Category: College Basketball

How can you get clients

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If you’re a bookie on any level, then you want to know how to get clients. The search is always ongoing, and it can be daunting. The biggest problem; going it alone. Many bookies struggle with getting new clients simply because they are one guy and it’s extremely difficult for one guy to do a job that takes many guys! It’s time to search for an alternative and it’s time to catch up with the ever-changing times. The pay per head sports books can have you online with a custom-built website, in a day or two.

 

Why does a pay per head matter?

 

  • The PPH provider gives you a service that can’t be found anywhere else. What they offer is a turnkey operation that includes a fantastic sportsbook with all the bells and whistles, a world-class racebook, and a Las Vegas-style casino. You get all three for the great low price of around $7-$10 per head, per week.

 

  • You say you “can’t afford” to pay the fees. Are you sure? Let’s double-check how this works. The PPH charges you the bookie an average price between $7 and $10 per head, per week. You are charged just one time per week for active players only. Your players can place as many wagers as they choose during the week for the one-time fee. They may place one bet, or they may place 300 bets, you will only be charged the one-time price per head, per week.

 

  • Let’s suppose that you are being charged $7 per head and you have 100-active players. Those players all play at least one wager per week, so, you are indeed on the hook for all 100 of them. At 7 X 100, this means you will be paying $700 per week per head. This sounds like a big number but listen – Most bookies set a minimum wager amount. Meaning, for every wager placed in your sportsbook, the minimum amount that can be wagered is $10, $15, $20, or whatever amount that you feel comfortable with. This means that you are covering the cost of the PPH fee with one wager. In essence, the service is free.

 

  • You may be thinking, how can a PPH provider provide a free service? They are getting their money and they don’t care how you earn yours! You are paying the PPH fee and that’s what matters. The good news, they will never treat you as if they don’t care about helping to grow your business.

 

  • The PPH itself is the drawing card for new clients because you are online. This attracts new players by word of mouth. Sure, you get some of this as a street bookie, but let’s face the facts, not much. The best part about all of this… You are getting a custom-built website with the power of a parent company that’s Google ranked and well-known across the internet. You get free advertising.

 

  • What the PPH does is push you bookie business with SEO built language, meta tags that draw the right audience, and a blueprint for internet traffic. You couldn’t possibly expect this by building a personal bookie website. Number one, the cost alone is simply not worth it. Building a website will cost you a small fortune.

 

  • With a PPH you get a readymade website that’s customized for you and your gaming wants. The PPH has thought of it all and they offer the best software for operating a gaming website.

 

  • You can spend untold thousands of dollars on advertising and attract very few clients. The key is having a great website that appeals to bettors and that appeals to new bettors. Most bookies have no idea how to get this done. Don’t spend a small fortune. Stick with what works and what’s affordable. The PPH is easily the best value for any bookie’s money.

 

You need clients, you need cross action, and you need casino and racebook players. The best way to find these players is with a fantastic online gaming website. Now you can have that website for $7-$10 per head and recoup the cost through the use of a minimum wager amount in the sportsbook. Call the PPH today and start winning big.

Can I Legally Become a Bookie | Is it Worth it?

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Let’s not beat around the bush, let’s get right to the point; becoming a bookie is legal and it can be lucrative. The question is this… How do I become a bookie, is it expensive, how do I get the process rolling, what do I do?

First and foremost, let’s tackle the legal issue. The US Supreme court struck down a law that had been in place since the 1990’s, (in a nutshell) the law said this. “Offshore sports gambling was illegal from most of the 50 states.” Now, we all know that millions of folks went ahead and bet on sports and played their favorite online casino with little regard to the law. As a matter of fact, bettors have placed untold billions of dollars’ worth of bets since the early 90’s and even going back to the 80’s. Nobody blinked an eye. Of course, folks would often bet with trepidation and that was simply without merit. The US DOJ never intended to go after gamblers in any way, or for that matter, neither did the individual states.

So, what is the actual state of gambling?

Think about this; have you ever heard of anyone, from any of the 50 states, having been prosecuted for gambling online, from the comforts of their home? Of course, folks have been prosecuted for operating a corner bookie in the local bar. The prosecutorial process will go after folks that were once (famously) running numbers in New York or New Jersey.

Every once in a blue moon, there would be news of a gambling ring bust and they were always underground operations. Just as in the movies, these types of gambling rings would invariably have a secret location, with a secret password and some enormous, scary guy, guarding the place! Look, that’s mostly fantasy. It is, and was indeed, mostly in the movies. Sure, it did happen from time to time and money laundering did go on and still does. Money laundering is absolutely illegal and always will be!

Money Laundering Is Not Gambling!

We know one thing; since the late 1980’s and the early 1990’s, folks have engaged in online gambling and they have not been pursued in any way and they never will be. This is especially the case now that the US Supreme Court has allowed for sports gambling in all 50 states. Do not listen to the Las Vegas “superbooks”! They want you to believe that online gambling is somehow sinister or forbidden and that you can’t possibly talk about it and should you talk about it, it would only be spoken of in hushed tones in dark places. What a bunch of hooey! Stop the insanity. Just don’t listen to this madness.

Why Vegas wants you with them…

  • Money, they want it all and they have been greedy since the 1940’s, even further back then that. Vegas has had their thumb on everybody since the turn of the century and they are afraid of losing what they once had.
  • They want to feed you bad numbers at bad prices. Betting clients will go elsewhere and now, they are going elsewhere. They are flocking to the offshore bookmakers now, more than ever. The reason for this, bad numbers, bad lines and bad odds. Bettors will often have 10 online sportsbooks. Sure, they want the action, but they want the best numbers in the business. If they can get a half point here or a half point there, they will take it every time.

    What is the cost to start an online sportsbook?

    In short, pennies on the dollar. Most of the fantastic Pay Per Head companies offering their services and the better ones, are around $10 per head. If you are looking for a turnkey operation that can be started with no upfront investment and you only spend when your players play, then by all means, look into the pay per head option. A pay per head literally does everything for you. It’s all-inclusive bookie software that acts as your accountant, it grades your bet slips, it keeps track of every dollar won and every dollar lost and exactly what you have taken in and shipped out.

    No matter if you have one playing client or 1,000, you must look into a pay per head. It’s the new way of doing business for bookies that are serious about making real profits and especially for bookies that no longer want to deal with all of the hassle that goes along with being a bookie.

    Now is the time to find an outstanding pay per head service, especially with the onset of baseball. Gamblers love to bet on baseball and they love the best lines and odds. Bookies have been amazed at the difference a pay per head makes.

Handicapping the NCAA Tournament

Posted in College Basketball, Sports Handicapping Betting Tips, VegasTopDogs.com ReportsTagged , , , , , , 2 Comments

March Madness is finally here and gamblers everywhere are looking for advice. Not only are they looking for advice, they are looking for direction and they want to know who to bet on. The average gambler has very little idea who to bet on but there is one sure thing; they are going to bet. March is easily the busiest time of year for not only Las Vegas, Nevada, it’s also the busiest time of year for the online sports betting.

There is not a more bet on sport than college basketball. The NCAA is easily the largest revenue maker for the betting industry and March is easily the busiest month in all of sports betting. Suffice it to say, somebody is making an enormous amount of money. Who is raking in the profits? Is it the sportsbooks-the bookies worldwide or is it the gambler? It’s safe to say that the gambler is not seeing the profits. The sportsbooks are raking it in by the boatload. Somebody is getting rich and it seems that it’s not the gambler.

A gambler is an investor. Gambling is an investment and March is the best time of year to see a huge return on the investment. So why is it that the banks (sportsbooks, bookies) are making all the profits? There is a very simple answer to what may seem like a complex question.

Related: Pay Per head services are on the rise and for good reason.

 

When investors make decisions to place their money in a market or purchase a stock they usually get some good advice from investors that have studied the market, from investors that are in the know and from people that are educated in that particular field. It’s certainly possible to get investing advice from a mechanic and it may even be good advice in the short term but will it last long term?

 

Who is the best person to get betting advice from?

 

Is it from people who bet? There are a lot of people who bet, let’s face the facts, not all of these people are successful. Remember who is getting rich here. It’s not the gamblers, or the sportsbooks would no longer be in business. Just as in the banking world, the gambling world has professional forecasters that study games. They do this for a living and they are good at it. Predicting sports has become a science and a multimillion dollar industry in its own right.

 

Here is the key to some success when betting the NCAA Tournament.

 

Find great forecasters, find people who know what they are talking about. Everyone has an opinion when it comes to sports but not everyone can be trusted with your money. You work too hard to throw it away. Would you take medical advice from someone that you had never heard of or someone that came with no verifiable references or experience?  

 

Start booking online with Realbookies.com software

There are outstanding services available on the web. If you are looking for some help this year, than by all means, get help. Don’t go March alone! Get help from professionals that know what they are talking about and professionals that come with a winning track record. Find a great service that picks games for a living and that has great handicappers either as independents or as part of their staff. There are game advising sites out there that can make this year a profit instead of a loss.

 

 

March Madness Tournament Bracket Info

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Does tournament playing site favor any team. For instance the Metro Atlantic tournament will be played at the Times-Union Center in Albay – the home floor of the Albany Great Danes – and the Mountain West Conference will be played at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas – the home court of UNLV. Also keep in mind some tournaments play the first round on the home floor of teams with the bettor record and then shift to a neutral site.
How a team has performed on the road, or on neutral floors, during the regular season offers important insight into how it will perform at tournament time. For the record Auburn is 10-3 away from home, Duke is 10-4 while Kentucky is 5-7 and Vanderbilt 0-12.

Strength of schedule is a vital part of the winning equation. Here are the teams that have played the strongest schedules of all the 351 teams. In order, here are the teams that have played the toughest schedules in the country. Vanderbilt, North Carolina, Kentucky, Kansas, Xavier, Texas A&M, Virginia, Mississippi, Alabama and Temple. At the other end of the spectrum, in 51st place., is Alabama A&M.

Current form is extremely important. Two perfect examples of this are Oklahoma (16-11) and Utah (17-9). The Sooners opened the season 14-2 and earned a national ranking but in their last 10 games are 2-8 straight up (SU) and 1-9 against the spread (ATS). As for Utah, the Runnin’ Utes opened their season respectably but all at once seemed to wake up and stand 4-0 in their last four games and two contests back took Arizona to the money in Tucson before losing 74-73 to a Wildcat team that had to hit 64.4% of its field goals to win.

Check and then double-check the injury list to make certain there are no key players out with injuries. For instance, what is the status of Duke superstar forward Marvin Bagley (21.17 points, 11.42 rebounds per game) who has missed the team’s last three games with a knee injury? Will Notre Dame finally get back superstar forward Bonzie Colson (21.4 points, 10.4 rebounds per game) who has missed the last 14 games with a foot injury?

Coaches earn their keep at tournament time and it simply a matter of fact those that have won at tournament time year after year are strong candidates to keep right on doing so.
The spacing of games is extremely important. The winner of the Big East Tournament has to win four games in five days to get the automatic invite to the NCAA Tournament. Tiring, to say the least and teams with depth always have a slight edge. The team with the most overall quality depth is Wichita State which runs 11 players deep.

An underdog that pulls off a major upset is a strong candidate to lose its next game.
There are many elements to winning at tournament time but these eight basics should arm you for success this year.

Written by Mike Anthony for VegasTopDogs.

The Top Teams to watch for in the NCAA tournament

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The madness that is aptly named March Madness has arrived. Where the teams that have been doing great things all season, look to show why they are the best. The big dance, where the little teams want to show up and make that magical run that places them in the books as the Cinderella story. We know sometimes the best of the best dont win – it is sometimes about who is playing the best at the time, and who gets the matchups that favor the team and their skill set. Be sure to visit VegasTopDogs.com for your March Madness Winning action!

But here, we are going to concentrate on the ‘Big 8’ – the top 8 teams in the nation, and who are truly the genuine threats to run the table for the last time this NCAA season and win that coveted NCAA title.

1. Villanova ( 31-3) Ranked 2
ppg 78.5
oppg 63.2
Leading scorer: Sr G, Josh Hart 18.6 ppg
Xfactor: Last years champion. They come in holding their heads high – knowing they are still proven as the team to beat in the tournament this year again. They had a great run last year, and Jay Wright knows how to get the most from his team.
Reason they could run the table: Their accurate and strong ability to close out games.

2. UCLA ( 29-4) Ranked 3
ppg 90.8
oppg 75.0
Leading scorer: Sr G, Bryce Alford 16.2 ppg
Xfactor: They have really good size – and aren’t afraid to body up down low – wearing teams out.
Reason they could run the table: Their non stop offensive attack – with 20 games of scoring 85+ they have firepower that lasts for days. Having never scored less than 74 points, on the season – they are a team that can light up the boards in a hurry.

3. Kansas ( 28-4) Ranked 1
ppg 82.7
oppg 72.4
Leading scorer: Sr G, Frank Mason 20.8 ppg
Xfactor: Their team depth. It has lacked some during the year, if they step up – it could be detrimental in the outcome to how their season ends.
Reason they could run the table: Their deep ball is great. Hitting 41% of their three point attempts on the season, putting them in a position to score points and spread defenses.

4. Oregon ( 29-5) Ranked 5
ppg 79.2
oppg 64.5
Leading scorer: Jr F, Dillon Brooks 16.2 ppg
Xfactor: Who steps in for Chris Boucher? His 2.5 blocks/game and his presence on the offensive glass needs to be accounted for – losing him is a huge concern, and they need someone to do just that.
Reason they could run the table: Their in your face, defensive style buries teams. They swarm teams with tough D – and are not afraid to challenge everything at the rim.

5. North Carolina ( 27-7) Ranked 6
ppg 85.0
oppg 69.9
Leading scorer: Jr F, Justin Jackson 18.1 ppg
Xfactor: How do they bounce back? Losing to Duke was a kick in the guts – will it take the steam out from them?
Reason they could run the table: Having 4 players who can put quiet points up before you notice what they are doing to your defense – and a strong frontcourt in particular.

6. Gonzaga ( 32-1) Ranked 4
ppg 84.6
oppg 61.2
Leading scorer: Jr G, Nigel Williams-Goss 16.9 ppg
Xfactor: Zags region. They are still a mid-major team with big dreams. They are a very good team – but are we going to get a WCC team – that holds off against teams like Santa Clara, and Loyola Marymount – or a big time NCAA basketball program on the court?
Reason they could run the table: They have a swarming smothering defense which has only given up 71 or more only 7 times. Allowing a pitiful 37% shooting to opponents, isn’t a bad stat to carry on your shoulders.

7. Arizona ( 30-4) Ranked 7
ppg 75.8
oppg 64.7
Leading scorer: So G, Allonzo Trier 16.6 ppg
Xfactor: They need to keep opponents turning the ball over. They have struggled at times with making key stops, but if they can cut off passing lanes, force some sloppy play – it would be huge in their favor.
Reason they could run the table: Arizona gets into very smooth rhythms in a hurry. Where everything seems to be clicking for the Wildcats. When they get shooting the ball and their ball movement starts rocking – they cause many problems on the court for teams.

8. Kentucky ( 28-5) Ranked 8
ppg 86.8
oppg 72.1
Leading scorer: Fr G, Malik Monk 21.2 ppg
Xfactor: They need to get up and stay up. They have had times where they look flat – and they are forced to come back to get the W. If they do this too much, it could kick them out earlier than expected. But, as long as they don’t – they could be devastating to handle.
Reason they could run the table: Coach John Calipari. He is a coach with tons of clout, and 25 years of experience on his side. With almost 700 career W’s – the man knows how to win games, it’s been his “thing” for years.

March Madness: Tourney Wagering Tips

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Final4

by Jim Feist

March tournament play is one of the most exciting times of the sports betting calendar. A seemingly endless stream of games, at times running morning, noon and night, will test the nerves and cognitive powers of fans and bettors. It can be a time of highs and lows, with streaks, exciting finishes and surprising upsets.
<BR><BR> There are all kinds of factors to carefully examine. While the big man is so important to winning championships in the NBA, college basketball tournaments find more of a premium on strong guard play. The sparkplug guard handles the ball, controls the tempo, and can go on a hot run from three-point land at any moment. Remember that the college three-point shot is closer to the basket than the NBA trey. In addition, poor guard play can result in too many turnovers, which can be a killer to a team’s momentum and hopes of advancing.

From a betting perspective, it’s important to remember that the general public leans toward the favorite and games over the total. What’s unusual during the March tournaments, especially in the early rounds, is the amount of big-name schools matched up against lesser known colleges. Betting lines on these matchups can be enormous.
This is where a good handicapper needs to understand teams, coaches, styles of play, matchup analysis, and even that the March tournament is a completely new season. All kinds of different things take place.

Teams win in all sports with defense, of course, and college basketball is no different, especially when the games mean so much in March. Many teams that are good enough to make the tournament have relied all year long on defense.
Another point that stands out is the underdog. Naturally, casual bettors are drawn to the big-name teams that are often favorites, like Arizona, Duke, Kentucky and Michigan State. However, there are scores of examples of little known underdogs rising up and sometimes even slaying Goliath. One season in the first round, Wisconsin-Milwaukee upset Alabama 83-73, UConn squeaked by Central Florida 77-71 as a 19-point favorite, Bucknell stunned Kansas 64-63, and Vermont took Syracuse to overtime and won 60-57.
Plenty of live dogs hang in there and regularly pull of big surprises. Don’t be afraid to back underdogs during March tournament play. One way to identify live dogs is how they play down the stretch. If a team is hungry and turns on the jets to either win a conference title or shoot for a 20-win season, that can be reflected in their play, both straight up and against the number.

Another factor to keep in mind is experience. Many lower seeded teams seemingly come out of nowhere and then the school disappears to mediocrity for a few seasons. Of course, they don’t have a lot of experience year after year playing in the tournament, and experience can be an important asset. In March tournament play, the public may be caught off guard by surprises, but the astute sports handicapper anticipates them.

1Vice Sportsbook to give away $2.5 Million for MARCH MADNESS

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2.5MIL Cash

San Jose, Costa Rica –

Since 2011, 1Vice has been giving away prizes and free bets to thousands of gamblers around the world and today, it announced that a total of $2,634,215 was given out in free money last year making it one of the most generous, if not the most generous medium-sized sportsbook in the gambling industry.

The free money was given out via various sports seasonal promotions that included football, soccer, NBA, MLB and basketball seasons. Some of the promotions included the famous “Football Frenzy” which gave up to 300% bonus as well as the equally famous “No juice” Promotion that is held every year during March Madness.

In addition, 1Vice has also given over $100,000 in prizes from various contests and promotions this past year. Teaming up with its partners, they have held various contests via messages boards, in-house technology and social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter to bring old and new clients added fun to world of sports betting. To view the current 1Vice promotions and contest such as their current “Bonuses Go Wild” Promotion which offers on top of a 300% Max bonus several extra freebies such as “No Juice” and entries into some of their contests.

“We believe that sports betting should be a fun and entertaining way to add a bit more excitement to the game as well as the chance to win some extra cash on the side” said Griffin the general manager of 1Vice. “As a recreational sportsbook, we strive to enhance our clients’ experience by adding contests, drawings and competitions to the mix.”
1Vice, which is known for being the leader in competitive sportsbook bonuses, has made tremendous leap in its growth due to its ability to reach customers first in terms of seasonal promotions. The company has so far exceeded its own expectations in player acquisition, net revenue and profits, and expects to do even better for 2015 with many plans to keep on growing.

Some of the plans for 2015 include a new website that will be more user-friendly, improved technological advancement, expand its social media presence and offer better customer service and sports betting odds management.

 

1vice.ag is one of the fastest growing sports betting company in the world that offers sports betting on all major sporting events as well as free sports betting content. 1vice is licensed in Costa Rica and backed by over 50 years of combined experience in the online gambling industry. Visit 1Vice.ag or e-mail us at support@1vice.ag for more information and be sure to mention VegasTopDogs.com.

 

Safe Harbor Statement: Statements in this announcement that are not strictly historical may be “forward-looking” statements, which involve risks and uncertainties. These include risks and uncertainties relating to customer and supplier relationships and prices, competition, market demand, litigation and other contingent liabilities, the integration and operation of acquired businesses, and economic, political, governmental and technological factors affecting 1vice S.A’. operations, markets, products, services and prices, among others, as set forth in public filing.

1Vice.ag/VegasTopDog

College Hoops: Best of the SEC

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HottestLSUGirls1ACopy

The SEC has a bunch of teams loaded with talent, depth and athleticism. Kentucky won national championships in 1998 and 2012, Florida knocked on the door in 2000 getting to the title game against Michigan State, then won it all with back-to-back titles. Here’s a look at some of college basketball’s best teams in the SEC.

Kentucky: The Wildcats have another powerhouse young team for coach John Calipari, who likes to groom them for one year before they head off to the NBA. Kentucky has a powerful frontcourt of 6-11 freshman Karl-Anthony Towns (8.5 ppg, 6 rpg), 7-0 junior Willie Cauley-Stein and 7-foot sophomore Dakari Johnson (8 ppg, 5.5 rpg).
Even the backcourt is huge with 6-6 sophomore Aaron Harrison (11 ppg) and 6-6 freshman Devin Booker (10.6 ppg). They flattened Kansas (72-40) and North Carolina (84-70) by double digits, and showed clutch ability with back-to-back overtime wins over Ole Miss and Texas A&M. The Wildcats are 7-3-1 ATS on the road and 16-7 run under the total with great defense. Just bring on March: This talented, deep group is ready.

Arkansas: The Razorbacks are getting it done by running, Top 15 in the nation in scoring and assists behind a backcourt of 6-5 senior guard Rashad Madden and 6-6 junior Mike Qualls (15.7 ppg). Arkansas leads the SEC in five categories, including scoring (80) & offensive rebounds (13.7).
The frontcourt has a force in 6-11 sophomore Bobby Portis (17.7 ppg, 8.7 rpg), and Arkansas is one of five teams in the nation with two top 30 RPI road wins. The Razorbacks have been great at home and at covering against weak teams, 17-8 ATS at home against a team with a losing road record. They play 5 of their final 8 games on the road, including a showdown at No. 1 Kentucky to end February.

Texas A&M: The Aggies are not an easy team to face with their attacking defense. They gave up just 70 points to No. 1 Kentucky in a loss — in double overtime. They held Kentucky to 28% shooting. 6-7 junior guard Jalen Jones (13.8 ppg, 6.3 rpg) and 6-7 junior Danuel House (13.8 ppg) anchor the backcourt and lead the team in scoring, with 6-9 senior Kourtney Roberson manning the low post.
Junior guard Alex Caruso is a terrific playmaker averaging 5.5 assists per contest. The Aggies are a great bounce back team, 51-25 ATS following a loss. And that great defense really helps on the road, where the Aggies are 46-21 under the total.

Ole Miss: The Rebels have impressed with another strong offense behind the backcourt duo of junior guard Stephan Moody (15.5 ppg) and senior Jarvis Summers (13 ppg). Like Texas A&M, they took top-ranked Kentucky to overtime, an 89-86 loss. They held Kentucky to 42% shooting. Ole Miss is now 13-102 against Kentucky! Kentucky had its worst defensive game of the season. The Wildcats allowed Ole Miss to shoot 49 percent from the floor and 53 percent from 3-point range. Kentucky was also outscored in the paint 30-26 by Ole Miss. Ole Miss has been on a recent 10-4 run over the total, including 7-2 over on the road.

LSU: It’s no secret how the Tigers win: Like the days of Shaq or Big Baby Davis they have a huge frontcourt with 6-10 sophomore Jarrell Martin (16 ppg, 9 rpg) and 6-8 sophomore Jordan Mickey (16.7 ppg, 11 rpg). Once again they are one of the top rebounding teams in the nation.
The backcourt has size, too, with 6-6 sophomore Tim Quarterman (12 ppg) and 6-4 junior Keith Hornsby (12.6 ppg). The Tigers have been better on the road than last season, pulling off victories at Ole Miss, Florida and Vandy, the latter in overtime. They even have a non-conference win at West Virginia building an impressive resume before March. LSU is 20-7 over the total in SEC play.

Georgia: Let’s call them the “Not-Quite Bulldogs,” because they haven’t quite been there when stepping up. Georgia lost to Gonzaga by 14, lost at home to Arkansas by 4 and lost in double overtime at LSU. 6-8 senior Marcus Thornton (13.5 ppg, 7.3 rpg) is a force at center but missed a few games recently with a concussion.
The backcourt is fine with 6-3 junior Kenny Gaines (11 ppg) and 6-5 junior Charles Mann (11 ppg). They had a showdown at Kentucky and covered as a +18 dog, but lost by 11 after falling behind at the half, 42-27. Georgia committed 16 turnovers leading to 18 Kentucky points. The Bulldogs are an impressive 30-12-1 ATS against the SEC and 19-7 under the total after a spread cover.

Written by Jim Feist for VegasTopDogs.com

The 3 Best NCAA Tournament Games to watch this week

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LVille

The coming midweek section in the world of sports will be one in which college basketball will remain the hub of activity. The NCAA Tournament will be on everybody’s mind.

NCAA Tournament Second Round – Manhattan Jaspers vs. Louisville Cardinals (Thursday)

 Louisville is the hot team that nobody wants to play in the NCAA tournament. The Cardinals breezed through the American Athletic Conference Tournament in Memphis, winning three games by an average of over 30 points. Louisville is getting balanced contributions from its roster, but what’s particularly noticeable is that the best players are all getting better.  Russ Smith is at his best right now, and teammates Chris Jones and Montrezl Harrell are rapidly improving. Everyone in college basketball is taking Louisville seriously as a Final Four threat. This begins the Cardinals’ journey.

NCAA Tournament Second Round – Wofford Terriers vs. Michigan Wolverines (Thursday)

The Michigan Wolverines made the national championship game last season. They lost star guard Trey Burke to the NBA draft, and they also lost Tim Hardaway, Jr., to the pros as well. Early in the season, big man Mitch McGary was taken out of the lineup due to an injury that has never fully healed. This has been a shorthanded team throughout the Big Ten season, but the Wolverines have simply adjusted. They are tenacious, and they contest rebounds really well despite a lack of quality size in the paint. The three-point shooting of Nik Stauskas and Caris LeVert makes Michigan hard to defend on the perimeter. The Wolverines can spread the court. They’ll be hard to beat in March.

NCAA Tournament Second Round – North Carolina State or Xavier vs. Saint Louis Billikens (Thursday)

Saint Louis was headed for a very high seed in the NCAA tournament, and then everything fell apart for the team that still managed to win the Atlantic 10’s regular season championship. Saint Louis had only two losses heading into its final game in the month of February. The Billikens were the owners of a 19-game winning streak and had everything going their way. Suddenly, though, they have lost energy. They appear to be tired and worn down as a result of all the hard work they did in the middle of the season. Saint Louis has lost four of five games and crashed out of the quarterfinals in the Atlantic 10 Tournament against Saint Bonaventure. Will this team bounce back?

March Madness is here and we have your winning tips!

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March-Madness-Sermon-Slide1

This is the most exciting time of the college basketball season and the most anticipated and watched event in sports next to the Super Bowl.

I have correctly pegged 2 of the 4 teams who made it to the FINAL FOUR in eight straight years.
This year I am giving you some of my top advice on what it takes to be a champion. Of course, you can never foresee injuries, suspensions, foul trouble, poor officiating, etc. throughout the big dance.
Everyone likes underdogs and Cinderella teams but you have to look at the team records, their strengths and the conferences that they play in. There is usually one team that surprises everyone but fails to win it in the end, such as Utah in 1998 vs. Kentucky and Butler coming up short in 2010 and 2011.

Since 1998, the Championship team has not been seeded lower than a #3 and in 1997 Arizona was a #4 seed and won it all. As you can see in the past 15 tournaments, the top teams usually go all the way. Digging even deeper you have to go back to 1988 when a #6 seed Kansas team coached by Larry Brown won it all, but things were different back then as players didn’t bolt to the NBA after one season in college. As much as I like to select a solid #4 or #5 to go all the way, it’s not a smart idea. Nineteen of the last 22 National Champs have been a #1 or #2 seed.

Before I start to bore you with all of my numbers and trends, let me share some of my top tips for picking your brackets. Great teams do not lose more than 7 games in a season, so if a team has 8 or more losses, stay away from them. Also, each of the past 15 champs were from one of the major 6 conferences (Big East, SEC, PAC-12, BIG 12, ACC, BIG 10). The teams in these conferences play the toughest games night in and night out on a regular basis and have been more battle tested. Mid majors/small schools tend to make it to the Sweet 16 or Elite 8, but not the FINAL FOUR.

So, if you are like me and really like the way Gonzaga, SD State, St Louis, Memphis and Wichita Stare playing this season, you might want to think twice about advancing them deep in your brackets.
Looking at the teams who lost 7 or fewer games this season, play in a major conference, and are seeded #3 or better this year, you can narrow down your Final Four selections from this list of nine teams.

FLORIDA

ARIZONA

VIRGINIA

SYRACUSE

IOWA ST

CREIGHTON

WISCONSIN

MICHIGAN

VILLANOVA.

From here, I would look at how these teams faired on neutral courts and on the road during their season. It is also important to consider each team’s starting guards, their defensive strength, team rebounding, and if they can make their foul shots.

From my 21 years of experience, I offer you my professional advice and helpful tips. My hope is that this article has fed your excitement for the tournament while giving you a competitive edge to turn some heads in your company pools! Enjoy the tournament and remember, pick with your head, not with your heart!

Follow Tony Karpinski for more updates and information throughout the tournament at VegasTopDogs.com.