Vegas veteran Benjamin Eckstein, author of America’s Line, brings three decades of experience to produce weekly selections in his”Ecks & Bacon” column.
Final Four picks
LAS VEGAS — Can’t recall which one of those 279 websites where I read this, but this is actually the first time in 31 years that among those so-called Blue Bloods won’t be at the Final Four. We are talking North Carolina, Kansas, Kentucky, Duke, UCLA and Louisville. That’s THIRTY-ONE Decades! WOW!
Now for the winner of this very first game on Saturday between Virginia and Auburn. Speaking of Blue Bloods, Charles Barkley’s Tigers conquer Kansas, North Carolina and Kentucky, back to back, to make it to their original EVER Final Four. That was VERY impressive. And the previous W against Kentucky has been WITHOUT among their best players, Chuma Okeke. Auburn rumbles to the party 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 too, winning 13 of their last 14, but contrary to the spread, the’Hoos have managed to pay just three of their last seven. Not necessarily calling for the upset, but would purchase the hook, push the lineup to +6, and watch Sir Charles cry on national TV. Crying since, as we all know,” Barkley is a ferocious sports bettor, and he will 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 drive Tech to +3. What else can the Red Raiders do? They rolled into the Sweet 16 against the second-best defensive group in school hoops, Michigan, and blew the Wolverines off 63-44. Then they looked at the daunting task of facing the NUMBER ONE crime in the Nation in the Elite Eight, Gonzaga. You think 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 using all the Big Ten? Gotcha. Besides the Michigan match, 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 onto the court in Minneapolis working within an 8-0 disperse PERFECTO on the street. It ai not gonna be easy, but we’re backing the blossom, Chris Beard!!!
NBA select For your wagering pleasure, here will be your spread stats of this day. The Nuggets may not grab the Warriors for the top seed in the Western Conference, but you realize they are gonna deliver some heat to the ESPN matchup against the Blazers. Denver has been around a sweet roll, winning nine of the last 13 up, but against the spread, the Nugs have covered only four of the last 12.
They have been stingy with things allowed and have gone UNDER in 10 of the last 12 games. Portland brings a similar portfolio to the dining table, winning eight of the previous nine straight up, but have done WAY better against the spread, covering four of their previous five. Looking at the big picture, the Nuggets’ overall spread log sits at 40-38, 24-15 at house and 29-26 as a favored. The Blazers’ overall spread markers is 44-33-1, 21-18 on the street and 13-15 as an underdog. Light tickle to Portland.
NHL select Additionally skating on the NHL ice, and obtained a drama over the Rangers into the Blue Jackets.
PLZ struck me on Twitter over the weekend, even @vegasvigorish, only if anything pops.
Benjamin Eckstein is a nationally syndicated sportswriter/oddsmaker. His column, America’s Line, together with the Ecks & Bacon appetizer, has run in the New York Daily News and above 100 other newspapers since 1988. You can follow him online at www.americasline.com. He is beloved by most, when he picks winners, and detested by others, when he chooses the occasional loser. Should you wanna piece of Eck, hit his email…ben@americasline.com.
