I’ve got a busy weekend lined up with UFC 97 odds and NBA betting action for the playoffs, but there’s still some awards to give out, and it started yesterday with LeBron James’ MVP award. Today? The Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player awards.

Rookie of the Year

This draft class turned out to be quite deep, and Memphis’ O.J. Mayo, Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook and New Jersey’s Brook Lopez all deserve a shoutout. But Derrick Rose was under a ton of pressure, being drafted first overall by his hometown Chicago Bulls, and the kid they call “Pooh” delivered and then some. He was probably Chicago’s most consistent player all year, playing arguably the toughest position on the court, and he never really fell off. The kicker: his team has an NBA betting chance in the postseason, not a great one, but a chance nonetheless as he’s one of only two players in the top 10 of that draft class to still be playing. Once he gets a consistent jumper, it’s over.

Defensive Player of the Year

I’ve seen some reporters (ahemESPNahem) that threw names like LeBron James and Dwayne Wade out there for DPOY, and that’s fine, that’s their opinion. The problem is, that opinion is terrible. Dwight Howard is a near-lock to earn the first of many DPOY awards, leading the league in rebounding and blocks, and if there was a stat for altered shots, he’d lead that, too. With D-12 in the middle, Orlando has a very good NBA betting chance of representing the East in the NBA finals.

The season is almost over, and it’s almost playoff time, but NBA betting players still have some player props to bet on, such as the MVP award. Los Angeles’ Kobe Bryant won it last year, and he’s earned consideration this year, but there’s only one winner, and that is……

LeBron James have simply been the best player on the best team in the league, and since that seems to be the way the MVP is decided, he has to win (how the MVP is decided is a whole ‘nother blog post). James is second in the league in scoring, he’s shot career bests from the free-throw and three-point line, he’s become a much better defensive player, and he’s more forceful at the end of games, which is something we’ve been waiting for since his 30-point second-half outburst against Detroit in the playoffs a couple seasons back. You could make a strong NBA betting case for Dwayne Wade, who leads the league in scoring and has carried Miami to a No.5 seed on his back, and Bryant has been the straw that stirs the Lakers, the best team in the West. But when NBA betting players go to make their choice for MVP, they have to go with Lebron James. Give the “King” his crown.

I’ve been so busy with the NCAA Tournament, and this weekend’s Masters odds, that the NBA postseason has snuck up on me. There is still some stuff to sort out in terms of playoff spots, so this weekend’s games still have meaning for NBA betting players.

Charlotte essentially has to run the table with four games left to catch Chicago and Detroit in the East, and they head to Oklahoma City on Friday, while Saturday’s game in Chicago will decide their fate. The Bulls, who are playing their best ball of the seaon right now, face Philadelphia at home on Thursday before welcoming the Bobcats on Saturday.  Finally, the Pistons host New Jersey on Friday night, before heading to Indiana on Saturday. NBA betting odds should back the Bulls and Pistons to hold off the Bobcats, who nonetheless had a great season and are on the rise.

The West has all of their playoff spots locked up, and now it’s just a matter of order. Utah and Dallas hold the final two spots, and they’ll be looking to stay out of the eighth spot, as that team will take on the Lakers. Dallas hosts New Orleans on Friday, and the Hornets are only a game ahead of the Jazz and Mavericks. Utah takes their terrible road show to San Antonio to take on a Spurs team that is ailing. On Saturday, the Jazz get a gimme when they host Golden State. On Sunday, the Mavericks and Hornets complete their home-and-home with a nationally-televised contest in New Orleans. Look for the Hornets to sweep the Mavericks this weekend, while the Jazz should gain a split. Dallas should end up in the final spot, and against the Lakers, they don’t stand an NBA betting chance.

It’ll be a long time before online betting players get to see this kind of dominance again, as the Connecticut womens’ basketball team bettered their male counterparts The Huskies romped to a 76-54 win over Louisville (their third blowout win over the Cardinals this year), completing a 39-0 season in which they beat all of their opponents by at least 10 points. Tina Charles, the Outstanding Player of the Final Four, capped a brilliant season with a 25-point, 19-rebound performance, as the Huskies held the Cardinals to 31% shooting from the floor.

Next year, the Huskies should be the basketball betting favorites once again. Charles could be back for her senior year, while Maya Moore is only a sophomore. Both could easily play in the WNBA, but they could return to be a part of a dynasty. Since Moore joined the team, the Huskies are 75-2. NBA betting players have been treated to a great season with teams like Cleveland and the Lakers, but you should definitely respect what the UConn women have done this year.

Well, North Carolina proved the Final Four odds right, romping past Michigan State 89-72 in Monday’s championship game. Here’s a look at the players who owned Detroit, and it’s no surprise that it’s loaded with Tar Heels and Spartans.

C -Goran Suton, Michigan State

The big man struggled with foul troubles in the Final Four betting upset over UConn, but he pulled off a double-double with 17 points and 11 boards, and was probably Michigan State’s best player. With his outside shooting skill, he could be a poor man’s Zydrunas Ilgauskas in the NBA.

F – Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina

Hansbrough saved his best for last, averaging 18 points and nine boards during the final weekend of the Tournament. He got the national championship he deserved after a highly-decorated career, and now all eyes will be on him to see where he lands in the NBA.

F – Wayne Ellington, North Carolina

Ellington may have the most talent on this squad, and he averaged 19.5 points during Final Four weekend. Ellington was instrumental in the Tar Heels’ fast start against the Spartans, as all 19 of his points came in the first half. He could prove to be an effective scorer off the bench in the NBA.

G – Kalin Lucas, Michigan State

The sophomore guard got a lesson in the Carolina loss, as he committed a game-high six turnovers. Still, Lucas averaged 17 points during the last weekend, and his 21-point performance pushed the Spartans past UConn. He should be one of the top guards in the nation next season, making Michigan State a Final Four betting favorite.

G – Ty Lawson, North Carolina

Ellington won the Final Four’s Outstanding Player, but it should have gone to Lawson, who set an championship-game record with eight steals against Lucas and the Spartans. Lawson put up 21.5 points, 7.0 assists and 5.5 assists, and he was the driving force behind this championship run. He’ll probably go to the NBA, but he’ll always be remembered for this run, as the team that were the Final Four betting favorites all season, came up with the trophy.

And if you missed “One Shining Moment”, here it is, the best part of the NCAA Tournament:

North Carolina has been the Final Four betting favorite all season, and Monday’s national-championship game against Michigan State should be a coronation for the NCAA’s best team.

Michigan State vs North Carolina odds – Monday, April 6, 9:21 PM ET

The Spartans went toe-to-toe with a bigger UConn team, and came away with an 82-73 win on Saturday. The Spartans definitely felt their homecourt advantage, as the majority of the 72,000-plus at Ford Field were backing Michigan State. Kalin Lucas led the way with 21 points, while Raymar Morgan had 18 points and nine boards while playing with a broken nose.

The Tar Heels continued their improved defensive play with an 83-69 win over Villanova, holding the Wildcats to 32.9% from the floor. Ty Lawson had a brilliant all-around game with 22 points, eight assists and seven boards for Carolina, who have won their five Tournament games by an average margin of 20.8 points.

Final Four odds have the Tar Heels as a 7.5-point favorite, and they’re 5-2 alltime against the Spartans, including 3-0 in the Tournament. Carolina have already played Michigan State at Ford Field this year, and it ended with a 98-63 romp for the Tar Heels. The Spartans are better now, but the scary thing is, so is Carolina. With the way they are playing defense right now, the Tar Heels would probably give some NBA teams a run for their money. The crowd will play a role, but Carolina has been destined to win this title, since Lawson, Tyler Hansbrough, Wayne Ellington and Danny Green all decided to come back and win a championship instead of playing in the NBA. Take North Carolina and their Final Four odds on Monday.

It’s time for Final Four betting picks….another NCAA tournament is winding down, and while there’ve been fewer upsets than usual, it’s good when the cream rises to the top. We know we’re being treated to some good quality basketball.

Michigan State vs Connecticut odds – Saturday, April 4, 6:47 PM ET

The Spartans beat Robert Morris, USC and Kansas before saving their best performance for last. Michigan State battered top overall seed Louisville all over the court for a 12-point win, holding the Cardinals to 38.3% from the field. Goran Suton is making a strong case to be on the All-Tournament team, as the big center is playing the best ball of his four-year career. Also, Michigan State isn’t worried about being a Final Four betting underdog: they’re 3-1 this season when the opposition is favored.

The Huskies have been the most impressive team in the Tournament, beating Chattanooga, Texas A&M, Purdue and Missouri by an average of 25.2 points. Only Mizzou really pushed the Huskies, who have outrebounded their opponents by 68. The Huskies have size, outside shooting, a great point guard in A.J. Price, and a future HOF coach in Jim Calhoun. And still, I’m picking against them.

UConn has a Final Four betting spread of four points, but they’ll face a unique problem in the Tournament: Michigan State’s campus is only 75 miles away. The Spartans’ faithful will be out in full force, serving as an extra man against the Huskies. UConn is used to having their way in the post, but they won’t with Michigan State, who is one of only two teams in the nation that is better than the Huskies on the boards. Michigan State coach Tom Izzo is surely no slouch, and he’s had his boys ready for this moment all season. Bet on Michigan State for a Final Four betting upset on Saturday.

The biggest news in college hoops outside of Final Four betting has been an attempted return to glory by the University of Kentucky, who missed the NCAA tournament for the first time in 19 years this year, then got bounced from the NIT in the quarterfinals. Off came the head of Billy Gillespie after only two years, and in comes a coach that transformed a mid-major into a perennial Final Four betting contender.

John Calipari was given an 8-year, $31.7 million contract to take the programs with the most wins in NCAA history to the promised land, and he’s built a great reputation for himself. Back in 1998, UMass went 10-18 in Calipari’s first season, but by season two, they were in the NIT. Following another NIT appearance, UMass went to the NCAAs five straight years, capped by an appearance in the Final Four by a Marcus Camby-led squad. Then after a few years in the NBA, Calipari returned to take Memphis to the NITs in 2000, and they won a year later. Calipari ended his Memphis career with four straight invitations to the “Big Dance”, including a heart-breaking overtime loss in last year’s final, and that team won an NCAA-record 38 games. In fact, the last four years of Calipari’s reign saw the program win the most games in that time period for any NCAA team, but his loss should see the Tigers’ Final Four odds drop next year.

Now, does this mean an NCAA title will come to Kentucky? No…..well, not right away. Calipari’s never coached a “big” program, but his recruiting skills are lauded as some of the best in the nation. He could even persuade Jodie Meeks, a second-team All-American, and Patrick Patterson to come back, which would be a great foundation. Guaranteed, Kentucky’s Final Four odds for next year have gotten a giant boost from gaining Calipari. We know Ashley Judd will be ecstatic.