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TIP OF THE DAY

Villanova Wildcats vs. Kansas Jayhawks

Prediction: Kansas Jayhawks

Current Line: -11.5 Over/Under: 141.5 Reason: Villanova was supposed to contend next season. What are they doing in the Round of 16 against the Midwest's No. 1 seed this season? The fans at Ford Field get to see the talented Wildcats and the balanced Kansas Jayhawks when they take their seats on Friday. It's a rare battle of No. 1 vs. No. 12 and the point spread reflects that. Oddsmakers currently have the Jayhawks listed as 11½-point favorites versus the Wildcats, while the game's total is sitting at 141½. The Wildcats defeated Siena 84-72 as a 5.5-point favorite in the second round of the NCCA Tournament on Sunday. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (145). Scottie Reynolds scored a game-high 25 points for Villanova and Corey Stokes added 20 points in the win. Mario Chalmers scored 17 points on Saturday to guide Kansas to a 75-56 win over the UNLV Runnin' Rebels in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Jayhawks managed to cover the big 13.5-point spread in that contest, while the combined score fell UNDER the posted total (136). Team records: Villanova: 22-12 SU, 14-17 ATS Kansas: 33-3 SU, 18-14-2 ATS Villanova most recently: When playing on Friday are 8-2 After a win are 6-4 Kansas most recently: When playing on Friday are 9-1 After playing UNLV are 1-1 After a win are 8-2 A few trends to consider: Villanova is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games Villanova is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Villanova's last 14 games Kansas is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games Kansas is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Kansas's last 6 games

Wunderdog

Stanford vs. Texas
Pick: Texas -2

This is technically a road game for both teams but it's being played in Houston. The Longhorns are 6-0 in NCAA Tournament games played in Texas the past five years. Even without that edge, we liked them in this matchup. The home-court helped North Carolina break out of an early tough-going yesterday and we think it can make the difference in this game too. We like the fact that Texas had a tough go of it vs. Miami. They held off a fierce Miami comeback from a 17-point defecit which shows heart and also prepares you well for future close games and tough situations. Texas has the decided offensive advantage, averaging 75.5 per game to Stanford's 71.2 (69.8 on the road) and the Longhorns are playing defense better than Stanford right now. Texas shows up for big games. They are 13-5 ATS vs. elite teams (those outscoring their opponents by 8+ ppg) in late-season play the past two seasons. Over that same span, they are 28-17 ATS off a win and 22-12 ATS off two straight wins. The Cardinal have the twin towers but Texas has the superstar guards. You may be tired of hearing it but it's true - the deeper you get in this tournament, the more important great guard play becomes. We like the "home" team in this one.

Rocky Atkinson NHL

NAS -120  vs CLB

Columbus is 7-21 this year when playing against a team with a losing record.  Columbus is 3-10 this year when playing against a team with a losing record in the 2nd half of the season.  Nashville is 31-12-1 SU and 32-12 ATS overall vs Columbus since 1996.  Nashville is 19-4 SU and ATS overall vs Columbus last 3 years.  Predators are 4-0 in their last 4 games as a road favorite.  Predators are 5-1 in their last 6 games playing on 2 days rest.  Predators are 6-2 in their last 8 Friday games.  Predators are 8-3 in their last 11 vs. Central.  Predators are 7-3 in their last 10 games as a favorite of -110 to -150.  Predators are 54-25 in their last 79 vs. a team with a losing record.  Predators are 96-45 in their last 141 games as a favorite.  Blue Jackets are 4-9 in their last 13 home games.  Blue Jackets are 19-43 in their last 62 vs. a team with a losing record.  Blue Jackets are 6-15 in their last 21 vs. Western Conference.  Blue Jackets are 2-5 in their last 7 vs. Central.  Blue Jackets are 2-5 in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.  Blue Jackets are 30-80-6 in their last 116 in the third game of a 3-in-4 situation.  Blue Jackets are 1-4 in their last 5 games following a win.  Blue Jackets are 2-9 in their last 11 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.  Predators are 6-1 in the last 7 meetings in Columbus.  Predators are 25-6 in the last 31 meetings.  We'll recommend a small play on Nashville tonight! 

Tom Freese

Stanford vs. Texas

Stanford is 8-2 OVER when the line is +3 to -3 and they are 12-4 OVER as underdogs. The Cardinal are 8-1 OVER in March road games and they are 13-4 OVER their last 17 Big Dance games. Texas is 27-13 Over off two straight conference games. The Longhorns are 6-2 OVER as Big Dance favorites of 6.5 or less points. PLAY ON 'OVER'

Scott Rickenbach

Montreal Canadiens -115 @ Buffalo

With 23 road wins, Montreal has more wins away from home than any other team in the Eastern Conference. As for Buffalo’s home ice advantage here, it’s not much. The Sabres have won just 19 of their 39 home games this season! Buffalo is also coming off of a big road win at Ottawa last night as they rallied to tie up the Senators late in the game. After tying it the Sabres went on to win the game in the shootout and, after that emotional win, it could be a little tough for Buffalo to give an equally strong effort in this back to back situation. Note that the Sabres will be playing their third game in four nights and they’ll be facing a Canadiens club that has been off since Monday. The Habs knocked off the Senators 7-5 on Monday with an effort that was much more impressive than the final score shows. Montreal was up 7-1 in that game before the Senators tallied four late goals to make the final score a little more ‘respectable’.

With a shot at earning the top seed in the Eastern Conference, and facing a Northeast Division foe, there is no fear of sluggishness from the Canadiens even though they have clinched a playoff spot. There is much for Montreal to keep playing for and they are certainly motivated here as a result. The Canadiens are 6-2 in their last eight road games and they will take advantage of a Sabres club that is allowing too many goals in recent weeks. Buffalo’s win last night was just their fourth in their last ten games and a big part of that is because they’ve allowed 3.7 goals per game in their last ten games! Home ice hasn’t helped either as, in their last three home games, the Sabres have been torched for 14 goals! The Habs offense has been on a tear as they’ve scored three goals or more in 9 of their last 11 games. Other than the two games they were “shut down”, the Canadiens averaged over 4 goals per game in the other 9 games and we certainly don’t see Buffalo “shutting them down” in this tough spot. Play Montreal on the money line as a regular selection.

Strike Point Sport's

2-Unit Play. Take Texas -2 over Stanford

Very interesting match-up. Size vs. guard play. I actually would prefer to see Stanford win this game, and I picked them in my bracket to go to the Final Four. But that's hardly the case when I have to make an unbiased pick based on who is going to win. And that's because I don't think Stanford can win in the Longhorns' back yard in Houston. Brook and Robin Lopez will play well, but I don't trust the Cardinal's guards, as we saw the twin towers bail them out against Marquette. Stanford's backcout was outplayed in the second round win, and now they face an even stronger counterpart in A.J. Abrams and D.J. Augustin. Overall, Texas has an athletic advantage when you talk about do-it-all forward Damion James, as well as a distinct superiority from the three point line. We'll see why Augustin is arguably the best point guard in the country, and why Abrams is one of the best shooters around. Texas advances to the Elite Eight.

SportsKingz

CBB:

MEMPHIS -3.5 (15 UNITS)

VILLANOVA +12 (15 UNITS)

The 'Sportsmen'

5* Texas- 1 unit

5* Mich St.+ 1 unit

Rob Veno

Blue Chip: Kansas Over 144

Blue Chip: Memphis -4.5

The Sports Executives

Kansas -12
Wisconsin -5
Memphis u -4.5
Texas -2