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March 16th, 2011 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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The nightcap of the first full day of NCAA Tournament betting action will get underway just before 7:00 ET, and in this session, there will be some of the best and brightest teams in the land kicking off what they hope will be deep runs into this tourney. But which ones will get the axe with premature exits from the dance? Check out our March Madness picks for Thursday evening.

Matchup: #15 UC Santa Barbara Gauchos vs. #2 Florida Gators
Date: Thursday, March 17th, 6:50 ET
Location: Southeast Region, Tampa Bay, FL
NCAA Basketball Odds: Florida -13
Over/Under 127

Both the Gators and the Gauchos have a lot of returning experience this season, as both teams went dancing last season and brought back the mass majority of their key components this year. The Big West champs are sneaky though, as they have Orlando Johnson, one of the best scorers in the nation at just over 21 points per game. James Nunnally can get his 20+ any given night as well. Sure, Florida has a lot more experience and a lot of potential Final Four types of athletes, but if it does end up going to Houston, it probably isn’t covering every spread along the way. Chandler Parsons and company are great, but the Gators aren’t going to win this one by more than a dozen points. Free March Madness Picks: UC Santa Barbara Gauchos +13

Matchup: #14 Wofford Terriers vs. #3 BYU Cougars
Date: Thursday, March 17th, 7:15 ET
Location: Southeast Region, Denver, CO
NCAA Basketball Odds: BYU -8.5
Over/Under 147

If you love offensive fireworks, you’re going to love this game to pieces. Wofford has no issues running up and down the court with gusto, while BYU’s offense is all about trying to figure out how to get the ball in the hands of Jimmer Fredette. As long as it’s on the right side of half court, Fredette will jack it up without any hesitations, and especially this time of year, everything he touches seems to turn to gold. However, remember the name Noah Dahlman. This is a man that is scoring 20 points per game, and he is a big that can really bring some bulk into the paint against a BYU team that doesn’t have its starting big man in Brandon Davies. No. 14 seeds don’t beat No. 3s all that often, and it would be a real travesty to not see Jimmer in the second weekend of the tournament, but don’t be shocked if the Terriers are dogs with some real bite. March Madness Free Picks: Wofford Terriers +8.5

Matchup: #14 Bucknell Bison vs. #3 Connecticut Huskies
Date: Thursday, March 17th, 7:20 ET
Location: West Region, Washington DC
NCAA Basketball Odds: Connecticut -10
Over/Under 132.5

Do the Bison really have a shot at pulling off the upset in this one? We know that the Huskies dominated games out of conference play this year, but they all weren’t the easiest wins in the world. All too often, this offense just gets into a lull because Kemba Walker isn’t on his game. In fairness to Walker, he did put up five amazing games in the Big East Tournament, and this is why this team really caught some fire. Bucknell was a great mid major all season long, and it certainly has the ability to shoot the three pointer, connecting on 40.2 percent of all long range shots. The Bison are the real deal, and though they might not ultimately end up pulling off the great upset, they certainly can stick around and make this a game down the stretch. Free March Madness Picks: Bucknell Bison +10

Matchup: #13 Belmont Bruins vs. #4 Wisconsin Badgers
Date: Thursday, March 17th, 7:25 ET
Location: Southwest Region, Tucson, AZ
NCAA Basketball Odds: Wisconsin -4.5
Over/Under 126

More upsets on the horizon? Ever since the brackets were released on Sunday, there had to be a heck of a lot of teams that had to be thrilled that Belmont wasn’t the team that they were playing against. This is a team that can shoot three pointers like no one’s business, and it certainly has the winning mentality, having done so 30 times on the season. However, Wisconsin’s last time on the court was an embarrassment that ugly defeat at the hands of the Penn State Nittany Lions in which neither team scored even 40 points. Don’t be surprised if the Badgers get great games out of Jon Leuer and Jordan Taylor, and that these two men carry them to victory against an overvalued bunch of Bruins. Free March Madness Picks: Wisconsin Badgers -4.5

Matchup: #10 Michigan State Spartans vs. #7 UCLA Bruins
Date: Thursday, March 17th, 9:20 ET
Location: Southeast Region, Tampa Bay, FL
NCAA Basketball Odds: Michigan State -1.5
Over/Under 125.5

Did someone just forget to tell us about a few things here? Sure, we know that Michigan State was the trendy pick in the NCAA Tournament odds several months ago, but what has this team done to deserve this type of recognition now? The Spartans really struggled with the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Tournament, while they were kicked out of the field by the Penn State Nittany Lions. Now, we know that PSU had a special run and earned its place in this tournament, but if you think that that team was one of the best 37 at large teams in the country, you’re crazy. In fact, we know that these Spartans are only here on merit only. Sure, we know that UCLA was booted out of the Pac-10 Tournament by about 100 points by a bad Oregon Ducks team, but we also know that it has the ability to beat anyone in the conference. If the Bruins can beat the likes of the Arizona Wildcats and the Washington Huskies, they can certainly take down Michigan State from an overrated Big Ten conference as well. March Madness Free Picks: UCLA Bruins +1.5

Matchup: #11 Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. #6 St. John’s Red Storm
Date: Thursday, March 17th, 9:45 ET
Location: Southwest Region, Denver, CO
NCAA Basketball Odds: St. John’s -1.5
Over/Under 135

What just an awful spot this is for the Johnnies… Haven’t these guys been through enough already? They lost DJ Kennedy for the season in the Big East Tournament, and they had to play the hardest schedule in the nation this season. Now, they have to fly to the West Coast to deal with a Gonzaga team from the West Coast, and Head Coach Mark Few and company have the gripe of being the hottest team on this side of the Rocky Mountains in the country. The Bulldogs could really care less whether or not they are underdogs or favorites in this one, as they have a ton of NCAA Tournament experience and have pulled out wins in both roles. After a great season, the Red Storm will finally succumb to the pressure and will get bounced from the NCAA Tournament prematurely. Free March Madness Picks: Gonzaga Bulldogs +1.5

Matchup: #11 Missouri Tigers vs. #6 Cincinnati Bearcats
Date: Thursday, March 17th, 9:50 ET
Location: West Region, Washington DC
NCAA Basketball Odds: Cincinnati -1
Over/Under 137.5

The Tigers are one of the more public underdog choices in this year’s March Madness, and for good reason. Marcus Denmon and company just play this ridiculous style of defense that presses for the full 40 minutes, and when push comes to shove, we have to admit that this is a tactic that just works in the dance. It might not win the tourney, but in these early games, fans get on your side when you do things like that, and on the neutral court, that’s a great way to swing momentum. Even though the Bearcats figured out how to win a ton of games this season, their non conference schedule was paper thin. This is a totally different type of challenge, and it is one in which UC doesn’t even know is really this dangerous. Not only is this going to be an upset. This is going to be a romp. March Madness Free Picks: Missouri Tigers +1

Matchup: #12 Utah State Aggies vs. #5 Kansas State Wildcats
Date: Thursday, March 17th, 9:55 ET
Location: Southeast Region, Tucson, AZ
NCAA Basketball Odds: Kansas State -2.5
Over/Under 129

We do love the makeup of this Utah State team, as it really does have a lot of veterans and has the potential to pull off a lot of upsets in this tournament. However, this is virtually a pick ‘em game, and it is a game against the likes of which the Aggies haven’t seen this year. Utah State really hasn’t played that well against big time foes, as its only “signature” win came against a St. Mary’s team that, when push comes to shove, ended up in the NIT. K-State is on fire, and Jacob Pullen will make sure that this is a team that just will not lose. Free March Madness Picks: Kansas State Wildcats -2.5

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March 16th, 2011 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor
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Though the NCAA Tournament has already gotten started, this is the first day in which most NCAA basketball betting fans are paying close attention. The first slate of games is always the most exciting, and we have all of the ins and outs covered for the start of what should be a great day of March Madness picks!

Matchup: #12 Clemson Tigers vs. #5 West Virginia Mountaineers
Date: Thursday, March 17th, 12:15 ET
Location: East Region, Tampa Bay, FL
NCAA Basketball Odds: West Virginia -2
Over/Under 123

This is going to be an ugly, ugly slugfest here at the St. Pete Times Forum to start off the NCAA Tournament, and there is no doubt that we have to go with the Tigers. These teams in the Big East might be amongst the best in the country, but they also have been through the mill and often times aren’t ready for the dance once it begins. Clemson has already gotten its feet wet with that win over the UAB Blazers on Tuesday in the “First Four.” Sure, it’s been an arduous journey to get here to Tampa Bay, but we still have no reservations that this one is coming down to the last shot, one way or the other. Free March Madness Picks: Clemson Tigers +2

Matchup: #9 Old Dominion Monarchs vs. #8 Butler Bulldogs
Date: Thursday, March 17th, 12:40 ET
Location: Southeast Region, Washington DC
NCAA Basketball Odds: Old Dominion -2
Over/Under 122

My, how quickly we all forget about that run that the Bulldogs made to the NCAA Tournament finale last year! No, this Butler team isn’t the same squad as last year, but it really did well in the Horizon League and really turned it on when it counted down the stretch. Shelvin Mack and Matt Howard are the real deal. Don’t get us wrong. We love Old Dominion and we love the fact that this team plays stellar defense. In fact, the Monarchs already have one win over a Horizon League team this season, beating down the Cleveland State Vikings in BracketBusters. Of course, that CSU team was one that the Bulldogs were able to handle this year, even with Norris Cole going crazy. This is another one of these games that really could go either way, and we have to back the ‘dogs’ in this one. March Madness Free Picks: Butler Bulldogs +2

Matchup: #13 Morehead State Eagles vs. #4 Louisville Cardinals
Date: Thursday, March 17th, 1:40 ET
Location: Southwest Region, Denver, CO
NCAA Basketball Odds: Louisville -9.5
Over/Under 131

At the start of the season, many were high on both the Eagles and the Murray State Racers out of the OVC, and many thought that both might be able to sneak into the NCAA Tournament. Instead, both underachieved, and Morehead State was just lucky to end up here. The Redbirds are fantastic, as they play stout defense and surprisingly stellar offense. Don’t let the injury to Raheem Buckles worry you… at least not yet… Terrence Jennings and the crew should be able to put forth a great effort to put this Morehead State team away once and for all by a comfortable double digit margin of victory. Free March Madness Picks: Louisville Cardinals -9.5

Matchup: #10 Penn State Nittany Lions vs. #7 Temple Owls
Date: Thursday, March 17th, 2:10 ET
Location: West Region, Tucson, AZ
NCAA Basketball Odds: Temple -2
Over/Under 121.5

The Nittany Lions are just really particularly lucky to be here in the NCAA Tournament, as they really weren’t even on the radar a bit over a week ago before the Big Ten Tournament started. This is a team that probably should be a CBI team that just happened to catch some fire at the right time to get here. Teams like that generally don’t last all that long in the dance. Temple has dealt with some injuries, but this is a team that really knows how to ball, especially out of the A-10, even though the conference was down this year. Head Coach Fran Dunphy hasn’t had a great history here in the dance, but that should all change this week with a big win over PSU. Free March Madness Picks: Temple Owls -2

Matchup: #13 Princeton Tigers vs. #4 Kentucky Wildcats
Date: Thursday, March 17th, 2:45 ET
Location: East Region, Tampa Bay, FL
NCAA Basketball Odds: Kentucky -13.5
Over/Under 130

Just like it’s really quick that we forgot about Butler, it’s really quickly that we forgot about the Ivy League as well. No, Princeton really isn’t as strong of a shooting team as last year’s Cornell Big Red were, but that doesn’t mean that the Ivy Leaguers really aren’t dangerous. This was a team that fought tooth and nail just to get here, as it took a buzzer beater to knock off the Harvard Crimson. Kentucky is one of the most overrated teams in the country as well at this point. Sure, the talent level is there, but this is definitely a time in which the Selection Committee got this one right. Head Coach John Calipari’s team might have won the SEC, but it’s only a matter of time until someone exposes this team as a fraud. The Cats will get through this one, but it won’t be by two TDs. March Madness Free Picks: Princeton Tigers +13.5

Matchup: #16 UNC Asheville Bulldogs vs. #1 Pittsburgh Panthers
Date: Thursday, March 17th, 3:10 ET
Location: Southeast Region, Washington DC
NCAA Basketball Odds: Pittsburgh -18.5
Over/Under 135

The Panthers know that they are supposed to get through this one in a big time way. The Bulldogs had their day, as they picked up that win in Dayton on Wednesday. U-Pitt really hasn’t had a great history in this tournament, but there is a point that Head Coach Jamie Dixon really has to get his team going. Last year, this team couldn’t get out of the first weekend of the dance. Though we really don’t think there is any doubt that the Panthers are going to get through this game, there is still that doubt about this spread. This could go either way, but when push comes to shove, we’ll take the chance that Pittsburgh tries to make a real statement. Free March Madness Picks: Pittsburgh Panthers -18.5

Matchup: #12 Richmond Spiders vs. #5 Vanderbilt Commodores
Date: Thursday, March 17th, 4:10 ET
Location: Southwest Region, Denver, CO
NCAA Basketball Odds: Vanderbilt -3
Over/Under 134.5

We hate these stupid 5/12 games, because they really feel like pick ‘em games at times. In a rare twist though, we do have something to base this off of. The Commodores figured out how to not just beat, but destroy a very comparable St. Mary’s Gaels team at home. John Jenkins is coming off of a god awful game against the Florida Gators in the SEC Tournament, and he is going to want to make amends for sure. The Richmond defense is fantastic, but it just isn’t good enough to figure out this Vandy offense, which really can be a force at times. March Madness Free Picks: Vanderbilt Commodores -3

Matchup: #15 Northern Colorado Bears vs. #2 San Diego State Aztecs
Date: Thursday, March 17th, 4:40 ET
Location: West Region, Tucson, AZ
NCAA Basketball Odds: San Diego State -15.5
Over/Under 130.5

This is the first time the Bears are ever playing in the NCAA Tournament, while it is very likely going to be the first win for the Aztecs in school history in the dance. Kawhi Leonard is one of the biggest men in this game, as he can score, block shots, and rebound like none other out there. Northern Colorado is just going to be happy to be in this game, and with a tremendous home court advantage, there is no doubt that the Aztecs are going to get rid of the Bears really quickly. Free March Madness Picks: San Diego State Aztecs -15.5

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March 16th, 2011 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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We’re just one day away from the madness officially starting! Here at Cappers Info, we have started to compile our list of teams that really can make a huge impact in the field as big time underdogs with high seeds. Check out the double digit seed squads that we are keeping the closest eyes on in this tournament.

Gonzaga Bulldogs: The Zags might have gotten a bit of a rough draw in this bracket, knowing that they are an 11 seed, but they do get the benefit of playing a St. John’s team that might not react all that well to playing without DJ Kennedy for the first time. Still, Gonzaga has a great front line, anchored by men like Robert Sacre, and it really has a great ability to be able to play any style of play against any team in the land. The Sweet 16, or maybe even beyond could be in the future of the Bulldogs this year, as this could be a big time, wide open Southeast bracket.

Bucknell Bison: The Connecticut Huskies need to be really, really careful with this one. The Patriot League champs have had all week to prepare for what amounts to be a really, really simple game plan: Stop Kemba Walker. This is the simplistic offense that is that of UConn, and if the Bison can figure out how to even remotely contain it, they’re going to have a legit chance at becoming a No. 14 that is going to make a lot of noise.


Clemson Tigers: Sure, Clemson might have been the last team that got into the field of 68 this season, but it certainly has proven that it can play with the best and brightest that this country has to offer. Just ask the North Carolina Tar Heels just how tough these guys are. The Tigers play great defense and have some fantastic bigs in Jerai Grant and Demontez Stitt. The West Virginia Mountaineers had better watch out! Clemson could be coming to get them!


Florida State Seminoles: Florida State is probably in a bit of a pick ‘em type of scenario with the Texas A&M Aggies, but either team that wins that one is going to have a great chance of getting rid of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish over the weekend. FSU plays great defense, and it knows how to defend like no other team in the land. Chris Singleton is coming back into the lineup as well, and he could really make a world of difference for a team that has lulled around just a bit. This could be the sleeper of the Southwest Bracket.

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March 14th, 2011 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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The second day of the NCAA Tournament is on Wednesday, as four more teams vie for two spots in the main bracket for play on Friday. Check out our NCAA basketball picks for these two great clashes!

Matchup: #16 Alabama State Hornets vs. #16 Texas San Antonio Roadrunners
Date: Wednesday, March 16th, 6:45 ET
Location: East Region, Dayton, OH
NCAA Basketball Odds: Texas San Antonio -4
Over/Under 129

The Roadrunners have to wonder if they really deserved to be here in Dayton, as many in San Antonio probably felt that they should have been in the main field without playing this game. The winners of the Southland Conference are definitely the stronger team in this one, as they certainly came out of a sneakily good league. Jeromie Hill and company are able to score and score with the best and brightest. Here’s the problem: Alabama State is absolutely scorching hot. The Hornets have only lost one game over the course of the last month and a half, and that came against a team that was really just as hot in the Grambling State Tigers. That loss was avenged right at the end of the season in the conference finale, though there was never really a doubt that the winner of the SWAC title was going to end up in the play in game. If the Roadrunners can’t push the tempo of this game, we’re really not so sure that they’re going to survive. If this one stays in the high 50s or low 60s, there could be an upset on the horizon. Free March Madness Picks: Alabama State Hornets +4

Matchup: #11 USC Trojans vs. #11 VCU Rams
Date: Wednesday, March 16th, 9:10 ET
Location: Southwest Region, Dayton, OH
NCAA Basketball Odds: USC -4.5
Over/Under 127

Let the questioning begin… Did either the Trojans or the Rams really deserve to get into the field of 68? We know that the loser of this one will end up getting questioned quite a bit, especially if it is VCU. We’ll give Southern Cal a ton of credit for getting to this point, as the Trojans really played fantastic ball down the stretch of the season and certainly played their way into this position. A great defense and a strong inside game led by Nikola Vucevic are the keys for the Trojans. In certain matchups, there is no doubt that the Men of Troy would be in great shape. However, the inconsistencies of Head Coach Kevin O’Neill and the allure of the CAA really has us questioning whether this will be an upset or not. The Rams probably didn’t have one of the best 37 at large resumes in the nation, but they probably were amongst the best 37 at large teams in the country. Jamie Skeen is going to be able to body with Vucevic, and the rest of this offense is going ot be able to keep up with the Trojans. Sometimes, teams come out of nowhere and end up making great runs, especially out of these smaller conferences, and VCU really could be one of those teams to make some noise. March Madness Free Picks: VCU Rams +4.5

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March 14th, 2011 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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The NCAA Tournament finally gets underway after days and days of waiting on Tuesday night, and things get started with the First Four. Check out our free March Madness picks for this round of games!

Matchup: #16 UNC Asheville Bulldogs vs. #16 Arkansas Little Rock Trojans
Date: Tuesday, March 15th, 6:45 ET
Location: Southeast Region, Dayton, OH
NCAA Basketball Odds: UNC Asheville -4
Over/Under 129

The winner of this game will take on the Pittsburgh Panthers on Thursday, so in all likelihood, this is only a game for pride and the right to get into the main field, but isn’t really all that important. Still, the Bulldogs really do have the better team in this one, and unlike UALR, they really were expected to be here. Winning the Big South was an accomplishment, and was one that was built on defense for Asheville. Little Rock was a great story, but this was nothing but a team that really caught fire in a bad conference against other teams that were particularly bad. Solomon Bozeman might have been good for 22 points per game in the conference tournament, but this is a significantly different and significantly better team. Free March Madness Picks: UNC Asheville Bulldogs -4

Matchup: #12 UAB Blazers vs. #12 Clemson Tigers
Date: Tuesday, March 15th, 9:10 ET
Location: East Region, Dayton, OH
NCAA Basketball Odds: Clemson -4.5
Over/Under 121.5

This is the first ever play in game to the main field for teams that aren’t vying to just get their butts kicked by No. 1 seeds. Both the Tigers and Blazers really snuck into the field, and both really didn’t have the greatest arguments in the world to be here. However, both think that they can not only get the job done to move on to the main bracket, but to challenge the West Virginia Mountaineers in a few days as well. Clemson was one of the iffy teams in a down ACC this season, but thanks to a tremendous defense and some great play on the inside. Demontez Stitt is a fantastic big man in the blows, while Jerai Grant is often good for a lot of blocks and rebounds. UAB won the Conference USA regular season title this year, but no one really believed that this was going to be a two bid league, especially once the Blazers got bounced from the first round of the C-USA Tourney. Jamarr Sanders, Aaron Johnson, and company might not be the better team, but we tend to believe that it is going to be a heck of a lot harder for the Tigers to prepare for a team like the Blazers than vice versa. The extra time off has really helped this UAB team come together, and it might end with an upset. March Madness Free Picks: UAB Blazers +4.5

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March 12th, 2011 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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Two teams that are in dire need of a big time victory to get some momentum going towards the NCAA Tournament meet up on Monday night in the City of Brotherly Love, as the Connecticut Huskies duke it out with the Louisville Cardinals.

Matchup: Louisville Cardinals vs. Connecticut Huskies
Date: Saturday, March 12th, 9:00 ET
Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
NCAA Basketball Odds: OTB
Over/Under OTB

Cardinals Notes: Does Head Coach Rick Pitino really have a side that has the ability to capture a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament? The possibility has to at least be considered even though it hasn’t been the most horrifying road into the Big East Tournament finale in the world. Every challenge that looked daunting seems to have been passed. Of course, something must be said about the fact that both wins in this tournament came after teams thought that their missions were accomplished. The Marquette Golden Eagles probably locked up their slot in the NCAA Tournament the day before getting bounced by the ‘Ville, while the Notre Dame Fighting Irish had to think they had that ever so coveted No. 1 seed in hand before giving up the huge comeback to the Cardinals on Friday night. Preston Knowles, a man that has a history of doing just about everything for his team, came up with one of his biggest games of the season against the Irish, scoring 20 points. He now has 35 total points, 11 assists, and 12 boards on the tournament in just two games, and he is clearly going to be the man of the hour to try to stop for the Huskies. The question out there is whether too much energy was expended to try to come back from a huge halftime hole against the Fighting Irish to be able to fight off the Huskies in the finale on Saturday.

Huskies Notes: The truth of the matter is that this game really doesn’t mean all that much to the Huskies in terms of seeding for the NCAA Tournament. They’re probably going to be somewhere around a No. 4 seed one way or the other, and they have already proven their point that they are a team to beat for certain in the upcoming dance. However, this is a chance for Kemba Walker to finish what he started five days ago, and that’s etching his name, and this season’s team, into UConn lore, as a Big East Tournament championship, especially in this circumstance, would be absolutely stunning. Walker never really leaves the court, and he just continues to get better and better and better as games go on. He hit the game winning shot at the buzzer against the Pittsburgh Panthers after being on the floor for all 40 minutes, while the very next night, he played into OT and finished off a tremendous 33 point, 12 rebound performance against the Syracuse Orange. Walker’s numbers are just off the chart in this tournament, and there is no doubt that he is the tourney’s MVP to date. The question is whether a man like Jeremy Lamb or Alex Oriakhi is going to step up to be able to help this team out, or whether Walker is going to have to put the whole team on his back for a fifth straight day.

The Final Word: This isn’t a series with a great history to it if you’re a Connecticut fan. The Huskies only have two outright wins and just one cover since the end of the 2007 season. Still, teams that have to play on Tuesday typically have a terrible history in the Big East Tournament as well, especially this late. Every now and again, a special player puts on a special performance that you just have to stop and stare with, and you know that you have witnessed something truly special. Walker is that special, and he’ll prove it on Saturday night with a fifth straight amazing victory.

Free College Basketball Picks: Connecticut Huskies

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March 8th, 2011 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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We’re at the very last week before Selection Sunday, and here at Cappers Info, we’re taking some time out to view the six big conference tournaments, what you should watch for, and projecting the winners of each, as we head on the road to March Madness betting action!

ACC Tournament Preview: March 10-13
Location: Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NC

Favorite: Duke Blue Devils
NCAA Tournament Locks: Duke Blue Devils, North Carolina Tar Heels, Florida State Seminoles
Work To Do: Clemson Tigers, Boston College Eagles, Virginia Tech Hokies


The bottom line here in the ACC Tournament is all about how long you can survive. Clemson and Boston College are likely to be playing a March Madness elimination game on Friday. The winner is probably going to be in the field without any problems, but the loser is going to be sweating. Virginia Tech probably just needs to take care of Georgia Tech on Thursday to get into the field, but beating Florida State would really be smart and would seal the deal. The Noles are hoping to get Chris Singleton back in the lineup by then. North Carolina might be the top seed in this tournament, but we aren’t going to be counting out the Dookies. Don’t be surprised if this ultimately comes down to Duke and Carolina for the ACC title, and potentially for a No. 1 seed in the dance as well. Coach K isn’t losing to the same team twice in a matter of just a week. NCAA Basketball Free Pick: Duke Blue Devils (-140 @ Oddsmaker Sportsbook)

Big 10 Tournament Preview: March 10-13
Location: Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN

Favorite: Ohio State Buckeyes
NCAA Tournament Locks: Ohio State Buckeyes, Purdue Boilermakers, Wisconsin Badgers
Work To Do: Michigan Wolverines, Illinois Fighting Illini, Penn State Nittany Lions, Michigan State Spartans


Everyone thinks that Ohio State is just going to roll right into the finale of this tournament and walk away with yet another Big Ten title, but we’re really not all that sure that that is the case. The winner of that Michigan/Illinois 4/5 battle is going to be giving OSU a tough time and could take the Buckeyes out just two games into the tournament. Keep in mind that either the Wolverines or Illini will probably be in the field for sure with that win on Friday against the other, but there is a chance that the other could backdoor its way in. There’s probably no such luck for Michigan State and Penn State. The Spartans, at bare minimum, need a win over Iowa and a competitive game against Purdue, while Penn State needs to beat Indiana and Wisconsin to even think about having a chance. We love the chances of the Boilers in this one though, as they are playing close to home and have a lot to prove. They’ve beaten down Wisconsin this year at home (and granted, also lost on the road), and have owned Michigan State in two games. If the Buckeyes are out of the picture before that point, we tend to believe that Purdue is the team that will pick up the pieces. NCAA Basketball Free Pick: Purdue Boilermakers (+285 @ Oddsmaker Sportsbook)

Big 12 Tournament Preview: March 10-13
Location: Sprint Center, Kansas City, MO

Favorite: Kansas Jayhawks
NCAA Tournament Locks: Kansas Jayhawks, Texas Longhorns, Texas A&M Aggies, Kansas State Wildcats, Missouri Tigers
Work To Do: Colorado Buffaloes, Baylor Bears, Nebraska Cornhuskers


If you want to talk about a perfect setup for a tournament, this is it! The Big XII will have its three bubble teams playing against three teams that really have already locked down their bids to the dance. There is really nowhere to go but up for many of them as well, as losses to bubble teams aren’t going to hurt. Nebraska has played Kansas tough in the past, and that could make for a very, very interesting second round duel on Thursday. However, the far more interesting battle to us is the one between Texas the potentially Baylor. This will be the third go around for these two this year, and it’ll be the second chance for the Bears to try to take down the Horns and earn a signature win for the road to the NCAA Tournament. The forgotten team? What about Texas A&M? It’s going to get a relatively easy draw in Round 2, and it should love a prospective game in the semifinals against either Texas or a very weary Baylor team that would have just won its game of the year. These are great, great odds on a fantastic team. NCAA Basketball Free Pick: Texas A&M Aggies (+900 @ Oddsmaker Sportsbook)

Big East Tournament Preview: March 8-12
Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

Favorite: Pitt Panthers
NCAA Tournament Locks: Pitt Panthers, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Louisville Cardinals, Syracuse Orange, St. John’s Red Storm, West Virginia Mountaineers, Cincinnati Bearcats, Georgetown Hoyas, Connecticut Huskies, Villanova Wildcats
Work To Do: Marquette Golden Eagles


About the only real question left in the minds of the Selection Committee is whether Marquette will make for the 11th team in the NCAA Tournament out of the Big East. It’s likely that the Golden Eagles will get in with a win over Providence on Tuesday, and a win over WVU on Wednesday certainly wouldn’t hurt any. There are just so many teams in this field that are not playing great ball right now. Notre Dame has some solid odds because it will probably end up drawing a tired team that really isn’t all that great in Cincy or Villanova, while Pittsburgh should get a free pass to the semis after facing Georgetown or UConn, both of which are struggling as well. The interesting battle is the one between St. John’s and Syracuse is that’s how the seeds play out in the quarterfinals. The ‘Cuse are one of the hotter teams in this league, while obviously, the Johnnies have figured out how to beat anybody and everybody in the Big East here at MSG. It wouldn’t surprise us if the winner of that game ended up taking down all of the marbles in this tournament. We’d buy into taking the Redbirds at +550, but instead, we’ll take our chances on the ‘Cuse in a game a heck of a lot closer to their backyard. NCAA Basketball Free Pick: Syracuse Orange (+425 @ Oddsmaker Sportsbook)

Pac-10 Tournament Preview: March 9-12
Location: Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA

Favorite: Arizona Wildcats
NCAA Tournament Locks: Arizona Wildcats, UCLA Bruins
Work To Do: Washington Huskies, USC Trojans, Washington State Cougars


If there’s a major conference tournament this year where someone is going to come out of absolutely nowhere to win the whole enchilada, this is it. Arizona is a great team, but it has shown its flaws, and it really doesn’t need to win this tournament to look great to the Selection Committee. UCLA doesn’t need any more wins, and we’re not all that sure that the team really has the desire to last that long when the team is that thin. Three games in three days would be very hard on this team. USC is the team that really needs wins the most, as getting into the semifinals of the Pac-10 Tournament might be enough to get into the field, while getting into the finale would certainly do the job. Washington State is in a very similar boat, but it’s problem is that it is playing a Washington team that really needs at least one more win just to be sure as well. U-Dub figured out how to underachieved most of last season and then all of a sudden turn it on in the Pac-10 Tournament, and we think that that is what is going to happen again this year. NCAA Basketball Free Pick: Washington Huskies (+270 @ Oddsmaker Sportsbook)

SEC Tournament Preview: March 10-13
Location: Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA

Favorite: Kentucky Wildcats
NCAA Tournament Locks: Florida Gators, Kentucky Wildcats, Tennessee Volunteers, Vanderbilt Commodores
Work To Do: Georgia Bulldogs, Alabama Crimson Tide


This is a mighty interesting tournament because there are two teams that are head and shoulders above the rest of the pack in this conference, but neither one we really feel is capable of winning the whole thing due to a lack of depth. We certainly don’t buy Kentucky doing it, as this is one of the most inconsistent teams in America. That leaves us first, a slew of bubble teams. Alabama and Georgia are the two that are legitimately on the bubble, and there are several others from the West that think they can get themselves back into the bubble discussions by winning some games. Tennessee is a scary team, as we know that it has the talent to get through this entire tournament. Vandy has a slightly better draw. However, the team that we are going to go with is the Tide. You might want to place some hedge bets on Vandy and Tennessee, but we really feel significantly more comfortable backing a team that doesn’t have to play on Thursday in order to win this tournament. Rotnei Clarke and company get the job done with a stifling defense that will wear down a ton of the best teams in this conference one right after the other. NCAA Basketball Free Pick: Alabama Crimson Tide (+1200 @ Oddsmaker Sportsbook)

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March 6th, 2011 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

CI’s College Basketball Top 25 Rankings

Our staff has developed college basketball power ratings with up to date rankings and how we as handicappers see these teams. We will list our NCAA basketball team rankings on a week by week basis and as much as possible. You can check this page for up to date NCAA basketball power ratings from Cappersinfo Sports Handicapping. Thanks for visiting and don’t forget to check out all the free sports picks in the forums and free picks monitor, other sports betting information, and college basketball predictions for sports handicappers!

Cappersinfo Current NCAA Basketball Power Rankings
(Through Games Completed 3/6/11)

1: Ohio State Buckeyes (29-2) (LW: 1) – There is absolutely no doubt in our minds anymore that the Buckeyes have the top team in the country right now. They blew through the end of their regular season schedule without any difficulties, including that big win over Wisconsin to end the regular season on a fine note. The next question: How much does OSU have to do to earn a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament? Right now, we’re not so sure that there is anything that has to be done. Ohio State is that far ahead of the curve right now.

2: Kansas Jayhawks (29-2) (LW: 3) – It doesn’t really seem to matter what pieces to the puzzle are missing for the Jayhawks. They always seem to figure out how to get through all of these hassles without missing a beat. You know that the Big XII Tournament is going to be key for this team, as getting revenge on Texas would be sweet. Still, KU can’t take its eye off of the prize. Topping out in the Big 12 tourney would be dangerous, just as we saw last year when Northern Iowa swept this team off of the dance floor far too prematurely.

3: Pittsburgh Panthers (27-4) (LW: 4) – The Panthers might have lost that game at the KFC Yum! Arena, but we know that there is no shame in that. U-Pitt still has a great squad that is sure to be making a ton of noise, not only this coming week in the Big East Tournament, but in the big dance for the whole enchilada as well. The question is whether Ashton Gibbs and Brad Wanamaker really have what it takes to lead a team to the Final Four. This is a No. 1 seed in the making as long as it gets to the Big East finale.

4: San Diego State Aztecs (29-2) (LW: 7) – Has all of the carnage around the Top 25 in the land set up the Aztecs to take back a No. 1 seed again? It’s quite possible, though it still seems like a bit of a long shot to actually happen. The better case scenario is getting to stay on the West Coast somewhere as No. 2 seed. Certainly, winning the MWC is a prerequisite for a top seed. Beating BYU for the first time in three tries would also help out dramatically.

5: Duke Blue Devils (27-4) (LW: 5) – Instead, at least for the current moment, the Dookies probably hold the last top seed in spite of the fact that they were beaten by North Carolina on Tobacco Road on Saturday. The Blue Devils still know that there is a lot of basketball to be played. It will be hard to take this team out of the ACC Tournament next week, and as long as that remains the case, the defending champs have to really be in consideration for that top seed in Charlotte.

6: Notre Dame Fighting Irish (25-5) (LW: 9) – It’s fairly clear that Tim Abromaitis and Ben Hansbrough make up a great tandem, but is this the group that can really win the NCAA Tournament this year? We’re really not all that sure to be quite honest. What we do know is that this is a great team that was built to win in the Big East. But what happens when these little guys all come gunning for Notre Dame? Will Irish eyes still be smiling? There might be a big time difference in this team’s seeding depending on what happens next week at Madison Square Garden.

7: BYU Cougars (28-3) (LW: 2) – It’s really hard to punish this BYU team for the way that it has played of late. Let’s be real here. San Diego State can’t beat BYU. BYU can’t beat New Mexico immediately after playing San Diego State. It happens to be if the Lobos were a little better this year, maybe things would be different. But the truth of the matter is that the Cougs are getting punished for those two losses and for the loss of Brandon Davies for his off the court issues.

8: Texas Longhorns (25-6) (LW: 8) – We know that wins against bubble teams generally aren’t necessarily the greatest things in the world for teams that should be contending for top seeds, but the Longhorns have to know that that victory at Baylor was a huge stepping stone. First off, it kept them in the Top 10 in the land, as a loss would have surely knocked them out, and it also kept alive that chance for a No. 1 seed. Jordan Hamilton still has the ability to be an amazing athlete down the stretch, and Head Coach Rick Barnes has to impress upon his team that it has weathered the storm and is now ready to swarm on the rest of the country again.

9: Syracuse Orange (25-6) (LW: 12) – The Orange are one of the hottest teams in the Big East coming into Madison Square Garden this week, and this is a really dangerous proposition for the rest of this conference. Kris Joseph, Scoop Jardine, and company have that massive beat down of DePaul to rally around for the Big East Tournament. Earning that double bye was crucial. Head Coach Jim Boeheim and company know that this is a big chance to make a huge move up in the bracket.

10: North Carolina Tar Heels (24-6) (LW: 13) – First a huge comeback. Then an ACC regular season crown. Is the ACC Tournament title next for a team that was outside of the Top 25 just a few weeks ago? If it is, UNC might actually be on its way to being a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament in amazing fashion.

11: Purdue Boilermakers (25-6) (LW: 8) – Kiss any hopes of a top seed good bye for the Boilermakers, as they were absolutely stunned by Iowa on the final weekend of the regular season. Fortunately for Purdue, it didn’t cost it the No. 2 slot in the Big Ten Tournament, but it has to be a real confidence killer to get drained in a circumstance such as that against the worst team in the conference.

12: Wisconsin Badgers (23-7) (LW: 10) – We can’t say that we didn’t see Wisconsin getting whooped by Ohio State from a mile away, but it’s really hard to argue now that this is really one of the best 10 teams in the country. Head Coach Bo Ryan has a team that plays fantastic defense, but if Jordan Taylor isn’t at his best, the rest of this team is really going to struggle.

13: Louisville Cardinals (23-8) (LW: 11) – That tremendous signature win for the Cardinals over U-Pitt was only the beginning for Head Coach Rick Pitino and company. The ‘Ville earned its double bye in the Big East Tournament, giving it a huge advantage. Terrence Knowles and company are the real deal, especially defensively. Now, if the stupid cheerleaders just stay off of the court…

14: Florida Gators (24-6) (LW: 15) – The Gators didn’t really need to take out the Commodores on Saturday to make us feel good about their chances in the SEC Tournament, but they did so anyway. There is a great chance that this is a team that is moving up in a hurry, and if UF can successfully end up in the finale of the SEC Tournament, it could be all the way up on the No. 2 line by the time Selection Sunday rolls around.

15: Arizona Wildcats (25-6) (LW: 19) – An outright Pac-10 title was crucial for the Wildcats this year, and that’s exactly what they got when they took care of Oregon on Saturday night at McKeon Pavilion. Derrick Williams might be the best player in an underrated conference, but he certainly isn’t just a one man band. The Cats are deep… very deep, in fact. And when push really comes to shove, the U of A could be moving a long way up in these brackets as well.

16: St. John’s Red Storm (20-10) (LW: 16) – Head Coach Steve Lavin’s team finally suffered its first really terrible loss in quite some time when it was beaten at Seton Hall during the week, but this should have little bearing on what happens to this club for the rest of the year. The Johnnies have made their point, they’re in the NCAA Tournament, and heck, they might even win the darn thing when push comes to shove.

17: Connecticut Huskies (21-9) (LW: 14) – If we were Kemba Walker, we would be absolutely irate right now. Walker went out and scored 34 against Notre Dame at home on Senior Day on Saturday, and the rest of the team couldn’t even match that effort as the whole rest of the squad combined. UConn had better do some damage this year, because once Walker steps outside of that gym in Storrs for the final time, this program might be down the drain with him.

18: Georgetown Hoyas (21-9) (LW: 17) – The body of work suggests that the Hoyas are a Top 25 team, but recent form surely doesn’t indicate that. Georgetown has lost three straight, finished just 10-8 in the Big East, and only just barely ended up hanging on for a bye in the first round of this Big East Tournament starting this coming week. Just one win would do miracles for this team and its psyche heading into the NCAA Tournament, as it doesn’t want another very, very quick exit once again.

19: Kentucky Wildcats (22-8) (LW: 24) – No team in a major conference might have come up with a bigger win this weekend than when Kentucky knocked off Tennessee in Rocky Top. The win preserved a first round bye in the SEC Tournament, which is a crucial thing to have when you have a team that legitimately only goes six players deep (and sometimes, not even that deep). The talent is definitely there, but there is only so much that this team can really do without Enes Kanter in the fold.

20: Utah State Aggies (28-3) (LW: 23) – The Aggies are absolutely in the NCAA Tournament at this point in spite of the fact that everyone would love to take them out of the field of 68. They’re moving further up the charts because of the demise of so many other teams around them. After all, take a look at our power rankings and check out how many teams lost since the last time that we took a looksie at this. USU just keeps on winning, and sometimes, that’s all that you have to do to get into the show.

21: Xavier Musketeers (24-6) (LW: NR) – Xavier has kept its slot in the Top 25, and at the same time, it locked up that regular season A-10 title. With an outrageous set of computer numbers and that 15-1 mark in conference, the X-Men are absolutely set for a great seed in March Madness. But how far can they move up? They’re not San Diego State, but if they win the A-10 title, they could be BYU, believe it or not.

22: Texas A&M Aggies (23-7) (LW: 21) – The Aggies are potentially the sneakiest team in the Big XII Tournament this season because they have a fantastic draw. They’re not playing the greatest ball right now in the world, but let’s be realistic. Who in this conference is aside from Kansas? We don’t have to worry about A&M running into the Jayhawks until the Big 12 finale, and if that’s what happens, even a 50 point loss in that game wouldn’t upset anyone in College Station.

23: Villanova Wildcats (21-10) (LW: 18) – Is it time to say goodnight to Villanova? That’s four straight losses and eight out of 12 for the Cats, and they are really just in a world of hurt right now. They’re going to have to play in the very first round of the Big East Tournament next week, which basically dooms any chances of actually winning the conference title. Right now though, Head Coach Jay Wright would just take a win of any kind.

24: Temple Owls (24-6) (LW: NR) – The Owls are back in the Top 25 this week in spite of the fact that they are dealing with a ton of injuries that are probably going to ultimately end up crippling their season. But give the boys from the City of Brotherly Love some credit. Any time you can go 14-2 in the A-10, you’ve definitely accomplished something, even if the conference is down just a tad this season.

25: Old Dominion Monarchs (26-6) (LW: NR) – We welcome one of the best defensive teams in the land to our NCAA basketball power ratings this week, as the Monarchs are clearly the best team right now in one of the most underappreciated conferences in America. The problem with ODU is that the world will be done seeing it play after Monday night in the CAA finale. There are many bubble teams that are hoping this team just gets the job done and doesn’t swipe another bid out from under them.

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March 6th, 2011 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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Spring Training is here once again, and if we’re already hearing the cracks of the bats, that means that there are World Series odds for us to analyze! Here at Cappers Info, we’re taking our first look at some of the teams that we wouldn’t back with your money in 2011 World Series betting action.


New York Mets: 55 to 1 at SportBet – Please spare me your, “Well duh, Drew!” comments for this one. At least at 55 to 1, one would think that the Mets have at least a shot of winning the World Series this season. However, I’m here to tell you that there is absolutely zero chance — ZERO chance — of the Mets making the playoffs, let alone going to the World Series and winning it. The starting rotation for this team without Johan Santana is nothing more than a who’s who of retreads that no one else wanted to pay money to. The bullpen has a mentally unstable situation with Francisco Rodriguez finishing the job, and the best arms around him from last season are all gone as well. It’d be nice to see Jose Reyes or David Wright really stay healthy for the season. We’re also not really all that sure that Carlos Beltran or Jason Bay have all that much left in the tank (or were really all that great to start off with). Aside from that, we’re talking about guys like Ike Davis having to carry this team. Yuck. It’s bad enough that the best the Mets can do is win the Wild Card, as the Philadelphia Phillies are surely winning the NL East. There’s just nothing that New York can do, especially with cash strapped owners at this point.


Tampa Bay Rays: 31 to 1 at SportBet – As much as we’d love to say that these are great World Series odds on a team that won the AL East last season, we know better. Manager Joe Maddon continues to find ways to get more out of less every year than any other manager in baseball, and he should definitely be commended for it. However, there’s just too much that has been lost in this offseason. The entire bullpen has to be started over from scratch, and it feels like half of the starting lineup is gone as well. Losing Jason Bartlett wasn’t all that great of a deal with others ready to come up and fill the gap, but Carlos Pena really doesn’t have a replacement at first base. To make matters worse, two of the biggest names that were lost, Rafael Soriano and Carl Crawford, are both playing in division for the Yanks and Red Sox respectively. The Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays are improved teams this year as well. We could see Tampa Bay winning 80 games this year… and maybe finishing in the gutter of the division in doing so.


St. Louis Cardinals: 28 to 1 at SportBet – Manager Tony LaRussa has a history of making chicken soup out of chicken… well, you know… but this would be a very tall task to pull off. Losing Adam Wainwright to season ending surgery doesn’t do anything but hurt this team’s case, as there is definitely a hole behind the often injured Chris Carpenter in this rotation. Is Jamie Garcia really good enough to fill the void? It’s quite possible, but who is going to step into his shoes? That’s where the real drop off begins. In the lineup, we know that Albert Pujols is going to go absolutely bonkers in a contract season right before he will inevitably make a quadrabazillion dollars, but he’s going to have a hard time driving in any runs aside from himself and Matt Holliday this season. It’ll take Lance Berkman finding the Fountain of Youth from somewhere (he obviously didn’t bring it with him to the Big Apple from Houston!), or some other unheralded stars to step up to the plate to help this squad out. When push comes to shove, there just isn’t enough there to think that this is anything more than maybe a .500 team at best.


Texas Rangers: 22 to 1 at SportBet – Whereas we wouldn’t mind taking a shot on the San Francisco Giants as a solid bet in the National League, we just can’t see taking the Rangers right now. We know that this team was far more than just Cliff Lee, but it really has to hurt knowing that Lee is gone at this point. The Oakland A’s really became a better team this year, and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim just aren’t staying down forever. There’s a real chance that the defending AL Champs aren’t even going to sniff the postseason this year, and even if they are 22 to 1 to win it all, it just isn’t going to happen unless there are a heck of a lot of deer signs cropping up in Arlington that we aren’t expecting.


New York Yankees: 7 to 1 at SportBet – We’ve really saved the best for last this time around. The Yankees are always one of the best teams in baseball, but we’re really not so sure that they’re worthy of being in the same breath with the Boston Red Sox and the Philadelphia Phillies this year. This lineup is going to score a ton of runs this year, and there is no doubting that, but these pitchers are just awful. CC Sabathia and… Yuck. It’s only a matter of time before Father Time catches up to this team. Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, and Mariano Rivera certainly aren’t getting any younger, and there just has to be a point that they all just drop off. It was also apparent last year that the Bronx Bombers didn’t have the grit and tenacity to win a seven game series in the ALCS, and especially if the Red Sox are the team on the other side of the coin in this prospective series, we’ll take our chances that New York isn’t winning out.

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March 6th, 2011 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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Get a Huge 100% Bonus @ BetUS Sportsbook When You Click Here!
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Spring Training is here once again, and if we’re already hearing the cracks of the bats, that means that there are World Series odds for us to analyze! Here at Cappers Info, we’re taking our first look at some of the teams that we would love to be backing in 2011 World Series betting action.


Philadelphia Phillies: 3.30 to 1 at SportBet – We know that we are choking on a lot of chalk here by taking the tremendous favorites to win it all, and we even know that just one or two injuries can really mess with this team in a big time way, but we’re struggling to find reasons to not bet on the Phils. We all know that this pitching staff is absolutely phenomenal now. Heck, throwing Roy Oswalt in the fourth game of a series? Cole Hamels in the third game? Joe Blanton as the emergency plan as the fifth pitcher? Geez, is that good… It’s not like this offense is really slacking either. Sure, Ryan Howard probably won’t be blasting 45 homers this season, and we never know whether Chase Utley is really going to be healthy or not, but what we do know is that Jimmy Rollins can’t possibly have that much worse of a season this year as he did a season ago, and the loss of Jayson Werth really can’t possibly be as bad as the Washington Nationals signing him seems. The only question in our minds is whether Brad Lidge is going to implode or not. This bullpen might be thin, but there really isn’t a more complete team in the National League than this to be betting on.


Boston Red Sox: 5 to 1 at SportBet – If the Phils are the crème de la crème in the National League, the Red Sox have to be just that in the American League. Again, look at this rotation. John Lackey is the third starter on this team, and Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz are almost seemingly forgotten stars. Josh Beckett has declined, and who knows whether the boys from Beantown will ever get anything out of Daisuke Matsuzaka or not, but this is also a farm system that is just chock full of talent. Daniel Bard, Bobby Jenks, and Jonathan Papelbon make up an absolutely fantastic back end of the bullpen. Offensively, even if David Ortiz turns out to be completely finished, the rest of this lineup just has a ton of power in it. Carl Crawford was an ideal pickup in the offseason, especially since he is no longer a member of the Tampa Bay Rays, and trading for Adrian Gonzalez shored up the loss of Adrian Beltre on the other side of the diamond at third base. There won’t be nearly as many injuries this year on this team as there were a season ago, and with that being the case, the Red Sox really should be good for 100 wins and a trip to the postseason.


Chicago White Sox: 28 to 1 at SportBet – Did the White Sox push the right buttons in the offseason to be able to make a serious run at the Detroit Tigers and the Minnesota Twins in the AL Central? We’re really not so sure that they did, but we also know that if this team gets into the playoffs, it has a better shot of pitching with the Red Sox, Yankees, etc. than any of these other teams do in this division. Mark Buehrle might now have another ace in his pocket in the form of Jake Peavy, and if the Palehose really have a legit 1 and 1A on the mound, it will make the jobs of the rest of the men in this relatively formidable rotation that much easier. The offense didn’t miss a beat by adding Adam Dunn, who could be in for a fantastic summer in the Windy City. This is also a make or break year for Manager Ozzie Guillen and basically the entire front office for the White Sox, and they could be in for another magical run towards the World Series once again this season.


Milwaukee Brewers: 30 to 1 at SportBet – Do you really believe that Zack Greinke was a legitimate Cy Young pitcher in Kansas City? If the answer to that question is yes, you have to love what the Brew Crew are bringing to the table this year. Yovani Gallardo is now one of the more dangerous No. 2 pitchers in the game this year, and the rest of the NL Central is really just particularly weak this season, especially now that Adam Wainwright is out for the season for the St. Louis Cardinals. This is a team that can mash as well, especially with Prince Fielder, Corey Hart, and Ryan Braun doing the honors. The rest of this lineup isn’t really all that fantastic, but in a short series, a bloop, a blast, and two great pitchers can carry you the distance. John Axford will be key this year in the bullpen, but if he can shut the door at a great rate like he did in the second half of last season, the Brewers could be legit contenders this season.


Oakland Athletics: 38 to 1 at SportBet – Maybe we’re stretching this just a tad with the A’s, but the truth of the matter is that they had a great offseason and very few MLB betting fans probably realize it. Losing Rajai Davis really had to hurt, but there was a logjam at center field with Coco Crisp, and someone had to go. The corner outfield spots were shored up by adding Josh Willingham and David DeJesus, while Hideki Matsui gives the team a nice DH to count on regularly for some solid production. The rest of the infield is relatively weak, though Kurt Suzuki is one of the better up and coming catchers in this league. From a pitching standpoint, last year was a loss because of all of the money thrown at Ben Sheets that never worked out. However, this year, the team is taking a significantly cheaper gamble on Rich Harden, a kid that grew up in the Oakland system and really flourished. Even if he doesn’t pan out, we love what Brett Anderson and Dallas Braden are bringing to the table this year. The bullpen is absolutely stacked as well. Brian Fuentes and Grant Balfour were great pickups for a team that already had great guys like Andrew Bailey to rely on. The A’s also play in the weak AL West, where seemingly no one got any better in the offseason.

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