Duke Blue Devils vs. Gonzaga vs. North Carolina - Where the Cards Lie

Duke, UNC and Gonzaga are March Madness Favorites

Long before the 2019 March Madness
tournament kicked off bookies, analysts, and fans had already settled on a
favorite team to not only make it to the final four but also take the trophy
home: the Duke Blue Devils. It doesn’t come as much of a surprise considering
the team’s performance during the regular season. However, that doesn’t mean
that it doesn’t have challengers.

In line to take Duke’s position are Gonzaga and North Carolina. Here is a review of each team’s strengths and weaknesses.

The Duke Blue Devils

Duke is banking on its best player, Zion Williamson, to bring the
trophy home now that he is well and back in the game. It seems ridiculous that
a whole team can peg its hopes on a single player but this is the case.

Duke has been playing the regular
season without Williamson, and it has not performed as well as it does with him
onboard. The team went 3-3 in the last six games on the regular season and scored
more than 80 points only once against the little-known Miami Hurricanes – this
is a stark comparison to when the Blue Devils scored more than 80 points six
times with Williamson onboard. This all changed when Williamson rejoined the
team. He took charge on all three games and averaged 27 points on 76.7% percent
shooting. 

Considering these statistics it is understandable why Duke is banking on Williamson. His presence has ruffled some feathers, including in North Carolina’s Tar Heels. If he performs as expected he will be well on his way to being named the tournament’s MVP.

Gonzaga

Gonzaga stands a pretty high
chance of making it to the final four: 62% to be exact, according to BPI. The
team has been ranked among the top 25 by the Associated Press for three weeks
running now. They have also proven formidable against the Blue Devils having
beaten them back in December during the regular season.

Gonzaga has several things going
for it. For starters, it is considered the most balanced team for the 2019 season.
It has four players that have scored in double figures in 22 of 23 games. It
has also outshot 83 opponents out of 96 for the 2016-2017 season alone. It also
ranks well when it comes to consistency, efficiency, and power. Most notably,
however, it leads the nation in several fronts including shooting,
assist-turnover ratio, scoring, and scoring margin.

Gonzaga, however, hasn’t been spotless as it lost two of three of its biggest games this season, one of them against another top contender: North Carolina.  

North Carolina

North Carolina has been making headlines for all the right seasons,
leading some to speculate that it will definitely make it to the final four and
perhaps even beat the Blue Devils.

North Carolina has accomplished
seven spotless wins for the 2019 regular season with an average of 72.9 points.
It went head-to-head against Duke in the ACC semifinals and came out on top. It
also has impressive statistics: it has an efficiency rating of 95.5 points per
100 possessions. It also doesn’t rely on one single player to bring the trophy
home as is the case with Duke. However, it is lacking in defense as it ranks 42^nd
nationwide.

North Carolina seems pretty
confident in its capabilities against the Duke Blue Devils so much so that head
coach Roy Williams likened the Duke’s top player, Zion, to his 6-year-old son.
This game will be definitely one to look out for.

Conclusion

If everything goes as expected the
Duke Blue Devils will likely be taking home their sixth national title with
Zion Williamson at the helm. However, Gonzaga and North Carolina will not be
sitting by idly watching this happen, and North Carolina has already made moves
against the Blue Devils. It is too early to tell and, besides, the best way to
find out which team comes out on top is to stream March Madness 2019 live from anywhere in the world.

March Madness 2019 Championship – The Case for North Carolina

The 2019 NCAA Tournament is finally here and the brackets are out. A majority of bookies, analysts, and fans are in favor of the Duke Blue Devils to win the tournament. However, sentiments change with each passing game, and North Carolina has been making headlines of late. Some analysts honestly believe that North Carolina has what it takes to run the Blue Devils out of town.

So, which cards does North Carolina have up its sleeves that may potentially upset an otherwise decided outcome?

Coby White is Back

Coby White is at the helm of UNC. He is the point guard this season, and he seems to have settled into his position fairly well. He has taken a break from the Berry, the previous point guard – whereas Berry focused more on the floor White is going all out and is at his best when he is looking to score.

Coby White seems to be upping his game at the most opportune moment for North Carolina. The regular season has seen him drop 28, 21, and 34 points on Clemson, Duke, and Syracuse respectively – and this is in just three of his last four games for the ACC tournament. He has also finished with 40 more assists than turnovers. Finally, White seems to be leading the entire team’s offense as it seems to follow his directions – he is not only a good player but also a unifying factor.

If Coby White goes on with the performance he has put up during the regular season, North Carolina will be looking at one more advantage over the Blue Devils.

Three Seniors

North Carolina is one of the few teams in its region that take on the risk of cultivating players in their senior years. This time it has three senior leaders that make up the team’s backbone: shooting guard Kenny Williams and forwards Luke Maye and Cameron Johnson.

Maye has been putting up quite a show during the regular season and is already considered an NCAA tournament hero. Johnson is also rising up fast with such a good performance that the NBA has taken notice. He has average 47% on his three-pointers on an average of six attempts for each game he has played. Besides, his height (6’9) is already daunting enough as few other players can match up to him. Kenny Williams, unfortunately, has seen a dip in his performance but there are high expectations that he will come around when it matters the most.

Combined with Coby White, these three senior players will certainly put up a fight against the Blue Devils. In contrast, Duke is banking all its hopes on one player: Zion. Unfortunately, UNC’s coach doesn’t seem to have such high regard for Zion, who he compared with his 6-year-old son in a recent jab against the team.

Duke Blue Devils May not Keep Up

North Carolina ranks top when it comes to speed as they play faster than any other team on the tournament. Their coach, Williams, seems to have cultivated a culture of speed and perfected in this past regular season when the team played at its fastest yet. In fact, UNC was so fast that it finished in 4^th position having lost only to low-major schools.

North Carolina attributes its speed to its teamwork – as mentioned, the team unifies behind Coby White. This is well illustrated in its 5^th national ranking when it comes to assists – it assisted on 62% of its made goals for this regular season. This is more than can be said for the Duke Blue Devils which may have a difficult time keeping up with the Tar Heels.

Conclusion

The match between the Duke Blue Devils and North Carolina will certainly be explosive, but no one can really be sure of who will take the trophy home. You cannot afford to miss it, so be sure to stream March Madness live and watch history in the making.

2019 NIT: Dayton Flyers vs Colorado Buffaloes

The Buffaloes and Flyers Come Into Tourney Playing Well

The Dayton Flyers and the Colorado Buffaloes will on Tuesday when they at Coors Events Center. They will be playing in the 2019 Postseason NIT. Colorado and Dayton have had near-identical seasons with both finishing strong.

TV: 11 p.m. ET, ESPN2 LINE: Colorado 4.5; O/U: 139.5.

Colorado is one of the four No. 4 seeds in the 32-team field. Dayton, out of the Atlantic 10 Conference, is seeded fifth. The Buffs feature five freshmen and sophomores among the top seven players in their rotation. They have won 10 of their last 13 games. That includes two wins in the Pac-12 Tournament before losing to top-seeded Washington in the semifinals. Now they get a chance to play more basketball after earning their eighth postseason berth in head coach Tad Boyle's nine seasons.

The Dayton Flyers were 21-11 overall this season. This is their second season under coach Anthony Grant. The team has gotten better, and the Flyers have won nine of their last 13 games. They finished third in the Atlantic 10 and were ousted by eventual champion Saint Louis in the conference tournament quarterfinals. Forward Obadiah Toppin averages 14.2 points per game to lead the team. Forward Josh Cunningham (13.6), guard Jalen Crutcher (13.1) and forward Ryan Mikesell (10.0) also average double digits. Dayton ranks third in the nation with a 50.3 field-goal percentage. They leads the Atlantic 10 with 16.5 assists and ranks second in rebounding margin at 2.9 per game. The Flyers have won seven of their 10 true road games.

The Colorado Buffaloes were 21-12 during the regular season. The Buffs' strong finish has mirrored the late-season emergence of swingman Tyler Bey. He leads the team with 13.3 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. Bey had 22 points and 16 boards in the 66-61 tourney loss to Washington. He has posted six double-doubles in his last eight games. Guards McKinley Wright IV (13.1 points) and Shane Gatling (10.3) also average double figures.The Buffaloes average 73.9 points a game and leads the Pac-12 with a 6.6 rebound margin. The Buffaloes are 13-2 at home this season. That includes a current six-game win streak.

PREDICTION: Colorado 73, Dayton 64

2019 NIT Betting Odds & Trends

Dayton Flyers
Dayton is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games
Dayton is 16-6 SU in its last 22 games
Dayton is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Dayton is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games on the road
Dayton is 8-17 SU in its last 25 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Dayton's last 12 games on the road

Colorado Buffaloes
Colorado is 9-4 ATS in its last 13 games
Colorado is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Colorado's last 7 games
Colorado is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games at home
Colorado is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Colorado's last 5 games at home

Get a 100% Cash Bonus on Bitcoin at WagerWeb Online Sportsbook!!

March Madness Play in: Temple vs Belmont

Temple and Belmont Fight to Get in the Dance

The Temple Owls and the Belmont Bruins will meet on Tuesday at UD Arena. The Owls are back in the tournament and the Bruins have never won a NCAA Tournament game. These two teams battle tonight in a play in game to see who makes the real field of 64.

TV: 9:10 p.m. ET, truTV LINE: Belmont -2.5; O/U: 155.

In his final season as a college basketball coach, Fran Dunphy has taken Temple back to the NCAA Tournament. The Owls earned a No. 11 seed in the East Region. They will open as part of the First Four. They will take on No. 11 seed Belmont in Dayton, Ohio, on Tuesday.

Dunphy is a Philadelphia sports icon. He coached Penn for 17 years, and now 13 years at Temple. He announced prior to this season that 2018-19 would be his last one on the sidelines. The Owls won six of their final seven games before falling to Wichita State in the American Athletic Conference Tournament. They needed every one of those wins to sneak into the Field of 68. Belmont has never won an NCAA Tournament game. They are 0-7), losing its recent appearances in 2008, 2011, 2013 and 2015. The Bruins were the top seed in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament. They got upset by the Murray State Racers in the conference title game. The selection committee gave them a reprieve with one of the final spots in the Big Dance.

Temple is 23-9 overall on the season. The Owls have three primary scorers. They are Shizz Alston Jr. (19.7 points), Quinton Rose (16.5) and Nate Pierre-Louis (13.3). They all average at least 1.5 steals per game, as well. Alston enters with an eight-game streak of 20-point performances. He has made multiple 3-pointers in 12 of his last 13 games. Pierre-Louis has failed to surpass his scoring average in any of the last four games. Rose has struggled from the arc over the last month. Temple will need all of them tonight against a solid Belmont team. In his last nine games, Rose is 12-of-42 (28.6 percent) from long distance.

Belmont is 26-5 on the season. Dylan Windler is the Bruins leading scorer at 21.4 points. He is the top player for Belmont and shoots 43 percent from 3-point land. He averages a staggering 10.7 rebounds per game as a big guard. Kevin McClain scores 16.3 ppg and has 66 3-pointers. That is second on the team to Windler, who has 92. Nick Muszynski averages 14.9 ppg and is a solid contributor. He missed the conference title game with an ankle injury, but is expected to play in the NCAA Tournament. Muszynski has 65 blocks. Temple, as a team, has only 72.

PREDICTION: Belmont 79, Temple 69

NCAA Tournament Trends & Odds

Temple Owls:
Team record: 23-9 SU,15-15-2 ATS
Temple is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Temple's last 6 games

Belmont Bruins:
Team record: 26-5 SU,18-10-2 ATS
Belmont is 5-1-1 ATS in its last 7 games
Belmont is 14-1 SU in its last 15 games

Get a 100% Cash Bonus on Bitcoin at WagerWeb Online Sportsbook!!

Bookie Favors Oregon Women’s Basketball

Oregon women’s basketball team is the second seed in the NCAA Tournament. On Friday, it will host the 15th seed Portland State to open the tournament. For the game, a bookie favors Oregon 28.5 points over the Vikings.

It is the sixth biggest point spread for a first-round game in this year’s women’s NCAA Tournament. Number 1 seeds Notre Dame, Mississippi State, Louisville, and Baylor, Number 2 seed UConn got bigger point spreads this season.

It is the second straight season the Ducks got the number 2 seed in the West Region. In addition, it will host the first two rounds at the Matthew Knight Arena. Sports news reporters will focus on their first-round match against Portland State on Friday. If they win, they will face either 7th seed Texas or 10th seed Indiana in the next round.

Bookie Favors Oregon in Opening Round

Bookie favors Oregon to advance to the Sweet 16. If that is the case, they will play in Portland against Mississippi State, the top seed in West Region. If they win, online bookie software predicts their possible Elite Eight opponent to be Syracuse. The Ducks won over the two teams during nonconference matches this year.

Last year, the Ducks made it up to the Elite Eight. In fact, it was their second straight Elite Eight appearance. However, they lost to Notre Dame. Eventually, Notre Dame won last year’s tournament.

Overall, Oregon has an 11-14 record in the NCAA Tournament. Also, it is their third straight NCAA tournament appearance under coach Kelly Graves. Pay per head operators are already accepting bets for Friday’s game.

This season, The Ducks are the Pac-12 regular season champions. However, they lost the Pac-12 tournament title to Stanford. There are six Pac-12 teams in this year’s NCAA Tournament, including UCLA, California, Oregon State, and Arizona State.

On the other hand, Portland State is this year’s Big Sky tournament champion. As a result, they got an automatic spot in the NCAA tournament. It is only the second appearance for the Vikings in the tournament.

NBA Monday Night Betting Pick- Warriors at Spurs

Durant Expected Back for Warriors Tonight at Spurs

The Golden State Warriors continue its current four-game road trip with a stop in San Antonio on Monday night. They tangle in an 8 p.m. tip against the Spurs. As part of ESPN’s doubleheader of betting action at BetAnySports, the Warriors are 2.5-point favorites with the total set at 225.5 points.

The Warriors are just 5-5 straight-up in their last 10 games. They are a costly 4-11 record against the spread in their last 15 contests. They come into Monday’s game with important back-to-back road wins against Houston and Oklahoma City. They closed as underdogs at BetAnySports. They are 47-21 SU overall while going 28-39-1 ATS. The total stayed UNDER 228.5 points in Saturday’s 110-88 victory against the Thunder. The total has stayed UNDER in Golden State’s last seven games.

Kevin Durant missed his last two starts with a sore ankle, but he is expected to play on Monday night. Stephen Curry helped fill the void with a game-high 33 points in Saturday’s win. Each of these players is averaging close to 28 points a game this season. The Warriors lead the NBA with an average of 117.9 points a game.

Spurs Are Red-Hot Coming Into Tonight's Game

San Antonio is riding a eight-game winning streak with Saturday’s 108-103 victory against Portland. They were a 2.5-point home favorite. The Spurs have covered BetAnySports’ closing spread in seven of the eight games. They are 41-29 SU overall and holding down sixth place in the Western Conference standings. San Antonio is 28-7 SU with a 23-12 record ATS on its home court this season.

With 21.7 PPG,
DeMar DeRozan is the Spurs leading scorer this season. He put up 21 points
against Portland after being held to just 13 points in Friday night’s win
against the New York Knicks. San Antonio slips to 16^th in the NBA in
scoring with 111.9 PPG, but it has not allowed more than 105 points in eight of
its last nine games. The Spurs are 13^th in the league in points
allowed overall (110.4).

The Warriors have been a tough team to bet on the road this season at 16-18 ATS overall and 3-5 ATS in their last eight road games. However, I still like their chances to come away with the SU win on Monday night as slight favorites.

NBA Betting Odds & Trends

Golden State Warriors
Golden State is 4-11 ATS in its last 15 games
Golden State is 18-7 SU in its last 25 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Golden State's last 5 games
Golden State is 15-3 SU in its last 18 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Golden State's last 6 games on the road
Golden State is 13-3 SU in its last 16 games when playing San Antonio
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Golden State's last 9 games when playing San Antonio
Golden State is 7-18 SU in its last 25 games when playing on the road against San Antonio
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Golden State's last 5 games when playing on the road against San Antonio

San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
San Antonio is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of San Antonio's last 9 games
San Antonio is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games at home
San Antonio is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of San Antonio's last 7 games at home
San Antonio is 3-13 SU in its last 16 games when playing Golden State
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of San Antonio's last 9 games when playing Golden State
San Antonio is 18-7 SU in its last 25 games when playing at home against Golden State
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of San Antonio's last 5 games when playing at home against Golden State

A 30% Bonus on EVERY Deposit at A+ Rated Online Sportsbook, BetAnySports

AAF Week 6: Iron vs Fleet

Defense Will be Front and Center with Fleet and Iron

Two of the better defenses in the Alliance of American Football (AAF) will be on display Sunday night. Fans will also see plenty of quarterback rotations for both sides. The Fleet are undefeated at home. Birmingham might have some new life with Keith Price at quarterback. The Fleet also got two defensive touchdowns a week ago. Lets See what this slobber-knocker has in store for us.

Birmingham Iron at San Diego Fleet
Date: Sunday, March 17 | Time: 8 p.m. ET | Line: Fleet -6 & O/U: 36.
Location: SDCCU Stadium -- San Diego, California
TV: NFL Network | Live stream:fuboTV (Try for free) 

Can Keith Price replicate the success he had coming off the bench against the Apollos in Week 5? Price's legs were an asset. He used them to escape the pocket and keep plays alive with 234 yards passing at 8.1 yards per attempt. He Threw the first touchdown through the air for the Iron all season. He's playing on the road for the first time against a San Diego defense that is excellent up front. They are best in the AAF vs. the run and overall solid. They had four takeaways and two defensive scores in Week 5. The Fleet are undefeated at home.

The Birmingham are looking to regain its footing in the Eastern Conference. They have had two consecutive losses to drop them right into the thick of the crowded playoff race. The Iron are now 3-2 and just one game ahead of surging Atlanta (2-3) for the second spot behind undefeated Orlando. The Iron have made a change at quarterback that they hope will spark a resurgence on offense.

The Fleet flirted with disaster last week against Salt Lake. They gave up a late 13-point lead only to walk off with a 27-25 victory on Donny Hageman’s 44-yard field goal with no time left. That kick was all that prevented the Fleet from being on their own two-game slide. The Fleet (3-2) can gain a control of the reigns in the Western Conference race with a victory. That will put them up one game on Arizona, who beat Orlando on Saturday to improve to 3-3.

This and that

Mike Bercovici made his first start since Week 1 last Saturday for the Fleet. The Start was against Salt Lake and it was a mixed bag for the former Arizona State star. Bercovici had 199 yards passing at halftime. That was the most yards for a Fleet QB for an entire game this season. After the half, he struggled to find a rhythm. With the team desperate for a big play in the final seconds, Bercovici hit Dontez Ford for a 45-yard gain. The play gave him 304 yards for the night.

The running game disappeared against the solid run defense of the Stallions last week. Since his back-to-back 100-yard games in Weeks 2 and 3, Ja’Quan Gardner only has a total of 12 yards on 18 carries the past two games combined. The Fleet should get a lift from the return of offensive lineman Damien Mama. He is an elite run-blocker who missed almost the entire second half in Week 4 and all of last week with an ankle injury.

The Fleet will need everyone playing well against a defense that has not allowed more than 12 points a game, but once. That was the Orlando Apollos this season.

The Iron’s offense may look completely different this week with Keith Price at quarterback. He replaced Luis Perez last week, and provided a much needed spark for the unit. Price has a strong arm to stretch the field. He can also make plays with his feet. That will be key with the Iron’s offensive line banged up and facing a solid defense.

Running back Trent Richardson will be a big part of the offensive attack. The former Alabama standout has rushed for eight touchdowns on the season. Tight end Wes Saxton Jr. emerged as a weapon against the Apollos last week. He caught three passes for 75 yards.

The Fleet defense had a rare letdown last week. It happened in the final five minutes against the Stallions, as they allowed a pair of touchdowns to give up a 24-11 lead. Linebacker A.J. Tarpley is expected back in the lineup this week, so the defense should return to its stingy ways. The Fleet already possess the best defensive line in The AAF, and with Tarpley and Frank Ginda, they make the Fleet formidable at middle linebacker. There’s Kameron Kelly on the back end as well. He had a three-interception game last week. Price will have his work cut out for him.

Key Players to Watch

Fleet players to watch

RB Bishop Sankey: The former Tennessee Titans running back made a cameo appearance in his season debut last week. He should see his role increase over the final five weeks of the season. Sankey might be the best pass-catching option in the backfield. That gives head coach Mike Martz another dimension in his offensive game-planning.

SS Ryan Moeller: This will be the first time since Week 3 that the front seven of the Fleet’s defense will be intact. Defensive end Damontre Moore missed Week 4 and A.J. Tarpley missed the past two weeks. Both will play Sunday night. That could be a field day for the secondary to feast on hurried, errant throws.

KR Ron Brooks: Brooks has the only punt return for a touchdown in The AAF. He had the TD in Week 4, and came close to taking one to the distance last week against the Stallions. Brooks has become a weapon as a returner. If the defense stays solid on third downs, he will get a lot of chances to break one.

Iron players to watch

RB Trent Richardson: The Iron running back has scored a rushing touchdown in each game this season. He leads The AAF with eight rushing touchdowns. Richardson has been unstoppable inside the 5-yard line.

LB Beniquez Brown: Brown has led the team in tackles in four of the five Iron games. He tied for the lead in the opener. Brown has 47 total tackles on the year.

P Colton Schmidt: Opposing teams haven’t had a lot of opportunities to make returns on the Iron. That is because the punter puts enough hang time on the ball so the coverage can be there. Schmidt is a real weapon on special teams.

Stats & Numbers

• .Fleet receiver Dontez Ford has 165 yards receiving in his past two games. He only totaled 88 yards over the first three.
• Last week’s combined 658 yards passing between the Fleet and Stallions is the most in an AAF game this season. The 745 total yards was second-most in a game.
• The Iron have forced 10 turnovers as a team. Eight of those coming on defense and two on special teams.
• Iron tight end Wes Saxton Jr. emerged as a weapon with 75 receiving yards against the Apollos last week.

Prediction: Fleet -6 and Over 36

A 30% Bonus on EVERY Deposit at A+ Rated Online Sportsbook, BetAnySports

AAF Week 6: Commanders vs Legends

Legends Look for 3rd Straight Win Against Commanders

Two of the hottest teams in The Alliance of American Football (AAF) do battle on Sunday afternoon at Georgia State Stadium. The Atlanta Legends look to secure their 3rd straight win. The Commanders end a 4-game road trip. San Antonio is 2-1 on the trip coming into today's game.

San Antonio Commanders at Atlanta Legends
Date: Sunday, March 17 | Time: 4 p.m. ET | Line: Legends -1.5 & O/U: 42.5.
Location: Georgia State Stadium -- Atlanta, Georgia
TV: CBS Sports Network | Live stream:CBS Sports Network

The Commanders end their four-game road trip today in Atlanta. The Legends have won two straight since switching to former Georgia Bulldog Superstar, Aaron Murray. Atlanta's defense has been playing well as as well. It's not that surprising to see the Legends as a slight favorite. It's worth mentioning that the Commanders play well on the road. If Murray can hit enough plays down the field against San Antonio's porous pass defense they have a chance. The Commanders have plenty of firepower as well. This could be the most exciting game of the weekend.

The San Antonio Commanders are riding a wave of momentum. They have back-to-back road wins against the Birmingham Iron and the Arizona Hotshots. The offense is taking off behind reigning Offensive Player of the Week, Logan Woodside.

The field general is third in The AAF with 1,025 passing yards. His performance has guided the Commanders to the top of the Western Conference. The offense is thriving overall. San Antonio can win games both through the air and on the ground.

The Legends must contend with the high-powered attack. The Legends have played better on both sides of the ball the last two weeks. They are peaking at the right time and shining during a two-game winning streak. The switch to Stafford, along with adjusting to a new coaching staff right before the season started is shining through.

The Legends are getting it done with ball control. The offense has taken off under new offensive coordinator Ken Zampese. In the last two games, the unit put up 864 yards and outscored opponents 37-31.

Look for the Legends to apply pressure on Woodside. The defense had 13 hurries against the Memphis Express last week.  If they can control the tempo, they have a great chance to pull out another home win.

The Commanders will have a similar game plan. They generated eight turnovers against the Iron and Hotshots. The defense also has a league-high 17 sacks. They will look to make life difficult for the Legends' upstart offense with high pressure defense.

Both teams are in the thick of the playoff race. Expect this game to be surprisingly exciting.

This and That

The Commanders are 3-2 on the season, and have searched for consistency the entire time. When they are in sync, the Commanders are nearly unstoppable on offense. There are some areas they would like to see improvement on this far into the season. One is in the backfield. The Commanders want to strike a balance between their rushing and their passing game. If they can get both clicking at the same time they can cause some damage.

It seems as if one unit has outperformed the other each week. In Week 4 against the Iron, the Commanders collected 162 rushing yards and a touchdown. The offense mustered only 106 yards through the air.

Woodside set a new personal best with 290 yards in Week 5. The former Toledo quarterback completed two passes for 50-plus yards against the Hotshots. A 57-yard pass to Alonzo Moore was the longest pass of the weekend.

The run game stumbled around for just 78 yards. The Commanders must find a balance if they want to stay on top of the West.  A strong outing from Woodside and running backs Kenneth Farrow II and Trey Williams could be deadly for the Legends defense.

The Legends look to attack Woodside early and often. They want to make him uncomfortable in the pocket and force turnovers. It starts on the defensive line. The group has 11 sacks this season and are led by pass rushers J.T. Jones and Tracy Sprinkle. Both players have caused havoc in the backfield with six combined sacks.

The Legends have come storming back after an 0-3 start. They have relied on their offense to lead them to two consecutive wins. Zampese has emphasized ball control and pace throughout the game. The Legends ran 76 plays last week. They were 10-for-18 on third down and scored twice in the red zone, where they have struggled all year.

The Legends are 2-3 on the season, and hope to find a little more consistency against the Commanders. The offense is averaging nearly 38 minutes with the ball. That being said, the Legends left several opportunities on the field. Head coach Kevin Coyle has drilled situational football. He wants the offense to cash in those scoring chances against the Commanders.

It starts with quarterback Aaron Murray. The University of Georgia product has thrived since being inserted into the starting lineup. He’s completed 47 of 76 passes for 560 yards and a touchdown in his two starts. Murray can push the ball down the field and get it into the hands of his play-makers. He can also pick up a first down with his legs if needed.

The Commanders will have their hands full him. Murray has shown the ability to run and escape the pocket. It’s going to be up to Jayrone Elliott (4.5 sacks) and the rest of the Commanders defense to contain the Legends attack.

Players to Watch

Commanders Players to watch

WR Greg Ward Jr.: Mekale McKay is the Commanders' deep threat, while DeMarcus Ayers is an ideal slot receiver. Ward is a perfect mix of both. He is finding most of his success on the underneath routes. If the Commanders can't attack down the field, Ward should be able to feast inside.

K Nick Rose: The Legends' last two games have been decided by a total of six points. Rose is looking to earn his right as the league’s top kicker. A duel with Younghoe Koo could be imminent. For the season, the Texas product has gone 10 of 10 with a long of 50 yards.

Legends Players to watch

RB Tarean Stolon: Folston is coming into his own this season. He leads the team in rushing with 156 yards and is second in receptions with 14. Last week, he had 106 total yards and scored two touchdowns.

DT T.J. Barnes: At 6-foot-6 and 379 pounds, Barnes is a monster in the middle of the Legends defense. He can take on double teams and create a lot of one-on-one matchups. Barnes could play a big role against the Commanders by collapsing the pocket. It could be a long night for Woodside and the San Antonio offense if Barnes gets penetration.

K Younghoe Koo: The Legends have depended on Koo a lot this season. He is 11-for-11 and drilled back-to-back game-winning field goals. Koo is the reigning Special Teams Player of the Week. His foot is a key weapon when the Legends cross the 35-yard line. Look for Koo to play a big role in this matchup.

Some numbers to throw at You

• San Antonio leads The Alliance with 17 sacks on the season.
• Farrow II’s 305 individual rushing yards leads the league. The team’s 686 total yards on the ground are just five yards behind the Orlando Apollos for The AAF lead overall best.
• The Commanders continue to be one of the most efficient third-down offenses. They have converted 34 of 76 attempts on third down. That is good for an Alliance-best 44.7%.
• Over the last two weeks, the Legends are averaging nearly 38 minutes in time of possession.
• The Legends rank first in four different categories in The AAF. Receiver Seantavius Jones is averaging 15.1 yards per catch.
• Punter Cameron Nizialek averages 45.8 yards per punt this season.

Prediction: Legends -1 and Over 42.5.

A 30% Bonus on EVERY Deposit at A+ Rated Online Sportsbook, BetAnySports

ACC Championship: Duke vs Florida State

Florida State Looking to Upset the Status Quo Against Duke

The Florida State Seminoles and the Duke Blue Devils will battle on Saturday at Spectrum Center. The 2019 ACC Basketball Championship will be on the line. Florida State has upset the apple cart this year. Traditional stalwarts North Carolina and Virginia got beat by Duke and FSU in the semi-finals.

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN LINE: Duke -8; O/U: 146.5.

The 5th-ranked Blue Devils will play for its 21st conference title tonight in Charlotte, N.C. The Blue Devils, who are seeded third in the tournament, got to the final with a thrilling win over rival North Carolina. The fourth-seeded Seminoles, who are 13th in the nation, surprised many with an upset win over top-seeded Virginia.

Zion Williamson tipped in his own miss with 30.3 seconds left on the clock to give Duke a one-point lead. That would be the last points scored in the game as the Blue Devils held on for a 74-73 win over North Carolina. Florida State's win wasn't quite as exciting. The Seminoles used their depth and length to shut down Virginia's offense in its 69-59 semifinal win. Duke and Florida State met just once during the ACC regular season. The Blue Devils stunned the host Seminoles with a last-second 3-pointer on Jan. 12th. Cameron Reddish hit the game-winner as part of his 23-point performance in that 80-78 win. ACC scoring leader R.J. Barrett had a game-high 32 on 10-of-19 shooting.

This, That, and a Conference Championship Dart Throw

Florida State is 27-6 on the season. The Seminoles controlled the game against the Cavaliers from start to finish. FSU won their sixth game in a row and 14th out of 15. Christ Koumadje, a 7-4 center, scored nine points on 3-of-3 shooting. He added nine rebounds in 19 minutes. Mfiondu Kabengele, a 6-10 forward , was named the ACC's Sixth Man of the Year. He added 10 points and six rebounds in 16 minutes. The duo dominated inside. Guard David Nichols led the team in scoring with 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting. The Seminoles shot 56.5 percent against the top-ranked scoring defense and third-ranked field-goal percentage defense in Division I.

Duke is 28-5 on the season. Zion Williamson is coming off a quarterfinal game where he scored 29 points on 13-of-13 shooting. He was once again the best player on the court. The phenom scored 31 points on 13-of-19 shooting and adding 11 rebounds against the Tar Heels. Barrett was averaging 23.3 points entering Friday's game. He added 15 while also scraped eight rebounds and seven assists. The Blue Devils were far from perfect on Friday. They shot just 5-of-20 from long range and made only 7-of-13 free throws.

PREDICTION: Duke 68, Florida State 65

ACC Championship Betting Odds Trends

Florida State Seminoles
Florida State is 8-4 ATS in its last 12 games
Florida State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Florida State's last 7 games
Florida State is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Duke
Florida State is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games when playing Duke
The total has gone UNDER in 17 of Florida State's last 25 games when playing Duke

Duke Blue Devils
Duke is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games
Duke is 21-4 SU in its last 25 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Duke's last 5 games
Duke is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Florida State
Duke is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing Florida State
The total has gone UNDER in 17 of Duke's last 25 games when playing Florida State

Get Free 1/2 point on two teams plus 150% Cash on first two deposits at GTBets

Jets take on Bruins on Thursday Night

Jets and Bruins Gearing up For a Stanley Cup Run

Two of the Stanley Cup favorites will clash this Thursday in Winnipeg where the Boston Bruins face the Jets. There’s no way Boston will catch the Tampa Bay Lightning for first place in the Atlantic Division, so they’re focused on maintaining second spot. That means home ice advantage over the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Jets have a slight one-point lead over the Nashville Predators for first in the Central Division. Not only will this game preview a potential Stanley Cup Final series, it may also have significant implications in the NHL standings.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), TSN3 (Winnipeg); LINE: Jets -123; O/U: 6 Over -115.

The Bruins have gone 7-2-1 over their last 10 games, BUT they’ve dropped two straight heading into Thursday’s matchup. Most recently, Boston fell 7-4 to the Columbus Blue Jackets in an uncharacteristically high-scoring game. Boston prides itself on team defense, so they’ll look to resolve some of those breakdowns against the Jets.

Winnipeg has also dropped their last two games. They have hit a bit of a rough stretch in recent weeks. They’re 4-6-0 in their last 10 games. Equally poor play by the Predators have allowed them a reprieve. They could have dropped from first in their division. Look for big bounce back games from both teams.

This, That, and a Dart Throw

After gaining at least one point in 19 consecutive games, the Boston Bruins have suffered consecutive regulation losses. Ending a three-game road trip on a high note tonight would be ideal. The Bruins cut a four-goal deficit to one Tuesday at Columbus before falling 7-4. It was a game that emphasized Boston has to play with the same edge as teams fighting for a playoff spot and positioning. With three weeks remaining in the regular season it is a must if they want to go into the postseason with any momentum.

The Jets mode right now is frustration, as the Central Division leaders fell to 6-9-2 in their past 17 games after Tuesday's 5-4 home loss to San Jose. It was a game in which the Sharks scored the game winner with five seconds left in regulation. Winnipeg is struggling on the defensive end, surrendering four goals or more eight times in a 17-game span.

The Bruins are 42-19-9 on the season. Forward Brad Marchand fueled the second-period surge Tuesday with two goals. That gives him 14 points, six goals, during an eight-game point streak. Center Patrice Bergeron has nine points, with five goals, in his past eight games. After finishing with a goal and an assist Tuesday, he moved within one point of 800 for his career. Boston ranks third in the NHL in goals allowed per game at 2.53. They struggled Tuesday as Tuukka Rask gave up five goals on 24 shots before being pulled. Bergeron has scored three shorthanded goals in the past five games, including his first-period tally Tuesday.

The Jets are 40-25-4 on the season. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has allowed 30 goals in his past eight games He has gone 2-5-0 in that span with an .894 save percentage. The Jets remain without injured defensemen Dustin Byfuglien and Josh Morrissey. Forward Patrik Laine has 10 points, four goals, in his past 10 games. It was a needed shot in the arm after he recorded just six points, with two goals, in his previous 26 contests. The Jets are in the midst of a difficult schedule, facing Calgary (second in the Western Conference in points) Saturday. F Kyle Connor scored his 27th goal of the season Tuesday after leading all rookies in 20187-18 with 31.

PREDICTION: Jets 4, Bruins 3

NHL Betting Odds & Trends

Boston Bruins
Boston is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games
Boston is 13-3 SU in its last 16 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Boston's last 10 games
Boston is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
Boston is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Winnipeg
Boston is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Winnipeg
Boston is 3-8 SU in its last 11 games when playing on the road against Winnipeg
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Boston's last 12 games when playing on the road against Winnipeg

Winnipeg Jets
Winnipeg is 5-12 ATS in its last 17 games
Winnipeg is 4-8 SU in its last 12 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Winnipeg's last 6 games
Winnipeg is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games at home
Winnipeg is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Winnipeg's last 6 games at home
Winnipeg is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Boston
Winnipeg is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Boston
Winnipeg is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games when playing at home against Boston
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Winnipeg's last 12 games when playing at home against Boston

Get a 50% Signup Bonus up to $1,000 at BetOnline Sportsbook!!!