3/21 VIP PICKS
3-1 last night for three winning days to start the week and build the bankroll up for the Madness that is starting up today. Our one loss last night was that Celtics +130 that looked so good but they blew a double digit lead. Marcus Smart had to act tough and start a fight to give a dead Sixers team and crowd energy. Oh Marcus, what are we going to do with you. 3-1 is still SOLID but I get a little greedy when shit like that happens. The best news of the night is that we are officially 1-0 on March Madness bets with the over hitting in the play in game last night. I’ll tell you what though, I say it every year - you guys need to be careful with March Madness betting. It is so easy to spiral out of control with non stop games for 12 hours. Don’t be live betting team totals….been there, done that, not worth it. Let’s see what we have for todays games!
MARCH MADNESS:
Teaser:
1:30 EST / 2:00 EST
Auburn (-1.5) / Florida State (-4.5) - Auburn comes into the tourney riding some serious momentum after winning 10 of their last 11 games. Not only that, but they beat Tennessee twice during that stretch who is a Top 10 team and a #2 seed in this tournament. Auburn was ranked in the top 10 at one point during the season but they let things get away from them a little bit. It’s good to see the recent streak they put together and I think they are playing their best basketball at the right time. New Mexico State is a classic case of a team who wins games but if you look at who they actually beat, you’re not that impressed, at all. They had one game against a Top 25 team earlier this season and they lost. That team was Kansas and they have been a team with ups and downs all year. I don’t think that New Mexico State can match the athleticism of this Auburn SEC team. SEC > Western Athletic Conference. Then we have Florida State taking on Vermont who also played one ranked team this season and also lost to Kansas. Beating teams like UMBC, Binghamton, and Umass Lowell aren’t going to prepare you for a game against Florida State who battled with Top 25 teams all season long in the ACC including wins over #2 Virginia, #15 Virginia Tech twice, and #16 Louisville. I think this game will be close in the first half with the adrenaline rush for Vermont but I think Florida State will pull away in the second half. This one seems like a solid teaser to start our day.
6:50 EST
Florida (+120) - Here’s an upset for you today that I’m confident in. The Gators played a tougher schedule than Nevada. Florida beat LSU twice and played other Top 25 teams tough including Michigan State 63-59, Mississippi State 71-68, and Auburn 65-62. Nevada rolled all season but they only played one ranked team and that was Arizona State who they beat earlier this season but Arizona State ended up needing to win their play in game to even get in the tourney so it’s not as impressive as it sounds. Nevada is also coming off of a 9 point loss in their most recent game to San Diego State team who is not even in the tourney. Give me the Gators in this one, GO GATORS!!
9:40 EST
Seton Hall / Wofford Over (144.5) - We need a 73-72 game in this one and the way these offenses have played not only all season but recently, has me confident that they will both do their part tonight. Seton Hall comes in averaging 74 points per game on the season and 76 points per game in their last 10 while Wofford (catch and shoot the 3) are averaging 83 points per game on the season and 85 points per game in their last 10. This one has the potential to be an absolute shootout. If the averages hold true, we are looking at at a game with 160 total points, that’s about a 15 point cushion from where the line sits. Points, points, and more points please! OVER!
9:57 EST
Syracuse (-130) - Baylor comes in on a four game losing streak and although Cuse comes in losing 3 of their last 5, they have played tougher opponents. The 8 vs 9 matchups are usually the most coin flip type games you can have in the tourney but I believe in this Cuse team. Their win over Duke earlier this season @ Duke WITH Zion playing shows their potential. Sure they have had more downs than ups as of late but look at the opponents they have played - #5 Duke, #2 Virginia, #5 North Carolina, #1 Duke, #16 Louisville, #22 Florida State, and #10 Virginia Tech. That’s no cup cake schedule. I think their experience in this games will have them prepared to take on this Baylor team tonight. GO ORANGE!
NHL:
7:00 EST
Bruins (-1.5) - We took this same bet a couple weeks ago and the Bruins only won 1-0. However, I’m ready to fire again on this one because the Bruins are coming off of a 5-0 win against the Islanders and the Devils have lost by 2 goals or more in their last 5 losses. The Bruins outshot their opponent 39-13 in the last game, look for them to continue with that type of get the fucking puck on net attitude tonight and they should cover this puck line for us.
Cross Sport Parlay:
2:00 EST / 7:00 EST
Florida State ML / Bruins ML (-150) - JACKHAMMER - As we already talked about in the first teaser of the day, Florida State is taking on Vermont who only played one ranked team this season and also lost. Beating teams like UMBC, Binghamton, and Umass Lowell aren’t going to prepare you for a game against Florida State who battled with Top 25 teams all season long in the ACC including wins over #2 Virginia, #15 Virginia Tech twice, and #16 Louisville. I don’t see Florida State losing this game. Then we are taking the Bruins to win straight up for the parlay. We are playing them on the puck line separately but if you are going to drop the hammer on this one you might as well take them to win straight up to protect yourself. We need them to beat the Devils straight up for this one who have lost 9 of their last 11. -150 is great value for a matchup like this where I just don’t see either one of these teams losing today.
That’s it, for NOW - but with March Madness if we start the day out with a win like I’m expecting to, I will take a closer look at the other games and may add a pick. If I do add a pick, I will post a tweet/insta story to update you guys. If you don’t follow on twitter or instagram (you should) you can just check in on the blog throughout the day.
Enjoy the games guys and the prize pool for the brackets will be announced shortly.