Vermont Catamounts vs Syracuse Orange – Round 1 – West Region College Hoops Gambling
Welcome to the CappersPicks.com college hoops weekly predictions pages! We KNOW you will find our FREE weekly March Madness predictions, tips, betting advice, strategies, CBB gambling articles and more to help you become the best College Hoops bettor on your block!!
CLICK HERE FOR THE BEST NCAA BASKETBALL CAPPERS ON THE PLANET & DAILY PLAYS!! —>
We invite you to check out our Sponsor Sportsbook – Bookmaker.com Brackets Madness Bonus
1) Deposit $300 or more and get: – 25% Sportsbook Freeplay Bonus up to $500.
2) 175% Poker Bonus up to $1000.
3) 100% Casino Bonus up to $500. Promotion valid for new and existing players. Just click here now to check out Bookmaker.com.
Vermont vs Syracuse – 9:40 P.M. Friday, March 19th
NCAA Men’s College Basketball Tournament- First Round
Vermont +17.5 (-110)
Syracuse – 17.5 (-110)
Over/Under 146
The #16 seed Vermont Catamounts are thrilled to be in the NCAA Tournament, but they now have the unenviable task of taking on #1 seed Syracuse in the first round of the West regional with tip-off scheduled for 9:40 P.M. on Friday, March 19th.
Vermont punched their ticket to the dance with a convincing 83-70 win over Boston University in the America East Conference Tournament final. They opened up an 11 point lead at the half and then hung on in the second to bring home the conference title and an automatic bid to the NCAA’s.
It is their first trip to tournament since 2005, the year they shocked then 4th seeded Syracuse by beating them in overtime in the first round. The Catamounts are 25-9 for the year and finished second in the American East with a conference record of 12-4.
Their only loss (78-82) in their last 13 games was to the regular season champion, Stony Brook back on February 24th. Senior F Marqus Blakely is the team’s leading scorer with 17.4 points per game and rebounder with 9.4.
He is joined by senior G Maurice Joseph, who is averaging 14.1 points and junior G Evan Fjeld, who is averaging 10.6 points and 6.1 rebounds per game to round out a solid starting five.
Syracuse (28-4) comes into the tournament as the fourth #1 seed, but with a few question marks as well. After winning 15 out of 16 games and moving up to #1 in the country, they lost their final game of the regular season to Louisville 68-78 and were knocked out of the Big East Tournament in their first game by Georgetown 84-91.
Of more concern was the injury in that game to senior C-F Arinze Onuaku’s right quad, rendering him day to day at this point. Even without Onuaku in the lineup, the Orange have enough talent to get through the first two rounds in case he not ready to go by Friday. 
With junior F Wes Johnson averaging 16 points and 8.4 rebounds, senior G Andy Rautin’s 11.7 points per game, and sophomore Kris Joseph’s 11.3 points there is more than enough fire power to carry this team deep into this tournament.
Look for junior F Rick Jackson, who is averaging 10 points and 6.9 rebounds to also help pick up the slack if Onuaku is out.
Could it be de Ja vue for Syracuse, facing a team that already knocked them out of the tournament in the first round? Highly doubtful, considering a #1 seed has never lost in the first round of this tournament, but I do like the Catamount’s chances of keeping this game close enough to make Syracuse sweat a bit.
Betting Trends:
Orange are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a SU loss
Orange are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games as a favorite
Orange are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games following a ATS loss
Orange are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 non-conference games
Catamounts are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games following a SU win
Catamounts are 8-0 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600
Catamounts are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games overall
Catamounts are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a winning SU record
Catamounts vs. Orange Free Pick: Vermont +17.5
2010 Bracketology (Click Links Below To View Each March Madness Bracket)
MIDWEST Bracket (St. Louis)
WEST Bracket (Salt Lake City)
EAST Bracket (Syracuse)
SOUTH Bracket (Houston)
Gamblers looking for the best online free march madness picks and 2010 bracket predictions? Visit Our Cappers Pages for expert College tournament basketball Gambling Predictions from over 40 of the best sports handicappers.
CLICK HERE NOW TO BET AT BOOKMAKER.COM – THE #1 SITE ONLINE FOR COLLEGE BASKETBALL BETTING ODDS AND GAMBLING PROMOTIONS!!!!!
