Rockets Host Nuggets in Western Showdown

Nuggets and Rockets Jockey for Playoff Position

Now that they’ve clinched a playoff spot, the Denver Nuggets (50-23 SU, 38-35 ATS) and Houston Rockets (47-28 SU, 34-38-3 ATS) can take it easy from here. OR they can keep fighting to improve their spot in the Western Conference standings.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBATV, Altitude (Denver), AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston) LINE: Rockets -6; O/U: 217.

The Denver Nuggets halted a nine-game losing skid against the Rockets earlier this season. Now they look to make it two straight wins. Backup guard Malik Beasley scored a career-best 35 points and star center Nikola Jokic added 31 as the Nuggets posted a 136-122 home win over the Rockets on Feb. 1.

Denver is a hot squad with seven victories in its last eight games. They are waging a battle with the Golden State Warriors for the top seed in the Western Conference. Tuesday's 95-92 home win over the Detroit Pistons gave the Nuggets their first 50-win season since going 57-25 in 2012-13. Houston suffered a 108-94 road loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday. They are battling the Portland Trail Blazers for the third seed in the West. James Harden scored just 23 points on 9-of-26 shooting and is averaging 25.5 points over the past two games. He averaged 59 over the previous two contests.

This, That, and a Dart Throw

The contest against Houston begins a stretch in which seven of Denver's eight games are against probable Western Conference playoff squads. This could be a good thing heading into the postseason. Point guard Jamal Murray scored 33 points against Detroit after having just four on 2-of-12 shooting in a loss to the Indiana Pacers two nights earlier.

The loss to Milwaukee was just the third in the past 17 games for Houston. They never got on track offensively and shot 36.4% from the field. Center Clint Capela was on his game with 17 points (on 8-of-11 shooting) and 11 rebounds for his 39th double-double of the season. The Rockets won the past five home encounters with the Nuggets.

Prediction: Rockets 126, Nuggets 123

NBA Betting Odds & Trends

Denver Nuggets
Denver is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games
Denver is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games
The total has gone UNDER in 14 of Denver's last 16 games
Denver is 8-16 ATS in its last 24 games on the road
Denver is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Denver's last 9 games on the road
Denver is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Houston
Denver is 1-9 SU in its last 10 games when playing Houston
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Denver's last 5 games when playing Houston
Denver is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Houston

Houston Rockets
Houston is 14-3 SU in its last 17 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Houston's last 8 games
Houston is 4-7-1 ATS in its last 12 games at home
Houston is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Houston's last 6 games at home
Houston is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Denver
Houston is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games when playing Denver
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Houston's last 5 games when playing Denver
Houston is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Denver

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Blue Jackets and Canadiens Face off Tonight

Canadiens and Blue Jackets Battle for Final Playoff Spot

Thursday night will be the most important game of the season for both the Columbus Blue Jackets and Montreal Canadiens. Both clubs are in the midst of a playoff battle for the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. Just two points are separating the teams. Thursday’s game could mean a potential four-point swing for the winning team.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NHL Network, TSN2, RDS (Montreal), FS Ohio (Columbus); LINE: Blue Jackets -148; O/U: 5.5 Under -106.

Over the course of the past week, Montreal has managed to secure 9 of 10 possible points. That hot play has allowed them to gain ground on the Carolina Hurricanes, who currently hold the first Wild Card spot. They have also stayed ahead of the Blue Jackets. Goaltender Carey Price has been the difference maker for them over that run. He’s registered a shutout and allowed just eight goals over those five games.

Columbus is feeling the pressure of the playoff push. They have responded by shutting out their opponents in each of the last two games. Sergei Bobrovsky saved all 47 shots he faced over those two games. He is doing his part to keep the Blue Jackets in the race. The winner of Thursday’s contest will have an edge in the playoff race heading into the final five games of the season.

This, That, and a Dart Throw

Bobrovsky has turned aside 120 of 123 shots in his last four outings for the Blue Jackets. They have improved to 4-0-1 in their last five outings following Tuesday's 4-0 victory over the New York Islanders. The Blue Jackets have won a season high-tying four in a row at home heading into Thursday's pivotal contest. Montreal is riding the strong play of its own former Vezina Trophy recipient to cling to the final wild-card spot. Carey Price made 33 saves in Tuesday's 6-1 victory over Florida. He has yielded 13 goals in his last eight contests overall and owns a 9-3-1 mark in 13 career encounters with Columbus.

The Canadiens are 41-28-8 on the season. Tomas Tatar recorded his second three-point performance in three games on Tuesday. This arguably could be construed as the best season of his career. He'll likely get no argument from the Blue Jackets. Tatar boosted his point total to a career-best 57. This was after collecting two goals and an assist against the Panthers. He scored twice in a 4-1 win in Columbus on Jan. 18, and he tallied again versus the Blue Jackets in a 3-2 victory on Feb. 19. Artturi Lehkonen scored for the second time in his last three games. He was able to lift his goal total to 10, giving Montreal an NHL-best 12 skaters in double digits. C Max Domi has eight (five goals, three assists) of his team-leading 68 points in his last eight games. D Phillip Danault scored on Tuesday to snap a 20-game goal drought and move within one point of 50 for the first time in his career.

The Blue Jackets are 42-30-4 on the season. Matt Duchene recorded his 20th multi-point performance of the season and second with Columbus. He was instrumental in setting up a pair of goals against the Islanders. He collected a goal and two assists against Montreal while playing for Ottawa. Fellow former Senator Ryan Dzingel has found his stride by scoring a goal in his second consecutive contest. He was able to extend his point streak to three games. Artemi Panarin, who tallied for the first time in March on Tuesday, also has set up four goals in his last seven contests. That boosted his team-leading totals in assists (52) and points (78). D Seth Jones has scored one goal and set up four others during his five-game point streak at home.

Prediction: Blue Jackets 3, Canadiens 1

NHL Betting Odds & Trends

Montreal Canadiens
Montreal is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
Montreal is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Montreal's last 8 games
Montreal is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games on the road
Montreal is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Montreal's last 6 games on the road
Montreal is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Columbus
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Montreal's last 7 games when playing Columbus
Montreal is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Columbus
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Montreal's last 6 games when playing on the road against Columbus

Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Columbus's last 5 games
Columbus is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Columbus is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Columbus's last 6 games at home
Columbus is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Montreal
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Columbus's last 7 games when playing Montreal
Columbus is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Montreal
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Columbus's last 6 games when playing at home against Montreal

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MLB Opening Day: Red Sox vs Mariners

World Champion Red Sox and Mariners Open on ESPN

The Boston Red Sox and the Seattle Mariners will open their 2019 MLB Seasons on Thursday when they battle at Safeco Field. The Red Sox kick off the defense of their latest championship tonight. While the Red Sox will be enjoying their regular-season opener, the Mariners already have a jump on the competition. They earned a pair of wins over the Oakland Athletics in Japan last week

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, ESPN, NESN (Boston); LINE: Red Sox -195 moneyline; O/U: 7.5 Under -115.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH Chris Sale (2018: 12-4, 2.11 ERA) vs. Mariners LH Marco Gonzales (1-0, 4.50).

Boston won a franchise-record 108 games in the regular season last year. They went on to win the World Series and brings back much the same team. They are led by reigning MVP Mookie Betts, slugging designated hitter J.D. Martinez and a strong starting rotation. The Mariners are in a bit of a transition. This came about after trading away players like Robinson Cano, Jean Segura, James Paxton and Edwin Diaz in the offseason. The team got solid performances from some of the newcomers in the two victories in Japan. Domingo Santana homered and drove in five runs. New shortstop Tim Beckham went 5-for-7 with a homer and four runs scored

This, That, and a Dart Throw

Last time out for Seattle, they were a 5-4 winner as they battled the Athletics on the road. Moneyline bettors who got the Mariners at -120 were rewarded. The 9 combined runs moved the game UNDER for totals bettors.

Gonzales allowed four runs, three earned, on seven hits and a walk in six innings against the Athletics last week. He struck out four. He was still building stamina as part of his spring training routine, so he was limited to 69. Gonzales went 13-9 with a 4.00 ERA in a breakout 2018 campaign. He suffered the loss in his only outing against Boston. He gave up five runs and seven hits in six innings on June 24.

Sale battled shoulder inflammation down the stretch last season. It stretched into the playoffs as well. The Red Sox ace struck out the side to cap off the World Series win and was signed to a $145 million extension last week. That contract will keep him in Boston through the 2024 season. Sale finished in the top five of the AL Cy Young Award voting in each of the last seven seasons. He is 29-12 with a 2.56 ERA and 545 strikeouts in 372 1/3 innings over two seasons in Boston

Prediction: Red Sox 5, Mariners 1

MLB Betting Odds & Trends

Boston Red Sox
Boston is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
Boston is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games
The total has gone OVER in 13 of Boston's last 19 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Boston's last 6 games
Boston is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Boston is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games on the road
Boston is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Seattle
The total has gone UNDER in 13 of Boston's last 19 games when playing Seattle
Boston is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games when playing on the road against Seattle
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Boston's last 15 games when playing on the road against Seattle

Seattle Mariners
Seattle is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
Seattle is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Seattle's last 6 games
Seattle is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Seattle is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home
Seattle is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Boston
The total has gone UNDER in 13 of Seattle's last 19 games when playing Boston
Seattle is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games when playing at home against Boston
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Seattle's last 15 games when playing at home against Boston

Next up:
Boston at Seattle Friday, March 29

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NIT: Colorado Buffaloes vs Texas Longhorns

Teams Taking Advantage of Post Season Hoops

The Colorado Buffaloes and the Texas Longhorns will meet on Wednesday in Austin, Texas. They are playing in the quarterfinals of the Nation's longest postseason basketball tournament, the NIT. Texas and Colorado were Big 12 rivals from 1996-2010. The Buffs have won both meetings since joining the Pac-12 in 2011. The most was a 68-54 victory Nov. 22, 2016 during the Legends Classic third-place game in Brooklyn.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPN2 LINE: Longhorns -5.5; O/U: 138.5.

Making the school's first NIT appearance in 33 years, Texas has defeated South Dakota State (79-73) and Xavier (78-76 in overtime) to reach the Alabama Region final. Coach Shaka Smart's team is now a win away from the program's first NIT semifinal berth since 1978. The Longhorns went on to capture the crown. Colorado is in the NIT for the third time in nine seasons. They have downed Dayton (78-73) along with Norfolk State (76-60) in the first two rounds. Coach Tad Boyle's Buffs are seeking the program's fifth berth to the Big Apple semifinals. It would be their first since 2011. Their one and only championship was won way back in the NIT's third season in 1940. Texas is 14-6 at home this season while Colorado is 5-8 in true road contests.

This, That, and a Dart Throw

Colorado is 23-12 on the season and feel they should have made the NCAA Tournament. A Win tonight over a good Texas team may prove that. The Buffs took a 43-23 lead into the half against Norfolk State Monday. They cruised to the win on the strength of 50% shooting. They also took advantage of dominating at the free-throw line (16-10) and on the glass (42-37). Emerging forward Evan Battey notched his first career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Tyler Bey just missed his eighth in double in his last 10 games with a game-high 17 points and nine boards. The 6-7 Bey is averaging a team-best 13.4 points and 9.8 boards. He is a key reason why Colorado ranks in the nation's top 20 in rebound margin at plus-6.5.

Texas is 18-16 on the season and showing it's strength of schedule prepared them or postseason battle. It is guard Kerwin Roach II's last go-round with the Longhorns, and he leads the team in scoring t 14.8 points per game. He is also averaging 3.1 assists and 4.4 rebounds. Roach came through Sunday with his best game in more than a month. He scored a team-high 21 points while contributing eight rebounds and six assists in the overtime win versus Xavier. Forward Dylan Osetkowski is chipping in 10.7 ppg and a team-leading 7.1 rebounds. Texas has connected on 26-of-61 from 3-point range in its two NIT wins.

Prediction: Texas 74, Colorado 69

NIT Betting Odds & Trends

Colorado Buffaloes
Colorado is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games
Colorado is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Colorado's last 6 games
Colorado is 6-15 ATS in its last 21 games on the road
Colorado is 7-15 SU in its last 22 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Colorado's last 5 games on the road
Colorado is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Texas
Colorado is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games when playing Texas
Colorado is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Texas
Colorado is 2-9 SU in its last 11 games when playing on the road against Texas
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Colorado's last 5 games when playing on the road against Texas

Texas Longhorns
Texas is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Texas's last 5 games
Texas is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Texas is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
Texas is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Colorado
Texas is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games when playing Colorado
Texas is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Colorado
Texas is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games when playing at home against Colorado
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Texas's last 5 games when playing at home against Colorado

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Pacers and Thunder in Key NBA Matchup

Thunder the Pacers Lurking in Middle of Pack for NBA Playoff Spots

With the playoffs rapidly approaching, both the Indiana Pacers (45-29 SU, 37-37 ATS) and the Oklahoma City Thunder (43-31 SU, 37-37 ATS) could use a win when they meet this Wednesday at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

TV: ESPN, 8 PM ET. LINE: Thunder -6.5; O/U: 217.5.

The Pacers are in fourth place in the Eastern Conference. They are fighting off the Boston Celtics for home-court advantage in the opening round. They’ve been remarkably successful despite the loss of All-Star guard Victor Oladipo with a ruptured quad. Indiana is also 5-9 SU and ATS over the past month. They did beat the Thunder 108-106 on March 14 as a pick’em at home.

Oklahoma City is one of the four teams currently holding down the bottom seeds in the Western Conference playoff hunt. They’re likely to finish anywhere between third and eighth. The Thunder are also in a prolonged slump at 6-11 SU and 4-13 ATS since Valentine’s Day. Paul George’s shooting has been affected by ongoing shoulder issues. Markieff Morris has struggled since he was jettisoned by the Washington Wizards and plucked from the waiver wire on February 20th.

This, That, and a Dart Throw

The Pacers' Bogdanovic poured in a team-high 35 points on 13-of-16 shooting in Sunday's win. He was 5-of-6 from beyond the arc despite sitting out the fourth quarter. The Pacers head into play tonight with a three-game cushion over the fifth-place Boston Celtics. Indiana's last win in Oklahoma City was a 115-111 overtime triumph on Nov. 20, 2016.

The Thunders' Russell Westbrook managed 16 points on 6-of-20 shooting in Monday's loss and blamed himself for the team's struggles. Backup point guard Dennis Schroder was one of the bright spots Monday with 25 points on 9-of-14 shooting. C Steven Adams, who is shooting 59.4 percent on the season, is 7-of-23 from the floor over the last three games.

Prediction: Thunder 108, Pacers 101

NBA Betting Odds & Trends

Indiana Pacers
Indiana is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games
Indiana is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Indiana's last 10 games
Indiana is 1-7 ATS in its last 8 games on the road
Indiana is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Indiana's last 7 games on the road
Indiana is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Oklahoma City
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Indiana's last 5 games when playing Oklahoma City
Indiana is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Oklahoma City
Indiana is 3-10 SU in its last 13 games when playing on the road against Oklahoma City
The total has gone OVER in 10 of Indiana's last 15 games when playing on the road against Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games
Oklahoma City is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games
Oklahoma City is 1-7 ATS in its last 8 games at home
Oklahoma City is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Oklahoma City's last 7 games at home
Oklahoma City is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Indiana
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Oklahoma City's last 5 games when playing Indiana
Oklahoma City is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games when playing at home against Indiana
Oklahoma City is 10-3 SU in its last 13 games when playing at home against Indiana
The total has gone OVER in 10 of Oklahoma City's last 15 games when playing at home against Indiana

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LeBron James Retweets Sportsbook

Nothing is going right for LeBron James in recent weeks. His team, LA Lakers, didn’t make it to the playoffs. Just over the weekend, the NBA superstar probably got in trouble with the league for retweeting something from an offshore sportsbook.

James retweeted a video posted by MyBookie, an offshore sportsbook based in Curacao. The video showed LA Angels baseball player Mike Trout walking to the home plate. Trout made sports news when he signed a huge 12-year contract with the Angels worth $426.5 million. In fact, it is the largest contract in all of sports.

It is uncertain whether the offshore sportsbook paid LeBron for the Twitter post. However, the damage was already done. The post got 56,000 likes and 7,800 retweets. Also, it is not clear what the NBA will do about James’ social media post. The best pay per head can only dream of getting a free shout out from the NBA superstar.

LeBron James, Offshore Sportsbook, and the NBA

In January, the NBA said it will reinforce its gambling policy. In fact, it is the league’s attempt to ensure the integrity of the games in the age of sports betting. Also, the league wants to educate players and fans However, the NBA hasn’t made any actions against the basketball superstar as of press time.

The NBA wants to emulate the English Premier League when it comes to their sports betting policies. In addition, they want to promote responsible gambling as sports betting become more popular these days.

LeBron James has more than 42 million followers on Twitter. The single Twitter post has a wide reach across the globe. Also, it can help increase the profile of any brand featured in his social media post. It is like a seal of approval for the sportsbook, which has a better endorsement than sportsbooks pay per head reviews.

According to sportsbook pay per head experts, James should make sure he is dealing with legal entities. Whether it is a paid post or not, James must check if the company is a legit one or not. Random retweets can legitimize the brand in the eyes of his fans.

NBA Monday Free Betting Pick- 76ers at Magic

76ers Have Won 6 of Last 7, Peaking for Playoffs

The Philadelphia 76ers head to Orlando this Monday night to face the Magic in the front end of NBA TV’s doubleheader of betting action at BetAnySports. Philadelphia comes in as a 1.5-point favorite with the total set at 219 points. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.

The 76ers’
recent straight-up six-game winning streak came to an end on Saturday with a
tight 129-127 loss to Atlanta as 7.5-point road favorites. The total went OVER
the 236-point closing line and it has gone OVER in their last five contests.
Philadelphia (47-26 SU) remains on the road with a SU 18-17 record while going
15-20 against the spread. The total has gone OVER in its last three road games.

Despite the two-point loss on a last second bucket, the Sixers showed excellent scoring balance against Atlanta with all five starters scoring in double figures. Joel Embiid led the way with 27 points to match his team-high 27.5-point scoring average. Philadelphia is ranked fourth in the NBA in scoring with an average of 115.3 points per game and it has been able to score at least 118 points in each of its last five outings.

Magic Still Fighting for Playoff Spot

Orlando remains a game in back of the Miami Heat for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. It is 35-38 SU overall with a 38-34-1 record ATS. The Magic started their current five-game homestand with a 29-point victory against Cleveland ahead of two more double-digit wins against Atlanta and New Orleans. They needed overtime to get past Memphis 123-119 on Friday night to extend this SU winning streak to four. Orlando failed to cover in that last win as a 10.5-point favorite to slip to 3-1 ATS in those four wins.

While the Magic are well down the list in scoring this season with an average of 106.1 PPG, they have topped the 119-point mark in three of their last four games. Center Nikola Vucevic is the team’s leading scorer with 20.7 points and he led the way against Memphis with 25 points in Friday’s win. The roster is five deep with players averaging at least 12 PPG.

Philadelphia has the SU 2-1 edge in the season series with Orlando covering BetAnySports’ spread in two of the three games. My lean is towards Philly again SU, but I am betting the OVER on the 219-point line.

NBA Betting Odds & Trends

Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
Philadelphia is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Philadelphia's last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 15 of Philadelphia's last 23 games
Philadelphia is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games when playing Orlando
Philadelphia is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Orlando
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Philadelphia's last 8 games when playing Orlando
Philadelphia is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games when playing on the road against Orlando
Philadelphia is 6-18 SU in its last 24 games when playing on the road against Orlando
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Philadelphia's last 5 games when playing on the road against Orlando

Orlando Magic
Orlando is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games
Orlando is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Orlando's last 6 games
Orlando is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 games at home
Orlando is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Orlando's last 6 games at home
Orlando is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games when playing Philadelphia
Orlando is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing Philadelphia
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Orlando's last 8 games when playing Philadelphia
Orlando is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games when playing at home against Philadelphia
Orlando is 18-6 SU in its last 24 games when playing at home against Philadelphia
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Orlando's last 5 games when playing at home against Philadelphia

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March Madness: Iowa Hawkeyes vs Cincinnati Bearcats

Red-Hot Bearcats Look to Stave off Hawkeyes

The fans at Nationwide Arena will the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Cincinnati Bearcats when they take their seats on Friday. They square off in the opening round of March Madness. The 2019 edition of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament has already shown it is going to be a wild one. This game should be no different.

TV: CBS 12:15 pm EST LINE: Cincinnati -4.5; O/U: 136.5.

Seventh-seeded Cincinnati looks to ride the momentum from an American Athletic Conference Tournament title. The team makes the short drive to Columbus, Ohio to take on 10th seed Iowa in the first round of the South Regional on Friday. The Bearcats knocked off Houston 69-57 in Sunday's AAC championship game. they received 33 points from conference player of the year Jarron Cumberland. Defense may end up being the key to its NCAA Tournament hopes.

The Bearcats are making their ninth straight appearance in the Big Dance. They will have to be just as sharp defensively if they are to advance past the first round for the third straight year. Iowa averages 78.3 points and had wins versus Michigan, Oregon and Iowa State during the regular season. The Hawkeyes return to the field after missing out the last two seasons. They struggled down the stretch while losing five of their last six games. They got shellacked, 74-53, Friday against Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals.

This, That, and a Dart Throw

Iowa was 22-11 on the season. They were sitting pretty for a high seed until the late season slumber. Forward Tyler Cook leads the way for the Hawkeyes in scoring at 14.9 ppg. He has a 52.8% shooting from the field. He leads in rebounding for the second straight season, averaging 7.9 rpg. Forward Luka Garza averaged 15.3 points the last three games to push his season mark to 12.9 ppg on 52.4% from the floor. Guard Joe Wieskamp drains 42.2% from 3-point land. Guard Jordan Bohannon scores at 11.3 points a clip and averages a team-high 3.4 assists per game. He must rebound from a rough Big Ten Tournament when he went 2-of-8 from the field in two games after being shut out by Michigan. The Hawkeyes won their first game in the NCAA Tournament their last two appearances in 2015 and 2016.

Cincinnati was 28-6 on the regular season and look to be prime form coming into the Tournament. Cumberland looked a little tired near the end of the regular season,. He was only shooting 32.9 percent in the last six games. He did average 23.3 points along with six rebounds and 4.3 assists in the conference tournament. Guard Keith Williams is the only other player averaging in double figures at 10/1 ppg., He is scoring just 5.4 per game over the past five contests. Guard Justin Jenifer has a nice 4.0 assist/turnover ratio and gives the Bearcats a steady hand. Forward Tre Scott tops the team in rebounding with 6.9 a clip. He averaged 13.7 points along with 9.3 boards in the conference tournament. G Cane Broome scored 15 on Sunday and was 6-of-11 from 3-point range in the conference tournament.

Prediction: Cincinnati 74, Iowa 67

March Madness Betting Odds & Trends

Iowa Hawkeyes

Team record: 22-11 SU,13-20 ATS
Iowa is 1-9 ATS in its last 10 games
Iowa is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games

Cincinnati Bearcats

Team record: 28-6 SU,14-20 ATS
Current Streak: won 3 straight games.
Cincinnati is 2-9 ATS in its last 11 games
Cincinnati is 16-3 SU in its last 19 games

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March Madness: Old Dominion Monarchs vs Purdue Boilermakers

Can Purdue Shake Off Mediocre Shooting Against Old Dominion?

The Old Dominion Monarchs and the Purdue Boilermakers meet on Thursday at XL Center. They will be playing in the first round of the Men's NCAA Basketball Tournament, which is nothing but March Madness.

TV: 9:50 p.m. ET LINE: Purdue -12.5; O/U: 127.

Carsen Edwards is stuck in a prolonged shooting slump for the Boilermakers. He'll likely make or break the NCAA Tournament for third-seeded Purdue. We will find out tonight against No. 14 seed Old Dominion in the first round of the South Region at Hartford, Conn. Edwards is the leading scorer in the Big Ten. He Has struggled since the first of February but will look to turn it on against the Monarchs. He is the No. 9 scorer in Purdue history,

Also figure in that Edwards is dealing with a back injury. The Boilermakers could be ripe for the picking after getting bounced in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament by Minnesota. Edwards is the nation's 12th-leading scorer at 23 points per game. He has shot 32.9% from the field and 22.5% from 3-point land over the last 11 games. Purdue still managed to win eight of those games. Senior guards B.J. Stith and Ahmad Caver have led the Monarchs, of Norfolk, Va., to their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2011. They captured the Conference USA regular season and tournament titles.

This, That, and a Dart Throw

Old Dominion went 26-8 during the regular season and look to be back where the program was around a decade ago. The Monarchs defeated Western Kentucky in the C-USA Tournament final to earn the automatic bid. They win with defense, and are led by their two All-C-USA first-team players Stith and Caver. The team ranks in the top 10 nationally in scoring defense, giving up only 60.9 per game. They also are 10th in field goal percentage defense at 39.1%, and have held its last 10 opponents to fewer than 65 points. Stith, the son of Bryant Stith who is the all-time leading scorer in Virginia history, leads the team in scoring at 16.9 points per game. He also lead in rebounding at 7.4 rpg. Caver is tops in assists at 5.6 apg for a team that averages 66.2 points per contest. The Monarchs are led by Jeff Jones, the former Virginia coach. He has 497 career wins. They are 3-11 all-time in the NCAA Tournament and have never made it past the second round.

Purdue was 23-9 during the regular season. The Boilermakers do not have anybody that can match Edwards' scoring on a nightly basis. Ryan Cline and Matt Haarms have can occasionally. Cline had a combined 33 points and 10 assists and made 10 3-pointers in a pair of late-season matchups with Minnesota. Purdue lost both games. Haarms, a 7-3 center, has scored in double figures in six of the last eight games and has averaged 2.9 blocks in the last 11 contests. The Boilermakers will be making their fifth straight appearance in the tournament and have reached the Sweet 16 in each of the last two seasons.

Prediction: Old Dominion 67, Purdue 6

March Madness Betting Odds & Trends

Old Dominion Monarchs

Team record: 26-8 SU,13-20-1 ATS
Current Streak: won 3 straight games.
Old Dominion is 1-7-1 ATS in its last 9 games
Old Dominion is 10-2 SU in its last 12 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Old Dominion's last 5 games

Purdue Boilermakers

Team record: 23-9 SU,17-15 ATS
Purdue is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games
Purdue is 14-3 SU in its last 17 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Purdue's last 6 games

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March Madness: Florida Gators vs Nevada Wolf Pack

Can Nevada Keep Record Setting Season Going Against Gators?

The fans at Wells Fargo Arena-IA will see the Florida Gators and the Nevada Wolf Pack when they take their seats on Thursday. The First round if the NCAA Tournament gets underway across the Nation. I don't count the First Four games as part of the tournament. They are usually garbage teams that need to be in the Not Invited Tournament.

TV: 6:50 p.m. ET, TNT LINE: Nevada -2.5; O/U: 134.5.

Nevada's record-setting season has run over some speed bumps down the stretch. They have three losses in its last eight games. The Wolf Pack drew a seventh seed for the NCAA Tournament and tip off play, mainly because of their mediocre play.

Coach Eric Musselman's, Mountain West Conference-co-champion, Nevada squad started 24-1 while matching the single-season program record for wins with 29. They are back in the Big Dance for the third straight season. Last season the seventh-seeded Wolf Pack rallied from double-digit deficits to beat Texas, 87-83. They then upended second-seeded Cincinnati, 75-73. They lost a 69-68 thriller to eventual regional champ Loyola Chicago in the South semifinals. It equaled Nevada's 2003-04 squad for the program's farthest advancement in their eight NCAA Tournament appearances. Florida also is making its third straight March Madness appearance after earning an at-large bid out of the SEC. The teams' No. 10 seed matches its lowest in 22 appearances since the NCAA tourney expanded to 64 teams in 1985. Florida has forced 503 turnovers this season, Nevada has only committed 338, the 17th fewest nationally.

This, That, and a Dart Throw

Florida is 19-15 on the season, and frankly I can't see how they sneaked into the tournament with teams with better resume's on the outside looking in. Coach Mike White's Gators have advanced to the Big Dance in three of his four seasons since taking over for Billy Donovan. Last week they beat Arkansas, 66-50, and top-seeded LSU, 76-73, in the SEC Tournament. They fell 65-62 to eventual-champion Auburn in the semis. Guards KeVaughn Allen (12 points per game), Noah Locke (9.6) and Jalen Hudson (9.0) are the leading scorers for the perimeter-oriented Gators. The squad averages 68.3 points per outing. Florida only allows 63.6 points per game, which is 21st nationally, and forces an average of 14.8 turnovers per contest. Florida has won at least one NCAA tourney game in its last six appearances.

Nevada was 29-4 during the regular season and frankly would have been seeded higher if not for the falter down the stretch. The Wolf Pack shared the Mountain West regular-season title with Utah State. Following a 77-69 quarterfinal win over Boise State, Nevada fell to fourth-seeded San Diego State 65-56 in the conference tourney semifinals. Forward Jordan Caroline averages 17.3 points and a team-best 9.6 rebounds. Fellow Senior Caleb Martin, who averages 19.2 ppg, was an All-Mountain West first-team selection. He missed the game against the Aztecs with Achilles tendinitis. It has been a continuing issue for the 6'-7" senior. The issue finally caused him to miss his first game of the season. Martin's twin brother, Cody averages 11.7 points and a team-most 5.1 assists). Guard Jazz Johnson, at 11.2 ppg, also average double figures for the Wolf Pack. Nevada led the Mountain West in scoring at 81.6 points per game, scoring defense at 66.6, and turnover margin at 3.65 per game, during the regular season.

Prediction: Nevada Wolf Pack 76, Florida Gators 67

March Madness Betting Odds & Trends

Florida Gators:

Team record: 19-15 SU,16-18 ATS
Florida is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Florida is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Florida's last 14 games

Nevada Wolf Pack:

Team record: 29-4 SU,18-14-1 ATS
Nevada is 1-7 ATS in its last 8 games
Nevada is 21-4 SU in its last 25 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Nevada's last 6 games

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