Va and Tenn

[grey beard]

Tenn +2.5 for 3 units. Tenn playing very well right now. They have the talent to beat the best in the country, particularly at home. Florida a tough foe but see Tenn winning the battle underneath and squeaking out a close win.

Va +3 for 3 units. Va a much better team with their new lineup with Billet at the point. Va also a much better team at home. Duke an outside shooting team with little underneath should get eaten up by Va's pretty formidable big men. Billet should match 3s with the Duke guards and this one will be won underneath. Duke is young and lean...they have to win in a run and shoot kind of game as they can do very little underneath. If they can't outshoot their opponent, they will lose....and Va is simply a very good team at home that won't be outshot.

YTD
5 units=2-2 -.5
4 units=4-2 + 7.2
3 units=8-6 +7.2
2 units=7-11 -10.2
1 unit=2-2 -.2
ML Favorites 2-0 +4.95
ML Dogs 2-0 +3.65
Total=28-23
Total=+12.10 units

 

[grey beard]

Add detroit pick

Add detroit pick

Will play Detroit pick for 4 units. Detroit very tough to beat at home...their guards hit from outside consistently at home unlike the road. Detroit's big men are real bulky and physical...get lots of easy buckets and putbacks...Butler not quite as strong this year as year's past and they've been losing more on the road then years past...think on a neutral court this one would be a close game. At home, Detroit has a decided advantage. Their guards shoot the 3s at home and their big men foul shots much better than the road. Detroit may be a sleeper team in this division...their inside game is extremely impressive.

 

[grey beard]

Add Miami +7 1/2 and St. Johns -4

Add Miami +7 1/2 and St. Johns -4

Add Miami Florida + 7 1/2 for 3 units. Miami can match the jump shooters of BC and have the athletes to also match BC underneath. BC playing good ball lately but Miami has played well in the past on the road. BC might win this one late, but just don't see a blowout Can BC continue their string of good games? Maybe, but Miami matches up pretty good with the strengths of BC...both have good shooters and neither that strong underneath...Take the points.

Add St. Johns -4 for 2 units. Providence playing real bad ball lately...why would they snap out of it on the road? They need a cupcake foe to get back to form. Providence along with Georgetown may be the two worst in the Big east right now...think today's not the day they become competitive.

Syracuse -4 1/2 for 2 units. ND will get eaten up today on the boards. ND will not find outside shots easy today and will not be able to control Syracuses inside guys. Syracuse guards much better at home. Syracuse by DDs

 

[grey beard]

add Tex AM +10 1/2, Purdue - 1 1/2 and Syr ML

add Tex AM +10 1/2, Purdue - 1 1/2 and Syr ML

Add Tex Am +10 1/2 for 4 units. Tex AM is playing some of the best ball in the conference right now. Very disciplined, athletic and well coached team. They are right behind the best in the conference and could surpise at tourney time. Colorado more erratic...can win some that you don't expect (e.g., Kansas) and lose others you would expect to win (Neb). Tex AM could be a bubble team right so I don't expect a letdown after beating Missouri the other night.

Add Purdue - 1 1/2 for 4 units. It's real tough to win on the road in the Big 10, period. Wins most often come when one team is vastly superior to the other. That is not the case today. Purdue might be a better team inside even on a neutral court. At home, they should have their way. Illinois a real solid club, maybe the best in the big 10, but that doesn't matter on the road in the Big 10...could see Purdue putting them away late by 6-8 points.

Playing Syracuse ML (-155) for 4 units. This line has dropped so money going to ND. Don't think ND can match Syracuse athletes underneath. Not sure why line is going in Syracuse's favor...I could see a blowout in this one. ND is due for a clunker and I think today is the day. Syracuse should be primed for this one as well.

 

[grey beard]

Add Vir ML +180

Add Vir ML +180

Money coming on Duke driving the line from 3 to 5. Assume bettors are thinking Duke will break out today and we'll have the Duke team of old. These two teams are kind of going in opposite directions. Duke was exposed by Md as being a jump shooting team only. Fl State did the same thing at home. Wake simply a better team also beat them at home. So why is Duke favored on the road? Got me. Va a tough team at home and usually protects their home turf. Va got off to a real show start last time out but closed before fading at the end on the road. Look for them to come out early and carry the day for a home win over a still overrated Duke team. +180 for 1 unit

 

[grey beard]

Add Wash St +18

Add Wash St +18

Will play Wash St +18 for 2 units. This is more a play against Stanford than a play on WSU. Stanford definitely plays up to its ability and that's a tribute to their coach. Their record is better than the talent they have. 18 points strikes me as too much for another PAC 10 foe. I could see Stanford being in the 60s low 70s and just think WSU can muster enough to stay within this high number. Stanford's bench is really thin as well...so I could see WSU doing well at the end of the game if Stanford empties its bench.

Also will play Tex AM +500 for 1 unit on the ML. Tex AM has gone into better teams home court than Colorado and almost pulled upsets. Don't see why they can't keep this one close and maybe pull out one at the end...for the price, it's worth 1 unit.