you will about Sampson, but dude can coach, and especially around this time of the year. I'm not sure Houston is really the better team, but the line should tell you something. Illinois will have the best player on the court (Cockburn---I don't care how the announcers pronounce his name, everyone is saying the explicit version when it pops on the screen---another thought, has a pornstar taken this yet?!). This isn't about fading the Big10 more than I just trust Houston to get it done (and it's not time to fade them, yet---that'll be next week).
Nova -5.5 330/300
Ohio St manhandled a Loyola team that most (myself, included) thought would give them a game, probably win. Now they get a bit of a different animal. These teams, on paper, are VERY similar. The difference to me: Jay Wright. Nova by 10! (for those counting, that's 2 for 2 Big10 fades)
Sparty +6.5 220/200
Really don't want K to go out like this (Sparty is not that good---losing to T Tech or Zaga would be easier to swallow) and I don't think Sparty WILL win this game, but 6.5 seems a bit much. Nerves will be SUPER HIGH for Duke to pull through, and Sparty will have their moments. MSU will be the more physical team (per the usual) in this matchup in what should be a closer than the spread game (my guess: 72-68, Duke).
Wisconsin -5 165/150
This line actually stinks! Iowa St is not good (please tell me NO ONE watched their game against LSU). So I'm probably screwed taking the favorite, here, as my head is saying this should be 7 or 8 for Badgers (which really means 2 or 3). Tread lightly on this one.
Notre Dame +8 220/200
ACC! Alright, so the Red Raiders are a GREAT team. The luck of the Irish is most likely coming to an end today, but I have to bite on the pts. ND has been ON FIRE (cue the NBA Jam announcer) and are trying to play the role of UCLA from last year(hint: don't think they will get that far). T Tech plays vastly superior D to the other teams they have played, but Irish will do enough to cover.
Miami +7.5 440/400
Miami ML 100/270
My love for the Canes goes DEEP this year! This matchup has me all over them (again) as the only issue (albeit a BIG one) will be Jabari Smith. Kessler could get some, too, but the rest of the team is outmatched against Miami's guard trio (Wong, McGusty, Moore). I think Jordan Miller can at least stop Smith from scoring 50 (he'll get 35-40), but the rest of the team will score less than that. Miami in a stunna (#1 Stunna, for you Baby rapper, fans)!
Texas +3.5 165/150
Contrasting styles in this one. Texas is the team full of "stars from other teams" and I'm not sure any of them have played anywhere near as well as they did at their previous schools (maybe Timmy Allen), but Beard can coach (better than Painter) and this is another rank line (Purdue is light years better on paper) so I'm biting on the dog to cover (God help us if we have to watch Texas v Saint Peter's....it'll be a 40-38 final).
Think Zona game could be similar to Zaga, but I'm leaving it for now...maybe a 2nd half play.
GL All!
