Game of the Day: Final Four Doubleheader by covers.....
Michigan State Spartans vs Duke Blue Devils (-5, 138)
This year's NCAA Tournament Final Four is a star-studded affair - on the court and along the sideline - and the action kicks off Saturday when Duke takes on Michigan State in the first national semifinal from Indianapolis. The Blue Devils are 8-3 all-time in the national semifinals under legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski, while Tom Izzo has led the Spartans to the Final Four for the seventh time since 1999.
The winner squares off with Kentucky or Wisconsin in Monday's national championship game. Duke, the No. 1 seed from the South Regional, reached this point by holding its first four NCAA Tournament opponents to 53.5 points on 36.8 percent shooting, highlighted by a suffocating performance against Gonzaga in the regional final. Michigan State, the No. 7 seed from the East Regional, has limited the opposition to 33.9 percent shooting and 23.7 percent from 3-point range during its four tournament wins, capped by an overtime triumph against Louisville in the Elite Eight. This game is a rematch from Nov. 18, when the Blue Devils posted an 81-71 victory on this same court as part of the Champions Classic.
TV: 6:09 p.m. ET, TBS
LINE HISTORY: Duke opened as -4.5 favorites, but quickly moved to -5. Totals across Vegas and online opened at either 139 or 139.5 before being bet down to 138.
WHAT BOOKS SAY: "I've been booking for almost 20 years and I cant remember a Final Four Saturday that we have had smaller decisions than we will this season. We've had 53 percent of bets and 52 percent of cash on Duke in this one." - Mike Jerome of TopBet.eu
ABOUT MICHIGAN STATE (27-11 SU, 22-16 ATS, 20-15-2 O/U): The Spartans shot 50 percent in the first matchup but allowed the Blue Devils to shoot 54 percent, including 7-of-14 from 3-point range, while struggling to contain Jahlil Okafor down low. "We got our feet wet there," Izzo told reporters this week in reflection of that night, when his team was led by senior forward Branden Dawson (18 points, nine rebounds). "We realized what we weren't good enough at. It gave us a barometer to try to figure out who we are." Who they are offensively is a team that relies heavily on two players - senior guard Travis Trice (19.8 points in the NCAAs) and junior guard Denzel Valentine, who has filled up the box score in the tournament to the tune of 13.3 points, six rebounds and 4.5 assists.
ABOUT DUKE (33-4 SU, 22-14-1 ATS, 18-17 O/U): Okafor, the likely No. 1 pick in this summer's draft, shot 8-of-10 for 17 points in the first game against Michigan State, although the freshman center is struggling of late, totaling 15 points on 7-of-16 shooting in the last two games. “We got better (since November) and they did too,” Okafor told the media this week. “They are a better team. That’s just a game that was part of our journey. It’s going to be a different game this Saturday and we’re looking forward to it.” Okafor is complemented by two more stud freshmen - swingman Justise Winslow, who posted double-doubles in the round of 32 and the round of 16, and point guard Tyus Jones, who registered 15 points in each of the last two contests.
TRENDS:
*Spartans are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
*Blue Devils are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 non-conference games.
*Over is 5-1 in Spartans last 6 vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
*Under is 6-0 in Blue Devils last 6 overall.
COVERS CONSENSUS: Fifty-one percent of Covers Consensus users are on Tom Izzo's Spartans.
Michigan State Spartans vs Duke Blue Devils (-5, 138)
This year's NCAA Tournament Final Four is a star-studded affair - on the court and along the sideline - and the action kicks off Saturday when Duke takes on Michigan State in the first national semifinal from Indianapolis. The Blue Devils are 8-3 all-time in the national semifinals under legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski, while Tom Izzo has led the Spartans to the Final Four for the seventh time since 1999.
The winner squares off with Kentucky or Wisconsin in Monday's national championship game. Duke, the No. 1 seed from the South Regional, reached this point by holding its first four NCAA Tournament opponents to 53.5 points on 36.8 percent shooting, highlighted by a suffocating performance against Gonzaga in the regional final. Michigan State, the No. 7 seed from the East Regional, has limited the opposition to 33.9 percent shooting and 23.7 percent from 3-point range during its four tournament wins, capped by an overtime triumph against Louisville in the Elite Eight. This game is a rematch from Nov. 18, when the Blue Devils posted an 81-71 victory on this same court as part of the Champions Classic.
TV: 6:09 p.m. ET, TBS
LINE HISTORY: Duke opened as -4.5 favorites, but quickly moved to -5. Totals across Vegas and online opened at either 139 or 139.5 before being bet down to 138.
WHAT BOOKS SAY: "I've been booking for almost 20 years and I cant remember a Final Four Saturday that we have had smaller decisions than we will this season. We've had 53 percent of bets and 52 percent of cash on Duke in this one." - Mike Jerome of TopBet.eu
ABOUT MICHIGAN STATE (27-11 SU, 22-16 ATS, 20-15-2 O/U): The Spartans shot 50 percent in the first matchup but allowed the Blue Devils to shoot 54 percent, including 7-of-14 from 3-point range, while struggling to contain Jahlil Okafor down low. "We got our feet wet there," Izzo told reporters this week in reflection of that night, when his team was led by senior forward Branden Dawson (18 points, nine rebounds). "We realized what we weren't good enough at. It gave us a barometer to try to figure out who we are." Who they are offensively is a team that relies heavily on two players - senior guard Travis Trice (19.8 points in the NCAAs) and junior guard Denzel Valentine, who has filled up the box score in the tournament to the tune of 13.3 points, six rebounds and 4.5 assists.
ABOUT DUKE (33-4 SU, 22-14-1 ATS, 18-17 O/U): Okafor, the likely No. 1 pick in this summer's draft, shot 8-of-10 for 17 points in the first game against Michigan State, although the freshman center is struggling of late, totaling 15 points on 7-of-16 shooting in the last two games. “We got better (since November) and they did too,” Okafor told the media this week. “They are a better team. That’s just a game that was part of our journey. It’s going to be a different game this Saturday and we’re looking forward to it.” Okafor is complemented by two more stud freshmen - swingman Justise Winslow, who posted double-doubles in the round of 32 and the round of 16, and point guard Tyus Jones, who registered 15 points in each of the last two contests.
TRENDS:
*Spartans are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
*Blue Devils are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 non-conference games.
*Over is 5-1 in Spartans last 6 vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
*Under is 6-0 in Blue Devils last 6 overall.
COVERS CONSENSUS: Fifty-one percent of Covers Consensus users are on Tom Izzo's Spartans.
Kentucky Wildcats vs. Wisconsin Badgers (+5, 131)
Kentucky is two wins away from an undefeated season, although a familiar road block stands in its path to perfection. The Wildcats are back in the NCAA Tournament's Final Four for the fourth time in five seasons and for the second straight year, their national semifinal opponent is Wisconsin - a fellow No. 1 seed that will attempt to pull the upset Saturday in Indianapolis.
The teams played a thriller in Arlington, Texas, last April with the Wildcats escaping with a 74-73 triumph on Aaron Harrison's NBA-range 3-pointer with 5.7 seconds left. This time around, Kentucky is deeper and more experienced, although it needed two late free throws by Andrew Harrison to prevail against Notre Dame in the Midwest Region final. Wisconsin is likely a better squad as well, led by All-American big man Frank Kaminsky and blossoming forward Sam Dekker. Kentucky leans on the Harrison twins in the backcourt and a collection of athletic big men, highlighted by freshman Karl-Anthony Towns.
TV: 8:49 p.m. ET, TBS
LINE HISTORY: Books opened Wisconsin as a 6-point dog before taking a full point drop to +5 quickly. Books opened the total anywhere from 133 to 131, but have settled at 131 Friday.
WHAT BOOKS SAY: "Also can't remember a Final Four Saturday where neither semifinal game has had a line move. Both Kentucky and Duke opened as 5 point favorites and both games are still at -5. 54 percent of cash and 53 percent of bets are taking Wisconsin plus points." - Mike Jerome of TopBet.eu
ABOUT KENTUCKY (38-0 SU, 19-17-2 ATS, 15-23 O/U): The Wildcats are two wins away from becoming the first undefeated team since Indiana in 1975-76 and if the game is close, fans can expect one of the Harrisons to take the final shot. "The biggest thing is you cannot be afraid to miss the game-winning shot. It's not that you want to make it; it's that you're not afraid to miss it," Wildcats coach John Calipari told reporters. "You're not afraid to make a play and it go wrong. You have to have amnesia. You have to be willing to risk. Those two have it. They both have it." Towns certainly was not afraid of the big stage in the Elite Eight, when he shot 10-of-13 for a career-high 25 points after going 0-of-3 for one point against West Virginia in the Sweet 16.
ABOUT WISCONSIN (35-3 SU, 20-17-1 ATS, 18-20 O/U): The Badgers have won each of their last three games by seven points, including a hard-fought win over Arizona in the West final as Kaminsky recorded 29 points and Dekker set a career high for the second straight game, finishing with 27 points. Kaminsky may win the Wooden Award, but he has plenty of frontcourt help in the form of Dekker and Nigel Hayes while Josh Gasser and Bronson Koenig are also 3-point threats for Wisconsin. "We know what we're up against," Badgers coach Bo Ryan, whose team has won 20 of its last 21, said to reporters. "Our guys are pretty smart guys. They know what it's going to take - a pretty perfect game or close to it, to get these guys."
TRENDS:
*Wildcats are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 NCAA Tournament games.
*Badgers are 14-5-1 ATS in their last 20 neutral site games.
*Under is 15-3 in Wildcats last 18 non-conference games.
*Over is 4-0 in Badgers last 4 games following a ATS win.
COVERS CONSENSUS: Sixty-three percent of Covers Consensus users are backing the Badgers.
Kentucky is two wins away from an undefeated season, although a familiar road block stands in its path to perfection. The Wildcats are back in the NCAA Tournament's Final Four for the fourth time in five seasons and for the second straight year, their national semifinal opponent is Wisconsin - a fellow No. 1 seed that will attempt to pull the upset Saturday in Indianapolis.
The teams played a thriller in Arlington, Texas, last April with the Wildcats escaping with a 74-73 triumph on Aaron Harrison's NBA-range 3-pointer with 5.7 seconds left. This time around, Kentucky is deeper and more experienced, although it needed two late free throws by Andrew Harrison to prevail against Notre Dame in the Midwest Region final. Wisconsin is likely a better squad as well, led by All-American big man Frank Kaminsky and blossoming forward Sam Dekker. Kentucky leans on the Harrison twins in the backcourt and a collection of athletic big men, highlighted by freshman Karl-Anthony Towns.
TV: 8:49 p.m. ET, TBS
LINE HISTORY: Books opened Wisconsin as a 6-point dog before taking a full point drop to +5 quickly. Books opened the total anywhere from 133 to 131, but have settled at 131 Friday.
WHAT BOOKS SAY: "Also can't remember a Final Four Saturday where neither semifinal game has had a line move. Both Kentucky and Duke opened as 5 point favorites and both games are still at -5. 54 percent of cash and 53 percent of bets are taking Wisconsin plus points." - Mike Jerome of TopBet.eu
ABOUT KENTUCKY (38-0 SU, 19-17-2 ATS, 15-23 O/U): The Wildcats are two wins away from becoming the first undefeated team since Indiana in 1975-76 and if the game is close, fans can expect one of the Harrisons to take the final shot. "The biggest thing is you cannot be afraid to miss the game-winning shot. It's not that you want to make it; it's that you're not afraid to miss it," Wildcats coach John Calipari told reporters. "You're not afraid to make a play and it go wrong. You have to have amnesia. You have to be willing to risk. Those two have it. They both have it." Towns certainly was not afraid of the big stage in the Elite Eight, when he shot 10-of-13 for a career-high 25 points after going 0-of-3 for one point against West Virginia in the Sweet 16.
ABOUT WISCONSIN (35-3 SU, 20-17-1 ATS, 18-20 O/U): The Badgers have won each of their last three games by seven points, including a hard-fought win over Arizona in the West final as Kaminsky recorded 29 points and Dekker set a career high for the second straight game, finishing with 27 points. Kaminsky may win the Wooden Award, but he has plenty of frontcourt help in the form of Dekker and Nigel Hayes while Josh Gasser and Bronson Koenig are also 3-point threats for Wisconsin. "We know what we're up against," Badgers coach Bo Ryan, whose team has won 20 of its last 21, said to reporters. "Our guys are pretty smart guys. They know what it's going to take - a pretty perfect game or close to it, to get these guys."
TRENDS:
*Wildcats are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 NCAA Tournament games.
*Badgers are 14-5-1 ATS in their last 20 neutral site games.
*Under is 15-3 in Wildcats last 18 non-conference games.
*Over is 4-0 in Badgers last 4 games following a ATS win.
COVERS CONSENSUS: Sixty-three percent of Covers Consensus users are backing the Badgers.
| [h=1]College Basketball Consensus: Public Picks [/h] | | ||||||
| Time | Teams | ATS | Moneyline | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (ET) | Picks | Percentage | Picks | Percentage | Picks | Percentage | |
| Saturday, April 4, 2015 | |||||||
| 6:05pm odds | (823) Michigan State Spartans (824) Duke Blue Devils | 7163 10218 |
| 2397 4855 |
| O4313 U5531 |
|
| 8:49pm odds | (821) Wisconsin Badgers (822) Kentucky Wildcats | 11380 9086 |
| 4055 4519 |
| O8277 U3560 |
|
SATURDAY POWER BASKETBALL
Not going to be around tonight, has been a rough last few days but really feel good about tonight's selections!!!! Here are my plays....
Michigan State +5
Michigan State Over 138
Wisconsin +4.5
Wisconsin Over 131
Good Luck,
XS
Not going to be around tonight, has been a rough last few days but really feel good about tonight's selections!!!! Here are my plays....
Michigan State +5
Michigan State Over 138
Wisconsin +4.5
Wisconsin Over 131
Good Luck,
XS
Thanks my friends.... was a good night!!! :toast:
Thanks.... was a good night!!!
Game of the Day: NCAA tournament national championship game by covers
(1) Wisconsin Badgers vs. (1) Duke Blue Devils (+1, 140)
The NCAA Tournament national championship game features two front-runners for the Wooden Award, two of the top coaches in the game and two teams looking to ride the momentum from impressive victories on Saturday. When fellow No. 1 seeds Wisconsin and Duke square off Monday in Indianapolis, all eyes will be focused on the matchup between the Badgers' Frank Kaminsky and the Blue Devils' Jahlil Okafor, although both big men are complemented by plenty of talent.
Perhaps nowhere is the talent display greater than on the sidelines, where Duke's Mike Krzyzewski is aiming for his fifth national title - and his third in Indianapolis - while Wisconsin's Bo Ryan is trying to lead the Badgers to their first championship since 1941. Kaminsky scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds Saturday as the Badgers upset previously undefeated Kentucky 71-64. The Blue Devils took Saturday's first semifinal with an 81-61 triumph against Michigan State led by Okafor's 18 points, six rebounds and two blocks. This game also is a rematch from a Dec. 3 contest that saw Duke shoot 65.2 percent in handing Wisconsin one of its three losses - and its only home defeat.
TV: 9:18 p.m. ET, CBS
LINE HISTORY: Most shops opened the game at a pick'em, but that's since been moved to Duke +1.
WHAT CAPPERS SAY: "Lots of moving pieces this championship game tilt, starting with revenge incentive for the Badgers from a 10-point loss earlier this season, Wisconsin's only home defeat this campaign. While Bo Ryan sports a 15-6 ATS career record in games versus ACC opposition, the Badgers will need to overcome the Big Ten’s nasty 1-7 SU and ATS mark in title games dating back to 1992. Meanwhile the Blue Devils enter off a 20-point thrashing of Michigan State knowing teams in this round off a spread win of 14 or more points are just 2-5 SU and 1-6 ATS when facing a greater than .840 foe. Then again ACC teams counter with a sharp 8-3 SU and ATS in Big Dance finales. Pick your poison. Either way this has all the earmarks of a classic confrontation."
WHAT BOOKS SAY: "This is the best match up we could’ve hoped for. We’ve gotten, and will continue to get, very even action regarding the side. The public will be on Duke while the regular bettors, including a lot of wiseguys, that have been backing Wisconsin throughout the tournament aren’t about to back off the Badgers now. They are going to have to play another perfect game like the one against Kentucky to knock off the Devils. It’s certainly plausible because this is a disciplined, well-coached squad, but Duke has a clear advantage in most areas." John Lester, senior lines manager for Bookmaker.eu.
ABOUT WISCONSIN (36-3): The Badgers have won 21 of their last 22 games, including each of the last four victories by exactly seven points, and avenged a 2014 Final Four loss to Kentucky with Saturday's emotional victory. “This is something we’ve been talking about since Day 1 this season,” Wisconsin forward Sam Dekker told reporters. “Look where we are now.” Kaminsky (18.7 points, 8.1 rebounds) was recently named the Associated Press Player of the Year and is the favorite for the Wooden Award, while Dekker (13.9 points) has averaged 20.6 points on 61.3 percent shooting during the NCAA Tournament.
ABOUT DUKE (34-4): The Blue Devils have won 17 of 18, capped by a rout of Michigan State in which Okafor was complemented by fellow freshman star Justise Winslow (19 points, nine rebounds) and sturdy senior Quinn Cook (17 points). "It's an amazing thing, I mean, just to be in the Final Four, but to play on Monday night is the ultimate honor," Krzyzewski said to the media. "I hope our guys get their rest and we can get the same type of effort we got tonight. Now they've got a chance to play for a national championship, and damn, damn, how great is that?" The keys for the Blue Devils will include getting off to a better start - they overcame an early 14-6 deficit versus Michigan State - and improved 3-point shooting, as they were 2-of-10 against the Spartans.
TRENDS:
*Under is 6-1 in Blue Devils last 7 overall.
*Blue Devils are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
*Badgers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
*Over is 5-1 in Badgers last 6 overall.
COVERS CONSENSUS: According to Covers Consensus, 51 percent of bettors are on the Badgers.
(1) Wisconsin Badgers vs. (1) Duke Blue Devils (+1, 140)
The NCAA Tournament national championship game features two front-runners for the Wooden Award, two of the top coaches in the game and two teams looking to ride the momentum from impressive victories on Saturday. When fellow No. 1 seeds Wisconsin and Duke square off Monday in Indianapolis, all eyes will be focused on the matchup between the Badgers' Frank Kaminsky and the Blue Devils' Jahlil Okafor, although both big men are complemented by plenty of talent.
Perhaps nowhere is the talent display greater than on the sidelines, where Duke's Mike Krzyzewski is aiming for his fifth national title - and his third in Indianapolis - while Wisconsin's Bo Ryan is trying to lead the Badgers to their first championship since 1941. Kaminsky scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds Saturday as the Badgers upset previously undefeated Kentucky 71-64. The Blue Devils took Saturday's first semifinal with an 81-61 triumph against Michigan State led by Okafor's 18 points, six rebounds and two blocks. This game also is a rematch from a Dec. 3 contest that saw Duke shoot 65.2 percent in handing Wisconsin one of its three losses - and its only home defeat.
TV: 9:18 p.m. ET, CBS
LINE HISTORY: Most shops opened the game at a pick'em, but that's since been moved to Duke +1.
WHAT CAPPERS SAY: "Lots of moving pieces this championship game tilt, starting with revenge incentive for the Badgers from a 10-point loss earlier this season, Wisconsin's only home defeat this campaign. While Bo Ryan sports a 15-6 ATS career record in games versus ACC opposition, the Badgers will need to overcome the Big Ten’s nasty 1-7 SU and ATS mark in title games dating back to 1992. Meanwhile the Blue Devils enter off a 20-point thrashing of Michigan State knowing teams in this round off a spread win of 14 or more points are just 2-5 SU and 1-6 ATS when facing a greater than .840 foe. Then again ACC teams counter with a sharp 8-3 SU and ATS in Big Dance finales. Pick your poison. Either way this has all the earmarks of a classic confrontation."
WHAT BOOKS SAY: "This is the best match up we could’ve hoped for. We’ve gotten, and will continue to get, very even action regarding the side. The public will be on Duke while the regular bettors, including a lot of wiseguys, that have been backing Wisconsin throughout the tournament aren’t about to back off the Badgers now. They are going to have to play another perfect game like the one against Kentucky to knock off the Devils. It’s certainly plausible because this is a disciplined, well-coached squad, but Duke has a clear advantage in most areas." John Lester, senior lines manager for Bookmaker.eu.
ABOUT WISCONSIN (36-3): The Badgers have won 21 of their last 22 games, including each of the last four victories by exactly seven points, and avenged a 2014 Final Four loss to Kentucky with Saturday's emotional victory. “This is something we’ve been talking about since Day 1 this season,” Wisconsin forward Sam Dekker told reporters. “Look where we are now.” Kaminsky (18.7 points, 8.1 rebounds) was recently named the Associated Press Player of the Year and is the favorite for the Wooden Award, while Dekker (13.9 points) has averaged 20.6 points on 61.3 percent shooting during the NCAA Tournament.
ABOUT DUKE (34-4): The Blue Devils have won 17 of 18, capped by a rout of Michigan State in which Okafor was complemented by fellow freshman star Justise Winslow (19 points, nine rebounds) and sturdy senior Quinn Cook (17 points). "It's an amazing thing, I mean, just to be in the Final Four, but to play on Monday night is the ultimate honor," Krzyzewski said to the media. "I hope our guys get their rest and we can get the same type of effort we got tonight. Now they've got a chance to play for a national championship, and damn, damn, how great is that?" The keys for the Blue Devils will include getting off to a better start - they overcame an early 14-6 deficit versus Michigan State - and improved 3-point shooting, as they were 2-of-10 against the Spartans.
TRENDS:
*Under is 6-1 in Blue Devils last 7 overall.
*Blue Devils are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
*Badgers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
*Over is 5-1 in Badgers last 6 overall.
COVERS CONSENSUS: According to Covers Consensus, 51 percent of bettors are on the Badgers.
| [h=1]College Basketball Consensus: Public Picks [/h] | | ||||||
| Time | Teams | ATS | Moneyline | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (ET) | Picks | Percentage | Picks | Percentage | Picks | Percentage | |
| Monday, April 6, 2015 | |||||||
| 9:20pm odds | (601) Wisconsin Badgers (602) Duke Blue Devils | 9122 6463 |
| 3018 3628 |
| O5768 U3337 |
|
Thanks my friends..... good luck tonight!!!
