Friday, February 10, 2006

Four Corners

Every Monday-Thursday (and occasional weekend games) renowned college basketball expert, Money will be handicapping the games for you. Picks and thoughts will be posted prior to tip-off, typically by 3:30 pm pst.

I watched Pittsburgh beat West Virginia last night. It was a pretty slow evening in the Money household. It had to be if I was watching that game with no cash riding on it. While I was not wagering on the game, I was aware what the spread was. Pittsburgh was favored by 4 points, and depending on when you bet it, the difference could have been a half a point on either side. It was a brutal game to watch, which brought back a painful memory.

Pittsburgh is incredibly efficient, but also incredibly boring to watch. West Virginia looked pretty bad as well. With all that said Pitt was always in control of the game in the second half and had some pretty comfortable leads. But with the time running down and a 7 point lead, I saw a west Virginia player heave up a meaningless three point shot with .o9 seconds to go. SWISH, and ultimately, SPREADKILLER!

Last night’s game took me back a couple of years; in fact it took me back to April 3, 2004. Uconn, on their way to their title run, had a little rendezvous with Duke. It was a great game, but like all gamblers, we are pretty much concerned only with the line and not the outcome. In this case, Uconn was favored by 2.5 points. With a few seconds left in the game, Emeka Okafor made 1 of 2 free throws. Duke brings the ball up the court and Chris Duhon throws up a running, one-legged, 38 foot 3 point bank shot. SPREADKILLER! Uconn wins the game 79-78 and ultimately the championship. Money loses one week’s paycheck and ultimately sends his kids to public school.

Ah, the mind of a gambler. I remember like it was yesterday. Too bad I can’t remember my middle child’s birthday.

Feel free to add a comment on your SPREADKILLER. I know we all have them.

Money’s trip to the Bank: (Money’s Cash cow to date – 20 wins, 14 losses). The team in ALL CAPS is my pick.

IOWA+4 @ Indiana
I am starting to feel sorry for Mike Davis

DUKE -6 @ Maryland
Most feel this is the game that will get Maryland into the NCAA tournament. I feel this will cement their spot in the NIT.

LSU +6 @ Florida
When two worlds collide and come together: My favorite team to bet on, LSU, is playing my favorite team to bet against, Florida

UCLA +4 @ Washington
I am officially on the UCLA bus until they screw me.

STANFURD +7.5 @ Gonzaga
The Cardinal do not have anyone that can guard Morrison, but they match up very well with everyone else.

NOTE: There is a comment field at the end of each article if you feel like expressing your anger publicly.

Thursday, February 09, 2006

4 Minutes of Hell

Each Thursday we will look at the AP top 25 with our eye on the prize, the tournament, and examine who is heading in the right direction and who is not. We will also project our top 4 seeds each week, leading up to the Big Dance.

AP Top 25

1) Uconn – They are just going to get better. I said that last week too. Tough upcoming road games will be a challenge.
2) Duke – Still going strong, yet the kinks in the armor are starting to show.
3) Memphis – Won’t lose again until the NCAA tournament. They have a #1 seed locked up.
4) Villanova – I would like to see more games like the second half vs. St. Josephs’.
5) Gonzaga – Barely beating St. Mary’s at home is a scary sight. That is what happens when you take Morrison out of the game.
6) Texas – They can really look dominant at times.
7) Florida – Will drop further after a home loss to South Carolina.
8) George Washington – They keep climbing. I still keep disbelieving.
9) West Virginia – A drop is coming. They have a tough road stretch ahead of. them, starting tonight at Pittsburgh.
10) Illinois – Penn State shocker!
11) Tennessee– I really like this team and the orange Jacket coach Pearl wore Tuesday night.
12) Michigan state – The big test comes next week at Iowa.
13) UCLA – Starting to impress me, although I am waiting to get disappointed.
14) Pittsburgh – Rough week on the road. I bet they turn it around at home starting tonight vs. WVA.
15) Georgetown – Arguably playing the best basketball in the country now.
16) North Carolina State – Too flaky.
17) Boston College – Not a believer in this team.
18) Iowa – The favorite to win the Big Ten.
19) Ohio State – Chugging along. Doing everything right.
20) Oklahoma – Not dead yet. Very favorable schedule down the stretch.
21) Washington – Falling like a rock.
22) Michigan – Brutal schedule that I don’t think they will make it out of unscathed.
23) North Carolina – Tough loss to Duke. Talented, hungry, young team.
24) Indiana – Mike Davis will lose his job, although he shouldn’t.
25) Northern Iowa – Glad to see this team still ranked.

The Next team? Kansas (still waiting), then Arkansas and Seton Hall.

Seeds Wash. D.C Atlanta Minneapolis Oakland
1 Duke, Memphis, Uconn, Gonzaga
2 UCLA, Villanova, Tennessee, Texas
3 Florida, Michigan St., Illinois, Iowa
4 Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Georgetown, LSU

Comments: No change to my number 1 seeds. There is a chance that all four may not lose again. The first to lose of these four will probably be Uconn against one of their next three road opponents (@ Seton Hall, @ Villanova, and @ West Virginia). Still no sign of George Washington, and they won’t really be challenged either. LSU should have dropped out, but I had nobody to replace them with. I suppose I could have put in Oklahoma. They will be in here next week.

NOTE: There is a comment field at the end of each article if you feel like expressing your anger publicly.

Four Corners

Every Monday-Thursday (and occasional weekend games) renowned college basketball expert, Money will be handicapping the games for you. Picks and thoughts will be posted prior to tip-off, typically by 3:30 pm pst.

Who is your pick for National player of the year? Most experts seem to believe it is a two-man race between Adam Morrison and J.J. Redick. I concur. But how is this race going to be decided? They both are leading the nation in scoring average at 28.4 ppg. How about whoever wins the scoring title? That sounds too easy and individualistic. Perhaps the award should be handed out to the player whose team goes the furthest in the NCAA tournament? How about the first guy to play defense?

There is no doubt they are both tremendously talented players who know how to score (Morrison) and shoot (Redick). With their uncanny ability to make baskets, they will find a spot on an NBA roster. They both have their flaws, mainly on the defensive side. Redick is small and will be posted up by bigger guards or beat off the dribble with the quicker players. Morrison simply does not play defense.

Both players are extremely vital to their team’s long term success. If either one of these guys has a bad game, or is shut down by the other team’s defensive stopper, their team will lose the game. They are both the heart and soul of each team and will take them as far as the opposing team’s allow them to.

I believe both Duke and Gonzaga will play a team that is capable of taking each star out of the game, which will ultimately close both team’s season short. In that case, we still might have a decision on our hands about who is the best player. I say give it to the player with the neatly trimmed moustache and the colorful tube socks. I take Morrison by a hair.

Money’s trip to the Bank: (Money’s Cash cow to date – 19 wins, 14 losses). The team in ALL CAPS is my pick.

UCLA -1.5 @ Washington State
The Bruins are too focused to lose a game like this on the road.

NOTE: There is a comment field at the end of each article if you feel like expressing your anger publicly.

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

Four Corners

Every Monday-Thursday (and occasional weekend games) renowned college basketball expert, Money will be handicapping the games for you. Picks and thoughts will be posted prior to tip-off, typically by 3:30 pm pst.

The biggest reason for my interest in college basketball is the emotion of which the game is played at. Most college sports are emotional with large student sections and face-painters, but college basketball plays at a speed where you can capture that emotion and do something about it, like score a lot of points.

You can never underestimate a team’s home court advantage and how much that can help a team. This is extremely important, when partaking in halftime bets. I am a big fan of the “second half” bet. It is tough to know how a particular team will do starting off the game. You may think they have a lot to play for or be really excited for a big rival, but that does not equate to a fast start. But being down 15 points, not playing a lick of defense, being embarrassed on your home court and having the head coach scream at you can make a big impact on an 18 year old kid in the second half.

You see it every night. A top 25 team beats a team they were supposed to beat by 12 points. Except when you look at the box score, they outscored the team by 25 points in the second after being down by 13 at halftime. If you have the time to monitor these games, the opportunity to make some money is there. Target a couple of games (example: South Carolina @ Florida -12 tonight) where you feel the home team should win and see if the opposing team puts together a good run in the first half. Most likely the visitor will be shooting above 50% in the first half, a trend that will quickly change at halftime, with better defense and more intelligent shots by the home court.

Money’s trip to the Bank: (Money’s Cash cow to date – 18 wins, 14 losses). The team in ALL CAPS is my pick.

SETON HALL -3 @ South Florida
The Hall is quietly gaining some momentum in the Big East and should have no trouble with this team on the road.

NOTE: There is a comment field at the end of each article if you feel like expressing your anger publicly.

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

Four Corners

Every Monday-Thursday (and occasional weekend games) renowned college basketball expert, Money will be handicapping the games for you. Picks and thoughts will be posted prior to tip-off, typically by 3:30 pm pst.

Before we speak about the hoop games this week, I wanted to quickly discuss the Superbowl. Some of my predictions were quite accurate. Yes, I did receive very bad information regarding the coin toss. My “sources” in Detroit were obviously partying too much with Ben Roethlisberger. But my best prediction about this game was how much this game would suck (click here for the link http://veracitysports.blogspot.com/2006/01/super-toiletbowl-sunday.html). This was the worst superbowl I have ever seen. This was not two great defenses shutting down the opposing team’s offense. These were just two very average teams playing in the pinnacle of professional sports. I wish both teams had lost. Bring back the dynasties of the 49ers, Cowboys and Steelers. It was more fun to root against them.

Don’t talk to me about the poor officiating either. Yes, there were some bad calls, but good teams and good players overcome mistakes like that. These referees are human beings and they will make mistakes. What are we expecting to see, computers making the accurate call? We are getting close to that, and when we get there, we won’t even have to play the game. That will be fun.

The commercials were not that great either, the worst being the Hummer 3 add with the robot and Godzilla-creature having a baby, the car. Who was the audience for that commercial? My 6 year old son? He does not have any money, nor does he know how to drive. He did like the commercial though. I gave him a timeout after he voiced his approval for that commercial.

Football is over, baseball will soon begin, but right now our focus is on March Madness. In case you did not know, it is “Rivalry Week” on ESPN. Next week on ESPN will be “Ally Week”, followed by “ACC week”, culminating in “Dukie Vitale picks Duke to win it all Baby” week. Whatever.

Money’s trip to the Bank: (Money’s Cash cow to date – 16 wins, 11 losses). The team in ALL CAPS is my pick.

VIRGINIA +7 @ Maryland 4pm
A good gambler has a short (or no) memory. I still like the Cavaliers getting points here even though they burned me on Saturday.

TENNESSEE +2.5 @ Kentucky 4pm
Kentucky has had the upper hand in this rivalry recently, but this is our hill and these are our beans.

ST. JOSEPH’S +7.5 vs. Villanova 4:30pm
This rivalry game is being played at a neutral site. Villanova is a great team, but they never blow anybody out. They win the game, but keep it close.

WICHITA STATE +6 @ Northern Iowa 5pm
Ben Jacobsen has been struggling with his shot. They will win, but this game will be close.

NORTH CAROLINA +5 vs. Duke 6pm
These games are always close. The Tar Heels are playing very well now. NC wins this game.

NOTE: There is a comment field at the end of each article if you feel like expressing your anger publicly.