Friday 3/23/2012 Free Service Plays ( Premiums & Comps )

[rustyw]

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[Gman1]

No. 10 Xavier Musketeers
vs. No. 3 Baylor Bears (-6, 142.5)

Offense Vs Defense
Tu Holloway knows senior guards and NCAA tournaments go together like Craig Sager and pastel suits. Xavier's leading scorer continued his recent tear over the weekend, scoring 21 points against Lehigh after netting 25 in the first-round win over Notre Dame. Holloway is the heart, soul and spark for the Musketeers' offense, a six-footer who averaged 17 points and 5.1 assists during the regular season and has taken his game to another level at the Big Dance. Holloway can beat anyone off the dribble, has unfailing confidence and finishes well at the rim for a little guy. A player who's not little but equally vital for Xavier is 7-0 center Kenny Frease, who played to his dominant potential and manhandled Lehigh for 25 points and 12 rebounds. It won't be nearly such a cakewalk against Baylor's 6-11 sophomore Perry Jones III, who bypassed the NBA draft last year because he so badly wanted to play in the NCAA tournament. As always, though, Holloway is the difference-maker.EDGE: Xavier

Defense Vs Offense
Jones put the NBA millions on hold last year because he wanted a chance to play in the NCAA tournament, having been suspended late last season for receiving improper benefits. If he was indeed itching for a chance to play in the Big Dance, that desire has not been evident in his play. The 6-11 sophomore scored a total of nine points in the first two games, looking detached and uninvolved in the offense. Luckily for Baylor, he's had plenty of help: the hot-shooting Bears got a wonderfully balanced scoring attack (four players in double figures) in their first-round win over South Dakota State and sophomore guard Brady Heslip exploded in the second round for 27 points on nine 3-pointers against Colorado. But Baylor isn't playing South Dakota State and Colorado anymore, and to beat tournament-tested, battle-hardened Xavier, Jones needs to play like the future NBA lottery pick he is. There's no reason he can't do it, and the guess here is the Sweet 16 matchup against Frease will be a busting-out party. EDGE: Baylor

Overall
The postseason magic of the maestro Holloway will be put to the test against the supremely talented Baylor Bears. Holloway can take a game over and, if this one's close late, there's no doubt that he will take it over. But Baylor has the potential to salt this one away early. Haslip has been an assassin from downtown in the tournament, hitting 14 of 22 3-pointers in two games. Senior forward Quincy Acy and junior guard Pierre Jackson are 20-point threats every night. But the crucial question is, will the real Perry Jones III please stand up? And post-up, rebound and score, too? A top-5 NBA draft pick doesn't average 4.5 points in an NCAA tournament that he publicly stated was his reason for returning to college. If Jones flips the switch, there won't be anything Xavier, Holloway or Frease can do about it. EDGE: Baylor

All Trends Listed are 80% or Better

No. 10 Xavier Musketeers Trends :
Musketeers are 10-2-1 ATS in their last 13 NCAA Tournament games as an underdog.
Musketeers are 9-2-1 ATS in their last 12 NCAA Tournament games as an underdog of 0.5-6.5.
Musketeers are 16-4-2 ATS in their last 22 NCAA Tournament games.


No. 10 Xavier Musketeers Over / Under Trends :
Over is 5-0 in Musketeers last 5 games as an underdog of 0.5-6.5.
Over is 6-0 in Musketeers last 6 games as an underdog.

No. 3 Baylor Bears Trends :
Bears are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games as a favorite.
Bears are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 NCAA Tournament games as a favorite.
Bears are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 NCAA Tournament games.
Bears are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Bears are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
Bears are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games as a favorite.
Bears are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
Bears are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games.

No. 3 Baylor Bears Over / Under Trends :
Over is 4-0 in Bears last 4 games following a S.U. win.
Over is 8-1 in Bears last 9 Friday games.
Over is 6-1 in Bears last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 5-1 in Bears last 6 overall.
Over is 4-1 in Bears last 5 neutral site games.
Under is 4-1 in Bears last 5 games as a favorite of 0.5-6.5.


Minneapolis Time 11:30 PM
Pinnacle Sports Book
Baylor Bears - 6
Baylor Bears Over / Under 142.5

Public Money
3740 Bets
Baylor Bears 77.45 %
Xavier Musketeers 33.60 %

[Gman1]

No. 4 Indiana (27-8) vs No. 1 Kentucky (34-2)

Offense Vs Defense
It's no coincidence Indiana and Vanderbilt are the only teams to have beaten Kentucky. Both feature dead-eye shooters surrounding a formidable post player. In the Dec. 10 game at Assembly Hall, 6-11 Cody Zeller drew two quick first-half fouls on the nation's top shot-blocker, Anthony Davis (4.6 bpg), and the Hoosiers only had to deal with his 7-foot, 4-inch wingspan for 24 minutes. That was Davis' ninth college game -- he hasn't picked up four fouls in a game since. Kentucky has 312 blocks, four shy of the NCAA single-season record (2003-04 Connecticut, 315). Kentucky affects shots with its length and athleticism and leads the nation in field-goal percentage defense (36.9), best for a Wildcats' team in 52 years. But Kentucky ranks just 84th in defending 3-pointers. The Hoosiers made 9 of 15 in the first matchup. With Jordan Hulls (49 percent) and Christian Watford (45 percent), Indiana is the tourney's top 3-point-shooting team. EDGE: None

Defense Vs Offense
Six Wildcats average at least 9.8 points, led by Davis (14.3), who feasts on tip-ins and alley-oop jams. Point guard Marquis Teague is a terrific penetrator who had a career-high 24 points and seven assists in the blowout of Iowa State. Kentucky's Achilles' heel the last two years, outside shooting, isn't a big concern anymore. Doron Lamb (47 percent on 3-pointers) led a 10-of-20 performance from beyond the arc against the Cyclones. Kentucky shoots a solid 72 percent from the foul line too. Davis, fellow freshman Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and 6-9, 252-pound Terrence Jones will hurt Indiana on the offensive glass. The Hoosiers rank 123rd in scoring defense and 136th in field-goal percentage defense. EDGE: Kentucky

Overall
Kentucky coach John Calipari said the ESPN commercial showing Watford's buzzer-beating 3-pointer, which gave Indiana the 73-72 win on Dec. 10, has motivated the Wildcats. Big Blue Nation will dominate the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, hungry for revenge. The Hoosiers showed their mettle by scoring the final seven points to edge VCU 63-61. And they've got a formula for beating Kentucky, which starts with attacking Davis. But the likely No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft, whenever he comes out, has gotten much smarter about altering shots without fouling. EDGE: Kentucky


All Trends Listed are 80% or Better

No. 1 Kentucky Trends :
Wildcats are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 vs. Big Ten.

No. 1 Kentucky Over / Under Trends :
Under is 8-1 in Wildcats last 9 vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
Under is 5-1 in Wildcats last 6 Friday games.
Under is 8-2 in Wildcats last 10 vs. Big Ten.

No. 4 Indiana Trends :
Hoosiers are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 non-conference games.
Hoosiers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog of 7.0-12.5.
Hoosiers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog.

No. 4 Indiana Over / Under Trends :
Under is 4-0 in Hoosiers last 4 games following a ATS loss.
Under is 5-0-1 in Hoosiers last 6 games as an underdog.
Under is 6-1 in Hoosiers last 7 neutral site games.
Under is 4-1 in Hoosiers last 5 non-conference games.
Under is 4-1 in Hoosiers last 5 NCAA Tournament games.

Head To Head Competition :
Favorite is 11-2 ATS in the last 13 meetings.

Minneapolis Time 1:00 PM
Pinnacle Sports Book
No. 1 Kentucky - 9.5
No. 1 Kentucky Over / Under 144

Public Money
4980 Bets
Kentucky 81.21%
Indiana U 18.79%

[Gman1]

No. 11 N.C. State Wolfpack (24-12)
vs No. 2 Kansas Jayhawks (29-6)

Offense Vs Defense
The Wolfpack has been proficient while sharing in defeats of Georgetown and San Diego State, getting 14 points apiece from forwards C.J. Leslie, Scott Wood and swingman C.J. Williams against Georgetown. It had 37 combined points from Leslie and center Richard Howell while beating the Aztecs in its tourney opener, with 17 more from guard Lorenzo Brown. An early 10-point Georgetown lead was snuffed out by a decisive N.C. State run that featured 14 points in the paint. Leslie was averaging a team-high 14.6 ppg entering the tournament and Wood is the top marksman from 3-point range, making 40.8 percent (89 of 218). As a team against the Hoyas, the Wolfpack was 7 of 15 from distance. Meanwhile, Kansas fared "miserably" against Purdue's shooters in the words of coach Bill Self, particularly 3-point bomber Robbie Hummel -- who scored 22 points in the first 20 minutes. The Jayhawks' triangle-and-2 defense was largely ineffective, uncharacteristic of their 38.3 opposition FG percentage -- seventh-best in the country. Kansas allowed 61.9 points per game in the regular season, second in the Big 12 and 35th nationally. EDGE: N.C. State

Defense Vs Offense
The Jayhawks have the offensive personnel to warrant a No. 2 seed, but were forced into uncharacteristic mistakes against Purdue, cutting short several early possessions with what appeared to be forced shots. Junior forward Thomas Robinson scored 17.9 points and grabbed 11.8 rebounds per game in the regular season and is on the short list for national player of the year. He had 16 and 12 against Detroit, then 11 and 13 while dogged by early fouls against Purdue. Guard Elijah Johnson bailed Kansas out with 18 points against the Boilermakers, while fellow guards Tyshawn Taylor and Travis Releford had 10 apiece. Center Jeff Withey, a 7-footer, played only 15 minutes in the Round of 32 game after contributing seven points, nine rebounds and five blocks against Detroit. On the other side, the Wolfpack held San Diego State to 37.7 percent shooting in its opener and handled Georgetown on the glass for a 33-29 rebounding margin in game two. Overall, N.C. State is second among ACC teams in rebounding, fourth in steals and allows an average of 67.9 points per game -- though in two tournament games it's allowed just 65 and 63. EDGE: Kansas

Overall
As a No. 2 seed playing two double-digit foes, the Jayhawks had unrealistic expectations for dominance from media and fans. So in those eyes, they enter the regional semifinals as vulnerable. However, Self commended his players for determination after the come-from-behind toppling of Purdue. "They totally whipped us in the first half," he said, "but we grinded it out second and we found a way." They'll need that heart in the Sweet 16 against an N.C. State team that's lost just once in its last seven and has two tourney wins for the first time since 2005. That said, assuming Robinson is statistically closer to elite averages and the defense fares better against a foe with multiple scorers rather than one star, the Purdue squeaker could be the one people look back on as Kansas's turning point. EDGE: Kansas


All Trends Listed are 80% or Better

No. 11 N.C. State Trends :
Wolfpack are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 games following a S.U. win.
Wolfpack are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Wolfpack are 5-0-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS win.
Wolfpack are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 non-conference games.
Wolfpack are 5-0-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
Wolfpack are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog.
Wolfpack are 7-0-1 ATS in their last 8 games overall.
Wolfpack are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games as an underdog.

No. 11 N.C. State Over / Under Trends :
Over is 4-0 in Wolfpack last 4 Friday games.
Over is 6-1 in Wolfpack last 7 games as an underdog of 7.0-12.5.
Under is 6-1 in Wolfpack last 7 NCAA Tournament games.
Under is 4-1 in Wolfpack last 5 NCAA Tournament games as an underdog.
Under is 4-1 in Wolfpack last 5 neutral site games as an underdog.

No. 2 Kansas Trends :
Jayhawks are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS loss.

No. 2 Kansas Over / Under Trends :
Under is 4-0 in Jayhawks last 4 NCAA Tournament games as a favorite of 7.0-12.5.
Under is 4-0 in Jayhawks last 4 non-conference games.
Under is 9-1-1 in Jayhawks last 11 games as a favorite of 7.0-12.5.
Under is 10-2 in Jayhawks last 12 neutral site games.
Under is 13-3 in Jayhawks last 16 NCAA Tournament games as a favorite.
Under is 8-2 in Jayhawks last 10 neutral site games as a favorite.

Minneapolis Time 1:45 PM
Pinnacle Sports Book
No. 2 Kansas Jayhawks - 8.5
No. 2 Kansas Jayhawks Over / Under 143

Public Money
3784 Bets
No. 2 Kansas Jayhawks 50 %
No. 11 N.C. State Wolfpack 50 %

[Gman1]

No. 13 Ohio Bobcats (29-7)
vs No. 1 North Carolina Tar Heels (31-5)

Offense Vs Defense
In point guard D.J. Cooper and G/F Walter Offult, the Bobcats have two proven players who can carry the scoring load; the two combined for 40 of Ohio's 62 points in the win over South Florida. That said, two problems come to light: someone else has to step up and add some offensive punch against the Tar Heels; most of all, the Bobcats had better realize their 64 ppg average in the first two rounds will translate into a rout at the hands of North Carolina. The potential loss of UNC point guard Kendall Marshall (fractured wrist) will play in favor of Cooper, who's become one of the tournament's stars, but Ohio's lack of size could come to a screeching halt against a Tar Heels team that led the nation in rebounding and has allowed just one opponent to shoot better than 50 percent from the field. Center Tyler Zeller and forwards Harrison Barnes and John Henson will control the glass and wear down Bobcats forward Reggie Keely. EDGE: North Carolina

Defense Vs Offense
Meet Stilman White, in whose hands the Tar Heels' national title hopes may lie upon. UNC's (potential) new point guard has played a mere 131 minutes in his freshman season, shooting just 23 percent from the field with 10 assists. He's going to need a little (OK, a lot) help from his friends; fortunately, the four starters around him each scored in double figures in Sunday's win and are capable of picking up White if Marshall is not available. Henson (13 points, 10 boards, four blocks) brings a level of energy and athleticism the Bobcats must contain, and with extra time to further heal his injured wrist, his play could further pick up. The best chance for Ohio is for Cooper to rattle White from the outset and force him into mistakes that could cause UNC coach Roy Williams to adjust his rotation. If the Heels' front line establishes their presence inside early, this game could get ugly quick. EDGE: North Carolina


Overall
Losing Kendall Marshall sounds like the title of a new comedy, yet there's nothing funny for the Tar Heels, whose national title hopes may have popped with Marshall's wrist. As talented as Barnes, Henson, McAdoo and Zeller are, Marshall is UNC's ultimate difference maker. The onus will fall on White, and he will get a legitimate trial by fire from Cooper if Marshall doesn't answer the bell. The Bobcats are clear underdogs, but if Keely can withstand the pounding he'll receive in the paint and Cooper and Offutt can play the Tar Heels' guards to at least a draw, Ohio can stay in this game. In the end, though, UNC will do the same thing they did in the first half of the win over Creighton, which is showcase their NBA-caliber talent and look to deliver an early knockout, putting them in position for a potential Elite Eight showdown against ACC rival North Carolina State. EDGE: North Carolina

All Trends Listed are 80% or Better

No. 13 Ohio Bobcats Trends :
Bobcats are 9-0 ATS in their last 9 non-conference games.
Bobcats are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 NCAA Tournament games as an underdog.
Bobcats are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 NCAA Tournament games.
Bobcats are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.

No. 13 Ohio Bobcats Over / Under Trends :
Over is 4-0 in Bobcats last 4 games as an underdog of 7.0-12.5.
Under is 4-1-1 in Bobcats last 6 Friday games.

No. 1 North Carolina Tar Heels Trends :
Tar Heels are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 Friday games.
Tar Heels are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 NCAA Tournament games as a favorite of 7.0-12.5.
Tar Heels are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 non-conference games.
Tar Heels are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 NCAA Tournament games as a favorite.
Tar Heels are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite of 7.0-12.5.

No. 1 North Carolina Tar Heels Over / Under Trends :
Over is 5-1 in Tar Heels last 6 games following a S.U. win.

Minneapolis Time 2:25 AM
Pinnacle Sports Book
No. 1 North Carolina Tar Heels - 10.5
No. 1 North Carolina Tar Heels Over / Under 143.5

Public Money
4860 Bets
Ohio 18.26%
N Carolina 81.74%

[Gman1]

Ice picks:
Friday's best NHL bet$

Carolina Hurricanes
at Columbus Blue Jackets (120, 5.5)
The league-worst Blue Jackets host surging Carolina on Friday, as the Hurricanes make a late charge at an unlikely playoff spot. Thanks to a four-game win streak, Carolina is within six points of eighth place in the Eastern Conference with eight games to play. Carolina will be trying to beat Columbus for the first time in the last five tries.Captain Eric Staal continued his torrid stretch, scoring twice in Wednesday's 3-1 victory over the Florida Panthers. It was the second consecutive two-goal game for Staal and gave him six points over the last three games. In his last 20 games, Staal has 11 goals and 17 assists. Staal needs four points to reach 70 for the seventh consecutive season. Carolina also got a boost with the return of defenseman Joni Pitkanen, who had a goal and an assist after sitting out 44 games with a concussion and knee problems.Columbus continues to wobble toward the finish line, absorbing a 5-1 home loss at the hands of Chicago on Wednesday. Columbus has failed on 35 consecutive power-play chances, moving within seven of tying the franchise record.Pick: Hurricanes

Winnipeg Jets
at Washington Capitals (-150, 5.5)
The Jets lead the season series 3-1-1 and are looking to win their third straight over the Capitals.Washington holds a five-point lead over Winnipeg for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East, but the Jets have a game in hand. The Capitals are playing the second game of a back-to-back after falling 2-1 to Philadelphia on Thursday.Worrisome for Winnipeg is the team’s troubles on the road. The Jets are 11-20-4 away from home and have dropped their past three road contests. Defenseman Eric Fehr is dealing with an upper-body injury and center Nik Antropov is suffering from a lower-body injury. Both are considered questionable for Friday’s contest. On the positive side, goaltender Ondrej Pavelec is 3-1-1 with a 1.97 GAA and .935 save percentage against the Capitals this season.Washington forward Alex Ovechkin has goals in three straight games, and six goals in his last five contests. Goaltender Tomas Vokoun (lower body) and forward Alexander Semin (undisclosed) are both questionable for the game.The Capitals are 2-6 in their last eight games in the fourth game of a 4-in-6 situation. And the Jets have won six of the last eight meetings.
Pick: Jets

[Gman1]

Friday's betting tip$

Who’s HOT
NCAAB: Xavier is 10-2-1 ATS in its last 13 NCAA Tournament games as an underdog.
NCAAB: Ohio is 9-0 ATS in its last nine non-conference games.
NBA: The Knicks have covered the number in six straight games, including all five under new coach Mike Woodson.
NBA: The Pistons are 12-3-1 ATS in their last 16 home games.
NHL: The under is 5-0-1 in the last six Sabres-Rangers games.
NHL: Columbus has won its last four meetings with Carolina.

Who’s NOT
NCAAB: Kentucky is 2-6 ATS in its last eight games against winning teams.
NCAAB: Kansas is 1-5 ATS in its last six games as a favorite of 7.0-12.5 points.
NBA: The Celtics are 3-11 ATS in their last 14 road games.
NBA: The Nuggets are 1-5 ATS in their last six games.
NHL: Florida is 1-6 in its last seven meetings with Edmonton.
NHL: The home team is 1-5 in the last six Maple Leafs-Devils games.

Key stat 12.5 –
That’s Baylor’s positive rebounding margin in the NCAA tournament. For the season the Bears are plus-5.5, well ahead of Xavier’s plus-2.3 margin. Among Sweet 16 teams, only North Carolina has been better on the offensive glass than Baylor’s 38 percent rate. The Bears led the tournament in second-chance points heading into the Sweet 16.

Injury that shouldn’t be overlooked
Freshman swingman Dez Wells, Xavier’s third-leading scorer, practiced Thursday for the first time since spraining his big toe in Sunday’s win over Lehigh. He remains a gametime decision for Friday’s Sweet 16 matchup with Baylor. "I'm hopeful he'll give it a go," Xavier coach Chris Mack said of the 6-5, 215-pounder, who averages 10.0 points and 4.9 rebounds."How effective he'll be is another story."

Game of the day
No. 4 seed Indiana Hoosiers vs. No. 1 seed Kentucky Wildcats (-9, 144.5)

Notable quotable
"Anthony gives us that guy on defense who makes you take jump shots -- which is what Marcus [Camby] did. [On offense], he opens up the middle 'cause you have to put a body on him. If he's near the baseline, you do not step up, you just stay back -- which means we get all that middle all for our ourselves. If they do come up, we're going to throw the lob. What he does with his presence on the floor [has] made us from a Top 25 team to the No. 1 team." -- Kentucky coach John Calipari on freshman F Anthony Davis, the nation's top shot blocker.

Notes and tips

Mavericks forward Shawn Marion (knee) said he plans to return Friday against the Spurs after missing Wednesday’s loss to the Lakers. He’s averaging 11.2 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists.

T-Wolves center Nikola Pekovic (13.7 ppg, 7.6 rpg) was sent back to Minnesota to get treatment on his ankles and won’t play Friday in Oklahoma City. Pekovic hopes to be ready for Sunday’s home game against Denver. With Pekovic out, Kevin Love is starting at center, with rookie Derrick Williams starting at power forward.

Xavier senior forward Andre Walker (5.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg), who will be needed against Baylor’s big front line, did not practice Thursday due to migraines but is expected to play Friday. "It's smarter for us, especially with a fifth-year player who's been through the rigors of college basketball and knows what the NCAA tournament is all about, to just sort of stay back and continue to get rest so he can be able to go,” Musketeers coach Chris Mack said.

Ottawa goalie Craig Anderson, sidelined since Feb. 22 after he cut his finger in a kitchen accident, is expected to start Friday against the Canadians. Anderson is 29-19 with a 2.88 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage.

[Gman1]

Denver Nuggets (26-21) at Utah Jazz (25-22)

EnergySolutions Arena
The Denver Nuggets are currently in playoff position in the tightly-packed Western Conference, though the Utah Jazz are closing in quickly.Utah seeks its sixth straight victory Friday night when it hosts Denver, which begins a season-high seven-game road trip.The Jazz (25-22) won their season-best fifth consecutive game Thursday, 103-102 at Sacramento after Al Jefferson scored on a putback of a Devin Harris miss with less than a second remaining. Jefferson finished with a game-high 26 points for Utah, which sits in ninth place in the West but can create a three-way tie with Denver and Houston for the final two playoff spots with a win Friday.Coach Tyrone Corbin may not have been pleased his team blew a 14-point second-half lead, but any type of victory given the Jazz's situation will do for him."We are in a playoff hunt ... so this win was nice for us," Corbin said. "We're fighting and scratching and doing whatever it takes to win."Utah is also seeking to win seven in a row at home for the first time since a 10-game run Feb. 24-April 6, 2010. To achieve that, the Jazz will need to slow Denver (26-21), which is coming off a dramatic victory of its own.
The Nuggets concluded a 5-4 homestand Wednesday by beating Detroit 116-115 on JaVale McGee's follow-up dunk with five seconds remaining. McGee finished with 15 points in his Nuggets debut after being acquired from Washington at the trade deadline, and Ty Lawson scored a team-high 25. Now, the Nuggets take to the road, where they are averaging a league-high 105.8 points."Personally, I'm a road-type player," Lawson told the team's official website. "I like hearing boos and stuff like that. I'm ready for it, especially going to Utah and Chicago (on Monday) and places that have rowdy crowds. I love it."Lawson also recognizes the importance of Friday's matchup."It's going to be a big game," he said. "Both teams know it's a big game. We need to get this win. We're going to be ready for it."After the lengthy homestand, the Nuggets will be living out of suitcases until April 6, when they return to Colorado to host Phoenix. They haven't played away from home since sweeping a two-game Texas trip by beating Houston and San Antonio on March 2 and 4."I saw this road trip and said we're going to have to win three or four of those games," coach George Karl said. "To get in a good April position, we have to win three or four of these."These teams split their two previous meetings this season, both in Denver. Lawson scored 15 points in the Nuggets' 117-100 victory Dec. 28, but Paul Millsap had 26 points and 12 rebounds to help the Jazz win the Jan. 15 rematch 106-96.The Nuggets learned Thursday that backup guard Rudy Fernandez will have surgery to repair a nagging lower back injury that may sideline him for the rest of the season. The former Portland Trail Blazer has averaged 8.6 points while appearing in 31 games in his first season in Denver.

All Trends Listed are 80% or Better

Utah Jazz Trends :
Jazz are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games as a favorite of 0.5-4.5.
Jazz are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home games.
Jazz are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games as a home favorite.
Jazz are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Jazz are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
Jazz are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. Western Conference.
Jazz are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 0 days rest.

Utah Jazz Over / Under Trends :
Over is 4-0 in Jazz last 4 games playing on 0 days rest.

Denver Nuggets Trends :
Nuggets are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games as a road underdog of 0.5-4.5.
Nuggets are 21-5 ATS in their last 26 games as a road underdog.
Nuggets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 Friday games.

Denver Nuggets Over / Under Trends :
Under is 4-0 in Nuggets last 4 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 5-1 in Nuggets last 6 games as a road underdog of 0.5-4.5.
Over is 4-1 in Nuggets last 5 games as an underdog of 0.5-4.5.

Minneapolis Time 4:45 AM
Pinnacle Sports Book
Utah Jazz - 2
Utah Jazz Over / Under 208

Public Money
4680 Bets
Nuggets 99.35%
Jazz 0.65%

[Gman1]

Picks for Sweet 16, Elite Eight
When man and machine combine,
you get an accurate Final Four



No. 1 Kentucky Wildcats
vs. No. 4 Indiana Hoosiers
Edge: UK by 9
The first time these teams got together, Indiana pulled off a program-shifting upset. But it was also over a UK team still figuring out how to play together, and now Kentucky has officially reached pizza status: Even when the Cats are bad, they're not that bad. They win a whopping 85 percent of simulations here, so we'll push them through.

No. 3 Baylor Bears
vs. No. 10 Xavier Musketeers
Edge: Baylor by 6
Baylor's relentlessness on the offensive glass meets Xavier's mastery of clearing it. But in lining up the numbers, teams with Baylor's statistical edge win 62 percent of the time, and, historically, a team with a 7-seed difference wins 73 percent of the time. We're looking for 'dogs, but Baylor goes through.

No. 1 North Carolina Tar Heels
vs. No. 13 Ohio Bobcats
Edge: North Carolina 10.5
The seed difference in this game gives the Heels a 96-4 edge in win ratio. Obviously, we know they're driving with a broken clutch right now sans Kendall Marshall, but whatever one gear they have is enough. We even like the cover for a UNC team that should dominate inside.

No. 2 Kansas Jayhawks
vs. No. 11 North Carolina State Wolfpack
Edge: Kansas by 8
NC State wins a surprising 50 percent of simulations, a nod to its current form. But isn't there a sense that the Wolfpack are here partially because of what Georgetown didn't do? (OK, I'm projecting. Deal with it.) In reality, the Pack have the No. 142 defense in America, and that's a bad recipe against the most efficient offense they'll see. But give Mark Gottfried credit. The program is really, really close to being Sweet 16-worthy annually. Still, the pick here is Kansas in a close one.

[Gman1]

AccuScore By Jonathan Lee

Baylor -6 vs. Xavier
I don’t particularly like Baylor as a team. They are long and super athletic, and have plenty of depth and talent up and down the roster. But a team constructed as they are should be a dominant club. Perry Jones is emblematic of this considered to be a potential top 3 NBA draft pick, but producing like an average BCS conference starter with the odd productive outburst. Xavier however is a similarly frustrating team ranking 14th in the preseason but going just 15-12 since a December fight with Cincinnati. The road for the Musketeers to this point has been relatively easy getting to play 15-seed Lehigh instead of Duke. askthebookie favors Baylor by 8 points in this game, and with neither team being particularly great in my opinion the Bears are the choice based on overall talent.

North Carolina State +8 vs. Kansas
The Wolfpack couldn’t get it done against Duke or North Carolina in the regular season, but showed it was a quality team beating both SDSU and Georgetown to get to this point. They won’t be intimidated by Kansas given the quality opponents it has faced this season. NC State has been great attacking the glass the first two games, and must do so again to stick with Kansas. The Jayhawks needed a late run to get by Purdue, and NC St. does have enough talent and athleticism to make them pay if they are off again to start the game.

North Carolina -10.5 vs. Ohio
The Tar Heels will have a huge size and talent advantage going against 13th seeded Ohio, but the question of course is in the backcourt. They will more than likely be without consummate point guard Kendall Marshall, and he is what makes the engine go. Through points and assists he is responsible for more than half of Carolina’s points, and gets the ball to scorers where they need it. The Heels don’t really have any other playmakers off the dribble. Either a frontcourt player like Harrison Barnes will have to handle the ball or Stillman White and/or Justin Watts will have to step up big-time against D.J. Cooper. North Carolina is an odd position in that slowing down the game would make sense given its superior size advantage, but that runs counter to their core system of the secondary break. Despite the loss of Marshall, Carolina is still overwhelmingly talented compared to Ohio. The Bobcats are actually very poor (relatively) offensively and hang their hat on defense. Everyone will be against UNC without Marshall. I have a feeling this game goes the other way. There is plenty of potential for this line to get smaller as game-time approaches.

[Gman1]

DOUBLE DRAGON
TOURNEY PICKS
HYDRA
NC STATE +8 vs kansas (Friday)


Turner
NCAA
3/23/2012
Game: N.C. State vs Kansas
Pick: N.C. State +8 (-110)


Sharp Moves
NCAAB
NC State/Kansas - OVER 142
Indiana/Kentucky - OVER 144.5


Marc Lawrence
5* KANSAS


Dave Essler
Triple Dime bet 3*
KANSAS


Spartan
Big Dance GOY
879 North Carolina St. 8.0 vs 880 Kansas

[Gman1]

Dom Whalen

11 plays for the day today ... 8 nba and 4 college

Knicks -5
Magic -8.5
Pacers -4
Nets +8
Celtics +6.5
Thunder -10.5
Lakers -9
Kentucky -9.5
Baylor -6
North Carolina -10.5
Kansas -8

[Gman1]

Portland Trailblazers (22-25) at L.A. Lakers (29-18)

STAPLES Center
Last season, Ramon Sessions and J.J. Hickson were the Cleveland Cavaliers' leading scorers. Now they are both being forced to adjust to new teams.
Sessions asserted himself over a two-game road trip for the Los Angeles Lakers this week, and they return home Friday night to face the Portland Trail Blazers, who could see Hickson make his team debut.It was a tough blow for the Lakers' locker room last Thursday when veteran Derek Fisher was traded to Houston. Sessions was acquired from Cleveland that same day along with forward Christian Eyenga.While Sessions totaled 17 points and 11 assists in his first two games for the Lakers at home, those numbers were up to 31 points on 13-of-17 shooting and 13 assists as Los Angeles (29-18) split two games in Houston and Dallas.Sessions had 17 points and nine assists in Wednesday's 109-93 win over the Mavericks. The point guard could soon crack the starting lineup, since that point total matched the best in 2011-12 by current starter Steve Blake and the assist total surpassed Blake's highest in a single game this season."The kid Sessions made the game easy for everybody," coach Mike Brown said. "He had a very good all-around game. You can see how his speed can help us, his ability to ... turn the corner and get into the teeth of the defense."Kobe Bryant shot a season-high 61.1 percent (11 of 18) for 30 points Wednesday while Pau Gasol went 13 for 16 from the field for 27 points."He definitely is a point guard that creates a lot of pick-and-rolls, and gets us points in transition, too," Gasol said of Sessions. "He gets in the lane, and he can knock down the shot himself."Hickson was in uniform but did not play in Thursday's 97-93 home win over Memphis. A former first-round pick by the Cavaliers, he was waived by Sacramento on Tuesday and claimed by Portland (22-25) the next day.The 6-foot-9 forward is averaging 4.7 points this season after leading Cleveland with 13.8 a season ago."We like J.J.'s energy and physicality," acting general manager Chad Buchanan said. "He's a young, but experienced player who can help our front line."Portland is hoping Hickson can help LaMarcus Aldridge in its frontcourt. Aldridge has averaged 23.0 points and 9.0 boards while the Trail Blazers have split two meetings with the Lakers this season.The Lakers will get their first look at Portland's new lineup after Marcus Camby and Gerald Wallace - starters in the first two matchups - were let go in separate deals last Thursday. Joel Przybilla and Wesley Matthews have started all four games under interim coach Kaleb Canales.The Blazers are in 12th place in the Western Conference, 3 1/2 games behind Houston for the last postseason spot."We're still in this," Matthews said. "We fully believe we will make the playoffs."Bryant is averaging 29.0 points in the season series while Andrew Bynum is averaging 17.5 points and 15.5 boards.Los Angeles had its 10-game home win streak snapped Sunday in a 103-99 loss to Utah. The Lakers fell to 13-1 against West foes at home

All Trends Listed are 80% or Better

Portland Trailblazers Trends :
Trail Blazers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 Friday games.

Portland Trailblazers Over / Under Trends :
Over is 4-0 in Trail Blazers last 4 games playing on 0 days rest.
Over is 4-1 in Trail Blazers last 5 games when their starting 5 players combine for more than 160 minutes on the previous day.
Under is 4-1 in Trail Blazers last 5 vs. NBA Pacific.

Los Angeles Lakers Trends :
No 80 % TRENDS APPLY

Los Angeles Lakers Over / Under Trends :
Over is 4-0 in Lakers last 4 vs. a team with a losing S.U. record.
Over is 4-0 in Lakers last 4 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
Over is 5-0 in Lakers last 5 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Over is 8-1 in Lakers last 9 overall.
Over is 6-1 in Lakers last 7 games as a home favorite.
Over is 12-2 in Lakers last 14 vs. Western Conference.
Over is 5-1 in Lakers last 6 games playing on 1 days rest.
Over is 10-2 in Lakers last 12 games as a favorite.
Over is 4-1 in Lakers last 5 games following a S.U. win.
Over is 4-1 in Lakers last 5 games as a home favorite of 5.0-10.5.
Over is 4-1 in Lakers last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.

Head To Head Competition
No 80 % TRENDS APPLY

Minneapolis Time 7:20 AM
Pinnacle Sports Book
# 870 Los Angeles Lakers - 9
# 870 Los Angeles Lakers Over / Under 194.5

Public Money
564 Bets
Lakers 64.71%
T-Blazers 35.29%

[satch]

Paul Leiner:
Sorry guys, I was wrong about Marquette and you have to give Florida credit, they played a great game. *Tonight we get rolling again with a 1500* and 500* winner. Thanks and goodluck.

1500* CBB Baylor -6
500* CBB North Carolina -10.5
100* NBA Over 177.5 Sixers/Celtics
100* CBB Kentucky -9.5
50* CBB Kansas -8


18-10 last 28 on CBB
14-9 on games
4-1 on totals
1500: 3-2
1000: 0-0
500: 1-3
250: 2-0
100: 5-3
50: 7-2

[satch]

CAPPERS ACCESS

Xavier
NC St