Pac 10 Lock of the Day...

I am not the biggest Wildcat fan at all and do not think they deserve to be in the NCAA tournament but today they play a team which is as inept and pathetic as they come and there really is no other scenario but a 30 point burial.

I have fallen into the trap a few times of backing Oregon State plus some hefty prices but the Beavers continue to be horrific and do things which don't even seem possible. I have watched OSU allow mindboggling 30-4 type runs and after a full season of this and Jay John being fired there is no upside at all for the Beavers. No doubt this is a huge number on a neutral site but Arizona just won in Corvallis by about 40 last week, 81-45. With Jerryd Bayless, Chase Budinger and a ton of motivation as the 'Cats are on the bubble I cannot see anything close to a game here.

I truly have never seen a worse major conference team than this Oregon State bunch. These guys won six games all season long, have lost 20 in a row and went an unreal 0-18 in the Pac-10 this season. The Beavers have also dropped seven straight to the number and there is no reason to believe that number eight is not well on its way here.

OSU has beaten SC Upstate, Idaho State, Portland State, Cal Davis, CSU Bakersfield and Northern Colorado with the last win coming on December 19th. Once again, there is just no reason to believe this will be competitive, none!

PICK: ARIZONA WILDCATS (-17.5)

Rough Day so far...

Time to turn it around tonight...who's on board.

Big East Tourney Free Pick...

We’ve got Cincinnati playing against Pittsburgh in a Big East matchup that the Panthers might win SU. However, go with the Bearcats.

Over their last five games the Bearcats are 0-5 SU and 1-5 ATS their last six games. But that one win ATS came against the Panthers in Pittsburgh.

And so far this season Pittsburgh and Cincinnati have played each other twice with the Bearcats winning outright 62-59 as 4-point dogs on Jan. 19 and winning ATS on Feb. 27.

Now Cincinnati gets another shot at Pittsburgh, who is 5-5 SU and only 3-7 ATS its last 10 games. Of those five wins SU, only two were by six points or more. Over their last four games the Panthers are 3-1 SU, but two of those wins were by six points and five points.

Pittsburgh hasn’t shown the ability to bury their opponents and won’t do so tonight.

PICK: Cinci +9

Toledo vs. Bowling Green

3/12 TOLEDO VS. BOWLING GREEN

I am leaning towards Toledo (-1.5) and under 125.5...Bowling Green has been playing uninspired down the stretch. Both teams can give up points with the best of em but not today! Play the under...

College Basketball Pick of the Day

3/12 PICKS OF THE DAY

Championship week is amongst. We got some hot ones for Wednesday's full card of conference tourney play. Here are our top NCAA Hoops Picks

1. Arizona (-19.5) over Oregon State: The number isn't high. It's actually lower than expected. Pac-10 tourney, bright lights, Staples Center...UofA should be up by 20 by the half.
PICK: ARIZONA 75 OREGON STATE 50

2. Wyoming (-6.5) over Colorado State: The Rams are atrocious. Wyoming has struggled this season but they are the more experienced team with Brandon Ewing and Co.
PICK: WYOMING 68 COLORADO STATE 59

3. Dayton (-5.5) over St. Louis: No double revenge Wednesday morning. Brian Roberts should lead Dayton to a double digit cover. I can't back a team that dropped 20 points in a game and put up a whopping 36 vs. Dayton last meeting.
PICK: DAYTON 67 ST. LOUIS 55

4. Syracuse (-2.5) over Villanova: Youth vs. Youth...Tourney tested coach vs. Tourney tested coach...MSG... 12pm game...Bubbles bursting for someone. Cuse has been too hot lately and this is the Big East Tourney. Public is all over this pick...hmmm...proceed with caution.
PICK: Syracuse 79 Nova 74

3/11/08 PICK OF THE DAY

3/11/08 PICK OF THE DAY

Portland Trailblazers at Minnesota Timberwolves (+1.5)

For Tuesday, we’re coming back with the the Association and back the Blazers as a small road chalk at the Timberwolves.

I know that Portland played last night in Cleveland, and so there’s a back-to-back issue with travel facing the Blazers. But this young squad has handled back-to-backs pretty well this year, going 9-6 ATS. And Portland gave LeBron and the Cavs all they could handle for 46½ minutes last night, succumbing in the final 90 seconds.

Despite that setback, the Blazers are still on a 6-2 ATS roll (4-4 SU), including spread-covers in their last three games against inferior competition (Knicks, Bucks and Clippers). Tonight, they definitely face an inferior foe in the Timberwolves, who are still 14-48 despite consecutive road wins over the weekend at the Kings and Clippers. Minnesota has lost eight of its last 10 at home, including the last two against crappy Seattle and Charlotte. Also, the TWolves have been massacred by the Blazers twice this year, losing 109-98 in Portland as an 8½-point underdog and 90-79 at home as a five-point pup. In fact, the Blazers have cashed in four straight and seven of the last eight against Minnesota, winning six of those eight games outright.

Throw in the fact Minnesota is 17-35 ATS in its last 52 home games while Portland is on ATS streaks of 5-1 on the road, 5-1 in Minnesota and 6-2 on Tuesdays, and I’ll back the visitors here at a very cheap price.

PICK

PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS (-1.5)

3/6/08 PICK OF THE DAY

3/6/08 PICK OF THE DAY
OTTAWA SENATORS @ LOS ANGELES KINGS(+105)

I seldom offer a hockey pick but this one basically is a best of both worlds at low low price (-125). Ottawa has been struggling as of late but what better team to face to get untracked than the lowly Los Angeles Kings. Ottawa outplayed the Ducks for the greater part of 3 periods last night, but a costly last turnover sent it to OT, where the Ducks snuck off with a W. The Senators were without captain Jason Spezza last night and he should make his return tonight. The Kings are 8-1 in their last 9 vs Ottawa buuuut...the last time they met was in 2006 and this is a different matchup for both sides. I would generally stay away from this game under any other circumstances as it is a quinnesential "trap game". Due to Ottawa's recent struggles and Montreal tying them for the top spot in the east last night, I expect a sense of urgency out of them to get some momentum for the stretch run. Ottawa's poor recent play has pushed the line from what it would of been (-175 to -250) down to a virtual even bet (-125). Take the better team on the west coast road ice...

PICK: Ottawa Senators (-125)

3/5/08 PICK OF THE DAY

3/5/08 PICK OF THE DAY

DUKE BLUE DEVILS @ VIRGINIA CAVS (+5.5)

This is a "spot" taylor made for the Virginia. Everything on paper is screaming for a close game and a Virginia cover. Duke has been struggling in recent weeks ATS. They barely snuck out of NC State with a 1 point win. Virginia has looked horrible this season; however Sean Singletary has upped his game to another level the last 5 games. Virginia is 5-1 ATS vs. Duke in their last 6 including an outright victory at home in the same identical matchup. Duke is also playing vs. UNC on Saturday in a giagantic rivalry game. Lookahead game anyone? Ready to ride the Cavs? Not so fast...I see it all differently. Virginia is a 1 trick pony and that cannot and will not match Duke's team dynamic and chemistry. Duke can score from all angles and basically everywhere on the court. They have an array of inside outside players and when they are on, they can shoot the lights out. After watching Clemson absolutly put a beatdown on Virginia by 30 in this same building, I can't see UVA staying close with arguably the best team in the nation when they are clicking. That NC State game was a much needed wakeup call and Duke should rise to the occasion.

PICK: DUKE BLUE DEVILS -5.5

3/4/08 PICK OF THE DAY

3/4/08 PICK OF THE DAY

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS @ ATLANTA HAWKS (-2.5)

What an interesting matchup in Atlanta tonight. Golden State is rolling in looking for revenge. They are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games with their lone loss to the surging Hawks (117-110). Atlanta has had the Warriors number the last several meetings; however you can let the past be the past and move forward with the Warriors in this contest. The entire Western Conference race is so tight that everygame requires playoff level intensity. Warriors can grasp that concept, Atlanta can't... and won't. Golden State small forward Steven Jackson has been on fire since recovering from an ailing toe injury. The Warriors are as good as the effort they want to give, which is why in past seasons, they have faltered on the road in "meaningless games." Warriors won't fall in this traditional letdown spot. Atlanta snuck up on them last time...not this time friends! Grab the 2 points and run with Golden State road warriors...

PICK: Golden State Warriors +2.5

1/26/08: Free NCAA Hoops Pick of the Day

Georgetown at West Virginia (-3)

PICK: HOYAS +3

Advice: In a battle of tempos, look for Georgetown to keep the pace slow and work in the half court game. Despite an undefeated home mark, West Virginia's key star and leading scorer, Alex Ruoff, is battling a groin injury and will be a game time decision. Look for a close game where WV comes up short when it counts. Take Georgetown + the points.

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