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Vegas veteran Benjamin Eckstein, author of America’s Line, brings three years of expertise to make weekly picks in his”Ecks & Bacon” column.
Final Four picks
LAS VEGAS — Can’t recall which one of those 279 sites where I read this, but that is the first time in 31 years that among those so-called Blue Bloods won’t be in the Final Four. We’re talking North Carolina, Kansas, Kentucky, Duke, UCLA and Louisville. That’s THIRTY-ONE Decades! WOW!
Now for the winner of the very first game on Saturday between Virginia and Auburn. Speaking of Blue Bloods, Charles Barkley’s Tigers beat Kansas, North Carolina and Kentuckyback to back, to make it to their original EVER Final Four. That was VERY impressive. And the previous W against Kentucky was WITHOUT among their greatest players, Chuma Okeke. Auburn rumbles into the celebration 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 previous 14, but contrary to the spread, the’Hoos have managed to cover only three of their previous seven. Not calling for the outright upset, but might buy the hook, push the lineup to +6, and observe Sir Charles cry on national TV. Crying because, as all of us know,” Barkley is a ferocious sports bettor, and he’ll be all over Auburn plus the points.
In the nightcap, we are gonna roll with Texas Tech +2.5 points over Michigan State. Of course, we WILL buy the hook and push Tech to +3. What else can the Red Raiders do? They rolled into the Sweet 16 from the second-best defensive team in college hoops, Michigan, also blew the Wolverines off 63-44. They then looked at the daunting task of confronting the NUMBER ONE crime in the country in the Elite Eight, Gonzaga. You believe 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 the Big Ten? Gotcha. Besides the Michigan game, Tech stomped on Nebraska 70-52. More? OK. TT has won 13 of the previous 14 straight up, covered seven of the previous eight, and steps on the court in Minneapolis working on an 8-0 disperse PERFECTO on the road. It ain’t gonna be easy, but we are backing the blossom, Chris Beard!!!
NBA pick For your wagering pleasure, here will be some disperse stats of the day. The Nuggets may not catch the Warriors to the top seed in the Western Alliance, but you know they’re gonna deliver some heat to this ESPN matchup from the Blazers. Denver has been around a sweet roll, winning nine of the past 13 up, but contrary to the spread, the Nugs have covered just four of the previous 12.
They have been stingy with points permitted and have gone UNDER at 10 of the previous 12 games. Portland brings a similar portfolio to the table, winning eight of the previous nine straight up, but have done WAY better against the spread, covering four of the previous five. Taking a look at the big picture, the Nuggets’ overall spread log sits at 40-38, 24-15 in the house and 29-26 as a favored. The Blazers’ overall spread mark is 44-33-1, 21-18 on the road and 13-15 within an underdog. Light tickle to Portland.
NHL select Additionally skating onto the NHL ice, also obtained a play to the Blue Jackets over the Rangers.
PLZ struck me on Twitter over the weekend, @vegasvigorish, just if anything pops.
Benjamin Eckstein is a nationally syndicated sportswriter/oddsmaker. His column, America’s Line, with all the Ecks & Bacon appetizer, has run in the New York Daily News and above 100 other newspapers since 1988. It is possible to follow him online at www.americasline.com. He’s beloved by most, when he chooses winners, and detested by others, when he picks the occasional loser. If you wanna piece of Eck, hit on his email…ben@americasline.com.

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