Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Money’s picks

This is going to be a fun tournament. There is a lot of talk about not having any dominant teams and how there will be a ton of upsets. I think I am right in the middle on this. I think there are top teams; all the number one seeds are really good. They all could win it all. On the flip side, I could all see them losing along the way too. I do think there will be some upsets, but I think they will be easier to see.

The two biggest things I look for when picking teams are youth and road records. For example, Wisconsin was 5-6 on the road. That’s pretty bad. I don’t really consider them a very good team and when Belmont beats them (12-4 on the road) I won’t even call that an upset. The better team will have won.

What about youth? I am not buying Kentucky, Texas or UNC. They are all very good teams, but none will be in my final four. They will make freshman mistakes. In fact, I think UNC will lose to Washington in the second round. I will take senior Isaiah Thomas over freshman Kendall Marshall every day. Ohio State is young too. They have a freshman point guard and their offense is run through freshman Sullinger. They do have senior experience though, which helps but I am not ready to anoint OSU #1

Here is my Final Four and some other teams that I am buying/selling.

KANSAS
DUKE
SYRACUSE
GONZAGA

Kansas will beat Duke.

Kansas has the best team. They have the fewest holes and will learn from last year’s early exit. Go Jayhawks.
Duke will get a lot better if Kyrie Irving plays. B Anthony called it about a month ago and said Irving will come back. It looks like he will play. How good will he play? That is the question we will find out. Anyway you look at it, this is tremendous boost.
Syracuse is always a tough out with their defense and length and transition game.
Gonzaga was a pre-season top 15 team that really sputtered out of the gate. They had injured players and a very tough schedule. They are playing very well now winning 11 of their last 12 and have no pressure on them.

Money’s stock tips
BUY
Washington – They will get past UNC if they survive the first game.
Oakland – They have an experienced team with an NBA player (Benson) on their roster. Extremely difficult game for Texas
Hoyas – Chris Wright is coming back which will help greatly. They have flaws but nobody is talking about them. Everyone will pick the winner USC/VCU game to beat them because the winner will be fresh on our minds.
Old Dominion – Great rebounding team. May upset Pitt.
Utah state/Belmont – one of these teams will be in the sweet 16

SELL
Kentucky/UNC/Texas – see above.
PAC 10 – Washington is the best. The other will lose in the first round.
UConn – The big east tournament was magical. Prior to the Big East tournament they were 4-7. They can’t close anybody out.
SDSU – I like this team but they have never won an NCAA tournament game. They are not going to win 6 games, much less 4 to get to the Final four.
Illinois – I loved this team at the beginning of the year. I hate them now.
Notre Dame – 5-4 on the road. All good losses but still not very #2 seed-like.
St. John – Losing DJ Kennedy will hurt their chances of advancing.
BYU – Jimmer can’t do it alone and he will be alone.

Enjoy the tournament!

Money

Monday, March 14, 2011

NCAA TOURNEY 3-15 TO 3-18

B ANTHONY IS BACK FOR A BRIEF CONTRIBUTION!!

Let me start by saying, this is the least and most excited I have been about a tournament in years. The committee did a horrible job with the at large, and I feel for St. Mary's and Virginia Tech the most. The reality is, playing the early "first round" play in game is a total slap in the face, but one of these teams is going to use it for a jump start to a good run! Anyone could win it all, but likely a favorite will go all the way.

I will do three pools, winners will be Ohio State in pool 1, Duke in pool 2, and San Diego State in Pool 3.

Let's get to the games, and what the hell, I will pick them all. Winner and Cover team included.

Tuesday-

Arkansas Little Rock will roll UNC Ashville. Go big on the -4.5, they will lose badly the next game, but enjoy it for now. ALR 75-63

UAB +4.5 vs Clemson. UAB will make a good case for why they were taken and win this outright, Clemson continues years of underachievement. UAB 68-66

Wednesday

UTSA - 5 vs Alabama st- Texas San Antonio wins this in a realitively close game. Free throws will be the difference and they also cover -5 UTSA 75-65

VCU + 5 vs USC. The winner of this game will also win in the 2nd/1st round game on Thursday. I am taking USC on the strength of their defense and angry coach factor. VCU will cover the 5 points easily and will likely shoot a 3 at the buzzer for a late cover, but Trojans will prevail. USC 71-70

THURSDAY- PRIMETIME BEGINS!

Early 4 games

Old Dominion - 2 vs Butler. Great game. This will come right down to the wire. I would never play this game, but ODU wins and makes 2 late free-throws to cover. 69-66 ODU

Princeton + 13 vs Kentucky. Almost no way that Kentucky loses, but really no way they are able to pull away and win by more than 13. I really like Princeton.

Louisville -10 vs Morehead State. Finally a favorite rolls. Many Kenneth Faried stories, but turnovers will make this a 20 point win. 82-67 Louisville

Penn St +2.5 vs Temple. Penn State is ugly but effective, kind of like many TS women!!! Nittany lines win outright 57-55 Penn St.

Richmond + 2 vs Vanderbilt. Down to the Wire. I have picked each team once in my two pools. Just enjoy a buzzer beater. I will take Richmond to eek out a win. 70-69!

Mid Day-

Belmont + 6 vs Wisonsin. Badgers win a close one, no cover. 55-51 Badgers

San Diego St. -16 vs Northern Colorado. Defense will be smothering. More blocked shots for SDSU than assists for Northern Colorado. 77-50

BYU -8 vs Wofford. Mormons still underated. Jimmer 35 points minimum. 75-58 Mormons.

Pitt -20 vs UALR. I will take Pitt as long as it stays under 20. 78 -52

Bucknell +10.5 vs Connecticut. Huskies win, but they are too tired and cocky after last week to win big. 67-63

West Virginia -5 vs UAB. Huggins wins a dirty one down the stretch, and covers as Blazers fade!!!! 70-60

Late Games

UCSB + 13 vs Florida. Too many points. Florida 75-66.

Kansas St -2 vs Utah State. Great game with Pullen it out!!! 72-68 KState.

Gonzaga +2 vs St. Johns. Johnies over-rated, Lavin over jelled. Too much talk here. Zags are playing good ball and will make some noise. Stockton will be the difference maker. 75-65! Zags

Missouri +2 vs Cinci. Too much hustle and press for the Bearcats. Big East is not faring that well. 81-75 tigers!!!!

Michigan St -2 vs UCLA. Ugly game with a lot of defense being played, but Kalin Lucas will win this one for Spartans. Last gasp before they bow out. Disappointing year for them! 61-55


Friday-

Early -

Tennessee - 1.5 vs Michigan. I don't like either team, but Vols play better defense. 71-65 Bruce Pearl gets one more win!

George Mason -1 vs Nova. I am guessing this line will move towards Nova as the public doesn't realize that Nova is done. Put a fork in them, GM advances and pretty easily. 78-70 Colonials

Notre Dame -13.5 vs Akron. This line seems high, but Irish are experienced, take good shots, and are well tested. They roll 80-60 Irish.

Oakland +9 vs Texas. Horns will pull this out, but not before a great showing by Oakland. Too bad they got Texas, they could have beaten many teams in this tourney. 75-72 Texas.

Mid-day

Arizona -5.5 vs Memphis. The luck will run out for Memphis who were lucky to get to the tournament. Pastner will simply be out-coached by a very good UofA staff! 75-62 Arizona.

Duke -22.5 vs Hampton. Don't be surprised to see Kyrie Irving get loose in this game. I called it months ago that he will be back for the tourney, and he will. Hampton will try to Dunk on Duke, but it won't work out too well. 83-55 Duke will cover down the stretch.

Ohio State -25 vs UTSA. Buckeyes will kill an over-matched team who was happy to get one win on Wednesday. No line yet, but 92-60 will cover any line they put out there!

Texas A&M Pick vs Florida St. Neither team will look pretty but Aggies pull it out 68-65.

USC +3 vs Georgetown. Trojans will ride the horse of momentum after beating VCU and will win outright vs Georgetown too. 70-68!!

Afternoon-

LIU +18 vs UNC. This line up to 18 is too high. I think Tarheels win, but LIU can score and UNC will let them. 80-70 Tarheels.

Xavier-1.5 vs Marquette. Great team at Xavier is going a long way. I like them to win a few games, this will not be close. 75-63 Musketeers!

Purdue -14.5 vs St. Peters. Too much size and defense. 75-56 Purdue.

Kansas -23 vs Boston University. Jayhawks are too experienced and big for any scares hear. 85-55 KU.

Late games

Georgia +5 vs Washington. I think Huskies win this one late, but no cover. UW 78-75

Syracuse -11 vs Indiana St. Sycamores will not figure out the zone. No ones does in the first round. 75-58 Orange.

UNLV -1.5 vs Illinois. Rebels too good defensively for an underachieving Illini team who will fold down the stretch. 71-62 Rebels!



Good luck to all. I think I have slightly more than half favorites.

B Anthony!!!