Thursday 3-15-18 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 03-15-2018, 08:25 AM

F.A.S.T. Sheets Free Race for Camarero

Camarero - Race 3

Pick 4 (3-6) / Exacta / Trifecta / Daily Double 3-4

Claiming $14,000 • 1 Mile • Dirt • Age 3 • CR: 58 • Purse: $7,500 • Post: 3:35P
FOR THREE YEAR OLDS. WEIGHT, 120 LBS. NON-WINNERS OF A RACE SINCE FEBRUARY 20 ALLOWED 1 LBS. A RACE SINCE FEBRUARY 10 ALLOWED 2 LBS. A RACE SINCE JANUARY 10 ALLOWED 4 LBS. CLAIMING PRICE $14,000, FOR EACH $2,000 TO $10,000 1 LB.
Contenders

Race Analysis
P#
Horse
Morn
Line

Accept
Odds

Race Type: Paceless Race. There is no true early speed in this race. * KEY ANGLES * PROSPECT LUCK: Horse's win percentage at today's distance(sprint or route)/surface (dirt or turf) is at least 50. Horse has run a Good Race within the last 30 day s. Horse has the highest TrackMaster Power Rating. MI SOCIO SALVO: Horse's win percentage at today's distance(sprint or route)/surface (dirt or turf) is at least 50. Horse has run a Good Race within the last 30 days. Horse ranks in the top three in TrackMaster Power Rating.
5
PROSPECT LUCK
3/1

3/1
2
MI SOCIO SALVO
10/1

3/1

P#

Horse (In Running Style Order)

Post

Morn
Line

Running Style

Good
Class

Good
Speed

Early Figure

Finish Figure

Platinum
Figure
5
PROSPECT LUCK
5

3/1
Stalker
57

49

56.9

54.0

50.0
2
MI SOCIO SALVO
2

10/1
Alternator/Stalker
59

55

52.1

52.1

47.1
4
FUEGO SALVAJE
4

2/1
Trailer
50

45

32.0

32.0

23.0
1
FIGHT FOR RAGS
1

10/1
Alternator/Non-contender
0

0

58.8

24.6

15.6
3
SWAGGER STRIKE
3

5/2
Alternator/Non-contender
68

61

56.6

56.6

54.1

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 03-15-2018, 08:26 AM

F.A.S.T. Sheets Free Race for Fair Grounds

Fair Grounds - Race 4

Exacta / $0.50 Trifecta / $0.10 Superfecta $0.50 Pick 3 (Races 4-5-6) / Daily Double

Claiming $5,000 • 6 Furlongs • Dirt • Ages 4 and up • CR: 58 • Purse: $14,000 • Post: 2:34P
FOR ACCREDITED LA BRED FILLIES AND MARES FOUR YEARS OLD AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON TWO RACES OR THREE YEAR OLD FILLIES. THREE YEAR OLDS, 116 LBS.; OLDER, 123 LBS. NON-WINNERS OF A RACE SINCE FEBRUARY 15 ALLOWED 3 LBS. CLAIMING PRICE $5,000.
Contenders

Race Analysis
P#
Horse
Morn
Line

Accept
Odds

Race Type: Basic Race. This race has a mixed pace scenario. Check on scratches of any of the Front-runners (to look for a lone Front-runner). * KEY ANGLES * TOM AND ED'S GIRL: Horse has the highest TrackMaster Power Rating. Horse has the highest average Equibase Speed Figure at the distance/surface. TONI'S VOW: Horse ranks in the top three in TrackMaster Power Rating. Horse ranks in the top three in average Equibase Speed Figure at the distance/surface. THATS ROGER SONG: Today is a sprin t and the horse's last start was within the last ten days. Horse has run a Good Race within the last 30 days.
8
TOM AND ED'S GIRL
3/1

5/2
3
TONI'S VOW
12/1

8/1
9
THATS ROGER SONG
5/1

10/1

P#

Horse (In Running Style Order)

Post

Morn
Line

Running Style

Good
Class

Good
Speed

Early Figure

Finish Figure

Platinum
Figure
8
TOM AND ED'S GIRL
8

3/1
Front-runner
64

55

60.0

51.8

48.8
6
INDIAN BAYOU
6

9/2
Front-runner
53

44

51.6

35.1

17.1
9
THATS ROGER SONG
9

5/1
Alternator/Stalker
54

52

53.4

41.0

27.0
2
PUTSUMDIRTONIT
2

9/2
Alternator/Stalker
56

42

37.8

42.4

35.4
1
ESTRELLA
1

8/1
Alternator/Stalker
56

47

35.8

44.0

33.5
5
FANTASY FRILLS
5

20/1
Trailer
50

55

29.4

37.0

21.5
3
TONI'S VOW
3

12/1
Trailer
61

46

21.6

45.4

36.9
10
REESE'S GLORY
10

20/1
Alternator/Trailer
66

58

25.0

35.8

24.3
4
THAT'S A SONG
4

10/1
Alternator/Non-contender
54

52

65.8

30.4

18.4
7
ROMAN BIRD
7

12/1
Alternator/Non-contender
46

43

61.8

38.8

24.8
11
LIL MISS GREY
11

20/1
Alternator/Non-contender
47

45

36.0

36.6

20.6

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 03-15-2018, 08:26 AM

Handicapped by The Walker Group at Oaklawn Park

Always check program numbers.
Odds shown are morning line odds.

Race 9 - Allowance - 6.0f on the Dirt. Purse: $79000 Class Rating: 81

FOR ARKANSAS BRED FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON A RACE OTHER THAN MAIDEN, CLAIMING, OR STARTER OR WHICH HAVE NEVER WON TWO RACES. THREE YEAR OLDS, 119 LBS.; OLDER, 124 LBS. NON-WINNERS OF A RACE SINCE JANUARY 15, 2018 ALLOWED 3 LBS.

RECOMMENDED CHOICES
The Walker Group Picks

# 4 GEORGIA'S REWARD 6/5

# 12 FIREWATER ROCKET 7/2

# 14 BEAUTIFUL HONDURAS 4/1

GEORGIA'S REWARD has a quite good shot to take this race. Looks solid for the conditions of this outing today, showing solid numbers in dirt sprint races lately. Could beat this field given the 91 Equibase speed fig put up in her last outing. May best this field here, showing very strong numbers of late. FIREWATER ROCKET - Has to be given a chance here on the basis of the numbers in the speed department alone. Handler has solid win rate (20 percent) at this distance and surface.

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 03-15-2018, 08:27 AM

Handicapped by The Turf Club Analysts

Bar

Penn National - Race #2 - Post: 6:27pm - Claiming - 8.3 furlongs on the Dirt. Purse: $11,800 Class Rating: 68

Rating: Golden DollarGolden DollarGolden DollarGolden Dollar

#6 MYDRINKSELECTION (ML=5/1)

MYDRINKSELECTION - This filly shows a classic pattern of layoff, two sprints, and stretching to a route today. That last race at 6 furlongs was too short. She'll love the added distance today.

Vulnerable Contenders: #10 IMMERSE (ML=3/1), #8 SOUTHERN TOUCH (ML=9/2), #7 BLACKBIRDHASSPOKEN (ML=6/1),

IMMERSE - Unlikely that the speed fig she notched on February 23rd will be enough in this affair. SOUTHERN TOUCH - This thoroughbred likes to hit the board, but doesn't usually get the job done. Leave out of the top spot. This mare earned a speed figure in her last event which probably isn't good enough in today's race. BLACKBIRDHASSPOKEN - If you keep betting these sort of 'hanger' types, you're going to be frustrated most of the time.

Top HatGUEST COMMENTARY: The Brain - MYDRINKSELECTION - Took a drop in class in the last race at Parx Racing. Stays at the same class level today. Look for a strong performance.

STRAIGHT WAGERS:
Bet on #6 MYDRINKSELECTION to win if we can get at least 1/1 odds

EXACTA WAGERS:
6 with [3,5]

TRIFECTA WAGERS:
Pass

SUPERFECTA WAGERS:
Skip

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 03-15-2018, 08:27 AM

Handicapped by The Walker Group at Remington Park

Always check program numbers.
Odds shown are morning line odds.

Race 2 - Claiming - 870y on the Dirt. Purse: $14000 Class Rating: 75

QUARTER HORSE 870Y, FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD. THREE YEAR OLDS, 124 LBS.; OLDER, 126 LBS. CLAIMING PRICE $5,000.

RECOMMENDED CHOICES
The Walker Group Picks

# 2 APOLLO ROCKS 8/5

# 5 V OS FILO 6/1

# 1 BLUE EFFORTS 5/2

APOLLO ROCKS has a formidable shot to take this race. Very good choice to take this race going in a longer quarter horse. Has posted sound speed figs in longer quarter horse races in the past. V OS FILO - He has earned very good figures under today's conditions and will probably fare well versus this group of horses in this race. Ran a sharp last race. BLUE EFFORTS - Had one of the best speed figures of this group of horses in this race in his last contest. This bunch is much easier than the last one he faced.

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 03-15-2018, 08:27 AM

Handicapped by The Turf Club Analysts

Bar

Santa Anita - Race #4 - Post: 1:38pm - Maiden Special - 6.5 furlongs on the Turf. Purse: $54,000 Class Rating: 90

Rating: Golden DollarGolden DollarGolden DollarGolden Dollar

#6 WARM IT UP (ML=6/1)
#3 PULPITINTHESKY (ML=7/2)

WARM IT UP - Aguayo has this filly entered in the ideal event. PULPITINTHESKY - Out of the money finish last out at Golden Gate Fields was better than it looked on paper. She improved position down the lane and never gave up. Filly's last race was against tougher open company. She's in with easier 'state breds' today. This filly should improve after adding Lasix in the last race and getting it again today. This race horse has to be one of the key horses in your gambling. Her trainer Glatt excels in prepping horses to race on turf from the dirt.

Vulnerable Contenders: #7 BELLA SIERRA (ML=9/2), #2 WHOA NESSIE (ML=5/1), #1 ACCEPTED (ML=6/1),

BELLA SIERRA - No picnic to back any steed in a short distance race if she hasn't hit the board in a sprint in the last 60 days. WHOA NESSIE - In all probability won't make much of an impact today. ACCEPTED - Would have to get quite a bit more than the morning line odds of 6/1 to wager on this thoroughbred.

STRAIGHT WAGERS:
#6 WARM IT UP to win at post-time odds of 7/5 or better

EXACTA WAGERS:
Box [3,6]

TRIFECTA WAGERS:
Skip

SUPERFECTA WAGERS:
None

SUPER HIGH 5 WAGERS:
Pass

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 03-15-2018, 09:56 AM

Oklahoma Sooners vs. Rhode Island Rams Preview and Predictions 03-15-2018

11th March 2018 by Gracenote
In what may go down as one of the more controversial selections of the NCAA Tournament, Oklahoma not only made it but garnered a No. 10 seed and will meet No. 7 Rhode Island on Thursday in the Midwest Region in Pittsburgh. The Sooners went 6-12 down the stretch and were bounced from the Big 12 Tournament in the first round but will still get to face the Rams, who are the Atlantic 10 regular-season champions.

The fact that they play in a major conference that sent seven teams to the tournament and have Freshman of the Year candidate Trae Young certainly helped the Sooners, who were the only team in the field, including First Four teams, to make it with fewer than 19 victories. Young led the nation in scoring (27.4 points per game) and assists (8.8) while grabbing 3.9 rebounds for coach Lon Kruger. The 6-2 guard helped his team to a 12-1 start, including three wins over ranked teams, but things started to go south in mid-January. The Rams, who were unable to capture a second straight Atlantic 10 Tournament title, got a tough draw, including a possible second-round game with No. 2 seed Duke, for a team that won 25 games, including its first 13 in the Atlantic 10.

TV: 12:15 p.m. ET, CBS

ABOUT OKLAHOMA (18-13): Everyone knows what Young can do, but it's the rest of the team that will decide if the Sooners can advance out of the first round after missing the tournament last season. Junior guard Christian James had been solid with seven straight games in double figures before going scoreless in the Sooner's 71-60 loss to Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Tournament. Freshman forward Brady Manek is the only other player averaging in double figures for Kruger, but has only scored more than nine points once in the past seven games.

ABOUT RHODE ISLAND (25-7): Redshirt senior E.C. Matthews recorded 20 points and eight rebounds, but the Rams lost their second low-scoring game to Davidson in the last two weeks in the Atlantic 10 final. Dan Hurley's team is well-rounded with a top scorer in Jared Terrell, a defensive specialist in Stanford Robinson and a solid point guard and leader in Jeff Dowtin. Andre Berry, Cyril Langevine and Jarvis Garrett also see considerable playing time for the Rams, who are in the tournament in back-to-back seasons for the first time since going to three straight from 1997-1999.

TIP-INS

1. The Sooners made the Final Four in 2016 and the Sweet 16 in 2015 under Kruger, who has been to the tournament 17 times with five schools.

2. The Rams are 7-9 in the NCAA Tournament, including a win last season over Creighton.

3. The winner plays Duke or No. 15 seed Iona in Saturday's second round.

PREDICTION: Rhode Island 87, Oklahoma 83

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 03-15-2018, 09:59 AM

Wright St. Raiders vs. Tennessee Volunteers Preview and Predictions 03-15-2018

11th March 2018 by Gracenote
Third-seeded Tennessee looks to make a splash in the NCAA Tournament when it faces No. 14 seed Wright State in the first round of the South Regional on Thursday in Dallas, Texas. The Volunteers won over 20 games in the regular season for the first time since 2013-14 before advancing to the SEC Tournament final where they suffered a 77-72 loss to Kentucky on Sunday, and hope to live up to their lofty seed in their first-ever meeting with the Raiders.

"To have the kind of year to put yourself in position to play in the tournament is in itself a great accomplishment," Tennessee coach Rick Barnes told reporters. "I'm really proud of the guys to put us in that position." Wright State won three straight games en route to the Horizon League Tournament title and clinched its first NCAA Tournament berth in 11 years. The Raiders set a school record with 25 wins, but have dropped their last three meetings with SEC opponents by an average margin of 13 points and hope to buck the trend by notching their first NCAA Tournament win in program history. "It will be my job to bring them back down to earth and then get them to really believe it can happen," Wright State coach Scott Nagy told reporters. "I've seen teams at our level do it."

TV: 12:30 p.m. ET, truTV

ABOUT WRIGHT STATE (25-9): Grant Benzinger was named the Most Valuable Player of the Horizon League Tournament after averaging 14 points and 9.6 rebounds in victories over Green Bay, Milwaukee and Cleveland State. Benzinger led the way with 19 points, nine rebounds and three steals in the 74-57 win against the Vikings in the championship game while Cole Gentry and Jaylon Hall each added 11 points. Loudon Love was named to the All-Tournament team after averaging 14.6 points and 10.3 rebounds, including nine points in the final, to set a freshman record for points in a season previously held by Bill Edwards in 1990.

ABOUT TENNESSEE (25-8): Junior forward Admiral Schofield was named to the All-SEC Tournament team after averaging 17 points and 8.3 rebounds over three games. Schofield scored 22 points and pulled down 10 rebounds in the loss to Kentucky in the title game to notch his third double-double of the season while Grant Williams, who was named the SEC Player of the Year, added 15 points, nine rebounds, three assists and three steals. Jordan Bone tallied 12 points and reigning SEC Co-Sixth Man of the Year Lamonte Turner scored 10, but it wasn't enough as the Volunteers were held to 37.1 percent shooting.

TIP-INS

1. Tennessee has won six of its last seven games.

2. Love has posted 14 double-doubles this season.

3. The winner will play Miami or Loyola-Chicago in the second round Saturday.

PREDICTION: Tennessee 84, Wright State 70

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 03-15-2018, 09:59 AM

NC-Greensboro Spartans vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs Preview and Predictions 03-15-2018

11th March 2018 by Gracenote
When fourth-seeded Gonzaga faces No. 13 seed UNC Greensboro on Thursday in the first round of the West Region at Boise, Idaho, the Zags might have flashbacks to their former Cinderella days. Gonzaga, making its 20th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, enters as confident favorites against upset-minded UNC Greensboro, which is making its first trip to the Big Dance since 2001.

Five players average double figures in scoring for Gonzaga, which claimed its sixth consecutive West Coast Conference Tournament championship with Tuesday's 74-54 victory over BYU. The Zags fell in last season's NCAA championship game and figured to take a step back after losing four of their top five scorers, but coach Mark Few reloaded and saw his team reach the 30-win mark for the fourth time in six seasons. The Zags dominated at the WCC Tournament in Las Vegas with three wins by an average of 20.7 points, with sophomore forward Killian Tillie averaging 24.0 points on a remarkable 77.8 percent shooting to win tournament MVP honors. While the Zags are aiming for another deep run, they'll need to be careful not to overlook UNC Greensboro, which boasts a veteran backcourt and ranks sixth in the nation in scoring defense at 62.4 points per game.

TV: 1:20 p.m. ET, TNT

ABOUT UNC GREENSBORO (27-7): The Spartans earned an automatic bid after point guard Demetrius Troy and forward Jordy Kuiper scored 13 points apiece in a 62-47 victory over East Tennessee State in the Southern Conference Tournament championship game. The team's leading scorers, guard Francis Alonso and forward Marvin Smith, were held to a combined 13 points on 3-for-18 shooting in the title game, but the Spartans' stingy defense proved to be the difference. James Dickey, a 6-foot-10 sophomore, made the all-tournament team and will be a key factor against Gonzaga's formidable front line.

ABOUT GONZAGA (30-4): The Zags dominated the All-WCC selections as forwards Johnathan Williams and Rui Hachimura were named to the First Team along with guard Josh Perkins, while freshman guard Zach Norvell Jr. was named Newcomer of the Year. Williams, one of two seniors in the starting lineup, led the team in scoring at 13.5 points per game and had 10 points and 13 rebounds to help the Zags pull away from BYU. "That last 20 minutes was scary, and fun to be part of," Perkins told reporters. "If we keep doing that, the sky is the limit for this group. I'm feeling really confident going into the NCAA Tournament."

TIP-INS

1. The winner will play No. 5 seed Ohio State or No. 12 South Dakota in Saturday's second round.

2. Gonzaga ranks ninth in the country in scoring at 84.5 points per game and second in scoring margin at plus-17.4 while one of seven teams nationally to shoot better than 50 percent (50.3).

3. UNC Greensboro closed the season by winning 11 of its 12 final games, including six straight.

PREDICTION: Gonzaga 74, UNC Greensboro 61

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 03-15-2018, 09:59 AM

Pennsylvania Quakers vs. Kansas Jayhawks Preview and Predictions 03-15-2018

11th March 2018 by Gracenote
Pennsylvania's reward for winning the Ivy League is a No. 16 seed and a date in the NCAA Tournament with top-seeded Kansas in Wichita, Kan., on Thursday. The Jayhawks earned the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region by winning their 11th Big 12 tournament, which came a week after they sewed up at least a share of their 14th consecutive Big 12 regular-season crown.

Kansas was throwing up some inconsistent performances before going into the Big 12 championship game and knocking off West Virginia 81-70. "I think it should give us confidence moving forward," Jayhawks coach Bill Self told reporters after the win. "The best thing that can happen for our team right now is to get some rest, but to try to somewhat bottle the energy and how well we played together today." Kansas earned a No. 1 seed for the third straight season and the eighth time in the last 12 NCAA Tournaments while making its 29th consecutive Tournament appearance. The Quakers are not quite as storied a program when it comes to March Madness and are returning for the first time since 2007 after knocking off Harvard 68-65 in the Ivy League title game Sunday.

TV: 1:50 p.m. ET, TBS

ABOUT PENNSYLVANIA (24-8): The Quakers are bidding to become the first No. 16 seed to knock off a No. 1 in the NCAA Tournament and were surprised to get this far. "Honestly, I didn't even dream about this, I didn't think we could do it," Pennsylvania coach Steve Donahue told reporters after the win in the Ivy League title game. "I drove home last night saying, 'I gotta get that out of my head, I gotta show some confidence. I didn't think it was possible for us to get to the NCAA Tournament until that horn went off. In a building I grew up in, and watching the kids storm the floor for our guys, it's magic." The Quakers have four scorers averaging double figures, led by sophomore guard Ryan Betley (14.4 points).

ABOUT KANSAS (27-7): The Jayhawks are led by Big 12 Player of the Year Devonte' Graham but have five players averaging at least 12 points, and watched sophomore guard Malik Newman step up in the Big 12 tournament while averaging 24 points and winning Most Outstanding Player honors. "He has had a great attitude," Self told reporters of Newman. "He works hard. He's really starting to understand exactly how he needs to play in order for him to have total confidence and freedom, and I think he's buying into that better than he has all year long." Graham handed out 13 assists in the Big 12 title game and is averaging 9.8 over the last five contests.

TIP-INS

1. Kansas C Udoka Azubuike (sprained knee) missed the Big 12 Tournament but is expected back Thursday.

2. Pennsylvania's last NCAA Tournament win came in 1994.

3. The Jayhawks fell in the regional final in each of the last two seasons.

PREDICTION: Kansas 92, Pennsylvania 68

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 03-15-2018, 09:59 AM

Iona Gaels vs. Duke Blue Devils Preview and Predictions 03-15-2018

14th March 2018 by Gracenote
With one of the most talented freshman classes in recent NCAA history, Duke earned a No. 2 seed in the Midwest Region of the NCAA Tournament. The Blue Devils take aim at another deep run through the bracket beginning with Thursday's date with 15th-seeded Iona in Pittsburgh.

This is the 23rd straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament for Duke, which finished second in the ACC during the regular season and then fell to rival North Carolina in the semifinals of the league tournament. Marvin Bagley Jr. (21.1 points, 11.5 rebounds per game) and Wendell Carter Jr. (13.8, 9.3) highlight the Blue Devils' young front line, while Gary Trent Jr. (14.3 points, 85 3-pointers) is their top freshman on the perimeter. Grayson Allen (15.7 points) helped Duke secure a national championship as a freshman and is back for a final go-round in hopes of bookending his career with NCAA Tournament titles. The first team in his path is a Gaels squad that won the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference as the No. 4 seed in the league tournament.

TV: 2:45 p.m., ET, CBS

ABOUT IONA (20-13): The Gaels average nearly 80 points per game and were led in the MAAC championship game by a pair of transfers, Roland Griffin and Zach Lewis. Griffin, who averages 10.9 points, exploded for 29 in the title game, while Lewis had 20 points, seven rebounds, five assists and four steals. Five Iona players average at least 10 points per game, led by Rickey McGill (13.5), who made only 5-of-22 shots during the league tournament, although he had a career-high 40 points in the regular-season finale.

ABOUT DUKE (26-7): The Blue Devils will continue to feed the 6-11 Bagley, who has three straight double-doubles and is averaging 24.3 points and 15 rebounds over that stretch. Trent led the team with 20 points in the loss to North Carolina, while Carter pitched in 14 points and nine boards in a game where only four players scored for Duke, as Bagley added 19 and Allen 16. First-year point guard Trevon Duval was 0-of-6 from the field versus the Tar Heels and has not scored more than seven points in any of his last six games.

TIP-INS

1. The winner of this game will match up with either No. 7 Rhode Island or No. 10 Oklahoma in the Round of 32.

2. The Blue Devils have won five national championships and have advanced to the Final Four 12 times.

3. Duke ranks eighth nationally in scoring (84.7), and six of their top seven scorers have made at least 19 3-pointers.

PREDICTION: Duke 91, Iona 70

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 03-15-2018, 10:00 AM

Loyola-Chicago Ramblers vs. Miami-Florida Hurricanes Preview and Predictions 03-15-2018

11th March 2018 by Gracenote
Miami would love nothing more than to rebound from last year's poor showing at the NCAA Tournament - and has already gone through plenty of big-game moments in preparation - as it faces Loyola-Chicago in the first round of the South Region on Thursday at American Airlines Center in Dallas. The sixth-seeded Hurricanes are also hoping to get a boost with the possible return of Bruce Brown Jr.

The Hurricanes gave fans more than their share of thrills to close out the regular season, winning each of their final four games by a combined eight points - a stretch that included a three-point triumph over North Carolina and a one-point victory over Virginia Tech. But whatever heroics Miami displayed over that stretch ran out when the ACC Tournament got underway as the Hurricanes were trounced 82-65 by the Tar Heels. Miami's quest for a first Final Four appearance begins against the No. 11 Ramblers, who locked up their sixth tournament berth in school history - and first since 1985 - by claiming the Missouri Valley Conference title. The Ramblers won the national title in 1963, but have won only four tournament games since.

TV: 3:10 p.m. ET, truTV

ABOUT LOYOLA-CHICAGO (28-5): The Ramblers ended their 33-year NCAA Tournament drought by playing some of the most relentless defense in the nation - they allowed the fifth-fewest points in the country (62.2) while limiting opponents to fewer than 10 made free throws per game. And Loyola-Chicago's offense wasn't so bad either as it boasted a 57.8-percent effective shooting rate that ranked in the top 10 nationally. Five players averaged double figures in scoring this season, led by Clayton Custer's 13.4 points as he'll be looking to end a frightful offensive slump that has seen him held to a total of 23 points over his past four games while shooting 4-for-20 from beyond the arc over that stretch.

ABOUT MIAMI (22-9): Brown's return would invigorate the Hurricanes' offense and rebounding as he ranks tied for second on the roster in scoring at 11.4 points while contributing a team-best 7.1 boards. But Miami hasn't had to worry much in his absence, boasting seven players who average between 8.7 and 11.5 points per game, but the Hurricanes will need to be much better from the free-throw line, where they ranked last in the ACC at 66.3 percent this season. Look for the Hurricanes to put plenty of pressure on Loyola-Chicago in the early going as Miami allowed just over 30 first-half points per game this season, ranking inside the top 30 in the country in that category.

TIP-INS

1. Brown leads the team in average playing time at 33.7 minutes.

2. Loyola-Chicago enters the NCAA Tournament on a 10-game winning streak.

3. Custer reached double figures in 14 straight games prior to his four-game scoring funk.

PREDICTION: Miami 75, Loyola-Chicago 71

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 03-15-2018, 10:00 AM

South Dakota State Jackrabbits vs. Ohio St Buckeyes Preview and Predictions 03-15-2018

11th March 2018 by Gracenote
Ohio State owns the higher seed and the more recognizable name, but South Dakota State has more recent NCAA Tournament experience on its ledger entering their first-round West Regional matchup Thursday. That's the challenge awaiting the fifth-seeded Buckeyes as they take on the 12th-seeded Jackrabbits in Boise, Idaho.

A No. 12 seed has beaten a No. 5 seed in nine of the last 10 NCAA Tournaments, and 12s have won 11 of the last 24 such first-round matchups overall. The Buckeyes, who earned an at-large bid out of the Big Ten, are making their 28th Big Dance appearance overall but their first since 2015 under former coach Thad Matta. South Dakota State, meanwhile, captured an automatic NCAA bid by winning the Summit League championship and also finished first in the conference with a 13-1 league record during the regular season. It will be the third straight NCAA Tournament appearance for the Jackrabbits and fifth in the last seven seasons for the program which moved up to the Division I level in 2005.

TV: 4 p.m. ET, TNT

ABOUT SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (28-6): The Jackrabbits, guided by second-year coach T.J. Otzelberger, won their 11th straight game with a 97-87 victory over South Dakota in the Summit League championship game, and also notched wins over the Big Ten's Iowa (80-72) and the SEC's Ole Miss (99-97) during non-conference play. South Dakota State does boast a national-headline name in 6-9 junior forward Mike Daum who paced the Summit League in scoring (23.8 points per game) and rebounding (10.4) while connecting on a team-most 91 pointers on 216 attempts (42.1 percent). Guards David Jenkins Jr. (16.1 points) and Reed Tellinghuisen (12.1) also average double figures for South Dakota State, which ranks sixth nationally with 84.9 points per game and shoots 40.3 percent as a team from 3-point range (12th nationally).

ABOUT OHIO STATE (24-8): The Buckeyes have had a stronger-than-expected season under new coach Chris Holtmann, finishing in a tie for second in the Big Ten at 15-3 before getting upended by Penn State in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten tournament. That 69-68 loss March 2 in New York was the third defeat in five games for Ohio State, which boasts four double-digit scorers, led by 6-7 junior forward Keita Bates-Diop, the Big Ten's Player of the Year who averages 19.4 points and 8.8 rebounds. Forward Jae'Sean Tate (12.5 points), guard C.J. Jackson (12.2) and freshman forward Kaleb Wesson (10.8) also average double digits for the Buckeyes, who finished fourth in the conference by averaging 75.8 points per outing.

TIP-INS

1. The Ohio State roster only features seven combined games of NCAA Tournament experience and two combined starts, both by Tate, but Holtmann guided Butler to the Big Dance in each of his three seasons as the Bulldogs' coach.

2. South Dakota State is 0-4 all-time in NCAA Tournament play after suffering first-round losses to Gonzaga (66-46) and Maryland (79-74) as a 16th and 12th seeds, respectively, the last two seasons.

3. Daum has posted a double-double in five straight games and 12 of his last 13 contests and has averaged 16.5 points and 6.5 rebounds in his previous two NCAA tourney games.

PREDICTION: Ohio State 76, South Dakota State 73

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 03-15-2018, 10:00 AM

NC State Wolfpack vs. Seton Hall Pirates Preview and Predictions 03-15-2018

11th March 2018 by Gracenote
Ninth-seeded North Carolina State takes on eighth-seeded Seton Hall in the first-round of the Midwest Region from Wichita, Kan., on Thursday. The Wolfpack and Pirates had successful regular seasons but both are coming off early losses in their conference tournaments, with N.C. State losing to Boston College 91-87 in its first ACC tournament game and Seton Hall being upset by Butler 75-74 in its opening match at the Big East Conference tournament.

N.C. State scored 56 second-half points as it erased a 14-point halftime deficit but BC's Jerome Robinson broke a tie with 17 seconds remaining and then forced a turnover on an inbounds play to give the Eagles the upset win. "Every time we made a basket, they would come down and make a basket," N.C. State coach Kevin Keatts told reporters after the game after he watched his team tie the contest five times late in the second half but saw its only lead on the game's opening basket. Seton Hall's loss in the Big East quarterfinal was a heartbreaker as Khadeen Carrington converted a three-point play with 11 seconds to play, giving the Pirates a one-point lead, but Butler's Tyler Wideman scored on a putback with 4 seconds remaining to give the Bulldogs the win. "It's a tough loss," Carrington told reporters after the game. "You never want to lose, but I feel like everyone put it out on the floor, but we knew it was going to be a tough battle when we came in, so it was a tough Big East game."

TV: 4:30 p.m. ET, TBS

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA STATE (21-11): Senior guard Allerik Freeman, the team's leading scorer at 15.4 points per game, had a team-high 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting -- including 5-of-7 from behind the arc -- against the Eagles while All-ACC third-team center Omer Yurtseven added 20 points and nine rebounds. Markell Johnson, the ACC assists leader with 7.4 per game, had 10 points and six helpers, but also committed a crucial mistake when he asked for a timeout with 7.3 seconds left even though the Wolfpack didn't have any, resulting in a technical foul and two made free throws for BC. "I knew in my head we didn't have any," Johnson told reporters after the loss. "I was so caught up in the game."

ABOUT SETON HALL (21-11): The Pirates are a veteran team that features four senior starters, including Carrington and leading scorer Desi Rodriguez who averages 17.8 points and 4.9 rebounds. And then there's senior center Angel Delgado, the Big East's all-time leader in rebounds and just the second player in history to lead the Big East in rebounding in three different seasons. But don't sleep on sophomore guard Myles Powell who was named the Big East Most Improved Player after averaging 15.4 points per game -- second-most on the team -- and is shot 38.5 percent from behind the 3-point arc this season.

TIP-INS

1. Seton Hall has lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in each of the last two seasons and hasn't won a tournament game since 2004.

2. The Pirates average 38.2 rebounds per game, third in the Big East.

3. The Wolfpack have allowed opponents to shoot at a generous 46-percent clip this season.

PREDICTION: North Carolina State 82, Seton Hall 80

Thursday 3-15-18 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

Thursday 3-15-18 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment