Sports Picks & Predictions

4 Unit Play. #586 Take Hawaii over Portland (1 am) The long flight to the Islands will do in the Pilots tonight, as the Warriors advance to the second round of the CIT Tournament. The WAC is a much better conference than the Big Sky and that means that the Warriors 8-8 conference record is much better than the 7-7 conference record for the Pilots. Hawaii has not lost a home game since January 30th. Portland is 1-6 ATS in their last seven road games. Hawaii is 6-0 ATS in their last six non-conference games.

4 Unit Play. #541 Take UAB over Clemson (9 pm Tru TV) I always like to take the points in play-in games and I expect the Blazers to put forth a good effort on Tuesday and show people that they do indeed belong in the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers have not performed very well away from South Carolina, as they have road losses against Maryland, NC State, Virginia, and South Carolina, all teams that did not come close to making the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers are 3-11-1 ATS in their last 15 neutral site games. The Blazers are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 non-conference games.

5 Unit Play. #557 Take UTEP over New Mexico (9 pm ESPN 2) Both teams enter this game on a bit of a downer. The Miners blew a big lead against Memphis to miss out on the NCAA Tournament and the Lobos lost their best player, Dairese Gary to an ACL injury. Gary leads them in points and assists and I just do not believe that they will be very efficient tonight at the Pit. UTEP has a lot of talent, it is just a matter of recovery time, but playing this border rival should get them up for this game tonight. New Mexico has already lost three home games this season and they also had visions of making the NCAA Tournament, so this is a disappointing year for them as well. The Miners have a very balanced team and I expect them to take this game down to the wire and win it. Getting points is just icing on the cake. UTEP has covered 5 of their last 6 games overall. New Mexico is 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games as a favorite.

4 Unit Play. #552 Take Over in Murray State @ Missouri State (8 pm) We will attack this low totals numbers since teams tend to play a more up-tempo style in second rate postseason tournaments. Both teams average in the high sixties for points per game and that puts this game in the 130s and getting 10 points is too good to pass up. Murray State has gone over 4 of their last 5 games when they are coming off a loss. The Bears have gone over six straight games when they are coming off a loss.

10 Unit Play. #548 Take Louisville over Connecticut (9 pm) Conference Tournament Game. If Connecticut can win five games in five days with one good player more power to them but I do not think that will be the case tonight at Madison Square Garden. Louisville played a hot shooting team in Notre Dame and they were able to cool them off in the second half last night and I fully expect them to jump out on Connecticut early and dominate this game for forty minutes. I really like this Cardinal team, as they were hit hard by injuries at the start of the season but they are now healthy and ready to knock down Connecticut for the third time this season. They have a major advantage since this will be only their third game. The Huskies have adrenaline, but that can only carry you so far. The Cardinals won the most recent meeting by 13 points and that is how I see this game going as well. The Cardinals have covered seven straight games overall.

2 Unit Play. #873 Take UNLV over San Diego State (11:30 pm CBS College Sports) We will apply the theory that it is very tough to beat a similar team three times in one season. It has worked well so far for us this week with Butler and Oregon and we will apply it again tonight with UNLV. This is on the home floor for the Rebels and they have really turned it on at the end of the season winning six straight games. The Rebels are 0-4 against BYU and San Diego State this season but I actually believe that they are the favorite to win this tournament. The Aztecs blew their chance for a No. 1 seed and they really do not have much to play for tonight. UNLV has won 32 of the 51 match-ups in this series.

10 Unit Play. #833 Take Virginia Tech over Florida State (9:25 pm ESPN 2) Virginia Tech is coming off a dominating performance against Georgia Tech last night and now they are set to do battle with the Florida State Seminoles. The Seminoles have played a very easy schedule to close out the regular season and they only tough games was against North Carolina, a game that they lost at home. The Hokies righted the ship after two disappointing losses to close out the season and a win in this game all but puts them into the NCAA Tournament. Virginia Tech beat Florida State by 12 points this season and that was when Chris Singleton was the best player on the floor. He will be in street clothes tonight and that will allow the Hokies to pull away late and win this game comfortably. The Seminoles are 8-20-2 ATS in their last 30 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

2 Unit Play. #868 Take Arizona over USC (9 pm FSN) The Trojans probably should be getting more respect since they played a very difficult schedule and a win in this game will give them 20 on the season. But that being said, they do not have a player as dynamic as Derrick Williams and that will be too much for the Trojans to overcome tonight at Staples Center. Arizona owns a 57-40 series lead over USC and should have swept them for it not for a late collapse at the Galen Center last month.

2 Unit Play. #872 Take BYU over New Mexico (Friday 9 pm CBS College Sports) BYU has just three losses on the season and two of them came against New Mexico and I just do not believe that there is any way that the Cougars are going to fall three times to a team that will likely not even make the tournament. BYU struggled in their opening round game at the Thomas and Mack Center against TCU, but I expect a much better performance in game No. 2 for them in the Mountain West Tournament. They have the best player on the floor in Jimmer Fredette and he is averaging 28 points per game. He is a match-up nightmare for New Mexico and I expect him to go off in this game. The line is low because BYU has not played well since losing Brandon Davies to suspension but that just makes this game more appealing. BYU is 16-5 ATS in their last 21 games following an ATS loss. New Mexico is 4-11 ATS in their last 15 neutral site games. Both trends hold true on Friday, as the No. 1 moves onto the finals of the MWC.

3 Unit Play. #722 Take Virginia Tech over Georgia Tech (9:25 pm ACC Network) Another game that features a rubber match, as these two teams split during the regular season with each one of them winning on their home floor. Virginia Tech owns an 11-4 series advantage over Georgia Tech and they just cannot afford a loss in this game since they are on the bubble when it comes to the NCAA Tournament. The Yellow Jackets were one of the worst teams in the ACC this season and they may be making a coaching change after this game. Georgia Tech is 2-6 ATS (1 push) in their last 9 games overall. Virginia Tech has been a solid play on Thursdays, covering 5 of their last 7 games played on that date. Virginia Tech has a major edge in experience and they need a double-digit victory tonight and that is exactly what they will get.

2 Unit Play. #752 Take UTEP over Marshall (7:30 pm CBS College Sports) UTEP has a major edge in the Conference USA Tournament since they are hosting it and I feel that they are the clear cut favorite to win this tournament and advance to the NCAA Tournament. It will start today with a victory against the Thundering Herd. The Miners beat the Herd by an 82-74 final last week in the only regular season meeting between the two teams, and UTEP now owns a 6-1 advantage in the all-time series. UTEP also has the best player on the floor in Randy Culpepper, as he is averaging twenty points per game. The Miners are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games when they are a favorite of 6

10 Unit Play. #728 Take Kent over Buffalo (7 pm ESPN 3) It is hard to pass up this situation since we have the best team in the league laying small wood in a neutral site game that is in the home state of the Golden Flashes. Despite the recent back and forth between the two programs, the Flashes own a commanding, 24-7 lead in the all-time series. The Bulls have struggled down the stretch losing five of their last seven games and the Golden Flashes have lost just one game since February 19th. The Golden Flashes are 18-7-1 ATS in their last 26 neutral site games as a favorite. The Bulls are 5-13-1 ATS in their last 19 Thursday games. The top seed in the one bid MAC moves onto the semi-finals.

2 Unit Play. #771 Take New Mexico over Colorado State (5:30 pm the Mtn) This is just a case of two teams heading in opposite directions to close out the season. The Rams were a bubble team for most of the year but a 1-4 finish to close out the season scraped that idea. The Lobos have won three straight games and I believe that they have a chance to make some noise in the MWC Tournament. The Lobos win this rubber match and move onto the Semi-Finals.

10 Unit Play. #656 Take Oregon over Arizona State (11:40 pm FSN) Much like our play on Butler last night, I just do not believe that Arizona State is good enough to beat anybody three times in one season. The Ducks have better players and the fact that they are favored despite losing both games to ASU this season should tell you something. The Ducks are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 neutral site games as a favorite. The Sun Devils are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 neutral site games. Oregon moves onto the quarterfinals of the PAC-10 Tournament.

3 Unit Play. #658 Take Over in Montana at Northern Colorado (9 pm ESPN 2) Since this is the final game of the Big Sky Tournament and it is winner take all, teams are going to go all out to win this game and they will foul lots at the end since their season is on the line. That sets up well for a strong over play with this low number especially since both teams have major advantages on the offensive end of the court. Northern Colorado has the best player on the floor in Devon Beitzel and Montana has a major edge in size with the big man. I expect a game that goes down to the wire and that keeps late fouling in play to propel the final score of both teams. The Over is 6-0 in the Bears last six games when they are the favorite. Play the over and do not worry if Northern Colorado can cover this spread.

3 Unit Play. #650 Take Nevada over Fresno State (5:30 pm) Both teams are coming off disappointing seasons, but we will side with the Wolf Pack in this affair, as they finished two games better than the Bulldogs in the WAC Standing. This is the rubber match, as both teams won close games on their home floor. Fresno State has just one victory since February 20th and they have been playing bottom feeder teams in the conference for quite some time. Fresno State is 5-16 ATS in their last 21 neutral site games. Nevada has bounced back well going 4-1 ATS in their next five games following a loss.

3 Unit Play. #651 Take Wyoming over TCU (5 pm the Mountain) The play-in game for the MWC Tournament takes place between TCU and Wyoming this afternoon in Las Vegas, NV. We will side with the Cowboys, since the Horned Frogs have not won a game since January 12th. Wyoming has won two games of late and that included a double-digit victory over this very same TCU team. The Cowboys are 21-7 ATS in their last 28 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400. The Horned Frogs are 4-17 ATS in their last 21 games following an ATS win.

4 Unit Play. #591 Take Butler over Milwaukee (9 pm ESPN) Granted we are likely laying an extra point because Butler is a name team when it comes to gamblers, but I just do not believe that Milwaukee is good enough to be able to beat Butler three times in one season. Milwaukee won both regular-season meetings with Butler, overshadowing the fact that the Bulldogs still own a 28-11 advantage in the all-time series. The Panthers have four losses this season at US Cellular Arena they seem to lack the knockout punch against good teams. Butler is 18-6 ATS (2 pushes) in their last 26 games against teams with a winning record. Milwaukee is 1-4 ATS in their last five games when they are an underdog of 6

10 Unit Play. #682 Take Oakland over Oral Roberts (9 pm ESPN 2) The two best teams in the Summit League are set to do battle in South Dakota with the winner going to the NCAA Tournament. Oakland swept this year's regular-season series with Oral Roberts and expect them to complete the trifecta on Tuesday. The Golden Grizzles are 4-0 in neutral site games this season and have been scoring points at will all season long. They will enter this game having won seven straight games. The Golden Eagles are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 neutral site games. The Golden Grizzles are 13-3 ATS (1 push) in their last 17 neutral site games.

4 Unit Play. #590 Take North Texas over Arkansas Little Rock (7 pm ESPN U) The Mean Green have been on a roll and they appear destined to reach the NCAA Tournament. They have just one game left and that is against the Trojans. Arkansas-Little Rock and North Texas met twice this season, with the Mean Green earning a season sweep. The Trojans have the best player on the floor in Solomon Bozeman who had 22 points on Monday but 19 of those points came from the free throw line. I do not expect the officials to be that generous to him tonight and that should allow Tristan Thompson and company to pull away late and earn the victory. UALR is 5-11 ATS in their last 16 games following an ATS win. The Mean Green are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 Sun Belt games.

4 Unit Play. #574 Take St. Bonaventure over La Salle (5 pm CBS College Sports) A trip to Atlantic City is on the line when the Bonnies host the Explorers. St. Bonaventure is 10-4 this season at the Reilly Center and beat La Salle by 21 points in this building last month. Laying this low of a number is too good to pass up since the Bonnies have won three straight in this series. La Salle is 18-37 ATS in their last 55 games against teams with a winning record. St. Bonaventure is 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games overall. The Explorers do not play any defense and that will allow the home team to pull away late and win this game by double-digits.

4 Unit Play. #842 Take Florida Atlantic over North Texas (7:45 pm) It is the quarterfinals of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament tonight in Hot Springs, Arkansas and we will lay this small wood with the best team in the league. The Owls end the Mean Green

4 Unit Play. #620 Take Colorado over Nebraska (9 pm) Colorado has some big wins at the Coors Events Center this season and expect them to send out their seniors on a high note with a victory over Nebraska tonight in a game that is not on television. The Cornhuskers are just 1-6 in true road games this season and the lack of a strong non-conference schedule will keep them out of the NCAA Tournament. The Buffaloes will have revenge on their minds, as the Cornhuskers won the first game by 12 points in Lincoln. That is about the type of score I see Colorado winning this game by. Colorado is 5-2 ATS in their last 7 home games when they are the favorite. Nebraska is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games.

4 Unit Play. #656 Take Milwaukee over Valparaiso (8:30 pm ESPN U) The Panthers shocked everybody by earning home court advantage in the Horizon League Conference Tournament and we fully expect them to march onto the finals by beating Valparaiso, a team that was in action last night. The Panthers have been playing outstanding basketball of late with just one loss since January 22nd and that came against Buffalo, a team that is not in the Horizon League. The Crusaders finished with three of five losses to close out the regular season and they have come down to earth after a hot start. Valparaiso is 2-5 ATS in their last 7 Horizon League games. The Panthers are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 Horizon League games.

4 Unit Play. #596 Take Harvard over Princeton (7 pm ESPN 3) The Ivy League does not have a conference tournament and the best team during the regular season gets a bid into the NCAA Tournament. I expect that to be the Crimson, as a win here will at least guarantee them a one game playoff. Harvard has a much more talented team that Princeton does and they will also have revenge on their minds, as they were defeated by Princeton by four points earlier this season in New Jersey. Harvard is a perfect 13-0 this season at Lavietes Pavilion.

10 Unit Play. #532 Take Michigan over Michigan State (2 pm CBS) Senior Day Game of the Year. This is an important game for both teams, but Michigan has much more on the line, as a loss here will likely knock them out of the tournament. I really like the young players for Michigan led by Darius Morris and Tim Hardaway Jr. This is not strictly a three point shooting team anymore, as they have the ability to beat you off the dribble and have an inside presence with Jordan Morgan as well. After a crushing loss to Wisconsin when a banked three point shot did them in this team has bounced back nicely with a win at Minnesota and has a full week to prepare for this game against their in-state rival.

Speaking of the Spartans, they have probably done enough to get into the NCAA Tournament despite having a terrible season. The Spartans have only beaten one NCAA Tournament team in Wisconsin during Big Ten play, as they have basically just beaten up on the bottom half of teams in the Big Ten to earn their nine conference wins. Michigan has already beaten Michigan State in East Lansing this season and I fully expect them to complete the quinella on Saturday. The Wolverines have great balance and that is something that cannot be said about MSU. The Spartans are 3-9 ATS (1 push) in their last 13 games against teams with a winning record. The Wolverines are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 games against teams with a winning record.

4 Unit Play. #868 Take Niagara over Marist (7:30 pm) The Purple Eagles now lead the all-time series by a count of 19-13 and they are starting to show some of their winning form from year

4 Unit Play. #512 Take Arizona State over Oregon (8:30 pm) The Sun Devils are just 2-14 on the season during PAC-10 play but one of those victories came against Oregon in Eugene. ASU has also won 40 of the 71 meetings between these two schools and I fully expect them to sweep the Oregon schools this week. The Ducks are 3-6 this season in road/neutral site games and they are coming off two home losses to Bay Area teams. Oregon is just 9-21 ATS (1 push) in their last 31 Thursday games. ASU win and we take advantage of a low number.

4 Unit Play. #783 Take Mississippi State over Arkansas (9 pm ESPN 3) Both teams have embattled coaches and it will be interesting to see who can survive come season

4 Unit Play. #776 Take Over in Minnesota @ Northwestern (8:30 pm Big 10 Network) Both teams have visions of making the NCAA Tournament but neither one of these teams will, as they have fallen on hard times as the Big Ten season concludes. This is the last regular season game for Northwestern and they have been giving up points at will of late. Teams are shooting 48% against Northwestern this season and expect Minnesota to light up the scoreboard tonight at Welsh-Ryan Arena. 151 points were scored in the first meeting between these two schools and that is how we expect this game to go as well. The Over is 5-2 in the Golden Gophers last five games against teams with a winning record. Northwestern has gone over in 37 of their last 54 Big Ten Games. There should be some fouling at the end of this game and that will only increase our chances for a victory.

4 Unit Play. #721 Take North Carolina over Florida State (7 pm ESPN) If this game were in Chapel Hill, North Carolina would be a double digit favorite. While the Tucker Center gives FSU a strong home court edge, the talent of these two teams in their present state is way apart. Since their twenty point loss to UNC, FSU has been playing bottom feeder teams and with the exception of Maryland, none of those teams (Wake Forest, Virginia, Georgia Tech, Miami FL) will make the NCAA Tournament. Carolina has a chance to win the ACC outright with wins in their last two games against Florida State and Duke. Would go higher on this play, but I am fearful that Carolina may be looking ahead to Duke on Saturday night. The Tar Heels are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a winning record. Florida State is 1-5 ATS in their last six games against teams with a winning road record.

10 Unit Play. #560 Take Arkansas Little Rock over North Texas (8:30 pm NTTV) Home court means everything in the Sun Belt this season and you can pretty much play home teams and expect that they cover around 65% of the time. North Texas has been struggling of late losing 6 of their last 8 games and they are just 4-8 in true road games this season. The Trojans have a winning record at home and a win today will move them to .500 for the season in the Sun Belt. The Mean Green are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games. The Trojans are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games when they are a favorite of 6

4 Unit Play. #522 Take Ohio over Akron (7 pm) Two upper half teams are set to do battle in the MAC tonight at The Convocation Center in Athens, OH. Both teams will enter this game with long winning streaks, but Akron is just 4-7 in true road games this season. The Bobcats have won the last two meetings and expect them to complete the trifecta on Tuesday. The Bobcats are 5-0 in their last five games overall.

4 Unit Play. #524 Take Oklahoma State over Baylor (7 pm ESPN 2) Baylor has been one of the most disappointing teams this season and they are just 3-8 in road/neutral site games this season. They are on the tournament bubble and a loss tonight will not help their cause. Oklahoma State is 12-2 at home this season and we will lay this low wood tonight with them. The Cowboys currently own a 49-17 lead and have downed the Bears seven straight times at Gallagher-Iba Arena. The Bears are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games overall. The Cowboys are 36-14 ATS (2 pushes) in their last 52 home games.

3 Unit Play. #528 Take Virginia over North Carolina State (7 pm RSN) Two bottom feeder ACC teams are set to do battle in Charlottesville, VA tonight at the John Paul Jones Arena. NC State is 2-8 in true road games this season. Would go higher on this game but the offense of Virginia is hit and miss, but the Cavs usually do play good defense. The Cavaliers won both matchups last season and have not lost to NC State at home since the 2004-05 campaign. The Wolfpack are 2-9 ATS in their last 11 games as an underdog. The Cavaliers are 12-4 ATS in their last 16 ACC games.

10 Unit Play. #840 Take North Carolina over Maryland (7:45 pm FSN) This line really surprises me since Maryland is likely out of the NCAA Tournament and North Carolina has a chance to win the ACC outright if they win out. We will lay the small change tonight with them, as we expect them to win by double-digits. North Carolina owns a 114-57 series lead over Maryland and they are 13-0 this season at the Dean Dome. The Terrapins are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record. The Tar Heels are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record. Both trends hold true tonight, as UNC gets it does at home.

4 Unit Play. #652 Take North Texas over Denver (8 pm) We went against the Pioneers on Thursday and won the game in overtime and we will fade them again against North Texas tonight in Denton. The Sun Belt Conference has a great deal of parity and playing at home is a deceive advantage. Denver is just 25-53 ATS in their last 78 road games. North Texas is 11-2 ATS (1 push) in their last 14 home games as a favorite of 6

4 Unit Play. #577 Take Florida over Kentucky (4 pm CBS) Kentucky is still a big name when it comes to bettors but there is no way that they are eight plus points better than Florida regardless of where the game is being played. Florida has already beaten Kentucky this season and they are 7-1 in true road games in 2010-2011. Florida is also 5-0 ATS in their last five games when they are an underdog. Kentucky is just 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games as a favorite. Kentucky wins this game because they need it more, but it comes in a game much closer than what the experts believe.

4 Unit Play. #552 Take San Diego State over BYU (2 pm CBS) Round two in the battle that we have all been waiting for takes place Saturday morning in Southern California between BYU and San Diego State. The Cougars won the first meetings in Provo but I fully expect the Aztecs to return the favor today. BYU is pretty much a one man team with Jimmer Fredette and he has been a little banged up of late, as he was questionable for the game on Thursday. The Aztecs are 13-0 at Viejas Arena this season and this game means more to them, as if they win out they could earn a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. BYU is 1-4 ATS in their last five games as a road underdog. San Diego State is 14-3 ATS in their last 17 games against teams with a winning road record.

10 Unit Play. #550 Take Missouri State over Wichita State (1 pm ESPN 2) First place in the MVC is on the line today in Springfield, MO, as the Shockers and Bears are set to do battle. This is not as important as one might believe since this is likely a one bid league and these teams may meet up in the conference tournament next week. The Bears have already won in Wichita this season and expect them to complete the season sweep of them today at JQH Arena. Wichita State has played better on the road than they have played at home but that will not be the case today. MSU has won 33 of its last 36 home games, and that includes a 14-1 mark at JQH Arena this season. The Shockers are 3-12 ATS (1 push) in their last 16 games as a road underdog of 6