Vegas veteran Benjamin Eckstein, author of America’s Line, brings three decades of experience to produce weekly picks in his”Ecks & Bacon” column.
Final Four picks
LAS VEGAS — Can’t remember which one of those 279 websites where I read this, but this is actually the first time in 31 years that among the so-called Blue Bloods won’t be at the Final Four. We’re talking North Carolina, Kansas, Kentucky, Duke, UCLA and Louisville. That is THIRTY-ONE YEARS! WOW!
Now for the winner of the very first game on Saturday between Virginia and Auburn. Talking of Blue Bloods, Charles Barkley’s Tigers beat Kansas, North Carolina and Kentucky, back to back, to make it to their original EVER Final Four. That was VERY impressive. And the last W against Kentucky was WITHOUT among their best players, Chuma Okeke. Auburn rumbles to the celebration on a 12-0 straight-up PERFECTO and has covered eight of the last 10.
Tony Bennett’s Cavaliers come in with an impressive resume as well, winning 13 of the last 14, but against the spread, the’Hoos have managed to pay only three of their last seven. Not calling for the outright upset, but might purchase the hook, push the line to +6, and observe Sir Charles cry on national TV. Crying because, as we all know,” Barkley is a ferocious sports bettor, and he’ll be over Auburn and also the points.
In the nightcap, we are gonna roll with Texas Tech +2.5 points over Michigan State. Obviously, we WILL buy the hook and push Tech to +3. What else can the Red Raiders do? They rolled to the Sweet 16 against the second-best defensive group in college hoops, Michigan, and blew the Wolverines away 63-44. They then looked in the daunting task of facing the NUMBER ONE crime in the Nation in the Elite Eight, Gonzaga. You believe that the Raiders were worried? Nah. They held that the’Zags to ONLY 69 points, almost TWENTY points under their season average of 87.6.
What about any other matchups with the Big Ten? Gotcha. Aside from the Michigan game, Tech stomped on Nebraska 70-52. More? OK. TT has won 13 of the last 14 straight up, covered seven of the last eight, and steps on the court in Minneapolis working on an 8-0 disperse PERFECTO on the road. It ai not gonna be easy, but we’re backing the blossom, Chris Beard!!!
NBA select For your wagering pleasure, here will be your disperse stats of the day. The Nuggets may not grab the Warriors for the top seed in the Western Conference, but you know they are gonna bring some warmth to this ESPN matchup against the Blazers. Denver continues to be on a sweet roll, winning nine of the last 13 up, but contrary to the spread, the Nugs have covered just four of the previous 12.
They’ve been stingy with things permitted and have gone UNDER in 10 of the previous 12 games. Portland brings an identical portfolio into the table, winning eight of the last nine straight up, but have done WAY better against the spread, covering four of their previous five. Taking a look at the big picture, the Nuggets’ overall disperse log sits in 40-38, 24-15 at home and 29-26 as a favored. The Blazers’ in general spread mark is 44-33-1, 21-18 on the street and 13-15 within an underdog. Light tickle to Portland.
NHL pick Also skating onto the NHL ice, also obtained a play over the Rangers into the Blue Jackets.
PLZ hit me on Twitter over the weekend, even @vegasvigorish, just if anything pops.
Benjamin Eckstein is a nationally syndicated sportswriter/oddsmaker. His column, America’s Line, with all the Ecks & Bacon appetizer, has conducted in the New York Daily News and above 100 other papers since 1988. It is possible to follow him on line at www.americasline.com. He’s beloved by most, when he picks winners, and detested by others, when he picks the occasional loser. Should you wanna bit of Eck, hit his email…ben@americasline.com.
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