College Basketball Betting

March Madness is looming on the horizon and for millions of bettors that means those crazy bracket pools that show up at every office and your local watering hole. Most folks don’t so their homework and simply pick the school whose name they fancy, while a small contingent actually takes the time too find out who is hot and who is not entering the tournament.
One school who over the years has been front and center in the mix, yet is struggling big time is the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. They have lost seven straight and coach Paul Hewitt has decided to bench three starters as they head to Tallahassee to face the Florida State Seminoles. Mario West, Lewis Clinch and center Theotis Tarver, will replace D’Andre Bell, Zam Fredrick and Jeremis Smith when the game begins and the players held a meeting this week, to rededicate themselves to finishing strongly.
Very rarely will you see a team like Tech listed as an underdog by double digits yet the line makers are handing you 11 tonight, even though Tech has covered all three games where they were huge dogs. At Boston College they were +12.5 yet they lost by 2, against NC State they were +11.5 and lost by 9 and at Michigan State they were +13 and lost by just 2. Lastly, GT has won the last 3 in this series and in their last 4 conference road games, the average margin of defeat was less than 7 points, so there is a strong argument for GT here.
On the flip side you have to ask yourself why the guys who make all the money in Vegas and that would be the linemakers are hanging such a huge line. FSU is just 2-4 in their past six and are coming off an emotional loss to Duke. Only once this year the Seminoles were huge favorites and they failed to cover. GT has also won the last three in this series and in their four conference road games to date, the average margin of defeat is only 7 points.
It looks like the entire sports betting world will be on GT as the line has gone from -11 down to -10 as I sit at my computer. The smart guys have all these statistics at their fingertips when they establish these lines and they do not make a habit of being wrong on a consistent basis. With GT covering on the road of late they know that John Q Public will be all over the dog and I will run the other way and lay the points with Florida State!
Another game that looks like the public will jump all over the dog will take place tonight in the city of the Super Bowl Champions as the 13th ranked Pittsburgh Panthers play host to the 10th ranked West Virginia Mountaineers. WV has won the past two games is this series dubbed the “Backyard Brawl� and are 7-3 against the point spread the past 10 games. Pittsburgh is 5-5 against the spread the past 10 games and has lost their last two. The math here is quite simple as the public will run with what they will perceive as a +5 gift from Santa Claus and take the higher ranked WV and their exciting 3-point shooting attack. I’m headed in the other direction as I look for the Panthers to be very fired up and shutdown the underdog Mountaineers!
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College Basketball Betting

College Basketball Betting
Louisville Overrated By The Linesmaker
Whether high or low, expectations can result in profitable trends for college basketball bettors. For instance, there were high expectations for Rick Pitino's Louisville Cardinals heading into this season. The Cardinals won the C-USA title last season and reached the Final Four where they lost to Illinois. Most of the major preseason polls had the Cards ranked in the top 15, if not the top 10. But what was overlooked was the impact of three lost starters as well as the school's move to the more talented Big East. The Cards started off well going 11-1 SU in non-conference games. But once they began facing Big East competition, things quickly went downhill. Through 10 conference games, the Cardinals were 3-7. Astute gamblers who recognized Louisville was overrated and have been betting against the Cards have been cashing in. As of Feb. 8, Louisville was 5-14 ATS, tied for the worst record against the number in Division I. Other teams who were overrated this year included Bobby Knight's Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Arizona Wildcats. The Wildcats were ranked as high as No. 6 in preseason polls, and the Raiders were as high as No. 22. But both teams have struggled. Through Feb. 8, Tech is 12-11 SU and Arizona is 13-9. Both teams have also been dreadful against the number at 7-15 ATS. On the flipside, there are a few teams who have far exceeded expectations. Perhaps the best example is Tennessee. The Volunteers were 14-17 SU overall last season and were 6-10 versus SEC competition. They were on no one's radar screen heading into the season. However, during the offseason Tennessee hired coach Bruce Pearl away from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. In four years at UW-Milwaukee, Pearl coached the Panthers to two Horizon League titles and two trips to the NCAA tournament (2003 and 2005). Last season, the Panthers upset Alabama and Boston College to advance to the Sweet 16 of the tournament where they lost to Illinois. Bettors who believed in Pearl and placed wagers on the Vols have been enjoying frequent trips to the pay window. The Vols are 17-3 SU and have one of the best betting records in Division I at 13-4 ATS. Two other teams underrated this season include Florida (11-5 ATS) and North Carolina (12-6 ATS).
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Sports Betting

A few years ago I never could have envisioned myself sitting down to discuss the beginning of the NASCAR season, but hey you’re never too old to learn right? Actually 2005 was a great year in terms of racing and the sport is just booming and what I like most about NASCAR is the great personalities that bring so much color to the track.
It sometimes reminds me a little of Vince McMahon and his wrestling operations as you have drivers who came be crowd favorites one week and the next weekend they are blocking traffic on the track and threatening other drivers.
For years the bad boy of the track was Tony Stewart and this guy was out of control on several occasions and then last year he becomes the poster boy of the sport with his Nextel Cup Championship. Obviously Mr. Joe Gibbs coach of the Redskins and owner of the racing team has been a positive influence on the Indiana native.
Most experts around the oval are suggesting that Jimmie Johnson the driver not the former football coach will bag his first title this year. He’s come agonizing close three times already, finishing second in the points in 2003 and 2004 and fifth last year.
His 2003 run gave the team the confidence it needed to go after the title and it opened 2004 as the team to beat, winning eight races while spending most of the season atop the standings. But a late season swoon forced Johnson to fight his way back into contention and ultimately he fell eight points shy of the title in NASCAR’s closest championship race.

Then 2005 was supposed to be Johnson’s year as he came out surging, leading in points for 17 weeks but again his team faltered and could not keep pace with eventual winner Stewart. He ended the season on a sour note with a blown tire in the final race, which basically summed up the attitude in the pits!
Someone once said that out of defeat come our greatest triumphs and Johnson and his crew chief Chad Knaus, both feel the lessons learned have made them stronger and wiser.
Jeff Gordon is the fifth driver to win three or more Daytona 500s, joining Richard Petty (7), Cale Yarborough (4) and Bobby Allison and Dale Jarrett (3).
Gordon is 12 career victories away from being the all-time leader during the modern era. He is chasing Darrell Waltrip who has 84.
Though his ribs are still sore from a sprint car crash last month, reigning NASCAR Nextel Cup champion Tony Stewart would still rather be in a race car than sitting and fretting over his aching right side.
Stewart drove several long stints last weekend during the Rolex 24 sports car endurance race in Daytona Beach, Fla!
Kurt Busch spent the first five full years of his NASCAR Nextel Cup career with Roush Racing, winning 14 races and the 2004 championship. But, midway through last season, he signed a contract with Penske Racing South for the 2007 season, a move that did not sit well with team owner Jack Roush.
Eventually, though, a deal was worked out to let Busch leave to replace retiring Rusty Wallace in Penske's No. 2 Dodge in 2006.
Busch was stopped by police for running a stop sign the night before the Phoenix race. Although it was later proven he was not driving under the influence of alcohol, there were rumors after the traffic stop that he was. Adding to the problem, Busch became belligerent with the police and was briefly detained. We will watch this driver very closely!
Carl Edwards:
What an outstanding first full season for Edwards, as he far exceeded all his goals and expectations by earning his first four wins in Cup competition. He missed winning the championship by a mere 35 points. Other than the title, the only other thing the back-flipping Missouri native didn't do was win Rookie of the Year – which he wasn't eligible for (he would have been a runaway winner).
In one season Edwards went from a virtual nobody to a Nextel Cup superstar. But he comes into 2006 with two key questions: 1) Can he top last year's performance? 2) Can he survive NASCAR's notorious sophomore jinx? Last year showed that Edwards is the real deal, so any drop-off is unlikely. Yet it's not out of the question, either – look at what happened to Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon last season.
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Sports Betting

Now that the Steelers have been anointed the crown of Super Bowl Forty, it is time for you gridiron fans to turn your attention to the hard-court and that would mean college basketball.
Presently the Connecticut Huskies are ranked number one and they looked worthy of the ranking on Saturday when they wet to Indiana and spanked the Hoosiers. This club is so deep that they have two seniors in Anderson and Brown that are reserves, yet they could start for any team in the country!
Before we can get to the final 64 or should I say 65 as the last two teams picked on Selection Sunday must play a sudden death game to get in the dance, we must checkout some lesser known schools.
On February 17th and 18th the NCAA will present "Bracket Buster Weekend" where 26 teams will play in 13 games on ESPN, to help the selection committee for March Madness, to sort out the pretenders and the contenders.
You may want to take a close look at Northern Iowa as they are the real deal and most likely will knock off a more heralded team in the first round of the tournament in March!
BracketBusters Television Games
Bucknell at Northern IowaGeorge Mason at Wichita StateMissouri State at Wisconsin-MilwaukeeLouisiana Tech at Southern IllinoisBuffalo at IonaFresno State at CreightonAkron at NevadaButler at Kent StateMarist at Old DominionNorthwestern State at Utah StateSamford at OhioAlbany at Virginia CommonwealthNorthern Arizona at Western Kentucky
Bucknell at Northern Iowa
The expected match-up came about with Bucknell taking a trip to the UNI-Dome. This will be the premier game for BracketBusters and should provide some amusement. Northern Iowa is all but in the NCAA Tournament, while Bucknell needs to avoid bad losses in order to earn an at-large berth. A road loss at a top 25 team won't hurt the Bison too much, but a win there would be huge.
George Mason at Wichita State
The Patriots are on fire, however this will be a tough game. It will be an exciting frontcourt match-up between Jai Lewis and Will Thomas of George Mason and Paul Miller and Kyle Wilson of Wichita State. The Shockers only home loss this season has come at the hands of Northern Iowa and George Mason isn't quite in that class.

Louisiana Tech at Southern Illinois
There isn't a Paul Millsap in the Missouri Valley. The 6-8 forward will bring his 20.7 points and 12.7 rebounds to Southern Illinois. If the Salukis can contain Millsap, especially on the glass, the home winning streak will continue.
Fresno State at Creighton
Yeah, it's a bad draw for Creighton. Fresno State is 10-8, 3-4 in conference, soon to be 4-4 and well, Creighton is actually good. This one might be over pretty quick, but Fresno State has a couple talented players in Quinton Hosley and Ja'Vance Coleman that are worth watching. And if you haven't seen Creighton lately, they are always worth a look or two before you start filling in those brackets.
Missouri State and Wisconsin Milwaukee
Missouri Valley, Missouri Valley, Missouri Valley. If you haven't had a chance to see much of the MVC, BracketBusters weekend will be your chance. The five teams that are still dreaming of NCAA bids will be on TV. Missouri State has been on a slide lately and they will have to get things together before taking a tough road trip to Milwaukee. The Panthers could dash any hopes Missouri State may have left, and start thinking about an at-large themselves.
Buffalo at Iona
If anybody can stop the Iona backcourt of Steve Burtt, Jr. and Ricky Soliver, this will turn out to be a great game. Buffalo has plenty of weapons, led by guard Calvin Cage and big man Yassin Idbihi, to keep the Bulls in it. Many of the games look like blowouts due to the top heavy home sides, but this isn't one of them.
Butler at Kent State
Butler hasn't done much to deserve a televised game, but the friendly ghosts of the past made this game happen. We have ourselves two teams that have made Cinderella runs in that not so distant past. Kent has been extremely strong in MAC play and will be the favorite in this one.
Akron at Nevada
Now here's a fun game. Akron is quietly posting a 15-4 record, 8-1 in the MAC. None of the wins are that impressive, but none of the losses are bad (at California, at Louisville, vs. Clemson and at Ohio). Nevada and Nick Fazekas will be too much for the Zips, but if it was in Akron, it would be another story.
Northwestern State at Utah State
The Demons finally get a chance to show off their stuff. Unfortunately, they have to do it in one of the most unfriendly confines west of the mighty Mississippi. Even with a loss at the hands of the Aggies, it is great exposure for Northwestern State.
Marist at Old Dominion
Marist might be under the radar, but the starting five has enough power to knock off ODU. The bench depth is an issue, but if Alex Loughton and the Monarchs take one off their days off, the Red Foxes could chalk up a huge win for the Metro Atlantic.
Northern Arizona at Western Kentucky
Anthony Winchester and Courtney Lee won't let the Hilltoppers lose to Northern Arizona. The Lumberjacks have won nine in a row and are 7-0 in Big Sky, but they are lucky to be televised and definitely benefited from the weak teams on the away side of the bracket.
Samford at Ohio
Ohio and Leon Williams have lost all consistency over the last couple weeks. Enter surprise OVC leader Samford and we could have a surprisingly close game. If Ohio has a good day, Samford won't last long, but J. Robert Merritt and Randall Gulina will have something to say about that.
Albany at VCU
Albany, the preseason favorite in the America East, had a slow start before winning 10 of their last 12. VCU and the Colonial Athletic Association could use every win they can get, and VCU just doesn't lose at home.
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Sports Betting

Super Bowl Handicapping - Betting Trends
Super Bowl trends: They're magically delicious.Everyone is looking for that lucky green clover or purple horseshoe that will rake in the cash come Super Bowl Sunday. The betting public will bite into just about any tasty-looking trend that gets put on the table. Quarterbacks who wear No. 8 are a perfect 5-0 at the big game! Surely that makes Matt Hasselbeck and the Seattle Seahawks a lock for this Sunday at Ford Field. Not so fast. The best handicappers understand that some wagering trends are all sugar and no riboflavin. For example, consider this fact: The NFC is 21-15-3 against the spread at the Super Bowl. What does that bode for Sunday? Well, once upon a time, the NFC was king. Now the balance of power has shifted to the AFC, which is 6-3 straight up since 1997. But thanks in large part to the public hopping on the AFC bandwagon, the junior conference went just 4-3-2 ATS during that span, dropping the cash the last three years in a row. The Pittsburgh Steelers are now the "public team" and 4-point faves against a Seattle squad that itself was part of the AFC until 2002. Trying to divine Sunday's result from long-term conference trends is clearly a fool's errand. Here are some trends that may hold a bit more water when it comes to Super Bowl XL. Note that some point to a Pittsburgh victory, while others herald a 'Hawks win. - The team with the higher playoff seed is 1-7-2 ATS in the last 10 Super Bowl games.- The "over" is 15-8 since totals arrived on the scene in 1982, and 9-4 in the past 13 games.- Teams making their Super Bowl debuts are 9-14-1 ATS.- The Super Bowl favorite is 6-3-2 ATS when the game is played indoors, and the "over" is 5-3-1.- Underdogs of four points or under are 7-4-1 ATS.- Super Bowl favorites and underdogs are dead even at 18-18-3 ATS, including 7-7-2 in the past 16 years. But underdogs have cashed in the last four games in a row.
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