No longer is a bet on the Cubs’ future a foolish expense. It appears Joe Maddon has the most talented team in the major leagues, and Maddon also might be the best manager in baseball. So, maybe this is the year.
Sports Columns
It’s rare to get a classic East versus West battle of two top undefeated 3-year-olds before the Kentucky Derby.
Not all underdog stories are heart warming for the masses. For many, Jim Boeheim coaching Syracuse to another Final Four makes skin crawl. His enemies call him a cheater and whiner. His friends just call him a whiner.
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.
The $10 million Dubai World Cup, the world’s richest horse race, has a star-studded field of 12, headed by California Chrome, the 2014 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner. Two Kentucky Derby preps also will be run Saturday.
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.
Mohaymen remains my top colt for the Kentucky Derby. The Fountain of Youth winner has a date with my second horse, Nyquist, in the Florida Derby on April 2 at Gulfstream Park. Seldom do we see such a clash of titans before the Derby at Churchill Downs.
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.