Bob Konarski
CBB | FAU @ SAN DIEGO ST. | 04/01 | 6:09 PM EDT
FAU +3
ANALYSIS: San Diego State has the 4th best defense in terms of efficiency. However, the Aztecs offense are only 70th in the offensive efficiency. Florida Atlantic is top-30 in both offensive, 24th, and defensive, 29th, efficiency. The Owls have been the better offensive team this season and the Aztecs aren’t going to blow a team away with their offense. San Diego State is going to grind the game out and win it with their defense. Both teams have a deep bench to keep their players fresh and the Owls can also play elite defense. But in a game like this, you need a team that this balanced on both sides of the ball, and that’s Florida Atlantic. The Owls rely heavily on the three, shooting 36.5 percent on the season and San Diego State also guards the perimeter very well, holding opponents to 27.8 percent on the season. The Aztecs were the more athletic team against Creighton but the Owls are just as athletic. Florida Atlantic as also been the more efficient team from the line, 73.2 percent to 66.7 percent over their last three games. I'm on Florida Atlantic.
CBB | FAU @ SAN DIEGO ST. | 04/01 | 6:09 PM EDT
ANALYSIS: San Diego State has the 4th best defense in terms of efficiency. However, the Aztecs offense are only 70th in the offensive efficiency. Florida Atlantic is top-30 in both offensive, 24th, and defensive, 29th, efficiency. The Owls have been the better offensive team this season and the Aztecs aren’t going to blow a team away with their offense. San Diego State is going to grind the game out and win it with their defense. Both teams have a deep bench to keep their players fresh and the Owls can also play elite defense. But in a game like this, you need a team that this balanced on both sides of the ball, and that’s Florida Atlantic. The Owls rely heavily on the three, shooting 36.5 percent on the season and San Diego State also guards the perimeter very well, holding opponents to 27.8 percent on the season. The Aztecs were the more athletic team against Creighton but the Owls are just as athletic. Florida Atlantic as also been the more efficient team from the line, 73.2 percent to 66.7 percent over their last three games. I'm on Florida Atlantic.
Chip Patterson
CBB | FAU @ SAN DIEGO ST. | 04/01 | 6:09 PM EDT
UNDER 132
ANALYSIS: San Diego State has one of the best defenses in the country and it's been stellar here in the postseason. Since the start of the Mountain West tournament, the Aztecs are giving up an average of 56.6 points per game to opponents, with just two of those seven teams even breaking 60. SDSU will look to put the clamps on FAU just like it to its other tournament foes, but the Owls have their own issues to work out that could limit scoring. FAU is a team that has relied on the 3-pointer heavily during the year but the team isn't shooting it well right now. The Owls are a strong defensive team in their own right and will need excellence on that side unless the shooting woes are fixed with the move to a football stadium.
CBB | MIAMI @ UCONN | 04/01 | 8:49 PM EDT
UCONN -5.5
ANALYSIS: The number cannot catch up to how good UConn is playing right now. The Huskies have been favored by 9.5, 4, 3.5 and 2.5 in this tournament and won those games by 24, 15, 23 and 28 points. UConn has size inside to own the paint and length on the perimeter to disrupt Miami's stellar guards. If Jordan Hawkins gets hot from three I think we could see yet another double-digit win, but either way I see a game where the Huskies cover and advance to Monday night's championship game.
CBB | FAU @ SAN DIEGO ST. | 04/01 | 6:09 PM EDT
UNDER 132
ANALYSIS: San Diego State has one of the best defenses in the country and it's been stellar here in the postseason. Since the start of the Mountain West tournament, the Aztecs are giving up an average of 56.6 points per game to opponents, with just two of those seven teams even breaking 60. SDSU will look to put the clamps on FAU just like it to its other tournament foes, but the Owls have their own issues to work out that could limit scoring. FAU is a team that has relied on the 3-pointer heavily during the year but the team isn't shooting it well right now. The Owls are a strong defensive team in their own right and will need excellence on that side unless the shooting woes are fixed with the move to a football stadium.
CBB | MIAMI @ UCONN | 04/01 | 8:49 PM EDT
ANALYSIS: The number cannot catch up to how good UConn is playing right now. The Huskies have been favored by 9.5, 4, 3.5 and 2.5 in this tournament and won those games by 24, 15, 23 and 28 points. UConn has size inside to own the paint and length on the perimeter to disrupt Miami's stellar guards. If Jordan Hawkins gets hot from three I think we could see yet another double-digit win, but either way I see a game where the Huskies cover and advance to Monday night's championship game.
Matt Severance
NHL | DALLAS @ COLORADO | 04/01 | 9:00 PM EDT
COLORADO -140
ANALYSIS: Saturday game. I don't have on hand the record of teams this season playing in the thin air of Denver in the second of a back-to-back, but it can't be good. Dallas was in Arizona on Friday and I'm frankly surprised the Stars started Jake Oettinger in net and didn't hold him out for this one. Sure, he could play both that's not ideal. I like Colorado either way but even more so if it's Matt Murray (not the Toronto one) for the Stars.
CBB | FAU @ SAN DIEGO ST. | 04/01 | 6:09 PM EDT
SAN DIEGO ST. -145
ANALYSIS: I live in south Florida and can tell you that FAU meeting Miami in the national title game would barely cause a ripple down here. Just not a college hoops hotbed. It would be a great story for the Owls to advance but there's a reason a No. 9 seed has never made the title game, although you could certainly argue that FAU should have been better-seeded. SDSU is so good defensively it has to be the pick. Coach Brian Dutcher's squad did not allow a fast-break point against either Alabama or Creighton and has held the four combined foes in the Dance to 17.0 percent shooting from three-point range (16-for-94). We saw the superior defensive team beat the superior offensive club from Conference USA in the NIT final on Thursday (North Texas over UAB, both from C-USA).
NHL | TORONTO @ OTTAWA | 04/01 | 7:00 PM EDT
TORONTO -140
ANALYSIS: This is a rivalry game Saturday so anything could happen, but the Senators' playoff hopes, already not great, took a huge hit in Thursday's win over Philadelphia when defensemen Travis Hamonic (6G, 15A) and forward Derick Brassard (13G, 10A) were hurt and apparently both are out at least Saturday. The Sens already were without their two best defensemen in Thomas Chabot and Jakob Chychrun. Thus, a pretty solid price on the Leafs, who are still playing to lock up second in the Atlantic and home-ice advantage in the first round vs. Tampa Bay in a rematch of last year's stellar first-round series.
MLB | SAN FRANCISCO @ N.Y. YANKEES | 04/01 | 4:05 PM EDT
N.Y. YANKEES -135
ANALYSIS: Saturday game. Granted, it was against Gerrit Cole but that Giants lineup looks like total detritus. Who scares you in that group? Blake Sabol!? I don't think Mrs. Sabol even plays him in her daily fantasy lineup. The reason this ML is rather low is because it's Clarke Schmidt on the mound for NYY and he's usually a reliever (pretty good one), but the Yanks have their full bullpen being off today. The Giants' Alex Cobb was good at home last year but had a 5.20 road ERA. Perhaps consider a Gleyber Torres Over 1.5 total bases prop as he's 3-for-7 career off Cobb with two homers and a double. A reminder that SL experts now have Twitter handles on their bio pages if you have any ??. Mine is @jordanpaytonsn1 ... could I have picked a more obtuse one? @ramennoodlelover was taken.
NHL | DALLAS @ COLORADO | 04/01 | 9:00 PM EDT
ANALYSIS: Saturday game. I don't have on hand the record of teams this season playing in the thin air of Denver in the second of a back-to-back, but it can't be good. Dallas was in Arizona on Friday and I'm frankly surprised the Stars started Jake Oettinger in net and didn't hold him out for this one. Sure, he could play both that's not ideal. I like Colorado either way but even more so if it's Matt Murray (not the Toronto one) for the Stars.
CBB | FAU @ SAN DIEGO ST. | 04/01 | 6:09 PM EDT
SAN DIEGO ST. -145
ANALYSIS: I live in south Florida and can tell you that FAU meeting Miami in the national title game would barely cause a ripple down here. Just not a college hoops hotbed. It would be a great story for the Owls to advance but there's a reason a No. 9 seed has never made the title game, although you could certainly argue that FAU should have been better-seeded. SDSU is so good defensively it has to be the pick. Coach Brian Dutcher's squad did not allow a fast-break point against either Alabama or Creighton and has held the four combined foes in the Dance to 17.0 percent shooting from three-point range (16-for-94). We saw the superior defensive team beat the superior offensive club from Conference USA in the NIT final on Thursday (North Texas over UAB, both from C-USA).
NHL | TORONTO @ OTTAWA | 04/01 | 7:00 PM EDT
TORONTO -140
ANALYSIS: This is a rivalry game Saturday so anything could happen, but the Senators' playoff hopes, already not great, took a huge hit in Thursday's win over Philadelphia when defensemen Travis Hamonic (6G, 15A) and forward Derick Brassard (13G, 10A) were hurt and apparently both are out at least Saturday. The Sens already were without their two best defensemen in Thomas Chabot and Jakob Chychrun. Thus, a pretty solid price on the Leafs, who are still playing to lock up second in the Atlantic and home-ice advantage in the first round vs. Tampa Bay in a rematch of last year's stellar first-round series.
MLB | SAN FRANCISCO @ N.Y. YANKEES | 04/01 | 4:05 PM EDT
ANALYSIS: Saturday game. Granted, it was against Gerrit Cole but that Giants lineup looks like total detritus. Who scares you in that group? Blake Sabol!? I don't think Mrs. Sabol even plays him in her daily fantasy lineup. The reason this ML is rather low is because it's Clarke Schmidt on the mound for NYY and he's usually a reliever (pretty good one), but the Yanks have their full bullpen being off today. The Giants' Alex Cobb was good at home last year but had a 5.20 road ERA. Perhaps consider a Gleyber Torres Over 1.5 total bases prop as he's 3-for-7 career off Cobb with two homers and a double. A reminder that SL experts now have Twitter handles on their bio pages if you have any ??. Mine is @jordanpaytonsn1 ... could I have picked a more obtuse one? @ramennoodlelover was taken.
Larry Hartstein
CBB | FAU @ SAN DIEGO ST. | 04/01 | 6:09 PM EDT
SAN DIEGO ST. -2.5
ANALYSIS: I wouldn't go any higher than 2.5 but at this price I like San Diego State, with its incredibly physical defense, to control the pace and cover. FAU has a slew of capable scorers. I'm skeptical, however, that they can create enough separation versus the Aztecs' bigger defenders. SDSU also has gotten a big lift offensively from Darrion Trammell and Lamont Butler, lessening the pressure on Matt Bradley.
CBB | MIAMI @ UCONN | 04/01 | 8:49 PM EDT
UCONN -5
ANALYSIS: Miami has three elite shot-makers, an underrated big man, and the better coach. But this UConn team is a juggernaut. The Huskies have routed quality opponents throughout this NCAA Tournament, much like they did during their 14-0 start. Jordan Hawkins is going to be a lottery pick, while Andre Jackson is one of the nation's top defenders. And their size inside will be tough for the Hurricanes to deal with. While this matchup won't be a blowout, the Huskies' superiority should come through over 40 minutes. Lay the points.
CBB | FAU @ SAN DIEGO ST. | 04/01 | 6:09 PM EDT
ANALYSIS: I wouldn't go any higher than 2.5 but at this price I like San Diego State, with its incredibly physical defense, to control the pace and cover. FAU has a slew of capable scorers. I'm skeptical, however, that they can create enough separation versus the Aztecs' bigger defenders. SDSU also has gotten a big lift offensively from Darrion Trammell and Lamont Butler, lessening the pressure on Matt Bradley.
CBB | MIAMI @ UCONN | 04/01 | 8:49 PM EDT
UCONN -5
ANALYSIS: Miami has three elite shot-makers, an underrated big man, and the better coach. But this UConn team is a juggernaut. The Huskies have routed quality opponents throughout this NCAA Tournament, much like they did during their 14-0 start. Jordan Hawkins is going to be a lottery pick, while Andre Jackson is one of the nation's top defenders. And their size inside will be tough for the Hurricanes to deal with. While this matchup won't be a blowout, the Huskies' superiority should come through over 40 minutes. Lay the points.
Mike Tierney
CBB |FAU @ SAN DIEGO ST. | 04/01 | 6:09 PM EDT
UNDER 132
ANALYSIS: The hottest streak in the NCAA Tournament is San Diego State and Unders. It has scored in a dozen straight. The Aztecs are 266th in possessions per game, but it's not just pace of play. They embrace lock-down defense. FAU has gone 5-2 on Unders in the postseason. While the Owls carry an up-tempo tag, they rank just above the midway point for average possessions. This matchup resembles FAU versus Tennessee, a game that produced 117 points. Shooters can get befuddled in football arenas, so the setting in Houston could depress scoring.
CBB |
UNDER 132
ANALYSIS: The hottest streak in the NCAA Tournament is San Diego State and Unders. It has scored in a dozen straight. The Aztecs are 266th in possessions per game, but it's not just pace of play. They embrace lock-down defense. FAU has gone 5-2 on Unders in the postseason. While the Owls carry an up-tempo tag, they rank just above the midway point for average possessions. This matchup resembles FAU versus Tennessee, a game that produced 117 points. Shooters can get befuddled in football arenas, so the setting in Houston could depress scoring.
Offshore Picks
MLB) 2:10 PM EST - CHICAGO WHITE SOX VS. HOUSTON ASTROS
PICK-WHITE SOX +110 (+110) - RISK 1 UNITS
MLB) 4:05 PM EST - PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES VS. TEXAS RANGERS
PICK- PHILLIES -125 (-125) - RISK 2 UNITS
NCAAB) 6:05 PM EST - FLORIDA ATLANTIC VS. SAN DIEGO STATE
PICK-FAU +2.5 (-110) - RISK 3 UNITS
NBA) 7:00 PM EST - NBA MYSTERY BEST BET. TEXT OP TO
480-428-2722 (5-7PM ET). GIVE USERNAME. (-110) - RISK 5 UNITS
NCAAB) 8:45 PM EST - MIAMI (FL) VS. CONNECTICUT
PICK-MIAMI +5.5 (-110) - RISK 4 UNITS
MLB) 2:10 PM EST - CHICAGO WHITE SOX VS. HOUSTON ASTROS
PICK-
MLB) 4:05 PM EST - PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES VS. TEXAS RANGERS
PICK- PHILLIES -125 (-125) - RISK 2 UNITS
NCAAB) 6:05 PM EST - FLORIDA ATLANTIC VS. SAN DIEGO STATE
PICK-
NBA) 7:00 PM EST - NBA MYSTERY BEST BET. TEXT OP TO
480-428-2722 (5-7PM ET). GIVE USERNAME. (-110) - RISK 5 UNITS
NCAAB) 8:45 PM EST - MIAMI (FL) VS. CONNECTICUT
PICK-
Jeff Hochman
NHL | DALLAS @ COLORADO | 04/01 | 9:00 PM EDT
COLORADO -140
ANALYSIS: The Stars will be playing the second game of a back-to-back at high altitude. Tough. Dallas is 3-5 playing without rest this season. Colorado will be playing with two days of rest. The Avalanche are seeking revenge after losing, 7-3, in Dallas on March 4 despite outshooting the Stars 35-29. Colorado is 8-2 in its past 10 games, outshooting seven of 10 foes, including four in a row. I like the home team.
NHL | DALLAS @ COLORADO | 04/01 | 9:00 PM EDT
ANALYSIS: The Stars will be playing the second game of a back-to-back at high altitude. Tough. Dallas is 3-5 playing without rest this season. Colorado will be playing with two days of rest. The Avalanche are seeking revenge after losing, 7-3, in Dallas on March 4 despite outshooting the Stars 35-29. Colorado is 8-2 in its past 10 games, outshooting seven of 10 foes, including four in a row. I like the home team.
Mike Barner
MLB | TORONTO @ ST. LOUIS | 04/01 | 2:15 PM EDT
OVER 8 +100
ANALYSIS: These two teams combined for 19 runs in the first game of this series. They both have potent lineups, and the Cardinals scored the sixth-most runs in the league at home last season. The pitching matchup will be Kevin Gausman against Jack Flaherty, with Flaherty being a concern for the Cardinals after logging fewer than 80 innings in each of the last three seasons. Over his 36 innings last year, he had a bloated 1.61 WHIP. With the sluggers on both sides, I expect this game to sale past the over.
MLB |
OVER 8 +100
ANALYSIS: These two teams combined for 19 runs in the first game of this series. They both have potent lineups, and the Cardinals scored the sixth-most runs in the league at home last season. The pitching matchup will be Kevin Gausman against Jack Flaherty, with Flaherty being a concern for the Cardinals after logging fewer than 80 innings in each of the last three seasons. Over his 36 innings last year, he had a bloated 1.61 WHIP. With the sluggers on both sides, I expect this game to sale past the over.
