Sweet 16: 2-3
Elite 8: 2-0
Final Four:
Georgia Tech (2-1 ATS) VS. Oklahoma State (3-1 Ats, 4-0 Unders)
Opening Line: -5.5 O/U 143
Some stats and trends:
GT: won 4 SU and 2 ATS (19-15 ATS for the year) Neutral site Record(NSR): 9-1
OK. State: won 10 SU and lost 1 ATS (15-13 ATS for the Year) NSR: 7-0
Tech has played 7 more games than the Ok. State.
GEORGIA TECH is 1-5 ATS versus good defensive teams - allowing less than 64 points/game after 15+ games this season.
GEORGIA TECH is 1-5 ATS in road games when playing with 5 or 6 days rest over the last 3 seasons.
OKLAHOMA ST is 1-5 ATS in road games when the total is 140 to 149.5 over the last 3 seasons.
GT?s Power Rating (PR) for ?Away games: 91.21
OK. State PR: 91.17
The team that surprised the ACC from start (winning pre-season NIT) to finish against the best of the Big 12. This game is being downplayed due to the ?other 2? teams that supposedly should be playing in the Championship game. Funny thing is that either one of these teams should have a real good chance of ?upsetting? the winner of the other game. So who wins this game? Ok. State showed how tough a team they are surviving the arsenal that St. Joseph?s put forth in the last game. The game before against Pittsburgh was a nail-biter until the last 5 minutes when they took it away and cruised to the win. Lucas showed how great of a player he was in the last game and he made a believer out of me! The 2 previous games in the Tourney were easy wins against Memphis and E. Washington (at least SU). The problem I see with the Cowboy?s is that if they let Tech have the open shot, they will burn them many times over. But on a positive note, the Cowboys adjust extremely well on the court. St. Joe?s was able to show how the open three was available when they passed around the arc. Their defense is good, but will have to be better to beat the Rambling Wreck. Tech can score points in a hurry and will kill if you do not find a way to shut them down. This game will be decided in the paint. The teams that ?cleans the glass? better and gets more offensive rebounds will win this game. The big question for GT will be the health factor of BJ Elder (he will play). Jack played tremendously against Kansas to cover for BJ, but to beat the Cowboys, they will need Elder healthy IMO. Jack will have the size over Lucas to try to contain him. Schenscher will HAVE to play as well as he did in the last game, or the Cowboys are gonna own the paint, even with their limited size down low. Muhammad can be the ?X-factor? with his athletic play. The Offensive edge goes to the Yellow Jackets and the Defensive edge goes to the Cowboys. The Intangibles will favor the Cowboys IMO with Sutton having the tourney experience. Both teams will be nervous since no players have been to the ?final four? before. Riding the Points again, thinking that this game will be close throughout and contest. Tech has more depth and can use that to their advantage again. Kansas had this same line and never covered the spread in that game. Not trying to compare the 2 Big 12 teams, but giving a little credit to the Jackets. Maybe biased on my part, but think the ACC season has the Jackets more ?road-tested? than the Cowboys. Jackets not getting any respect in lines or chances to win the Title?.Playing GT +5.
Uconn (3-1 ATS) Vs. Duke (3-1 ATS):
Opening Line: -1.5 O/U 143
Stats and Trends:
UConn: W7 SU and W3 ATS (15-18 ATS this year) NSR: 11-1
Duke: W4 SU and Lost 1 ATS (18-16 ATS this year) NSR: 8-2
Duke has played 2 more games this year than UConn.
Uconn has beaten Duke the last 2 times they have played each other (both back in ?99)
CONNECTICUT is 1-7 ATS in road games after scoring 80 points or more this season.
DUKE is 6-1 ATS in road games on Saturday games this season.
CONNECTICUT is 7-0 ATS in tournament semi-final games since 1997.
CONNECTICUT is 9-2 ATS versus good offensive teams - scoring more than 77+ points/game after 15+ games over the last 3 seasons.
Duke PR: 97.36 (best in nation)
Uconn PR: 89.81
The ?best? 2 teams match up in the later semi-final game. Questions arise about both teams? health. How is Okafor?s shoulder, even though he has been practicing with the team? How is Duhon?s back? Can the Huskies continue to hit from the perimeter? Can Duke stop the triple threat of Okafor, Anderson and Gordon? The answers will only be answered when the game is over. No matter how much you hate either team or the coaches, you have to give both teams a lot of credit for continuing to make it to the Final 4 on a normal basis. This will be Coach K?s 10th time at the Final 4! The ineffectiveness of Duhon lately in the scoring category will be of concern for the Devils, but his Defense has been stellar at the same time. His lack of practice (due to the injury) has impacted that, but I think this weeks practices will get him back to his normal way of breaking down defenses and getting the open shot or passing to the open teammate. Okafor is the most dominant player this year on the Defensive front. His is a great weapon to have on Offense as well. Duke will have 3 players that they will have to rely on to contain him: Williams, Randolph and Horvak (maybe Deng in situations). Their job will be to disrupt his normal play and TRY to get him into foul trouble. They will also have to try to be physical with him to test how well his shoulder has healed. One thing that I truly believe is that this will be the toughest defense that Uconn will have played this year. The looks they have had against their other opponents this tourney will not be there against Duke. The shots by Anderson and Gordon will be guarded as compared to the last game. If they can beat them to the open shot, then Uconn will win this game. Duke relies mostly on Deng, Reddick and Williams mostly to score. They will have to penetrate and convert to beat the best team in land. Uconn has had a pretty easy road to the Final 4 with comfortable wins over Bama, Vandy, Depaul and Vermont. Duke had comfortable wins over Bama State and the Hall, but struggled to finish off Illini and the X. The thing I see is that the Huskies have not really been tested yet this tourney. Don?t get me wrong, they are playing extremely well and have deserved each and every win. But they have yet been in a close game and that will hurt them IMO when they face the Dookies on Saturday night. Duke has ?been there, done that? and will be ready. Both teams match-up pretty well in ALL categories, but 2: 1) Rebounds per game: Uconn averages 8 more per game
And 2)Free Throws: Duke: 74% Uconn: 60.5%?.game WILL be decided in these 2 categories. This game really is a coin-flip IMO. Both teams have good to great defenses and offenses that can be explosive if they get into a rhythm. Regardless, going with the Dookies because I truly feel that they are ready for the level of play that Uconn will bring. Playing Duke on the ML.
glta
toy
Elite 8: 2-0
Final Four:
Georgia Tech (2-1 ATS) VS. Oklahoma State (3-1 Ats, 4-0 Unders)
Opening Line: -5.5 O/U 143
Some stats and trends:
GT: won 4 SU and 2 ATS (19-15 ATS for the year) Neutral site Record(NSR): 9-1
OK. State: won 10 SU and lost 1 ATS (15-13 ATS for the Year) NSR: 7-0
Tech has played 7 more games than the Ok. State.
GEORGIA TECH is 1-5 ATS versus good defensive teams - allowing less than 64 points/game after 15+ games this season.
GEORGIA TECH is 1-5 ATS in road games when playing with 5 or 6 days rest over the last 3 seasons.
OKLAHOMA ST is 1-5 ATS in road games when the total is 140 to 149.5 over the last 3 seasons.
GT?s Power Rating (PR) for ?Away games: 91.21
OK. State PR: 91.17
The team that surprised the ACC from start (winning pre-season NIT) to finish against the best of the Big 12. This game is being downplayed due to the ?other 2? teams that supposedly should be playing in the Championship game. Funny thing is that either one of these teams should have a real good chance of ?upsetting? the winner of the other game. So who wins this game? Ok. State showed how tough a team they are surviving the arsenal that St. Joseph?s put forth in the last game. The game before against Pittsburgh was a nail-biter until the last 5 minutes when they took it away and cruised to the win. Lucas showed how great of a player he was in the last game and he made a believer out of me! The 2 previous games in the Tourney were easy wins against Memphis and E. Washington (at least SU). The problem I see with the Cowboy?s is that if they let Tech have the open shot, they will burn them many times over. But on a positive note, the Cowboys adjust extremely well on the court. St. Joe?s was able to show how the open three was available when they passed around the arc. Their defense is good, but will have to be better to beat the Rambling Wreck. Tech can score points in a hurry and will kill if you do not find a way to shut them down. This game will be decided in the paint. The teams that ?cleans the glass? better and gets more offensive rebounds will win this game. The big question for GT will be the health factor of BJ Elder (he will play). Jack played tremendously against Kansas to cover for BJ, but to beat the Cowboys, they will need Elder healthy IMO. Jack will have the size over Lucas to try to contain him. Schenscher will HAVE to play as well as he did in the last game, or the Cowboys are gonna own the paint, even with their limited size down low. Muhammad can be the ?X-factor? with his athletic play. The Offensive edge goes to the Yellow Jackets and the Defensive edge goes to the Cowboys. The Intangibles will favor the Cowboys IMO with Sutton having the tourney experience. Both teams will be nervous since no players have been to the ?final four? before. Riding the Points again, thinking that this game will be close throughout and contest. Tech has more depth and can use that to their advantage again. Kansas had this same line and never covered the spread in that game. Not trying to compare the 2 Big 12 teams, but giving a little credit to the Jackets. Maybe biased on my part, but think the ACC season has the Jackets more ?road-tested? than the Cowboys. Jackets not getting any respect in lines or chances to win the Title?.Playing GT +5.
Uconn (3-1 ATS) Vs. Duke (3-1 ATS):
Opening Line: -1.5 O/U 143
Stats and Trends:
UConn: W7 SU and W3 ATS (15-18 ATS this year) NSR: 11-1
Duke: W4 SU and Lost 1 ATS (18-16 ATS this year) NSR: 8-2
Duke has played 2 more games this year than UConn.
Uconn has beaten Duke the last 2 times they have played each other (both back in ?99)
CONNECTICUT is 1-7 ATS in road games after scoring 80 points or more this season.
DUKE is 6-1 ATS in road games on Saturday games this season.
CONNECTICUT is 7-0 ATS in tournament semi-final games since 1997.
CONNECTICUT is 9-2 ATS versus good offensive teams - scoring more than 77+ points/game after 15+ games over the last 3 seasons.
Duke PR: 97.36 (best in nation)
Uconn PR: 89.81
The ?best? 2 teams match up in the later semi-final game. Questions arise about both teams? health. How is Okafor?s shoulder, even though he has been practicing with the team? How is Duhon?s back? Can the Huskies continue to hit from the perimeter? Can Duke stop the triple threat of Okafor, Anderson and Gordon? The answers will only be answered when the game is over. No matter how much you hate either team or the coaches, you have to give both teams a lot of credit for continuing to make it to the Final 4 on a normal basis. This will be Coach K?s 10th time at the Final 4! The ineffectiveness of Duhon lately in the scoring category will be of concern for the Devils, but his Defense has been stellar at the same time. His lack of practice (due to the injury) has impacted that, but I think this weeks practices will get him back to his normal way of breaking down defenses and getting the open shot or passing to the open teammate. Okafor is the most dominant player this year on the Defensive front. His is a great weapon to have on Offense as well. Duke will have 3 players that they will have to rely on to contain him: Williams, Randolph and Horvak (maybe Deng in situations). Their job will be to disrupt his normal play and TRY to get him into foul trouble. They will also have to try to be physical with him to test how well his shoulder has healed. One thing that I truly believe is that this will be the toughest defense that Uconn will have played this year. The looks they have had against their other opponents this tourney will not be there against Duke. The shots by Anderson and Gordon will be guarded as compared to the last game. If they can beat them to the open shot, then Uconn will win this game. Duke relies mostly on Deng, Reddick and Williams mostly to score. They will have to penetrate and convert to beat the best team in land. Uconn has had a pretty easy road to the Final 4 with comfortable wins over Bama, Vandy, Depaul and Vermont. Duke had comfortable wins over Bama State and the Hall, but struggled to finish off Illini and the X. The thing I see is that the Huskies have not really been tested yet this tourney. Don?t get me wrong, they are playing extremely well and have deserved each and every win. But they have yet been in a close game and that will hurt them IMO when they face the Dookies on Saturday night. Duke has ?been there, done that? and will be ready. Both teams match-up pretty well in ALL categories, but 2: 1) Rebounds per game: Uconn averages 8 more per game
And 2)Free Throws: Duke: 74% Uconn: 60.5%?.game WILL be decided in these 2 categories. This game really is a coin-flip IMO. Both teams have good to great defenses and offenses that can be explosive if they get into a rhythm. Regardless, going with the Dookies because I truly feel that they are ready for the level of play that Uconn will bring. Playing Duke on the ML.
glta
toy
