Sports Talk, Rumors and Other Contrarian Insights

The NCAA tournament is upon us and gamblers across the world have been licking their chops for the past couple weeks.  Today Parlay Pete brings to you some prop bets that seem to have a great chance of winning.  They are not like my normal locks but they are good bets none the less with potential to pay out big.  Prop bets are available at just about any online sports book so check them out and make some money.  Here we go:

Any Big East team to win the tournament (+280) – So basically if any of the 8 Big East teams win the title it pays almost 3 to 1.  This is a simple numbers game.  The Big East has the most teams in the field so already there is an advantage.  Not only that they have some very high seeds with a #1, 2 #2’s and 2 #3’s.  Syracuse and WVU are popular picks to win it all and it would not be unheard of if Nova broke through either.  Georgetown and Pitt have proven they can beat anyone so there seems to be some real value in this bet.  Of course, the 2 best teams are Kansas and Kentucky.  Also Duke seems to have an easy road so it is kind of a stretch, but seeing as how it pays almost 3-1, it is a good bet to take a chance on.

Total Wins for teams from the ACC under 7.5 (-105) - This is saying teams from the ACC will not win more than 7 games combined.  In my bracket I only have 3, which is probably low.  But where are they going to come from?  If you like Duke to make it out of their region, you might want to go the other way, but I see trouble for them as early as round 2 against Louisville.  The rest of the teams don’t impress me much.  MD might win 2 games, but I doubt it.  FSU might beat Gonzaga but probably won’t beat Syracuse.  I have no confidence in Wake, and am not all that impressed with Clemson.  Especially since Clemson will be playing their mirror image in Missouri in the 1st round.  Who knows what to expect from Georgia Tech.  I honestly doubt they get to 6 wins, let alone 7 or 8.

More total wins in the tournament Ohio State (+150) over Syracuse - Syracuse has not played great at the end of the year and I sort of get the feeling they peaked too early.  OSU is the opposite.  They have played great lately and have the best player in the tournament in Evan Turner.  I really don’t like the 2nd round match up for the Cuse against Gonzaga.  If the Zags can beat FSU they have a great chance to beat the Cuse because they have shooters to beat their zone.  OSU on the other hand seems to have an easy road to at least the sweet 16.  Throw in the (+150) line and it makes sense.  And if the Cuse gets hot and wins it all you are covered by your Big East bet.

Enjoy the Tournament and look for some game locks today or tomorrow.

Another big Saturday in college hoops to which I have the answers to.  Bet big today boys.

Texas A&M (-4) @ Oklahoma – I have not faith in OU.  They are injured and young and I don’t think they keep this under ten.  Meanwhile, Texas A&M has put together a decent season and I think will end the regular season with a 10 pint road W.

Notre Dame (+7) @ Marquette – The red hot Irish travel to Milwaukee to take on the red hot Golden Eagles in a game that has huge bubble implications.  So why is the spread so big?  The answer is cause of the blow out Marquette had against the Ville during the week.  I doubt they crush ND in this one considering how bad the Irish need this win.  I bet they keep it close.

Providence (+2) home vs Seton Hall – If I were The Chuckdizle, my monthly man crush would no doubt be on PC forward Jamine Peterson.  No one on the hall will be able to stop him and a lot of points will be scored in this one.  PC has a young team that despite losing like 8 in a row appears to be improving.  The Hall on the other hand is not.  I bet Peterson goes for 25 and 12 and PC gets a home W to end the streak and improve their tournament seed.  As a Pitt fan, I would not want to see Providence in our opening game of the BE tourney, you’ll see why today.

Lock Tracker (19-14-1)

In a word, OUCH.  Tough break last night, it happens, we move on.  Some good ones tonight to try to win it all back.

Cavs (-10.5) @ New Jersey – Best team vs worst team, need I say more.  Seriously the Cavs have played better lately and while the Nets are showing improvement, they can’t hang with the Cavs.  I like the Cavs big.

Fordham (+22) home vs Xavier – I know a bit of a shocker but it’s still a conference road game for Xavier.  22 points seems like too much, even for last place Fordham.  I by no means expect them to win, but I doubt Xavier runs it up.  I bet they get a lead, clear the bench and Fordham keeps it under 20

Wake Forest (+7.5) @ Florida State – Wake is starting to get desperate.  They really need a win and certainly have the talent to beat Florida State who is good but far from great.  I think they in this game, but I am sure they keep it close.

Need s big night after yesterday, these should do it

Lock Tracker (17-13-1)

Sorry Gamblers I got caught up with work and could not post my locks today.  For the record I liked Purdue plus 3.5 at Ohio State and I liked Univ Of Miami plus 7.5 at home vs Duke but did not get my bet in in time.  So we only have 1 today.

Miami heat (minus 7.5) at NJ Nets – Both played last night but NJ had the longer trip.  No one expects back to back wins from this dreadful team and I expect Miami will play better on back to back nights.  Expect a 10-15 point victory for D wade and Co.

Lock Tracker 7-3

Big day yesterday for those who took my picks (they’re locks so why wouldn’t you?) but its time to look towards tonight’s games and turn those winnings from yesterday into something big…so here are the Super Tuesday edition of Parlay Pete’s Locks

Wake Forest (plus 5.5) at Virginia Tech – I know Va Tech has an nice record with 20 wins, but take a closer look.  They have no good wins.  I mean who is there best win?  Seton Hall in OT?  Virginia?  Penn State?  Their RPI is 51 and their strength of schedule rank is 202.  Meanwhile, Wake is a solid team with a lot of talent that has probably had the better season.  Their RPI is 11.  They’ve beaten Xavier and won at Gonzaga.  I really think they might win this game and definitely expect them to be within 5.5

Kentucky (minus 3.5) at Mississippi State – MSU is not a bad team, in fact they are pretty good and Vernardo is a stud.  He will get his blocks and control the paint to some extent.  But what he has not seen is the athleticism that kentucky’s guards will bring at him.  Wall and Bledsoe will attack him early and often which is what you should do to a shot blocker.  I know I liked A&M last night at home with a juiced up crowd to keep it close, but the spread was 7 in that one and only 3.5 in this one.  I expect a close game, but for KU to pull it out by 7 or 8.

Ok locks those bets down bettors, back with more tomorrow.

Lock tracker (5-3)

Well, Saturday was not my best day, but it happens to the best of us (including me).  But Big Monday is upon us so we need to assemble our remaining funds and win it back.  Today’s locks incldue

Uconn (plus 9.5) at Nova – I know what you’re thinking why go back to Uconn after the egg they laid on Saturday?  And the answer is they laid an egg on Saturday, expect more from this talented yet inconsistent team.  Remember, they have played up to their competition level for most of the year.  They beat Texas and very easily could’ve beat Kentucky.  Also they hung tough with a superior coached Pitt team.  Expect a closer game than Vegas thinks

Maryland (minus 9 ) home against UVA – Noticing a pattern here?  Md screwed me Saturday and played one of the worst games they’ve played in a while.  I expect coming home playing an overrated UVA team they will play much better.  In short, expect to see the team that stomped UNC, not the team that got stomped by Duke

Texas A&M (plus 7) at home Vs Kansas – Although I am on record last year claiming Kansas will win this years title, I smell an upset bid.  A&M needs a signature win to keep its tourney hopes alive and getting the #1 team at home on Big Monday is their best shot.  I still think Kansas wins, but A&M keeps it close

Ok degenerates, place your bets

Lock Tracker 2-3, unless everyone is willing to concede Jamie Dixon for COY, in which case 3-3.

Ok degenerates, 2-0 yesterday which means we should all be playing with house money. It’s time to let those winnings ride and make so real money. On to todays picks… bets should be placed in a legal and responsible manner…

Pick 1 – Maryland (plus 9.5) at Duke – I think the line is so high cause the Terds got embarrassed at Cameron last year. This year Duke is not that good. I really like the MD’s front line against the athletically challenged murderers row of Plumlee, Singler, and Steve’s boy Zubek…Plus Vazquez has been playing well
*Don’t be afraid of the money line here

Pick 2 – UCONN (minus 6.5) at home vs Cincy – 2 desperate teams trying to keep tournament dreams alive, with the edge in talent going to Uconn. Plus they have the added boost from their coach returning and playing at home

Pick 3 – Shannon brown (plus 110) in the Dunk Contest – This is the lock of locks. I saw him do a two handed 360 dunk from just inside the free throw line at the high school all american game which ranks up there on my list of best dunks ever. The only thing that bothers me is the line, he is the clear favorite so it doesn’t pay very well but it is as close to a sure thing as can be.

Future Bet – College Hoops Coach of the Year – Jamie Dixon (no odds available) if you can find someone to take this bet, make it. He is a god!

Enjoy!

Lock tracker 2-0

Ok readers, here is your first dose of Pete’s locks of the day where I give you the games to bet and hope you place them in a responsible and legal manner. For those who don’t know, I do not actual gamble (except for centsports) but I have a unique interest in it and check the lines daily. We will keep track to see if they are in fact locks.

Pick 1 – Pitt (plus 3) at home against WVU. Bitter rivals face each other for the 2nd time in 2 weeks but this time Jermaine Dixon is healthy. Expect a crazy crowd and close game, take the points and my unbiased opinion

Pick 2 – The Rookies (plus 12.5) against the Sophomores. Thats right, NBA all star weekend is among us and I like the 1st year boys. Expect Tyreke Evans to best D Rose in the battle of Memphis pg’s and OJ Mayo to take more shots than the guy from 3 Sheets taking a tour of the Jack Daniels distillery.

Ok world, remember place your bets legally and responsibly.