In my preview I listed a few teams this season that I thought would make noise in the tournament and have good seasons. I chose Duke, Michigan State, and Villanova.
We saw Villanova get knocked out early in the tournament and really never had a chance of getting to the final four with their sub-par play after more than 20 straight wins to start the season. They had a number of close games to average opponents paired with no size and streaky role playing resulted in an early exit for the Wildcats in the tournament.
Now I know that Michigan State was a little overrated at the start of the season, but a Big Ten title and a little tournament help and Tom Izzo was back in the Final Four for the 6th time in 12 years. That is unbelievable when you think about how difficult it is to get to Final Four's today. They had some luck when Kansas lost to Northern Iowa, but they took care of business beating Maryland, Northern Iowa and Tennessee on their road. Their schedule was not as tough as some, but they beat who they played and thats all you can do.
Duke. National Champs. Good pick I'd say...
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Canucks vs. Canadiens
Kings 4 Jackets 1
Record: 5-2
I love betting against the Jackets because they never fail to really let their fans down. Wait what fans? Speaking of teams letting their fans down, the Canadiens have loved doing that the past few seasons ehh? The Canadiens have been pretty brutal and their ace signing Michael Cammalleri is the only one who can score for them. The have lost their last three games to the Panthers, Lightning and Senators and averaged 1 goal per game.
Things don't get easier for the Habs as one of the best first lines in hockey comes to town. The Canucks are rolling on their first line with Henik Sedin, twin brother Daniel and Alex Burrows. This game marks the start of the winter olymipcs road trip that lasts until March, and the Canucks are coming into it with a lot of confidence.
I am loving the Canucks in a parlay tonight with the Avalanche at home against the Jackets. Sup kiiid.
Record: 5-2
I love betting against the Jackets because they never fail to really let their fans down. Wait what fans? Speaking of teams letting their fans down, the Canadiens have loved doing that the past few seasons ehh? The Canadiens have been pretty brutal and their ace signing Michael Cammalleri is the only one who can score for them. The have lost their last three games to the Panthers, Lightning and Senators and averaged 1 goal per game.
Things don't get easier for the Habs as one of the best first lines in hockey comes to town. The Canucks are rolling on their first line with Henik Sedin, twin brother Daniel and Alex Burrows. This game marks the start of the winter olymipcs road trip that lasts until March, and the Canucks are coming into it with a lot of confidence.
I am loving the Canucks in a parlay tonight with the Avalanche at home against the Jackets. Sup kiiid.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Kings vs. Jackets
Flames 3 Stars 4
Record: 4-2
The Flames suck. But that's okay because I am feeling like the Kings are going to butter the Jackets on the road.
I love saying butter, it just rolls off the tounge with enough authority to keep it as a solid word describing the ability to dominate. The Kings are stacked with young talent and they have been maturing before our eyes. The Pacific Division is one of the most competitive in the league and the Kings have had to work hard to get to the 6th seed in the west overall. They are two points behind division foe Phoenix by 2 points and could tie them with a Coyotes loss.
Meanwhile, the Jackets are brutal. Second to last in the west infront of the burtal Oilers and three points behind the Blues. The just beat the Predators at home but that game was a struggle. The Kings are playing good hockey right now and the Jackets are doing absolutely nothing. You know what this means. Kings all day. Now that's a lot of butter.
Record: 4-2
The Flames suck. But that's okay because I am feeling like the Kings are going to butter the Jackets on the road.
I love saying butter, it just rolls off the tounge with enough authority to keep it as a solid word describing the ability to dominate. The Kings are stacked with young talent and they have been maturing before our eyes. The Pacific Division is one of the most competitive in the league and the Kings have had to work hard to get to the 6th seed in the west overall. They are two points behind division foe Phoenix by 2 points and could tie them with a Coyotes loss.
Meanwhile, the Jackets are brutal. Second to last in the west infront of the burtal Oilers and three points behind the Blues. The just beat the Predators at home but that game was a struggle. The Kings are playing good hockey right now and the Jackets are doing absolutely nothing. You know what this means. Kings all day. Now that's a lot of butter.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Flames vs. Stars
Canucks 3 Sabres 2
Record: 4-1
Jarome Iginla and the Calgary Flames have been going down in those flames over the past ten games going 1-8-1 over that span and losing 7 in a row.
Iginla has set a career high scorless streak at 11 games after their 2-0 loss to the Blues on Monday. There has been very little contribution for the Flames over this stretch and poor defense. Let me be honest in saying that the Flames have really spiraled out of control over the last ten games and they do not look like a confident team at all. With all of this said, I really think that the Flames have the talent to turn this thing around, and there is no better way to do that except on the road against another struggling team in the Stars.
The Stars are expecting captain Brenden Morrow to be back from injury, which is a big boost for the Stars offense. The Stars have been awful lately on team defense, and that has been a problem for struggling goaltender Marty Turco. While Turco believes it is an attitude problem, I believe it stems from lack of depth on the defensive side of the puck for Dallas.
I think the Stars will not play good enough defense behind Turco or Alex Alud, and it will take a great effort from either goalie to keep the Flames out of the net. I will believe the Flames finally break out of this slup and Iginla will end his scoring drought to help ignite the nearly burned out Flames. Take the Flames straight up.
Record: 4-1
Jarome Iginla and the Calgary Flames have been going down in those flames over the past ten games going 1-8-1 over that span and losing 7 in a row.
Iginla has set a career high scorless streak at 11 games after their 2-0 loss to the Blues on Monday. There has been very little contribution for the Flames over this stretch and poor defense. Let me be honest in saying that the Flames have really spiraled out of control over the last ten games and they do not look like a confident team at all. With all of this said, I really think that the Flames have the talent to turn this thing around, and there is no better way to do that except on the road against another struggling team in the Stars.
The Stars are expecting captain Brenden Morrow to be back from injury, which is a big boost for the Stars offense. The Stars have been awful lately on team defense, and that has been a problem for struggling goaltender Marty Turco. While Turco believes it is an attitude problem, I believe it stems from lack of depth on the defensive side of the puck for Dallas.
I think the Stars will not play good enough defense behind Turco or Alex Alud, and it will take a great effort from either goalie to keep the Flames out of the net. I will believe the Flames finally break out of this slup and Iginla will end his scoring drought to help ignite the nearly burned out Flames. Take the Flames straight up.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Sabres vs Canucks
Duke 60 Clemson 47
Record: 3-1
The Canucks are hot and they don't seem like they will be cooling off tonight against the Sabres.
The Canucks have won their last four and took care of two potential Stanley Cup teams in the Penguins and Blackhawks. The Canucks have been playing their best lately when the stakes are higher and the competition is better.
Meanwhile, the Sabres are going the opposite direction than the Canucks. Buffalo is currently the 3rd seed out east with 67 points, but are 1-2-2 over their last five and have given up more than 3 goals in all but one of those games (a win against the struggling Coyotes). Ryan Miller started in the last two losses and has given up four goals to the Kings and five to the Sharks on the road. Buffalo's defense, normally very good, has been very shaky lately and Miller has bailed the team out with some brilliant saves that could have made these games much worse.
I think that the Canucks are hitting on offense right now and Buffalo is starting to show some weakness and fatigue. Ryan Miller has been good, but he will need to be excellent tonight against the Canucks if they want a win. Take the Canucks moneyline.
Record: 3-1
The Canucks are hot and they don't seem like they will be cooling off tonight against the Sabres.
The Canucks have won their last four and took care of two potential Stanley Cup teams in the Penguins and Blackhawks. The Canucks have been playing their best lately when the stakes are higher and the competition is better.
Meanwhile, the Sabres are going the opposite direction than the Canucks. Buffalo is currently the 3rd seed out east with 67 points, but are 1-2-2 over their last five and have given up more than 3 goals in all but one of those games (a win against the struggling Coyotes). Ryan Miller started in the last two losses and has given up four goals to the Kings and five to the Sharks on the road. Buffalo's defense, normally very good, has been very shaky lately and Miller has bailed the team out with some brilliant saves that could have made these games much worse.
I think that the Canucks are hitting on offense right now and Buffalo is starting to show some weakness and fatigue. Ryan Miller has been good, but he will need to be excellent tonight against the Canucks if they want a win. Take the Canucks moneyline.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Duke -1 at Clemson
Mavericks 94 Wizards 93
Record 2-1
Last season was a complete meltdown on the part of the Blue Devils last time they came to Littlejohn Coliseum. A poor defensive effort and bad shooting led to a 74-47 loss to the Tigers last season. This season a different Duke team is coming to town, seeking revenge.
The Blue Devils are led by Jon Scheyer, a considerable choice for player of the year, and his experience. He has shot just over 35% from the field this year on the road, and that number needs to be better tonight against the Tigers. Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler are going to need to step up big tonight in order to silence a very energetic crowd.
Duke is coming off a loss against North Carolina State and they need a win tonight. The offense has relied on Scheyer too much and it is time for Singler to step up and knock down some shots. The key for the Blue Devils tonight is locking down on defense and not giving up second chance points for Trevor Booker. Booker has averaged 19.8 points per game since only scoring 10 at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Jan. 3 in a 74-53 loss to the Blue Devils.
Here is the skinny. Coack K's squad is 0-3 in true road games this season and they cannot afford to lose this game, or else they will have a real slim chance of winning the ACC. I do not see Duke letting Clemson beat them like they did a season ago. The Plumlee brothers need to slow down the Clemson frontcourt and try to get Booker in foul trouble. I like Duke in this one, lets just hope they win by more than one.
Record 2-1
Last season was a complete meltdown on the part of the Blue Devils last time they came to Littlejohn Coliseum. A poor defensive effort and bad shooting led to a 74-47 loss to the Tigers last season. This season a different Duke team is coming to town, seeking revenge.
The Blue Devils are led by Jon Scheyer, a considerable choice for player of the year, and his experience. He has shot just over 35% from the field this year on the road, and that number needs to be better tonight against the Tigers. Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler are going to need to step up big tonight in order to silence a very energetic crowd.
Duke is coming off a loss against North Carolina State and they need a win tonight. The offense has relied on Scheyer too much and it is time for Singler to step up and knock down some shots. The key for the Blue Devils tonight is locking down on defense and not giving up second chance points for Trevor Booker. Booker has averaged 19.8 points per game since only scoring 10 at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Jan. 3 in a 74-53 loss to the Blue Devils.
Here is the skinny. Coack K's squad is 0-3 in true road games this season and they cannot afford to lose this game, or else they will have a real slim chance of winning the ACC. I do not see Duke letting Clemson beat them like they did a season ago. The Plumlee brothers need to slow down the Clemson frontcourt and try to get Booker in foul trouble. I like Duke in this one, lets just hope they win by more than one.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Mavericks -5 vs. Wizards
Thrashers 4 Maple Leafs 3
Record: 2-0
The Dallas Mavericks will need to play some defense if they want to cover against the Washington Wizards.
The Mavs have not been defending well, as they have given up 106.6 points per game since Jan. 3. This is a huge number that the Mavs know must go down if they want success tonight. The play the Wizards who are looking for a 3 game win streak for the first time in two years. The Mavs have a good road record at 14-7 while the Wizards struggle everywhere, and at home they are 8-11.
I think the key to this game for the Mavs is to play smart and not give up on defense. They limited the Boston Celtics to 90 points in their 9 point win on Martin Luther King Day, and they will have to duplicate that defensive effort for success and a cover tonight.
Jason Kidd has looked pretty good the last few games on offense knocking down open shots and not turning the ball over in the open court. Dirk Nowitzki is a machine, and arguably has the greatest jumper by a big man ever to play the game. I thought this line would be higher but since the Mavs have been struggling on defense and the Wizards are as hot as they ever will be, take the Mavs as a gift.
Record: 2-0
The Dallas Mavericks will need to play some defense if they want to cover against the Washington Wizards.
The Mavs have not been defending well, as they have given up 106.6 points per game since Jan. 3. This is a huge number that the Mavs know must go down if they want success tonight. The play the Wizards who are looking for a 3 game win streak for the first time in two years. The Mavs have a good road record at 14-7 while the Wizards struggle everywhere, and at home they are 8-11.
I think the key to this game for the Mavs is to play smart and not give up on defense. They limited the Boston Celtics to 90 points in their 9 point win on Martin Luther King Day, and they will have to duplicate that defensive effort for success and a cover tonight.
Jason Kidd has looked pretty good the last few games on offense knocking down open shots and not turning the ball over in the open court. Dirk Nowitzki is a machine, and arguably has the greatest jumper by a big man ever to play the game. I thought this line would be higher but since the Mavs have been struggling on defense and the Wizards are as hot as they ever will be, take the Mavs as a gift.
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