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Wednesday, April 08th, 2009 

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.

Tuesday, April 07th, 2009 

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:

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Monday, April 06th, 2009 

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.

Thursday, April 02nd, 2009 

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.

Wednesday, April 01st, 2009 

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.

Tuesday, March 31st, 2009 

Two players make a repeat appearance in the Team of the Weekend as we head into Final Four betting, and although one of them won’t get to play this weekend, he probably played himself into a high draft pick in the NBA.

C – Goran Suton, Michigan State

The man in the middle for the Spartans averaged 19.5 points and 9.5 boards in wins over Kansas and Lousiville, and Suton is looking to close out his career at Michigan State with a national title. He’ll be counted on heavily if the Spartans are to stage a Final Four betting upset over Connecticut, but Suton can match up with UConn’s Hasheem Thabeet.

F- Sam Young, Pittsburgh

Young was easily Pitt’s best player during their NCAA run, and he put up 23.5 points against Xavier and Villanova, including 28 in the loss to the Wildcats. Young has an NBA-ready body and game, and staying four years at Pitt was definitely an asset. NBA betting players should keep an eye on this kid.

F- Blake Griffin, Oklahoma

Griffin was the first player since 1969 to put up 25 points and 10 boards in his first three Tournament games when he had 30 and 14 in Oklahoma’s Sweet 16 win over Syracuse, and he went down fighting in the loss to North Carolina, notching 23 points and 16 boards. We’ve surely seen the last of Griffin in the NCAA ranks, as a No.1 spot in the NBA draft awaits him, but Final Four betting players will remember the damage Griffin did in this Tournament.

G -Ty Lawson, North Carolina

It’s business as usual for the ACC Player of the Year, whose toe seems to be 100% now. Lawson averaged 19.0 points and 7.0 assists while leading the Tar Heels to double-digit wins over Gonzaga and Oklahoma, and he had only one turnover in each game. No one player is as important to one team’s Final Four odds as Lawson is to North Carolina’s, and they’re a much more relaxed and free-flowing team with him at the helm.

G – Scottie Reynolds, Villanova

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Reynolds raised his game in the wins over Duke and Pitt, averaging 15.5 points, and he essentially sealed his spot in this team when he hit the game-winner against the Panthers to win the East region. Like Lawson, Reynolds is essential to his team’s Final Four odds, and the matchup between Lawson and Reynolds will likely decide the winner of the ‘Nova-UNC game.

Monday, March 30th, 2009 

Before we get to Final Four betting, here’s a look back at what happened during the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight rounds of the NCAA Tournament.

Poor Pitt….they left the Tournament without ever playing their best game. However, Sam Young probably played himself into the NBA lottery, and DeJuan Blair will probably give it a shot as well, seeing as how he’ll be a marked man without Young and Levance Fields around.

UConn’s been the team of the Tournament thus far, and never panicked when Missouri pushed them. Even with all the off-court stuff going on, the Huskies will be one of the Final Four betting favorites.

North Carolina showed they could play defense in their win over Oklahoma, but Tyler Hansbrough hasn’t done his draft stock any favors in this Tournament. Still, the Tar Heels have to be considered the Final Four betting favorites this weekend.

Cheers to Michigan State, who’ll be playing UConn in what will be a glorified home game, with the Final Four being held in Detroit. Their tough defense paved the way to Detroit, and this team of Spartans will be looking for a Final Four betting upset against the powerful Huskies.