As the calendar turns the page to the month of March, all 30 MLB teams are busy preparing for a run at a World Series title. The following is a brief look at my top favorite, contender and longshot to break through the pack this season and win the American League Pennant.
All odds quoted have been provided by Cappers Picks’ top sportsbooks.
Spring training sites in both Arizona and Florida are in full swing as all 30 MLB ball clubs are hard at work preparing for the start of another season. Only two will make it all the way to this year’s World Series so this time around I am focusing my attention on my top favorite, contender and longshot to get there from the National League. All odds quoted have been provided by Cappers Picks’ top sportsbooks.
Another two weeks have passed in the world of the NHL and predictably in the shortened season, there has been some significant movement in the Power Rankings. There is still one undefeated team, there is some shocking Division leaders and as always there is a share of complete and utter disappointments.
How about a little love for the Denver Nuggets?
Burdened with a road-heavy early-season schedule, Denver stumbled out of the blocks before getting things together. Now, in the second half of the season the Nuggets have hit their stride – 4 straight wins and 14 victories in an 18-game span that is noted for bookend victories over Oklahoma City.
Headline: Disappointment Bowl – Rangers Host Flyers in Battle for Eighth in the East
The Philadelphia Flyers and the New York Rangers, two teams with enormous expectations this season have yet to get it going early in 2013 and subsequently are fighting like crazy just to stay in the playoff picture. The teams meet Tuesday night both riding two game win streaks with a ton on the line.
Even with the addition of Missouri the SEC is still kind of light this season. Alabama and Mississippi are fighting to prove that the league is worthy of multiple bids and this game could be critical to both of these team’s chances.
The Lakers have finally found some balance – in the NBA standings anyway. For the first time since December (15-15), they find themselves with as many wins (30) as losses.
Missouri is sitting at 21-8 and 10-6 in the SEC and they are looking in good shape to make the Big Dance, but that may change if they falter down the stretch.
Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Missouri Tigers NCAAB Lines
Venue/ Stadium: Mizzou Arena, Columbia, MO
Time/Date: 7 PM EST Tuesday, March 5, 2013
NCAAB Odds From: BETDSI
Moneyline: OFF
Spread: Missouri -10
Over/Under: 151.5
ATS Matchup Stats | Gambling Insight!
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Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Missouri Tigers Preview
Even though they lost to Arkansas earlier this season on the road they have won their last 2 games and 3 of their last 4.
The Razorbacks are at 18-11 and 9-7 in the SEC and they are really on the bubble and need to finish the season strong to make the NCAA Tournament. NCAAB lines have Missouri as big 10-point favorites with a total of 151.5.
In their last games Missouri beat LSU 89-76 and Arkansas beat Kentucky 73-60.
On the season Arkansas is 11-10 ATS and they have an Over/Under record of 7-12 and Missouri is 12-13 ATS and they have an Over/Under record of 14-7.
With their last win Arkansas snapped their 2-game losing streak.
Missouri is a perfect 16-0 at home this season while Arkansas is only 1-8 on the road.
Arkansas only has 1 win on the road this season and that came a few weeks back facing an Auburn team that is 9-20.
Mizzou is a high scoring team ranking 17th in the nation in points per game led by FW Laurence Bowers (14.2 ppg 6.1 rpg), who is coming off a 23-point and 10-rebound performance in the win over LSU. 2nd leading scorer G Jabari Brown (14 ppg) has struggled in 2 of his last 3 games and needs to get back on track. [ad-6571516]
Arkansas will have to play good D facing a deep Mizzou team that has 6 players that are averaging in double figures.
BJ Young (15.2 ppg) leads the Razorbacks in scoring, but he has been struggling and in his last 4 games he has scored in double figures only 1 time and in that span he never shot at least 50% from the floor. Marshawn Powell (14.9 ppg 5.4 rpg) has been playing well in the scoring department, but in the Kentucky win he was only 6/18 from the field.
Mizzou plays a pressure defense that forces many steals and the Razorbacks have to be careful with the rock tonight.
In some betting trends for this SEC match up Arkansas is 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games overall, 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record, and they have an Under record of 5-0 in their last 5 games.
Missouri is 7-3 ATS in their last 10 home games, 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record, and they have an Over record of 19-7-1 in their last 27 home games.
Jason’s Pick: Mizzou will keep their perfect home record in tact with a win tonight, but Arkansas will not get blown out and they will cover the double digit spread.
The Buckeyes are in a 4 way tie for second place in the Big Ten. All 4 of those teams are ranked and I think that Ohio State is probably the worst of the bunch. They have won their last three games but have not beaten any ranked opponents on the road this season.
Headline: League’s Worst Offense Battles Defensive Elite – Preds Visit Kings Monday Night
In what is sure to be a low scoring affair, two Western Conference Playoff contenders square off in Los Angeles hoping to create a little room in the muddled Western Conference standings.
Miami’s incredible late-season run is an obvious message to the rest of the Eastern Conference that there is not much that can be done to prevent the Heat from heading to the NBA Finals again.
The Bearcats have not been playing well of late, squandering some of the early season goodwill they were generating. They won their last game against Connecticut and a win against Louisville would definitely prove they are worthy of an invitation to the Big Dance.
Baylor is sitting at 17-12 and a few weeks back it looked like they were on course to make the Big Dance. However, they have lost 4 of their last 5 games and at 8-8 they are on the bubble.
Venue/ Stadium: Frank Erwin Special Events Center, Austin, TX
Time/Date: 9 PM EST Monday, March 4, 2013
NCAAB Odds From: Sportsbook.ag
Moneyline: OFF
Spread: Baylor -1.5
Over/Under: 137
ATS Matchup Stats | Gambling Insight!
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Baylor Bears vs. Texas Longhorns Preview
Texas will not be making the Big Dance unless they win the Big 12 conference tourney, but they are coming off a win and have won 3 of their last 6 games. NCAAV lines have Baylor as slight 1.5-point road favorites with a total of 137.
In their last games Texas lost to Oklahoma State 78-65 and Baylor lost to Kansas State 64-61.
On the season Baylor is 11-13 ATS and they have an Over/Under record of 12-11 and Texas is 14-12-1 ATS and they have an Over/Under record of 13-11.
Texas is 11-4 at home this season while Baylor is only 4-6 on the road.
Earlier this season at Baylor the Bears beat the Longhorns 86-79 in OT.
Baylor has a solid offense ranking 33rd in the nation in scoring and they Longhorns will have to play good D in this game, as their offense is not a high scoring one ranking 236th in the nation in points per game.
Baylor leading scorer Pierre Jackson (19 ppg) has put up decent numbers in the last couple of games, but he has struggled with his shot. He is a speedy 5’10” G that the Bears have to keep out of the lane. One guy the Longhorns really have to worry about is 7’1″ C Isaiah Austin (13.6 ppg 9 rpg), who has the size and Texas cannot let him dominate in the paint. [ad-6571516]
Texas leading scorer Sheldon McClellan (13.3 ppg) is coming off a game where he did not score and he and backcourt mate G Julien Lewis (10.4 ppg) must play well tonight, as Texas does not feature a lot of frontcourt scoring.
Jonathan Holmes (6.7 ppg 6.1 rpg) and Ioannis Papapetrou (8.5 ppg 4.3 rpg) are the top 2 rebounders for the Longhorns and they are 6’7″ and 6’8″ respectively. They have to play good inside D tonight facing the 7’1″ Lewis and 6’9″ Cory Jefferson (11.9 ppg 8.3 rpg).
In some betting trends for this Big 12 match up Baylor is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall, 17-5 ATS in their last 22 games vs. a team with a losing S.U. record, and they have an Over record of 12-5 in their last 17 road games.
Texas is 5-2 ATS in their last 7 home games, 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games following a S.U. loss, and they have an Over record of 4-0 in their last 4 home games.
Jason’s Pick: The Bears have covered the spread in their last 4 games at Texas, but that trend will not continue. Texas is solid at home and they will cover tonight facing a reeling Baylor squad.
Headline: Eastern Conference Elite Clash Saturday Night – Penguins vs. Canadiens
Two of the top six teams in the NHL standings meet in Montreal Saturday night in what is the marquee matchup on a busy day of NHL action. The Canadiens have been great and have gone nine straight games earning a point (7-0-2).
Being a top ranked team is dangerous territory this season. More than half of the top 5 teams in the nation have already lost this week so a win by the Canes will push them back up into some rarified are.
Despite being in the top 10 no one is talking much about Louisville these days. They are second in the Big East and depending on how things break they could wind up winning the conference and earning a top seed. They have won their last 4 games but have not played a top team in a while.
