Archive for the ‘College Basketball’ Category

April 8th, 2013 By Andrew Ryan
Exclusive 50% Sportsbook Bonus For Cappersinfo Visitors
Deposit $400 For a $200 Bonus (Plus -107 Vig) @ 5Dimes!
(Visa Deposits Available: Must Use This Link For Bonus & -107 Vig)

The #4 Michigan Wolverines and the #1 Louisville Cardinals are set to do battle in the National Championship Game. Join us for this and all of our 2013 NCAA Tournament picks here at Cappers Info, as our college basketball handicappers’ picks are hot off of the presses and ready for you to enjoy.

Midwest Region Picks: #4 Michigan Wolverines vs. #1 Louisville Cardinals
Date: Monday, April 8th, 9:23 p.m. ET
Midwest Region Location: Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA
Michigan vs. Louisville Live on TV: CBS

National Championship Game Betting Lines
#4 Michigan Wolverines +3.5
#1 Louisville Cardinals -3.5
Over/Under 138

5Dimes NCAA TournamentThe Cardinals and the Wolverines have made it all the way to the NCAA Tournament Final, and they are going to be going at it for the full 40 minutes on Monday night for the right to be called champions. Louisville has, without a shadow of a doubt, been the most popular team to bet on the March Madness betting lines this year, and for good reason. The team has won 15 games in a row going into the National Championship Game, and the mass majority of those wins have come by double digits. The last time that the Cards didn’t win a game by at least four though, was back with that five-overtime game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, a game that was lost in South Bend. G Russ Smith clearly has the inside track to being the NCAA Tournament Most Valuable Player, and he could be well on his way to stardom at the next level as well.

For as great as the Cardinals are – and we do think that they have had the most talented team in America all season long – Michigan is just a touched team right now. The team might have problems putting games away, and it might not have hit its foul shots down the stretch against the Syracuse Orange, but there is no doubting the fact that this was a tremendously underseeded No. 4 seed. G Trey Burke is destined to have a significantly better game than he had in the Final Four against the Orange, and he probably is going to be playing with a massive chip on his shoulder because of it. The Wolverines have played the schedule all season long to get ready for a game like this one. All of those games against Michigan State and Ohio State and Wisconsin and Illinois and Minnesota and Indiana… Now is when they will all pay dividends. It hasn’t been a mistake all season long that the Wolverines were once the No. 1 team in America, and they are going to prove it by shocking the world and capturing the National Championship for the first time since 1989 on Monday night.

Michigan vs. Louisville Free Pick: Michigan Wolverines +3.5
Michigan vs. Louisville Predictions: Michigan 68 – Louisville 65

 
April 6th, 2013 By Andrew Ryan
Bet on College Basketball at 5-Star Sponsor & Get A Huge 200% Bonus
Click Here To Get A 200% Bonus From WagerWeb
Visa Card Deposits Are Now Accepted at WagerWeb (98% Approval Rate)

We’ve got our dancing shoes on once again here at Cappers Info, and that means that it’s time for the NCAA Tournament picks to continue. Our next set of March Madness Bracket Predictions take us to the Final Four, where the #4 Michigan Wolverines and the #4 Syracuse Orange meet in the Final Four.

Final Four Picks: #4 Michigan Wolverines vs. #4 Syracuse Orange
Date: Saturday, April 6th, 8:49 p.m. ET
West Region Location: Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA
Michigan vs. Syracuse Live on TV: CBS

Wager Web Sportsbook

Final Four Betting Lines
#4 Michigan Wolverines -2
#4 Syracuse Orange +2
Over/Under 131

The Wolverines and the Orange both feel like they are more or less touched teams right now. Syracuse has driven into the Final Four in what could be the last season for Head Coach Jim Boeheim before he hangs it up, and the team has truly been one of the most explosive defensively that we have seen in years at this level. Michigan has figured out how to knock down miraculous shot after miraculous shot, and it just doesn’t seem like there is a defense in the land that can get in front of this team. Here’s the only difference that we see, though. The Wolverines are going to want to push the tempo just a bit, something that the Orange just won’t let them do. The Marquette Golden Eagles tried their best to do it, and they were held to just 39 points in the process. Granted, we don’t really believe that Big Blue is going to be held in the 30s in this one, but we just don’t know if they are going to be able to win a defensive showdown with the ‘Cuse. Michigan doesn’t have a great history of playing in these defensive showdowns, and though it was able to get the job done against a somewhat similar Kansas Jayhawks team in the Sweet 16, it was able to push the game to the tempo that it wanted for much of the second half. As long as the ‘Cuse don’t get out of their game, they should win this one and march onto the NCAA Championship Game on Monday.

Michigan vs. Syracuse Free Pick: Syracuse Orange +2
Michigan vs. Syracuse Predictions: Syracuse 66 – Michigan 60

 
April 5th, 2013 By Andrew Ryan
Cappersinfo Exclusive VIP Bonus Offer From A Highly Recommended Sportsbook
Click Here to get a $900 Sportsbook Signup Bonus at Bet Online
VIP Bonus! Use This Link To Signup & Be Sure To Use The Promo Code on Signup Page

Ready for more of the best March Madness picks you’re going to find on the internet? We’re back for another round of bracket predictions here at Cappers Info, and up next is the Final 4 clash pitting the #1 Louisville Cardinals up against the #9 Wichita State Shockers.

Final Four Picks: #9 Wichita State Shockers vs. #1 Louisville Cardinals
Date: Saturday, April 6th, 6:09 p.m. ET
Final Four Location: Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA
Wichita State vs. Louisville Live on TV: CBS

BetOnline

Final 4 Betting Lines
#9 Wichita State Shockers +10.5
#1 Louisville Cardinals -10.5
Over/Under 133

We really need to be realistic when we talk about this Wichita State/Louisville game. Most are going to be on the side of the Shockers, saying that this is a Final Four game, and all of the Final Four games turn out to be tight encounters. In the end, this is still a game between the Wichita State Shockers from the Missouri Valley Conference and the Louisville Cardinals from the Big East. Louisville is probably the best team in the country. Wichita State is certainly not one of the best 10 teams in America. The Cardinals have been beating Top 10 talent all season long. The Shockers barely held onto a game against one legitimate Top 10 team and beat another team that was perceived to be in the Top 10 in the land for the whole year that really never was anything more than a paper tiger. C Gorgui Dieng has no equal. Neither does G Russ Smith. Nor does G Peyton Siva. In fact, this is a total team of destiny at this point. The Cardinals are the real deal, and they are going to be the team to beat in this tournament the rest of the way. There is no way that we think Wichita State is going to be able to hang. The Cardinals have had all week to study up on the Missouri Valley reps, and Head Coach Rick Pitino’s team is going to be off and running right away to what should be a relatively easy win to romp into the NCAA Tournament Final.

Wichita State vs. Louisville Free Pick: Louisville Cardinals
Wichita State vs. Louisville Predictions: Louisville 75 – Wichita State 59

 
April 3rd, 2013 By Andrew Ryan
Get the Best College Basketball Odds at an Internet Sportsbook!
Click Here For A 100% Bonus @ BetGuardian
(Bonus Exclusive For CappersInfo Visitors – Must Use Above Link)

Our official Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Baylor Bears pick is here at Cappers Info, as two great teams get set to square off on the college basketball odds in the NIT Finals. Join us for all of the great NCAA basketball predictions for what should be another great game on the college basketball schedule tonight!

NIT Finals Picks: #3 Iowa Hawkeyes vs. #2 Baylor Bears
Date: Thursday, April 4th, 9:00 ET
Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Iowa vs. Baylor Live TV: ESPN

BetGuardian

NIT Finals Betting Lines
#3 Iowa Hawkeyes -1
#2 Baylor Bears +1
Over/Under 141.5

Iowa and Baylor clearly took two very different paths to reach the NIT Finals, and it is clear that whichever team wins this game is going to be worthy of leaving Madison Square Garden with some hardware in tote. The Hawkeyes have made it here on the back of their defensive game being stout, and their offensive game hitting enough timely shots to get by. They haven’t allowed more than 64 points in a game since March 2nd, and they have averaged 69.4 points per game in that stretch. Though those numbers aren’t the most impressive in the land, considering the degree of competition that the Hawkeyes were given in most of these games, those marks truly are that good. Baylor meanwhile, continues to run up and down the court, as it averages over 82 points per game outside of conference play this season, including averaging 89.0 points per game in the NIT. G Pierre Jackson and F Cory Jefferson have been out of this world in this entire tournament, and G Brady Heslip is one of these players that can go on a 12-0 run by knocking down four three-point baskets in a row. However, in the end, Iowa was the most underrated team in this tournament, and it is going to prove it be finishing off the Big XII reps and claiming the NIT title in what should be a gritty game.

Iowa vs. Baylor Pick: Iowa Hawkeyes -1
NIT Finals Predictions: Iowa 74 – Baylor 70

 
April 2nd, 2013 By Andrew Ryan
Wager On College Basketball With The Best March Madness Odds!
Click Here To Get A 200% Bonus From WagerWeb
Visa Card Deposits Are Now Accepted at WagerWeb (98% Approval Rate)

The time is here for more of our sparkling CBB picks, as we look at the schedule for basketball for Tuesday night. The Baylor Bears and BYU Cougars will have it the NIT Final Four, which can be seen on the college basketball TV schedule on ESPN.

NIT Final Four Picks: #3 BYU Cougars vs. #2 Baylor Bears
Date: Tuesday, April 2nd, 7:00 ET
Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
BYU vs. Baylor Live TV: ESPN

NIT Final Four Betting Lines
#3 BYU Cougars +3
#1 Baylor Bears -3
Over/Under 152.5

What really makes this game interesting on Tuesday night is that both of these teams are going to be poking holes in the other team’s weaknesses. Baylor has a guard in G Pierre Jackson that there just isn’t anyone that has the speed to keep up with him on the other side of the court. Jackson has had two straight double-doubles, and he has put up at least 20 points and at least 13 assists in each of those games. There isn’t a better shooter on the court than G Brady Heslip either. Heslip knocked down 12 triples in his first two games of the NIT, and he is largely known as one of the streakiest shooters in America. However, BYU is going to counter with a big man on the inside in F Brandon Davies and a lanky penetrating guard in G Tyler Haws that both can cause tremendous amounts of damage to opposing defenses. Baylor’s won be an exception. That being said, knowing that we have to pick a side in this one, we want the Bears. BYU was never really a team that figured to be anywhere near the NCAA Tournament this season, and every time it ran into some of the biggest and best teams in America, it failed. Its only massive win of this tournament came against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles, and that Southern Miss outfit never beat a big time team in its own right all season long. Baylor has played with the big boys, and it knows how to get the job done, and we expect that it will do just that on Tuesday to move to the NIT Final.

BYU vs. Baylor Pick: Baylor Bears -3
NIT Final Four Predictions: Baylor 88 – BYU 79

 
April 2nd, 2013 By Andrew Ryan

Exclusive College Basketball Betting Promo & Bonus Offer
100% Bonus Up to $500 on ALL College Basketball Bets @ GT Bets!
(Use This Link or Link Above For Promo – Valid For New Customers)

CappersInfo is back with its Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Maryland Terrapins picks and predictions, as we look to give you all of the college basketball advice and tips that you need to beat your online sportsbook for this crucial Tuesday night tilt.

NIT Final Four Picks: #2 Iowa Hawkeyes vs. #2 Maryland Terrapins
Date: Tuesday, April 2nd, 9:00 ET
Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Iowa vs. Maryland Live TV: ESPN

GT Bets Banner

NIT Final Four Betting Lines
#2 Iowa Hawkeyes -3.5
#2 Maryland Terrapins +3.5
Over/Under 135.5

If you want to see some tremendously talented teams, this is a game that you really shouldn’t miss out on. Both the Terrapins and the Hawkeyes clearly should have been in the NCAA Tournament, and it’s a shame that they aren’t playing against each other in the NIT Final, as we think that they are the best two teams left in the tournament. G Dez Wells has really shined over the course of the last several games, but he is going to have a really tough draw going against Iowa’s G Roy-Devyn Marble for the full 40 minutes. Expect that these two are going to end up going shot for shot against each other. The real equalizer, as it tends to be, is C Alex Len. Maryland’s big man was a bit inconsistent at times this season, but he came up with one of his biggest games of the year when it mattered most against the Alabama Crimson Tide. He had 15 points and 13 boards, but most importantly in that one, he blocked five shots, including the one that would have won the game for the Tide had it fallen with a few seconds left in the game. Honestly, we’re a bit surprised that the oddsmakers haven’t lined this game at a dead pick ‘em, because we do genuinely think that it is a total tossup of a game. Take the points with the ACC reps on Tuesday night.

Iowa vs. Maryland Pick: Maryland Terrapins +3.5
Free NIT Predictions: Maryland 64 – Iowa 61

 
March 31st, 2013 By Andrew Ryan

March Madness Betting Bonus Offer From Premium Cappersinfo Sponsor
Get a 100% Free Play Bonus @ JustBet Sportsbook By Clicking Here!
Get An Exclusive VIP Service Agent & 50% Match Play Bonus on Reloads From Cappersinfo

March Madness free picks are one of our top specialties this time of year here at Cappers Info, and we have another great one on the NCAA Tournament schedule on Sunday night. The #4 Michigan Wolverines and the #3 Florida Gators will meet in the Elite Eight in the South Region, and we’re breaking down the NCAA basketball betting lines for the clash.

South Region Picks: #4 Michigan Wolverines vs. #3 Florida Gators
Date: Sunday, March 31st, 2:20 p.m. ET
South Region Location: Dallas Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, TX
Michigan vs. Florida Live on TV: CBS

Elite Eight Betting Lines
#4 Michigan Wolverines +2.5
#3 Florida Gators -2.5
Over/Under 132.5

The Gators and the Wolverines are both fantastic teams, but they have taken vastly different roads to reach this point in this tournament. It hasn’t been Florida’s fault, but it has taken on three double-digit seeds and has at least had some moments of struggle against each of the three. The Gators have ended up relying upon their superior athleticism to get the job done against clearly inferior teams. This is going to be the first time, perhaps maybe even all season long, that the team is going to have to look a team in the face that absolutely has the athletes to stand up to it. Michigan’s newest version of the de facto “Fab Five” certainly played the role on Friday night. Not only did the team feature all five starters scoring in double digits, but it also had some flash, some glitz, some grit, and some tenacity as well, all good qualities that you’d like to see of a potential Final Four team at this level. G Trey Burke hit the two biggest shots of the season, both of which practically came from the parking lot against the Jayhawks, and he is really making himself a tremendous hero in Ann Arbor. This is a magical looking Michigan team right now. The Wolverines seem to be the real deal, and they are going to pull off the upset on Sunday to kick off what should be another great day of March Madness betting action. Michigan proves that it was no fluke that this used to be the No. 1 team in America.

Michigan vs. Florida Free Pick: Michigan Wolverines +2.5
Michigan vs. Florida Predictions: Michigan 65 – Florida 62

 
March 31st, 2013 By Andrew Ryan
Exclusive 50% Sportsbook Bonus For Cappersinfo Visitors
Deposit $400 For a $200 Bonus (Plus -107 Vig) @ 5Dimes!
(Visa Deposits Available: Must Use This Link For Bonus & -107 Vig)

The #2 Duke Blue Devils and the #1 Louisville Cardinals are set to do battle in the Elite Eight. Join us for this and all of our 2013 NCAA Tournament picks here at Cappers Info, as our college basketball handicappers’ picks are hot off of the presses and ready for you to enjoy.

Midwest Region Picks: #2 Duke Blue Devils vs. #1 Louisville Cardinals
Date: Sunday, March 31st, 2:10 p.m. ET
Midwest Region Location: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
Duke vs. Louisville Live on TV: CBS

Elite Eight Betting Lines
#2 Duke Blue Devils +3.5
#1 Louisville Cardinals -3.5
Over/Under 137.5

5Dimes NCAA TournamentIf there is such a thing as an Elite Eight game that could ultimately decide the National Championship, this might be the game. Many think that these are the two most talented teams left standing in the NCAA Tournament, and they might be right. When you look at these two clubs, you see two teams that largely go about things the same way. G Peyton Siva and G Russ Smith are both veterans who have been around this game for quite some time for the Cardinals. On the other side of the court, they’ll face G Seth Curry and F Ryan Kelly. C Gorgui Dieng and F Mason Plumlee are both fantastic interior players who have a ton of experience as well. Both teams like to win games from the three-point line and the free throw line, and both are incredibly aggressive defensively. So how do you parse out these two teams? You really don’t. Instead, you blindly take the points and hope for the best. When these two teams met the first time this season, Duke won in the Bahamas. Dieng didn’t play in that game, which could make a difference, but can it really swing nine points from that first game of the year? We really don’t think a heck of a lot has changed differently for each of these teams. They’ve both gotten a heck of a lot better, and they both have always been amongst the best in the nation. Take the points on Sunday afternoon, as we think that this is literally a tossup game.

Duke vs. Louisville Free Pick: Duke Blue Devils +3.5
Duke vs. Louisville Predictions: Louisville 70 – Duke 68

 
March 29th, 2013 By Andrew Ryan
Bet on College Basketball at 5-Star Sponsor & Get A Huge 200% Bonus
Click Here To Get A 200% Bonus From WagerWeb
Visa Card Deposits Are Now Accepted at WagerWeb (98% Approval Rate)

We’ve got our dancing shoes on once again here at Cappers Info, and that means that it’s time for the NCAA Tournament picks to continue. Our next set of March Madness Bracket Predictions take us to the West Region, where the #9 Wichita State Shockers and the #2 Ohio State Buckeyes meet in the Elite Eight.

West Region Picks: #9 Wichita State Shockers vs. #2 Ohio State Buckeyes
Date: Saturday, March 30th, 7:05 p.m. ET
West Region Location: Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
Wichita State vs. Ohio State Live on TV: CBS

Wager Web Sportsbook

Elite Eight Betting Lines
#9 Wichita State Shockers +4.5
#2 Ohio State Buckeyes -4.5
Over/Under 130

Wichita State is arguably putting together one of the most memorable runs in NCAA Tournament history, and no one is talking about it. The Missouri Valley is a conference that you talk about until the Sweet 16, as there seems to be one team every year that threatens to get into the third full round of the tourney. However, by now, those teams are all seemingly gone. The Shockers are still here, but there are definitely some questions as to how long they’ll be dancing for. The truth of the matter is that they really haven’t certainly played one of the best teams in America yet. Sure, beating the Gonzaga Bulldogs was nice, but this is clearly a much greater challenge. Ohio State hasn’t been able to close out teams here in this tournament all that well. It had Iona dead in the water and at least let the Gaels think that they had a shot of getting back in it until the last five minutes or so of the game. Iowa State erased a double-digit deficit. Arizona had a big lead, blew it, then came back when Ohio State blew a big lead. That being said, we think that there has been no doubt whatsoever as to who the better team was in each of these games. There was at least a degree of doubt in each of the first two Wichita State games. Go with the Buckeyes and lay the points in what should be a romp for the Big Ten reps to get to the Final Four.

Wichita State vs. Ohio State Free Pick: Ohio State Buckeyes -4.5
Wichita State vs. Ohio State Predictions: Ohio State 69 – Wichita State 56

 
March 29th, 2013 By Andrew Ryan
Cappersinfo Exclusive VIP Bonus Offer From A Highly Recommended Sportsbook
Click Here to get a $900 Sportsbook Signup Bonus at Bet Online
VIP Bonus! Use This Link To Signup & Be Sure To Use The Promo Code on Signup Page

Ready for more of the best March Madness picks you’re going to find on the internet? We’re back for another round of bracket predictions here at Cappers Info, and up next is the East Region Elite 8 clash pitting the #3 Marquette Golden Eagles up against the #4 Syracuse Orange.

East Region Picks: #4 Syracuse Orange vs. #3 Marquette Golden Eagles
Date: Saturday, March 30th, 4:30 p.m. ET
East Region Location: Sprint Center, Kansas City, MO
Syracuse vs. Marquette Live on TV: CBS

BetOnline

Elite 8 Betting Lines
#4 Syracuse Orange OTB
#3 Marquette Golden Eagles OTB
Over/Under OTB

Saturday’s Elite Eight showdown at the Verizon Center is an all-Big East affair, and it really only seems to be fitting for that to be the case, knowing that this game is played in Big East country. Marquette is a team that really does seem to be getting just as lucky as it has been good. Sure, it was able to eke out those games against Davidson and Butler in the dying moments, but the competition is getting better, and the results are getting more and more emphatic. The defense played a stellar game on Thursday night against a Miami team that really thought it had a shot to be a No. 1 seed in the dance this year. The Hurricanes shot just 34.9 percent from the field, and they had all sorts of problems getting their offense in gear. However, this is a much different team that we are talking about right now on the other side of the court. The Orange have two double-digit victories already to their credit, and they are proving that they are indeed one of the best teams in the country. It was no mistake that this was a Top 5 ranked team at one point this season, and this certainly doesn’t feel like the time that this run for the ‘Cuse is going to stop. We know that Marquette won the first meeting of these two teams, but in that game, the Golden Eagles had five times the amount of three throw attempts that Syracuse did, and the duel was played in Milwaukee. This is on a totally neutral court, and the free throws clearly won’t be that far apart when push comes to shove. We have to back the boys in Orange to cut down the nets in DC.

Syracuse vs. Marquette Free Pick: Syracuse Orange
Syracuse vs. Marquette Predictions: Syracuse 69 – Marquette 62

 
March 28th, 2013 By Andrew Ryan
Exclusive 50% Sportsbook Bonus For Cappersinfo Visitors
Deposit $400 For a $200 Bonus (Plus -107 Vig) @ 5Dimes!
(Visa Deposits Available: Must Use This Link For Bonus & -107 Vig)

The #15 Florida Gulf Coast Eagles and the #3 Florida Gators are set to do battle in the Sweet 16. Join us for this and all of our 2013 NCAA Tournament picks here at Cappers Info, as our college basketball handicappers’ picks are hot off of the presses and ready for you to enjoy.

South Region Picks: #15 Florida Gulf Coast Eagles vs. #3 Florida Gators
Date: Friday, March 29th, 9:57 p.m. ET
South Region Location: Dallas Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, TX
Florida Gulf Coast vs. Florida Live on TV: TBS

Sweet 16 Betting Lines
#15 Florida Gulf Coast Eagles +13
#3 Florida Gators -13
Over/Under 135

5Dimes NCAA TournamentEveryone wants to make the case that Florida Gulf Coast could be in the Final Four. Let’s face it. Everyone outside of Gainesville is going to be rooting for the Eagles to pull off a third straight shocker in the dance. However, we have to be a bit realistic about this. Florida Gulf Coast is still a team from the Atlantic Sun. It’s still a team that lost to Lipscomb twice. It’s still a team that was beaten by Stetson by nine, East Tennessee State by 10, and Maine by six. VCU trounced this team by 23 at the outset of the season. Duke beat it by 21. Fire only lasts for so long, and in the end, Cinderella’s chariot ultimately turns into a pumpkin. Florida has had a full four days to prepare for this game. You know that the boys from Gainesville aren’t going to be intimidated by what they see at Dallas Cowboys Stadium. Florida Gulf Coast? If you add up every single one of their home crowds this year, you still don’t have the amount of fans that are going to likely be cheering for them in Arlington on Friday night. On top of that, the athletes are just a heck of a lot better for Florida. F Erik Murphy should dominate in the paint, and an experienced backcourt should be able to keep this game from being a running and gunning fest as we have seen happen to both San Diego State and Georgetown. For as much as we would like to take the points in this one, we just don’t see it. This is a game that will be over by halftime and will only get uglier from there.

Florida Gulf Coast vs. Florida Free Pick: Florida Gators -13
Florida Gulf Coast vs. Florida Predictions: Florida 82 – Florida Gulf Coast 58

 
March 28th, 2013 By Andrew Ryan

March Madness Betting Bonus Offer From Premium Cappersinfo Sponsor
Get a 100% Free Play Bonus @ JustBet Sportsbook By Clicking Here!
Get An Exclusive VIP Service Agent & 50% Match Play Bonus on Reloads From Cappersinfo

March Madness free picks are one of our top specialties this time of year here at Cappers Info, and we have another great one on the NCAA Tournament schedule on Friday night. The #3 Michigan State Spartans and the #2 Duke Blue Devils will meet in the Sweet 16 in the Midwest Region, and we’re breaking down the NCAA basketball betting lines for the clash.

Midwest Region Picks: #3 Michigan State Spartans vs. #2 Duke Blue Devils
Date: Friday, March 29th, 9:45 p.m. ET
Midwest Region Location: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
Michigan State vs. Duke Live on TV: CBS

Sweet 16 Betting Lines
#3 Michigan State Spartans +2
#2 Duke Blue Devils -2
Over/Under 134.5

You’re not going to find all that many games which are this tight to call. It’s a tough game to handicap, knowing that both of these teams have their own ways of going about winning clashes like this one. We’re a bit afraid of the Spartans, though. They have a history of not coming up big in the biggest games of the year. They choked on the road against Michigan, they were beaten both in the Big Ten Tournament and at the end of the regular season against Ohio State, and they were swept by Indiana. Granted, there aren’t any huge, glaring losses in there, but this is the time of year that you have to win the games like these if you want to go to Atlanta for the Final Four. Though we are a bit concerned over Duke’s lack of games against Big Ten-type teams this season, we think that it will be able to cope. We think that F Ryan Kelly is due for a significantly better game than he has played to this point in the tourney, and if that happens, we’ll see the Blue Devils at their best. There’s a real question as to whether G Keith Appling is truly healthy or whether he has some problems with his shoulder that will hamper him for the second straight game. The bottom line: Though we could see this one going either way, we know that Duke at its best is better than Michigan State at its best. We’ll trust that Coach K gets the job done in this one.

Michigan State vs. Duke Free Pick: Duke Blue Devils -2
Michigan State vs. Duke Predictions: Duke 69 – Michigan State 64