Elite Sports Investing logged a documented 11-4-1 record in conference tourney action and looks to stay hot during March Madness. The below preview was taken from www.elitesportsinvesting.com where other previews are being added and should be completed by early this evening at the latest. Before you fill out your brackets and make your first round plays, be sure to visit ESI's detailed analysis!
ALL ESI results are documented at www.sportswatch.ws. For additional Bonus Plays, be sure to call the complimentary line (412)734-8435! For questions about ESI, send e-mail to erik@elitesportsinvesting.com
No gimmicks, no intense advertising, just good ole'fashioned sports handicapping from ESI!
THE SURVIVOR: Duke
I have this region rated as the second toughest behind the brutal Oakland region. There is great balance top to bottom in this bracket, and three teams LSU, George Washington, and Texas that can pound Duke on the glass. Sure, Duke's lack of depth may have caught up with them down the stretch, as they have covered only 1 of their last 7 games. Yes, they have not covered the spread against a tourney team since mid January vs. NC St., when they closed on a 15-4 run to win by 13 as a 12 pt. favorite. However, think this recent swoon may have added line value as they laid only 4 to Boston College in the ACC championship after laying 5 to the Golden Eagles in Chestnut Hill a few weeks back. What the Blue Devils lack in depth and rebounding, they make up for with clutch shooting, free throw shooting (76% on an awesome 25.2 attempts per game!), basketball IQ, and coaching. The emergence of Josh McRoberts (13 ppg, 6.7 rpg in ACC tourney) helps ease the burden on Sheldon Williams, and of course the accomplishments of J.J. Reddick speak for themselves. Reddick is a run waiting to happen, and can single handedly rescue the Blue Devils at times (ask B.C.) With his late season shooting slump a distant memory, I have no reservations that Duke will make a huge run in the tourney. Because of their weaknesses on the glass and 44% defensive FG pct., I think they'll run into trouble in Indianapolis, but for now, I am penciling them in.
UNDERRATED: George Washington
I think the Colonials were flat out jobbed by the selection committee, and I think they are one of the 15 most talented teams in the country. They are big, super-athletic, and have 7 guys that can hang 15 points on you. Yes, Mensu-boshu's injury is a concern, but reports are tentatively positive on that front. They have a brutal first round matchup with NC Wilmington, in a battle of two underseeded teams, but if they can somehow get by the Seahawks, they can give Duke fits on the glass, and with their unyielding pressure (17.5 forced TO's a game)
DEEP SLEEPER: Northwestern St.
This tournament's bottom of the bracket is as tough as ever. NSU is a double champ (regular season plus conference tourney), that returned over 90% of its scoring and rebounding from last year. The Demons played as good a non-conference schedule as anyone in the country. They have wins at Oklahoma St., at Mississippi St., and Oregon St., and lost to Iowa St. by 4 (OT), at Utah St. by 3, at Texas AM by 12, at Wichita St. by 2, and at Hawaii by 4. They go 10 deep, force over 17 TO's game, and attack you on both sides of the floor. This experienced team is battle tested and fears NOONE!
FIRST ROUND PLAY: TEXAS AM plus the points over Syracuse
There are countless systems fading teams that won and covered 3-4 games in a row simply to make it into this tournament. The systems get stronger when the team made this run winning games as an underdog. Syracuse fits more than a couple of these systems, and although we have to respect their run through the toughest conference tourney of them all, things may catch up to them here. They used the whole Mcnamara underrated bit as serious motivation, but Gerry can only carry them so far. The rest of their players are young, inconsistent and at times, immature. Down the stretch, Texas AM won 8 of their last 10 with both lossed coming to Texas, who they also beat during that time. They allowed less than 37% shooting in their last 8 games, and have forced 18.3 TO/game on the season. Sounds like trouble for an Orangemen squad that has had major issues holding on the rock. Well-coached short dog gets our call. Texas A&M by 5
ALL ESI results are documented at www.sportswatch.ws. For additional Bonus Plays, be sure to call the complimentary line (412)734-8435! For questions about ESI, send e-mail to erik@elitesportsinvesting.com
No gimmicks, no intense advertising, just good ole'fashioned sports handicapping from ESI!
THE SURVIVOR: Duke
I have this region rated as the second toughest behind the brutal Oakland region. There is great balance top to bottom in this bracket, and three teams LSU, George Washington, and Texas that can pound Duke on the glass. Sure, Duke's lack of depth may have caught up with them down the stretch, as they have covered only 1 of their last 7 games. Yes, they have not covered the spread against a tourney team since mid January vs. NC St., when they closed on a 15-4 run to win by 13 as a 12 pt. favorite. However, think this recent swoon may have added line value as they laid only 4 to Boston College in the ACC championship after laying 5 to the Golden Eagles in Chestnut Hill a few weeks back. What the Blue Devils lack in depth and rebounding, they make up for with clutch shooting, free throw shooting (76% on an awesome 25.2 attempts per game!), basketball IQ, and coaching. The emergence of Josh McRoberts (13 ppg, 6.7 rpg in ACC tourney) helps ease the burden on Sheldon Williams, and of course the accomplishments of J.J. Reddick speak for themselves. Reddick is a run waiting to happen, and can single handedly rescue the Blue Devils at times (ask B.C.) With his late season shooting slump a distant memory, I have no reservations that Duke will make a huge run in the tourney. Because of their weaknesses on the glass and 44% defensive FG pct., I think they'll run into trouble in Indianapolis, but for now, I am penciling them in.
UNDERRATED: George Washington
I think the Colonials were flat out jobbed by the selection committee, and I think they are one of the 15 most talented teams in the country. They are big, super-athletic, and have 7 guys that can hang 15 points on you. Yes, Mensu-boshu's injury is a concern, but reports are tentatively positive on that front. They have a brutal first round matchup with NC Wilmington, in a battle of two underseeded teams, but if they can somehow get by the Seahawks, they can give Duke fits on the glass, and with their unyielding pressure (17.5 forced TO's a game)
DEEP SLEEPER: Northwestern St.
This tournament's bottom of the bracket is as tough as ever. NSU is a double champ (regular season plus conference tourney), that returned over 90% of its scoring and rebounding from last year. The Demons played as good a non-conference schedule as anyone in the country. They have wins at Oklahoma St., at Mississippi St., and Oregon St., and lost to Iowa St. by 4 (OT), at Utah St. by 3, at Texas AM by 12, at Wichita St. by 2, and at Hawaii by 4. They go 10 deep, force over 17 TO's game, and attack you on both sides of the floor. This experienced team is battle tested and fears NOONE!
FIRST ROUND PLAY: TEXAS AM plus the points over Syracuse
There are countless systems fading teams that won and covered 3-4 games in a row simply to make it into this tournament. The systems get stronger when the team made this run winning games as an underdog. Syracuse fits more than a couple of these systems, and although we have to respect their run through the toughest conference tourney of them all, things may catch up to them here. They used the whole Mcnamara underrated bit as serious motivation, but Gerry can only carry them so far. The rest of their players are young, inconsistent and at times, immature. Down the stretch, Texas AM won 8 of their last 10 with both lossed coming to Texas, who they also beat during that time. They allowed less than 37% shooting in their last 8 games, and have forced 18.3 TO/game on the season. Sounds like trouble for an Orangemen squad that has had major issues holding on the rock. Well-coached short dog gets our call. Texas A&M by 5
