THE SPORTS ADVISORS
MIDWEST REGION
(at Minneapolis)
(11) Dayton (27-7, 14-15 ATS) vs. (3) Kansas (26-7, 19-7-1 ATS)
Kansas opened the NCAA Tournament with Friday’s hard-fought 84-74 win over North Dakota State, narrowly cashing as a 9½-point chalk. The defending national champs got 32 points and eight assists from Sherron Collins, and Cole Aldrich added 23 points and 11 rebounds in the win as the Jayhawks improved to 7-3 SU in their last 10 (7-2-1 ATS) and 6-1 ATS in their last seven Big Dance outings.
Dayton, a nine-point underdog, pulled off a 68-60 upset of West Virginia on Friday for its first Tournament win since 1990, as Chris Wright led the way with 27 points an 10 boards. The Flyers, who scored two wins in the NIT a season ago, are in the Tournament for the first time since 2004. They’re 5-2 ATS in their last seven overall.
Kansas is on ATS streaks of 25-8-1 overall, 20-6-1 as a favorite, 20-8-1 after a straight-up win, 14-6 in non-conference action and 37-15-1 against teams with winning records. Dayton is on ATS runs of 8-3 against teams with winning records, 5-1 as a ‘dog, 5-2 in non-conference action and 4-1 as a neutral-site pup, but the Flyers are just 1-5 ATS in their last six on Sundays and 6-14 ATS in their last 20 after a spread-cover.
Kansas is on “under” streaks of 9-5 overall, 8-1 in NCAA Tournament action, 7-2 in neutral-site games, 9-2 after a straight-up win and 5-2 as a neutral-site favorite. However, the Flyers are on “over” streaks of 6-1 overall, 4-0 at neutral venues, 6-2 as a neutral-site ‘dog and 35-16-1 after a straight-up win.
ATS ADVANTAGE: KANSAS
(10) USC (22-12, 18-14 ATS) vs. (2) Michigan State (27-6, 17-13 ATS)
Michigan State put together a workmanlike performance in a 77-62 win over Robert Morris on Friday, but came up just short as a 16-point chalk. The Spartans got 16 points from Raymar Morgan in just 20 minutes of action and got 11 points and 17 rebounds from Goran Suton. Michigan State has now won seven of its last eight (5-4 ATS) with the only loss being an upset by Ohio State in the Big Ten tournament semifinals.
USC continued its late-season surge in Friday’s opening round, rallying from a four-point halftime deficit for a 72-55 victory over seventh-seeded Boston College, cashing easily as a two-point favorite. Taj Gibson led the way with 24 points on a perfect 10-of-10 shooting as the Trojans won and cashed for the sixth straight game, a streak that comes after a three-game losing skid (1-2 ATS) in late-February.
Michigan State is making its 12th consecutive Big Dance appearance, the fourth-longest active streak. Last year, the Spartans went 2-0 SU and ATS in wins over Temple and Pitt to get to the Sweet 16, where they got steamrolled by Memphis 92-74 as 5½-point ‘dogs. Under coach Tom Izzo, Michigan State is 27-10 SU in the Tournament, reaching four Final Fours, seven Sweet 16s and one national championship (2000).
USC advanced to the Sweet 16 of the Big Dance in 2007, but was knocked out in the opening round a year ago, falling 80-67 to Kansas State as three-point favorites.
Izzo’s Spartans are on ATS runs of 17-9-1 in NCAA Tournament games, 7-4 as a chalk, 19-7-2 as a favorite of less than seven points, 13-4-1 when laying points in the Big Dance and 5-1 on Sundays. USC is on ATS streaks of 6-0 overall, 4-0 in neutral-site games, 5-0 as a neutral-site ‘dog and 7-3 in the Big Dance.
Michigan State is on “under” streaks of 9-3 overall, 8-2 as a favorite, 9-0 against Pac-10 opposition, 7-2 after a straight-up win and 6-1 after a spread-cover. The Trojans are riding “under” trends of 30-14 in non-conference action, 11-4 in neutral-site games, 6-1 on Sundays and 5-1 as a neutral-site pup.
ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE
MIDWEST REGION
(at Miami, Fla.)
(13) Cleveland State (26-10, 19-12 ATS) vs. (12) Arizona (20-13, 19-13 ATS)
Arizona led virtually wire-to-wire in its 84-71 victory over fifth-seeded Utah on Friday, prevailing as a 1½-point ‘dog. The Wildcats got 29 points from point guard Nic Wise and shot 30-of-55 from the field while holding the Utes to 27-of-64 shooting. Arizona went just 1-5 SU (3-3 ATS) down the stretch to create some doubt as to whether it belonged in the Big Dance.
Cleveland State is the lowest-seed left in the NCAA Tournament after it pulled off the 84-69 upset of No. 4-seeded Wake Forest as a 7½-point underdog Friday. The Vikings, who scored their first Tournament win in 23 years, got balanced scoring from its big three of Norris Cole (22 points), J’Nathan Bullock (21 points) and Cedric Jackson (19 points, eight assists and seven rebounds). Cleveland State upset Butler to win the Horizon League tournament and get the automatic bid to the dance and has won five straight (3-2 ATS) overall.
Arizona is playing in the NCAA Tournament for the 25th consecutive season, the longest such streak in the nation. However, the Wildcats didn’t get out of the opening round the last two years and hasn’t advanced to the Sweet 16 since 2005. This is Cleveland State’s first Big Dance appearance since its Cinderella run in 1986 when it lost to David Robinson and Navy in the Sweet 16.
The ‘Cats are riding several positive ATS trends, including 10-4 overall, 7-2 as a chalk, 12-4 as a neutral-site favorite, 7-2 in non-conference games and 7-2 in NCAA Tournament games. The Vikings are on positive ATS runs of 21-7 after a spread-cover, 25-10 after a straight-up win, 6-1 in non-conference action and 5-0 as an underdog.
Arizona has topped the total in eight of 10 overall, six of seven Tournament games, five straight non-conference contests and six of seven neutral-site affairs. Cleveland State has gone over the total in nine of 13 overall, seven of nine on a neutral court and 12 of 16 after a straight-up win.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER
MIDWEST REGION
(at Dayton, Ohio)
(9) Siena (27-7, 15-15-1 ATS) vs. (1) Louisville (29-5, 21-13 ATS)
Louisville, the Tournament’s top overall seed, survived a shaky first half and went on to blow out Morehead State 74-54 in the opening round on Friday, coming up short as a 21½-point favorite. The Cardinals got 15 points and seven rebounds from Samardo Samuels and held the Eagles to 38.5 percent shooting for their 11th straight victory (8-3 ATS).
Siena won a dramatic 74-72 double-overtime game against No. 8 seed Ohio State on Friday, getting it done as a 2½-point underdog for its ninth win in 10 outings (6-4 ATS). The Saints, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference regular season and tourney champs, had all five starters score in double figures, led by Ryan Rossiter’s 16-point, 15-rebound performance.
Rick Pitino’s Cardinals reached the regional final last season, falling to North Carolina in their bid for the Final Four. Pitino owns a 36-12 SU Tournament record while coaching Providence, Kentucky and Louisville. Siena is making its fifth appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Last year, the Saints upset Vanderbilt 83-62 as a 6½-point underdog in the opening round before falling to Villanova 84-72 as a 5½-point pup in the second round.
Despite not cashing against Morehead State, the Cardinals are on positive ATS streaks of 38-18-1 overall, 14-6 as a chalk, 6-1-1 as a NCAA Tournament favorite and 11-3 on Sundays. Siena is just 7-13 ATS in its last 20 neutral-site games, but it is otherwise on pointspread tears of 4-0 overall, 5-1 in non-conference games, 7-2 against Big East foes and 17-7 as a pup.
Louisville is riding “under” streaks of 13-5-1 in non-conference action, 5-1 on neutral courts, 4-1 after a straight-up win and 7-1-1 as a neutral-site favorite. For the Saints, the over is on runs of 10-4 overall, 5-0 as a ‘dog, 5-1 in non-conference games, 4-0 against Big East teams and 9-3 after a straight-up win.
ATS ADVANTAGE: LOUISVILLE
SOUTH REGION
(at Miami, Fla.)
(6) Arizona State (25-9, 19-11 ATS) vs. (3) Syracuse (27-9, 18-14 ATS)
Syracuse made life tough on Stephen F. Austin during Friday’s 59-44 win, holding the Lumberjacks to 24.7 percent shooting and 2-of-21 from the three-point line. Guard Jonny Flynn led the way for the Orange, scoring 16 points and handing out seven assists as they covered the 11-point spread. Syracuse is on an 8-1 SU and ATS surge, with the only loss coming in the finals of the Big East tournament to Louisville.
Like the Orange, Arizona State also did the job with defense in its 66-57 opening-round win over Temple, holding the Owls to 19-of-51 shooting as it covered the 6 ½-point spread. The Sundevils got 22 points each from Derek Glasser and Jeff Pendergraph and survived with Pac-10 Player of the Year James Harden finishing 1-for-8 from the field with just nine points.
The Sun Devils haven’t been to the Big Dance since 2003 when they lost to Kansas in the second round. Syracuse is back in the tourney for the first time since 2006, when it followed up a run to the Big East tournament title by getting bounced in the first round by Texas A&M. The Orange, who are 40-24 in 25 previous Tournament appearances under coach Jim Boeheim, last made it to the Sweet 16 in 2004.
The Orange are on ATS runs of 8-1 overall, 6-2 in neutral-site games, 5-0 as a favorite, 6-1 against teams with winning records and 10-4-1 as a neutral-site chalk. Arizona State is on pointspread roll of 4-1 overall, 8-3 in neutral-site outings, 5-0 as a ‘dog and 4-1 against teams with a winning record.
Syracuse is riding “over” streaks of 5-1 overall, 7-3 as a favorite, 4-1 in Tournament games, 7-1 in neutral-site contests and 5-3 as a neutral-site favorite. The Sun Devils are also riding “over” streaks of 5-2 in non-league contests, 6-2 in neutral-site games, 7-3 as a neutral-site ‘dog and 4-1 after a straight-up win. However, both teams stayed under the total in their respective first-round games Friday.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER
EAST REGION
(at Dayton, Ohio)
(8) Oklahoma St. (23-11, 15-12-1 ATS) vs. (1) Pittsburgh (29-4, 16-10-1 ATS)
Pitt advanced to the second round thanks to a shaky 72-62 win over East Tennessee State on Friday, coming nowhere near covering the 21-point number. The Panthers got 27 points and 16 rebounds from big man DeJuan Blair, and their defense limited the Buccaneers to 23-of-76 shooting (30.3 percent), but they had 18 turnovers. Pitt has won 11 of 13 (9-4 ATS) overall, but failed to cover in its last two.
Oklahoma State scored an last-possession 77-75 upset win over Tennessee in the opening round, cashing as a three-point ‘dog. The Cowboys got 16 points and 11 rebounds from Marshall Moses on 8-of-10 shooting as they won and covered for the ninth time in their last 11 games.
The Panthers won the Big East tournament championship last season, but then fell in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, losing 65-54 to Michigan State as 2½-point favorites. Pitt has made six consecutive trips to the Big Dance under sixth-year coach Jaime Dixon, but has yet to make it past the Sweet 16. The Cowboys haven’t been “dancing” since 2005 when they lost to Arizona in the Sweet 16.
These teams have met in three of the last five seasons, including 2007 when Pitt got an 85-68 home win as a 13½-point favorite.
The Cowboys are on pointspread upticks of 10-1 overall, 17-7-2 in neutral-site contests, 8-1 after a spread-cover and 7-1 after a straight-up win, but they are still just 4-10 ATS in their last 14 as a ‘dog. Pitt is riding several ATS streaks, including 8-3 after a non-cover, 7-3 after a straight-up win, 4-0 on Sundays and 7-1 as a favorite of seven to 12½-points, but the Panthers are just 1-4 ATS in their last five Tournament games and 1-4-1 ATS in their last six against the Big 12.
Oklahoma State is on “under” runs of 7-2 overall, 5-1 in non-conference games, 6-1 in neutral-site games as a ‘dog, 8-2 in the Tournament and 5-0 in the Big Dance as a pup. Pittsburgh is on “under” runs of 5-0 in neutral-site games, 5-1 in non-conference action and 6-2 after a non-cover.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
EAST REGION
(at Boise, Idaho)
(10) Wisconsin (20-12, 13-16-1 ATS) vs. (4) Xavier (26-7, 17-12-2 ATS)
Xavier advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the third time in four years, crushing 13th-seeded Portland State 77-59 as a 10-point favorite Friday. The Musketeers shot a blistering 53.7 percent from the field, dominated in the rebounding department (30-20) and limited the Vikings to just 24 second-half points. Despite Friday’s rout, Xavier is still just 6-5 SU in its last 11 contests after starting the season 20-2.
Wisconsin won an opening-round game for the third straight year and the seventh time in the last eight years with a last-second 61-59 overtime victory over No. 5-seed Florida State as a three-point underdog. The Badgers, who trailed 31-19 at the half, won it on Trevon Hughes’ bank shot with two seconds left. Bo Ryan’s club is on an 8-2 roll going back to the regular season (6-4 ATS).
After giving up an average 68.3 ppg during a midseason 0-6 slide, the Badgers have tightened things up on the defensive end, holding 11 consecutive opponents to 61 points or fewer and surrendering only 54.1 ppg during this stretch. Meanwhile, Xavier has now held six of its last seven opponents under 60 points.
Xavier knocked off Georgia, Purdue and West Virginia (3-0 ATS) to advance to the regional final in last year’s Big Dance, but its Final Four dreams ended in a 76-57 loss to UCLA as a six-point underdog. The Musketeers are in the Tournament for the fourth straight time, going 1-1 (2-0 ATS) in second-round games.
This is Wisconsin’s 14th appearance in the Big Dance and the seventh under Ryan. Last year, the Badgers opened up with double-digit blowout wins over Cal-State Fullerton and Kansas State (2-0 ATS), but fell in the Sweet 16 to Davidson 73-56 as a five-point favorite. Going back to 2002, they’re 3-3 SU and 2-4 ATS in second-round tourney action.
The schools played a home-and-home series back in 2000 and 2001, with the host winning each contest and Wisconsin cashing both times.
Xavier is on positive pointspread runs of 13-6-2 overall, 10-2 in the Tournament, 36-17-1 at neutral venues, 18-7 as a favorite at neutral sites, 4-0-1 on Sunday, 6-0 against the Big Ten and 10-4-1 against squads with a winning record. The lone negative for Musketeers is a 1-5 ATS mark in its last six when laying less than seven points.
Wisconsin is on ATS runs of 5-2 in non-conference games, 7-1 against the Atlantic 10 and 4-1 as an underdog in the Tournament, but it is just 1-5 ATS in its last six against teams with a winning record.
Both teams barely stayed under the total in their first-round victories. Additionally, Wisconsin is on “under” streaks of 7-1 overall, 4-0 as an underdog, 6-2-1 at neutral sites, 5-1 on Sunday and 5-0 after a SU win. Xavier’s “under” trends include 8-2-1 overall (all as a favorite), 6-0 at neutral sites and 4-1 on Sunday. However, the Musketeers have still topped the total in 10 of their last 12 NCAA Tournament contests and six of seven non-conference games.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
WEST REGION
(at Boise, Idaho)
(6) Marquette (25-9, 14-14-1 ATS) vs. (3) Missouri (29-6, 18-10 ATS)
Missouri overcame a lackluster first-half against Cornell on Friday, but turned it on over the final 20 minutes en route to a 78-59 victory, cashing easily as a 12-point chalk for its first Tournament victory since 2003. Going back to the start of the Big 12 tournament, the Tigers have won and covered in four straight games, the fifth time this season they’ve won at least four in a row SU. In addition, they’re on a 12-2 SU run (11-3 ATS), and the winner has cashed in each of the team’s 10 outings.
Marquette gutted out a 58-57 victory over Utah State on Friday, but failed to cover as a six-point favorite. The Golden Eagles, who advanced to the second round for the second straight year, blew an eight-point halftime lead and trailed by as many as six with less than four minutes to go before rallying for the win despite shooting just 36.2 percent from the field. Marquette is just 2-5 SU in its last seven games and 4-8 ATS in its last 12.
The Tigers’ last Tournament appearance came in 2003, when they lost a second-round game to Marquette 101-92 in overtime, failing to cover as a three-point underdog. That was the most recent meeting between the two schools.
Marquette is making its 26th Tournament appearance and its fourth in a row. Last year, the Eagles knocked out Kentucky 74-66 as a six-point favorite in the first round before losing to Stanford 82-81 in overtime as a 2½-point underdog.
Despite ATS slumps of 4-8 overall and 1-5-1 in non-conference games, the Golden Eagles are still 9-3 ATS in their last 12 neutral-site contests and 6-2-1 ATS in their last nine as an underdog. Meanwhile, Missouri carries a bunch of positive ATS streaks, including 4-0 overall, 6-1 at neutral sites (4-0 last four), 8-1 as a chalk, 7-2 in the Tournament and 9-3 versus winning teams, but the Tigers have failed to cash in 10 of their last 14 as a favorite of less than six points.
Marquette is on “over” tears of 24-12 at neutral sites, 9-2 in the Big Dance, 6-0-1 against the Big 12 and 5-1 as an underdog. The over is also 13-7 in the Tigers’ last 20 non-conference games and 7-1 in their last seven Tournament contests. However, both teams stayed under the total in their first-round games, and the under is 5-1 in Mizzou’s last six overall and 5-0 in its last five at neutral sites.
ATS ADVANTAGE: MISSOURI
NBA
Houston (46-25, 34-36-1 ATS) at San Antonio (45-23, 34-32-2 ATS)
The Spurs will try to make it two wins over the Rockets in eight days when they welcome their in-state rivals into the AT&T Center in San Antonio.
Since falling 88-85 to the Spurs at home eight days ago, Houston is a perfect 3-0 (2-1 ATS), including a 107-88 home win over Minnesota on Friday night, cashing as an 11-point favorite. The Rockets have rattled off three consecutive SU and ATS road wins, most recently upsetting New Orleans 95-84 as a six-point road pup Monday.
San Antonio has alternated wins and losses in its last six (2-4 ATS) and fell to the Celtics at home on Friday, 80-77 as a 3½-point favorite. The Spurs are 24-10 at home this season, but just 15-18-1 ATS, including SU and ATS losses in two of their last three in front of the home fans.
San Antonio’s upset victory in Houston last week ended a six-game (5-1 ATS) winning streak by the host in this rivalry, including the Spurs 77-75 road win on Nov. 14 as a six-point home pup. The Rockets are 5-2 ATS in their last seven trips to San Antonio.
Houston is riding ATS streaks of 6-2 as a road ‘dog, 5-0 on the road overall and 4-0 on the highway against teams with a winning home record. The Spurs are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 after a straight-up loss, but otherwise they are on ATS slides of 1-4 overall, 0-4 as a favorite and 1-4 as a home chalk of less than five points.
It’s been all “unders” lately for the Rockets, including 6-2 overall, 5-0 on the road, 5-1 as a ‘dog, 4-0 against Southwest Division rivals and 21-6 against teams with a winning record. San Antonio is on “under” stretches of 4-0 overall, 18-5 against teams with winning marks, 6-2 as a favorite and 5-0 following a non-cover. In this rivalry, the under is 22-6 in the last 28 clashes and 13-3 in the last 16 battles in San Antonio.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
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MIDWEST REGION
(at Minneapolis)
(11) Dayton (27-7, 14-15 ATS) vs. (3) Kansas (26-7, 19-7-1 ATS)
Kansas opened the NCAA Tournament with Friday’s hard-fought 84-74 win over North Dakota State, narrowly cashing as a 9½-point chalk. The defending national champs got 32 points and eight assists from Sherron Collins, and Cole Aldrich added 23 points and 11 rebounds in the win as the Jayhawks improved to 7-3 SU in their last 10 (7-2-1 ATS) and 6-1 ATS in their last seven Big Dance outings.
Dayton, a nine-point underdog, pulled off a 68-60 upset of West Virginia on Friday for its first Tournament win since 1990, as Chris Wright led the way with 27 points an 10 boards. The Flyers, who scored two wins in the NIT a season ago, are in the Tournament for the first time since 2004. They’re 5-2 ATS in their last seven overall.
Kansas is on ATS streaks of 25-8-1 overall, 20-6-1 as a favorite, 20-8-1 after a straight-up win, 14-6 in non-conference action and 37-15-1 against teams with winning records. Dayton is on ATS runs of 8-3 against teams with winning records, 5-1 as a ‘dog, 5-2 in non-conference action and 4-1 as a neutral-site pup, but the Flyers are just 1-5 ATS in their last six on Sundays and 6-14 ATS in their last 20 after a spread-cover.
Kansas is on “under” streaks of 9-5 overall, 8-1 in NCAA Tournament action, 7-2 in neutral-site games, 9-2 after a straight-up win and 5-2 as a neutral-site favorite. However, the Flyers are on “over” streaks of 6-1 overall, 4-0 at neutral venues, 6-2 as a neutral-site ‘dog and 35-16-1 after a straight-up win.
ATS ADVANTAGE: KANSAS
(10) USC (22-12, 18-14 ATS) vs. (2) Michigan State (27-6, 17-13 ATS)
Michigan State put together a workmanlike performance in a 77-62 win over Robert Morris on Friday, but came up just short as a 16-point chalk. The Spartans got 16 points from Raymar Morgan in just 20 minutes of action and got 11 points and 17 rebounds from Goran Suton. Michigan State has now won seven of its last eight (5-4 ATS) with the only loss being an upset by Ohio State in the Big Ten tournament semifinals.
USC continued its late-season surge in Friday’s opening round, rallying from a four-point halftime deficit for a 72-55 victory over seventh-seeded Boston College, cashing easily as a two-point favorite. Taj Gibson led the way with 24 points on a perfect 10-of-10 shooting as the Trojans won and cashed for the sixth straight game, a streak that comes after a three-game losing skid (1-2 ATS) in late-February.
Michigan State is making its 12th consecutive Big Dance appearance, the fourth-longest active streak. Last year, the Spartans went 2-0 SU and ATS in wins over Temple and Pitt to get to the Sweet 16, where they got steamrolled by Memphis 92-74 as 5½-point ‘dogs. Under coach Tom Izzo, Michigan State is 27-10 SU in the Tournament, reaching four Final Fours, seven Sweet 16s and one national championship (2000).
USC advanced to the Sweet 16 of the Big Dance in 2007, but was knocked out in the opening round a year ago, falling 80-67 to Kansas State as three-point favorites.
Izzo’s Spartans are on ATS runs of 17-9-1 in NCAA Tournament games, 7-4 as a chalk, 19-7-2 as a favorite of less than seven points, 13-4-1 when laying points in the Big Dance and 5-1 on Sundays. USC is on ATS streaks of 6-0 overall, 4-0 in neutral-site games, 5-0 as a neutral-site ‘dog and 7-3 in the Big Dance.
Michigan State is on “under” streaks of 9-3 overall, 8-2 as a favorite, 9-0 against Pac-10 opposition, 7-2 after a straight-up win and 6-1 after a spread-cover. The Trojans are riding “under” trends of 30-14 in non-conference action, 11-4 in neutral-site games, 6-1 on Sundays and 5-1 as a neutral-site pup.
ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE
MIDWEST REGION
(at Miami, Fla.)
(13) Cleveland State (26-10, 19-12 ATS) vs. (12) Arizona (20-13, 19-13 ATS)
Arizona led virtually wire-to-wire in its 84-71 victory over fifth-seeded Utah on Friday, prevailing as a 1½-point ‘dog. The Wildcats got 29 points from point guard Nic Wise and shot 30-of-55 from the field while holding the Utes to 27-of-64 shooting. Arizona went just 1-5 SU (3-3 ATS) down the stretch to create some doubt as to whether it belonged in the Big Dance.
Cleveland State is the lowest-seed left in the NCAA Tournament after it pulled off the 84-69 upset of No. 4-seeded Wake Forest as a 7½-point underdog Friday. The Vikings, who scored their first Tournament win in 23 years, got balanced scoring from its big three of Norris Cole (22 points), J’Nathan Bullock (21 points) and Cedric Jackson (19 points, eight assists and seven rebounds). Cleveland State upset Butler to win the Horizon League tournament and get the automatic bid to the dance and has won five straight (3-2 ATS) overall.
Arizona is playing in the NCAA Tournament for the 25th consecutive season, the longest such streak in the nation. However, the Wildcats didn’t get out of the opening round the last two years and hasn’t advanced to the Sweet 16 since 2005. This is Cleveland State’s first Big Dance appearance since its Cinderella run in 1986 when it lost to David Robinson and Navy in the Sweet 16.
The ‘Cats are riding several positive ATS trends, including 10-4 overall, 7-2 as a chalk, 12-4 as a neutral-site favorite, 7-2 in non-conference games and 7-2 in NCAA Tournament games. The Vikings are on positive ATS runs of 21-7 after a spread-cover, 25-10 after a straight-up win, 6-1 in non-conference action and 5-0 as an underdog.
Arizona has topped the total in eight of 10 overall, six of seven Tournament games, five straight non-conference contests and six of seven neutral-site affairs. Cleveland State has gone over the total in nine of 13 overall, seven of nine on a neutral court and 12 of 16 after a straight-up win.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER
MIDWEST REGION
(at Dayton, Ohio)
(9) Siena (27-7, 15-15-1 ATS) vs. (1) Louisville (29-5, 21-13 ATS)
Louisville, the Tournament’s top overall seed, survived a shaky first half and went on to blow out Morehead State 74-54 in the opening round on Friday, coming up short as a 21½-point favorite. The Cardinals got 15 points and seven rebounds from Samardo Samuels and held the Eagles to 38.5 percent shooting for their 11th straight victory (8-3 ATS).
Siena won a dramatic 74-72 double-overtime game against No. 8 seed Ohio State on Friday, getting it done as a 2½-point underdog for its ninth win in 10 outings (6-4 ATS). The Saints, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference regular season and tourney champs, had all five starters score in double figures, led by Ryan Rossiter’s 16-point, 15-rebound performance.
Rick Pitino’s Cardinals reached the regional final last season, falling to North Carolina in their bid for the Final Four. Pitino owns a 36-12 SU Tournament record while coaching Providence, Kentucky and Louisville. Siena is making its fifth appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Last year, the Saints upset Vanderbilt 83-62 as a 6½-point underdog in the opening round before falling to Villanova 84-72 as a 5½-point pup in the second round.
Despite not cashing against Morehead State, the Cardinals are on positive ATS streaks of 38-18-1 overall, 14-6 as a chalk, 6-1-1 as a NCAA Tournament favorite and 11-3 on Sundays. Siena is just 7-13 ATS in its last 20 neutral-site games, but it is otherwise on pointspread tears of 4-0 overall, 5-1 in non-conference games, 7-2 against Big East foes and 17-7 as a pup.
Louisville is riding “under” streaks of 13-5-1 in non-conference action, 5-1 on neutral courts, 4-1 after a straight-up win and 7-1-1 as a neutral-site favorite. For the Saints, the over is on runs of 10-4 overall, 5-0 as a ‘dog, 5-1 in non-conference games, 4-0 against Big East teams and 9-3 after a straight-up win.
ATS ADVANTAGE: LOUISVILLE
SOUTH REGION
(at Miami, Fla.)
(6) Arizona State (25-9, 19-11 ATS) vs. (3) Syracuse (27-9, 18-14 ATS)
Syracuse made life tough on Stephen F. Austin during Friday’s 59-44 win, holding the Lumberjacks to 24.7 percent shooting and 2-of-21 from the three-point line. Guard Jonny Flynn led the way for the Orange, scoring 16 points and handing out seven assists as they covered the 11-point spread. Syracuse is on an 8-1 SU and ATS surge, with the only loss coming in the finals of the Big East tournament to Louisville.
Like the Orange, Arizona State also did the job with defense in its 66-57 opening-round win over Temple, holding the Owls to 19-of-51 shooting as it covered the 6 ½-point spread. The Sundevils got 22 points each from Derek Glasser and Jeff Pendergraph and survived with Pac-10 Player of the Year James Harden finishing 1-for-8 from the field with just nine points.
The Sun Devils haven’t been to the Big Dance since 2003 when they lost to Kansas in the second round. Syracuse is back in the tourney for the first time since 2006, when it followed up a run to the Big East tournament title by getting bounced in the first round by Texas A&M. The Orange, who are 40-24 in 25 previous Tournament appearances under coach Jim Boeheim, last made it to the Sweet 16 in 2004.
The Orange are on ATS runs of 8-1 overall, 6-2 in neutral-site games, 5-0 as a favorite, 6-1 against teams with winning records and 10-4-1 as a neutral-site chalk. Arizona State is on pointspread roll of 4-1 overall, 8-3 in neutral-site outings, 5-0 as a ‘dog and 4-1 against teams with a winning record.
Syracuse is riding “over” streaks of 5-1 overall, 7-3 as a favorite, 4-1 in Tournament games, 7-1 in neutral-site contests and 5-3 as a neutral-site favorite. The Sun Devils are also riding “over” streaks of 5-2 in non-league contests, 6-2 in neutral-site games, 7-3 as a neutral-site ‘dog and 4-1 after a straight-up win. However, both teams stayed under the total in their respective first-round games Friday.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER
EAST REGION
(at Dayton, Ohio)
(8) Oklahoma St. (23-11, 15-12-1 ATS) vs. (1) Pittsburgh (29-4, 16-10-1 ATS)
Pitt advanced to the second round thanks to a shaky 72-62 win over East Tennessee State on Friday, coming nowhere near covering the 21-point number. The Panthers got 27 points and 16 rebounds from big man DeJuan Blair, and their defense limited the Buccaneers to 23-of-76 shooting (30.3 percent), but they had 18 turnovers. Pitt has won 11 of 13 (9-4 ATS) overall, but failed to cover in its last two.
Oklahoma State scored an last-possession 77-75 upset win over Tennessee in the opening round, cashing as a three-point ‘dog. The Cowboys got 16 points and 11 rebounds from Marshall Moses on 8-of-10 shooting as they won and covered for the ninth time in their last 11 games.
The Panthers won the Big East tournament championship last season, but then fell in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, losing 65-54 to Michigan State as 2½-point favorites. Pitt has made six consecutive trips to the Big Dance under sixth-year coach Jaime Dixon, but has yet to make it past the Sweet 16. The Cowboys haven’t been “dancing” since 2005 when they lost to Arizona in the Sweet 16.
These teams have met in three of the last five seasons, including 2007 when Pitt got an 85-68 home win as a 13½-point favorite.
The Cowboys are on pointspread upticks of 10-1 overall, 17-7-2 in neutral-site contests, 8-1 after a spread-cover and 7-1 after a straight-up win, but they are still just 4-10 ATS in their last 14 as a ‘dog. Pitt is riding several ATS streaks, including 8-3 after a non-cover, 7-3 after a straight-up win, 4-0 on Sundays and 7-1 as a favorite of seven to 12½-points, but the Panthers are just 1-4 ATS in their last five Tournament games and 1-4-1 ATS in their last six against the Big 12.
Oklahoma State is on “under” runs of 7-2 overall, 5-1 in non-conference games, 6-1 in neutral-site games as a ‘dog, 8-2 in the Tournament and 5-0 in the Big Dance as a pup. Pittsburgh is on “under” runs of 5-0 in neutral-site games, 5-1 in non-conference action and 6-2 after a non-cover.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
EAST REGION
(at Boise, Idaho)
(10) Wisconsin (20-12, 13-16-1 ATS) vs. (4) Xavier (26-7, 17-12-2 ATS)
Xavier advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the third time in four years, crushing 13th-seeded Portland State 77-59 as a 10-point favorite Friday. The Musketeers shot a blistering 53.7 percent from the field, dominated in the rebounding department (30-20) and limited the Vikings to just 24 second-half points. Despite Friday’s rout, Xavier is still just 6-5 SU in its last 11 contests after starting the season 20-2.
Wisconsin won an opening-round game for the third straight year and the seventh time in the last eight years with a last-second 61-59 overtime victory over No. 5-seed Florida State as a three-point underdog. The Badgers, who trailed 31-19 at the half, won it on Trevon Hughes’ bank shot with two seconds left. Bo Ryan’s club is on an 8-2 roll going back to the regular season (6-4 ATS).
After giving up an average 68.3 ppg during a midseason 0-6 slide, the Badgers have tightened things up on the defensive end, holding 11 consecutive opponents to 61 points or fewer and surrendering only 54.1 ppg during this stretch. Meanwhile, Xavier has now held six of its last seven opponents under 60 points.
Xavier knocked off Georgia, Purdue and West Virginia (3-0 ATS) to advance to the regional final in last year’s Big Dance, but its Final Four dreams ended in a 76-57 loss to UCLA as a six-point underdog. The Musketeers are in the Tournament for the fourth straight time, going 1-1 (2-0 ATS) in second-round games.
This is Wisconsin’s 14th appearance in the Big Dance and the seventh under Ryan. Last year, the Badgers opened up with double-digit blowout wins over Cal-State Fullerton and Kansas State (2-0 ATS), but fell in the Sweet 16 to Davidson 73-56 as a five-point favorite. Going back to 2002, they’re 3-3 SU and 2-4 ATS in second-round tourney action.
The schools played a home-and-home series back in 2000 and 2001, with the host winning each contest and Wisconsin cashing both times.
Xavier is on positive pointspread runs of 13-6-2 overall, 10-2 in the Tournament, 36-17-1 at neutral venues, 18-7 as a favorite at neutral sites, 4-0-1 on Sunday, 6-0 against the Big Ten and 10-4-1 against squads with a winning record. The lone negative for Musketeers is a 1-5 ATS mark in its last six when laying less than seven points.
Wisconsin is on ATS runs of 5-2 in non-conference games, 7-1 against the Atlantic 10 and 4-1 as an underdog in the Tournament, but it is just 1-5 ATS in its last six against teams with a winning record.
Both teams barely stayed under the total in their first-round victories. Additionally, Wisconsin is on “under” streaks of 7-1 overall, 4-0 as an underdog, 6-2-1 at neutral sites, 5-1 on Sunday and 5-0 after a SU win. Xavier’s “under” trends include 8-2-1 overall (all as a favorite), 6-0 at neutral sites and 4-1 on Sunday. However, the Musketeers have still topped the total in 10 of their last 12 NCAA Tournament contests and six of seven non-conference games.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
WEST REGION
(at Boise, Idaho)
(6) Marquette (25-9, 14-14-1 ATS) vs. (3) Missouri (29-6, 18-10 ATS)
Missouri overcame a lackluster first-half against Cornell on Friday, but turned it on over the final 20 minutes en route to a 78-59 victory, cashing easily as a 12-point chalk for its first Tournament victory since 2003. Going back to the start of the Big 12 tournament, the Tigers have won and covered in four straight games, the fifth time this season they’ve won at least four in a row SU. In addition, they’re on a 12-2 SU run (11-3 ATS), and the winner has cashed in each of the team’s 10 outings.
Marquette gutted out a 58-57 victory over Utah State on Friday, but failed to cover as a six-point favorite. The Golden Eagles, who advanced to the second round for the second straight year, blew an eight-point halftime lead and trailed by as many as six with less than four minutes to go before rallying for the win despite shooting just 36.2 percent from the field. Marquette is just 2-5 SU in its last seven games and 4-8 ATS in its last 12.
The Tigers’ last Tournament appearance came in 2003, when they lost a second-round game to Marquette 101-92 in overtime, failing to cover as a three-point underdog. That was the most recent meeting between the two schools.
Marquette is making its 26th Tournament appearance and its fourth in a row. Last year, the Eagles knocked out Kentucky 74-66 as a six-point favorite in the first round before losing to Stanford 82-81 in overtime as a 2½-point underdog.
Despite ATS slumps of 4-8 overall and 1-5-1 in non-conference games, the Golden Eagles are still 9-3 ATS in their last 12 neutral-site contests and 6-2-1 ATS in their last nine as an underdog. Meanwhile, Missouri carries a bunch of positive ATS streaks, including 4-0 overall, 6-1 at neutral sites (4-0 last four), 8-1 as a chalk, 7-2 in the Tournament and 9-3 versus winning teams, but the Tigers have failed to cash in 10 of their last 14 as a favorite of less than six points.
Marquette is on “over” tears of 24-12 at neutral sites, 9-2 in the Big Dance, 6-0-1 against the Big 12 and 5-1 as an underdog. The over is also 13-7 in the Tigers’ last 20 non-conference games and 7-1 in their last seven Tournament contests. However, both teams stayed under the total in their first-round games, and the under is 5-1 in Mizzou’s last six overall and 5-0 in its last five at neutral sites.
ATS ADVANTAGE: MISSOURI
NBA
Houston (46-25, 34-36-1 ATS) at San Antonio (45-23, 34-32-2 ATS)
The Spurs will try to make it two wins over the Rockets in eight days when they welcome their in-state rivals into the AT&T Center in San Antonio.
Since falling 88-85 to the Spurs at home eight days ago, Houston is a perfect 3-0 (2-1 ATS), including a 107-88 home win over Minnesota on Friday night, cashing as an 11-point favorite. The Rockets have rattled off three consecutive SU and ATS road wins, most recently upsetting New Orleans 95-84 as a six-point road pup Monday.
San Antonio has alternated wins and losses in its last six (2-4 ATS) and fell to the Celtics at home on Friday, 80-77 as a 3½-point favorite. The Spurs are 24-10 at home this season, but just 15-18-1 ATS, including SU and ATS losses in two of their last three in front of the home fans.
San Antonio’s upset victory in Houston last week ended a six-game (5-1 ATS) winning streak by the host in this rivalry, including the Spurs 77-75 road win on Nov. 14 as a six-point home pup. The Rockets are 5-2 ATS in their last seven trips to San Antonio.
Houston is riding ATS streaks of 6-2 as a road ‘dog, 5-0 on the road overall and 4-0 on the highway against teams with a winning home record. The Spurs are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 after a straight-up loss, but otherwise they are on ATS slides of 1-4 overall, 0-4 as a favorite and 1-4 as a home chalk of less than five points.
It’s been all “unders” lately for the Rockets, including 6-2 overall, 5-0 on the road, 5-1 as a ‘dog, 4-0 against Southwest Division rivals and 21-6 against teams with a winning record. San Antonio is on “under” stretches of 4-0 overall, 18-5 against teams with winning marks, 6-2 as a favorite and 5-0 following a non-cover. In this rivalry, the under is 22-6 in the last 28 clashes and 13-3 in the last 16 battles in San Antonio.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
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STATFOX Supersituations
<!-- / icon and title --><!-- message -->STATFOX
Service makes only three picks on sides for Sunday with Xavier at 10 *, and Sienna and Missou at 3 *
Totals are AGAIN 1 Over and 5 Under with 2 no calls- Ariz/Syr Under at 15 *.USC/MSU Under at 15 * and Wisc/Xav Under at 10 *
<!-- / message -->
<!-- / icon and title --><!-- message -->STATFOX
Service makes only three picks on sides for Sunday with Xavier at 10 *, and Sienna and Missou at 3 *
Totals are AGAIN 1 Over and 5 Under with 2 no calls- Ariz/Syr Under at 15 *.USC/MSU Under at 15 * and Wisc/Xav Under at 10 *
<!-- / message -->
Big Al
3* Kansas
BIG AL'S FULL SERVICE CLIENTS
sunday
At 2:50 pm, our selection is on the Pitt Panthers minus the points over Oklahoma State, And revenging underdogs priced from +7 to +20 points have covered just 18 of 51 (and 1 of their last 13) vs. Pitt. Lay the points.
At 2:40 pm, our 2nd Round Game of the Year is on the Arizona Wildcats minus the points over Cleveland State. Lay the small number.
At 4:50 pm, our College Hoops Steamroller is on the Marquette Golden Eagles plus the points over Mizzou. Take Marquette. Good luck as always...Al McMordie.<!-- / message -->
3* Kansas
BIG AL'S FULL SERVICE CLIENTS
sunday
At 2:50 pm, our selection is on the Pitt Panthers minus the points over Oklahoma State, And revenging underdogs priced from +7 to +20 points have covered just 18 of 51 (and 1 of their last 13) vs. Pitt. Lay the points.
At 2:40 pm, our 2nd Round Game of the Year is on the Arizona Wildcats minus the points over Cleveland State. Lay the small number.
At 4:50 pm, our College Hoops Steamroller is on the Marquette Golden Eagles plus the points over Mizzou. Take Marquette. Good luck as always...Al McMordie.<!-- / message -->
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DCI
<!-- / icon and title --><!-- message -->NCAA Tournament
2nd Round
East Region
at Taco Bell Arena, Boise, ID
Xavier 61, Wisconsin 60
at University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, OH
Pittsburgh 83, Oklahoma State 76
Midwest Region
at American Airlines Arena, Miami, FL
Cleveland State vs. Arizona: TOO CLOSE TO CALL
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, MN
Michigan State 66, Usc 63
Kansas 72, Dayton 62
at University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, OH
Louisville 80, Siena 65
South Region
at American Airlines Arena, Miami, FL
Syracuse 72, Arizona State 71
West Region
at Taco Bell Arena, Boise, ID
Missouri 82, Marquette 75
<!-- / icon and title --><!-- message -->NCAA Tournament
2nd Round
East Region
at Taco Bell Arena, Boise, ID
Xavier 61, Wisconsin 60
at University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, OH
Pittsburgh 83, Oklahoma State 76
Midwest Region
at American Airlines Arena, Miami, FL
Cleveland State vs. Arizona: TOO CLOSE TO CALL
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, MN
Michigan State 66, Usc 63
Kansas 72, Dayton 62
at University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, OH
Louisville 80, Siena 65
South Region
at American Airlines Arena, Miami, FL
Syracuse 72, Arizona State 71
West Region
at Taco Bell Arena, Boise, ID
Missouri 82, Marquette 75
Overthespread
Arizona St. vs. Syracuse
Pick: SYRACUSE (-2)
Wager: 50 Dimes
Kansas vs. Dayton
Pick: KANSAS (-7.5)
Wager: 30 Dimes
Thank You & Good Luck!!!<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
fficeffice" /><o
></o>
<o>Paid & Confirmed</o>
<o>Bonus Play: Marquette/Missouri OVERS</o>
<o></o>
Arizona St. vs. Syracuse
Pick: SYRACUSE (-2)
Wager: 50 Dimes
Kansas vs. Dayton
Pick: KANSAS (-7.5)
Wager: 30 Dimes
Thank You & Good Luck!!!<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
fficeffice" /><o></o><o
>Paid & Confirmed</o><o
>Bonus Play: Marquette/Missouri OVERS</o><o
></o>Who will cover
Wisconsin (+4) vs Xavier, at Boise, ID. By Drew Gordon, Featured Handicapper
I warned you about underestimating this Badgers team when I released my strongest paid play of the college postseason, taking them against Florida State Friday. Once again, I feel compelled to warn my customers about the danger of going against a Wisconsin team that not only matches up well with Xavier, but also plays a style conducive to covering in this spot. Read on...
I told you the problem Florida State had was their inability to trap this Badgers team, which was Wisky's achilles heel in conference play. Same goes here, as the Musketeers bigmen aren't going to be able to effectively press, leaving the door wide open for a Wisky offense that prefers playing in the halfcourt. On a side note, the Badgers style of play has proven successful against the A-10, having gone 7-1 ATS in their L8 in that spot!
Also, Badgers-backers have to be happy about the re-emergence of F Keaton Nankivil, who gives the Badgers another bigman who can score. Coupled with Landry, Krabbenhoft, and Leuer (those last two must play better after being all but invisible vs the Seminoles) Wisky has more than enough depth in the front-court to deal with Xavier's Brown and Love down-low.
Finally, let's not get too carried away with the Musketeers win over Portland State! I find the Badgers win over the Seminoles A LOT more impressive, and one has to wonder how Xavier will fare against the sometimes frustrating Big Ten-style (slow-paced, defensive-minded) Badgers team in this one. Much like FSU, I believe the Musketeers get dragged into a methodical slug-fest, which is not their strength. In the end, this game will be razor close, as the Badgers got some of their swagger back, and it'll show this afternoon.
Take Wisconsin plus the points over Xavier in this college hoops match up.
3♦ WISCONSIN
Wisconsin vs. Xavier (-4), at Boise, Idaho By Chris Jordan, Featured Handicapper
Grab this favorite early, and I'll have your breakdown available by Noon eastern.
1♦ XAVIER
Wisconsin vs. Xavier (-4), at Boise, Idaho By Chris Jordan, Featured Handicapper
We're also going to play this game Over the posted number as well, completing your side and total combo. I'll have your breakdown on this as well.
1♦ OVER
Cleveland State (+3) vs. Arizona, at Miami By Bobby Maxwell, Featured Handicapper
We told you all about Oklahoma in this spot yesterday and delivered that FREE winner in the Big Dance and today we are giving you another with Cleveland State taking on Arizona.
The Cinderella of this tournament is clearly Cleveland State and they are going to the Sweet 16. Now, of course we're going to grab the points with them in this one, but you won't be surprised when the Vikings win this one outright.
Cleveland State crushed Wake Forest on Friday night 84-69 as a 7 1/2-point underdog and made it look easy. They got big points from Norris Cole (22), J'Nathan Bullock (21) and Cedric Jackson (19 points, eight assists and seven rebounds). This team is good, has experience and is going to give Arizona all kinds of fits today.
Arizona was given an invitation to this party when it really didn't deserve one, but the Wildcats went out on Friday and handled Utah with ease in their 84-71 win as 1 1/2-point underdogs. They got 29 points from PG Nic Wise and shot 30-of-55 from the field. But this team isn't that far removed from their 1-5 stretch to end the season. And the problem for them today is going to be the lack of time to prepare for the Vikings.
Cleveland State is on ATS streaks of 21-7 after a spread-cover, 25-10 after a straight-up win, 6-1 against non-conference teams and 5-0 as an underdog. We like the way this Vikings' team handles itself. Let's go ahead and play them in this one. Grab the points to play it safe, but don't be surprised when they win.
4♦ CLEVELAND STATE
Siena (+11') vs. LOUISVILLE - at Dayton, OH By Karl Garrett, Featured Handicapper
The Saints came up with a nice overtime upset win over Ohio State in round one, and while they are stepping up in class in this battle with number one seed Louisville, the G-Man is taking the points with Siena.
Siena's pre-conference schedule included Big Dance participants Cornell, Tennessee, Oklahoma State, Pittsburgh, and Kansas, with the Saints covering as the double-digit dog against Pitt, and KU.
Louisville is toting in an 11-game winning streak, but the Cards missed the cover against Morehead State in their tourny opener, and they have failed 2 of their last 3 as the double-digit chalk.
G-Man grabbing the points with the Saints on Sunday.
2♦ SIENA
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Wisconsin (+4) vs Xavier, at Boise, ID. By Drew Gordon, Featured Handicapper
I warned you about underestimating this Badgers team when I released my strongest paid play of the college postseason, taking them against Florida State Friday. Once again, I feel compelled to warn my customers about the danger of going against a Wisconsin team that not only matches up well with Xavier, but also plays a style conducive to covering in this spot. Read on...
I told you the problem Florida State had was their inability to trap this Badgers team, which was Wisky's achilles heel in conference play. Same goes here, as the Musketeers bigmen aren't going to be able to effectively press, leaving the door wide open for a Wisky offense that prefers playing in the halfcourt. On a side note, the Badgers style of play has proven successful against the A-10, having gone 7-1 ATS in their L8 in that spot!
Also, Badgers-backers have to be happy about the re-emergence of F Keaton Nankivil, who gives the Badgers another bigman who can score. Coupled with Landry, Krabbenhoft, and Leuer (those last two must play better after being all but invisible vs the Seminoles) Wisky has more than enough depth in the front-court to deal with Xavier's Brown and Love down-low.
Finally, let's not get too carried away with the Musketeers win over Portland State! I find the Badgers win over the Seminoles A LOT more impressive, and one has to wonder how Xavier will fare against the sometimes frustrating Big Ten-style (slow-paced, defensive-minded) Badgers team in this one. Much like FSU, I believe the Musketeers get dragged into a methodical slug-fest, which is not their strength. In the end, this game will be razor close, as the Badgers got some of their swagger back, and it'll show this afternoon.
Take Wisconsin plus the points over Xavier in this college hoops match up.
3♦ WISCONSIN
Wisconsin vs. Xavier (-4), at Boise, Idaho By Chris Jordan, Featured Handicapper
Grab this favorite early, and I'll have your breakdown available by Noon eastern.
1♦ XAVIER
Wisconsin vs. Xavier (-4), at Boise, Idaho By Chris Jordan, Featured Handicapper
We're also going to play this game Over the posted number as well, completing your side and total combo. I'll have your breakdown on this as well.
1♦ OVER
Cleveland State (+3) vs. Arizona, at Miami By Bobby Maxwell, Featured Handicapper
We told you all about Oklahoma in this spot yesterday and delivered that FREE winner in the Big Dance and today we are giving you another with Cleveland State taking on Arizona.
The Cinderella of this tournament is clearly Cleveland State and they are going to the Sweet 16. Now, of course we're going to grab the points with them in this one, but you won't be surprised when the Vikings win this one outright.
Cleveland State crushed Wake Forest on Friday night 84-69 as a 7 1/2-point underdog and made it look easy. They got big points from Norris Cole (22), J'Nathan Bullock (21) and Cedric Jackson (19 points, eight assists and seven rebounds). This team is good, has experience and is going to give Arizona all kinds of fits today.
Arizona was given an invitation to this party when it really didn't deserve one, but the Wildcats went out on Friday and handled Utah with ease in their 84-71 win as 1 1/2-point underdogs. They got 29 points from PG Nic Wise and shot 30-of-55 from the field. But this team isn't that far removed from their 1-5 stretch to end the season. And the problem for them today is going to be the lack of time to prepare for the Vikings.
Cleveland State is on ATS streaks of 21-7 after a spread-cover, 25-10 after a straight-up win, 6-1 against non-conference teams and 5-0 as an underdog. We like the way this Vikings' team handles itself. Let's go ahead and play them in this one. Grab the points to play it safe, but don't be surprised when they win.
4♦ CLEVELAND STATE
Siena (+11') vs. LOUISVILLE - at Dayton, OH By Karl Garrett, Featured Handicapper
The Saints came up with a nice overtime upset win over Ohio State in round one, and while they are stepping up in class in this battle with number one seed Louisville, the G-Man is taking the points with Siena.
Siena's pre-conference schedule included Big Dance participants Cornell, Tennessee, Oklahoma State, Pittsburgh, and Kansas, with the Saints covering as the double-digit dog against Pitt, and KU.
Louisville is toting in an 11-game winning streak, but the Cards missed the cover against Morehead State in their tourny opener, and they have failed 2 of their last 3 as the double-digit chalk.
G-Man grabbing the points with the Saints on Sunday.
2♦ SIENA
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