AAC Championship betting preview: UConn vs. Louisville
Connecticut Huskies vs. Louisville Cardinals (-7, 134)
Russ Smith and Louisville appear to be hitting on all cylinders heading into Saturday's American Athletic Conference tournament final against Connecticut at Memphis. Smith scored a school postseason record 42 points in a semifinal win over No.6 Houston for the second-seeded Cardinals, who can claim their third straight conference tournament title with a victory over the Huskies. "We weren't sharp defensively tonight and when you're not sharp defensively, you need a great offensive performance and we certainly got that from Russ," head coach Rick Pitino told the media. "He was brilliant, penetrating, passing, getting in the lane and shooting the ball. He's done it all his senior year with everything you could possibly ask of a basketball player."
The fourth-seeded Huskies used a big second-half run to survive a battle with top-seeded Cincinnati and will look to avenge a pair of lopsided defeats against Louisville, including a 33-point loss on the road. Shabazz Napier, the conference Player of the Year, didn't have his best game, scoring just 15 points on 5-of-13 shooting, but got some help from his teammates, including 7-0 freshman Amida Brimah, who was bigger than his four points, seven rebounds and four blocks might indicate. "It was a collective team win," head coach Kevin Ollie told reporters. "We got down by seven, wasn't nobody pointing fingers. We just came together and stayed connected and we go one to the next one. That's what's it's all about.”
TV: 6 p.m. ET, ESPN.
LINE HISTORY: The suggested odds out of Las Vegas are Louisville -7 with a total of 134.
INJURY WATCH: Louisville - Kevin Ware (Out - shin)
ABOUT CONNECTICUT (26-7): Ollie loved the fight his team showed against the tenacious defense from Cincinnati, which had held opponents to 39.3 shooting entering the game. "It seems like every time we play Cincy, it comes down to one possession," he told the media. "They are well coached and they play so hard and I thought we just stood up to them. We stayed in the middle of the ring and kept throwing punches. It was a great victory for UConn. This is a players game and my players stepped up." Two of the biggest punches were throwing by Ryan Boatright, who nailed two big 3-pointers to give the Huskies the lead for good with eight minutes remaining.
ABOUT LOUISVILLE (28-5): Smith, who contemplated leaving early for the NBA after last season, also set a school record for points in a half with 27 in the first half and scored 42 despite not playing the final six minutes. Smith has been part of 118 wins during his time with the Cardinals and with two more, he can help the Cardinals to a third straight 30-win season. "I play for a coach that has a hunger and drive to win that you won't find nowhere else," he told the media. "I'm thankful for my teammates, because they buy into the system. When you buy into a system that's been successful, you're going to always be successful. I personally took that challenge to buy into the system and get better as a player, so I'm extremely happy where I'm at."
TRENDS:
*Huskies are 21-9 ATS in their last 30 neutral site games
*Under is 12-1 in Huskies last 13 overall
*Over is 14-2 in Cardinals last 16 neutral site games
*Favorite is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings
Connecticut Huskies vs. Louisville Cardinals (-7, 134)
Russ Smith and Louisville appear to be hitting on all cylinders heading into Saturday's American Athletic Conference tournament final against Connecticut at Memphis. Smith scored a school postseason record 42 points in a semifinal win over No.6 Houston for the second-seeded Cardinals, who can claim their third straight conference tournament title with a victory over the Huskies. "We weren't sharp defensively tonight and when you're not sharp defensively, you need a great offensive performance and we certainly got that from Russ," head coach Rick Pitino told the media. "He was brilliant, penetrating, passing, getting in the lane and shooting the ball. He's done it all his senior year with everything you could possibly ask of a basketball player."
The fourth-seeded Huskies used a big second-half run to survive a battle with top-seeded Cincinnati and will look to avenge a pair of lopsided defeats against Louisville, including a 33-point loss on the road. Shabazz Napier, the conference Player of the Year, didn't have his best game, scoring just 15 points on 5-of-13 shooting, but got some help from his teammates, including 7-0 freshman Amida Brimah, who was bigger than his four points, seven rebounds and four blocks might indicate. "It was a collective team win," head coach Kevin Ollie told reporters. "We got down by seven, wasn't nobody pointing fingers. We just came together and stayed connected and we go one to the next one. That's what's it's all about.”
TV: 6 p.m. ET, ESPN.
LINE HISTORY: The suggested odds out of Las Vegas are Louisville -7 with a total of 134.
INJURY WATCH: Louisville - Kevin Ware (Out - shin)
ABOUT CONNECTICUT (26-7): Ollie loved the fight his team showed against the tenacious defense from Cincinnati, which had held opponents to 39.3 shooting entering the game. "It seems like every time we play Cincy, it comes down to one possession," he told the media. "They are well coached and they play so hard and I thought we just stood up to them. We stayed in the middle of the ring and kept throwing punches. It was a great victory for UConn. This is a players game and my players stepped up." Two of the biggest punches were throwing by Ryan Boatright, who nailed two big 3-pointers to give the Huskies the lead for good with eight minutes remaining.
ABOUT LOUISVILLE (28-5): Smith, who contemplated leaving early for the NBA after last season, also set a school record for points in a half with 27 in the first half and scored 42 despite not playing the final six minutes. Smith has been part of 118 wins during his time with the Cardinals and with two more, he can help the Cardinals to a third straight 30-win season. "I play for a coach that has a hunger and drive to win that you won't find nowhere else," he told the media. "I'm thankful for my teammates, because they buy into the system. When you buy into a system that's been successful, you're going to always be successful. I personally took that challenge to buy into the system and get better as a player, so I'm extremely happy where I'm at."
TRENDS:
*Huskies are 21-9 ATS in their last 30 neutral site games
*Under is 12-1 in Huskies last 13 overall
*Over is 14-2 in Cardinals last 16 neutral site games
*Favorite is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings
Looking for a New Book,
Looking for one that accepts US customers
Then your search is over
Special offer
25% Sports Bonus Up To $2500.00
Plus, get one (1) free entry to the $150,000 Bracket Madness Contest for every $300 deposited.
Use promo code: MADNESS when making your deposit.
If that's not enough...
Bookmaker offers.
Live betting on televised sporting events.
Wagers graded and player accounts credited in real time.
Easy to use web interface.Desktop, tablet and mobile compatible.
New BetPoints™ Rewards Program
BetPoints™ is our new loyalty program that rewards our members for playing with BookMaker.
No matter how small your bankroll is, you'll earn valuable BetPoints™ every time you bet sports, casino, or poker.
The more you play, the more rewards you will earn.
BetPoints™ accumulate in your BookMaker account until you decide to redeem them in exchange for great rewards such as cash back, gift cards, airline miles,
Bookmaker merchandise, and more!
Bookmaker Mobile
Access your Bookmaker account directly from your iPhone, iTouch and iPad by using your internet browser.
Bet on sports and horses, play blackjack and video poker, redeem your BetPoints, check open wagers and wagering history, with the swipe of your finger.
If you appreciate my work at the Rx and enjoy the site,
Show your support by signing up with Bookmaker today !
Click on the banner below
w-thumbs!^
Harry Bondi - Bonus Play
The FREE PICK record is now 14-5 the last 19 days
FLORIDA (-6.5) over Tennessee
The Vols are on a five-game win streak, including winning its last three regular-season games by a combined margin of 93 points. As difficult as it is to step in front of them right now, it's exactly what we're going to do because the pointspread has now caught up to them. While the current run has been impressive, none of the wins have come against a team that ranks in our Top 70.
The Gators, meanwhile, are the undisputed No. 1 team in the country, and have already beat Tennessee twice this season by an average of more than 12 points per game. And while Florida is just 10-12 ATS as a favorite this year, they were laying a big number in the majority of those games. But when the pointspread is 6 points or less this season, the Gators are a profitable 7-1 ATS, including a nine-point victory at Tennessee as a 2-point chalk. Tennessee finally comes back to earth as the Gators roll!
The FREE PICK record is now 14-5 the last 19 days
FLORIDA (-6.5) over Tennessee
The Vols are on a five-game win streak, including winning its last three regular-season games by a combined margin of 93 points. As difficult as it is to step in front of them right now, it's exactly what we're going to do because the pointspread has now caught up to them. While the current run has been impressive, none of the wins have come against a team that ranks in our Top 70.
The Gators, meanwhile, are the undisputed No. 1 team in the country, and have already beat Tennessee twice this season by an average of more than 12 points per game. And while Florida is just 10-12 ATS as a favorite this year, they were laying a big number in the majority of those games. But when the pointspread is 6 points or less this season, the Gators are a profitable 7-1 ATS, including a nine-point victory at Tennessee as a 2-point chalk. Tennessee finally comes back to earth as the Gators roll!
Wunderdog Sports Free Pick
Game: Pittsburgh Penguins @ Philadelphia Flyers
Time: Saturday 03/15 1:05 PM Eastern
Pick: Philadelphia +105 ML at Bookmaker
Philadelphia is 18-12 at home and this is a state rivalry game they always get up for. The Penguins have been playing well, but learned Friday that they'll be without talented winger James Neal indefinitely after he was diagnosed with a concussion, a key blow. Philadelphia has had a great two month run, clicking down the stretch at #13 in the NHL in goals scored. The Flyers are 16-6 in their last 22 home games and 7-3 overall. Look for a monster effort by the home team with their fans going wild in this area rivalry game. Play the Flyers.
Game: Pittsburgh Penguins @ Philadelphia Flyers
Time: Saturday 03/15 1:05 PM Eastern
Pick: Philadelphia +105 ML at Bookmaker
Philadelphia is 18-12 at home and this is a state rivalry game they always get up for. The Penguins have been playing well, but learned Friday that they'll be without talented winger James Neal indefinitely after he was diagnosed with a concussion, a key blow. Philadelphia has had a great two month run, clicking down the stretch at #13 in the NHL in goals scored. The Flyers are 16-6 in their last 22 home games and 7-3 overall. Look for a monster effort by the home team with their fans going wild in this area rivalry game. Play the Flyers.
