Tag: College Basketball

Tips for Mastering your Bracket

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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 12 out of 14 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 #4 and in 1997 Arizona was a #4 seed and won it all.

As you can see in the past 22 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. 21 of the last 24 National Champs have been a #1 or #2 seed.  Villanova won it as a #1 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 25 champs were from one of the major 6 conferences. 

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 to the FINAL FOUR.  Illinois-Chicago was a #11 a few years ago and did make it to the FINAL FOUR but lost to Michigan.  

So, look 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 11 teams.  Highlighted are the 4 teams I like to make it to the FINAL FOUR.

GONZAGA 

Duke

KENTUCKY

ARIZONA

Purdue

Kansas

AUBURN

Wisconsin

Villanova

Tennessee

Baylor

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, experience, coaching, and if they can make their foul shots. Teams who take over 35% of their shots from 3-pt land also do not fair well.

From my 24 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 or online pools!  Enjoy the tournament and remember, pick with your head, not with your heart!

My Sleeper picks to turn a few heads and win a few games and maybe get to the SWEET 16 or ELITE 8 are: ST MARYS and UCONN and you can get some good Vegas Odds on those.

Handicapping the NCAA Tournament

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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.

 

 

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.

2014 College Basketball March Madness Contest

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MarchMadn

The field for the NCAA Tournament will be announced on Sunday March 16th, as March Madness is about to take center stage for the next 3 weeks.  When you look for some extra excitement this time of the year, its best to visit VegasTopDogs.com.  College basketball frenzy will be crazy this week with the brackets and office pools.  There will be a huge amount of games to wager on starting this week which makes this a favorite time of year for casual fans, office workers and . . . sports bettors.

The top experts at VTD (VegasTopDogs.com) search across the Web for Basketball news stories about teams, players, injuries, or game results, and makes them available on the site. “VegasTopDogs” is a great idea for both the die-hard and casual sports bettor,” says Las Vegas expert, TonyK. “There is no question that VegasTopDogs.com is the hottest spot in the world for College & NBA action. In order to win you have to bet using their head and not their heart…  Let VegasTopDogs be your sports financial consultant and sports guide.

According to figures released by the Nevada Gaming Control Board, sports bettors annually wager $2 billion in Vegas. For the 2014 Super Bowl, $91.7 million was wagered (up from $71.6 million in 2001, $73 million in 2003 and $81.2 million in 2013) and average $85 million on the NCAA College Basketball Tournament (“ March Madness ”). These two events alone account for nearly 10% of the legal sports gambling action throughout the entire year.

The Gaming Control Board also estimates that more than $3.5 billion is illegally wagered on the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament alone.

VegasTopDogs will help to better understand and increase your chances of winning on sports and in college basketball wagers during March Madness  They feature some of the Nation’s best handicappers from New York to Las Vegas. The gentlemen featured on this site were hand-picked professionals that have made a career in the sports gambling industry.
A recent study conducted by Directions Research, found that of the people who bet on sports, 78% said they gambled on the NFL, 45% on horse racing , 36% on NCAA football , 36% on NCAA basketball , 22% on Major League Baseball and 20% on the NBA.

“With so many major events tempting the sports bettor between now and the end of March Madness in April, it’s only fitting to declare this time period as ‘Gambling Season,’” said expert veteran handicapper at VegasTopDogs, Tony Karpinski, who also serves as Director of Operations. “The casual bettor is easily seduced by the opportunity to bet on the college football bowl games, Super Bowl or their favorite college hoops team. It’s important for any bettor to ‘know before you go,’ that VegasTopDogs is a great tool to learn how to play smartly without risking any mortgage payments.”

And, this is also the final shot that many players take at their favorite gambling outlet until next football season. It is also a last gasp for online sportsbooks who often suffer through the doldrums of summer and baseball. Thus, sportsbooks offshore offer March Madness bonuses and bracket contests galore so make sure you take advantage. VegasTopDogs.com has your answers with plenty of recommendations and college basketball game previews.

March Madness also means that the MLB baseball season is just around the corner and while baseball doesn’t attract the same betting attention as football or basketball, it is the most profitable betting sport for a number of gamblers. VegasTopDogs offers a lot of value for the baseball players.
Too many people just look at the starting pitchers and pick the team,
but there are many factors of picking winners of value.  Just look at
how much you could have won over the past several years by following one of VegasTopDogs expert handicappers Tony Karpinski.

Tony Karpinski from VegasTopDogs.com has held the #1 MLB ranking for several years and showing his dime players a season profit of over $64,800.  That title is just the tip of the iceberg, as Tony was the

2003 champ $28,380 net profit    Top-rated 10* gems= 47-38

 

2004 champ $11,678    Top-rated 10* gems= 54-48

 

2007 champ $16, 465  Top-rated 10* gems= 53-34

 

2010 champ $19,550

 

Tony Karpinski has won several handicapping contests especially in football, as he finished in the top 10 in the renowned NFL Las Vegas Hilton $500,000. SuperBook Contest. TonyK is the former odds-maker and also won the Ultimate Handicapper Challenge finishing #1 in College Basketball & Football. He also has several SportsNow Handicapping Contests Wins (baseball, football, hockey, and basketball) and at the Sports Monitor, which have made him a sought-after expert and a regular guest on several weekly sports talk radio stations throughout of the country. With over 21 years of experience providing sports information services to sports fans around the world.

Tony reviews scores, personnel, coaches, stats, trends, past history, game conditions and current strengths and weaknesses to create the most comprehensive picture of likely outcomes. As a former multi-sport college athlete, Tony Karpinski. Has a keen eye for, and understanding of, athletic performance. Tony uses this knowledge to publish a weekly newsletters, which has attracted a national following and led him to his success.

3 Great Sporting Events On The Menu This Week

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NC

The coming week in the world of sports will feature lots of great college basketball, as the sport prepares to go into overdrive for the next few weeks of March mayhem and insanity.

NCAA Basketball: North Carolina Tar Heels @ Duke Blue Devils (Saturday)

This is an all-time college basketball rivalry, and it’s one in which North Carolina was able to land the first blow, winning in Chapel Hill two short weeks ago. Now, Duke gets to host the rematch in Durham, and the Blue Devils will not want to live in a world where they get swept by the Tar Heels. Duke likes to shoot the three-point shot, but it did not shoot well against North Carolina. This game will be a test of the Blue Devils’ ability to block out the memory of that loss.

NCAA Basketball: Georgetown Hoyas @ Villanova Wildcats (Saturday)

This is a game Georgetown will need to win in order to feel at least somewhat confident about its chances of making the NCAA tournament. Georgetown has lost a lot of games, but the Hoyas have also scored some really impressive wins (VCU, Kansas State, Michigan State). A win over Villanova would make it much harder for the selection committee to leave Georgetown out. Heading into the Big East Tournament, the Hoyas need to make a statement or two – they’ll get a chance here.

NCAA Basketball: Kansas Jayhawks @ West Virginia Mountaineers (Saturday)

This is a big game for West Virginia, a team with even more losses than Georgetown but not as many really big wins. Getting a victory over Kansas – a team that’s currently projected as a number one seed by a lot of publications and analysts – would give West Virginia the very thing it needs more than anything else. If the Mountaineers beat Kansas here, a few victories in the Big 12’s conference tournament might still be able to lift West Virginia into the NCAA tournament.

3 Best Sporting Events To Watch This Week

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Klay Thompson

 

The coming week in the world of sports will involve some college basketball games of note, as the sport moves under six weeks until Selection Sunday, which is March 16th.

 

NCAA Basketball: Missouri Tigers @ Ole Miss Rebels (Saturday)

 

This is a game in which the two teams are very much on the bubble and need to get a win of appreciable quality. The thing to realize about the Southeastern Conference – and this is little different from last season – is that there aren’t many chances for good wins. The SEC has Florida, Kentucky, and not much else. Whenever two of the league’s bubble teams meet, losing is not much of an option. Ole Miss will get chances to beat Kentucky and Florida later in the season, so in many ways, the Rebels know that even if they lose here, they can still get season-making wins later on. Missouri doesn’t have that opportunity. The Tigers really need to win here.

 

NCAA Basketball: Florida State Seminoles @ Maryland Terrapins (Saturday)

 

This is another game in which both teams are very much on the bubble. Neither Florida State nor Maryland has done a whole lot within its own conference. Both teams have been much less than inspiring. Florida State has a win over Virginia Commonwealth to point to, but not too much else. Both teams have to get on a four-game winning streak at this point in the season to feel good about their chances of making the field of 68. This is the kind of game in which losing will carry a considerable cost.

 

NBA Basketball: Golden State Warriors @ Phoenix Suns (Saturday)

 

This is a very attractive NBA game. Not many people expected this game to be a big one before the season began, but it has become a big game because the Suns are for real. Phoenix swept the two-game season series from the Indiana Pacers last Thursday in Indianapolis, showing the rest of the NBA that the Suns are as tough as their first 45 games suggested they were. This team isn’t going away, and Golden State will therefore have its work cut out for it against the Western Conference’s biggest surprise other than Portland.

College Hoops Focus

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Duke

March Madness 2014 is just around the corner and now that the NCAA and NFL Football season is long gone, the focus of the college world shifts to NCAA Basketball. Last year, the Louisville Cardinals won the national championship and this year, they’re currently ranked as the 14th best team in the nation. The Cardinals will be there when the Big Dance card is released, but if they want to be crowned as kings for the second year in a row, they’ll have to battle a bevy of worthy opponents such as Duke, Syracuse, Arizona among others.

In

Another team to keep an eye on – especially if you’re looking for a Cinderella story – is the Wichita State Shockers. Some may point to the undefeated record so far and wonder how an undefeated team can even be spoken of in the same breath as a Cinderella story, but if you take a closer look, you’ll notice that they haven’t beaten a team included in the NCAA Basketball rankings all year long. The Missouri Valley Conference is one of the nation’s weakest and the Shockers have only averaged 74.7 points and 39.8 rebounds per game, so they’re not exactly considered world beaters just yet.

The NCAA Tournament starts on March 18th 2014 with the Conference Tournaments starting on March 3rd. The Cardinals will be there as will the Orange, Blue Devils and Shockers. Will anyone step to the throne and take the crown away from Louisville or will the Cardinals become the first back-to-back NCAA Basketball champions since the Florida Gators in 2006-07. Check out VegasTopDogs.com for all of your college hoops action and to enter in some great March Madness Brackets.