Not every day of the NCAA Tournament is a surprise party. It is possible for teams to continue to advance in March without much stress or sweat.
Sports Columns
A majority of bettors are banking on Oregon being better than Duke, and Dana Altman getting the better of Mike Krzyzewski, in an NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 matchup Thursday. Around 65 percent of the spread wagers are on the Ducks as 3-point favorites.
With a full beard, unique name and rock-solid game, Thomas Walkup was set to be in the media spotlight in the Sweet 16. Central Casting could not have picked a better tough guy to put on screen.
It’s not going to be difficult to top what happened Friday — it’s going to be impossible. We just witnessed one of the craziest days in NCAA Tournament history.
There are 16 games today, presenting more entertainment and more opportunities to make money. The bad news is the most recent 16 games put a lot of bettors in a money pit. But bouncing back is part of this exercise.
Sports bettors are known for blowing smoke when it comes to exaggerating wins and downplaying losses. But blowing smoke is not permitted at the Westgate anymore.
March is a star search. It’s about buzzer-beating shots, comebacks, giant killers and teases. A short time after two No. 5 seeds were chopped down, top-seeded North Carolina was clinging to a one-point halftime lead. And then Arizona was blown out. Welcome to the NCAA Tournament.
It’s not really a stunner, but it’s a great story. Makai Mason, a little sophomore guard, lifted little Yale to its first-ever NCAA Tournament win in its first appearance since 1962.
Betting on the NCAA Tournament in Las Vegas is a supersized version of the Super Bowl. Instead of one big game, this is an unpredictable 67-game tournament staged over three weeks. A total of 32 games tip off Thursday and Friday with another wild 48 hours to follow.
Another No. 1 seed bites the dust, and the loss could be costly for San Diego State. But the bettors who backed Fresno State at 8-1 odds to win the Mountain West tournament are cashing tickets.
It will be a big night in the Pac-12. Arizona is a 1½-point favorite over top-seeded Oregon in the opener at 6:15 p.m. San Diego State, the No. 1 seed in the Mountain West, will get tested by UNR in the first semifinal at 6 p.m.
Bookmakers always hope for upsets, and this March, it’s not just wishful thinking. There certainly are going to be shockers, and there probably will be a No. 2 or a No. 3 seed go down. What we are witnessing now is a preview of the real madness.
Sometimes, the so-called square bettors are sharper than the oddsmakers. Fresno State’s no-sweat cover in a victory over UNLV, which did get a spirited effort out of Patrick McCaw, served as an example that the public is not always wrong.
Several times a hero in March, Steve Alford is a goat this time. The UCLA coach leaned back in his chair, rolled his eyes and watched his team get rocked by rival Southern California for the third time this season.
