Roy Jordan's Picks 'N Roll

MLB Betting – Phillies Will Turn Season Around; Become Playoff Contenders Again

Webmaster — Wed, 16 May 2012 02:04:58 +0000

At 6/1 online sports betting odds before the regular season got underway, the Philadelphia Phillies were considered by many to be a lock to make the playoffs in 2012. However, with just 17 wins through their first 36 games, the Phillies have been downgraded to 10/1 odds to make it, and there are MLB blogs that have already written this team off. Despite a starting rotation that ranks first in quality starts with 26, the Philadelphia offense has really struggled to keep pace and provide the run support needed to put wins on the board. However, a quick look at some important statistics and factors shows that even though they are currently in the National League East basement, the Phillies are still very much alive in the NL race.

Consider that despite its awful struggles to open the sportsbook season, Philadelphia is just 5.5 games back of the Washington Nationals for the division lead, and we are still only 36 games in to the year. Unlike last year when the Phillies, Milwaukee Brewers, and Arizona Diamondbacks ran away with their respective divisions, there appears to be a much greater degree of parity throughout the NL this season, except in the NL West where the Los Angeles Dodgers are already running away their division. The best thing that could happen for Philadelphia would be for the four teams that they are competing with eachother in the NL East to beat eachother up and allow them to climb back in to the race.

While the Phillies’ scoring offense ranks just 19th in the majors, that number is good for ninth in the NL, which is considered around the middle of the pack. Even more important is that Philadelphia ranks ninth in the majors in batting average with a .258 mark, which means that although they have struggled to score, they are still getting runners on base and eventually that should translate to more runs each per head inning. Couple that with the healthy return of both Ryan Howard and Chase Utley, and there is every reason to believe the Phillies’ offense will be better.

Although Philadelphia’s offense needs to score more runs, which it will, the pitching staff already ranks among the best in baseball, so there is no change needed there. The trio of Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, and Cole Hamels at the top of the starting rotation ranks among the best groups in baseball, and when you factor in some of the lights out performances that Vance Worley has provided, Joe Blanton lowering his ERA, and a dependable closer in Jonathan Papelbon, you have all of the ingredients needed for arguably the best pitching staff in baseball.

With the Boston Red Sox, Washington Nationals, and St. Louis Cardinals all coming up on the schedule, the Phillies may have to concentrate on holding their ground as they enter one of the toughest portions of their 2012 schedule. Reinforcements are on their way to help the Philadelphia offense, and if it can find a way to remain in striking distance over the next few weeks, then the Phillies’ slow start could be forgotten by the middle of June as they come all the way back to regain their status as true playoff contenders according to the odds listed by the sites under the sportsbook reviews.

2012 MLB Baseball Betting: Rangers, Orioles Conclude Four-Game Series In Maryland

Webmaster — Wed, 09 May 2012 07:42:19 +0000

The Texas Rangers were expected to be on top of their division in the middle of May. The Baltimore Orioles were not expected to be on top of their division at this point in the season.
Texas Rangers @ Baltimore Orioles – Thursday, May 10
Sports betting line: No line
Why Texas Will Win
In the process of betting on baseball this season, you will be able to find a number of games that require the ability to look beyond earned-run averages. It’s true that Texas starter Derek Holland carries a 4.43 ERA into this game, while Baltimore’s Jason Hammel totes a snappy, tidy 2.09 earned-run average into this game. By those measurements, one would naturally be inclined to pick the Orioles. However, Texas’ 14-3 win in the first game of this four-game set on Monday night sent a message from one dugout to the other. The Rangers are the team that knows how to carry itself through the long haul of the regular season. Baltimore wants to be seen as a legitimate contender in the American League, but the only way a ballclub can get to that point is by winning well into the month of August. It’s still very early in the season, too early to think that Baltimore is going to be in the thick of the American League East Division race when summer gives way to autumn. The Rangers have the better, more powerful, and more disciplined hitters. Holland has excelled in the postseason, and he should be able to outpitch Hammel on a very intriguing Thursday evening in Baltimore.
Why Baltimore Will Win
When you do your homework and assess your sports bet on this game, you just have to look at the reality surrounding starting pitchers. They are creatures of habit and products of rhythm. Right now, Jason Hammel clearly is in a groove. His release point and mechanics, his confidence and location, everything about him is functioning as well as one can possibly expect. Hammel isn’t just pitching solidly; he’s been brilliant so far, a key reason why manager Buck Showalter has his Orioles playing far beyond anyone’s expectations in a division that is probably the deepest and most competitive in baseball. Before the season, it was plainly logical to think that the Orioles would finish fifth behind the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, and the much-improved Toronto Blue Jays. Through five weeks of baseball, though, the Orioles have stood logic on its head. They haven’t just competed well, though; they’re getting great starting pitching, which is the true cornerstone of any team’s sustained success. Because Texas starter Derek Holland has struggled in the first month of the season, it’s quite reasonable to think that Hammel will be the better starting pitcher in this game, giving the Orioles the edge they need.
Who Will Win
It’s tempting to go with Baltimore, but it’s safer and more logical to ride the horse that’s won the last two American League pennants. Texas wants to knock back Baltimore and claim undisputed ownership of the American League. Take the Rangers here.
MLB Baseball Betting Pick: Texas

MLB Betting – Rangers Established As Early American League Favorites

Webmaster — Wed, 02 May 2012 01:03:23 +0000

The Toronto Blue Jays aren’t accustomed to playing on national television. However, when Yu Darvish and the Texas Rangers are in town, it’s a completely different story. Darvish allowed just one earned run on four hits through seven innings on Monday night, striking out nine in a 4-1 Rangers’ win. The Blue Jays got their first chance to see Darvish pitching in person after missing out on the prized free agent this past winter, and while his performance was nothing short of amazing the other night, Darvish is just one of the many reasons why Texas has once again established itself as the team to beat in the American League this season according to the numbers recorded by the MLB blogs.

The 25-year old Darvish is now 4-0 with a 2.18 ERA, and leads the Rangers’ pitching staff in strikeouts with 33. For as good as Darvish has been though he isn’t the only All Star caliber arm in the Texas rotation, with the duo of Colby Lewis and Matt Harrison a combined 6-1 on the season, with Lewis sporting a solid 1.93 ERA for the best mark on the team. The Rangers’ pitching depth has allowed them to be a little more creative in terms of their bullpen situation, with All Star Alexei Ogando moving in to a relief role where he has already recorded six holds, and new closer Joe Nathan logging six saves after coming over from the Minnesota Twins in the sports betting offseason.

The biggest pay head reason why the pitching staff gets overlooked is the team’s incredible offense, as Texas ranks first in team batting average, slug percentage, OBP, and second in runs scored. Josh Hamilton has looked absolutely possessed through the first 22 games of the season, with a ridiculous .395 average, nine home runs and 25 RBI. Michael Young, Adrian Beltre, and Ian Kinsler are all hitting upwards of .298, and the offensive depth the team boasts gives manager Ron Washington a ton of options. While it may not be realistic to expect Hamilton to be able to continue hitting at such a torrid pace, the Rangers shouldn’t miss a beat as long as he can continue to hit upwards of .300 while producing runs.

While the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim were expected to have a significant impact on the American League West division race, the big name free agent signings they brought in haven’t lived up to expectations in the early going. That has left the division wide open for Texas to establish a dominant lead, and while it may be too early still to put it in cruise control, consistency will be the key the rest of the way. The Rangers won seven of nine games against the Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, and New York Yankees, proving that they can beat the top contenders they will face. Texas has the hitting, pitching, and experience to finally live up to expectations and bring home a World Series title this season, and while there is a long way still to go, there is no doubt that the Rangers are the early AL betting favorites.

2012 MLB Baseball Betting: Rays And Angels Tangle In Tone-Setting April Encounter

Webmaster — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 01:05:21 +0000

The American League’s list of legitimate championship contenders includes the two teams who will stare down each other on Wednesday night at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Los Angeles Angels @ Tampa Bay Rays – Wednesday, April 25
Sports betting line: No line
Why Los Angeles Will Win
In the process of betting on baseball this season, you will be able to find a number of games that require the ability to overlook the strengths of a team and zero in on the quality of the starting pitcher on the other side of the divide. This is one such game. The Tampa Bay Rays have generally thrived over the years in Tropicana Field, their quirky home ballpark where pop-ups and medium-deep fly balls can hit an elevated catwalk and take strange bounces. The Rays have assembled a lineup that doesn’t give away outs very easily, so one could very understandably think that Tampa Bay is in position to beat a Los Angeles Angels team that has struggled over the first three weeks of the 2012 season. However, the Angels have the better pitcher in this game, without question. C.J. Wilson, acquired from the Texas Rangers in one of the sport’s major offseason transactions, is one of the two main reasons – along with Albert Pujols – why so many pundits placed a lot of stock in the Angels this season. Unlike Pujols, Wilson has not disappointed for Los Angeles to this point. In three starts, he’s pitched at least six complete innings and has not allowed more than three earned runs. Wilson totes a 2.37 earned-run average into this contest, an extremely low number at any point in the season but especially in April, a month when pitchers rarely attain top form. Wilson is very likely to keep Tampa Bay in check, which is why the odds will not be stacked too heavily against the Angels in this contest, to say the very least.
Why Tampa Bay Will Win
When you do your homework and assess your sports bet on this game, you just have to look at the fact that the Angels have been very mediocre through three weeks. Texas has taken ownership of the American League West, but its foremost rival has gone in the exact opposite direction, falling to last place through Monday night’s action with a 6-10 record. The Angels aren’t hitting or scoring, with star slugger Albert Pujols making the adjustment to American League pitching after a long time in the National League. Pujols is having to see a lot of unfamiliar pitchers for the first time in his career, an understandable explanation for why he’s struggling so markedly at the plate. Pujols figures to eventually hit his stride – and hit the baseball hard – but the Angels seem to be behind the curve right now. It’s true that C.J. Wilson is the better pitcher in this game, but Tampa starter Jeremy Hellickson is 2-0 with a 3.26 ERA, and he’s been very good for the Rays as well. If Hellickson continues to display his current form, Tampa Bay will probably be able to scratch out a few runs against Wilson and make them stand up.
Who Will Win
It’s true that Wilson is a better pitcher than Hellickson, but not by enough of a margin to offset the fact that Tampa Bay’s batting order is better and more consistent than the Angels’ lineup at the current moment. Los Angeles will become a really good team before the season ends, but Tampa Bay has the better team right now. The Rays will win this game.
MLB Baseball Betting Pick: Tampa Bay

MLB Betting – Red Sox Falter After Valentine, Team Address Comments

Webmaster — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 01:09:35 +0000

Just when it seemed as though the Boston Red Sox were ready to put the past where it belongs and focus on producing wins, something just had to give once again. This time there was no reason to point the finger in blame, as the culprit came right out and apologized for his comments that created quite a buzz inside and outside of the Red Sox dressing rooms early Monday morning. Boston manager Bobby Valentine told reporters that he had apologized to third basemen Kevin Youkillis for comments that he made about him on Sunday, when he questioned his physical and emotional commitment to the game early on this year. The comments were met with hostility and emotion immediately both in the club house and in the Boston area, and while Valentine was quick to address what he said and apologize, a 1-0 loss to the division rival Tampa Bay Rays certainly didn’t help put an end to the sports betting drama.

If it was Youkillis that had not given his full commitment to the team up until Monday, then the entire Red Sox team must have imitated him against the Rays, a Betonline contest in which they managed just four hits while failing to score a single run. The timing of the Boston loss has to be called in to question since they were on the verge of completing a key sweep at Fenway Park, but then again there was no shortage of players coming forward and sounding off on the traditional Patriots’ Day holiday.

Undoubtedly the most outspoken teammate of Youkillis on the matter, second basemen and former MVP Dustin Pedroia absolutely grilled Valentine with comments that really brought to light what the situation is like in the Boston clubhouse. Pedroia called out Valentine for his comments, before going on to add, “That’s not the way we go about our stuff here. He’ll figure that out. The whole team is behind Youk. We have each other’s backs here. Maybe that works in Japan.” The baseball betting fact that Pedroia spoke up and talked about the Red Sox players being there to support one another would obviously be a very positive sign, but under these circumstances it is hard to overlook that he is undoubtedly undermining any authority that Valentine may have, even if the manager did apologize. By telling reporters openly that isn’t the way things work there, and making references to Valentine’s managing career overseas, Pedroia may have gone too far with his words.

At the end of the day, Valentine’s first loss for Boston at Fenway Park was a fitting one since the entire day was a loss for him both with his team and with the Red Sox faithful that are already calling for his head. There was no shortage of MLB blogs providing insight to what happened and how it will affect the team going forward, and while Valentine did apologize and both sides have agreed to put the incident in the past, this could be just the beginning of another tumultuous baseball season in Boston.

2012 MLB Baseball Betting: Rangers Usher In A New Era On Tuesday Versus Mariners

Webmaster — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 01:13:09 +0000

The Texas Rangers are going to try something new on Tuesday when they host the Seattle Mariners. This is an April baseball game that will receive an unusual amount of attention.
Seattle Mariners @ Texas Rangers – Tuesday, April 10
Sports betting line: No line
Why Seattle Will Win
In the process of betting on baseball this season, you will be able to find a number of games that jump out at you as anything but ordinary. Such is the case for this particular game at The Ballpark In Arlington in Arlington, Texas. The Texas Rangers are making a bold move by taking their closer from last season, fireballing Neftali Feliz, and converting him into a starter. On Tuesday night, the two-time defending American League champions will show that they’re willing to leave a comfort zone in search of something more. Despite having won the last two A.L. pennants, the Rangers want to get more innings out of Feliz than just the ninth. They want him to be a starter at the back end of manager Ron Washington’s rotation. This is a risky move, given that Feliz was quite formidable and generally very effective as a closer. Feliz, like any closer, has had to learn to cultivate the attitude, energy and focus of a man whose task is to get three outs in a game on most occasions. Being a closer requires a certain kind of mentality, and now Feliz has to occupy the very different world of a starting pitcher. He needs to get at least 17 to 20 outs, not just three. He needs to pace himself instead of blowing smoke the moment he enters a game. Feliz has to rely more constantly on three pitches, not just his fastball or even just his two-pitch combination, the fastball and the change-up. Feliz will need to add a strong curveball to the mix so that he can bring more out pitches to the table. In April, it’s anything but a sure thing that Feliz will be on his game. In fact, one should expect rust rather than crispness in Feliz’s first start. This will give the Seattle Mariners an excellent chance to win.
Why Texas Will Win
When you do your homework and assess your sports bet on this game, you just have to look at the fact that Texas still has a very complete team with a formidable batting order, one that has very few weaknesses and essentially no easy outs. Even if Seattle scores five runs against Texas, the Rangers’ bats could very well produce six runs. This is a two-time defending league champion for a reason, and it is entirely fair to consider the Rangers the favorite to win the American League yet again in 2012. As long as the Mariners don’t blow Texas away in the first five innings, the Rangers can win the final four innings and ultimately prevail.
Who Will Win
It’s tempting to pick Texas at home because the Rangers are simply a better team, but the transition being experienced by Neftali Feliz is likely to be bumpy at first. Feliz will probably settle in when late May or early June arrive, but he should be very rusty and ineffective in his first regular-season start. Take Seattle.
MLB Baseball Betting Pick: Seattle

NBA Betting – Playoff Picture Will Continue To Come In To Focus This Saturday

Webmaster — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 02:43:37 +0000

As the NBA regular season continues to wind down, the playoff picture in the Western conference hasn’t become any clearer, as the teams on the bubble continue to battle it out for positioning. The price per head list of contests for this Saturday night will feature three late games that will all have implications on the race in the west, beginning with both Los Angeles-based teams in action.

Los Angeles Lakers @ Phoenix Suns
Saturday, 10:00 PM ET

The price per head bookie isn’t counting out the Suns just yet, not after the way that Steve Nash and company has been playing over the past week. Phoenix put together three-straight wins, including a big road victory at Utah that allowed them to leapfrog the Jazz up in to ninth in the Western conference, just one game back of the Denver Nuggets for that final playoff spot heading in to Friday’s contest between those teams. While the Suns haven’t been that bad on the road, the truth is that they have been much better at home, where they draw more energy from the crowd in order to execute. The Lakers head in to this game in a good spot, almost unable to catch the Oklahoma City Thunder at the top of the conference, but with good distance from the teams below them from the No. 3 position. Los Angeles is another team that has been only average on the road this year, and they could be susceptible to a hungry Phoenix team that should be hot enough to at least keep this game close.

NBA Betting Pick: Phoenix Suns

Sacramento Kings @ Los Angeles Clippers
Saturday, 10:30 PM ET

The per head team closest to the Lakers in the standings is the Clippers, but after another tough loss at the Staples Center on Wednesday that pushed them to 2.5 games back of the purple-and-gold, it’s unlikely they have enough time to catch them. Still, the Clippers hold only a slim lead over the Grizzlies and Mavericks for fourth in the conference, and will need a strong finish to secure home-court advantage for at least the first round. With just five wins through their first 27 road games, the Kings won’t do much to stand in Blake Griffin’s way.

NBA Betting Pick: Los Angeles Clippers

Denver Nuggets @ Golden State Warriors
Saturday, 10:30 PM ET

The idea that the Warriors needed only a coaching change to become a contender this season was ludicrous, and while the fans in the Bay area have voiced their displeasure about the team’s performances over the years, the best thing that Golden State can do now is lose and secure a lottery pick for a stacked draft class. The Nuggets meanwhile can’t afford to drop any more games to non-contenders if they are going to reach the postseason, and that will mean winning pay head games regardless of where they are played. Denver has actually put up decent numbers on the road this season, and should come out with a renewed sense of urgency in this crucial game.

NBA Betting Pick: Denver Nuggets

NBA Betting – A Quick Glance At The NBA Top Five To Open April

Webmaster — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 00:48:13 +0000

As the NBA regular season continues to wind down, the last couple of weeks have brought with them some notable questions that will need to be answered before the playoffs begins, with the biggest surrounding the health of reigning MVP Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls. Rose has missed significant time this season dealing with different health issues, and while the Bulls have managed to survive on top of the Eastern conference without him thanks to solid team defense and depth, their two most recent losses are proof that they are vulnerable without him. Despite Chicago’s struggles without one of the top superstars in the association, the Miami Heat haven’t been unable to unseat the Bulls at the top of the conference, which leaves us to take a look at the top-5 teams in the NBA as of the first week of April.

Oklahoma City Thunder

The fact that the Thunder actually lost five games in March after combining for just seven losses from December through February hasn’t shaken anyone’s belief that Oklahoma City is still the top NBA championship sports betting contender. The biggest reason is the fact that the Thunder managed a combined plus-39 point differential in three wins over the Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, and Bulls this past week and still have the fewest total losses in the NBA. Russell Westbrook is finally coming along with his decision-making, while James Harden and Serge Ibaka have developed in to solid depth scorers. This is still Kevin Durant’s team, but at the end of the day the talent around him has really improved.

Chicago Bulls

While the majority of Betonline players might want to throw the Bulls to the wolves following a couple of tough losses, the fact is they are still winning games without a healthy Rose, and we have no reason to believe he won’t be ready for the postseason. The Bulls are still 14-6 without their MVP in the lineup, and there may not be a better head coach in the association right now than Tom Thibodeau.

San Antonio Spurs

If any coach is going to challenge Thibodeau for that role right now, it has to be Spurs’ head coach Greg Popovich. San Antonio is once again right back near the top of the Western conference and looking like a true contender, and Popovich is one of the biggest reasons why as he continues to manage Tim Duncan’s minutes and a solid cast of reserves with Manu Ginobili spending most of the season on the sidelines.

Miami Heat

The fact that the Heat haven’t been able to pass the Bulls in the Eastern conference has to be a concern, and the loss to the Boston Celtics this past Sunday didn’t help matters one bit. Head coach Erik Spoelstra has managed to avoid the headlines this season thanks to Vinny Del Negro’s job with the Los Angeles Clippers, but if Miami can’t get things back on track early on this month, his job will undoubtedly be in trouble.

Los Angeles Lakers

While some pay head bookies will argue that the Clippers, Celtics, or some other team deserves this spot, the only other team that can compete for a championship with the teams listed above at this point is the Lakers. Kobe Bryant and his teammates survived one of their worst weeks of the season and still have work to do, but there is a ton of talent there if they can manage to put it all together before the playoffs begin.

2012 NBA Basketball Betting: Nuggets Try To Get Inside The Playoff Cut Line

Webmaster — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 01:11:42 +0000

The 2012 NBA basketball season is down to its final month. The Denver Nuggets are trying to fight their way into the playoffs. They can’t afford to lose on Wednesday in Canada.
Denver Nuggets @ Toronto Raptors – Wednesday, March 28
Sports betting line: No line
Why Denver Will Win
No one will examine this NBA contest and come away thinking that the Nuggets are likely to be flat when they go north of the border to take on the Toronto Raptors. Complacency or the rigors of travel are the only two reasons to think that Denver will fall short in this contest. The Nuggets have no excuses if they lose this game. They’re currently tied with Utah and Houston for seventh place in the Western Conference standings, but in that three-way tie, Denver is third, putting the Nuggets technically in ninth place and out of the playoffs at the moment, given that each NBA conference allows only eight teams into the postseason. Denver has to grab every game it can, and while winning all of its remaining 16 games is certainly unlikely, the Nuggets certainly must pounce when they get a bad team on the slate, and Toronto qualifies as a bad team. The Raptors entered Tuesday as a 16-34 team, well out of playoff contention in the Eastern Conference. This organization is adrift, its future bleak, its sense of morale at rock bottom, its identity in shambles. This is precisely the kind of NBA team that tanks as it approaches the end of the season, looking for a higher draft pick while players know that their paychecks are still going to come in the mail. Denver should be energetic and focused for this game, while Toronto is not likely to put up a big-time fight. Those are excellent reasons to go with the Nuggets here.
Why Toronto Will Win
When you do your homework and assess your sports bet on this game, you will acknowledge that Denver is the better team, but you will also conclude that the Nuggets are hardly a sure thing. Given the trades they made in recent years, especially the blockbuster deal with the New York Knicks that shipped Carmelo Anthony to the Big Apple, the Nuggets figured to be the future of the Western Conference, a quick and relatively young team that would be able to outmaneuver opponents at the offensive end of the floor. However, the pieces haven’t meshed as seamlessly as many observers expected, and as a result, the Nuggets are just four games above the .500 mark with April just about on the horizon. The Nuggets are not what one would call a dependable or consistent team. Toronto, for all its woes, could pick off Denver in this game.
Who Will Win
It’s not a guarantee, but Denver certainly figures to play harder than Toronto. Teams won’t always be at their best on a given night, which means that effort level is often a decisive element. The Nuggets should play with more passion because their playoff hopes are on the line. That will carry Denver to victory in this game.
NBA Basketball Betting Pick: Denver

March Madness Betting – Keeping Track Of The Madness Through The Sweet 16

Webmaster — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 01:13:42 +0000

The March Madness betting tournament is already headed to the Sweet 16, and while 50 teams have already been eliminated including the First Four, breaking down the tournament the remainder of the way will not be getting any easier. While Kentucky, North Carolina, Michigan State and Syracuse all made it through to the Sweet 16 as No. 1 seeds, teams like North Carolina State, Xavier, and Ohio are still alive and fighting for their chance at a national title. Injuries have already become a concern to teams like the Tar Heels, who could be without their starting point guard Kendall Marshall when they fight for a spot in the Elite Eight this week, and it will be interesting to see how they handle it.

Of the No. 1 seeds, North Carolina probably has on paper what amounts to the most winnable sports betting contest as the play a No. 13 seed in the Ohio Bobcats, so they should be able to get through even if Marshall is watching from the sidelines. The Tar Heels have a ton of talented post players like Tyler Zeller and John Henson, and they should be able to create matchup problems down low even without Marshall running the offense. The second-team All-ACC point guard said he is feeling good after having a pin placed in his wrist and may even be available for Friday, but if he doesn’t go, expect a possible return if they meet Kansas in the Elite Eight.

As far as the Jayhawks are concerned, a close per head win over Purdue is testament that they may not be ready to handle some of the tougher matchups on their road to the Final Four, and the Wolfpack are going to be a real test regardless of the seed differential. Syracuse will face a very tough defense against Wisconsin, with the Badgers also coming alive at the offensive end of the floor of late, and this could be the spot where they get caught with the Fab Melo exception really hurting them. Considering the way that Indiana is playing as well, none of the top seeds should have it easy in the Sweet 16, even if the Wildcats did win their first two tournament games by an average of 15.5 points. Kentucky has a lot of depth and they proved against Iowa State that they can play strong perimeter defense and keep teams from hitting the three, and if that translates they should be the most likely No. 1 seed to move on.

How the rest of the tournament plays out is as unpredictable as when it started, living up to its name as the March Madness. But at this point it’s important to forget about the seeds, and pay attention to the matchups. The Jayhawks and Orange will be in tough against quality opponents that have the ability to put up a ton of points, while the Tar Heels and Wildcats should be able to take care of their business. Michigan State has played some excellent ball, but so has Louisville, and there is only so long that all four No. 1 seeds can hang around.