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Posts Tagged ‘Duke Blue Devils’

March 4th, 2011 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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Matchup: Missouri Tigers @ Kansas Jayhawks
Date: Saturday, March 5th, 12:00 ET
Location: Mizzou Arena, Columbia, MO
Game Line: OTB
Over/Under OTB

If the Jayhawks think that they are going to be a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, they badly need to collect this win on the road. That would take a lot of pressure off for winning the Big XII Tournament, as there are a ton of teams that are going to be gunning for that crown that need wins in big time ways over teams like these. Mizzou really hasn’t played spectacular ball of late, and it really could use a boost just to get some momentum going and to avoid falling into that seemingly inevitably dreaded 8/9 matchup in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Kansas is a far superior team in terms of talent, and it really showed the first time around when these two met at Allen Fieldhouse. Sure, the intensity really kicks up a notch when you’re playing on the road, especially in a game that is this big, but the Jayhawks should be able to handle themselves. The oddsmakers will give too much respect to the Tigers, and KU will get the job done and lock up the regular season conference crown and the No. 1 seed in the Big 12 Tournament.

Free College Basketball Picks: Kansas Jayhawks

Matchup: Notre Dame Fighting Irish @ Connecticut Huskies
Date: Saturday, March 5th, 2:00 ET
Location: XL Center, Storrs, CT
Game Line: OTB
Over/Under OTB

The Fighting Irish have to feel like they have a legitimate chance of being a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, but they are going to need to win the Big East and probably beat the Pitt Panthers to do it. There’s a chance to draw level for the Big East regular season crown as well, and that’s a coveted thing for any team to have on its resume for a top seed in the dance. Connecticut really just needs to feel like it has to ability to win it all in what will be the last home game for Kemba Walker before he heads to the NBA. Walker can take this game over like none other, and though the Irish will inevitably throw everything they can at him including the kitchen sink, it isn’t going to be enough. Notre Dame will get rocked on the that day is designed for Walker to shine.

Free NCAA Basketball Picks: Connecticut Huskies

Matchup: Villanova Wildcats @ Pittsburgh Panthers
Date: Saturday, March 5th, 4:00 ET
Location: Petersen Events Center, Pittsburgh, PA
Game Line: OTB
Over/Under OTB

Villanova is in a world of hurt right now, as it is really playing poor ball at a poor time of year to be doing so. The Cats have dropped three in a row going into this, the final, and arguably most difficult game of the entire season. They’ve also lost seven out of 11 and don’t look anything like a team that even belongs in March Madness, let alone belongs there as a respectable seed. Pittsburgh’s defense is just downright nasty, as it hasn’t allowed more than 66 points in a game in almost two full months, including a 57-54 win over Nova in the City of Brotherly Love four weeks ago. Ashton Gibbs, Brad Wanamaker, Gilbert Brown… it’s all just too much for the Wildcats to handle right now. They just don’t stand a chance of going into the Steel City and doing any damage, and it’ll show in another lopsided defeat.

College Basketball Free Picks: Pittsburgh Panthers

Matchup: Florida Gators @ Vanderbilt Commodores
Date: Saturday, March 5th, 6:00 ET
Location: Memorial Gym, Nashville, TN
Game Line: OTB
Over/Under OTB

This is a tough one, because both the Gators and the Dores are fantastic at what they do. Believe it or not, Florida already has eight wins on the road this season, which is a ton for a team that really didn’t do much in the way of scheduling out of conference on the road this year (though there are wins against Xavier and Florida State to speak of). Vandy has those 14 wins at home though, and they’re going to be hard to overlook. Chandler Parsons and the crew are very thin, yet they are very talented as well. UF is really hoping to get up onto the No. 3 line or so for the NCAA Tournament, and a win like this would go a long way to ensuring that. We just don’t buy into Vandy though, as there are a lot of fluff wins that just don’t look all that great when push comes to shove. The 21 wins for the regular season is nice, but knowing that the oddsmakers are going to treat this home court advantage worth a whole slew of points, we have to back the blue and orange.

NCAA Basketball Free Picks: Florida Gators

Matchup: Duke Blue Devils @ North Carolina Tar Heels
Date: Saturday, March 5th, 8:00 ET
Location: Dean E. Smith Center, Chapel Hill, NC
Game Line: OTB
Over/Under OTB


First place in the ACC and the No. 1 seed in the upcoming conference tournament are on the line in Chapel Hill on Saturday, and the oddsmakers are really going to have to take a close look at just how good they think that UNC really is. The Tar Heels are certainly flying through everyone in the ACC right now, and they were able to do something this past week that Duke wasn’t able to do: Beat Florida State on the road. Granted, the Noles didn’t have Chris Singleton, but it was UNC’s second win against the garnet and gold this year, and the first time around, Singleton was playing, and the game was a blowout from the get go. This challenge against the Dookies the first time around was a solid one, as North Carolina challenged the whole way and blew a huge lead. This time, it will make amends and make things right. The Carolina Blue clad nation will be out and in full force in a game that is going to feel like the Super Bowl on Tobacco Road. Coach K knows that there are bigger and more important battles to fight than this one, and though the Blue Devils will end up losing this battle, their goal is to win the war and to defend their NCAA Championship.

College Basketball Expert Picks: Duke Blue Devils

Matchup: Texas Longhorns @ Baylor Bears
Date: Saturday, March 5th, 9:00 ET
Location: Ferrell Center, Waco, TX
Game Line: OTB
Over/Under OTB

We know that this isn’t a Top 25 battle, but this is arguably the most meaningful game of the entire day. For the Longhorns, they’re hoping to snap out of this two game funk and to get back on track for a potential No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Winning this one and winning the Big XII would still inevitably get the job done. However, a loss and an early exit from the Big XII Tourney could result in a disastrous No. 4 seed, which could make the first round of the dance very, very interesting. Jordan Hamilton, Tristan Thompson and company have the talent to beat anyone in America, but thanks to how inexperienced this club really is, nothing is a guarantee. For Baylor, it really needs this signature win to pad its resume for the NCAA Tournament. A loss will likely leave it with a lot of work to do to get into March Madness. A win will almost certainly get the job done with just one win in the Big XII Tournament (and even that might not be necessary). There’s too much on the line here for Baylor to get beaten, and we tend to believe that it will get the job done once and for all and make its case to go dancing.

NCAA Basketball Free Picks: Baylor Bears

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February 7th, 2011 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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There aren't two rivals in the college basketball betting world that hate each other more than the Duke Blue Devils and the North Carolina Tar Heels. These two teams will renew their ties on Wednesday night on Tobacco Road, as the Dookies try to get back on the No. 1 line for the NCAA Tournament.

Matchup: North Carolina Tar Heels @ Duke Blue Devils
Date: Wednesday, February 9th, 9:00 ET
Location: Cameron Indoor Stadium, Durham, NC

Tar Heels Notes: The Tar Heels are back in the Top 25, and Head Coach Roy Williams has to wonder if he has really gotten his team back to a level in which it can compete for the Final Four in the NCAA Tournament. Of course, we can't get all that excited about North Carolina due to the fact that it was only last year that the team had to go on the road to win games in the NIT. Playing without Larry Drew II is going to be interesting in this one. Though he was demoted out of the starting lineup, he was definitely the experienced ball handler that knows how to deal with the Cameron Crazies. Even though Drew is gone, the Heels are certainly rolling. They are 5-0 SU and ATS since getting blown away by 20 points by the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on the road. The offense has averaged 85.6 points per game in that stretch, one of the best marks in the conference and in the country. We can't ignore the play of Harrison Barnes. The freshman phenom was supposed to bring UNC to the next level, and perhaps he is about to start doing that. He has scored a total of 49 points in his last two duels to lead the Tar Heels. Still, Barnes is the second leading scorer on the team, averaging just 13.3 points per game. Tyler Zeller has been a constant all season long. He is averaging 14.1 points per game on the campaign, and though this isn't what was expected this year, it is more points than he has scored in total over the course of the last two years combined.

Blue Devils Notes: The Blue Devils are still dominating the ACC this year, as they only have that one loss on the road to the Florida State Seminoles and the aberration against the St. John's Red Storm at Madison Square Garden. Duke is really an offense juggernaut this year once again, the same way that it was last year when it made its epic run to the National Championship. Things just haven't looked the same over the course of the last nine games though, as the Dookies are averaging "just" 77.9 points per game in that stretch. Without Kyrie Irving, who is still nursing his toe injury, Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith are leading the way. Smith is averaging 21.0 points per game this year, and he has really come a long way to help keep this team in the Top 5 in the country. Singler's shooting percentage is a tad down at 44.6 percent this year, but he is getting the job done overall at 18.0 points per game. The defense is fantastic as well for Coach K as always. His team is conceding 64.6 points per game this year, and opponents are only shooting 40.5 percent from the floor. Keep an eye on Mason Plumlee as well, who has back to back double-doubles against some of the best big men in the ACC.

The Final Word: North Carolina is going to be in a world of hurt in this one. Drew's numbers weren't all that great this year, but these guards are really going to be up against it in baby blue. The Dookies should be able to romp to a double digit victory in front of the hometown crowd, especially after romping to a 32 point win in this fixture last season.

Free College Basketball Picks: Duke Blue Devils

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September 17th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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Arkansas Razorbacks @ Georgia Bulldogs (-2.5)
Saturday, September 18th
12:00 ET, Sanford Stadium, Athens, GA

Last week, UGA was in the familiar position of being a road team that was an underdog to an unranked home team. That always seems like a recipe for disaster for the ranked foe. Is this week an exception? The roles are reversed now, as Georgia seems to be the team in control while playing Between the Hedges. One thing is for certain, and that's that it is going to take a big, big effort to stop QB Ryan Mallett and the Arkansas offense. The Hogs have accounted for well over 350 passing yards per game in their first two efforts, and it is going to be up to Georgia to figure out how to stop it. The running game must be key for the Dawgs in this one, as it will both key HC Bobby Petrino's team off the field and could help take the pressure off of freshman QB Aaron Murray. Go with HC Mark Richt to figure it out and put his Bulldogs back in the win column and potentially back in the Top 25.

Prediction: Georgia 27 – Arkansas 24
Maryland Terrapins (+10.5) @ West Virginia Mountaineers
Saturday, September 18th
12:00 ET, Mountaineer Field, Morgantown, WV

Until QB Geno Smith really takes this team over and gets this Mountaineers offense rolling, we are going to remain skeptical of WVU. Simply put, the 'Neers haven't been that impressive this year, particularly in their overtime escape from the Marshall Thundering Herd last week. Now, a game Terrapins squad comes to Morgantown full of confidence from a good upset at the Navy Midshipmen and a rock solid 62-3 win over the Morgan State Bears. The offense knows it can roll. The defense knows it can stop opponents. The question is whether it can all come together again. This two QB system is going to be a nightmare to try to stop for the Mountaineers' 'D', especially when QB Jamarr Robinson hits the outside with his legs. There are three legitimate rushing threats in this game for the Terps. However, when push comes to shove, the best option is going to be RB Noel Devine. As long as West Virginia doesn't get away from Devine, it should find a way to win this game, but it is going to be touch and go throughout just like the OT win last week.

Prediction: West Virginia 24 – Maryland 16
Kent State Golden Flashes (+21) @ Penn State Nittany Lions
Saturday, September 18th
12:00 ET, Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA

Happy Valley should be rocking and rolling on Saturday afternoon for the visit from the Kent State Golden Flashes. HC Joe Paterno's crew probably can't really hold its head high after getting rocked by the Alabama Crimson Tide last week, but we know that there is better for this team on the horizon. Our questions actually don't resolve around the offense, because we are convinced that QB Robert Bolden is going to make some plays and make some mistakes. The question is whether the defense can keep the Flashes in single digits in scoring or not. We tend to believe not. Kent State's QB Spencer Keith is good enough to bring his team into the end zone at least twice, and if that's the case, a defense that has been stingy this year should be able to find a way to keep a true frosh from putting up enough points to cover this lofty NCAA football spread.

Prediction: Penn State 31 – Kent State 14
East Carolina Pirates @ Virginia Tech Hokies (-20.5)
Saturday, September 18th
1:30 ET, Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, VA

Are we certifiably insane to want to back a team that has already been beaten twice this year, once by an FCS foe? The truth of the matter is that the Hokies are significantly better than they have played so far this year. The James Madison Dukes snuck up on them and caught them napping for about 15 minutes of football, and it ultimately bit them in the rear to the point that they will not stand a chance of winning the National Championship anymore. However, head coach Frank Beamer is one of the best in the nation. He also has certainly been telling his boys all week just how dangerous this ECU squad is; after all, the Pirates did beat the Hokies two years ago and nearly beat them in the first game back after the shootings in Blacksburg four years ago. ECU has played above itself this year, and QB Dominique Davis probably isn't all that great. An angry bunch of Hokies should come into this one motivated, and we'd be very, very surprised to see either side of the ball really struggle in what should be a very easy victory.

Prediction: Virginia Tech 38 – East Carolina 7
Alabama Crimson Tide @ Duke Blue Devils (+24.5)
Saturday, September 18th
3:30 ET, Wallace Wade Stadium, Durham, NC

The Crimson Tide take to the road for the first time this year in what should amount to be a relatively easy home game against the Duke Blue Devils. However, let's not discount the fact that this really could be the best offensive team that the defending national champs have seen this year. That's right. We said it. Duke might have a better offense than the Penn State Nittany Lions. The Blue Devils are led by QB Sean Renfree, who has reached the 350+ yard passing mark in both of his games this year. Though we are certain that he won't reach that plateau once again on Saturday, even throwing for 250 should be able to put a few points on the board. RB Mark Ingram is back, which is probably going to put a tad extra weight on the running game for Alabama. Will that translate into a four TD victory? We tend to believe not. HC David Cutcliffe has the Dookies playing about as well right now as they have played in the last 20 years. They're going to win a game like this at some point. This won't be the one, but even staying remotely competitive and making the Tide play the full 60 minutes is a legitimate possibility.

Prediction: Alabama 41 – Duke 24
Nebraska Cornhuskers (-3.5) @ Washington Huskies
Saturday, September 18th
3:30 ET, Husky Field, Seattle, WA

Let's get two things straight right away. First off, the Huskies' loss to the BYU Cougars two weeks ago might ultimately look like a very bad one really soon, as the Cougs could very well by a five or a six loss team this year. Secondly, had U-Dub not beaten the USC Trojans last year almost to the date of this kickoff, it wouldn't be anything less than a seven point pup on Saturday. That being said, we know that Nebraska really hasn't played anyone yet this year and hasn't been challenged. We also know that the Huskers haven't played up to their potential, particularly on defense. The Huskies just aren't up to the level of a Top 25 team yet, and though this is a prototypical spot where the underdog feels like it should be the right play due to the fact that this line looks square, we still aren't buying into it. If backing Nebraska makes us donks, then donks we are.

Prediction: Nebraska 27 – Washington 10
Florida Gators @ Tennessee Volunteers (+14)
Saturday, September 18th
3:30 ET, Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN

Rocky Top, you'll always be home sweet home to the Volunteers. Tennessee just hasn't played all that well at home over the last four seasons or so, but all of those bitter memories could be erased if the Florida Gators had a big, fat 'L' stamped on their foreheads at the end of the night on Saturday. The Vols are going to need to play the defense of their lives to keep down a Florida offense that has struggled all season long. Without WR/RB Chris Rainey in the lineup, the only real man to fear is RB Jeff Demps. UT has the speed to settle him down, but at any point, Rainey could still go off for 70 yards. It's also going to take a Herculean effort from QB Matt Simms, who will be playing in his first big game of his career. Last week's loss to Oregon needs to be nothing more than a bad memory that is in the past for HC Derek Dooley's boys. Don't be shocked if there is a big time upset on Rocky Top on Saturday afternoon in what should be a very close game the whole way.

Prediction: Tennessee 21 – Florida 20
Arizona State Sun Devils @ Wisconsin Badgers (-12.5)
Saturday, September 18th
3:30 ET, Camp Randall, Madison, WI

Start jumping up and down, Wisconsin fans! Your team is about set to open up its first can of whoop butt on the season. The Badgers are just too strong offensively for the Sun Devils to keep up, even if they are without the services of WR Nick Toon on Saturday. QB Scott Tolzein has really yet to put forth a good effort this year, especially considering the level of opposition that has been faced. The relatively close call against the San Jose State Spartans should provide a wakeup call for Wisky, which really thinks it has a chance to win the National Championship this season. Arizona State is the weakest 2-0 team in the country having beat up on a pair of FCS nobodies to start the season. The Sun Devils are going to be getting a very, very cruel reality check on Saturday that they still aren't going to be a bowl team this year, even if QB Steven Threet has the game of his life.

Prediction: Wisconsin 45 – Arizona State 20
USC Trojans (-11.5) @ Minnesota Golden Gophers
Saturday, September 18th
3:30 ET, Mall of America Field, Minneapolis, MN

The Golden Gophers could have realistically been looking an 0-3 start in the face had it lost to the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders two weeks ago. That game against MTSU should have never been close without QB Dwight Dasher in the lineup, and the proof of just how bad this team is came last week in an embarrassing 41-38 loss to the South Dakota Coyotes of the FCS. We already know that Minnesota's offense isn't good enough to play with the best defenses in America, and USC, at least talent wise could fit the bill. The offense for the Trojans should be to at least match what the Coyotes did last week, right? We know that things have gone well for the Men of Troy this year in spite of the fact that they are indeed 2-0 on the season, but they are going to be able to stomp Minnesota by at least two TDs on Saturday afternoon.

Prediction: USC 41 – Minnesota 21
BYU Cougars @ Florida State Seminoles (-10)
Saturday, September 18th
3:30 ET, Bobby Bowden Field at Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, FL

If HC Jimbo Fisher knows what's good for him, he is going to have his Noles ready to come out and stomp the living heck out of the Cougars. Fisher absolutely cannot afford a home loss in this spot just one week after getting beaten by 30 (and it wasn't that close) by the Oklahoma Sooners. A comfortable win can give the garnet and gold nation the feeling that the loss to OU was at least to one of the best teams in the country. A loss to BYU would erase the memories of that good first win against the Samford Bulldogs, as everyone would say that it was just one win against a lousy FCS team. For BYU, a lot is riding on the line as well, as one good performance against a questionable Washington team and a bad performance at a solid Air Force team can get magnified with a defeat. Things can spin out of control in a hurry for the Cougs with another loss, as everyone in the MWC is going to want to keep them down in their last year in the conference. The Seminoles have the goods to dominate this game, just as they did last year in Provo. Expect a very similar outing, especially with BYU now playing with a true freshman at quarterback for at least half the game.

Prediction: Florida State 33 – BYU 17

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April 5th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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It all comes down to this on Monday night! After taking two significantly vastly roads to reach the NCAA Tournament final, the Butler Bulldogs and Duke Blue Devils will face off in a college basketball betting affair for the right to be crowned champions of the NCAA basketball world.

What's At Stake: The Blue Devils are trying to become National Champions for the first time since 2001 when they toppled Arizona in the title game. Butler has already set all sorts of school and team records, becoming the first Horizon League school to advance past the Sweet 16 in this tournament, let alone all the way to the final. Should the Bulldogs win it, they'd become the first mid-major since 1990 (UNLV) to actually win the whole enchilada.

College Basketball Odds: Duke -7 at BetUS Sportsbook

Butler Notes: Aside from becoming the first Horizon League team to do this, that, and the other, Butler has also made a bit of history by becoming the first team in NCAA Tournament history to win five games in the dance and hold all five foes under 60 points. Its 55.4 points per game allowed is clearly the best in the tournament, and it's even more impressive than its 59.4 points per game conceded for the duration of the year. The Bulldogs are going to need to find some more consistent scoring though, as on Saturday night, aside from F Gordon Hayward and G Shelvin Mack, the rest of the team shot just 4/26 from the field. Both Mack and F Matt Howard are in question for Monday night's game after the two both suffered injuries in the national semifinal against Michigan State.

Duke Notes: NCAA basketball betting fans have tried to find a reason to dog the Dookies all year long. First, it was that their non-conference schedule was relatively weak. Then it was that the ACC was down. Then it was that they were gift-wrapped an undeserving #1 seed and that they had the easiest road to the Final Four. After slamming West Virginia by three touchdowns, no one is questioning Duke any longer. The Blue Devils proved that they could play a hardnosed game against one of the top teams in the entire country, and they rolled to 5-0 ATS with ease into the National Final.

Players to Watch

F Gordon Hayward, Butler Bulldogs: This is really the only chance that Butler may have of springing the upset. If that's the case, Hayward will almost certainly win Final Four MVP, as he scored 19 points to go with his nine boards against Sparty on Saturday, shooting 6/14 from the floor on a night that the rest of his team really let him down. He has been the main scoring and rebounding option for the Horizon League champs all season, long, putting up 15.6 points and 8.2 rebounds per night.

G Jon Scheyer, Duke Blue Devils: Two nights ago, we highlighted F Kyle Singler for Coach K, but the truth of the matter is that any one of these big three (along with G Nolan Smith) could be the man to watch for the Dookies. Scheyer seems to be the team's captain of the three, and he came up with 23 points against the Mountaineers and frequently shot right through the trees in his face. Scheyer led the team in scoring this season at 18.3 points per game, but he is also the top distributor on the club at 4.3 assists per game.

Trends of Note

-Butler is 6-0 ATS in its L/6 games as an underdog of 7.0-12.5 points
-Butler is 20-6 ATS in its L/26 games as an underdog
-Butler is 44-21-1 ATS in its L/66 non-conference games
-Duke is 5-0 ATS in its L/5 NCAA Tournament games
-Duke is 7-3-1 ATS in its L/11 games following an SU win of at least 20 points

Final Analysis: With as well as the Dookies are playing, it's hard to pick against them. However, in order to beat Butler by more than a touchdown, you're probably going to have to score at least 65-70 points. It's certainly possible, but it's not particularly likely. We'll accept that the Blue Devils are going to be cutting down the nets, but it won't come following a perfect ATS March Madness, as the Bulldogs will find a way to stick in front of the number.

Selection: Butler +7

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April 2nd, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

The NCAA Tournament will be whittled down to just two teams after Saturday night's college basketball betting action is complete, and in the second half of the double header from Lucas Oil Stadium, the Duke Blue Devils will take on the West Virginia Mountaineers.

What's At Stake: The Blue Devils, once one of the proudest programs in the NCAAs, hasn't been to a Final Four since 2004 and a National Championship Game since winning the 2001 title. West Virginia will be in search of its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament Championship Game since 1959, the only time that the team ever reached the Final Four. The Mountaineers have never won a title in men's basketball.

College Basketball Odds: Duke -2.5 at JustBet Sportsbook

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West Virginia Notes: It is unlikely that G Darryl Bryant will be able to take the court on Saturday night for the Mountaineers, meaning more playing time for G Joe Mazzulla, who scored 17 points in the Elite 8 against Kentucky. The 'Neers aren't a particularly deep team without Bryant in the starting five, as only six players will probably play more than five minutes or so on Saturday. Still, this is a squad that is averaging 72.8 points per game this year, which is a very respectable number considering that fact that it plays its regular season ball in the Big East.

Duke Notes: The Blue Devils aren't a very deep team either, and HC Mike Krzyzewski knows that he is going to have to rely on his main three scorers to pick up the slack. Both G Jon Scheyer and G Nolan Smith are coming off of 20+ point games in the Elite 8 against Baylor, and they'll need to be big once again for the Dookies to play for all of the marbles on Monday night. Duke has the second best three point shooting defense in the country, allowing just 27.8 percent of its three point field goal attempts to be made.

Players to Watch

F Kevin Jones, West Virginia Mountaineers: With all due respect to F Da'Sean Butler, we already know that he's going to get his points and his rebounds. Hopefully for HC Bob Huggins' sake, Butler can keep up with Smith in scoring for Duke. It's Jones that is going to be charged with keeping F Kyle Singler under wraps defensively and will be asked to keep up with Scheyer's scoring abilities. Jones was second on the team in both scoring (13.7 points per game) and rebounding (7.2 boards per game) in '09-'10.

F Kyle Singler, Duke Blue Devils: For the first time in his four year collegiate career, Singler put up a big, fat goose egg in the field goals made column for the Dookies in the Elite 8 against Baylor. He averaged 17.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per game this year, so scoring just five points from the charity stripe for an entire game was shocking to say the least. Singler will absolutely have to do some damage in the paint for Duke to have success, as the outside game probably won't be able to stay hot forever.

Trends of Note

-West Virginia is 12-2-1 ATS in its L/15 NCAA Tournament betting affairs
-West Virginia is 5-1 ATS in its L/6 games against the ACC
-West Virginia is 5-0-1 ATS in its L/6 NCAA Tournament games as an underdog
-Duke is 4-0 ATS in its L/4 NCAA Tournament games
-Duke is 2-6 ATS in its L/8 NCAA Tournament games as a favorite of less than seven points
-Duke is 1-5-1 ATS in its L/7 games against the Big East

Final Analysis: The Mountaineers ended Duke's run in the 2008 tourney with a 73-67 win. The tide probably won't turn on Saturday night. West Virginia is just too athletic of a club to deal with, and unless the Scheyer/Smith/Singler combination can really get it going again and eclipsed their 53+ points per game scored on the season, the Dookies are going to be in a lot of trouble.

Selection: West Virginia +2.5

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March 27th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

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Representatives from the ACC and the Big XII collide in a tremendous Elite 8 betting battle between the Duke Blue Devils and the Baylor Bears on Sunday night at the Toyota Center in Houston.

What's At Stake: The fourth and final ticket to Indianapolis and the Final Four, as well as the title of the South Region winners for 2010 will be awarded to the winner of this college basketball betting duel.

College Basketball Odds: Duke -4 at  Diamond Sportsbook
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Baylor Notes: The Bears have gotten stronger as this tournament has progressed, beating #14 Sam Houston State by nine, #11 Old Dominion by eight, and #10 St. Mary's by 23. The defense has held the three foes to an average of 58.7 points per game in the dance. The offense hasn't been up to stuff, averaging just 72.0 points per game, but this is still a Baylor team that averaged 77.1 points per game this year and can explode for 85+ on anyone in the country.

Duke Notes: The Blue Devils are one of just two teams that enter the Elite 8 saying that they have an average margin of victory of more than 15 points per game and won all three of their NCAA Tournament betting bashes by double digits (Kentucky). They've looked like one of the best sides from top to bottom in the dance, scoring easy wins against #16 Arkansas-Pine Bluff, #8 California, and #4 Purdue. Many recognize Coach K's crew as a fantastic offensive team at 77.4 points per game, but few realize that they're only allowing 60.9 points per game this year as well, making them one of the best defensive clubs left standing as well.

Players to Watch

F Ekpe Udoh, Baylor Bears: In Udoh, the Bears have an incredibly long, lanky, big man that can be a real pain in the neck on the inside for the opposition. Udoh is averaging 13.4 points and 9.8 rebounds per game, but he has also blocked a whopping 123 shots this year. The Blue Devils are going to have to throw the kitchen sink at him to keep up, and on the other end of the court, F Brian Zoubek is going to be challenged by the best big man that he has faced in quite some time.

G Jon Scheyer, Duke Blue Devils: The Blue Devils badly need Scheyer to step up once again and take over the reins of this team. He hasn't scored above his 18.9 points per game average in almost an entire month, and he has only put up 38 points in this tournament to date. Scheyer is clearly one of the cogs in this lineup, and for a team that isn't very deep, him not contributing could be fatal.

Trends of Note

-Baylor is 8-1 ATS in its L/9 games outside of the Big XII
-Baylor is 10-3 ATS in its L/13 neutral site games as an underdog
-Baylor is 10-4 ATS in its L/14 games as an underdog
-Duke is 4-1 ATS in its L/5 games against the Big XII
-Duke is 5-11 ATS in its L/16 NCAA Tournament games as a favorite
-Duke is 7-3 ATS in its L/10 neutral site games as a favorite

Final Analysis: Athleticism. That's how you beat the Dookies. That's how North Carolina did it for all those years, and that's how Baylor is going to do it on Sunday night. The Blue Devils just don't have the bodies to be able to keep up with the talent level of Udoh, F LaceDarius Dunn and G Tweety Carter. The Bears are ready for the next step, and they'll pronounce themselves as one of the best programs in the country by taking out the Dookies and moving on to the Final Four.

Selection: Baylor +4

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March 14th, 2010 By Andrew "Mr. Multi-Task" Ryan - Cappersinfo Contributor

Teams that are already in the NCAA Tournament…

Cornell Big Red (27-4, Ivy League), Winthrop Eagles (19-13, Big South), Murray State Racers (30-4, Ohio Valley), East Tennessee State Buccaneers (20-14, Atlantic Sun), Northern Iowa Panthers (28-4, Missouri Valley), St. Mary's Gaels (26-5, West Coast), Siena Saints (27-6, Metro Atlantic), Old Dominion Monarchs (26-8, Colonial), Wofford Terriers (26-8, Southern), Oakland Golden Grizzlies (26-8, Summit), Butler Bulldogs (28-4, Horizon), North Texas Mean Green (24-8, Sun Belt), Robert Morris Colonials (23-11, Northeast), Montana Grizzlies (22-9, Big Sky), Lehigh Mountain Hawks (22-10, Patriot)

Teams that clinched automatic bids on Saturday…

Houston Cougars (19-15, Conference USA): And the bubble shrinks… The Cougars upset UTEP on Saturday afternoon to take the Conference USA automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. It wasn't a particularly strong game for a lot of players on the #7 seed in the C-USA Tourney, but if guys like G Kelvin Lewis are scoring 28 points, this is going to be a tough team to bounce. One of the best scorers in America, G Aubrey Coleman, won't be held to 4/20 shooting every night. Look for the Cougs to be on the 14 line come Sunday.

Vermont Catamounts (25-9, America East): The Catamounts used a great offensive effort to take care of Boston U and advance to the NCAA Tournament. F Marqus Blakely had one heck of a championship game, scoring 24 points and bringing down 18 rebounds. He's going to probably be in for a heck of a test regardless of who he has to go up against in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. A #15 seed probably awaits Vermont.

Morgan State Bears (27-9, MEAC): The top team in the MEAC all season long earned its way into the dance on Saturday afternoon in the conference championship. Even though leading scorer G Reggie Holmes had his third straight subpar game, three other Bears scored in double digits. This could be a potentially dangerous team if all of the offensive weapons are clicking, but it's only going to leave Morgan State as a #14 at best.

Sam Houston State Bearkats (25-7, Southland): The Bearkats are dancing for the first time since 2003, and they did so by putting together a solid effort to dismiss of Stephen F. Austin. The defense has been hit or miss for this team of late, but it was certainly a hit on Saturday, winning 64-48. Now, SHSU is going to find itself as a #13 seed that is going to need a big effort to take out a #4 in the dance next week.

Kansas Jayhawks (32-2, Big XII): Kansas has certainly earned its way to the #1 seed in the Midwest Region after winning the Big XII over Kansas State on Saturday. Rock Chalk has one of the most talented teams in the country, and it has made a case to be the #1 overall seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. HC Bill Self is going to have one of the hefty favorites to win the whole enchilada.

Ohio Bobcats (21-14, MAC): In a conference where both Kent State and Akron dominated all season long, the Bobcats are the one team dancing from the bunch. No one can say that Ohio didn't deserve its spot in the field, as it took out both the Golden Flashes and the Zips en route to the MAC's automatic bid. The Bobcats may only be destined to be a #15 seed in the field of 65, but at least they're dancing, which is more than anyone else can say in this conference.

San Diego State Aztecs (25-8, Mountain West): San Diego State was a bubble team coming into the Mountain West Tournament, and it seemed like all that was going to be needed to get into the field of 65 was a win over New Mexico in the league semifinals. Instead, the Aztecs removed all doubt by taking the whole tournament, beating not only the Lobos, but also the Rebels on their home court in Sin City to get the job done. Now, a #10 seed awaits the fourth team out of the MWC.

Washington Huskies (24-9, Pac-10): Just like the Aztecs, the Huskies successfully went from a team just barely hanging on to the bubble to a team that was probably just on the right side of the bubble to a team with an automatic ticket to the tournament in a span of three days. Washington used a potent offense and a deep bench to knock off California for the second time this season, both of which are going to need to be out in full force for the Huskies to get out of the first round of the NCAA Tournament as a #11 seed.

Arkansas Pine Bluff Golden Lions (17-15, SWAC): The defense for the Golden Lions came to play in what amounted to be an ugly SWAC Championship on Saturday night. Still, Pine Bluff's 12-point victory isn't going to take away from the fact that its body of work is still pretty miserable, even for a conference championship. That being said, this is certainly going to be a team that has to play its way into the NCAA Tournament on Tuesday.

West Virginia Mountaineers (27-6, Big East): The Mountaineers certainly made their case to grab a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament by knocking off the Hoyas right at the death thanks to F Da'Sean Butler. Now, WVU will play the waiting game. HC Bob Huggins doesn't think that his squad is deserving of a top seed, but if both Duke and Ohio State lose on Sunday, the 'Neers will probably be going West as the top seed up there.

Santa Barbara Gauchos (20-9, Big West): The Gauchos are going to have one of the youngest teams in the NCAA Tournament, but they took care of business in the Big West final on Saturday night against the 49ers. Santa Barbara has taken nine of its L/10 games going into the dance. It was smacked by 20+ points against the two Pac-10 teams that it played this year, so seeing it do any damage as a #15 or #16 seems highly unlikely.

New Mexico State Aggies (22-11, WAC): Was this the straw that broke the camel's back in terms of the bubble? Several bubble teams went to bed on Saturday night thinking that they were going to be okay for the dance that will wake up on Sunday only to find that another bid went down the drain. New Mexico State earned its way into the field by stopping the 17-game winning streak of Utah State on Saturday. The Aggies are going to be an interesting placement, but they'll probably end up as a #13 or so.

 

Teams vying for automatic bids on Sunday…

Kentucky Wildcats (31-2, SEC): If anyone thought that the Wildcats were going to take their foot off of the gas pedal en route to the SEC Championship Game, they were sorely mistaken. Kentucky absolutely obliterated the Volunteers, making amends for its most recent loss. It's hard to cross this team right now, and as has been proven all season long, if G John Wall, F DeMarcus Cousins, and F Patrick Patterson are on their game, this, at least to date, has been an impossible team to defeat.

Mississippi State Bulldogs (23-10, SEC): Most seasons, winning 23 games and reaching the SEC Final would be good enough to easily put any team in the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs are still sweating though, and they'll need to beat Kentucky on Sunday to remove any sense of doubt. It was a huge defensive effort for MSU that put it in this position, as Vanderbilt only shot 34.6%, and F Jarvis Varnado blocked six shots in the 62-52 win.

Temple Owls (28-5, Atlantic 10): All season long, the Owls have been talked about as a team that can make a major difference in the NCAA Tournament. Now, one of the best defenses in the nation has made a case to move up into the Top 4 seeds in the NCAA Tournament after absolutely crushing two A-10 foes in this tournament. Temple has the fourth best defense in college basketball, allowing just 56.3 points per game.

Richmond Spiders (26-7, Atlantic 10): The Spiders weren't on the radar for potential March Madness teams at the outset of the season, but a win over Florida in November really helped set the stage for this team to have a rocket of a rise up the charts in the country. Richmond cracked the Top 25 for awhile this year and may ultimately finish the season there as well, especially if it can find a way to knock off the Owls and capture the A-10 title.

Ohio State Buckeyes (26-7, Big Ten): There are still a host of teams that believe that they can be a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, and the Buckeyes are amongst them. It took double overtime to finally get Illinois out of the Big Ten Tournament though, and there's a big question about how much fight OSU will have in it in Sunday's final after a pair of very, very tough games. F Evan Turner turned the ball over ten times on Saturday, but he did have a double-double with 31 points and ten boards.

Minnesota Golden Gophers (21-12, Big Ten): If the Selection Committee is determined to reward teams that do well in their conference tournaments,the Golden Gophers may already be in the NCAA Tournament. Regardless, this is a team that was left for dead just three days ago, and now, Minnesota is on the verge of ditching and bubble doubt. HC Tubby Smith's team absolutely destroyed Purdue on Saturday, which has set up a heck of a finale against OSU on Sunday.

Duke Blue Devils (28-5, ACC): It seems largely accepted that the Dookies, in spite of the fact that they have struggled in the NCAA Tournament, look to be the team that can play its way into the final #1 seed with a win over Georgia Tech on Sunday. Miami and Virginia both gave the Blue Devils a heck of a time, but in the end, Coach K's club did what it does best: It just keeps finding ways to win games.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (22-11, ACC): G-Tech has rumbled its way into the NCAA Tournament without a doubt after taking three games in the ACC Tournament. However, none of these games against UNC, Maryland, or NC State were anything like what the Blue Devils are going to bring on Sunday. HC Paul Hewitt will want to see a far less sloppy game than he saw on Saturday against the Wolfpack to continue to raise his team's confidence level going into the NCAA Tournament.

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